Emily Henderson

The Link Up: Em’s Favorite Rom Com Of The Year, Jess’ CUTE Linen Pants, And An Easy Way To Make An Everyday Item Prettier

EHD — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Happy Sunday, everyone! Did everyone catch Emily’s toilet purchase this week?? lol. Design can be so fun because you really never know what the next project will bring. Aside from that, we’re gearing up for another EHD team retreat next week (SO excited to see everyone all together)! Hope everyone is having a good weekend, and here are this week’s links:)

This week’s house tour comes from the duo we didn’t know we needed – actor Jonathan Groff and designer Leyden Lewis!! It’s a deeply personal space that was created by a special and immediate creative partnership. Go check it out!

From Emily: It’s a Carly Fortune summer. The editor turned best-selling romance writer is one of the best in the nostalgia + coming-of-age genre. This summer we got a new book by her (Our Perfect Storm), which I’m almost done with and love it, but the real gift here is the new Amazon series based on her first book, Every Summer After, which came out a few days ago. It is meant to be sooooooo good, especially for those of us with Off Campus withdrawals. The book was my favorite rom com of the year – she just does young love, +nostalgia + coming of age so well.

From Jess: In Emily’s and my effort to have you consider Aritizia more, I bought two new pieces for my summer vacation! These red silky, pull-on shorts that are “fancy athletic”. I’m wearing them as I type this! They have more of a sheen than it seems online, but let me tell you, I love them! I wore them to a casual dinner with a linen button-up and cute flats, and I felt awesome. Then my pull-on pants of choice are not these tan and white striped linen pants with side drawstring ties. They are so comfortable with a solid weight to them (not see-through), and the side drawstrings are a fun detail that isn’t flashy. I did size up (mainly because that’s the last size they had in-store), but I also liked the baggier, lower-rise look a little more. But otherwise, I’d say they are true to size. Same with the shorts!

From Gretchen: I stopped in to J.Crew the other day and took a risk that paid off–I bought a final sale swimsuit that I didn’t even try on until I got home. And to my great surprise, it fit like a glove! Now, for whatever reason, the price I paid in-store was a wayyyy better deal than it looks to be online right now (even though it’s also final sale online…c’mon, J.Crew!). I only gambled about 60 of my dollars and thankfully walked away with a perfect fit, reversible swimsuit. Two suits for the price of one, if you really think about it–even better! The colors are so bright and poppy, and the fun plaid pattern does some good camouflaging for a couple of areas on my body where I like to have more coverage. But I really love that the material just feels so secure, and I feel confident it won’t stretch out. Em has raved about her J.Crew suits (see her review here), which gave me the extra push to try it out for myself, and I’m really glad I did. Some customer reviews say that the sides of this particular suit can gap a little bit, and I had that experience too…until I tried tying it a different way. I connected each top and back strap to each other to make the style more like a tank top, less like a halter top, and that totally fixed the problem. I’m really happy with it, but I’d definitely recommend checking out their sale section in person if you can before taking the final sale plunge at the online price. It does look like they’re having a 30% off sale on select items, if you’ve been eyeballing some other looks!

Need some Father’s Day gift ideas? HEAD HERE! Both Emily’s husband Brian and Jess’ Dad give their top picks.

From Marlee: I just did a big closet purge and found these shoes that I’ve had for at least 7 years at this point – I’m so glad I pulled them out because they’re one of my favorite pairs of summer shoes. They’re so easy to throw on for swimming/pool days, gardening, etc. Since they’re waterproof, they’re super easy to clean, and they’re SUPER comfy. Don’t get me wrong, I live in my Havianas and Rainbows for most of the summer – but the Birks are such a good option when I want something slightly more secure/supportive. They also come in a ton of really cute colors.

From Mallory: I don’t know why I put off buying Kleenex box covers for so long…I was sitting at my desk and was finally like, “Okay, I can’t look at this crazy green box for another second,” and then added these rattan ones to my cart. Such a simple fix that makes these everyday items prettier:)

From Arlyn: I’m fairly awful at self-promotion, but Jess suggested I link to an article I wrote recently for Real Simple, and I thought, “Wait, I can do that?!?” Ha, silly me. A piece I authored just went live on Realsimple.com about my decision to leave my director-level job three years ago to be more present with my young daughter. I detailed how I came to the decision—especially given that I was the higher earner in the family compared to my husband—and some of the unexpected emotional toll it took on me. In general, I don’t regret what I did in the least. Do I miss my regular paycheck, my PTO, and my bonuses? Heck yes, but having been available for my kid without having to ask for anyone’s permission was absolutely priceless. And I fully recognize that not everyone has the privilege of making it work on one (and a half—I was freelancing) income. We were more careful about our spending and did not splurge on basically anything outside of necessities, but even still, I know that’s not enough for everyone. If you’re in a position where you have to make a tough financial decision for your family, I hope my article helps you feel a little more seen.

Thanks for hanging out and see y’all tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Guest Cottage: The Vintage Plumbing Fixtures We’re Using In The Bathroom + Our Final-ish Floorplan

How I Style Comfortable Outfits To Look Cool (Ish? Eh?)

Emily — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

This whole post is a testament to one of my favorite design principles for the more “risk-averse” (me!). Here it is: Start with something simple and classic (basic, even), then make it fun and interesting with the styling. Now I’m not a fashion stylist, and at times I like to amp it up when I go out, but as a lover of mostly casual, comfortable outfits, I need to dress things up to make sure I don’t look like I’m wearing pajamas in public. Once you see my tricks, you see that it’s actually really formulaic (in a way that makes our life easier, hopefully).

Styling Comfortable Outfits: Curating Accessories Elevates The Baggy

The pre-styled version definitely could be doing the walk of shame, but with some styling, she looks totally respectable! I don’t necessarily try to dress things “up”, because a lot of this really can’t be. But by arranging things a certain way on my body and adding the right other things (shoes, scarves, jewelry, hats), it looks like an outfit, not a schlubby pajama set. I didn’t intend to match the hat, bag, and flats, but I think by doing so, it pulls together all the looseness of the shirt and shorts. It should be noted that I was just told by my sister over the weekend that the French tuck is “out,” but I still like it here. And while that scarf on the bag plays no real functional purpose, the hit of a darker tone and pattern gives it a slight edge – just overall less Martha. A floppy hat and a beaded layered necklace certainly help.

Styling Comfortable Outfits: A Hit OF Black And White, Always

On the left – straight out of the bedroom. On the right, she’s a little coo-koo (that smile, oof!) but certainly a respectable lady who could enter the farmers’ market with no embarrassment. I love a hit of black and white in almost every outfit (and room), and that bag and the Sambas take the “roll out of bed” vibe and make it clear you just care about comfort and style equally.

Styling Comfortable Outfits: Matching Sets – Pajamas Or An Intentional Outfit??

Now, when I first put this extremely comfortable gauzy set on, I said, “I mean, sure, it’s extremely soft and doesn’t cut in, but it’s 100% giving pajamas”. My team disagreed and forced me to try to style it. And then after I did, I was like, “Hey! Team! I can go in public in pajamas!!” By adding a millennial-loving belt bag, the leopard sandals, sunglasses, and layered necklaces (with a half-tuck), it looks comfortable with intention.

Top | Shorts | Sandals | Bag | Necklace

Ok, I returned this set, but that’s because the seersucker was too boxy for me (no drape) and the shorts cut in at the waist, which is intolerable to me. But it is a good reminder that a set can look like an outfit with some styling.

Styling Comfortable Outfits: Elevating Striped Linen Bottoms

I just realized I did the EXACT same formula for this outfit as #1 (without the scarf, but that could have been cute). Different hat, darker shorts, and oddly a different linen shirt (the one with pockets is from J.Crew; this one is from Quince – both very good, with the J.Crew one being 10% better, and twice as much). 100% taking this with me on our family vacation in CA (where I am right now :))

Proof that your favorite cheap shirt and favorite splurgy pants don’t necessarily make a good “outfit” unless you style and accessorize right (both are so breathable, lightweight, comfortable, sit and drape nicely, etc). But add a bandana and hat, sunglasses and sandals, and a tuck, and you can wear anything anywhere.

You get it by now:) Boyfriend pajamas, add cute stuff, then outfit. I honestly didn’t even mean to do this post like this. But once we saw all the pre-styled and post-styled shots, I realized I obviously have a way to style out really basic clothes, and seeing the before and after was fun.

Styling Comfortable Outfits: Adding Structure to Fun Flowy Shorts

These shorts cracked me up – 100% bloomers. And the T-shirt didn’t have great proportions (I know this is in, but doesn’t look good on women with big boobs IMHO – something needs to be smaller or shorter). But once I tucked, wrapped, and rolled, it all worked!! I now love the T-shirt (the graphics and the colorway are awesome), and adding the Vans gave that pop of black and white that I love.

This was an outfit that I copied this weekend. It’s not doing anything special, but it’s 100% comfortable, I feel cute, and I could wear it almost anywhere. The silk shorts are so good (and have more structure than silk; they are thicker in a good way). I’m wearing a medium in the shorts, btw. And I LOVE that hat (going to a dude ranch this summer, so bringing that hat).

These Target shorts are the foundation of the outfit by being a black-and-white pattern, but they still give the “boxer shorts” look. But once I put that mustard linen jacket on (it’s my favorite) and scarf (that is a triangle, not a full square) and a pop of red, it totally looks like a respectable “out of the house” outfit.

Here are a few more that I didn’t take befores for, but the styling felt like me and fell into the same patterns as above:

I mostly want to wear jean shorts and a T-shirt, but I think both of these outfits show that the shoes, belts, scarves, and layers make a difference. If I were one of those weirdos who put photos of your styled-out outfits taped onto your closet door, these would be two summer outfits that I want to wear on repeat when I go out. I feel cute, stylish, comfortable, and like me in these (and very PNW appropriate, no heels and very casual).

Sweater | Jeans | Belt | Bag | Sandals

A reminder that you can style a tonal outfit with a couple of pops – the patterned sandals, a belt, bag, and choker. I’ve worn this outfit a lot on the less hot days since I wore it. Nothing special, but it feels like me and is easy/comfortable.

So I figured I’d round up more of my favorite accessories so you can see them on their own:

Enjoy your weekend, and that you feel more confident in your comfortable clothes:) xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

8 Common Design Problems SOLVED!! (And The Products To Fix Them)

Jess Bunge — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

When you’re decorating your home, there is usually a laundry list of design problems that arise. Sometimes it’s storage, or too much clutter, or just something about a room that feels off. Well, today we are taking a second to help you solve eight potential design problems that are very common, BUT very easy to fix! These are all product-based solutions, but the great news is that they are all on sale from one of our favorite online retailers…Wayfair. They are currently having their Hot Summer Sale, where a ton of their best-selling items are on a deep discount (and will ship to you fast). Spring may be the time for cleaning, but to me, summer is the time for upgrades:) Let’s start checking those boxes asap!

Design Problems: Bad Airflow (And An Ugly Ceiling Fan…)

photo by tessa neustadt | from: glendale primary bedroom reveal

Given that it’s about to be heating up soon (if it hasn’t already where you are), a lack of cool airflow is nothing if not a huge bummer. So if you need a ceiling fan and don’t have one, then boy does Wayfair have some great ones to choose from. But also maybe you do have one, but it’s very old and really needs an upgrade, that’s just as important (at least to me:)). Here are our three top picks:

1. Jamarreon Low Profile Dimmable Ceiling Fan | 2. Nicola 3 Blade Modern Ceiling Fan | 3. Modern Ceiling Fan

These are all on the modern side, style-wise, have lights with remotes (amazing!), and are safely under $200. #2 and #3 also come in a few other color options if you love the look but need a different tone. Oh, and they all have 4.5 or 5-star average reviews.

Design Problems: Plain White Lamp Shades

photo by kaitlin green | from: room service announcement

We know that calm, neutral-toned rooms are extremely beloved, and we get it. The idea is that they are calm and promote a sense of stillness, which is greatly needed when life is crazy. Emily just talked about this, saying that when life is more chaotic, she wants less color in her home. However, this doesn’t mean less texture. Mixing materials and textures in neutral tones is what will make your space still feel cozy and inviting. It’s important! An extremely easy and affordable way to add more texture is through a lamp/lamp shade. Let me show you what I mean…

1. Arched Dimmable Rattan Floor Lamp | 2. Ganya Burlap Drum Lamp Shade | 3. Plumeria Black Arched Floor Lamp

It’s all about rattan and burlap! Not only are these materials beautiful and warm, but they also give off a soft, warm light. I gave an almost identical burlap lamp shade to one of my best friends, and it totally transformed her space, but in that perfectly subtle way. The kind of way you feel as much as you see. Look at the photo above as an example and imagine the floor lamp with a plain white shade. The room would still be pretty, but read a little flat. With the rattan shade, it adds depth and interest (just like #1 and #3 would do).

Design Problems: Boring Neutral Lighting

design and styled by kaitlin green and emily henderson | photo by kaitlin green | from: kaitlin’s living room reveal

But maybe you’re like “Jess, I love color but am a little afraid of using or committing to too much of it.” The answer?? A colorful table lamp. I love few things more than a colorful/playful table lamp. They can really be the piece that adds your personality to the room, or a much-needed moment of color that doesn’t feel too committal. Here’s what I mean…

1. Xyanna Metal Desk Lamp | 2. Tavaner Vickery Metal Table Lamp | 3. Barletta Elio Table Lamp | 4. Lieselot Rainville Table Lamp

See! You can go bolder with a lamp like #1 or #4. But you can also just dip your toe in with options like #2 or #3. The trick here is to know if you want to have “A MOMENT” and contrast your space and color palette, or simply amplify a color that already exists in your design, like Kaitlin did in her living room in the photo above. It’s up to you!

Design Problems: “Too Simple” Subway Tile

photo by tessa neustadt | from: los feliz kitchen and dining room reveal

This is NOT any shade on a wonderful classic subway tile. But if you want something that has a little more movement and interest (that’s still affordable), may I suggest a textured subway tile? Emily used a rectangle-shaped zellige tile in her Los Feliz kitchen, and it was stunning. I loved being in that kitchen so much. The way the light would hit the tiles made the whole kitchen come to life, showing the beautiful texture in the tiles but not in a way that was overwhelming. Here are some affordable options you can get at Wayfair!

1. Karma 4 in. x 4 in. Glazed Ceramic Wall Tile | 2. Karma 3 in. x 8 in. Glazed Ceramic Subway Wall Tile | 3. Brookline Polished 2″ x 10″ Ceramic Brick Look Subway Wall Tile | 4. Hoku 3 in. x 12 in. Glossy Ceramic Subway Wall Tile

You really can’t go wrong with a ceramic tile. All of these come in a handful of colors, but these were my personal favorites:) Emily’s big tip is to always make sure to mix up the tiles from the different boxes since there’s color variation. That way, you get an even color spread as opposed to one section being darker than another.

Design Problems: Bad Medicine Cabinet

design and photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: sara’s kid/guest bathroom reveal

I’m sure most of us have lived in homes that either lacked a medicine cabinet or had one that wasn’t the best (aka ugly). Well, lucky for you, this design problem is the easiest to fix at Wayfair. They have so many options that you’ll absolutely find what you need. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Garnes Recessed or Surface Mount Framed Medicine Cabinet | 2. Gervon Round Wall Mounted Medicine Cabinet | 3. Farmhouse Recessed Metal Bathroom Medicine Cabinet

If your bathroom doesn’t have a recessed medicine cabinet already, that’s ok! #1 and #2 are surface-mounted, so you can hang them on any wall, no big wall holes necessary:) I am sure into the round one because it’s a little unexpected and cool!

Design Problems: Little To No Bathroom Floor Space

photo by kaitlin green | from: farmhouse powder bathroom reveal

Speaking of bathroom storage, don’t forget about the wall-mounted cabinet (different from a medicine cabinet). Especially when you have limited square footage, make the most of your walls. A cute wall cabinet or even shower caddy can really elevate your washroom and perfectly decrease the visual clutter that so easily accumulates. These are our finds:

1. Bathroom Storage Cabinet | 2. Drill-Free Wall-Mounted Shower Organizer | 3. Wall-mounted Striped Bathroom Cabinet

How sweet are these little wood cabinets? You get both open and closed storage, and an added organic texture to the room. The perfect solution to the design problems of a small, storage-less bathroom. But if you just need a better way to hold all of your shower products, I LOVE these black organizers. They look so clean and chic and come in two different sizes.

Design Problems: Too Many Bed Pillows

design by jess bunge | styled by emily bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ bedroom reveal

Emily has long been an advocate for the single lumbar bed accent pillow. And I have to agree with her. As shown in the photo above, that’s exactly what I did in my bedroom, and I couldn’t love it more. It makes it so much easier to make your bed – one and done. However, as you can see, I didn’t choose an extra-long pillow, so you have size options:)

styling by emily bowser and julie rose | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: mountain house upstairs guest room reveal

But here’s an example of a longer one for reference, so you can get a better gauge of what is going to work for you.

1. Liv Throw Pillow | 2. Rectangular Cotton Pillow | 3. Lincoln Accent Pillow

These are three we really liked! Chris Loves Julia makes awesome pillows that are available on Wayfair, and that’s the line that #1 and #3 are from. A slight pattern is an easy way to make very simple bedding look more interesting. But solids are great too! I love it when a solid has one small detail that adds a little something, like the fringe on #2. Subtle but perfect.

Design Problems: Bad Kitchen Organization

photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: portland project pantry reveal

One of the biggest design problems almost all of us face is a lack of organization and function. I waited at least a year to finally get a flatware organizer, and when I did, my life was 30% better! It took almost no time to order, and I couldn’t believe I waited as long as I did. So here are a handful of things we think will do the same.

1. Malaree Slide-Out Shelf Soft Close Rails Wood Pull Out Tray Organizer | 2. Protective Cabinet Liner | 3. Stackable Cabinet Organizer Shelf (Set of 2) | 4. Bamboo Expandable Silverware Drawer Organizer

These slide-out shelves are my dream! I don’t have any cabinets where I could install them in my current kitchen, but they remain on the future wish list. Since we’re on the design problems of shelves, getting some shelf risers also maximizes storage space! Oh, and don’t be like me and wait to get a proper flatware drawer organizer, promise?? Finally, I really loved the idea of this protective cabinet liner. We all know leaks and spills can happen under the sink, so why not get a preventive option and save yourself from things like mold?

I know there are so many other design problems we could have covered, but lucky for you, you can head here to the Wayfair Hot Summer Sale to solve even more! Let’s get these issues fixed so we can actually spend time just enjoying our homes and Summer activities.

Love you, mean it.

*Thank you to Wayfair for partnering with us on this blog post.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | from: Portland Project Pantry Reveal

Guest Cottage: The Vintage Plumbing Fixtures We’re Using In The Bathroom + Our Final-ish Floorplan

Emily — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

If you were worried this bathroom couldn’t get weirder, you will be happy to know that it will, in fact, not only have a black urinal but an adorable (if not disgusting) powder blue toilet from the 1960s (and matching sink!). Yes, vintage plumbing! I swear I’m not rage-baiting you; I’m just genuinely excited to get a non-white toilet in a color that looked good with the stained glass door colors. And once I found this one, I squealed in absolute delight (and a tiny bit of disgust)! If this were for a client or if I were on a deadline, I would do the normal person thing, but this project, this room, is my chance for fun, learning, and experimentation, and I needed to check my “powder blue toilet with a ripped up puffy upholstered vinyl seat” box on my life bingo card. Bingo!!!

Now, this toilet was originally found at Portland’s beloved Hippo Hardware, where the owner himself (founded in the 1970s) charmed us with his passion for salvaged architectural pieces… and his wife, who recently passed away. It was all so sweet, and as a sucker for a sentimental dapper man and fearful that these would get snatched up like a package of nerd clusters surrounded by a group of 8-year-olds, I panicked and bought them. Mine! The sink and toilet were $500 for the pair, which felt expensive and yet reasonable. Of course, we didn’t know how much restoring them would be. That was a future Emily problem!

steven miller of hippo hardware

So we got the first quote back, which took weeks because apparently the few people who are still interested in refurbishing vintage plumbing are retired and don’t like to answer texts or emails (which is how I’ll be in my 80s, no shade). So the 14-day return period expired before we could get the quote. I was the owner of these two broken, busted fixtures without knowing how much it would cost to make them usable again.

The quote came in at $2,200!!!!!!! That is two thousand two hundred dollars to fix a gross old toilet (and sink that we don’t need).

“It’s not firm”. Ok? He said it might be a “lot less”. That he was “just preparing me for worst case scenario.” Listen, I have so much respect for makers and tradesmen, especially those who do something really historic and specific. But $2,200 after $500 stopped making sense to me (I’m literally laughing out loud right now, is common sense still a thing for this project?).

So instead of buying a normal person toilet, I found another retired and passionate antique plumbing fixture repair person who thinks it will be more like $600 for the toilet and not sure about the sink (but I loved talking to him on the phone – such passion! And he LOVED my toilet!! Such validation). At this point, I can’t return either, and I really want to make this work (clearly I’m invested in all the ways). But at the time of publishing, we still haven’t confirmed the exact price of restoration.

But I wasn’t buying vintage plumbing to save money on a toilet. I knew it would be more expensive than a new, simple white toilet. I bought it for the perfect color that you can’t get now. Not to mention the vintage vibes. The soul. The history. Think of all the people who have sat here and all the thoughts they had in the 1960s and 1970s. The Vietnam War. JFK assassination. The Nixon Era! Watergate happened right here.

Oh, and I also thought that restoring it would be a good learning experience for me and the seven of you who would ever attempt to do this. I can’t be the only lady off her rocker who has wanted a vintage colorful toilet from FBMP and wondered if it was doable? I figured I could walk you through my experience, and then those of you who have been waiting for the internet’s crazy person to do this would glean some information. Today is your day! Kinda!

There she is. The up-close moment she’s been waiting for. It’s been a long, hard life!! Kaitlin was like, “So you want me to professionally shoot… this??” I paid for her professional photographer rate to take these photos. And then when she didn’t get close enough, I was like, “Lady, get on in there. Give the people what they really want”. So she complied.

You’re welcome.

Ok, let’s get some facts straight here:

The toilet will be totally cleaned and restored inside the tank. Like a Brazilian wax – shiny and smooth as a baby’s butt.
The exterior will look brand new – it’s covered in grime, not poop, I promise. There are no cracks or stains.
We’ll reupholster the seat in a fun vintage fabric. Thinking of my Boro fabric, I have a lot of scraps leftover.
I’M JOKING. The seat will either be a new blue seat, a colored seat that doesn’t match but looks fun, or a wooden seat. All will be brand new, I swear on the lives of my children, I’m not a disgusting toilet-hoarding person. Yet.
The sink will also be restored, likely with a new faucet. Mounted to the wall. Maybe skirted. Maybe with legs. Sexy AF.
We’ll have another sink in the main part of the bathroom, so technically we don’t need this, but you can’t separate these two. They’ve been together for 75 years. Only a monster would separate these lovebirds.
This is not a mid-year April Fools’ joke.

The toilet and sink will live inside the outhouse on the back wall. Now America’s favorite urinal will live on the right wall, behind the doors, so that when the doors are open, you can only see a little bit of it, but it’s not in full view until you walk in. The floor will be carpeted with the Flor tiles that I love. JK.

Yes, I bought the urinal. And it’s beautiful.

Now I seriously considered not having the urinal because I don’t like it when people aren’t excited about my ideas – it kinda takes the fun out of it, especially as a content creator. I love it when you guys connect with what I’m doing, care about it, and glean ideas from my design process. But as much as the anti-urinal brigade was coming at me, my in-house “urinal enthusiasm” club held strong. Brian and all of his friends (who are my friends, too) and Charlie and all of his friends were so excited (I didn’t ask his friends directly, I’m not that creepy of a freak. Charlie told me). And while I’m not a traditional people pleaser (at all), I’m extremely motivated by other people having fun and enjoying themselves in rooms I create. And the men in my family are so excited that no internet pushback could stop this urinal train. But it’s less visually prominent now, so you guys won’t have to look at it, and only the women in my life will have to suffer in person. I promise

So here you can see how it might look. There is going to be about 10″ of framing on each side of the door (thus obscuring the urinal). The stained glass is dark, mostly opaque. I haven’t decided what the walls inside are going to be. Maybe painted beadboard and wallpaper. Maybe carpet. Who knows!

The Vanity Sink

But we aren’t done salvaging and repurposing vintage plumbing fixtures, so we removed this sink from upstairs, and it’s pretty great. We almost used it in the kitchen, but I really wanted to explore powder coating it a color, and I knew that washing dishes in it would likely reduce its longevity a lot. Powder coating cast iron with a porcelain glaze is not a permanent finish; it’s prone to the paint chipping after years of use. So it’s not recommended, but anecdotally people say that if it’s in a bathroom that doesn’t get a ton of use, it can last for years and years, so I’m willing to take the risk for the learning experience (and to have a fun color).

It’s going to be centered on this wall between the wall and the shower. We’ll inset it in a table or vintage dresser/credenza. We might do what we did in the powder bath, which is to find a vintage table and cut off its back legs so it can be mounted to whatever depth we want and then skirt it. Or we find the right vintage case-good that we can inset it in. I’m open.

The faucet was already removed to get re-plated in polished nickel. But I haven’t got the quote back. I told the restorer that if it’s under $1k, I’ll do it, but if it’s more than that, I’ll buy a new bridge faucet (for much less). A few things as you are looking at that:

The flooring will be a dark red brick in a herringbone pattern.
The vanity is a placeholder for something vintage. It might be the perfect dresser or, again a skirted vanity that would allow me to bring in more color and pattern.
The tile inside the shower is TBD (we are deciding this in conjunction with the sink color).
Mirror and lights, TBD (location of lights is fixed).
Walls will all be clad in our reclaimed fir, which is tonally the same as what we have.

But it’s worth it to me to see if we can get this old lady working again, in her new dress, rather than shove a new face on its neck. But the powder coating color is still up in the air. We aren’t 100% set on the tile of the shower yet, so that might make a difference in what color we ultimately choose, but here are a few of the colors we are getting samples for that Gretch mocked up for us:

Now my first choice was to powder coat it the color of the toilet, but there isn’t one that is close (we have more samples coming). And while I like that blue a lot (and will pop off the wood wall so nicely), there is a lot of blue already happening in here (the shower and the water closet are both in blue-painted structures). The green is a safe, awesome choice, as it’s one of our accent colors and will pop off the wood but work seamlessly in the design. The mustard could be the weird moment we need, OR be a huge regret. We haven’t chosen the tile yet for the shower and could incorporate some of these tones in there (or in the fabric that we might skirt the vanity in). Now the dark red would be AWESOME, but I fear that it won’t pop off the wood wall enough. But maybe that’s ok? Maybe it would catch the light and be a really dark, moody, and cool tone that is a bit more tonal with the walls?

What do you think? I know you don’t have alllll the information yet, but if you have a gut response, let me know. Vote below!

I’m still flushing out all the ideas. I’m drained from going back and forth on the urinal. But I’m back in a flow state and sinking into the reality that we’ll have a finished bathroom by September.

I want to give a shout-out to a longtime beloved reader, Kirsten Bell, who reached out re: the urinal conversation. Kirsten is an anthropologist who wrote an upcoming book called The Baggage We Carry, about the hidden anthropology of everyday life. There is a whole chapter about the history of the urinal and how, not shockingly, there are a lot of feelings about it. She referenced our conversation here in the book, which I felt very flattered by. Turns out I wasn’t wrong to think that the pushback was not just about the presumed issues with sanitation. Her book comes out in November and is linked here. I thought it was so funny and smart. Not what I was expecting at all, and boy, would I love to be in her anthropology class. Thanks, Kirsten. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

Renter-Friendly, DIY/Mid-Range & High-End: 3 Ways to Bring The Signature (& Beloved) Nancy Meyers Look Into Your Kitchen

Arlyn Hernandez — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

If you spend any time online looking at design inspiration, you may begin to realize that a lot of people try to recreate that iconic lived-in-comfortable-coastal-chicness that is synonymous with a Nancy Meyers movie set. And no room is more beloved and recreated than the Nancy Meyers kitchen, which feels like a main character of the plot in and of itself. There are reasons people love them and endlessly want to capture the vibes, but let me tell you: It’s not as straightforward as it looks.

One quick search on Instagram will lead you to hundreds, if not thousands, of beautiful kitchen spaces emblazoned with scripty titles bearing the Nancy Meyers name, but imho, most of them miss the mark. Here’s the thing: The “Nancy Meyers kitchen” works because it feels authentic. It’s imperfect in its utter perfection. No influencer with their laundry list of Amazon affiliate links to glass cannisters, hand-crank brass pepper mills, and scallop-edged cutting board sets is steering you in the right direction.

The genius of a Nancy Meyers kitchen is that no two are alike. They give you that same feeling, time after time, movie after movie, but if you compare Something’s Gotta Give side by side with It’s Complicated, and even further back, Father of the Bride, you can see that they aren’t some Instagram-perfect replicas of each other. Sure, there are copper pots, rattan, slipcovers, and polished-nickel bridge kitchen faucets, but none of them are the pristine white-cabinet-doning, blue-and-white-ceramic-sporting spaces content creators pretend they are.

Let me show you:

Something’s Gotta Give:

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The kitchen in this movie is perhaps one of the most classic Nancy Meyers designs (RIP Diane Keaton, I can’t believe you’re gone). White shaker cabinets, white subway tile, honed black (what I’m assuming is) soapstone countertops, glass-front uppers, lamps, tons of books, lemons in a bowl (always), some random clock, and her signature hefty and somewhat industrial pendant lighting.

It’s Complicated:

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As much as I loved the Something’s Gotta Give kitchen, this room from It’s Complicated (all hail Meryl Streep) may have started everyone’s obsession—including my own—with the Nancy Meyers kitchen. There was just something about that freestanding marble island and the dining table at arm’s length that made this room feel like a place where life happens. There are two kitchen carts (one next to the island, one on the left side of the wall) that I promise you’d never see in a “designer” picture-perfect kitchen, and I love that for this set. A melange of cookware above the range, counters full of everyday items like a coffee machine, toaster, pantry dry goods, and beyond, feels lived in and like this is a very active kitchen with no time to put away the flour.

Father of the Bride (Slide #4):

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Feel free to look at all the slides here, but for this portion, I’m referencing slide four. I actually used to live just a few minutes away from the exterior of the Father of the Bride house (and Jess lives even closer currently, lucky girl), and every time I would drive by, I’d swoon. It’s equally as gorgeous in person as it was in that movie decades ago. Key here is the butcher block counters all around, the straight forward white cabinetry, and sooo much out on the countertops that is incredibly charming in a movie, but might make me itch IRL. Regardless, I adore this home.

The Holiday:

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This is perhaps the least coveted Nancy Meyers kitchen, but probably only because it’s the smallest and most “approachable.” It’s still so lovely with plenty of takeaways. A kitchen with a fireplace in its footprint is serious design goals, and I’m taking note of all the platters and crocks and tureens in the shelving above it. Another kitchen cart adds storage (the kitchen cart or freestanding island is a signature of this look, if you haven’t gathered), a compact and humble eat-in kitchen table and chairs with tied-on seat cushions add practicality for a small cottage, and a chalky blue paint color with matching wood knobs is timeless. She used a similar blue cabinetry and knob design in Hallie’s Napa home kitchen from The Parent Trap.

The Intern:

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This kitchen, from the movie The Intern with Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro (which is fabulous if you haven’t seen it), is the most “modern” and tidy design in this lot. It feels almost Parisian in style, though it’s meant to be in Brooklyn. You can see the pendant lighting is similar to the ones in Something’s Gotta Give, a deep dusty blue is used on the cabinets, and plenty is put on display. Nancy Meyers simply does not believe in the concept of empty countertops and enviable org (because that would look quite boring on film, I think).

Now that we’re studied up, I’m going to walk you through three moodboards I put together that can be used as inspiration for the foundation of this style of kitchen. I say “foundation” because the very thing that makes a Nancy Meyers kitchen a Nancy Meyers kitchen is everything else in the space. Real olive oil and vinegar bottles (not decanted into some beautiful thing) bunched together near the stove. Rugged cutting boards, copper pots hung from the ceiling or above the range that look like someone is actually using them (and DO use them!). The coffee maker is out on the counter, not shamefully hidden in an appliance garage. Utensil holders are crammed full of wooden spoons and spatulas. Cookbooks of all ages and sizes are stuffed in a corner somewhere.

That’s what makes it comfortable. These kitchens wear their imperfections with pride, yes, even if most of them are in what would be million-dollar homes in the real world. Nothing is “curated” or purposefully aesthetic. They are well designed, of course, but without the fussy and pristine styling we’re so used to seeing these days in design content. And frankly, I think that’s why we love them. Because they give you permission to stop thinking so hard about what you leave out on your counters or on your shelves. A collection of mismatched mugs? Sure, rock them. A small table lamp on the counter and a clip-on task light above your range? Chic and functional at the same time.

And all of this said, *you* are going to be the missing piece to all my moodboards below. YOUR stuff, your condiments and salts and cooking tools and rolling pins and kitchen towels and favorite cut flowers and bowls of fruits. None of these will fully be true to the Nancy Meyers name because they won’t have a human element. But what they will do is help you get closer, because even though I said people struggle to nail the look online, there are definitely bullet points you can hit, including:

Industrial or lantern-style pendant lights
Bridge faucets (in polished nickel or aged brass)
Freestanding kitchen carts and islands
Butcher block, Carrera marble, or soapstone countertops (opt for a traditional eased edge, or a more ornate double ogee or coved Dupont edge profile)
Cup-style cabinet pulls in aged brass, polished nickel, or oil-rubbed bronze
Simple but special tile backsplashes
Comfortable dining tables in timeless styles
Rattan, slipcovered or spindle-back dining chairs
The extras: Copper cookware, white ceramics, well-loved cutting boards, tea kettles, drip coffee makers, wooden cooking tools, linen accents, functional industrial elements, condiments in original bottles, pretty but simple glassware, serving ware put on display, etc.

Now let’s put this to paper with real shoppable products:

Nancy Meyers Kitchen: Rental Kitchen or Budget Refresh

As someone who has only ever rented *and* doesn’t have a huge budget right now to invest a large amount of money into a kitchen overhaul, I wanted to start with this version. Almost everything here is reversible, with the exception of the countertops, which, of course, are not renter-friendly, but they sure are budget-conscious if you’re looking for that angle here. That pendant light is less than $200 (and I might be eyeing it for my own breakfast nook!). There are cheaper kitchen faucet options, but this is one of those things that you don’t want to totally skimp on. If you’re interested in swapping out your faucet, earmarking at least $300 for it is ideal for something that won’t be peeling or spraying you in the face in a few months. Not a cute look, trust me.

If your countertops are staying put because of budget or rental status, you can bring in that homey kitchen vibe with a small island like this one from Wayfair. I love the built-in storage baskets and hooks for hanging cooking utensils. Oh, and those two surfaces you see are both peel-and-stick from Chasing Paper. I just love the Delft-inspired one for a backsplash that can go right over whatever you have, as long as it isn’t overly textured. And the black-and-white one can go on the floor for a super classic look. Both have creamy ivory tones, so nothing is stark white (Nancy Meyers loves a warm glowy white.) Affordable IKEA cup pulls are easy to install and remove for whenever your lease is up, and the dining table and rattan chairs are great either in an adjacent eat-in kitchen or separate dining room, too.

Nancy Meyers Kitchen: Mid-Range DIY Makeover

Here’s a slightly more coastal vibe (minus the blues), thanks in part to the slipcover chair, the creamy white paint color that you can use to paint your own existing cabinetry, and the oil-rubbed bronze hardware. And that tile looks so good and hand-glazed for under $10 a square foot. Traditional soapstone countertops mimic the Something’s Gotta Give home (keep them honed and matte for a low-maintenance approach); an aged brass faucet is a nice marriage with the hardware for a not overly matchy-matchy look. I went with two wood tones between the table and the island because these spaces often look like they were pieced together and collected over time. Oh, and that Pooky lantern would be gorgeous above a room with slate or even terra-cotta brick floors (and it’s very affordable, too).

Nancy Meyers Kitchen: High-End Full Reno

And finally, the full monty, the cherry-toned sundae, the, well…you get the point. The apex of the Nancy Meyers kitchen moodboards had to include actual cabinetry, a marble-topped island, and an enviable range. For the cabinetry, I pulled a style from CliqStudios that felt classic thanks to the mitered interior molding and a flat-front drawer. A dusty blue would have been stunning here, or a soft linen white as shown. The spindle back dining chairs remind me of the breakfast nook in Father of the Bride, and are a more traditional take on the spindle chairs in It’s Complicated. Polished nickel cabinet hardware adds some crispness, and the French gold faucet is light and airy but will age beautifully. And here’s an actual tile in a similar Delft-style, which would be stunning either across the whole kitchen or even just as a feature wall above the range. Carrara or Calacatta marble is clutch to the high-end look, and the solid wood table is something that will look good and timeless basically forever.

—

Alright, my comfort movie-loving friends. We’ve reached the end. Much like a Nancy Meyers movie, it’s hard to leave this world of effortless home beauty, but I hope I did justice to the look and helped you understand what levels up the foundation to truly nail the aesthetic. Remember, it’s all about you and your things, and don’t be afraid to leave all the things you love and use frequently out on the counter. After all, I just know Nancy would encourage that for a good shot.

Until next time…

Can’t get enough of Nancy Meyers? Jess helped a reader get the look in their living room, and I wrote a longer deep-dive feature on the look last year you can dig through. Enjoy!

Opening Image Credits: Design & Styling by Orlando Soria | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: At Long Last! The Londo Lodge Kitchen Is Ready For Her Close Up FOUR YEARS Later!

STYLING HACK: A Sculptural Vase Can Change Your Space…Let Us Prove It

Jess Bunge — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Let’s talk about an underrated decor piece. A piece that’s known to be stashed in a cabinet only to be brought out when someone picks up flowers (most likely by the infrequent but sweet guest). I’m talking about vases (and some planters). But today I’m going to focus on the sculptural vase. You know, the kind that look great with or without flowers? They can add height, texture, pattern, and/or shape. Heck, they can add all of those at the same time if you want. I just took a quick look around my living room, and I think I counted five (with many more in the kitchen). And you know Emily loves and highly approves of a sculptural vase (especially one that can hold large branches:)) So today I’m going to show you spaces we’ve designed with and without their sculptural vase to show you what they do for a room. I also found A TON of incredible shoppable options in case you have been looking or are inspired to get one. The prices vary, but there’s something for every budget. But also look around your local thrift shop, flea market, etc. They really are everywhere if you keep your eye open. Ok, let the lesson begin!

Sculptural Vase: Color Blocked & Handpainted

design by jess bunge | styled by emily bowser | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: jess’ living room reveal

As you can see, the left photo (or top if you are on mobile) is the original with the blue-toned painted vase I bought from Emily Bowser when she was clearing out her styling inventory to make room for new things. When you compare it to the next photo without it, the room doesn’t look bad, but you miss the height, color, and pattern the vase added to the space. The mantle also feels a little too empty and off balance.

Porcelain Table Vase | Torino Ceramics Vase

And in case you love that vase, here it is! I love it so so much, and while it’s a little north of $200, it’s really so versatile and a forever piece (unless you’re a stylist who needs to cycle through your inventory ;)). The other vase is a bit shorter but has a great width, is handmade (and looks like it in the best way), and I love the brighter terra cotta color. It pops in a fun but still calming way. I love these color combos so much.

Sculptural Vase: Unique & Colorful

photo by kailtin green | from: farmhouse landing wallpaper and art update!

Ok, Emily, has had that incredible turquoise sculptural vase by B. Zippy forever and for good reason! The shape is so unique, and the ceramic texture is perfection. Would anyone think this little landing moment was “ugly” without the vase and flowers? No, that would be insane. However, that vase and color make the whole moment really come alive! It talks to the tones in that stunning piece of art and visually balances the painting since it’s on the other side of the chair. Plus, the MCM style is a wonderful contrast to the over “farmhouse” vibe of the home.

Safa Etero Corteccia Green and Brown Decorative Vase | Hostas Vase

Here are two more expensive options I found that I want (“Jess, you have ENOUGH!*). Both are handmade and so unique. The green and terra cotta one is made by an amazing ceramicist in Italy and comes in different size variations. The blue one also comes in cream and is made in the US by another critically acclaimed ceramicist. Don’t make me choose because I can’t!

Tall Hexagon Ceramic Vase

This one is budget-friendly at only $25! I love the shape, color, and glaze. It’s just enough of a color pop to stand out but not enough to visually take over.

Sculptural Vase: Abstract

art direction by emily henderson | styled by emily bowser and julie rose | photo by sara ligorria-tramp | from: a budget and rental-friendly living and dining room (with 80% thrifted finds)

Do I even need to say it? That blue vase is a crucial piece in making this room feel like it’s full of personality. Emily Bowser and Julie did such an incredible job! Now, some of you might not be in love with such a bold color and prefer something softer, which is totally fine. If that’s the case, then I’d recommend still choosing an interesting shape but in a neutral or patterned organic material.

Santiago De Borja Cocona Decorative Vase | Geometric Green Vase

I feel like these two vases are a little in the middle of bold and “neutral,” given the green tones. However, the shapes are so playful! That’s really what this category is about – big, fun shapes (mostly with handles).

Sculptural Vase: Tall & Slim

photo by kailtin green | from: river house primary bathroom reveal

If you have the counter space in your bathroom to have a sculptural vase, you won’t regret it! Look what a beautiful difference it makes in the River House primary bathroom?? It’s an oppurtunity to add a little color (if you want), some height (if you want), and, of course, a place to put some pretty flowers or leaves (if you want). It just adds that final styling touch that makes your space look like a designer had a hand in creating it.

Castalia Handmade Ceramic Table Vase | Handmade Ceramic Table Vase

Not colorful but textured and interesting shapes. The first one with the little handles is quietly playful! I love how small they are compared to the rest of the piece. It’s so fun but still serene for a calming bathroom (or any room). The other one is tall and slim with a shape you don’t commonly see (especially at this reasonable of a price point). Doesn’t take up a lot of surface space, so it’s great for a counter, mantle, etc.

Mesola Qatrefoil Vase

Another tall and slim (but chic) sculptural vase! This one is both bold with its color and soft with the almost flower shape at the top. It’s handmade in the US and extremely special.

Sculptural Vase: Short & Round

Round Textured Ceramic Vase | Round Exaggerated Rim Vase

These are two affordable options that give you great visual texture! I really love the exaggerated rim on the darker vase. That’s a style I see mostly in very expensive pieces.

Sculptural Vase: Organic & Graphic

photo by kailtin green | from: all the ways we’ve styled our farmhouse fireplace mantel (+ lots of useful ideas)

When I took out the two vases from the original photo, even I was shocked by the stark difference! Of course, you need to factor in that the flowers and branches are gone too, but woah, if there was ever a case for sculptural vases, it might be this example! The blue on (which I also desperately want someday) is by the amazing BZippy, while the other is a great vase from Anthropologie. Together, the soft colors and bold shapes work together and help to create a really visually interesting room. Here are some other options that live in the same world

New Collection Handmade Ceramic Table Vase | Natural Cement Planter

I adore the shapes of both of these so much! The first sculptural vase is modern and cool, but soft and lol so much more expensive than it is! The second vase is under $40! The movement is intoxicating to me and has a real studio pottery vibe to it, which is a favorite of mine.

The room examples are now done, and below are more incredible vases I found and had to show you. It’s a design sickness, and I’m sorry if I’m spreading it to you all;)

Sculptural Vase: Classic-Inspired Blue Striped

Cyrene Bud Vase | Ceramic Vase ‘Krater N°1’

Like, are you kidding me????? That first bud vase makes my heart stop a little. It’s handmade in England, and I want to own it. It’s small, but my god, it’s so special. The second is an incredible modern twist on ancient Greek pottery. What a great piece to either contrast with a more traditional style home or a super eclectic one! The hand-painted look and raw finish really gives it so much movement.

Sculptural Vase: Hand-Sculpted Double-Handled Urn

Handmade Stoneware Sculpture | Medusa Vase

My jaw will continue to remain on the floor because look at these two pieces! I really adore when ceramics look hand-sculpted, and these two are very close to that (especially the first one). Special, special, special!

Sculptural Vase: Modern Classic & Colorful

Green Glazed Ceramic Vase | Italian Peeled Large Scale Vase

Let’s come back to some color, but still in a more antique style. Honestly, no notes for either of these pieces. I love the added circles and exaggerated handles of the green one, and how precious are those scroll accents on the terra cotta one?

Sculptural Vase: Striped

Maya Eline Leroy Striped Ceramic Vase | Hulu Ceramic Vase

You can’t really go wrong with a stripe. The green and blue one is fun and wonky in the best way. It’s just whimsical but cool, you know? Then what I love about the tan and black vase is the shape (obviously), but also the alternating stripe orientation. It’s so simple but adds a fun twist.

Fraya Vase | Rhysa Vase

Clear glass isn’t always my personal favorite because the stems are really on display (again, a personal preference), but this first one has those great green stripes that make it really fun and the blue solid base. Big fan. Then who doesn’t love a cool jug? I know we all do, and this two-tone green striped one is perfect. It’s got a great shape, a fun pattern, and texture.

Sculptural Vase: Colorful Glass

Dotted Rim Pink Glass Vase | Bristol Glass Bud Vase

Speaking of glass, here are two more options that are colorful, beautiful, AND will mostly hide your stems should you put flowers in them:)

Sculptural Vase: Architectural with Thin Arms

Corra One Handled Zinc Vase | Sanita Handmade Metal Table Vase

Ugh, I LOVE an angular and exaggerated skinny vase handle! These two fit that bill to a T. And don’t worry, both of these vases are nice and tall, giving you height, shape, and texture. These give Brutalist and would create some awesome style tension if your style is more traditional.

Ceramic Table Vase | Asel Metal Table Vase

Here are two more! The blue one’s handles aren’t large per se, but the difference in scale in proportion to the body is so fun. Also, that glaze and color are very good. Then it’s not all that often that a vase has four handles like the brown metal sculptural vase you see above. It’s simple but special (I had to say it once; it’s in the EHD law book).

Sculptural Vase: Ruffle/ Textured Accents

Peony Vase | Lola – Vase D

For my more traditional with a twist style lovers, this section is for you. That big, green, beautiful vase is incredible. It’s part of Heidi Caillier’s collection with Lulu and Georgia, so it’s a no-brainer. Now the blue one is by a Mexican ceramist by the name of Perla Valtierra. I first saw one of her vases in a coffee shop in Mexico City in 2022, then again in an incredible shop on our team retreat in Todo Santos in 2024. Another piece I want for my future. Those ribbon accents and perfect glaze color are unreal.

Cloud Blue Ceramic Pinched Edge Hand Painted Vase

But for a much, much more affordable option, these pinched-edge vases are so wonderful! Has that handmade element, and that super light blue color is so peaceful.

Sculptural Vase: Special Blue & White Handpainted

Bird Vase | Wonky Ware Vase

We also love a darker blue, and these hand-painted, hand-sculpted pieces are what ceramic dreams are made of! These are true works of art with their immense amount of texture and free-form shapes. So yes, I want these too. They are almost giving modern, studio pottery Chinoiserie!

Limn Vase | Printed Floral Shell Vase

Two more blue and white beauties that are also incredible. That more graphic piece is made in the US, and I’m in love with the shape and mixing of patterns. The shell vase is from Pottery Barn, is a great size, and under $100. Playful and unique!

Sculptural Vase: Organic Polka Dot

Nobuko Konno Planter | Tagine in Buttons

It wouldn’t be a cool vase post without polka dots in some form, right? These two in particular are so special. Polka dots are known for being quite uniform, but these feel so cool and organic. The shapes are amazing, the textures have so much movement, and the pattern makes both so incrediby eye catching. 100/10.

Adger Paper Mache Table Vase | Unusual Decorative Blue & White Modern Vase

These two are in the “polka dot category,” but are more bumps and dots:) The black one is so unique! The dark single color keeps it from taking center stage in a room, but the shape is SO fun and eye-catching. Then the white one also has SUCH an unreal shape, and the pattern feels youthful and fresh.

Sculptural Vase: Organic & Wavy

Anetta Decorative Vase | Round Decorative Ceramic Vase

But if you want cool shapes and textures but like neutral and not “too crazy,” one of these could be the sculptural vase for you. These feel like they were scooped up from the ocean, but not in a “I’m a coastal vase” kind of way. Their texture just looks like it was made by the ocean’s currents, and there’s something so calming when you look at them. Aren’t they beautiful? Also, they could work in, I believe, almost any style of home.

Brittany Llanas Large Porcelain Vase

Here’s an awesome, really tall version that’s under $150!!

Sculptural Vase: Black & Bold

Hampstead Urn | Palermo Ceramic / Porcelain Table Vase

Finally, here are some truly great solid black options. The shapes and materials make them so special. I’ve loved that metal urn for a while now. It’s so elegant but moody. I’m just very drawn to it. The other one feels very “EHD”! Exaggerated rim, cool shape, and a great height. Also, a very fair price!

Ryder Metal Decorative Urns & Jars (Set of 2) | Karme Vase

These last two are modern traditional at their core, and boy, are they so pretty! Different materials, great unique handles, and classic body shapes. They are quite showstoppers.

This is where I leave you. If the room you’ve been working on feels like it’s just missing a little something and you don’t already have a sculptural vase, try one! It’s a piece of art that’s functional, can be a conversation starter, and is easy to take with you to a new home. If you ask me, it’s a worthy investment:)

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Farmhouse Landing Wallpaper and Art Update!

How We Use (And Don’t Use) AI At My Company

Emily — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Listen to this: 15 years ago, I was invited to be an early investor in an app where you press a button and a stranger picks you up in their car. I laughed it off. It was Uber. I have benefited greatly from being an early adopter of blogging and social media, but I don’t always have the business foresight that maybe others do (well, I said no to a lot of NFT startups, thank god). I’ve been extremely interested in AI for years, devouring articles and podcasts, mostly to understand how this is going to affect society writ large (spoiler: we don’t know). I know a lot of the goods and bads. So when my algorithm started feeding me all these women who were “waking up having all the work done overnight”, I thought at first, Wait, how?? And then I was genuinely curious if I could be one of these women. Maybe AI could really benefit my life and company and solve all my problems.

Should I scramble to be an AI early adopter? Should I train my AI agent to be my clone??? Will she be hotter than me?

***UPDATE: I wrote this post last week, just as Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, called for an international pause because their advanced AI was showing signs of “recursive self-improvement” – that is, being able to make better and more powerful versions of itself. While he’s notably one of the good guys in the field (Not a Zuckerberg or Musk type), he’s still racing towards an IPO, so for him to say this, it must internally be TERRIFYING. Also odd/scary that most of the mainstream media barely covered it.

Anyway, unless singularity happened over the weekend, I’ll assume you are all still here reading, so here’s what I wrote…

Of course, I have the typical extreme fears that a handful of men are playing God with society, the economy, the future of humanity, our kids’ brains, and the earth, with no regulation. In the realm of “inventions,” we aren’t sure if this is going to be more like electricity (yay!), ultra-processed foods (boo), or worldwide human decimation (…). But it’s here, and it’s not going to go away because it’s driving too much wealth and power. It’s a speeding runaway train, and as a small business owner and mom in 2026, I have zero ability to stop it, so I’ve been curious if I should get on it, just take the ride and see if/where I can understand it better/benefit from it.

The Bad (For Me): How AI has Affected Our Business

Left: Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves | Right: The New Design Rules: How to Decorate and Renovate, from Start to Finish: An Interior Design Book

Pre-AI (the blog glory years), when a potential new reader googled “what size rug should go in a living room,” our site would pop up first, thus driving traffic and hopefully converting someone who was “design curious” into a daily blog reader (or just having them read the post long enough for the ads to refresh). Now it’s an AI explanation of my exact tips at the top, and you have to scroll down to find the source. Our Google traffic decreases 20% YOY. Oh, and both my design books were part of the lawsuit by Penguin Random House that claimed OpenAI read and mirrored all the content for ChatGPT. “We” won – $3k. Clash action money baby!!! LOL (haven’t seen a penny). So yes, AI has “mirrored” (stolen) 16 years of what should have been proprietary research, content, opinions, and tips, and all the Google traffic that went along with it. Boo.

I Hit The AI Acceptance Stage

But that’s just how digital media and tech work. Sometimes we benefit from it (like when Pinterest came out), and other times we don’t. So, I’m currently in the “accept and iterate” phase, and we try to write non-AI-able content that still grabs Google traffic. For educational design posts (like the rug example), we make sure to have them drenched with personal anecdotes, nuanced problem-solving, and expert-driven opinions so that AI features us highly, knowing that it wasn’t an AI-written post. I feel really lucky that we have enough diverse revenue streams and loyal readership to be financially healthy (it was scary for a bit). We navigated it well because my team is rad. The irony is that while digital media tech built this company, the more flawed and human we are is the only way to maintain it as AI continues to take over. Challenge, accepted.

I think we can all agree that AI stealing creative work and jobs, in every industry, is a net negative for society. Using it for productivity? Sure. Using it in place of human creativity? Nope.

The Good – Yes, Of Course, There Is Good!

Clearly, the advances in AI in science, healthcare, medicine, and tech are astounding. Its research capabilities at such incredible speed are off the literal charts. Innovation in all technology is happening so fast (speeding train, no known destination). But these are specific industries. I liked this article a lot. I know that for a lot of people, there are some productivity tools that can save time in their industries. I’m only speaking from my perspective in my creative and female-forward industry. Speaking of which…

The AI Pressure – Giving Icky “Girl Boss Energy??”

Last month, Reese Witherspoon (whom I like), Mel Robbins (mixed feelings), and Sheryl Sandberg (whom I blame for youth algorithmic addiction) took to social to say, “You (women) cannot be left behind when it comes to using technology that is shaping the way that work is evolving,” The backlash ensued.

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My response was “Sure, but how!?” and then “Wait… I need to be good at a new tech, again?!??” This article from NYMag asserted that this is just the “Girl-bossification of AI”. You see, in the mid-2010s, women were told to “lean in” (cue middle finger to Sandberg), rise and grind, be the mom and be the CEO! At the same time! Hustle culture was at an all-time high, but since we are yet to be cloned (LOL – I guess that’s their point??), it didn’t go well, and the Girl Boss era ended in mass burnout. Speaking from experience, the pressure to win on all fronts was too much then and now. The only reason I’m still here is because Brian was the stay-at-home parent, I have a great team, and I chose to scale back instead of grow. But there is no computer program that can prevent burnout with that level of pressure, no matter how many AI apps you shove down my throat.

Besides, Mel was being paid by Microsoft Copilot, and listen, I get it, it was probably at least a 6-figure reel, but it feels problematic (and she seems not to even know how to use it herself). Their overall “public” thesis is that men are using AI more, and if women don’t hurry to catch up, they’ll continue to race by us. And maybe they will. My field is 95% women, so I’ve never felt an existential male threat, but if that’s true, then sure, let’s perk up and lean in. If their point is that AI will empower women and give us back some time, so that we don’t burn out, then sure, I want in on this fantasy.

But what if it’s just another thing we are being told we need in order to stay on top or to make our life “better”, but it actually just takes more of our time, pulls our brain space, and makes things worse? There is zero evidence yet that it’s a net positive for women in its current iteration. They didn’t talk about how they are using it at all or give any concrete information, “just don’t get left behind!” The panic to adopt is giving NFTs and Crypto.

So how does someone like me use AI to benefit me?????? If I don’t want to hand over any of my creative tasks (because I don’t), then can it make me more productive?

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Back To The AI Agents Doing Your Work In The Middle Of The Night…

Brit Morin (formerly Brit and Co, now an investor in a lot of AI) does these reels asserting that those who adopt AI now and have AI agents will have a massive advantage in life.

So yeah, we are told to list our pain points, and once trained, our AI agent will solve them. If you are unfamiliar with AI agents, it’s essentially this: you “train” your AI agent on all your devices (by integrating their program on your computer) – they read every email, Slack channel, text message, they crawl your calendar, listen to every phone call, or if you wear a “wearable”, they’ll record every in-person conversation. As it learns how you talk, act, work, what you like and don’t like, it will start doing it for you, as you. It becomes a proxy of you. A digital clone. It will collate your ideas from multiple sources and will write all your email responses, create the presentation, book the travel – all before you wake up. No more EAs or human assistants needed.

Outside of the TOTAL CREEPINESS OF IT ALL, in the name of curiosity, I explored it, and it seems to me that I’m not the right candidate for this right now. Maybe my job isn’t corporate enough, or my business is too small and manageable, or my personality is too much a part of the business. Or maybe I simply like to be the one in control? I’m not saying it won’t work for others in larger or more tech and data-driven companies, or people with such huge jobs that they don’t have time to read their emails, but in its current iteration, I don’t think it makes sense. I might still try it (for research), but it would mostly be to get rid of all my relentless spam emails. I mean, that’s worth the price of robots taking over my life if you ask me! Also, they make A LOT of mistakes, which means you look like YOU make a lot of mistakes.

But there are a lot of people drinking the Kool-Aid, wearing these wearables, in a race to early adoption. Read this article by Ezra Klein about the paranoia and AI panic that abounds in Silicon Valley. People genuinely believe they will get left behind. And hell, if you work in AI or tech, you probably will. And maybe I will. Literally, one knows how this is going to play out. But normal people should feel ok taking a beat – this article explains all the mistakes these “agents” can make on your behalf.

To be clear, I think all college students should 100% learn about AI, just not learn FROM IT. They should be informed of AI, just not informed by AI. By using it, we are using less of our brains. Just as planned. Less brain exercise means less smart humans. Their plan is working!!

Is this another moral panic as parents, a la Rock and Roll? Or is this our kids’ generation’s “Social media” epidemic? Will Jonathan Haidt write the book about the first generation of AI natives in 20 years? Learning about it is important, but we shouldn’t feel pressure to adopt it fully in its current iteration.

How We Are Using AI????

Right. That was the whole point of the post. The short answer is “Only when it really makes sense”. But these are the specifics.

AI integrations In Some Design Programs

Of course, there are design programs that can “design a room” in 1 prompt, 10 minutes (i.e furnish my room to look like Nancy Meyers’ kitchen). I’m not discounting how frustrating design can be for people who want a better-looking home and can’t afford a designer or have zero time. So I actually think certain programs could be valuable just to envision, shop, and check the box. I think if you are reading this blog, you are likely not one of those people because you want a more uniquely personal home, but for many people who don’t have time to care and just want “better,” I absolutely see the value here.

We’ve tried using ChatGPT (premium) to switch out things so we can envision what a different sofa would look like in my living room, for instance, and at times it has worked OK. But it takes a long time (sometimes 15 minutes to do one thing), and it often gets it wrong (that’s a long time to wait to just have to do it again). The endless tweaking is too time-consuming and frustrating. So we gave up. What my team has found is that taking away something is easier in ChatGPT, but we still have to add it in Photoshop to get it right (until we discovered Spoak). Nano Banana seems to work better, and this might be something we explore to solve readers’ problems in Design SOS. I haven’t used it yet, but Mal says that it’s fast and just gets it more. You are still prompting and designing, selecting choices, etc. But it renders better and faster. That makes sense to me.

Every sophisticated design software now has built-in AI capabilities that are super useful, visually impactful, and absolutely time-saving while allowing you to be the creative driver. SketchUp, Photoshop, AutoCAD, Spoak – these don’t design for you, they just save the time it would typically take to make your design look even better. We use Spoak to better show us and you our designs in a specific room, using our ideas/prompts. It’s incredible. But it’s only 10% AI; most of what we use is their proprietary software. And re Photoshop: It used to take 5-7 minutes to get rid of something unsightly in Photoshop that we couldn’t remove in real life (think a gross mole hole near where I’m standing in the yard) and now it takes seconds. That’s absolutely time back for Kaitlin or us while editing. (Note: we don’t manipulate photos ever, just remove something that is unnecessarily distracting).

So yes, we are still exploring how we can use AI to better illustrate our design ideas both for personal projects and the blog/social. But we’ll obviously never be interested in handing over the design process to AI – what’s the fun in that? But we are open to ways that make persistent good common sense.

What About Writing And Editing?

Me? Not yet. Blog posts? Nope. Again, I love the process of writing, and I’m fast at it, so I wouldn’t want to hand it off (ironically, this post took me 12 hours). But here’s how we’ve used it in other ways.

Marlee will plug in an older blog post of mine and ask for bullet-pointed tips that can be developed into a short script for a reel that I’ll then say. We still have to edit it, but since it’s my own words and tips, it’s accurate and saves a lot of her time.
Quarterly internal presentations – Caitlin (partnerships and revenue lead) and Marlee and Mal (social media leads) are starting to use AI to analyze and collate months of data. They think this has saved them 10-15 hours a quarter, so they don’t have to do it manually. That’s 2 days, and when we are busy, that’s a lot!
As of now, we don’t use AI to fully edit. We just use Grammarly (which is why some grammar mistakes fall through the cracks). All I can say is that the human editor (the wonderful Jess) can not be replaced. Not only does she help with tone, efficiency, and redundancies, but we have to interlink every post and make sure that all the metadata is in there, etc. So sure, we could also add AI as an additional editor, and I’m sure they’d catch these mistakes, but it’s just not part of our protocol right now. I’m open to it.
Sometimes we use it for research for posts. We usually Google first, but recently Jess wrote the post about “things other countries have in their kitchens,” and ChatGPT was way more thorough than Google and led her to the sites where she could do more research. So in that sense, ChatGPT brought new traffic to sources that Google couldn’t.
Collating lists. ChatGPT is better than Google at showing me “20 rooms where Emily Henderson used wallpaper,” for instance.
Brainstorming. There are times when knowing what works for others is helpful to spark new ideas (full disclosure, I haven’t done this, but people on my team have). Maybe it’s a hook for social that sparks our own idea or title.

AI Seems To Be More Beneficial In Specific Industries, But Not Mine Yet

Admittedly, maybe our industry isn’t going to ever be one that gets totally devastated by AI because of the creative and personal nature of blogging and social media. What my industry needs is more backend tech to link every blog post or to auto-link every product. Hell, if I could go on a walk and dictate a personal post and it was written, cleaned up, formatted, and auto-populated with photos (to then be edited by a human), that would be awesome. I’m open…and wary.

If I were just starting out, building my business, I’d explore it for a lot of accounting, payroll, HR systems, and legal documents (the stuff that creatives are bad at). Before my first hire (which is terrifying), I would see if AI could help. But we are established enough, with good systems in place overseen by humans, so for me to transfer tasks to an AI agent feels like way more work, money, and anxiety just to… maybe save me work, time, and money (??).

As of now, there isn’t a lot of AI alignment in the small creative business (without a big mental cost). If you are a scientist and find writing tedious, I could absolutely see how ChatGPT could help speed up your communication. That’s fine! There is zero judgement from me if it’s working for you. But if you are in a creative industry and have panicked that you feel like you are clearly missing the benefits, getting “left behind,” know that it’s ok to keep researching before adopting. Pay attention, but don’t panic.

But obviously we all use AI, intentionally or not. Every time we Google anything now. It’s great for travel deals and tips on boiling eggs (which is stolen from food bloggers, I know). The other day, I asked ChatGPT to “plan a 5-day itinerary for a couple to go to Iceland in September, willing to splurge on adventure and spas, no helicopters”. And my goodness, it was a solid plan with hotel links and exact routes (I then felt gross that it had crawled so many travel bloggers, so I deep dove into their sites). Honestly, I love researching trips, so I wasn’t that relieved to have it done for me. But I could see how others would, for sure.

I’m not anti-AI. I’m anti the panic and pressure to integrate something so unpredictable and new, fully into my life and business, in its current iteration. I’m not saying no or never. Just being thoughtful about when and how. And just aware that every time I use it, there is a hidden but big impact on creators and the environment.

AI, in 2026, is not there yet.

It’s a whole industry in beta form (and no one wants the first beta form of tech). The glitches are popping, the securities and regulations aren’t there, and there might be more bugs than features. It’s going too fast, and the general population doesn’t have access to any real information, so we are just told how much better it’s going to make our lives, but with no evidence to prove it. Is it creating more work to help us have slightly less work? And I wonder if these apps are capitalizing on working women’s overwhelm, and this whole “don’t get left behind,” and the “AI Gender gap” stuff is just propaganda pressuring us into using a tech that might actually subjugate us and burn us out even more.

I’m glad I was an early adopter of blogging, but I’m taking a beat on full AI integration. I look at it like I do plastics, processed foods, and buying from Amazon. I’m going to try to avoid it where possible, but I know that there is a time and place where it might make sense. Currently, I think it’s a net negative for society.

It’s ok to wait and see. Do research, learn, pay attention, ask everyone in your industry, and keep your head out of the sand. But decide for yourself without the pressure of any “falling behind”.

What I really want is more time, not more tech. I don’t want to download more cooking apps; I want more BBQs with our neighbors. I want more IRL playing with my kids, not another tech and screen to get addicted to, that is actually wrong a lot. I know that this is the promise – time. But at what cost? It’s an international arms race to no one knows where. It’s up to us to figure out if and how it actually benefits us individually before we upend all our systems to integrate it deeply and permanently into our lives.

**Just calling for a ban on AI and shaming anyone who uses it is unproductive – it’s controlling all our markets right now, and unless you aren’t on the internet (and you are), then you are also using it. What I’d genuinely love to hear about is who is using what AI programs that are actually helpful, from real women (not paid AI spokespeople). And not just things they’ve heard of, real personal experiences from you. This is the missing link to the story. Give me real tips from real women, please.

*Photos by Kailtin Green

The Link Up: Em’s MUST SEE Family Show, Marlee’s Incredible Smelling Lotion, And A New DIY Design Book We Can’t Wait To Get Our Hands On

EHD — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Happy Sunday and HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, everyone!! The warm weather is feeling like it’s sticking around (watch it, June Gloom), we get to pay extra thanks and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, and our design projects are picking up steam. All in all, we want to lift up and focus on all the good that’s around because it’s incredibly important. Ok, now time for the links!

This week’s house tour is colorful and bold, but in a traditional, ornate style. The ceiling in the living room is so stunning, and the home overall is full of inspiration (even if you aren’t as daring in your home style:))

From Emily: Hey Portland folks!! Justin Willman is coming to town, and you have to go (with or without kids). One of the best joys of parenting is going to shared experiences together when everyone is equally into whatever it is. Enter Justin Willman, our family’s “magician” of choice, who somehow isn’t a HUGE household name yet. We binged his show, Magic for Humans, during lockdown, then did a Zoom show with him, and then last year, when he came to Portland (in advance of his Netflix special, which you ALSO need to watch), we took the kids, and it was one of the best nights as a family, like ever. Now he’s not a kid magician (don’t bring your toddlers), but for the 8+ crew and obviously grownups, he’s just so entertaining and fresh, while having a levity and poignancy about what he does. He’s coming for two nights in Portland when we are out of town, and the kids (and Brian and I) are so bummed to miss the new show that we might actually fly to Phoenix to see him. That’s how much I can recommend his live show. Trust me, it’s worth every penny in entertainment and just general bonding with whoever you go with. 10/10 experience.

Also From Emily: For any of you restoring or renovating an older home, The Grit And Polish (shout out to Cathy and Garret) re-did their site (ours is still in the works, I promise!) to make it so easy to find their really robust and helpful posts. You should definitely follow them on social, but their blog is a reminder of how helpful long-form design content can be (I’m obviously biased).

From Arlyn: I was going to point to something that is a super big deal for me this week, but keep scrolling, and you’ll see my buddies here already took the lead (spoiler: I WROTE A BOOK. Pre-order it NOW!) But okay, not that much can come close to recommending the design book I’ve been working on with my now-friend Fariha Nasir for the last THREE YEARS, but I did buy a new cute rug that I’m recommending this week. As I finally have a proper little foyer that’s not covered in shoes and bags and keys—bless the garage vestibule/mudroom—I’m working on sprucing up the space. While I wanted a vintage rug, I also worried about putting anything overly precious there, since the sun absolutely beats down the front of our home every afternoon, and I was afraid of sun damage. I stumbled upon this super sweet and super affordable 3’x5′ about two weeks ago and fell in love with the wavy border and the simple colorblocked floral print. It’s a new design from Rifle Paper Co.’s collection for Loloi. I’m impressed that it’s a 100% wool, hand-tufted design, thick and sturdy for about $120 at that size. I got the plum color, but was tempted by the other three colorways, for sure.

In case you don’t know Fariha Nasir, she is an unbelievably talented designer and DIY expert. We’ve been long-time fans, and when we heard that OUR ARLYN was going to be co-writing her first DIY design book with her, Home, Improved, let’s just say we were THRILLED. And since some of us have been talking with Arlyn throughout this whole process, we can also say that Fariha is as kind and wonderful as she is talented…VERY. She really makes designing and DIY projects so approachable, and if you know Arlyn’s writing, you know it’s going to be warm, easy to understand, and fun! We couldn’t be more excited to get this book in our hands come this September. We also know the importance of pre-orders, so do yourself, Fariha, and Arlyn a favor and just order now

From Mallory: I wanted to recommend a tried and true product I’ve had for over 5 years now: my CB2 scrunch lamps. I originally had them in my studio apartment, but I’ve brought them with me from house to house, and they always add so much personality to a room. The scale of them is awesome, I love the pleated shade, and the pattern is so fun but goes well with almost everything. If you’re looking for a solid lamp, there’s a reason CB2 has kept them in stock for so long! They are GREAT.

From Caitlin: Parents of teens: I have a great book rec for you! Back in 2007, in the midst of another Ebola outbreak, my mom gave me her copy of The Hot Zone. It was graphic, terrifying, and absolutely riveting – it totally transformed the way I looked at science. I was flunking out of high school at the time (losing both my grandparents did a number on me!), but it inspired and fascinated me so much that I ended up with the highest science grades in my year. It might be a transformative read for your kids, too! (Or even for yourself – it’s still a page turner, all these years later.)

From Marlee: So a few months ago, our photographer Kaitlin passed along a bottle of this Necessaire lotion in the scent “hinoki” to me because she wasn’t super into the smell – now it’s definitely strong and leans a little bit soapy, but once it settles into your skin, I didn’t mind the scent so much. It wasn’t my fave smell, but the feeling of the lotion was SO GOOD that I didn’t care. Fast forward to a couple of months later, I was meeting my friend for dinner and was in awe of how good she smelled. After asking her what perfume she was wearing, I was so surprised when she said, “none, it’s just my Necessaire Eucalyptus lotion.” The smell was so good, I had to get it for myself. It’s a splurge, but this isn’t an everyday lotion – it’s the type that you use only a couple of times a week because it feels like such a treat. The scent on this one is definitely also strong at first, but once it’s on your skin, it smells soooo amazing – it makes you smell so clean and fresh. I also feel like it soaks into your skin so nicely and doesn’t make you feel greasy at all. This will definitely be in my rotation for a long time:)

From Gretchen: I love going to live music with friends, but so often we find ourselves migrating right up to the stage (and the speakers) to dance. It is SO much fun but can obviously be SO loud. Normal earplugs work decently enough, but I recently upgraded to Loop Earplugs after a friend’s recommendation, and they are so much better. They fit in your ear so nicely and come with a variety of plug insert sizes to get your perfect fit. But I really love that the little ring that sits in your ear looks chrome, so the whole thing feels more like jewelry and less like neon sporting equipment. They come with a nice little carrying case and are coming with me to all future shows!

From Jess: The way my jaw dropped when I saw the new Reformation collab with Cournety Grow. Now, this was my first time hearing of Courtney, but when I went to her Instagram account, 48 of the people I follow, follow her! I know that this collab won’t be for everyone, but look at these shoes, this windbreaker (VERY on trend), this dress, and more. I would take the whole collection in a heartbeat.

Also From Jess: After this post was already scheduled, we had 1 hour until the end of our half-day summer Friday (thank you, Em!) I saw THIS COLLAB pop up on my feed…Left On Friday Swim and Clare V.!!!! We all love Clare V. and I have been a big Left On Friday fan since getting my first swimsuit from them this year. Their suits are made to be more active, so they aren’t teeny bikinis that only one butt cheek can fit in. Anyway, this whole collab is SO cute, so if you are in need of a new suit or some great accessories, I suggest taking a peek:) Big week in fashion collabs!

We really appreciate you spending part of your day with us, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

Opening Image Credits: Photo via Farhia Nasir

Great Father’s Day Gift Ideas (Via Two Awesome Dads From Two Different Generations)

Les Bunge — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Well, Father’s Day is right around the corner. My editor (Jess) asked if I came across any handy dandy Father’s Day gift ideas this past year. I seem to always come across a few each year, so let me think. I just finished remodeling a house with Lorinda, my girlfriend. I got bored and needed a project. Nothing like feeling your age after three months of some really long hours at the place. Next time I’m bored, I’ll take a trip, which is exactly what I’m gonna do once this place sells. Anyway, during the process, I used a few items that made my life easier.

Pony Portable Folding Work Table

One of them was a saw horse with built-in clamps. It freed up space on my workbench when I was working with large pieces of wood. Saved me time and effort. There are a lot of different ones out there. The ones I got were mid-range priced.

Automatic Vacuum Switch

Then I found the Ortis vacuum switch. It is an outlet box that you plug your vacuum and your saw into. When you use your saw, the vacuum automatically turns on. This saves you from constantly turning on your vacuum when you’re about to use your saw. What a great idea. I’d like to come up with a great idea that could make me money. Just once. Geez!

Cabinet Hardware Jig

My kitchen cabinets were delivered to me disassembled on a couple of pallets. Jess happened to be visiting at the time, so I put her to work, and we put them together. Even after all these years, working with my baby girl still pleases me. She even caught a few of Dad’s mistakes. Ha. After installing the cabinets came the knobs and handles. That is usually time-consuming, tedious work. Not anymore. I found a cabinet hardware jig made by Kreg. Wow, did that make my life easier. I guess they have been around for a while. That’s what happens when you’re out of practice for a while. Hell, next thing you know, there will be self-driving cars.

Endoscope Camera for iPhone and Android

I was installing a black toilet in one of the bathrooms at the house, and I dropped one of the plastic screw head covers down the heating duct. Yikes. I picked up a flexible endoscope camera made by Light in the Box last year cause I swear I’ve never dropped as much crap as I do now. The camera connects to your phone so you can see under cabinets and beds when you’re looking for something, and I don’t have to get on my hands and knees ten times. Well, I broke that baby out and went down the heating duct with it, and lo and behold, there was my toilet screw head button within arm’s reach. Yay! That should take care of the tool department for handy dads.

Hot Dog Steamer Cart

I’m gonna have a little gathering for friends and people who helped with this remodel. Just a little Chicago Hot Dog afternoon. I bought a hot dog steamer made by Vevor. That’s because Chicago hot dogs should only be steamed. It sits on the table and is cute as a button. It steams the buns also. Of course, I had some Vienna Beef franks (the only hot dog) shipped in. If your dad likes hot dogs, get some Vienna dogs shipped to him. Trust me, they are a winner. There is a company called Tastes of Chicago that will take care of everything for you.

Circle Critter Short-Sleeve T-Shirt | Scenic Short-Sleeve T-Shirt

Since I’ve owned my cabin near Lake Tahoe, I’ve been dressing more casually than I used to (or I’m just too lazy to get dressed up). Anyway, I found some T-shirts made by Marmot Mountain Works. They are comfy and nice-fitting. Long-sleeve or short-sleeve shirts are both really nice. Really outdoorsy too. I lean toward wildlife designs.

AG1 Multivitamin Greens Powder

Between the remodel and the cabin, there has been plenty of work. I swear I get home and I am beat. I thought maybe I should get some kind of multivitamin. As I am thinking that lo and behold, Hugh Jackman is on my TV promoting AG1, a vitamin supplement. Now I am not usually moved by TV commercials, but Hugh Jackman? My favorite actor on the planet and the most talented man on earth. Yep, I’m gonna try it. Then, one day, as I’m walking through Costco, there they are. Go figure. I suppose it could be mental, but I have more energy at the end of the day.

Getting older is a process. I try to make the process as easy as possible. I need to do that for my kids and my grandbaby. Time with them is the most important gift I can give myself, or they can give to me. All the other stuff is crap-ola. I know there’s an old man knocking on my door, but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let him in. Jess and I went to a Cub game this season. How do you beat that? I was up at Morgan’s house working side by side in his shop. How do you beat that? I cooked with my granddaughter. How do you beat that? Let me tell you. YOU DON’T!

I wish all of your Fathers a happy day. I wish all of you a happy day. Yeah, it’s special.

Regards,
Les

And as promised in the title, here are a handful of recommendations from our other (younger) father expert, Brian:

Grand Crosscourt Winner Sneaker

From Emily: Brian says he gets complimented by other dudes every time he wears these shoes. But he wants me to tell you that they are extremely comfortable, like his favorite shoes for every day that aren’t full-on sneakers.

Ascot Loafer Slipper

From Emily: I finally was able to convince Brian that life wasn’t worth living without slippers (especially in the PNW in winter, you have to lean into all the cozy vibes to embrace the months of rain). These are strictly inside shoes, but they have enough support and a grip that if you need to pop outside for something, you can. I know they are just slippers, but they are pretty dang good ones!

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

From Brian: I really try to portray myself as a serious reader on here, always pompously recommending literary fiction with meaningful themes, but screw it, this one is just fun. Very, very fun. Stupid? Yes. Frivolous? Sure. A blast to read? Hell yes. I first started seeing posts about Dungeon Crawler Carl a few months ago and thought nothing of it, that it was some kind of card game, maybe a video game. But it kept popping up in my algorithm, and then I saw people on lit substacks writing about it and realized it was a novel. Well, novel may be a misnomer; it’s what is being called LitRPG, as in Literary Role Playing Game. And if you’ve ever played Dungeons and Dragons or a really immersive video game, that’s what reading this book is like. It’s undeniably fun— there are goblins and monsters and acid-spitting llamas, and the hapless hero has a talking cat for a sidekick. It also has a gamer-style aesthetic to it, with curse-filled quips and fast-paced action sequences that feel like you should be eating popcorn while reading. There’s also a video-game-logic to the narration, where the hero gets to pull up his arsenal of weapons, spells, and achievements in a heads-up display in his vision and dis. It’s a perfect guilty pleasure for anyone who is looking for a fun escape. Or maybe that dude in your life who doesn’t read – this one will keep his attention. And, with multiple books in the series, maybe he’ll become an unexpected bookworm! Oh, and the narrator on the audiobook is awesome if you’re more of an audio person.

Organic Cotton Chambray Shirt

From Emily: The only shirt that Brian wears on a date, LOL. He’s not a big “dress up” guy, so he usually has a couple of go-to’s, and this is one right now. He likes the slimmer fit, while still looking casual.

Wood Car Freshener

From Brian: Boy, have I come a long way since the little yellow tree hanging on the rearview in my high school truck! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got a soft spot for that sunbaked vanilla scent— whenever I smell it, I’m immediately whisked into a boundless summer night, cruising with the windows down around the suburban outskirts of Sacramento. Ahhhh, youth. But now I’m a man, and I don’t need a silly scent in my car. Or so I thought. After some pretty intense algorithm marketing, I finally pulled the trigger on the Drift Car Freshener, and even Emily can attest— it smells really good! Basically a scent-soaked wooden block that’s magnetized to a sun visor clip, it looks pretty sleek and masculine, and it smells even better. I ordered two different scents: Teak and Amber, and would recommend both. It’s like having a masculine candle burning in my car, with an oak/tobacco/sandalwood aroma. But don’t worry, the smell is pretty subtle, so you don’t feel like you’re getting punched in the face every time you enter the car.

Happy gift shopping for the dads in your lives!

For More Father’s Day Gift Ideas, Head Here:

Weekend And Vacation Fashion – I’m Going For Comfortable, Casual And Summer Ready “Play Clothes”

Emily — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000

I swear this job keeps me out of the style rut that my busy 46-year-old WFH mom is comfortable living in. I could easily just wear the same athleisure over and over (and often do), but when I put a tiny bit of effort in, I feel more like myself. But it’s so casual up here in the PNW, which is both a blessing and a curse (I do kind of miss dressing up, but only barely), so these are definitely more play clothes for weekend hangs.

This is my attempt at the “bloomer” trend, and these pull-on shorts are pretty excellent. But to make sure they didn’t look like pajamas, I added enough accessories with pattern and fun. Y’all, how happy are we that checkered Vans are back??? Man, they really make a basic outfit look like you have a sense of style. That t-shirt is really oversized and boxy, which is cute, but I like to wear it with the sleeves rolled a few times to take away the schlubbiness.

And yes, the “shirt tied around the waist” hack cinches in the right places, while keeping things comfortable and casual.

Every time I pop into Abercrombie, I think it’s too young for me, and every time I find something that I really like. This matching 70s-inspired sweat set, once accessorized, feels cool despite being so basic. The cut is good, and the shorts are really comfy (pull-on shorts, soft elastic). It’s been hard for me (as an elder millennial) to wear short socks, but once I found these and bought them in bulk, I got behind it. The height of them and that simple stripe feels on trend, without being too try-hard (I hope). Also, those Vejas!!! Now I get it! They are so comfortable and cool. Also, that striped tote is on sale for $14 right now.

This is 100% an outfit I’m bringing on all my trips this summer. The shorts were a splurge, but they are so pretty and stay really polished (they aren’t a thin silk that gets all bunched up and sticks to you; they flair out really nicely). I’m wearing a medium because they were out of smalls at the store, but the medium feels good, so maybe size up? The shirt is old from Old Navy, and they have the same version with a different collar that is cute. I like the crop (these shorts aren’t good to tuck into). If I were a fitted tank top or t-shirt gal, that would look really good with these shorts, but the casual button-up works too. Shout out to the Quince sandals that are extremely comfortable and have the trendy white sole that gives “sneaker”. Belt bag is old from Target (they still sell it, and it’s on sale for $17 right now), and the necklace is one that I wear way more than I thought I would (it’s a neutral gemstone that seems to go with everything).

These shorts are the more affordable version of the silk shorts above. I ended up returning these because I didn’t need both, but these are pretty great (and have a matching top, but to me felt like pajamas). The linen jacket is one I wear ALL THE TIME, probably because it looks so good with denim and is so lightweight and easy, but with some structure and style. The triangle scarf is way easier to wear than a folded huge square, btw. And as you know, simple flip-flops are back! Havianas FTW!

This jean jacket is the real winner here. It’s a fantastic cut, lightweight (for denim), and has a nice structure without being too stiff and uncomfortable. Just really easy to wear. The shorts I ended up returning because I don’t think that trouser shorts are as much my thing (as denim), but they would be great for those with office jobs in the heat.

I have really bad T-shirt game (I’m just so picky and they don’t come easy to me), so I found this on Amazon for $13, that was really well reviewed. My only issue is that it’s a big long for me, but otherwise a great find for that price.

I was SO excited that these pants were back in stock and in a new colorway. They are the perfect summer weekend trousers – cute little cuff, carpenter-style pockets and a fantastic slimming but loose fit. I’m wearing a small. That Target shirt continues to be in rotation, and I bought it again since I spilled makeup on it

I finally caved (my IG algorithm knows me, it’s so annoying!) and bought these Seavees blue sneakers that I of course LOVE. They are so comfortable and easy to walk in while still having a decent lift (and so lightweight). The world’s best denim shorts are still going strong, obviously. The striped sweatshirt is oversized and thick (it’s terry cloth) in a really great colorway (and a cute drawstring). These are the same socks with the black stripe, just without the stripe. They are the perfect height.

I bought these shorts for the pull-on short post, and they are extremely pretty, drapey, and elevated. Y’all need to get on the Aritzia train (J.Crew pricing, but edgier). I paired it with an Aritzia ribbed tank that I’m stupidly too self-conscious to wear without the denim shirt over it (but it’s a good square-necked tank, comes in white, too).

This outfit is extremely me – easy to wear, comfortable, casual with pops of neutral pattern. Also bringing it on every trip this summer. The cardigan is just so good (a bit heavy for hot weather, FYI, but a great nighttime layering piece). The Madewell tank is boxy, scoop-necked, and great for layering. These sandals are still my favorite for dressing up any outfit.

I had forgotten how much I love Splendid t-shirts; they are just so soft and drapey (this one has a vintage vibe to it). The pants are the linen cropped taper ones that I raved about. Big fan of that bucket hat

Top | Shorts | Sandals | Bag | Necklace

This is the only outfit that didn’t feel like me, and yet my team liked it so much that I wanted to show it to you. It’s a seersucker set from Madewell that I know is “in” but just doesn’t work for me (and the elastic is pretty tight at the waist).

Hat | Cardigan | Pants | Sandals | Bandana

This is a reminder that basics can look cooler with some accessorizing. These pants are gauzy barrel pants from the Gap that are awesome (I want them in navy blue, but they are sold out, and I think I ordered petite, which is why they are short). They come with a matching top, too. Same cardigan as the navy but in beige (a great cut, crop, and the knit is very high quality). And the scarf is really easy to wear on your head or like this – it’s just a triangle, so WAYYYY less bulk than my typical square that has to be folded.

Hat | Cardigan | Pants | Sandals | Bandana

She’s off to Multnomah Village for lunch IYKYK.

*Photos Kaitlin Green