We have finished my sister’s kitchen, and I’m so excited to show-and-tell. But we are going to need to “backstory” and “deep dive” a bit, which is my forte (you may or may not want to sit next to me at a dinner party, depending on your stamina for gabbing). It looks so pretty, warm, and high-end and 100% from Lowe’s (who sponsored this project and post!), so yes, you could technically deem it “builder-grade” but withhold your judgment for a bit. The whole process was extremely streamlined, using Lowe’s as our main support on labor as well (and not a stitch of family drama). Here’s how it all went down…

My sister, Michelle, and her husband, Garen, bought an early 1900s English Tudor 22 years ago and a few years ago were finally ready to embark on a remodel. They gutted the whole thing and made all their dream plans, but as they were mid-remodel, their financial situation changed as Garen’s mom needed memory hospice care. If you have the misfortune to know how financially draining that can be, you are not alone. So, like many people, finishing their remodel went on the back burner. I knew I couldn’t help his mom, but I could help get them a functional, beautiful kitchen because of this unicorn job of mine. As we brainstormed what they wanted and how we’d execute it, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to work in a more major way with a brand that I love – Lowes. So I pitched them this kitchen remodel, from start to finish.

I had gone into the Lowe’s kitchen remodel department and shopped around, making sure that their design elements and services were right for this project (and frankly good enough for me – I had never really relied on a big-box store for a kitchen design before). I, too, was curious just how streamlined and beautiful a 100% Lowe’s kitchen remodel could be. I think we all assume that designers usually lean custom and stay away from anything that could potentially look “builder-grade” (me, too). But most people don’t have the budget (or time) to do a fully custom kitchen remodel. So I wanted to know if I could make this 100% Lowe’s kitchen look high-end and design-forward.

You’ll have to judge for yourself when you see the reveal in a few days, but for now I will say (and I’ll scream it to the sky) it was the most streamlined remodel I’ve ever done because of Lowe’s kitchen design services, and even better, I absolutely love this kitchen so much (and so do Michelle and Garen – thank goodness!).

The Before – Where We Started

When we started, the kitchen was just a white box, roughly 12’x12′ with one big window. Honestly, it’s a real dream to come into a project after a lot of the annoying stuff was done behind the walls. Here is how they had planned it:

They had done a great job of placing the appliances and cabinets; no red flags there. As you can see, there is the “kitchen triangle” and enough counter and storage space. There really weren’t challenges with the space at all or awkward angles, no important pass-through areas or even enough room for an island. So it would be straightforward, which was obviously easy to get our brains around.

The layout was fully set, and the rough electrical and plumbing were done. Here were our goals:

1. We’d keep everything exactly where they had intended it. We’d work within the footprint, not moving any electrical or plumbing locations, so not even an outlet would move (we looked into raising them to create more of a backsplash, and it would have cost $1,800 for all to come up a few inches = not worth it).
2. We’d design it as simple as possible, without it just being a drywall box. We all know that labor is where most of your remodeling budget can go, so how can we execute this without paying $5k for tile install?? While I love design bells and whistles, I know far too well that this is where so much of your stress and money goes. Their first priority was a finished, functional kitchen; I was determined not to make things harder on them by showing off my fancy design desires.
3. We’d keep it classic but colorful. They didn’t know what the future would hold, so it needed to work for them and also for any future buyer. The house is from the 1920s, and I knew I could make it modern but appropriate to the style. And Portland buyers like color (but not too much), so I’d have to walk that line.
4. Simple but not boring. Interesting but not custom. Utilitarian but not basic. But honestly…
5. They were so grateful that Lowe’s and I were doing this kitchen, so they kinda gave me carte blanche to do what is best for the partnership and our audience. Outside of some quick approvals (on colors, hardware, appliances), we took over and reduced their stress, while having so much fun.
6. Oh, and we’d keep the big vintage cabinet they had salvaged from an old school (shout-out to the ReBuilding Center). They both wanted to make sure that there was some vintage soul in this kitchen, so we’d paint it, but it would stay (fine by me!).

Challenge accepted.

Some Quick FAQs – How Long Did It Take To Complete And Did You Have A Contractor??

1. We started designing in early April and shot the finished kitchen in mid-August. That’s only a few months, but the only reason it took even that long was because of my travel schedule and some last-minute tweaks. Lowe’s made it so streamlined, we couldn’t believe it. Now, if you are starting from scratch, needing to demo, plan, move plumbing/electrical/walls, you should plan at least 6 months (honestly, up to a year if you are doing anything custom). But starting where we did and using 100% Lowe’s, we were able to execute so quickly.
2. We had help from a contractor, but not much. My brother, Ken, is a contractor, so of course he was going to help where it made sense, but to be honest, Lowe’s kitchen services arranged most of the subcontractors (flooring, cabinet and countertop install). So Ken was involved in reinforcing the walls so we could hang shelving and then managing the finish carpentry and painting. Having his expertise during every meeting was so helpful and fun (a real family affair). But even he was like, “You kinda don’t need me because Lowe’s does so much”. Now, I’ll say it again: the demo, framing, permits, proposed layout, rough electrical and plumbing were already done. So I’m not suggesting that you don’t need a contractor, but since we came in after drywall, there were fewer technical things to manage.
3. You are probably wondering how these partnerships work, budget-wise. In this case, Lowe’s would provide the budget for the product (to a point, it wasn’t Supermarket Sweep) with some additional allocations for installation, but the labor outside of the Lowe’s installers would be on us. This was the main reason why we were trying to reduce unnecessary expenses at every turn. My company gets paid for producing photography, PR, and social media content. You all get new, fresh content outside of my house. It’s the win/win/win/win that we specialize in.

So in April it began. Let’s get into it.

1. Dark Green Appliances:

While I was scouting, I found our appliances, and for the first time in my career I actually designed the kitchen for them. Michelle loves blues, greens, and pops of color, and I had a rough mood board going that felt cottage-y and sweet. So when I found these dark Juniper green beauties that had the whole suite (fridge, dishwasher, and 30″ electric range), I marked off appliances on my bingo card. Being on a budget, I knew we couldn’t do panel-ready appliances, and being a smaller kitchen, we wanted to make sure that the vintage style felt streamlined (i.e., not letting stainless appliances take over). So this color, juniper, was our actual jumping-off point.

Fun fact – you can choose the colors of the knobs. We chose this brass, but they also come in black and chrome. So simple. So pretty. Thank you, KitchenAid (not sponsored by them, but when a major appliance brand designs something really simple and yet design-forward, I want to give ample encouragement). While I have kitchen brands’ attention – reminder: we do not want more smart appliances with more apps. Just appliances that look “look good and cook good”.

2. Laying Out The Semi-Custom Cabinets (In Two Colors!!)

With the layout predetermined, we took the exact locations of each element (fridge, sink, range, pot filler) into Lowe’s with the overall measurements and designed the cabinetry, laying it all out in just a couple of hours. My goodness, it was efficient.

In real time, Chris (our kitchen designer at the Tigard Lowe’s) sat with us in the store and built the kitchen cabinet by cabinet and drawer by drawer, throwing in the exact specs of each appliance, then configuring the remainder of the cabinets to meet all of our needs. I LOVE laying out cabinets and thinking through how my sister would really use each drawer and cabinet.

We knew we wanted to flank the range with symmetrical cabinets since it was centered on the wall. So we worked our way out from there, placing things intuitively as you would use them while cooking. The sink would go under the new big window. The fridge, stove, and dishwasher created a little triangle. It all made perfect sense to me.

On Making It Look Custom:

As you know, we all need storage (and they had a whole wall of vintage storage for pantry goods), but you don’t want a small room filled with uppers and lowers (just feels so small and tight). And since my sister wanted to use the product budget to splurge on the real stone, we saved on uppers and only had a couple near the fridge. This felt like a great opportunity to mix colors, but not be high contrast. I’ve done tuxedo cabinets in the past (light on top, dark on bottom), and it’s not my favorite look anymore, but I loved the idea of mixing two different really pretty tones just to add visual interest and an element that looked custom. It was a risk, for sure, but those risks are what can take a kitchen from builder-grade to looking more high-end, imho.

We actually mixed two different lines from Lowe’s because they really have something for all budgets. As you go up in budget, you have more options for colors, profiles, and bells and whistles, but we were super impressed with the starting line as well. We chose from their Diamond Intermediate line for the bottom in color “Emma” and from their Diamond Express line for the uppers in “Tropic”, with matching door profiles in the style “Gresham”, which is one of their shaker-style door fronts. Both looked really pretty with the Juniper green appliances. We were extremely impressed with the colors, styles, and quality. We chose flat overlay, which was perfectly executed and looks so streamlined (I know that “inset” is the cabinet profile du jour, but let this be an official announcement that a well-executed flat overlay can be just as good, on a much lower budget).

Choosing Flooring That Worked With Their Original Vintage Flooring:

I was nervous about this one. Their house is vintage, and the rest of their flooring is the classic 2 1/2″ red oak. The kitchen only had subfloor, and Garen and Michelle had planned for tile, but with the new budget constraints, we knew that tile install would be $3-4k in labor for the whole floor unless we chose something big and generic. So we pivoted to wood flooring and, after looking at samples, decided on Bruce Solid Hardwood in “Fawn Oak” – which I thought looked close enough to the rest of their house, a classic 3″ red oak tongue and groove.

Lowe’s customer service set up the flooring install date a week later, and one talented guy came out and installed it all in ONE DAY. It looked incredible. I knew it was real wood, sure, but I was slightly worried that once we got it down it would look too shiny or the stain would read weird (as a snob, I had fears about $5/square foot wood not looking fake). Y’all, it’s just so pretty – the perfect warm, dark tone with a lot of color variation (but not too much). If you are trying to match your vintage 2-3″ red oak flooring (which is super typical for that age of house), I’m telling you, this “Fawn Oak” from Lowe’s is a fantastic option.

Real Stone Countertops:

I thought we’d for sure go for an engineered stone for budget reasons, but as we were pulling together the elements, my sister really, really, really wanted real stone (vintage house = older materials), so we moved some things around (fewer upper cabinets = more $$ for stone). I honestly didn’t know that Lowe’s had real stone options, let alone a way to coordinate fabrication and installation. So this is the one product that we splurged on in our budget, and boy does it look beautiful (we knew that it would be our backsplash, so it couldn’t be generic – we needed the real veins). We chose a polished Taj Mahal that had really warm cream, taupe, and golden veining that warmed up all the blue and green and pulled in the wood and brass elements.

Plumbing Fixtures:

Faucet | Hot Water Faucet | Pot Filler

Michelle and Garen had plumbed for a faucet, a hot water faucet, pot filler, and ice maker/fridge water. Obviously, if you are typically on a budget, you wouldn’t need to go for the pot filler or hot water spout, but since they were already plumbed, we found a line at Lowe’s that had all of the whole suite. And y’all, this darker, warmer, almost bronze-y-toned gold was so pretty and looked more vintage-y and fantastic with the veining in the stone and the wood flooring. Also, I was worried about it clashing with the gold handles on the appliances, but nope – it looks great.

The Details – Light Fixture, Shelving, Hardware:

Pendant Light | Knobs | Short Drawer Pulls | Long Drawer Pulls | Shelf & Island Brackets | Decorative Shelf Trim | Beadboard Panels | Beadboard and Shelving Paint Color

Not having shopped so in-depth at Lowe’s for design elements, I didn’t know how the rest of the details would play out. But their selection is really robust. They had so many options for hardware that we genuinely loved. We ordered a lot so that we could look at it in person with the plumbing fixtures and then got creative with some of their building elements (beadboard paneling, wood brackets, and trim).

Oh, and we painted the vintage cabinets to look more built-in to the house, matching the window and door trim (which was my sister’s idea and she nailed it). I got to style it all out, which is both my favorite part and also where I get nervous because not enough stuff can look so sterile and cold, and too much stuff can go sooooooo clutter-y. It’s hard to be Nancy Meyers, y’all. I tried, and you’ll see in a few days how I did

A huge thanks to Lowe’s for being our exceptional design partner on this one. We worked directly with our local store, and I was treated like a normal person – i.e., no faster service or extra help. So I can truly attest to how easy they made it. I was communicated with 1-2 times a week via text to let me know updates, and they coordinated directly with their installation partners to schedule everything (which we approved, but it was so awesome to not have to try to find the subs ourselves). Knowing that Lowe’s had our back and recommended these contractors gives a lot of long-term peace of mind. It didn’t feel cobbled together; it felt extremely streamlined.

So come back for the reveal in a few days. I’m just so excited for this one. I’ll give you one more tiny sneak peek here:

I’m so happy to say that “builder-grade” can look high-end and custom. I genuinely hope this kitchen and a lot of its design elements and ideas get copied all over the internet for those of you who want an upgrade but don’t have the budget for a full-on custom remodel. xx

*Thank you to Lowe’s for partnering with us on this blog post.

*Sneak Peek Photos by Kaitlin Green

Happy Sunday, everyone! We are headed to the mountain house for our big fall planning retreat (and the one we celebrate all of our September and October birthdays:)) We can’t wait to all be in the same place! Hope you have fun fall plans too:) Shall we link??

This week’s house tour is the cabin of our dreams! Warm, cozy, but clean and soothing. Click on the link and take a deep, inspiring breath.

From Emily: OMG. How did I just discover this comedian’s Instagram account??? In case you aren’t on IG, he goes through a 2026 home as a future historian trying to explain to his students why we do the things we do in our homes. It hit so many of my giddy boxes and brought an outsized amount of joy. Way to skewer us in such a playful and accurate way.

From Mallory: If you have a puppy or really any dog that needs some enrichment – perhaps I can point you to the Toppl toy?! This thing changed my life as a dog mom…my little pup, Brisket, is now 3 months old, and he goes from sweet to menace real fast. So having some activities he can do to entertain him is critical. I’ve tried pretty much everything at this point; the pup-sicles and puzzle toys all work great (and I use them all the time still), but he finishes them in about 3-10 minutes, and I was desperate for something that would keep him busy for longer. Enter: the Toppl toy. I freeze kibble with some water and something fun in here (like pumpkin, applesauce, bone broth, etc.), and he GOES TO TOWN FOR LIKE AN HOUR OR MORE! It’s so good I got 2 of them (you also need to get the little stoppers so you can freeze them with liquid btw) so we can always have one ready to fire when the teething puppy monster starts up. On my birthday, we went on a little Duffy boat cruise and brought him along, and we honestly all forgot he was even there because he was just going to town on this toy for the entire ride. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!! Truly the best dog toys. I could not have enough amazing things to say about it!

From Marlee: Well, I did what all design enthusiasts would consider to be one of the bravest feats… I bought a rug online without ever seeing it in person (or seeing a sample). I know everyone does this all the time, but it sure is scary! Well, to my (and everyone’s) relief, it’s a keeper. I’ve been searching for a new rug for my living room for the past month, and after scouring all the rug stores in town, I decided that as much as I love the idea of a cool vintage patterned rug, realistically any pattern with that much surface area is going to feel too overwhelming for me. I need simple and clean (so that I can have fun with the less permanent decor!). I went for this solid brown/eggplant colored rug from Joon Loloi, and it’s perfect. There’s a super subtle stripe texture that gives it some dimension, and I’m very pleasantly surprised at how soft it is. It really grounds the room, and the color is exactly as shown online. My living room is starting to really come together and feel so cozy just in time for rainy season:)

From Jess: I had a beautifully timed moment that rarely happens. I found a new hair mask just as I was finishing my last one. This new hair mask is a dream and makes my hair look and feel incredible. It’s actually from the salon I go to get my hair colored at, and who knew, but it has won BIG awards! It’s not cheap, but a little goes a long way. You can use it as a regular conditioner or as an overnight mask. It’s lightweight and made for all hair types too.

From Gretchen: I first used one of Medicube’s products on a team retreat in Palm Springs. Kaitlin brought along a pack of these PDRN collagen sheet masks, and we spent the evening having a mini spa night with masks, various drinks, and clips from The Bachelor. It was great. Lately my skin has been feeling drier than normal, and while the occasional mask does wonders, I needed a deeper hydration. So I tried out their PDRN Hydrating Skin Cleanser, and I’ve reallllly been loving how it leaves my skin feeling–fresh, clean, and yes, hydrated. The gel consistency is nice and thick but rubs into the skin so well. You can really feel it soaping up on your face, and once I rinse off, my skin feels baby soft.

From Arlyn: Guys! I did a very cool, adult/profesh woman thing this week: I attended a party for a book tour…of a book that I WROTE! Unbelievable. (As a reminder, you can buy it here!!!) But anyway, I desperately needed to refresh my makeup bag for that special event. I bought a handful of things, but the one I loved the most was this lip oil from Rare Beauty. I haven’t worn a gloss in years; they’re always sticky, and my hair gets caught in it, and then when I pull it away, it leaves a streak on my cheek. Not good. But this was different! We’ve come a long way since my gloss days, clearly. This is more of a glossy oil, and then when the oil absorbs and the gloss subsides, it turns into a lip stain, so you don’t need to keep applying. It also has a slight plumping effect, which is nice for us thin-lipped gals. I picked the color “Wonder,” and it’s a beautiful rosy mauve that works well with my skin color (I have pink undertones in my face, if that helps). I did reapply a few times, mostly for the sheen, but through drinks, apps at the party, and then dinner later, my lips stayed perky and pink all night!

From Caitlin: I flew to LA last week with the foolish, misguided belief that I’d spend two weeks decluttering. HA. The temperature in my apartment had different plans – it’s over 100 here, we don’t have A/C, and can only run one portable unit without blowing a fuse, so I spent most of the week curled next to a glorified fan in my bedroom. But this heat wave did give me time to reread and reflect on my favorite “get your life together” book: Minimalista. It’s accessible, chatty, never patronizing, and chock full of great advice for the magpies amongst us. There are room-by-room guides that help you make progress without feeling overwhelmed, and lots of actionable steps that help you shift your thought processes long-term. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in your own home, this is your life preserver!

Thanks for this little hang, and see you all tomorrow! xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: A Beautiful Bedroom Makeover Reveal For My Friend, With Some Of My Favorite Bedding

The other day I excitedly tried on a pair of boots that I had ordered online and was horrified by how uncomfortable they were. Stiff leather. Strange arch. Tight and painful. Does this company hate feet? Is this a sort of foot sadism fetish? Those boots shall remain nameless (I reviewed them very badly), but it made me want to find – and help others find – very comfortable walkin’ boots (cue the song). So I went shopping in person like I did for the sandals review (as much as I could), then ordered what I couldn’t find in person online to try. I tried on over 40 pairs of shoes. My wide troll feet were so excited and confused by the level of attention they got. I found so many comfortable walking boots that are winners (in all of the categories). Drumroll please…

A few caveats (per usual):

1. All of these are comfortable, and I put my stamp of approval on every single one. I’m not going to waste my team’s time (or yours) shooting things I don’t recommend. So while not all are a 10 in comfort, all of these are 7+ in comfort, and those that are a 7 make up for it in style.
2. I didn’t try on a lot of super cheap shoes. Unlike a blouse, boots need to hold up, and in my experience, quickly made synthetic boots last a season at best, but if I’m just being a snob and you’ve worn cheap boots that have held up, LMK. I tried a few $300+, but honestly they just weren’t worth the splurge when the below winners were better and more affordable.
3. I stayed away from hiking, snow, ski, or rain boots. These are just cool leather boots for fall, winter, and spring.
4. I bought all of these (and will return some). While I have some partnerships with many fashion brands (some seen here), nothing here was sent in exchange for coverage.

Best Western Inspired Bootie

Blazer | Top | Jeans | Belt | Boots | Beaded Necklace | Gold Charm Necklace

Score – 7/10/8. I love that these have the western vibes, without going full cowgirl. The pointy toe and that heel edge up most outfits (even just a T-shirt and jeans).

Boots

Comfort: 7/10. Comfortable enough that if you have an urban job and commute on foot, you’d be fine for a mile. I would wear them for line dancing, but by nature of the shape of the toe and heel, they aren’t a 10.

Quality: 10/10. Continuing to be so impressed with Quince’s leather quality. It feels really thick without being too stiff (also, their site has so many reviews, which are helpful, so don’t just trust me).

Style: 8/10. Classic without a lot of extra bells and whistles, making them really versatile. Work, shopping, dinner – they just feel like the boots you can throw on when you are wearing something simple to show that you care about style.

Winner: Most Elegant And Flattering Suede Kitten Booties

Top | Jeans | Belt | Boots | Beaded Necklace | Gold Charm Necklace

Score: 8/9/9. These are really pretty suede booties, and I trust Sezane to bring the French vibes in a totally easy-to-wear way. More on the streamlined and elegant side (and probably less practical for some of us in the PNW or really wet areas).

Boots

Comfort: 8/10. The heel is short enough that you can cruise around all day. The leather is soft and pliable, warm and not stiff. Since the kitten is so kitten-y (small), you don’t feel 100% supported, so if you are a rushing-around-town walking commuter you might want something with more heel real estate to avoid an ankle twist. But for day-to-day, pretty dang comfortable (while fitted, it’s not compressiony at all).

Quality: 9/10. The only reason it’s not a 10 is because suede is more fragile than leather. But I really trust Sezane to make high-quality leather goods, so without wearing and testing for a long time, I’d feel really good about recommending these.

Style: 9/10. They fit under jeans (or any trousers) perfectly and could easily work with tights. They are fitted around the ankle (with some stretch and room) and are really slimming (if you are into that). Not going to lie, I loved looking down and seeing my famously wide feet look elegantly slender and long.

***I love this shirt, by the way, but it’s oversized so I’m returning it to get a size 2 (so size down).

Winner: Most Comfortable Block Heeled Booties

Sweater | Jeans | Belt | Boots

For my office ladies and walking commuters. These come in three colors and are the “wear all day and night” type of shoes. They are sock booties (sooties?) and are stretchy and tight and feel fantastic on. If you had to wear a heeled boot all day while you cleaned the house, this would be it.

Boots

Comfort: 10/10. The arch is perfect. The footbed is soft. The block heel is wide and short. And it really just feels like a glove on my foot. I felt lifted, supported, and extremely comfortable.

Quality: 8/10. The leather is so soft and amply thick for something that is meant to be inherently thinner and stretchy. But since it’s not a thick leather and they are fitted, I wonder if the toe will wear a bit with heavy wear. They are very well constructed, with the leather wrapping around the foot into a seam up the middle. They feel extremely high quality; I just think the thinner/softer leather might wear a bit (literally no evidence of this).

Style: 7/10. These are workhorse shoes (see comfort rating) and are really streamlined and simple, but they aren’t going to make the outfit. They are the comfortable supporting role. I bought these in the burgundy and returned them (because of the other burgundy boots below that are a 10/10 on all three), but I’m tempted to buy them in black as just go-to boots for all winter nights when I want a lift but don’t want to be extremely comfortable (great for dancing). They don’t read as “heels,” which is a good thing if you want to still give casual vibes. I think in black or brown they would be an excellent staple for any capsule wardrobe.

Best Tall Western Inspired Boots (That Aren’t $400)

Sweater | Skirt | Boots | Beaded Necklace | Gold Charm Necklace | Purse

Hot Take: Cowboy/girl boots are a cool vibe, sure, but they are specific, and every time I put mine on and try to wear them out in the city, I feel like a fool (just me, not judging, and this might be an age thing). Now THESE have that western shape and heel, but are way more polished and appropriate for more occasions IMHO.

Boots

Comfort: 6.5-7/10. They are comfortable considering they are a lot of boot and are more constricting due to thicker leather. The toe is narrower, obviously. But they are still really comfortable and easy to wear. Walking for a commute, for sure, if less than 10 blocks, but the dogs might bark if you wore them 8+ hours. More “going-out boots,” for sure. Leather is on the stiffer side.

Quality: 7/10. Steve Madden is a mid-price brand, and my experience with them the quality matches that. I returned these (I don’t need them), so I can’t attest to what I’m about to say, but my fear was that they would bend and crease where the ankle is. Now that might be fine for you, and maybe building a patina is what you want. But I loved how polished and high-end they look, and I feared that the crease would take away from that. The leather is really nice though, a bit on the stiff side with nice lining, and the heel feels solid without being too heavy.

Style: 9.5/10. I think these are really cool and would absolutely make a simple outfit look much more stylish. They would look great over jeans, with a skirt, or with denim shorts (i.e., festival vibes). If money or closet space is no object (lol), I think they are a great addition. The price is pretty great for how simple and cool the style is.

Winner: Best Tall Boot For All Occasions

Sweater | Skirt | Boots | Beaded Necklace | Gold Charm Necklace | Purse

These are my favorite, y’all – my top boot this year (ever?). I’ve worn them 15 times, and I just got them in August. I’ve worn them with jeans, with dresses, with leather shorts on our anniversary date to the Ritz-Carlton. Let me gush:

Boots

Comfort: 10/10. The shape of the arch is so soft, making them so easy to walk around in. The kitten heel is small enough that you don’t clock you are wearing “heels,” but I don’t feel wobbly at all. You can just slip them on easily, and I could walk for hours in them. That toe shape is slimmer, and yet it’s not constricting! Just feels like it fits.

Quality: 10/10. The leather is soft but thick. And I always worry about these types of boots slouching too much (which is fine, but not my thing), but these stay up with enough structure. It’s Italian leather (and they aren’t cheap for a reason), and it just feels supple.

Style: 10/10. They are so simple and cool, and that color feels perfect for this year (they come in black and brown, of course). They are flattering even with jeans and just pop out of the pant in a nice shape. And I love that they aren’t a high heel because sometimes that screams “I’M SUPER DRESSED UP FOR YOU,” especially in a short skirt, when sometimes you want to be more low-key about it.

Winner: Best Heeled Bootie For The Low-Key Crowd

Sweater | Jeans | Boots | Gold Charm Necklace | Purse

It’s embarrassing that after living here for 5 years, this is the first pair of Blundstones that I’ve tried on. And if I weren’t obsessed with the Pikolinos below, these would be my go-to heeled bootie. Blundstones last forever (10+ years), and these are the heeled version for those who want that little lift.

Boots

Comfort: 10/10. The footbed is SO soft. They are lightweight, and the ankle just curves around you in the best of ways. The heel barely feels like a heel. The elastic in the ankle provides extreme flexibility, and the bend of the toe was instant – no breaking in needed. I also love the double tabs – so easy to get on and off without bending down (your finger easily fits in both).

Quality: 10/10. Don’t try arguing with Oregon girls about the durability of this brand. Marlee and Gretch both have had their Blundstones for over 10 years (Marlee since high school). And these are boots that do look better with patina, so it’s a long-term purchase you can feel fantastic about.

Style: 6.5/10. They are not necessarily additive to an outfit, but you throw these on when you are in the mountains at a bar with a flannel and jeans, and you can dance all night long because they are so dang comfortable. (I think I just talked myself into keeping these – I want to do that!!!).

Winner: Best Block-Heeled Camper Boots (The New Frye?)

Sweater | Skirt | Boots | Beaded Necklace | Gold Charm Necklace | Purse

These are fantastic and definitely a new staple for me. They balance the trend in a more elevated way and are so easy to dress down (I can already envision our family pumpkin patch picture in these, denim shorts and that Sezane plaid top from above).

Boots

Comfort: 7/10. These are on the heavier side – not as heavy as Frye boots or even close, but the leather is stiff, and the block has to support the leather. So they are a lot of shoe. They are easy to slip into, and you can cruise around all day in them with a roomier foot. But you are very aware that you are wearing boots, if that makes any sense. The footbed could be slightly cushier if I’m being picky.

Quality: 10/10. The last pair that I bought of this style from Madewell creased really badly in the first year, which is fine for that more rugged, worn-in look, but these feel so thick and solid that I think they’ll patina in tone, and I feel confident they’ll keep their shape and not be slouchy.

Style: 9/10. I love how elevated they look in this more monochrome look (the almost matching heel and leather). These are super classic; they aren’t reinventing the style or adding to it (which I think is what Quince does so well – they don’t try to be really trendy, which is a good thing). It’s just super high quality and timeless and at a more affordable price point without being boring. Yes, I partner with them at times, but no, this is not one of them, and I paid for all of these shoes.

Best Waterproof Chelseas

Jacket | Pants | Hat (unavailable) | Boots

I love this brand and how everyday but cool they are, and that they are waterproof without being rubber.

Boots

Comfort: 9/10. Roomy. Soft footbed. Low/no heel. Stretchy, flexible ankle. The only reason I’m giving them a 9 instead of 10 is that the leather near the ankle is stiffer than, say, the Bludstones, but I honestly think it’s going to break in. I think that’s because this leather is waterproof and inherently stiffer.

Quality: 10/10. I have no doubt these will last for years, if not decades. They are thick, well-made, with a hefty, rugged sole and just feel like they are never going anywhere.

Style: 10/10. For the style. I think they nailed the proportions and the patina. And I think this style could also look really cute with chunky knit socks and shorts (think The Great). They won’t make the outfit on their own, but they lend a vibe that says you are outdoorsy but cool and ready for anything.

Winner: Most Comfortable Dressy Bootie (And My Go-To Booties)

Sweatshirt | Jeans | Boots | Beaded Necklace | Gold Charm Necklace

This brand is special. I bought my first pair of Pikolinos 10 years ago and wore them almost every day in Arrowhead during lockdown, cruising around the woods behind our house, loving that they felt like sneakers but hugged my ankle enough to not let leaves down into the shoe (not these). Like those, these are shockingly lightweight and comfortable. Once on, you don’t feel like you are wearing shoes and definitely not heels.

Boots

Comfort: 10/10. Undeniably extremely comfortable. So lightweight and flexible. Soft footbed. I’m not saying you would run a mile in them, but you definitely could. Rubber sole for grip, non-slip. It’s a joy to wear these shoes inside or out.

Quality: 10/10. Pikolinos are Spanish leather, I believe, and the construction is seriously good. My other pair lasted for so long (they are still in Arrowhead, and I’m going to try to find them this weekend!). I don’t know how this leather will patina, but they feel richly dyed, meaning they won’t scratch and leave a big light mark. The heel is wide and soft, and the stitching makes them look as expensive as they are.

Style: 10/10. They aren’t doing anything new or trendy, but the proportions are great, and the contrast in tones is perfect. They walk that line between utility and dressy, but I’ll most likely wear them daily out and about when I want to look a little elevated with a lift, but I mostly want to be just extremely comfortable (think all-day shopping shoes, all-day working, just the shoes you don’t have to THINK about). The toe is flattering and slimming, which would look great with skinny, flare, or wide-leg jeans. Yes, they are splurgy. Yes, they are worth it if it’s in your budget.

While I tried on a ton, if you guys have any that you love love love love love, please leave them in the comments.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

It’s October, ya’ll! And in an effort to help those who like to decorate for Halloween (but may have more of a Type B personality like myself), we put together a guide of all our most favorite, high-impact, lower-effort ideas to jumpstart your planning. I mean, Emily is the number one fan of “low effort, high-impact” when it comes to holiday decorating. What’s even better is that most, if not all, of her ideas are very affordable. It’s just up to you how hard you want to go:) Let’s start with one of my personal favorites.

Halloween Decor Ideas: Spray Paint Branches Black

If you want something spooky but not scary and honestly pretty chic…spray paint some (ideally) long branches black. Of course we don’t want anyone taking chainsaws to a tree, but if you have access to fallen branches, black spray paint, and some zip ties, you are set. I love how Emily took one of her large vases and created this very cool moment in her Los Feliz house. This was from pre-COVID, and it looks completely timeless. Of course, she also added spider webs and crows (which we’ll get to in a minute) to really punch up the spooky vibes.

Halloween Decor Ideas: Giant Webs

Another Emily Halloween move she’s done every year I’ve worked here, which is *cough* A LOT, is a GIANT spider web. These kinds in the photos above are playful, so fun but not too scary for young ones. Plus, you avoid all the mess of the other kind of fake spider webs. A less annoying cleanup for us is the way to go. Add a giant spider or spiders for fun too:)

Halloween Decor Ideas: Creepy Cloth

Of all the Halloween decor ideas, this is Emily’s personal #1 and for good reason. All you have to do is throw creepy cloth on or over something, and that can be it! If you want to hang it, then you’ll likely need to secure it with some zip ties, nails, 3M hooks, etc. As seen here, Emily has used creepy cloth on credenzas but also fireplace mantels, over pianos and…

…outside too! Most of us don’t have a covered walkway to make this kind of dramatic moment, but think about a porch or even partially over windows.

Please also note the black branches!

Halloween Decor Ideas: Googly Eyes & Black Taper Candles with Black Candle Handle Holders

For some smaller ideas, if you have portraits in your home, put googly eyes on them! Kids love it, and it’s just so freaking easy (some creepy cloth or spider webs on the frames is an added bonus). Another wildly simple idea is going for a monochrome look with your taper candles. Black tapers with black candle holders. Check and check.

Halloween Decor Ideas: Wall Bats & Crows

It’s Halloween, so some spooky flying creatures are a no-brainer. Little wall bats like these above can create such a fun and big moment. Plus, they can go in any room or even outside your front door. Emily is also a big ole fan of a realistic crow. I have a healthy fear of birds, so I likely would skip it in my own home, but when I look at her photos, I can’t help but think they look amazing. Just a cool (and also pretty chic) idea that’s reusable for years and placed differently each time.

Halloween Decor Ideas: Orange Light Bulbs

This is Em’s newest “discovery”…the power of the orange lightbulb! Look how incredible it is, and for almost no effort. Understandably, she keeps her orange bulbs for the exterior of her home, but you can go for it any way you want. I think it looks so incredible and spooky but mostly SO fun.

Before we get into any new products, here’s a list of all of the Halloween posts and reveals Emily has done over the years in case you want more in-depth info and even more Halloween decor ideas.

OUR HALLOWEEN POSTS:

• A Vintage Halloween Inside Our Farmhouse
• Our Front Porch Decorated For Halloween
• Our DIY Halloween Graveyard
• Recreate Emily’s Halloween Front Porch And Graveyard From An Unexpected Source
• My Spooky (And Super Simple) Kid-Approved Halloween Decor
• The 4 Budget (HIGH IMPACT) Halloween Decorations I’ve Used For The Past 4 Years (+ 6 Extra I Love)
• How We Decorated Our House For Halloween
• How We Decorate For Halloween

1. Ed Emberley Felt Spider Web Wall Hanging | 2. 200″ Spider Web Outdoor + 59″ Giant Spider Décor

Here are some more spider webs like the ones Emily has used, but in different sizes (plus they come with spiders). #1 is a little sweeter and more little-kid-friendly because the spiders are cuter (Plus it’s on sale for $39!). #2 is MASSIVE and definitely meant for the outdoors. I’m thinking you’d have one of the cooler Halloween houses on the black with that one!

1. Ghostly Light-Up Mantle Decor | 2. Ed Emberley Glow-in-the-Dark Spooky Village

If you are a Christmas village person, maybe you might want to consider a Halloween village of sorts. I love both of these. Playful but not overly “too kid”.

1. Ghost Witch Shaped Wax Tapers | 2. Ghost Icon Cloche Gourmand Sugared Walnut & Spice Glass Candle | 3. Terrain Witches Brew Cauldron Candle | 4. Halloween Antics Candleholders

While we love a black-on-black candle/candle holder look, I LOVE all of the Halloween candle options out right now. Another is really killing the game, and #1, #2, and #3 are just the beginning. And while I love that candles are a consumable for storage reasons, you can reuse the cloche of #2! For a playful candlestick holder, I think those ants are so awesome.

1. Halloween Bats Wall Décor Sticker | 2. Black Feathered Crows

In case you loved the wall bats and realistic crows that Em loves too, here are some great and affordable options!

1. Black Spooky Giant Cheese Cloth | 2. Beige Halloween Creepy Cloth

In terms of our beloved “creepy cloth”, you can’t go wrong with either of these, and you get a lot of yardage. Throw it over everything! Just kidding…unlesssss:)

1. Petite Plume Rattan Hanging Witch Hats (Set of 3) | 2. Ed Emberley Felt Spiders Hanging Decor

More than any other holiday, Halloween was made for fun (or creepy) hanging decor. Emily has used bats before, and it’s awesome. I just really thought these were so great. If you can’t tell, West Elm does Halloween insanely well. Love everything they put out this year.

1. Black and White Halloween Mummy Throw Pillow | 2. Nicole Cicak Halloween Harvest Pillow Cover

If you are a holiday pillow person, my vote is for one of these. You can be a little more “funny” with the mummy or a little sweeter with the town scene from West Elm. See?! So good.

1. Classic Glow In The Dark Skull Decor | 2. Ivory Faux Mossy Skeleton Figure Decor | 3. Thumbs Up Glow in the Dark Skeleton Arm Lawn Ornament | 4. Ivory Critter Skeleton Halloween Decor (Set of 3)

Ok, I LOVE the partially moss-covered skeleton. It’s perfect for a porch or in the garden and looks oddly “spooky sophisticated”. 10/10. All of the others are great, affordable options to add to your collection or to start one.

1. Black Wood and Natural Twig Witch’s Broom Wall Decor | 2. Illuminated Vine Broom

If you love to decorate for Halloween and don’t have a “witch’s” broom, may I kindly recommend you get one. They feel both fall and Halloween and are just pretty. The one from World Market is simple, elegant, and a great price. The one from Anthro is definitely pricey but would look amazing and add ambience to your front porch,

1. Black and Natural Coir Bat Shaped Doormat | 2. Black Handmade Terracotta Jack O Lantern Pumpkin | 3. Terrain Vine Bat Wreath | 4. LED Flame Bulb

Looking to upgrade your Halloween front porch? Here are a handful of great items to consider! That little bat doormat is adorable and such a great price. Those terra cotta pumpkins aren’t super cheap (the smallest one is $45), but they are very cool and ones you’d keep forever. The bat wreath is SO cool, right? A little extra special. Then I found these “flame bulbs” and thought a flame effect on your front porch would be pretty awesome.

Is anyone in the spirit yet? Ha. Hopefully, this made you excited to decorate since you can make some big impact choices without the hours of labor. Happy October, everyone!

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Our Front Porch Decorated For Halloween (+ How It Looks Spooky At Night For Trick-Or-Treaters)

This month has been sooooo rewarding and fun. We wrapped up my sister’s kitchen (shot and edited), finished the beautiful Beth room makeover (shot, still editing), and flew to California to install our Velux tiny house (shooting in November). It was three weeks of huge back-to-back, all team-sponsored makeovers, which is so fun and took all of our time (and more). Marlee is swimming in footage, sorting through 6 months of banked videos (staring at me all day, oof), with every second of the process for each project. I’m so grateful for my team, y’all. They are really killing it. But that’s all to say that I didn’t set foot in the guest cottage for weeks until last weekend, when I was scrambling to clean up for our annual fall school fundraiser (a big outdoor family movie night). I’ve perhaps overextended myself:) But the good (and stressful) news is that we have upcoming holiday shoots in the guest cottage in mid-October, which means at least 2 rooms need to be done enough to deck their halls. But first let’s talk about my intent with this project and, well, how it’s changed. I’ve learned a lot about myself in this one – again.

One of my biggest personality flaws is my optimistic thinking/hoping I can do things that I can’t. My vegetable garden is the best proof of this – AGAIN. I want to be the person who can do the things, but a combination of not having the time, skills, or natural propensity stops me. Once again, I also wholly underestimated the level of time and skill needed to DIY remodel anything. I had such a vision and fantasy of Brian and I doing a lot of the work ourselves (the reclaimed cladding on the walls – not ceiling, the DIY cabinets/shelves, installing the flooring, painting). We thought we’d hire people to coach us and learn along the way, but that didn’t happen (also, no one really wants to coach a newbie person with iPhones in their face). The learning curve is steep, and DIY remodeling is shockingly time-consuming (so much respect…so much). I told you all what we were going to DIY some stuff versus hire out months ago, and well, I think we all know where this post is going…

On DIY Cladding The Walls And Laying The Flooring

When our framers were done reinforcing the ceiling and installing the skylights, they offered to start the flooring and cladding the walls next week. It had been delivered and was piled up, and they were standing next to it, literally holding the nail gun. This wasn’t our intent – we were going to do this part ourselves (and it was one of the reasons we got reclaimed wood – you don’t have to be as precious or precise with it). Brian and I looked at each other, then at our calendars, and we said YES with regret and relief. We realized we had no time to dedicate to this for the foreseeable future (without canceling all our summer family plans and me turning down so much paid work). The original point of us doing it ourselves, versus hiring it out, was the experience of learning and the satisfaction of the hard work (we really liked stripping and painting the upstairs together over a weekend). We knew we’d hire out for the ceiling but genuinely thought we could at least do the kitchen flooring ourselves. Once we saw that pile of wood, we lost all DIY excitement. The reality of the upcoming months of hard work, stress, and likely bickering set in.

So we gave Mike and Fred the thumbs up to install the flooring and clad the walls, which took them a few weeks – probably10-12 full days- with 2 guys who have a TON of experience, tools, and skills (and they aren’t even done yet). This proved to us even more that we couldn’t have done it – it would have taken us months and probably not been great for our marriage or family dynamic (Brian would rather host the school auction, changing costumes 6 times, than spend months making wrong cuts of expensive material). Working with reclaimed wood means that, sure, things are a bit more forgiving (nail holes are easily hidden, flaws are part of the beauty, etc.). Still, there are way more cuts because you have to avoid huge cracks and holes and also place things in a way that looks more even (not just put all the dark together – making sure it’s tonally balanced). I think had I not announced to the world that we were going to DIY some of these elements, I wouldn’t be writing this walk-of-shame post today. But I was so sure this was something we could tackle ourselves! I’m working on reducing my negative self-talk, so I won’t share some of my thoughts. Let’s just say “hard lessons were learned”. Again.

So my lessons are the same ones that I keep having to learn – that I don’t have endless bandwidth and that just because I want to do something doesn’t mean I have the time to learn how to do it properly. And that DIY remodeling is so incredibly time-consuming and requires so much precision and skill that I may never have. The fact is, our business model is not set up for me to dedicate weeks to physical labor even if I could learn to do it correctly. I literally have to be on camera 2-3 days a week, design room makeovers, have 8-10 meetings a week, and have to write the blog. I have such an incredible team that leads so much of the execution of the content, but aside from human cloning, it’s ridiculous of me to think I could do this. Time is finite, money isn’t. We all know that story. So yah. I looked my reality in the face and hired out (again, with equal parts regret and relief). Let me be clear – I’m not embarrassed that I hired out (most people should if they have the budget). I’m embarrassed that once again I thought I could do something that I couldn’t, after promising with such confidence that I could.

That’s all to say that things are moving forward just better and more expensive than we predicted. Nothing to complain about here; I just hope you guys aren’t disappointed that I don’t have lots of fun “things I learned while laying our own flooring” tips and posts. Honestly, there are so many DIY content creators that you should follow instead for this remodeling content anyway – they are better at it, and their business models are built around producing that type of content (Fariha Nasir, Angela Rose, Kyle Ortiz, Renee Renovates, Ashley Tate, Anika Gandhi, Danielle Guerrero, The Grit And Polish, Carli Alves, Sarah Randall, Jenna Phipps – and so many more!). I know what I’m good at, and deep down I know that I have never been good at measuring or precision. If it’s up to me, I take the shortcut and say, “eh, it’s good enough” because I’m impatient, I want to move on to the fun stuff, and I know that I can cover it with a flower arrangement (this is not something I’m proud of, just being honest). I’m a perfectionist when it comes to so many things – hanging art, styling shelves, even pulling together renovation materials, and I love obsessing about how to make a room look full of personality while being functional. But construction precision is not, and will never be, my strength. I also really believe that we should all do the things that make us feel good, or better, things that we are already naturally inclined towards that put us in a flow state, and ya’ll, we should hire out the right people who are aligned with their naturally inclined skills. Not that we shouldn’t learn new things or accept new challenges – I truly don’t want to be that person, and I know that convenience + privilege impairs personal growth. But man, when we looked at that stack of wood after it arrived, we knew what we should have done all along – hire the right people. I have so much new respect for what skilled home remodelers do. It’s clear to me I am not one of them, which is all good (it has to be, lol).

But Wait, What Is The Actual Update With The Wood Cladding??

Right. At the time of writing this (Sunday), the game room is almost finished, the kitchen flooring is done, and 1/2 the bathroom ceiling is clad. By the end of next week, the bathroom should be all closed up, and the kitchen will have beadboard panels ready to paint. There is a decent amount of extremely time-consuming but low-skill repair work (pulling staples out of the walls and ceiling). So we are figuring out who does that, and when. It’s looking awesome. It’s a bit more rustic than I like (by nature of the wood), so I might put a big coat of sealant on it to bring out the richness of the grain and even out the contrast, but we’ll see.

Rough Plumbing Done!

The rough plumbing is done. It was pretty minimal – a bathroom with a toilet, urinal, sink, and a shower, and a kitchen with a sink. Not even a dishwasher (for now) or a fridge that required plumbing. The first quote was $25k, which surprised us; the second came in at $15k, so we hired them. So far, they did a great job, and I’ll link them up after the fixtures are installed if we love working with them.

Electrical

As of today, 1/2 of the light fixtures and outlets are installed. The living room looks great. They installed the dining room/kitchen chandelier too short, and it looks more like a semi-flush (they left a stem out, and I was out of town when it happened). So I need to find out if they left enough wire to take it down and add the 12″ it needs, but if not, I’ll move that upstairs to the pink room (which I hadn’t ordered for yet but planned on a multi-bulb semi-flush) and then re-order a chandelier for over the dining table. The bathroom has all the rough electrical but no fixtures until they finish cladding the walls (and I haven’t ordered the ceiling fixture yet, so I need to get on that – ooh, maybe I could move the dining room one there? Stay tuned). I’m way behind on ordering outlets and light switches, so some are just plastic that we’ll replace, and some are nicer fixtures that I panic-ordered on Amazon. We are basically attempting to do paintable outlets in the painted rooms, and black or an antique brass in the wood room (but avoiding splurging on outlets altogether). I’ll likely splurge on light switches since they are more visible at eye-level and will pop out really badly in such an older home (and fine, yes, I’m a light switch snob).

Staining The Game Room Floor

The game room needs to be shot as a big holiday dinner party in a couple of weeks, so I have to get on staining the floor. We had the floor sanded down to the original wood, but it’s in OK shape (tons of dents and dark oil stains), so we are going to go darker with it and plan on covering it with a rug, versus putting down prettier flooring. Is it weird that I’d rather splurge on a rug than redo the flooring altogether? Maybe eventually I’ll do both, but for now a big old vintage rug is going to cover so much of it that it seems silly to spend more money trying to make the flooring extremely beautiful. I think staining will be good enough.

Doors And Trim Work

Oof. I really need to get on this. Some of the doors are sweet and janky and worth investing in properly. Some of them should just be replaced (janky doors can be so annoying TBH, if you use them frequently, but since we won’t live in this house, we are figuring out the solution that makes the most sense). But all of them have vintage hardware that I fantasize about taking off, having cleaned, and reusing. So we’ll see. It’s not super time-critical, but we all know that rehanging doors is extremely annoying, so I’d like to do it while I have the guys here cladding. Stay tuned.

Kitchen Cabinets

Literally haven’t had time to think about this. What I have had the time to do is design two other sets of kitchen cabinets, and boy was it easier to have a cabinet maker make them. LOL…. I know. The fridge and electric range have arrived (both black Smeg and awesome), and I still have the white hanging sink that is feeling SO WHITE to me. Realistically, I won’t be able to finish the kitchen til early next year. I’m still really excited about it, but a lot is up in the air, and I need time to think/design.

The Upstairs

The old light blue prop room and the upstairs landing are almost there (shootable but not dialed in). So I think after these holiday shoots we’ll be able to put more energy and time into finishing them up for real use (or more shoots). I don’t love writing up in the pink room yet or spending too much time there. I think I’m just a whore for abundant natural light, and while it’s cozy and would be a fantastic bedroom or TV room/play room, I don’t love being in there for hours (whereas in my sunroom I can stay all day). Definitely considering skylights, but I don’t want to mess with the vintage exterior roofline. So I’m not sure it’s going to be the meeting room that we predicted, but that’s ok. The two new huge windows downstairs and the skylights in the game room are pulling me to set up shop down there instead.

The Old Prop Room

This one, we had to shoot the Quilt vignette, but the rest of the room is still under construction. So it’s this hilarious mix of a totally styled-out desk vignette, next to a busted window. It’s the lowest priority because we aren’t sure of its future purpose, but I have some fun design plans for it regardless.

What About That Weird Bathroom???

In the name of deep diving into uncomfortable levels of transparency (title of my memoir??) I’ll give you a full update of every element soon. It just deserves its own post. It’s coming along, but things have had to change for a variety of complicated reasons – some out of my control, some due to the aforementioned “biting off more than I could chew”. It may or may not be another “walk of shame” post, but I kinda think that’s what you are here for (not solely, of course, but hopefully it keeps you coming back rather than just showing off a clean end result). Schaudenfraude is alive and well on the internet, but hopefully you guys are excited enough to see how it turns out to keep coming back.

****UPDATE: As I’m editing this post (Wednesday morning, 6 am, lol), I just realized all the lights were on for the first time!!! The electrician came back yesterday to tweak the dining table chandelier (which looks great now) and put bulbs in all the fixtures. We accidentally left them on, apparently. But my goodness, it all of a sudden feels like a home!! Maybe someday we’ll even have running water!!?? You know…for the urinal

In 2022, an old IKEA armchair sold for just around $19,000 in Stockholm, the highest price ever paid for a piece from the meatball-slanging home store. It wasn’t a fluke, though – Verner Panton’s Vilbert is hunted by collectors. Carl Öjerstam’s rattan chaises have exponentially grown in value. I recently witnessed an adult temper tantrum when an antique mall vendor wouldn’t sell their Guide shelving unit to a collector. All this to say: the market for vintage IKEA pieces has exploded over the past few years. (You can see photos of all the above and more here and here, lest you luck into a small fortune on your next Goodwill run.)  

But this is the thing I love most about IKEA: you never know what’s going to end up forgotten and what’s going to end up reducing a grown man to tears in the middle of a Delaware beach vintage store. So today, I wanted to play a game – we’re going to try to guess which IKEA pieces are going to stand the test of time. These are my criteria for longevity, based on the fact that I’ve spent way too much time thinking about this: 

• A real designer or a sharp idea: A piece needs an author or a point. It’s either by someone with a name that carries weight with collectors, or it offers something completely unique: a fresh shape, new material, or unique construction method. A nice shelf in a nice finish doesn’t qualify. SORRY, BILLY!
• A tiny production window: It’s limited, seasonal, collaboration-only, or likely to be discontinued. Has it been in the range since 1978? If yes, it’s not going to make a great antique. (Man, I’m really beating up on Billy today.)
• Materiality first: Solid wood, metal, rattan, or a finish that improves with wear give extra points. Particleboard with a print does not, unless the design itself is the draw. THIS ONE IS NEBULOUS, OKAY? But if it won’t survive thirty years of use, it’s not going to be a collector’s item.
• It’s average: It’s priced and displayed like everything else in the store. The market (that’s us, folks), not the maker, are the ones who will determine the piece’s long-term value. That’s kinda empowering, huh? 

And now, I’d like to present my bets – the items that I think will be big vintage bestsellers in the future. It’s like Polymarket or Kalshi, but it’s all good fun, and it doesn’t involve me developing a degenerative gambling addiction. Come back in 30 years, and we’ll see how I did, okay? 

Varmblixit LED Table/Wall Lamp

Every few years, a new dominant IKEA light emerges. (Like a Supreme from American Horror Story. The season about the witches.) I can almost guarantee that you can picture the greatest hits in your mind’s eye – there was the classic globe table lamp (still the best ambient light you can grab under $30, IMO), and then there was this expandable, exploding, sci-fi-inspired number, and then there was the ubiquitous bamboo pendant, and now…it’s all about the donut lamp, folks. THE KIDS LOVE THIS THING! I can’t blame them, either. It’s a warm, comforting light for uniquely disquieting times.

Holermud Side Table

WHO DESIGNED THIS? I’m gonna give them a kiss on the mouth! There was a big, well-deserved design industry hullabaloo when this modular shelving unit – which can be configured to wrap around corners, sectional sofas, etc. – was released into the world. But my favorite use case so far has been in Tremont Home’s living room, where she used 4 of these budget-friendly shelves to freshen up a sofa configuration that she didn’t totally love. They’re versatile, dynamic, and look far more high-end than their sub-$60 price tag might suggest. (PS. They’re only $45 in-store!)

Stockholm Shelving Unit/Bench

Sometimes the proportions are just right, you know? (This is one of those times.) I’m endlessly charmed by the multifunctional piece we used in the River House living room – it’s friendly, elevated, and just…pretty. I love the joinery detail where the leg meets the top, and the scale is perfectly balanced. This one is an instant classic in my book.

Jättebo Sofa

MOVE OVER, KIVIK. (That’s what my heart screamed the first time I laid eyes on this chunky corduroy cuddle pit. I might have even screamed it with my mouth. Who can remember?) Seriously, though – the Jattebo sofa collection is a little old school, a little new school, and exactly the type of sink-in sofa that yours truly loves for lounging and luxuriating. Jess and Mal went and sat on it, and you can read the review here!

IKEA PS 2026 LED Portable Lamp

I think pieces with this cheery, fresh aesthetic – geometric shapes mixed with punchy, unexpected, color-blocked brights – will always remind me of the 2020s. This portable light, in particular, reminds me of a miniature, budget-friendly version of Ryan Preciado’s floor lamps – modernist, accessible, welcoming, and easy on the eyes. It has so many hallmarks of this decade, too – battery-powered, petite enough to slide into a shelf or into a dark kitchen corner, and dimmable, to boot!

IKEA PS 2026 Chair

Not going to lie: when the 2020s kicked off, I thought that this was the direction that design was headed in. I thought we were headed for the FUTURE, you guys. But then the pandemic hit, and everyone decided to decorate like a hoarding grandma in a country cottage or like a minimalist residing in a sanatorium, and brands hit the brakes on pretty much everything that wasn’t gingham or beige. NO MORE! We’re due for a Y2K arrival, and this modern inflatable chair puts its past rivals of the 90s to shame. I love the frame. Love the shape. I JUST LOVE IT.

Örträsk Nesting Tables

These are brand new, but I’m calling it now: these coffee tables are about to be everywhere. And they deserve to be! A hit of black? Check. The perfect mid-toned brown that’ll work with walnut and white oak? Check. Slightly amorphous, organic shapes? Check. Nesting functionality? Check. THEY DO IT ALL! A tip of my hat to the designer – I’ve never been too impressed by IKEA’s bare-bones coffee table selection, and these are hands down the best offering I’ve seen in the category in years.

IKEA PS 2026 Utility Cart

Do you think the other utility carts are jealous of this oversized, rounded trolley? The shape is to die for, and the 4-tier system is so functional, especially if you, like me, employ a system of cleaning that you’ve colloquially deemed “the chaos cart.” Here’s how it works: I roll an empty cart through every room in my home, picking up things that don’t belong and putting back the things that do. People say you can do this with a bag or a box or even your hands, but the cart makes things so much easier. (This is a really long way of saying that this is my new chaos cart for my place on the East Coast.)

Konstrunda Rug

I spend a lot of time thinking about Ezra Pound, an American poet and critic who mentored a slew of famous writers – Joyce, Eliot, Hemingway, Frost, Cummings, etc. – but who might be best known for his catchphrase of “MAKE IT NEW.” See, Pound was tired of all the fussy Victorian language and was attempting to herald in a modernist literary movement – one that he felt was becoming of a futuristic, dynamic, industrial age. And that’s kind of how I feel about this runner – MAKE IT NEW! I’m happy to see some experiments with shape, color, and pattern. We’re all kind of due for a fresh start, don’t you think?

Konstrunda Decoration

Did you miss out on the Clare V. x Schoolhouse collaboration? No matter – IKEA is here with a near-perfect dupe of the aforementioned collection’s sculptural, chrome catch-all. The kicker? The IKEA version is slightly bigger and a fraction of the price. (If that didn’t impress you, maybe IKEA’s funny marketing copy will: “The decoration is not only aesthetically beautiful, but it can also be used to store small things since it’s bowl-shaped.” Imagine that!!!!!)

Konstrunda Pine Stool

First: I don’t think IKEA gets enough love for its unfinished pine furniture! (I say this as a former owner of this bed and this dresser, as well as the current owner of approximately a million of these cabinets.) It’s one of the few spots where you can find pieces that are easy to customize and refinish to your liking. On that note – how cute would this scalloped stool be in a playroom?! Or a little girl’s room? Or if it was painted to look like a cloud, or a flower, or a germ, or a sheep, or whatever other thing kids are into these days?

Blomprakt Bluetooth Speaker Lamp

I think that in 30 years, kids are going to be nostalgic for these brilliant speaker/lamp combos in the same way that kids today are nostalgic for, like, old camcorders, and the way that I was nostalgic for vinyl records, and the way that my mom was nostalgic for….well, the metaphor kind of falls apart technology-wise, but you get the gist. A great mix of form and function, and the fact that it gives off a Snoopy lamp vibe (minus the $1,800 price tag; plus the addition of a music player) is a big win.

Skogskovall Bedspread

In 2024, I fell down a Welsh blanket rabbit hole. I was OBSESSED with Welsh blankets. I literally refused to shoot my bedroom until I could save enough to buy a Welsh blanket of my own. (That turned out well, huh? Now I’m barely spending any time in my apartment, we never shot my bedroom, and I still haven’t saved enough for a freakin’ blanket!) And while the handwoven wool blankets from across the pond remain out of my reach – for now – I can rest assured knowing that this modern, budget-friendly checked bedspread can scratch the same itch for about 10% of the cost. (And look how cute it is in Em’s room!!!)

IKEA PS 2026 Table Clock

IT’S JUST KINDA WEIRD, you know? There’s something about this clock: maybe it’s like a submarine? Maybe it’s like the Pixar lamp? Maybe it looks like a little anthropomorphic eye, coming up to check on you? Maybe it’s like the old pipe screensaver from Windows 95 came to life? Whatever the case – this strange clock just does it for me. It’s unique in the way that all collectible design is, and I think the aluminum body is just going to get better with age.

IKEA PS 2026 Stool

Before I say anything else, I have a confession to make: I love a screw stool. I love a drafting table. I love anything with visible, functional joinery. There should be more of it! So it’s no surprise that I have been absolutely bowled over by these beautifully proportioned, multifunctional stools – the punch of Yves Klein blue is just the cherry on top. If you’re in need of a tiny nightstand or end table, please consider this one and let me live vicariously through you.

And with that, I have presented you my IKEA draft: these are the IKEA pieces that I think will retain some value and clout in 30 years, when the 2020 stylistic revival rolls around. (Can you imagine what that will look like?!) WHAT DO YOU THINK? What horse would you bet on? And seriously…if anyone has one of those old Carl Öjerstam chaises, I know a gal in the market xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: River House Living Room Reveal

Every time we post about the kitchen near our induction range, we get so many questions in my DMs. A lot of people are debating traditional gas ranges and induction, and my kitchen is a really public example (dare I say, poster child for induction). It’s been four years with this beautiful gal, our 48″ induction range by Aga, so I figured it’s worth the update. I took the most popular questions and answered them (and happy to do more in the comments). This isn’t a debate on what to buy, just an induction range review from our experience. If you are about to start a kitchen remodel, you want what works for your lifestyle, your family, your style, your health, your budget, and of course – you want it to last a very, very, very long time. Now, I originally wrote about our range years ago, so if you want a tour and a 6-month review, read that as well.

About My Family And How We Cook

1. We do a lot of Sunday and Monday meal prep (and family dinners), but we don’t cook complicated full meals Tuesday- Thursday and usually grill or get takeout on Fridays because our kids have sports til 7:30. Our repertoire is making large batches of a one-pot or one-pan meal – think roasted chickens, soups, chilis, casseroles, meatballs, quesadillas, energy muffins. We also use our slow cooker, Instant Pot, and air fryer on heavy rotation. I actually think this is typical, but if you are a real home chef, I may not be the right reviewer for you.
2. We don’t throw dinner parties (we do a ton of BBQs outside). We don’t host Thanksgiving, but we do have a lot of potlucks in the winter. While I think this range would work great for larger gatherings, too, the oven size might be hard for hosting a 25 lb turkey or baking huge batches of cookies.
3. We barely bake. Elliot makes a lot of cupcakes with her friends, but I don’t have the precision skills to do complicated pastries (a secret shame is that I don’t even do Christmas cookies). This range is both convection and normal (from the top), and if you are a baker, you might have some specific preferences that I don’t really have or know.

So my review of this range for our family is a 10/10, and my goodness, it’s stunning and easy to deal with and clean, but I can’t speak for all types of cooking and baking. I honestly haven’t thought about it functionally or practically in years, which I think speaks to how well it works and the practically zero pain points I have with it.

Has It Scratched?

Nope. Not that we can see. Which is actually surprising since the most used pot/pan that we use weekly is our Dutch oven, and I slide it without really thinking. If I’m pulling something out of the oven and I haven’t cleared the space on top, I don’t pick up the Dutch oven and move it to allow space; I shove it. I’d say the top gets a ton of wear and tear, and it looks perfect still. The surface is unbelievably easy to clean and satisfying to wipe down.

Have You Ever Put A Griddle On It? One Of My Favorite Parts About Gas Is Putting A Griddle In The Middle

Yes! The website says you can, but we haven’t. You just have to use a compatible griddle. I’m not sure how it works since the heat is localized to the circle of each burner.

How Easy Is It To Clean?

SO EASY. Listen if I’m being honest, the reason to get this range is 1. If you want to electrify your house (or stay electric and not have to run gas lines) and 2. If you want an easy-to-clean surface (gas burners are universally annoying to keep clean). Sure, it heats up faster, but honestly it’s kinda negligible (so boiling water might take 2 minutes faster than gas, but that is not a reason to go this route, IMHO).

Has It Changed The Way You Bake?

Kinda. We had to change the way we bake meatballs or cookies/cupcakes, as it won’t fit larger cookie/baking sheets. We either do it in batches, use the second oven, or put two in one oven on different racks. I haven’t thought about this in years though; it’s not a pain point at all. But technically we don’t use large batch cookie sheets anymore, so I guess yes. We use 11×16 sheets.

Have You Had To Modify Any Recipes?

1. Brian’s famous gas flame butter-basted steak is 10% less easy to make because the cast iron pan needs to be crazy hot to retain the heat as you lift it up. Very specific, I know.
2. Overnight simmering bone broth. I also used to make a ton of overnight bone broth, but it turns off after a couple of hours for safety when I’m in bed, even if a pot is on it (it always turns off if a pot is NOT on it, which is GREAT). Admittedly, it was super weird that I would leave a small gas flame on all night long, btw. And that was more of a lockdown tradition that I had anyway. But I just Googled it to make sure that I was right, and the quick search said that it turns off and that you should instead put it on low in the oven (which is a great idea, but won’t make the house smell as good, which I loved).
3. You have to use smaller cookie/baking sheets. I use 2 11×16 sheets and have gotten super used to it. But I could see that if you bake a LOT of cookies, you might want bigger sheets (but this is a double oven, so you do have more room to spread out).

Have You Needed To Fix It? If Yes, Is It Easy To Find Someone To Work On It?

No. We have had zero issues with it, which I can’t say is the same for our pebble ice machine or our kegerator – both of which have broken down a frustrating number of times (the pebble ice machine is now discontinued, so that’s cool – we are researching what to replace it with). If you bought appliances in 2020 – 2022, you might have issues (this was a universal problem) because the demand was so extreme during the lockdown remodel frenzy and every appliance company was panic-hiring to meet the needs, so there are simply more glitches. What I’ve heard is that most of these bugs are worked out. The only thing that we had to “repair” was that a handle became loose and came off, and Brian had to find one of those tiny Allen wrenches to put it back on. But it wasn’t a thing and was an easy fix. There is nothing more frustrating than when a huge, expensive appliance breaks down, so I’m happy to report how great it has been.

Do Your Kids Use The Stove? A Friend Had To Replace Hers Twice Due To Her Kids Breaking The Glass Top

Our kids make eggs, grilled cheese, quesadillas, and Rice-a-Roni, but they aren’t manhandling the Dutch ovens or larger pans like we are. So yes, they cook, but it’s pretty minimal stuff (one pan), and no, they didn’t break the glass. I really think the glass is super high quality and must be super thick.

Are You Able To Slightly Change Heat Intensity Like Gas, Or Is It Incremental Like Electric?

It’s a 1-9 number and often depends on the pan. I feel like 6 sometimes feels like 3/4, and then 9 is CRAZY HOT. So yes, you can change the heat, but sometimes the amount you change doesn’t reflect the heat. Sometimes low and slow (1-2) can be really, really slow. But again, we aren’t chefs, and it’s never bugged us. Brian never complains, and I don’t know if I would notice.

Does It Make That High-Pitched Sound Many Induction Ranges Make? Is Yours As Noisy As Mine?

It buzzes a bit on the metal when the pan is on it, actually, but I barely notice it. I remember when we first got it, the kids could hear a pitch that we couldn’t. They would complain, but they haven’t in a while, so now I’m confused whether I imagined that or not. It’s definitely not noisy at all, but is there a slight pitch change? Yes, but slight. I’m extremely sensitive to noise TBH (always that person that asks to turn the music down because I get overstimulated), so I feel like it would absolutely drive me nuts if it were annoying at all.

How Do You Find Having Multiple Smaller Ovens?

It has two ovens – one convection and one electric. They are both smaller, so we use them both when we are meal prepping and need one for a roast chicken and the other for meatballs. We haven’t fully nailed the difference between the two, and we aren’t picky enough to really care. What we know is that convection cooks both from the top and bottom, and the electric just from the top (like a normal oven). We know that convection is hotter and faster than regular, so we usually set the timer for less time and turn it down 5-10 degrees. I think if you are a baker, you would want to do more research to make sure that this isn’t a huge pain point for you. But for us it’s been fine, and we’ve just made small adaptations.

How Long Was The Learning Curve?

It was a short learning curve, and really best by trial and error. But it’s not as intuitive as old-school ranges – just with the knobs and the oven options. There is nothing “smart” about it, which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE (I really wish appliance companies would stop “innovating” by making us use more apps that just break down and are impossible to fix), but there are a lot of dials that we don’t use that make it hard for someone coming in for the first time to figure out.

Do You Miss Having The Gas Range At All?

Not at all. We don’t even think about it – which is again, the point. Appliances should just work. We love how this looks and cooks:) Now, if you live somewhere where your power goes out a lot, then obviously an electric oven won’t work during outages (Our power goes out a lot in the winter, but we have a generator, so it’s fine). And I want to be clear that I can’t speak for other electric or induction ranges, and this one is high-end, so it better work. I just bought the small 24″ Smeg electric range for the guest cottage, so I’m excited to try it and use that (and will report back). We didn’t want to have to bring gas over there because it’s so expensive, so everything at that house is electric.

Which Pots And Pans Do You Use?

All of our normal Dutch ovens work that I’ve had for years (I have a Made-In and Le Creuset). It’s the pans that were trickier on the cooktop (they need to have enough metal properties for the magnet to work). Brian just switched all our pans to these (Made-In Stainless clad) because we are trying to avoid ingesting microplastics and read this article about coatings. Brian wants us to mostly use stainless, cast iron, or carbon steel, but we have one non-stick that we use for eggs and will unfortunately ditch when it scratches because that is when it’s believed to release the PFAS directly into our food. Listen, if you care about this stuff, it’s a massive rabbit hole, so we are trying to use common sense and reason and mostly just keep all the plastics away from our kids’ direct ingestion in their bodies (food and water) while knowing it’s actually impossible to avoid plastic while living in this world. He also got all glass storage containers for Father’s Day But anyway, there are tons of pots and pans on the market that are great for induction, so don’t worry about that!

Final Words For My Induction Range Review – Aga 48″ Induction Range

We love how it looks and cooks. I LOVE how it cleans – not having to take off each burner to clean the stainless saves us and our cleaning service 15 minutes each week (and they never really feel clean). So having a wipeable glass surface is great. Many people love convection ovens more than a normal one, but Brian and I don’t really have an opinion about it because we simply don’t bake enough to clock much of a difference.

If you are a baker or home chef, please let us know in the comments if you have good or bad experiences with induction/convection ranges.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

Welcome back to a project I first talked about… a while ago. What I initially thought would be fairly quick and easy was soon flooded with overcomplicated ideas and a new door that was too short for its new door frame. I’m not going to point fingers, but the right measurements were given to Les Bunge, and, well, the “Bungo, I found the perfect door” turned out to be 3″ short of “perfect”. I ultimately lost steam and just focused on my living room and bedroom. But the tide has finally shifted, and I am sick of looking at my sad “too short” salvaged door every time I walk into my apartment. So here’s the deal: I am giving myself a deadline of November 1st for my DIY closet. I have a plan; I have a new DIY buddy:); and enough energy to finally get this little pass-through DIY closet DONE and checked off the project list. Let’s jump right in.

This is the view I am tired of. It’s not just that the extra door is off to the side, but also that my very lovely toilet is the first thing you see upon entry. It’s a cute bathroom, but I’d prefer some more visual mystery. But since the main/only natural light for the hallway is from my bathroom, I thought switching out the door that’s there for a door with glass, that I could add privacy film to, would be a pretty solution. That way I still get the light without the toilet welcoming you into my home.

But before that little idea came to be, I wanted to make this pass-through closet cuter and add more storage. I knew I could make this right side much more functional. Let me show you how.

DIY Closet: The First Idea…More Storage

Here’s a little guest star moment of DIY Dad helping me get wood for the shelves I asked him to build. Nothing fancy since I knew I wanted to stain or paint them once I had my whole design plan together.

My idea was to have a couple of shelves for tools, and I guess workout weights (?) while leaving enough height below for my stepstool and drying rack. You know, those important helpful items that don’t fit effortlessly in a one-bedroom apartment. I would then add a curtain to conceal the important helpful (but unattractive) items as well as bring in some soft texture. Then the ideas went a little wild…

DIY Closet: The Roman Clay Idea

Remember this idea? What started out as a very sweet and personal idea turned into something I realized I didn’t want to do. I love the look of Roman clay and limewash paint, but nowhere else in the apartment would have it, and it was a feature I don’t know I would have loved in the end. Plus, I was really nervous about the application and the success of my idea of how I would add my “Morse code” shapes. I also wasn’t convinced of either color I chose. Ultimately, I’m so glad I didn’t go this route in this home. Maybe a textured paint is in my future, but for now I’m sticking to something more classic.

DIY Closet: A Curtain…FINALLY

Concealed Mount Cafe Set | Cafe Curtain Rings

The one thing I did get done was finding a rod, rings, and curtain to cover the less beautiful things I wanted to store. The curtain I have is a pretty sheer one from Zara Home. I needed the curtain to be lightweight (since the rod doesn’t have a center support bracket) but obviously not see-through. So I just folded it in half so it was less transparent. It’s been working just fine, but I’m not opposed to swapping it out if that’s better for the final design. Also, an FYI that some of you told me after I had already made the purchase! If you get this beautiful rod from Rejuvenation, I highly recommend getting the cafe curtain rings instead of the cafe pinch rings. They may be cheaper, but they will also drive you nuts when your curtains won’t stay up. Maybe there’s a secret trick, but unless you are crafty, just go for the ones with the better clips.

So with some decor on the top shelf, this is how it’s looked for the last few years.

DIY Closet: A New Door??

Ok, it’s time to dig into the door drama. To show you how dark it is when the current door is closed look at the photo above…it’s dark. That also means that when you walk through my front door, you nearly step into darkness, but with a bright room directly to your right. The balance is too off which is why I am going to replace the door. Don’t worry, nothing bad is happening to that pretty paneled door. It will just be carefully wrapped and put into the owner’s storage garage.

Now, here is the $50 door my dad found that’s…not the right height. Allllmost, Bunge. Oh, and yes, the floor is very slanted, but that’s what we call “free charm” in a 100+ year old home:) My options are to find a magical unicorn of a door at a salvage yard that IS the right size or find a cheap door that’s the same width and add it to the top of the door I have. I’ll keep you posted. The latter seems more feasible if you ask me.

Reeded Glass Window Film | Custom Made Linen Door Or Narrow Window Panel

For the privacy part of this DIY, I will likely do a reeded privacy film. I’m sure you’ll still see soooome of the toilet, but it’s so much better than nothing and it adds some fun style. My other idea was to order a custom-size “French door curtain” but with a curtain right next to it hiding the shelves. I think that’s too much fabric for one little DIY closet and actually provides less visual privacy than the film.

Oh, and another little hiccup! Where the handle goes on the door doesn’t match the door frame’s hardware. So either I need to chop some length off the bottom of the door (which there’s enough of if you go back to the photo) or patch up the current hole and make a new one. The first option seems easier to me since I already need to add to the top.

Now onto the fun stuff (she says with a heavy dose of decision anxiety)

DIY Closet: Picking A Paint Color

These are the Samplize colors I picked. I don’t ever want to go back to a world where they don’t exist. I wanted a lot of colors because I knew the light was going to be really funky. Our general rule is to paint a light room light and a dark room dark, but this is a weird medium option – kinda light but mostly dark, but not super dark. A real mess if you ask me.

Top Row: Velvety Chestnut | Dark Buff | Cedar Ridge | Oxford Stone | Redend Point | Lite Cocoa
Bottom Row: Dead Salmon | Setting Plaster | Cappuccino | Mocha Cream | Carlisle Cream

But they are all really pretty! But my gut was to take out the dark colors and Mocha Cream since it was reading very gray. The last thing I want is for this to be a random dark hole in an otherwise lighter-toned apartment. Also remember, it’s THE FIRST thing you see when you open my apartment’s door. A medium to light tone was what I felt was going to be best.

Here’s all of the super dark colors taken off (another beautiful perk of using Samplize: don’t like it, remove it!). Better right?

Top Row: Cedar Ridge | Oxford Stone
Bottom Row: Setting Plaster | Cappuccino | Carlisle Cream

Here the first cut, but a little easier to see. If you think you have your vote decided, I have another curveball for ya:) My bathroom is getting renovated. Some leaks in our super old pipes need replacing, so my landlord asked me if I wanted to help design it! SO exciting, but I’m really not ready to talk about it. I’m still very much in the design phase, and until things are more locked in, I’m holding off on talking about it here. But I will give you a sneak peek at what my general color palette is because that also very much affects the color I choose. They need to make sense together as well as with the overall apartment.

These will be the main colors along with some kind of white (likely White Flour by Sherwin-Williams that I used in my bedroom since the spaces are connected). I’ve loved this color combo for so long. And since there is already a fun blue tile in the bathroom (that I’m actually really sad to lose but must), I think this will only be a step up.

Here’s a reminder of what my bedroom looks like, and the door to the bathroom is the one on the right with the mirror inset. I also, of course, know that this is a rental and that not every tenant after me will choose a similar palette for their bedroom. But I promise that I will keep the style of the hard finishes very in line with the style of the home. I want to honor this home with a bathroom it deserves as one of the very lucky tenants in it’s hopefully very long history. Plus, I’ve never designed a bathroom before! I’m so grateful and also FREAKING OUT. But back to my little DIY closet.

Top Row: Oxford Stone
Bottom Row: Setting Plaster | Carlisle Cream

Here are the bathroom colors next to the three finalists. At first look, my heart says Carlisle Cream. But when I asked a few trusted sounding boards, they agreed that Carlisle Cream was pretty but maybe not enough of a contrast to the general white tone that the rest of the home is covered in, and that Setting Plaster was a little more fun. I saw their point but didn’t really agree at first. But then I looked around more and started to change my tune. I don’t want a “bold accent closet,” but I also don’t want it to be so similar that it doesn’t really look like anything, you know? Oh, and Oxford Stone was clearly out, ha.

Oh, and I will likely stain the wood shelves a darker walnut tone:)

DIY Closet: Of Course I Need A Special Flush Mount

Modern Flush Mount Globe: Perforated Metal Shade | Radner Flush Mount Light | My Little Secret;)

To end with some home jewelry, if you will, these are the three flush mounts I’m looking at. I love the idea of mixing metal with this chrome cutie. Plus, it feels a little vintage, and I’m planning on most of the hardware in the bathroom being in the silver family. The amber glass one has a refined organic feel that is so stunning, and the tone will work with the burgundies I want to use in the bathroom. The final bubble glass one is vintage, so I don’t want to give the link yet! But I like the geometric style it has, and that would tie in with the other geometric elements I have in other parts of my home. The only thing is that the chrome one is MUCH more affordable than the other two, and it’s all coming out of mama’s wallet. So as I get closer, we’ll see what I decide!

To recap, the deadline is November 1st. I would make it soon, but this month is FILLING UP with so many birthdays (mine included), an EHD retreat, and other fun celebrations. I’m very grateful and excited. Plus, my most favorite flea market, Downtown Modernism, is happening on 10/25, and maybe I’ll find a perfect item for the closet? I have to at least look. So that’s the plan, and I’m sticking to it.

Any kind and constructive ideas are welcome. Any paint color preference? Are you team Setting Plaster or Carlisle Cream? Any tips on adding to a door’s height? Let’s talk DIY closet feelings:)

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Jess Bunge | Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Jess’ Bedroom Reveal

Happy Sunday, everyone! The team was BUSY this past week. Emily, the PDX gal, and Mallory were all on site for a very fun and special project we can’t wait to show you. Then Jess got to go to Fariha Nasir’s book launch party (that Arlyn wrote with her) in LA at the incredible Block Shop’s brick-and-mortar. If you haven’t gotten the book, we promise you are going to love it:) Go here to check it out! Ok, let’s talk links.

This week’s home tour/From Arlyn: EHD friend and all-around fabulous human being Erik Kenneth Staalberg just shared on his Instagram that Apartment Therapy featured his Glendale home as a recent House Tour, and I swooned. I visited his ridiculously well-styled and incredibly authentic home about two years ago; I was helping with a designer’s book at the time, and it was being shot for those pages. I’m glad it’s out in all its glory for everyone to see. Besides being a feast for the eyes, the layout of his home is nearly identical to my first place in LA, so it feels so nostalgic to me. Given that Erik is a prop stylist, his rooms look different than the last time I was there; I remember walking through his long hallway—I had one just like his…endless—and just taking in every detail, every trinket, every moment he created. His home is the kind that you look at and then get flashbacks to all the items you said no to at the thrift store because you didn’t know what to do with them. He always seems to know what to do with an antique judge’s gavel or an oil painting of a bride. Pour yourself a cup of tea, and enjoy!

From Emily: Guest cottage quick shout-out!! Half of my lighting just got installed while I was on a work trip, and I was SO excited to see it in person. I ordered from Olde Brick Lighting, which was the first time for me. Y’all, if you want customizable farmhouse/classic/schoolhouse-style lighting, I can solidly say how impressed I am with it. I got to choose the finish (antique brass) and some of the dimensions (mostly the drop) and the opacity of the shade, etc., so it leans custom (but came in weeks). And I love how lighting in a house speaks to each other (no hard and fast rule here, just a preference), so I love that the same gold finish is consistent and every room kinda gives a nod to the whole design. Customer service was so lovely, and the reviews were all really, really good (mine, too, obviously). I’m so excited to show you.

From Caitlin: Last Sunday, Den headed to our local outlet mall to buy a pair of pants. I tagged along at the last minute…and came home with a pair of pants. (AIN’T THAT THE WAY? His hunt continues.) I wasn’t expecting to find anything, but these $45 barrel khakis left me floored. These were SO GOOD – imagine the material and cut of the Colette pant (albeit at a fraction of Anthro’s price) mixed with a modern barrel silhouette in a smorgasbord of easy-to-style colors. I grabbed the off-white stripe in size 14 – admittedly a total guess, but based on my average size – and spent about 5 minutes in the fitting room feeling totally shocked that I had stumbled into comfortable hard pants that fit this well. The moral of the story is that you should invite yourself on every shopping trip, lest your Cinderella fall pants appear when you least expect!!!

Also from Caitlin: I have to confess that I came down with a punishing case of the shoppies at the aforementioned outlet mall, in which I also grabbed these adorable Lululemon shorts for a song. (Yes, we are blessed with tax-free shopping and a legitimate Lululemon outlet – Delaware has its high points.) ANYWAY – the high-rise, pleated detailing, faux-skirt look, flirty leg, and cheery color all make me feel like a million bucks. I paid just over $19 (again, blessed by the outlets – down $118!) but would have absolutely paid their website’s current $44 sale price. I wish I had gotten them earlier this summer – they would have seen a lot of wear. (But for now, rest assured: I am the belle of my arthritis exercise class at the Y.)

From Gretchen: I had an extra 15% off birthday coupon to use at the Gap (I can’t seem to get enough of them lately). Because I’ve been wearing and loving my navy vintage-looking zip-up sweatshirt from them, I went ahead and bought it in two more colors (with the excuse of using my coupon) in Black and Light Blue. But luckily (for you and me), they’re also on sale! Originally $80 and down to $40 with an additional 10% off if you use the app! I’m writing this a few days before you’re reading this, so I hope the sale is still going on come Sunday. If so, I can personally recommend the “tapestry navy”, “black,” and “light blue” versions, the third of which I am wearing right this second. I really love the fit and softness of these sweatshirts and know they will be a fall staple, on their own or layered under a heavier jacket. They sit nicely, a little cropped at the waist, and the “wedge” style just means more room around the bust, arms, and armpits, which I really prefer to a too-tight sweatshirt. I think I’ll stop at three colors for now…but who knows! They’re that good.

From Jess: Small business alert! Due to health stuff, sugar is something I need to be pretty careful about. So when I stumbled upon this homemade sugar-free granola that’s from a family-run and operated bakery, I was pumped! They are out of Long Beach but also sell at some grocery stores like Erewhon (where I actually found it), Mother’s Market, etc. For some reason, the Erewhon near me hasn’t had it for a few weeks, so I went on their site and found out that they sell at a local farmer’s market near me and also do online orders! So guess where I was yesterday morning Anyway, if you are looking for very delicious granola (with good sugar-free options) and want to support small businesses, Sconage Bakery could be a perfect match.

From Marlee: The other night I went to a friend’s house, and she was SO excited to play a new game she got. There is nothing worse than going to someone’s house for game night, and it takes longer to explain the rules of the game than it does to actually play it… well this game is exactly NOT that. It’s INCREDIBLY fun, silly, and hilarious. Think apples to apples/cards against humanity meets… poetry? You basically have a magnetic tray with TONS of various magnet words, and you create poems based on different prompts. Each round, you take turns reading your poems, and the judge’s favorite wins. It’s easy, requires NO explanation, and requires a little creativity but not too much brainpower. It also makes you CRACK UP (the most important part of a game for me). I can’t wait to play again!

From Mallory: I’ve never worn a barrel pant before, but when I saw someone wearing these cream pants with brown stitching, I fell in love and had to snag them. They fit true to size and genuinely go with everything – I’ll be wearing these all the time!!

Thank you for spending this time with us, and congrats again to Erik for this incredible home tour!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: How We Are Using Quilt Mini Splits To Heat And Cool The Guest Cottage

It’s time. The great long dark is a-coming (short days, rainy season), and in the name of positivity, I reach for the elements that I actively look forward to doing during this time of year (soups, fires, more reading, binging shows, and yes, COZY CLOTHES). I’m still in the market for some myself, TBH, but I found a few that I thought were cute enough to show you (and Jess rounded up a ton more). Most of these are cute enough to leave the house in (drop-off, groceries) or travel in. Let’s go!

Cozy Clothes: The Matching Set

Sweatshirt | Sweatpants | Top | Socks

This set (sweatshirt + sweatpants) is splurgy but feels really high-end, for those of you who like your sweatsuit to still be fashion-forward. The fabric is that thicker, almost scuba-like fabric that drapes really well and doesn’t wrinkle. I do like a matching set – it just feels more pulled together.

1. Dynamic Fleece Pique Polo + Mid-Rise Dynamic Fleece Textured Wide-Leg Sweatpants | 2. It’s Casual Knit Slub T-Shirt + It’s Casual Knit Slub Trouser | 3. Sunday Oversized Funnel Neck Sweatshirt + Sunday High Rise Wide Leg Sweatpant | 4. VintageSoft Raglan Sweatshirt + Mid Rise VintageSoft Baggy Joggers | 5. Layover Mockneck Sweatshirt + Layover Balloon Jogger | 6. CloudLight Oversized Sweatshirt + CloudLight Easy Wide-Leg Pants

Jess here! I really tried to pull together a range of styles. #1 gives me that sporty East Coast vibe and is a great one for errands, kids’ games, traveling, etc. I love, love the mock turtleneck that #3 and #5 have; cozy but chic. #2 and #6 look like those perfect at-home sets that are ideal for lounging, and #4 is a pretty great dupe of The Great’s matching sweat sets.

7. The Layover Cardigan + The Jet Lag Pant | 8. Bounce Fleece Half-Zip Pullover Sweatshirt + High-Waisted Bounce Fleece Wide-Leg Sweatpants | 9. Waffle Knit Pullover + Waffle Knit Cropped Track Pant | 10. Everyday Fleece Cropped Half Zip Hoodie + Everyday Fleece Barrel Sweatpants | 11. Mongolian Cashmere Full-Zip Hoodie + Mongolian Cashmere Sweatpants | 12. Sunday Soft Off-The-Shoulder Sweater + Sunday Soft Trouser

Now, in this set of sets, I included some more slurgey options. #1 is from my gal Paige Desorbo’s brand Daphne. Now, we are not actual friends; I’m just a big fan, and this new set she just dropped is so pretty. The collar on the cardigan is perfect. For those looking for a little pattern, you can’t go wrong with a stripe, and #9 and #12 are my favorites from what I found. Want a classic “J.Crew style” set? #8 is perfect and affordable. If you love a barrel-style pant like Em and I do, how cute are those Quince ones in #10?? And finally, if you are a lover of the finer things, Quince’s cashmere set (#11) looks pretty cozy:)

Cozy Clothes: The Polo Pullover + Loungey Pant

Sweater | Pants | Socks

This sweater from Target is super soft, BTW, and such a pretty color. I sized up (medium) so that I could layer it over a T-shirt and just have more room/ease. I’ve been influenced by my almost 11-year-old daughter to buy baggy gray sweats (no elastic on the bottom, she says), and while I won’t wear them like her cohort does (with a tiny tank top, in public), it’s now ALL I SEE at the mall. Here are more that Jess found online:)

1. Trading Up Polo | 2. Merino Wool-Blend Long-Sleeve Polo | 3. Cotton Cashmere Rugby Polo Sweater | 4. Mongolian Cashmere Button Polo Sweater | 5. Polo Sweater | 6. Bare Cashmere Cellini Sweater

Jess again! I am very into this cozy but “put together” look. What is a collar if not professional? So the first thing I’ll say is that I have loved every sweater I’ve ever gotten from Free People. That pretty blue one looks perfect and a bit more relaxed to me, and it comes in many other colors. The wide striped one also feels a little more casual, while the other are wonderful but feel more tailored. But as Em said, sizing up will usually give you a more relaxed look with most sweaters (and some tops). Oh, and in case you’ve missed it, Emily is a massive Quince fan in general but has especially been loving their knits like #4.

1. Varley Easy Pant 30 | 2. CashSoft Loose Shaker Sweater Pants | 3. Mid Rise VintageSoft Terry Loose Sweatpants | 4. Pull-On Jogger Sweatpants | 5. Oversized Bounce Lite Bubble Joggers | 6. Real Me Baggy Jogger

While I deeply respect our Gen Alpha fashion correspondent, Elliot Henderson, and her push for the non-elastic bottom sweatpants, I wanted to give a variety of options:) If you are team Birdie, #1, #2, and #3 all offer that loose hem and look so, so soft and cozy. I, however, love a jogger look, so #4, #5, and #6 are another way to go. I’m very tempted by #6. The fit on the model looks so cute, and they seem to be a little more high-waisted.

Cozy Clothes: Henley Top + Loose Fit Pant

Top | Pants

Another Henley sweatshirt from Target that is a really great heathered gray. And while those pants are technically in the cozy category, I love them a lot. They are the low-rise cargo pants from The Gap that I’ve been wearing a ton since I bought them.

1. Merino Wool-Blend Henley Sweater | 2. Cyrus Oversize Cotton Henley | 3. Relaxed Fit Pullover Sweatshirt | 4. Holland 100% Cotton Henley Top | 5. Alumni Henley Sweatshirt | 6. Porta Cashmere Henley Sweater

What’s more “classic fall cozy clothes” than a Henley top? These ones I’ve rounded up are great because they can be your main layer, or you can layer over a tank or tee. That cobalt Henley sweater from Abercrombie is electric! Cozy doesn’t have to mean neutral. Another detail to consider is whether you like a loose fit at the bottom or a fitted one. Both are great!

1. Mid-Rise Relaxed Painter Pull-On Pant | 2. Tidal Moon Low-Rise Pull-On Pants | 3. Beach Ease Pants | 4. High-Rise Cotton-Linen Barrel Pant | 5. Canvas Easy Baggy Barrel Cargo Pants | 6. Sketchy Pinstripe Trousers

As Em said, the pants she’s wearing in the photo aren’t your typical “cozy clothes” soft pants, but they are loose and very comfortable, so they count. All but two of these are under $100 and, to me, so cute. If you like more volume, check out #3 and #6. There’s some simple but cool detailing on #1 and #4. But if you are a pull-on-and-go person, #2 and #5 are a dream.

Cozy Clothes: Pullover Sweatshirt + Cool Active Pant

Sweatshirt | Pants | Socks | Shoes

The sweatshirt (Madewell) is giving The Great, but for 1/2 the price. And the pants (from Target!) are trying to be the viral LESET pants but with more of a taper. True to size.

1. Victory Sweatshirt | 2. The Concert Graphic Sweatshirt | 3. Oversized Raglan Sweatshirt | 4. NPR Retro 70s Cooper Crewneck Sweatshirt | 5. Go-To Boyfriend Sweatshirt | 6. Tempo Sweatshirt

There’s nothing quite like throwing on a cute crewneck sweatshirt and instantly feeling cute and pulled-together in a very comfortable way. So here are 6 that I love. I really love the NPR one, and buying one actually helps to fund NPR, which is so important! If you are like Julia Stiles and love a sporty crop fit, #6 is a great match (anyone else watching Dancing with the Stars?? I’m a week behind!). For my oversized lovers, #3 and #5 are going to be right up your alley, and for a fierce graphic tee look, I love the Mother one so much.

1. Mid-Rise Adjustable Active Woven Utility Pants | 2. Nice Moves Coaches Pant | 3. Beach Riot Camryn Pants | 4. Performance Tech Mid-Rise Joggers | 5. Parachute Jogger | 6. Game Day Pants

Our final category: cool active pants. I truly want all of these. I love the styling of #1 so much and have donned it before – a cropped, cinched pant with some kind of ballet flat. It’s fun, comfortable, and easy. I’m also a sucker for a side strip like on #2 and #3. Speaking of #3, what a FUN pant! You could dress those up or down so easily. And for my shorter gals out there, I think #6 is a perfect crop, and the seams are very cool. Ok, back to Emily:)

Hope this was helpful and maybe even got you excited to dress for this next season. Cute, cozy clothes for the win, always and forever:) But if you need some less loungey options, there’s some pretty cute inpso in this post and this post. xx

*Photos by Kaitlin Green