From Emily: We know that the news cycle is very much all-consuming right now. We hope this makeover post of Mal’s parents’ living room can be a break if you need one. It’s wild times, it’s important to stay informed, and we are glad to still be here.

My parents have hated their living room since they moved into their empty-nester house 9 years ago. They live in a builder-grade townhome that’s in an amazing location – it’s close to the beach, 5 minutes away from my amazing grandma (who’s 94!), and it’s crazy convenient to everything and anything you’d need. If you read my recent bathroom makeover post, then you heard about how many times we’ve moved as a family throughout the years (spoiler: it’s A LOT). My mom and dad have always been super adaptable, and honestly, I think they really enjoy moving around to shake things up. So they definitely didn’t think they would be in this house for as long as they have been, and they’re not moving anytime soon (especially because I’m going to be moving in really close to them…like REALLY close…my boyfriend, Austin, who I’m moving in with, owns the house 9 doors down). So luckily in the 9 years that they’ve hated their living room, I’ve become an interior decorator and content creator, which calls for…A ROOM MAKEOVER!

Let me brag about my parents for a sec so you can get a sense of who they are and how I’m going to tailor this room to feel like them. First off, my parents are the most incredible people ever. My mom, Melissa, is smart, fun, and beautiful (which is pretty unfair to have all 3). She used to be Snow White and Mary Poppins at Disneyland before becoming the ambassador of Disneyland during their 30th anniversary. Which basically entailed traveling around the world with Mickey Mouse (literally…there are photos of her and Mickey on the Great Wall of China). Then she worked for corporate Disney in special events…BUT WAIT, she’s also an incredibly talented pianist, so she now teaches music and vocals to children at Disneyland and at my high school, Orange County School of the Arts.

My dad, Bob, is (you guessed it) equally as awesome. He comes from an insanely musical family (all of his brothers are professional drummers), and he is the most incredible bass player ever (nope, I’m not even biased). He’s also a music producer and owns his own company called Audio by the Bay. They produce music for shows and parades at theme parks like Universal Studios and Disney all over the world (he also just produced the music for Paramount’s Christmas tree lighting, and it was epic). He loves cars, boats, jet skis, etc. (my parents have a house by Lake Mead because they both love to waterski, and we grew up wakeboarding). So when we were doing a shoot-up at Em’s Mountain House, Emily told us we could take their boat out, but we needed a driver (so we could celebrate after a long week responsibly, haha). I called up my parents, and they generously boated us around to the nearest country bar where we all danced our hearts out and had such a blast.

So I got none of my parents’ musical genes (but boy did they try when I was growing up with the piano, voice, and bass lessons), but there’s one thing I can do: design a bangin’ room and fast. So when AllModern reached out toward the end of December for us to do a quick January living room makeover, I knew just the space that needed some love. Ladies and gents, let me present to you the “50 Shades of Gray Living Room” (literally)…

WELCOME TO THE 50 SHADES OF GRAY LIVING ROOM

So here’s the situation. 9 years ago, when they moved in, gray was IN. So everything in here was gray. The hard finishes in the house are all gray – gray vinyl flooring, gray cabinetry, gray tile – literally everything. So to “match the house,” my parents added in even more gray – gray accent walls, a gray couch, and a gray chair (which is a super common mistake). Hence why we all called it the “50 Shades of Gray Living Room”. Oh, and there also used to be a gray rug in there at one point, but our family dogs (Coco and Murphy) kinda trashed it. So in these photos, you’re seeing the first time they brought in some color to the space, only to realize the rug was way too dark and showed SO much dog hair.

The thing is, my parents always say “they suck at design” (their words, not mine), but really, they just do what a lot of people do: they never create an overall design plan for the space and instead they would just buy and replace one item at a time with no style, color palette, or goal in mind. So, for example, if their rug was starting to look dirty and old from the dogs, they would just go out shopping and would pick up the first thing that was fine, fast, and affordable, and replace it (that’s how they ended up with this rug they ended up hating). Then for some larger purchases they would get design paralysis and would just live with what was already there because they didn’t know what would look better (see the coffee table that used to have storage under it but the dogs ate the fabric so they just tossed the storage pieces and said “it looks fine enough and we don’t know what to get instead”). Well, that’s how they ended up hating their living room – every piece was just fine to them. They had no real attachment to anything in there. None of the furniture in the room made their hearts sing, and the gray color palette quickly became cold and depressing.

So here’s where I stepped in. I perused the AllModern website looking for timeless, high-quality pieces that would warm up the space and that would last a long, long time (even with two pups). I also wanted to bring in more storage because their house really doesn’t have a ton. AND BOY DID I FIND WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!

THE DESIGN PLAN

Desk | Desk Chair | Accent Chair | Drink Table | Floor Lamp | Grid Rug | Sofa | White and Brown Pillow | Light Brown Rug | Coffee Table | Credenzas | Round Pillow | Black and White Pillow | Charcoal Pillow | Cream Pillow | Side Table | Red Lamp

So here’s what I pulled together for the design plan. Last year, my parents had purchased a new sofa, and I installed some simple, cream pinch pleat curtains as a surprise gift for them when they were out of town one weekend. Those two elements really helped the space, but it still didn’t feel cohesive or warm. So I wanted to bring in lots of rich, warm wood tones, both in walnut and oak, to bring out some of the brown hues that are within the gray vinyl flooring. I mixed in some gray-toned elements like the desk chair (that’s actually a dining chair on casters, which glides SO perfectly, and is so comfy), the sofa, and a few of the pillows to make the space feel cohesive with the rest of the house.

I placed this order right before we closed our office for our 2-week holiday break, and then it was (literally) Christmas morning with furniture arriving left and right. My parents were SO STOKED.

When we were back in the office in January, I started to really pull everything together, and I did a few fun DIYs to really make the space feel custom and personal for my parents. Then the week after that, it was finished, and we shot the room!! It was hands-down my fastest makeover to date, but it’s easily one of my favorites now. Here’s how it turned out!

THE REVEAL

Accent Chair | Drink Table | Floor Lamp | Grid Rug | Sofa | Coffee Table | Credenzas | Charcoal Pillow | Red Lamp | Bowl | White and Brown Pillow | White Throw Pillow | Red Lamp

HERE IT IS! I’m smiling so big just looking at this photo again. First – let’s chat about the incredible credenzas (yes, plural!!) I put two of these incredible walnut sideboards next to each other, and they did SO much to elevate the space. First off, the quality is actually unreal (it’s solid wood and those babies are THIIICK). We were so grateful they came with white-glove delivery because they’re heavy and substantial. A tip if you’re putting two credenzas side-by-side: go with something without legs because it will make them fit together more seamlessly – the design of this credenza is perfect for this because you can hardly tell where one starts and the other stops, so it really looks custom! My parents were also blown away by how much storage they gained by spanning the cabinetry wall-to-wall.

I found the big art piece on the right from a vintage boating supply store (so random) for $100, and the couple in it looks identical to my Grandma and Grandpa on my mom’s side. My grandpa wore a captain’s hat everywhere he went and made everyone call him “Captain Vern” (even though he would get seasick and would rarely go on boats). So this piece is super special. We painted the random gray accent wall (that used to be to the right of the chair) and just made the whole room the same white paint color, but then once we got everything in, I knew we needed to add more visual interest and height to the room. All of the furniture is on the lower side (and most of it doesn’t have legs because our sweet pup Murphy is blind and deaf, and he just bumps around and gets trapped under furniture). So we kept everything low to the ground and as little of a Murph-trap as possible. He’s gonna make his blog debut below, don’t worry. So all this is to say, there just wasn’t enough drawing your eye upward. So, literally the weekend before we shot this space, I decided we absolutely needed to try out a DIY shelf idea that randomly popped into my head. I absolutely love Austin and my parents because they were immediately down to head to not 1, but 2 different Home Depots to collect the supplies and help install these shelves 3 days before the shoot.

So this is what it looked like before the shelving…

PROGRESS

Needs some more pizzazz, am I right?? I found the perfect-sized floating shelves (we couldn’t order online because they wouldn’t arrive in time), so they were (of course) gray…which was the exact color we were trying to minimize, haha. So we decided to paint them the same white as the wall (which honestly ended up looking much better than if we had just bought sterile, white shelves online…this looked much more custom). Make sure that if you’re painting laminate to use a shellac primer before! It makes a huge difference in durability.

My dad and I installed the shelves as evenly as we could without a laser level (we immediately bought a laser level after this, though, because it would’ve been helpful). And then I bought4 basic, unfinished wood closet rods (that had free delivery, which was awesome) that my mom stained with natural oak stain. Then Austin cut each piece to size with his jigsaw, and we really had an assembly line going…it was crazy. Because many hands make light work (as Em says), we were able to get this done in 2 days (and it only took that long because we had to let the paint dry…it probably was a total of 6 hours of work between two days).

Accent Chair | Drink Table | Floor Lamp | Grid Rug | Sofa | Coffee Table | Credenzas | Black Footed Bowl | Black Vase | Fluted Bowl | Floor Lamp | Charcoal Pillow | Large White Bowl | Large White Vase | Large Black Vase | Ribbon Candelabra | Leather Catchall | Red Lamp

Then came the fun part – styling!! I think my parents were pretty surprised by how long it takes to style a space and how much you end up just moving things around over and over again. They said, “It’s so crazy because as musicians we have auditory patience and can listen to a song or practice an instrument over and over again until it’s right, but we have no visual patience.” That made me laugh because that’s exactly the skill you need to style – visual patience!!

Large Cream Bowl | Black Vase | Fluted Bowl | Terracotta Vase | Floor Lamp | Charcoal Pillow | White and Brown Striped Pillow | White Throw Pillow | Large White Vase | Large Black Vase | Red Lamp

I incorporated as many of my parents’ objects as I could – the trumpet was originally my Grandpa’s (he was a band director for 60 years!), and then my dad played this same trumpet in high school. The image above the trumpet was a gift from a famous photographer who shot Woodstock – my mom helped him sell his house (oh yeah, she’s also a real estate agent…this woman does it all). On the left is the vintage metronome my sister and I used when we practiced piano as kids, and the photo under that is my mom’s certificate from the Great Wall of China. The giant bowl on the bottom right is one of my favorite AllModern finds, and I juxtaposed it with tiny vintage composer busts that I found at the Sherman Oaks Antique Mall.

There are the pups! Murphy (our blind and deaf rescue) is on the left, and Coco (our boujee King Charles Cavalier) is on the right. These dogs crack me up because they’re very different vibes, but they love each other so much. I love this photo – we’re just missing my amazing older sister, Madi (who works at the Disney Studios in Burbank and understandably couldn’t drive an hour on a random Thursday morning to hop in one photo…but she is here in spirit!) She’s the best person ever, and in case you couldn’t tell, I just love my fam so much.

Storage Coffee Table | Rug | Sofa | Floor Lamp

Remember how we wanted to add more storage?? Well, this incredible coffee table has a GIANT DRAWER!! Perfect for storing bulky, fuzzy blankets. Plus, the quality of this table is really off the charts; it’s just so well made.

Chrome Bowl | Hi-Fi Book | AD Book | Storage Coffee Table | Rug

Crazy – you would never know that that’s a drawer!! It’s so seamless. Also, you might’ve noticed in the moodboard earlier that I had planned to layer this awesome light brown rug on top of this grid-patterned rug. That was because I initially thought it would be too much “grid” with this notched coffee table sitting on this rug. But when we laid it down, I actually thought it looked amazing, and it was visually more dynamic, so we just kept the bottom rug! Both rugs are super well priced for the quality and size – I could not recommend them enough.

Floor Lamp | Rug

This grid rug is also super forgiving with the dogs, and my parents are very impressed with how it’s holding up. Also, how cute is this floor lamp?

Desk | Desk Chair | Grid Rug | Sofa | Coffee Table | Round Pillow | Black and White Pillow | Charcoal Pillow | Side Table | Metal Dome Lamp 

OKAY, onto this really fun family photo DIY I created! You may relate to this – my parents have books on books and boxes on boxes of old family photos that just sit in the credenza and never see the light of day. Well, I wanted to bring some of those old photos out and create a large piece of wall art for them. I had seen this photobooth art by Amanda Jane Jones that’s all over Pinterest (it’s so chic and genius) and knew I wanted to create something similar. So I went into the physical photo archive, took pictures of the pictures on my iPhone, and then uploaded them to Photoshop and started arranging them into a loose grid.

This is where the “grid” theme really started popping off, but I’m pretty into it, honestly. (Also side note: check out that blanket that I found at a vintage store in Arizona for $34!! The loose grid motif is everywhere, and I love it.)

 Metal Dome Lamp 

The key is to vary the color in the photos – if they’re all black and white or all sepia, it starts to lose visual interest. So I colorized the photos in photoshop so some were brown, some were black and white (you could also do this to each photo individually on your iPhone; it was just faster in Photoshop). There are over 250 photos in here, so it took me about 2-3 hours to arrange them and get the colors how I wanted them to look. Then I sent it to the framing store and had them print and frame it HUGE. It’s 48×48, which is awesome. It’s full of baby photos of my sister and me, pictures of my parents when they were first dating, photos of all my grandparents from years ago, etc. We’re all very obsessed with it, and it really made the room feel personal.

Desk | Desk Chair

My parents both do a lot of work from home, so desks are valuable in this house. I love that this one has a drawer (for more storage!) and the leg joinery detail is so pretty. It also came in 2 days, which was pretty amazing. I mentioned it before, but this dining chair on casters is actually the greatest desk chair hack. It’s so comfortable, and it glides around SO easily. I highly recommend this chair – it comes in a ton of colors too Also side note – that plant was a Christmas gift from my sister and me when my parents moved in…we truly can’t believe my mom has kept it alive all these years!

This might be one of my longest posts ever, so if you made it this far, THANK YOU!! We had the best time doing this “50 Shades of Gray” living room makeover, and I’m just so happy that my parents finally have a living room they truly love and one that will last a long, long time. HUGE thank you to AllModern for sponsoring this makeover – we couldn’t have found a better partner for this project! I’ll chat with you all in the comments – hope you love it as much as we do!

*Design by Mallory Wackerman
**Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

This is the last installment of our official 2026 trend posts. We’ve covered kitchens, bathrooms, colors, and now…decor. I know this “business as usual” content can feel like whiplash to what is going on in the real world. But if you are in need of something light, just for a moment, I have been pouring over the design side of the internet to find the most fun and best decor trends for 2026. Now, this doesn’t mean what was “on trend” last year or years before is out, but instead, additional fun things to consider and be on the lookout for. Let’s get to it!

Thick (& Sometimes Matted) Frames

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For a minute, the design world has heavily favored thin, delicate frames. Lots of float mounting in there, too! And if I’m honest, a thin frame is still my personal preference in my home. BUT, given that the elevated English cottage style is still going very strong, it only makes sense that a thicker, vintage frames are coming back in a big way.

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I do also think that with wallpaper that’s busier and more colorful, a thick frame helps a piece of art to stand out and not get lost in the overall pattern.

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They are very good at adding instant vintage charm and soul to a room. Had all the frames in this wonderful space been newer and thinner, it still would have been a lovely design, but the feel wouldn’t have had that same visual depth.

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Surprise, surprise, this example is one of my favorites and shows that this trend isn’t just for one style. No wallpaper. No floral patterns. Just clean, modern, simple lines, and soft tones. Plus, that beautiful frame configuration…I couldn’t love it more.

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This room by Heidi is definitely what I mean by “elevated English cottage style,” and she is one of the best at it. This style may not always be “the #1 trend,” but it will never be “out”. Now, we are also here to talk thick frames, so take a peek at the two stacked above the bed. The gilded gold warms up the room, adds soul, and the dark paintings really ground the space.

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These frames aren’t quite as thick as most of the others, but they aren’t thin either, and show how they work with yet another, far more modern style.

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I believe this is a styled product shot from the design firm Omerozturk Interiors, but look how beautiful the contrast of the modern furniture and color palette is with the thick vintage frame on the wall. They work perfectly together, creating just enough tension. 10/10.

Tin

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When I brought up to the team that I thought tin was going to be big this year, I was waiting for them to tilt their heads and raise one or both eyebrows. But before any of that could happen, Caitlin shrieked an overwhelming “YES!” I just don’t think you can put a price on that kind of design validation:) Apparently, Caitlin had been pinning all kinds of tin decor, so we just might be onto something…

However, I don’t think all of these examples are 100% tin and may lean more towards tarnished silver (?), so we can think of it more as a “tin aesthetic” too.

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This bathroom and custom metal shower screen stopped me in my tracks the moment I first laid my eyes on it. The whole space is filled with incredibly intentional and beautiful design choices, but the metal (tin-like) screen is one for the books.

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While different in that it’s the whole back wall, this tin/silver wall paneling is quite the showstopper, too.

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Ah, my FAVORITE category…lighting. This incredibly cool lamp is a collaboration between Katharina Marie Herold and Alana Burns. It has that thin, wonderful metal work with such a beautiful patina. Would I be a happier person if I owned one of these beauties? I mean, probably:)

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This one is an American antique tin chandelier from the late 18th to early 19th century. What a piece! I bet we’ll be seeing more of these types of pieces on our feeds. The thing I love so much about tin or thin metals in general is how delicate and malleable they are. I love the little shapes, how charming the indented patterns are, and when they are curled like in the circle art piece below…

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It feels dark, delicate, unique, has movement, and grounds the space without taking it over.

Chik Bamboo Blinds

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Originally from Northern India, this style of woven, patterned blinds is anything but new. However, I feel like I’ve been seeing this lighter-toned version more than ever. The light-colored bamboo and white fabric trim add a textured softness to a room. I mean, that’s exactly what they did in this wonderful space. Had they chosen a dark fabric shade, the room would still be lovely, but far more moody and rich. Both options are great, but evoke very different energies.

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This one has a gilas pattern, adding another layer of visual texture. It’s playful but leans traditional in a really lovely way.

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There are other trim and pattern colorways too, if white and tan isn’t what you’re looking for. It’s a small switch that makes a massive difference in impact.

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These sweet blinds don’t just belong in colorful, pattern-filled homes. I really love that pop of pattern rolled up in the window. It’s quiet, but you feel it.

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And finally, if THE Jake Arnold is putting them in his projects, you know it’s a great choice.

Drapes + Relaxed Roman Shade Combo

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Staying in the window treatment world. I’ve been noticing more of the drapes + relaxed roman shade combo in the same (or very similar) fabric. When done right, it’s sooooo romantic, no?? This first example is from a trip to Paris that designer Michelle Gage took, and those window treatments have likely been there for many years, but they are such a beautiful example. And is a reminder that this is, of course, not new;)

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If you scroll to the second photo, you’ll get a better view of that breathtaking window treatment combo. I can only assume that being in this room feels like sleeping in a cloud.

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You don’t need to have a valance, but it’s a fun addition if you love the look of it. And because each piece is the same color, it doesn’t look too busy.

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The Roman shades in this example are the least “relaxed” but still very romantic and so beautiful. The butter yellow of the window treatments and the walls simply feels like a hug for your eyes.

Wall Plates

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This was definietly of trend of 2025, but it seems to be growing and with full force. Almost every room on my feed has wall plates. Kitchens (of course), dining rooms (duh), but also living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms. This decor trend completely transcends almost every style. It’s a fairly easy way to make a room feel uniquely decorated because no two plated walls are the same. This one above kept strictly to the space’s color palette, but went slightly more traditional than the overall style of the room. They are also placed very uniformly, which is a great option or…

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…just choose a few you love that are different styles and sizes.

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There are about 10 insanely cool things about this dining room (the stump CABINET being one of them), but this collection of plates makes me so happy. They are playful, whimsical, but deeply chic. I also love that they extended the display to the window wall as well, instead of just using the one main wall. It’s just a little unexpected in the best way.

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Oh, looking for adorable food-themed plates to hang on your wall? Well, they may all be in this lovely room! The amount makes such a statment but it’s also deeply fun. Decor can and should be at least a little eccentric.

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But maybe you want plates that are a little quieter in color and pattern. Enter these beautiful metal plates over this fireplace. These plates are still fun, add a 3-dimensional element, but let’s the other colorful art be the main color attraction.

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This home is the alpine retreat of the late Rosita Missoni and is said to be filled with wonderful found treasures. I think that’s why I love wall plates so much in general. They can be easily collected over time and tell stories from your life. Of course, by the looks of it, these beautiful plates are a set, so likely not individually collected, but wow, are they vibrant and so fun!

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See! Bedrooms too. This is such a sweet collection, and I love that while they are all blue and white/cream, the shapes and sizes are different. How great is the shell one!? If I ever design and photograph my kitchen, you can be sure I’ve already started my plate collection:)

Western/Cowboy Themed Art

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I’ve been seeing a lot of this style of art for sale on my feeds. I even considered this piece for my living room last year. I love the tones and the vintage but fresh feel they tend to give. The western “aesthetic” is huge in fashion too (I’ve been wearing boots and my mom’s old black leather and turquoise stone belt all over the place, who am I!?). So it’s no real surprise to me that it would also be very popular in home decor, too.

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The styles of art vary, but overall, it’s a really versatile look. I love this little cowboy in Sophie Rowell’s cottage bedroom.

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You can even combine this and the last plate trend in one:) It’s a perfect wall plate.

Square Knobs

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This one was a last minute additon that I noticed as I was finalizing the list… square wooden knobs. Now, I did say in the kitchen trends post that wood on wood knobs to cabinet fronts was on trend. But this is about the shape of knobs on furniture. This is a vintage piece (WOW), but we all know that new trends pull heavily from vintage. It’s the ultimate source of inspiration.

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If anyone is ahead of what is cool (because they say so), it’s YSG Studio. This is a sneak peek of a piece that will be in a project reveal this year. The knobs are technically little rectangles that, when everything is closed, make a square. Like all of their projects, I can’t wait to see this one.

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This is a gorgeous new piece with incredibly cool square knobs.

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And these knobs are a bit of a departure from a simple square, but it still feels in the same world to me. I love all of these so much.

Laqured Pieces

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Laquared furniture and laquared walls are coming for us this year in a big way. The whole team feels it. Choosing a shiny lacquered piece (especially a deeply colored one like this burgundy coffee table above) will instantly make your space feel fresh and alive. A heavy sheen will do that. It feels like a modern throwback to a vintage mod style.

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Here’s another great coffee table example. This deep, shiny green is totally unexpected but makes this room feel even cooler than it already is. Plus, any spills are an easy cleanup

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It’s not all about coffee tables. Dining chairs, lamps, trays, and side tables. The options are nearly endless.

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But a larger statement piece, like this desk, is so fun. But notice the pendant too. Both pieces are in the red color family but different tones, so it’s not too matchy.

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I had to include these lacquered burgundy cabinets. WOW. An incredible design statement. The floating shelves are also in that same shiny lacquer paint.

Large Scale Photographs

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They are back and bigger! Large-scale photos are simply just so cool and chic to me. What is also kinda great is that if you take an awesome photo yourself, get it printed and framed for likely much less than if you were to buy new. But also, if you have the budget, buy from artists!

I adore this example above because the style of the piece contrasts with the aesthetic of the room, but the wallpaper and the photo speak to each other because they both represent nature in different styles.

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This large photo is the perfect way to set the mood for this dining. A little meta, if you will. The photo of people joyfully sharing a meal together is what I would assume the owners of this home want to create every time they host. It adds a lot of life to the space, especially when it’s not being used.

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First off, notice the lacquered ceilings??? Ok, but back to that beautiful could photo. It again contrasts the space in the perfect amount. The colors are in line with the space, but the contemporary style doesn’t, and it creates that perfect amount of, say it with me, tension.

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This is Aly’s (of Aly and AJ) eclectic, warm home. It’s filled with so many fun and wonderful pieces, and one of those is that great photo over the fireplace. The colors perfectly match the room’s palette, raising your eye up, making the room feel taller, and the crispness of the photo adds a distinct, fresh feeling.

Heirloom Textiles

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This one has been brewing, and we think this year, heirloom textiles will be even more popular than last. Vintage-inspired blankets with beautiful geometric, plaid-like patterns. This blue one is a favorite.

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You can spot the pink one on Kendall Jenner’s bed in her newly revealed mountain home. Heidi Caillier knows trends, but never do you feel that you aren’t looking at something that will stand the test of time. And by the descriptor of “heirloom,” that’s exactly what these textiles are meant to do.

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They don’t just have to live on a bed! They are so pretty that you might as well hang them on your walls too:)

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Or use them as headboard fabric.

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This one is a little more modern, but so fun and still feels vintage.

Swans

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Lastly, this is an odd one because I don’t have any environmental shots, but if you’ve looked in almost any design shop, decor section at a big box store, etc, you are seeing swans. I’ve seen them all over Anthro, but also a sweet little independent shop in Brooklyn. Even in fashion. They are coming to a home near you. Be ready. Swans are to 2026 as owls were to 2010.

Ok, that was A LOT of beauty to comsune so I hope it filled you up in a great way. Thank you for being here, thank you for reading, and if you have any thoughts on these decor trends, you know I want to hear ’em.

Love you, mean it.

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: I’ve Been Secretly Decorating My Best Friends House – Living Room Reveal Today!

We had a sponsored design post today – scheduled for a few weeks. I just couldn’t put it up. I had “emotional life whiplash” this weekend – where you have to live your life with kids while also trying to stay present to the tragedies that are unfolding in real time. We went to Bend because the kids had two extra days off school and skied (or, in my case, “tried”). Every few hours I would pick up my phone and be reminded of the very clear, horrifying actions of our government on its own people. The back-and-forth was stark and unsettling. Maybe you can relate.

I have one of those personalities where I try to see most sides of most situations. I know that there is always context, nuance, and perspective that should be considered. I lean left, but I also understand that my bubble isn’t always right and that different communities, states, and groups of people have their own set of experiences that form their beliefs (and listening to others has helped shape and reshape mine). I know I don’t know everything and its impossible to understand all points of views. But this weekend hit harder than usual. Living in Portland, I knew the false narratives around immigrants here and the unnecessary “crackdown” by the government. We’ve never once felt any “negative effects” of having immigrants in our lives; in fact, our personal experience is the 100% opposite (which I recognize might not be everyone’s experience, but its ours). Everyone here together, sharing lives and cultures, is what makes living in the US so beautiful. But I’ve tried to understand that in many border states, government officials or the media portray a different experience. I also do believe that every news source is biased (because they are edited by humans… for now), so trying to feel confident about what you are reading is an absolute chore (I read a lot of news sources for this reason). But as ICE has escalated in Minnesota, it all became clearer than ever. The actual video evidence of Alex Pretti is inarguable. Watching the video over and over from different angles was horrifying and surreal. And our President’s and his government’s reaction was somehow worse.

So this is to my conservative readers. I genuinely want to understand if you think what is happening and how its happening is ok. I understand there will at times be casualties and accidents that are out of our control, but the volume of masked men, with barely any training, following brown people around town with guns, with zero accountability for their actions, surely can’t be what you wanted. I understand all the arguments about border control, I do. And I understand that Biden and Obama both deported a lot of people – millions more than Trump in his last term. It’s not about deportation as an idea; it’s how they are doing it. With such violence, cruelty, and a desire to almost torment and terrorize. Families being ripped apart who were in the midst of the immigration process. Children as bait. Moms and nurses killed due to untrained panic or maybe something more sinister. Most of the conservatives that I respect are being silent right now (*as of Sunday evening), likely scrambling to frame it in a way that is possibly aligned with their morals and political careers.

I know that America wanted change when they voted for Trump, and I accepted that desire as a criticism and referendum for how things were. It wasn’t the change that I wanted, but America spoke, and I really did try to listen. But this last year has been so damaging to democracy. In the big M macro way. I’m a huge history lover (it was my major in college), and America is a tiny blip in our world history, and it’s increasingly not looking good. There is no guarantee that we will be around in 200 years. America has only been this “experiment” for 250 years, but so many of our founding values have been challenged in this last year, and I really think that if we don’t get this guy out of power soon, we are in HUGE trouble. He’s playing by no rules, disregarding international protocol, let alone his own government’s laws on every front, with zero accountability because he has taken over every branch of government that could hold him accountable. While he’s not the only one to blame, I certainly think he’s the driving force… and I don’t think that most people would have voted for this version of him.

I guess the point of writing this is to hear from readers outside of my bubble. My hope is to hear from conservatives and republicans. I totally understand that there are things you hoped he would change and improve when he got back in office, but I genuinely want to know if you think that this is too far? The tariffs were/are troubling for our small business economy. The “being bought off by the tech billionaires in exchange for no regulation” is extremely problematic for our kids and economic futures. The cancellation of all the international aid felt cruel. I could go on… But seeing a city protest in a peaceful way, with people allowed to videotape and whistle at barely-trained masked men grabbing brown people off the streets, seeing a nurse trying to help a woman stand up and then being killed…it’s too much, too violent, too deadly.

It’s un-American. We are flawed with bureaucracy, run by people who are so imperfect and have a lot to learn. But our founders built our country to make us feel safe and free.

And right now, almost none of us do.

We first want to say how unbelievably proud and grateful we are to the people of Minnesota. What is happening in their communities, and many others across this country we love, is devastating, terrifying, and un-American. Just like these brave Minnesotans, we have to stay loud, we HAVE to call our representatives (202-224-3121) and demand this to stop. We are unstoppable when we work together.

From Emily: Charlie is what we call “our cozy king” in the house (I’m the cozy queen) and we both lay in our “cozy nest” (two accidentally too big dog pillows turned into floor pillows on the ground in front of the fireplace) to watch whatever we are binging as a family at night (still barreling through 18 years of Survivor, LOL). Let’s just say snuggling and being warm is one of our shared interests (and he’s a 12-year-old boy, so I’ll take ANY way to connect in a special way). Anyway, Elliot, knowing this interest in all things cozy, got him this heated blanket for Christmas, and we’ve been snuggled underneath it every night. It’s a whole ritual where he “readies the nest,” and then we put one of our Anthro faux fur blankets over top of it to seal in the heat. The blanket has four different heat settings and shuts off automatically. It’s VERY dreamy and soft.

Also From Emily: Thanks so much to all of you who subscribed to Brian and my personal Substack. If you missed it, check out his first post here (first two weeks are free), and yesterday I published a post called “My Daughter Wants to Be a YouTuber. Here’s What We Told Her”. It’s more complicated than you think….

Here’s this week’s Instagram highlights:

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Did anyone else indulge in the “We heard 2026 is the new 2016” trend? Well, we did, and man, do we miss it.

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Emily had the honor of being chosen as one of Country Living’s Country Design 100!!

From Arlyn: I’m back this week with some more got-this-for-Christmas recommendations. If you’re looking for modern jewelry that doesn’t have you choosing between groceries and accessorizing (obviously, please pick food over necklaces), I’m here to give a shout-out to Gorjana. I have a handful of pieces from the brand, and even after years of wear, they are still pristine. Mind you, they are not solid gold but perform like they are as long as you take care of them…and even sometimes when you don’t (just avoid any alcohol-based sanitizers, etc.). While they do have fine jewelry, my picks are their fashion pieces that are mostly all under $100—I got this bracelet and this necklace recently, and they look like a million bucks.

From Jess: I know that most of us are likely pretty over talking about protein intake, but in case you aren’t, this is the protein shake that my and Arlyn’s dietitian recommended to me. It’s 30g per can and only 1g of sugar. I found that some of the powders make me a little nauseous, but not this one. I actually get the strawberry flavor (very unlike me), but it’s great, especially over ice. It’s been a huge help (that’s so easy) to reach my daily goals.

From Marlee: This just leveled up my sleep game, and I can’t shut up about it. I’m really bad about consistently taking supplements – I’m subconsciously a very “out of sight out of mind” person, so if I don’t feel immediate results from something, I don’t prioritize it (something I’m working on this year!). But I have been consistently taking the CALM Magnesium powder every night for the past 6 weeks, and I’m kicking myself for not trying this sooner. I struggle on and off with sleep, and for the majority of my adult life, I’ve taken melatonin every night (and if not, special gummies), but I’ve opted out of those things since I started on the CALM and have been sleeping so much better. I wake up feeling rested and not drowsy, and I feel like I’m KNOCKED out and not tossing and turning the way I usually do. Every night, I knock back a glass of magnesium powder and sip on a cup of the Trader Joe’s sleepy time tea about 90 minutes before bed, and together they’re working really well. It’s $20 for the container, which seems like it will last me for months, if not, a year+, but I’ve seen sample-size packs at Whole Foods and other stores if you want to give it a sample. I personally recommend it, but I do feel like I had to take it consistently for it to help, and I know it can cause stomach problems for some folks (not me), so start with a small dose and work your way up. It’s definitely not a miracle drug by any means, but even the act of drinking it as my nightly ritual helps me wind down a ton.

From Gretchen: In keeping with my yoga theme from last week…I decided to treat myself to a couple of pieces from Lululemon. Even when I’m feeling in a spendy sort of mood, I still can’t justify their pricing. Instead, my favorite section to hit up on their site is the “We Made Too Much” tab, where they discount tons of overstock products. Now, as long as you have a physical Lululemon store in your town AND a simple online account with them (free, as far as I know), do not be discouraged by the “final sale” marker. I recently bought a pair of WMTM leggings that I thought would be perfect for hot yoga, but when they arrived, I felt like I’d been punk’d. They were made out of a compression material so robust it would’ve cut me in half the second I went into downward dog. BUT I was able to exchange them in store for a pair I did love, no problem. My order wasn’t all unlucky. Thankfully, I scored a new favorite item from the sale section – this super cute patterned onesie. This one is actually perfect for the hot room. It’s soooo buttery soft, hugs in all the right places, and lets most of my body breathe. So if you’re in the market for some new workout clothes, definitely check out this section before paying full price!

From Mallory: I’ve been seeing all the girlies at my gym wearing cool silver asics and I’ve been influenced!! I tried on these and immediately fell in love. Super comfy, goes with everything, and they make me feel like a 90s mom living her best life in the greatest way.

From Caitlin: Mark your calendars: I will be GLUED to my sofa next Sunday for Netflix’s new series, Glitter & Gold, which follows the world’s 3 premier ice dancing teams on their journey to the Olympics. I don’t talk about it much here, but I was a competitive figure skater for over 20 years – so believe me when I tell you that this will be JUICY (like, we’re talking more drama than Real Housewives – the 3 teams they follow are truly lightning rods in the sport). Everyone is GORGEOUS (I performed in a Stars on Ice show with the American team about 10 years ago, and they physically took my breath away – you have never seen a more beautiful married couple!), the athleticism is astounding, and the competition is so, so, so unbelievably close. The Olympics will be an absolute NAIL-BITER (I’m rooting for Canada, but I have my money on France to win). Binge with me next week so you, too, can fully enjoy the competition with all the context! 

Thank you for spending some time with us, call your reps, and see y’all tomorrow. xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Caitlin Higgins | Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: The Reveal We’ve All Been Waiting For! Caitlin’s Mostly Thrifted, Postmodern Regency Deco Living Room

I’m a few weeks into my winter hibernation and have finally recovered from the holidays. My social battery is back to a normal level (shh, I’m still hibernating). This January, I had nothing to do at night but listen to audiobooks while I organized every. single. drawer, made soup after soup, eat healthy, walk/yoga, read juicy novels (or books on how to talk to our spiritual guides or be a better leader), and put on soooo many face, hair, and even feet masks. And you bet the sauna blanket and red light therapies were at the ready for TV binging. Today I’ll dive into the dumb but SO WORTHWHILE beauty stuff that makes me feel great (yes, even the cheap stuff). I run dry, especially after the cortisol highs and over-indulgence of the holidays. But you see, I have a philosophy that most masks, like most forms of exercise, are worth doing, and are even GREAT. Of course, some are “better” than others, have better ingredients, are more effective, blah blah, but honestly, they almost all improve your skin and make you feel better. The cheap ones still give that glow and, more importantly, give you that sense that you took care of yourself. I would even theorize that the act of simply setting aside the time away from others and rubbing it on your skin, face, and hair sends a happy signal to your brain – Hey brain, I care about this body.

It all starts with the bath…

I have bought so many fancy bath oils over the years (my favorite is still this Jo Malone, but it’s too expensive for day-to-day use), but since I bathe so much in the winter, I really only use Dr. Teals foaming bath in lavender ($11 for two bottles). It smells good, foams up so easily, and lasts for 20 baths (the whole month). I do NOT like any jars of garbage that leave weird flakes or residue in my bath that I then have to clean, and this one doesn’t (a side of “chores” with your relaxing??? No thank you.) Oh, and I do NOT like a rock in my bath, waiting for them to dissolve to “work”. I’ve got feelings.

I recently bought a huge jar of magnesium flakes (I bought it locally, but found it $9 less on dumb Amazon – GD you Amazon!!). It’s unscented, so you can combine the flakes with the bubble bath. There are soooooooo many oils, salts, and rubs out there. My suggestion is to stick to one scent you love because it tells your brain that it’s time to relax when you smell it (that Jo Malone scent will always remind me of lockdown, as I used it almost nightly then, so it has an odd nostalgia for me now). I don’t have a scrub that I can recommend, but in my experience, they all make your skin so soft, and the fancier ones are slightly better but go so fast.

After bath, I’ve been dry brushing and my goodness I LOVE it (I just learned how to do it properly). Now I dry brush right before bed, too (it’s so exhilarating). I already had the HigherDOSE drybrush, but was given it again by a friend who is super into this stuff because it’s her favorite as well (I’m sure a more affordable one like this would also work well). P.S. I don’t believe dry brushing like a normal person actually gets rid of cellulite (hello, marketing), but it’s a huge mood boost and stimulates your largest organ in such a fun way (I don’t doubt that it does good things for your lymphatic system, but just get annoyed with slogans like that). And then I’ve been putting on this body butter that was gifted to me from Kai, and I feel like quite the woman sliding into bed – I smell soooooo good.

medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum | ExfoliKate Intensive Treatment | Clay Face Mask | HigherDOSE Dry Brush | Pure Radiance Foot Mask | Depology Serum-Infused Microdart Patches | Snail Mucin Sheet Mask | Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath | PRDN Collagen Jelly Cream

Face Masks

I’m not the lady with 1/2 used face mask jars – I LOVE a mask. Gel, Clay, sheet masks – $2 or $200. I will put it on my face. I still love the Exfolikate “Hollywood’s 2 minute facial” (I’ll notice a distinct glow for 3 days) and recently have become a FULL CONVERT of all things Medicube or any Korean beauty products with good old-fashioned Salmon Sperm. I LOVE these PDRN masks (4 for $20, so more for special occasions), but for an everyday mask, this one is awesome and under a dollar a piece (also Korean PDRN). PDRN is basically salmon sperm DNA (I’m confused TBH) that helps you rejuvenate skin cells and promotes collagen reproduction. It’s both topical and internal. It’s no joke, and it’s absolutely noticeable. When I was first recommended it (like 8 months ago), I stockpiled it because I was so nervous that it was going to sell out (it’s oddly affordable). So now I have all of these and just smother the hell out of them on my face:

Allover Gel for Collage and Skin Barrier Hydration and PDRN Peptides for All Over Evenness (and Moisture and Plumpness, etc) – These were my gateway into it; I just couldn’t believe what a difference it made instantly in plumpness and firmness.
PDNR Jelly – I think it’s more expensive because it has more salmon sperm in it…(LOL). I got Jess and her friend in love with this one, too.

I don’t have any great nightly moisturizer right now, thus the amount of masks (I need recs for Korean PDNR moisturizer, not just jelly), but I’m trying Charlotte Tilbury’s “Magic Cream” because I had a sample pot and it feels really good. I also got a few solid recs from Natasha Glasgow, a clean beauty expert whom I follow and trust a lot because she doesn’t get paid by brands – FOLLOW HER. She told me about INNBEAUTY PROJECT Extreme Eye Cream, and I’ve been using it for 2 weeks and really love it (it’s so soft and creamy). Kaitlin also loves it:)

Hair Masks

For hair masks, I’ll try anything and do. I have famously dry, fine, curly, and porous hair (and I highlight it) – the real trifecta of “bad,” so I should be masking weekly. Here’s what I’ve been using in January:

Briogeo – I think the whole “Don’t Despair, Repair” slogan got me. Love it.
Kerastase – This is the one every hairstylist I’ve had recommends or sells at their salon. I use it and like it, but can’t tell a difference between the two masks, but trust them.

I just ordered this one because the reviews of it are so good. Listen, one time on a two-week shoot, my hairstylist ordered me to put normal conditioner on my hair, wrap it in Saran Wrap, and sleep on it. The next day it was the softest and silkiest it hasever been. So, again, I think if you have real damage, do some research to address your needs, but also, anything is better than nothing, and sometimes the cheap stuff really works in a pinch

I feel like I could keep going… But I’d really love to take a break and force you to witness my first nude photo shoot of 2026. I was so sick of shooting myself in front of my vanity putting on a cream, so we did this instead, and equal parts hilarity and regret. OK, other important things:

1. Get yourself a waterproof Kindle – I read self-improvement books as hard/softback so I can highlight and come back to them, but all my fiction is on Kindle. Then read my recs for romance novels and turn up that hand nozzle!
2. Light a candle – Duh. Again, most candles are created fairly equal to me. I love the viral Heirloom Tomato from Flamingo Estate and also any $8 fancy wannabe from Target (I stay away from anything too fruity).

Before we had a nice tub, I would put a stool next to our smaller tub and put an iPad on it, throw on Veronica Mars (back on Netflix!!), and sit in the tub for an hour. I’ve also been red-lighting it all over the place. The hat (for follicle regrowth), the face mask, and the blanket (yes, I’ve had partnerships in the past and am so grateful to use them). I’ve now gotten into the habit of daily use (4-5 times a week), which all the research says simply works. Red light stimulates collagen naturally and does a billion other good things.

I won’t bother to get into my supplement routine (I had to buy an XL weekly pill organizer). I’m tackling that heart inflammation in 2026, 13 huge pills at a time. I’m excited to get my second round of Function Health lab testing to see if any of it has actually worked…

Anyway, that turned into quite the rant. I stand by my thesis – Just like working out, any time you take for self-care is a net positive, a big “value add,” they say in business. If you have some solid recs, leave them in the comments. I love to try new things and am your #1 sucker for enthusiastic recommendations:)

*Photos by Kailtin Green

It happened slowly, then all at once. When we first revealed the pantry, we barely lived in the house, and I had no idea how much I’d cook or entertain here. Turns out it’s a lot (which is wonderful), and therefore the needs of “the hardest working room” expanded quickly (and messily). It is not only a dumping ground for school stuff (piles of notebooks) or hiding quick mess during parties, but Brian and I have become quite the collectors of counter appliances that we actually use. And while putting them on the stairs down to the basement seemed like a fine idea at first (“we barely use this!” we said), not when you actually use it 1-2 times a week. So slowly, I’ve removed the pretty things to make room for what we need – food, my ever-growing supplement library, and appliances.

Styled – 2023

When I saw this shot recently as the opener to a blog post about staying organized, even I was like, “Whoa, this is not a real person’s pantry”. But at the time (3 years ago), we didn’t have the inventory we have now. First, the tall oils needed a home, then the bags of vitamins, then the larger platters and bowls we pull out for most parties. Every few months, I would reorganize (always so messy) and take pretty but rarely used stuff out to the prop garage, making room for actual life.

Real Life – 2026

TOP SHELF: Let me walk you through the changes. Top left is random stuff (including some Brez, which I order online – a 2.5 mg THC drink that is a great weekend wine replacement and super light), then all my protein, creatine, and Gruns vitamins (spoiler, some kids love these, mine do not, but I like them). My slow cooker (love), and platters we pull for parties.
LOWER SHELF: Peanut butters/honey/syrup, dog treats, panini press (kids love these sandwiches), basket for some treats out of reach of kids. Then the air fryer (weeknight chicken strips), which we can plug in below and not even move it down, and the Instant Pot (weekly hard-boiled eggs).
COUNTER: We try to keep this as clear as possible. It has our house alarm keypad, a couple of cutting boards, our bread box (which indeed has our bagels and bread in it), and our $18 toaster that could probably use an upgrade, but we’ll use it til it breaks.

What We Didn’t Change: Three Years Ago

This wall has remained very similar to how we styled it originally, mostly because it’s a sightline that you see from entering the house and while in the kitchen, so it has to look really pretty, or it would bum me out on a daily basis. I love our decanted jars (and for the most part keep up with them). Naturally, the pretty apron and broom were crowded out by the one billion coats that you need in Oregon. Here’s what it looks like now:

I obviously needed a place for that incredible vintage still life painting of pears and figs (on that red and white tablecloth? SHUT UP). That pitcher full of pretty wood spoons is for my own visual pleasure, which I’m comfortable with admitting in public I added more jars of decanted beans and lentils (hot tip: keep the bag folded up inside of it so you know what it is and how to make it), and then there are more bowls and cookbooks as I add to my collection.

This is the exact sight line from the kitchen door where almost everyone enters through our house, so while the walls on the left and right can be totally disgusting, the back wall has to remain clean and pretty (Or I need to put a door on this room, which is not on my five-year plan).

What About The Drawers??

These drawers look far more real than they did. I originally designed them to have that gap so that we could put potatoes and onions in them, or just have them easy to access. But it’s just bags of popcorn and chips. The gap doesn’t bother me, but would I do it again? Dunno. This is the first time I’ve thought about it

Coffee Bar Side – Styled 3 Years Ago

Now good news is that while I haven’t used one scoop of that fancy ass tea I bought to style out this shoot, this side is pretty much the same. Sure, we have more to-go coffees and the plant is now dead (RIP), but it’s almost exactly the same (sorry, we didn’t re-shoot it).

A quick shout-out to the hidden cheap microwave – if you are designing a kitchen soon, I highly suggest this instead of something more built-in. I’ve heard too many stories about the microwave breaking, and then what? This allows us to have a mediocre microwave that works just fine (mostly to reheat coffee and make popcorn).

While there are some rooms I do like to keep looking pretty, this one just stopped making sense, and once I started the transformation, I let her rip. It’s wildly more functional (especially using the appliances actually in the pantry and not even needing to bring them out). I suppose a door on this pantry would make a massive difference, but I know what would happen – I would use it even more as a dumping ground when people come over, a “don’t even look in here” room of shame.

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

When it comes to choosing permanent materials, I take my risks carefully. I have to really love the style or visual aesthetics of something to sacrifice function. Our kitchen island is the perfect example – would a big “engineered stone topped newly made cabinet island” function “better” than our all wood vintage store counter turned island? What we did was far more expensive, complicated to design (we added the overhang and had it stained to match), and yeah, the drawers are heavier and kinda stick. But this island brings me joy every day, and I’m honestly never annoyed at the wear and tear or the stickiness – I bought into those years ago, mentally. But not everything needs to be “the moment,” and if I’m not super passionate about something aesthetically, I err on the side of function/durability, easy to clean, cheaper, or simply “the easiest thing to do” (yes, designers make that choice ALL the time, too). Take our painted stairs for instance – not stunning, but totally good enough and saved us thousands from having to patch, stain, and repair the OG wood stairs that were in terrible condition that you can’t even notice through the paint. This brings me to the reclaimed wood walls in the guest cottage…

The wood paneling in the cottage is one of the things that I’m willing to spend more on to keep or even add to. The living/kitchen shared space is such a pretty wood on the walls and ceiling, with a lot of imperfections (as you can see) that will be stripped and sanded to be uniform, then we’ll figure out about staining/sealing it. We aren’t considering painting it. WE LOVE IT. The rooms that are already painted (the old prop room and the stairway/upstairs) will get repaired and painted (not stripped and stained). We are still figuring out flooring, so stay tuned on that.

Today’s discussion is trying to get vintage or reclaimed wood to match the OG bathroom wall.

The Guest Cottage “New Bathroom” Walls

That wall is so dang pretty. It’s 5″ tongue and groove (likely old-growth fir or some other softwood species), and while it has a ton of variation, I think once it gets some TLC, it would look pretty uniform. It’s exactly what I want. But it’s the only finished wall. The other three walls are exposed and need insulation, electrical, etc and then would need to get fresh paneling – vintage or new.

So the question became: Is it possible to match the OG paneling on that wall for the other three walls and the ceiling? Or is this a fool’s errand? Will it cost way more than a new simple tongue and groove? Or should we partner with Stuga and put drift on the walls like we did in my favorite room at the river house? I want to do the more interesting thing (and admittedly, new wood would be far less charming), but I also don’t want to negate common sense in order to do it (and we’ll have a lot of other bigger moments in here anyway – i.e., the much-debated “outhouse” and handmade tile by yours truly).

Let’s Talk Numbers: How Much Do We Really Need?

The existing paneled wall is about 153 ft² (minus the door, it’s about 135). If we’re able to match that wall and panel the remaining three sides, we’ll need about 380 ft² with overage. If we include the ceiling, we’ll need to add another 200 ft² to the order (plus a little overage). If we redo the entire room in inexpensive paneling or if we’re unable to match the existing and want to start over with all matching reclaimed, all in, we need roughly 735 ft² (so let’s call it 750ft²). So to recap, just the three walls and ceiling would be around 600ft², but the entire room and ceiling would be 750ft².

That’s a decent amount of square footage. We needed to do some research, so Brian and I went to McGee Salvage, which has the most in town. And the owner, Tobey, was WONDERFUL.

Tobey Parsons. I love nothing more than meeting people who have been specializing in something for decades and are simply a wealth of experience and knowledge. When we went, we were exploring reclaimed wood flooring for the entire downstairs. We honestly didn’t fine anything that made sense (yet) but still exploring it. We plan on painting the flooring a pattern (since the walls are all wood) so it stopped making sense for us to splurge on reclaimed wood flooring.

His inventory was vast and fairly intimidating, but so exciting. He had a lot, and everything had a story. But we weren’t sure if any would directly match the wall we wanted to keep.

The thing is, I don’t want the “reclaimed wood” wall – you know what I’m talking about (see below). I want it to be uniform and have a pretty smooth grain. I want what is similar to the kitchen/living room in the cottage. I don’t want it to be a mix of different tones and grayed-out woods that look more cobbled together.

What I Don’t Want:

Now, it’s not that I don’t like that look ever, but it’s just not what I’m drawn to for this project. To be honest, I don’t even need reclaimed wood to get what I want (which is just a pretty wood-clad room), but I think it’s a nice way to use what we have, and then yes, use what the earth already made. Reclaimed wood inherently has more character (especially old growth that has such pretty grains and ring patterns). Not to mention the good energy – if you are into that sort of thing (which I am). I want wood that has lived a happy life – either happily in a forest treated with love or a former barn where life was lived (which is why I bought all my wood flooring for our house from Zena Forest Products – which, wait, I just realized I should probably consider for this project!). That’s not to say that I won’t use new wood from Lowe’s where it makes sense (that’s what we did in the Art Barn and the garage), but I love anything that holds a story more, which should surprise no one. I’m not super freaky about it, don’t worry, but I’m telling you it makes a difference in how your home feels to have vintage or storied pieces and finishes. Ok, enough of the woo woo stuff!!! Back to wood!

There was some wood that I totally fell in love with, but not enough square footage to meet our needs (the one on the right was so pretty though!). Other wood we liked would need to be sanded and planed, which is something we are considering, but it adds to the cost. When we first went, we didn’t know that we needed either 600 or 750 square feet, so it was more of an information-gathering session.

We pulled together all of these boards, which we thought maybe we could clad and then stain the same, so they had a bit of uniformity (the grain was really pretty), and it’s still something we are considering.

In general, like everything in life, the stuff that I was more drawn to was the most expensive ($8-$10 per linear foot), which will certainly add up. But listen, drywall isn’t on the table here, so it’s either reclaimed or new wood, and no, I’d much rather this room be all wood than paneled and painted (which would be cheaper). I’m open to also just doing what we did in the garage and art barn (just pine tongue and groove), but that seems like the less interesting choice.

I’ve given Tobey (McGee Salvage) our quantities now and am hoping that he can sort through what he has and give us some options. And then I hope those options make sense financially. I’m open to splurging on the wood if it’s stunning, but not if it’s just “good”. One benefit of doing reclaimed is that I think that Brian and I could potentially clad it ourselves since reclaimed is more forgiving than newer paneling – it tends to already have awkward cuts and lots of nail/screw holes, so mistakes are easily camouflaged (I would imagine that Brian and I would specialize in those).

So as of now, I don’t have the exact options for you, but I am also curious if any of you had experience in this or sources that might have the uniform quantity that we want (that makes sense on the walls – not 2″ reclaimed old gym flooring). I just want to be inspired by the beauty of the wood, not “ok great, yeah we can see if we can make this work”. So while the uniform quantity is important, the richness of the grain and the tone of the wood are really important to me. Any insight or ideas are much appreciated.

It’s the last reveal in my apartment before I move you guys!! If you want to see the rest of the space, I already revealed the kitchen, living room, dining room, and of course, the famous closet speakeasy. I’ve done A LOT to this space as a renter, and yes, I’ll have to reverse some of these DIYs when I move out (which is sad but also expected). To me, I’ve gotten to live in such an incredible space that healed me and truly felt like home. That was my one goal when moving in here: to make the space feel like home.

As someone who’s moved a ton of times throughout their life, I know it can take a lot to finally feel settled in a new space (months, years, even). Growing up, I moved all around Orange County because my middle/high school was a charter school, so you didn’t need to live in a specific city to attend (shout out to Orange County School of the Arts). So my parents took that as an opportunity to move around and try out some different cities. I always tried to make my room feel like “me” wherever we went – even if it was just for a year or two. I think this really helped me get into decorating because I had so many fresh, blank slates. Then I went to college, and we all know how that goes – you move pretty much every single year, and your furniture is just a hodgepodge of things you can scrounge together. So I set up and decorated what I could, but I can’t say any of my college apartments were homey (or even cute…)

Once I graduated, I sublet month-to-month in New York while job/career searching, and then I eventually landed this EHD job in LA and moved into my first studio apartment in Hollywood, and that was the first time I was really able to make my own space feel like home. It took a solid 3 years before it stopped feeling like a barebones Airbnb and actually felt like mine. But right as I dialed it in, life threw me for a loop, and I moved to New York (again) only to break up with my ex and come straight back to California, and a few months after that debacle, I moved into this apartment in Los Feliz. So that’s my life story: home edition. Moving into this space – I really just craved the feeling I had in my Hollywood apartment, where I would walk in, and every muscle would relax, and I felt like I could just breathe. Home can give you the feeling of peace and safety when the world outside lacks so much of it. So yeah, I did a lot to this apartment (especially in those other room reveals you saw) – but I FINALLY got it to feel like home, so I was really happy to accomplish that goal.

On the flip side of things, as a renter, it’s important to know what upgrades are going to be the most high-impact to you and then do those things. This is your permission the leave the rest behind. It’s important to remember in the world of picture perfect homes, sometimes, ‘good enough’ is totally fine – ESPECIALLY in a rental. In my bathroom, I was originally considering wallpapering (which I still think would’ve been awesome) but once I realized that my dining room was the room that needed wallpaper more (this wallpaper, to be exact), I invested my time and resources there instead. Had I been here for longer, I would have considered wallpapering, but I really didn’t want to add to my plate of taking even more wallpaper down when I move out (it’s a thing, trust me), and this bathroom was already pretty dang cute. So I decided to just elevate and swap a few small things to make it shine a bit brighter. Let me show you…

BEFORE

That tile!! The little shelf!! THE TUB! It’s all so adorable. The only wonky thing is the fact that that cabinet just doesn’t close all the way (maybe a new 2026 design trend??) The green vintage tile really just sings – I actually found the perfect wallpaper I was going to install but like I said, it ultimately just ended up not being worth it for the cost, effort and removal. So I cut my losses, and instead came up with some affordable, easy swaps that would make the space feel like mine without breaking the bank or having to spend hours undoing it upon move out. And they were all totally worth it.

So I was looking for design ideas other than expensive (but awesome) wallpaper, and I saw this inspo photo and immediately knew I wanted to do something similar.

I loved the idea of doing a “painted crown moulding” to draw your eye upward (and knew I could figure out an even easier renter-friendly way to do it)…

Bath Mat | Towel Holder | Towel | Toothbrush Holder | Vase (Similar) | Stackable Wooden Bowls | Mirror

So this is the new view into the bathroom after my simple renter-friendly upgrades!! The space has so much more personality now, and I can take almost everything with me when I move out, which I love.

I loved the look of that inspo photo so much – so I used this washi tape in two different colors (I could only find this variety pack, so I ended up ordering 3 sets – so I used 6 rolls total, and it covered the whole room). Now, washi tape notoriously doesn’t stick well to dusty surfaces, so I was wary that this would hold up since my apartment can collect a lot of dust being in a city, but I just thoroughly cleaned the wall before I applied it, and it stuck on – no problem. And now it’s held up great for over 6 months! It genuinely worked so well for this space and will be so easy to remove when I have to leave.

Washi Tape | Towels | Bath Mat | Towel Holder

Those towels are so good, I bought a second set for my boyfriend’s house that I’m moving into next month!! They’re the Parachute x Target collab, so the quality for the price is awesome (Parachute’s towels are normally $60-$70+) and I think they’ll last a fairly long time since they’re so forgiving (and are so so soft).

Mirror | Pulls | Knobs | Outlet Cover | Towel Holder | Towel | Trash Can | Mirror | Toothbrush Holder | Window Film

These were truly the easiest swaps – my goal here is to show you that not every space needs a complete overhaul or remodel to look and feel better. The very first thing I did was swap the hand towel holder to this one – it’s from Anthropologie and I had my eye on it for a LONG time. Then, I changed out the boring circular mirror to my DREAM mirror from Soho Home (which I can’t wait to take with me to my boyfriend’s place), then added new hardware (the old ones were crumbling in my hands which was cool, so I didn’t buy super expensive ones because I’ll likely be leaving these), and then added this pretty window film to add some more pizzazz.

OH, and upon moving in, I swapped every single outlet and light switch cover in the apartment to these fun brass ones. They were super affordable but made such a big impact to my everyday.

Wooden Bath Caddy

I’m a firm believer that a bath is basically the same as having a hot tub inside your house. Taking a bath here is actually magical. This tub is so perfect, and if you light a few candles, get your dirty martini and bubbles going, it is DIVINE.

I usually read on my iPad or Kindle (my sister got me into the fairy smut genre, and I cannot get enough…My Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, and Throne of Glass fans RISE UP!), so when it came to styling I only had a few physical books, so please enjoy this photo of My Body by Emily Ratajkowski, hahaha.

The art pieces above the tub are some of my absolute favorites. The skateboard guy I found at Market Market in Palm Springs (if you haven’t been – GO!), the top right is by Mucci (who I found at the Laguna Beach Sawdust Festival and have now put his artwork in 3 of the rooms in my apartment!), and then the top left is actually from my Hollywood studio (it’s a sketch of the view of the Chateau Marmont by the Max Gooding Co).

Light Fixture | Tassel

We didn’t get a good photo of the no-electrical-required light fixture swap (this bathroom is pretty small and hard to shoot, so shoutout to Lyle for doing an amazing job with the photos regardless!!) But I wanted to chat about this boob light upgrade that required NO ELECTRICAL! It was super easy – I just took off the boob light shade, then put the light fixture through the long screw from the original boob light, then secured the same hardware back on and covered it with a tassel. I made a video on it here, so it’ll make a bit more sense, but it was the easiest DIY ever. Someone joked that it went from boob light to nipple tassel, and I’ve never laughed harder. But yes, I highly encourage you to add a nipple tassel to your boob light!! It looks so much better.

This will always be our girly little apartment that helped us heal and grow, and I’ll forever be grateful for this space. I hope whoever moves in next loves every bit of it the way we did. Thank you for reading and checking out all of these makeovers – it means the world!!

*Design by Mallory Wackerman
**Photography by Lyle Nelson

Bathroom trends (much like kitchen trends) are a funny thing to evaluate on a year-to-year basis because they simply do not move that quickly. If they did, by the time you got through the design process, material selection, permitting, contingencies and snafus, and then final install, your spaces would already be obsolete. That would simply be a ridiculous and wasteful way to live in our homes.

That is not to say there isn’t anything to talk about, though, because there’s always a new idea, color trend (like these I wrote up recently for 2026), or material popping onto our radar that makes us scream YESSSSS, including the six concepts below I’ve been noticing more and more in beautiful, finished bathrooms. Like many renovation-required trends, they tend to begin in luxury spaces, so you’ll see a lot of aspirational homes here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t borrow inspiration for your own homes from them. That, or just sit back and enjoy the show for the sake of design entertainment.

Amber-Colored Tile

Last year was all about burgundy zellige tiles, but this year? Amber, caramel, and earthy mustard reign supreme. This color tile is absolutely everywhere right now and is so adaptable to many styles. Take a look above at the killer shower stall our friend Brady Tolbert designed in his home; in true Brady style, it’s cool, contemporary, yet warm and graphically neutral.

However, here, designed by the team at Dunham Robinson, you can see a more traditional aesthetic with the chrome and stone sink, floral wallpaper, and wavy wood mirror. The turmeric-like hue works well to draw attention away from the white fixtures, which could otherwise appear somewhat sterile.

These tiles, in a bathroom by Annie Downing Interiors, are certainly more terracotta than they are amber, but the vibes still hit the same. To me, the takeaway here is how well they play with other jewel tones and saturated shades, such as the deep, chalky blue in the other tile design.

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Tiles aren’t getting all the burnt caramel love; designers like Reath Design (who collaborated with Emily Farnham Architecture on this space, shot by Laure Joliet), are using the color in bathrooms via paint, as well. How marvelous does it look here with the oxblood marble on the vanity and shower stall?

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So far, we’ve seen amber tiles marry beautifully with mustard, black-and-white, denim blue, and deep red. Next up, courtesy of Pierce & Ward (shot by Michael Clifford Photography), is olive green and aqua. What a stunning way to bring new life to vintage pieces such as that sink.

Colored Fixtures

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Two years ago, Caitlin wrote a piece about colored plumbing fixtures in the bathroom as something to keep our eye on (thanks Kohler for bringing these back around more accessibly!), and she was 100-percent right. And look, I know this is fairly niche, but who decided that white porcelain had to be the standard of “safe” choices in a bathroom’s design? “But you might get tired of that pistachio green toilet, Arlyn!” Well, who is to say I wouldn’t get tired of white? We can use the same logic here. If you’re designing a bathroom for home resale, it’s not worth the effort of getting it right, design-wise, but if it’s for you, and you are a fellow color lover, I say GO FOR IT.

It doesn’t have to be something as large or prominent as a toilet, either. Faucets and faucet handles can do the trick, too. Hannah Go of Studio Hanego selected candy-coated red Fantini fixtures for her client’s bathroom. The slap of color is just the right amount of unexpected pigment to break through the beige-and-white color palette, making it feel playful and youthful instead of overly serene.

Here’s another angle of the same space, where Go carried the Fantini faucet into the sink area for a cohesive design story. (That sculptural floral arrangement is by Gentle Offerings out of LA, in case anyone is wondering.)

Another tip-toe entrance into the world of lively fixtures is with a partially-colored item, like this cast-iron farmhouse basin in a room by Hendricks Churchill. And the beauty of a sink like this (or anything cast iron, for that matter) is that it can be reglazed should you need to change the color down the line.

This bathroom by Jamie Haller—shot by Jenna Ohnemus Peffley—highlights two of our favorite bathroom trends so far: amber zellige tiles and a butter yellow vintage sink. The room looks both like a perfectly preserved time capsule from the 1970s but also something that very much could have been designed and installed today (because it was). Good design can be appreciated no matter the decade, in my opinion.

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Giving very different vibes, but the same design backbone is this happy little spot by, yet again, Reath Design. Not only is the sink itself an azure I can barely look away from, but the cross handles on the sink are a sky blue.

Built-In Tub Surrounds

The freestanding tub became the calling card of a luxury bathroom a decade or so ago, but as things happen, that quickly got tired, thanks in great part to property flippers and developers who would shove one into a space even when it didn’t make much sense.

And while a stand-alone tub can still be a wonderful hallmark of a bathing space, of course, don’t underestimate a built-in tub surround. No longer relegated to the second-tier guest bath, they are now being used more and more in primary suites. They have their merits, too: The overhang surface is great storage for bathing supplies, and even decor items like art and candles, as seen above by Heather Peterson Design.

For a bathtub surround worthy of a primary suite, it’s important to be mindful that the surround itself elevates the design, rather than drags it down. Here, designer Nicole Dohmen for Atelier ND Interior brought the large-format stone from the floor up around the tub to create a seamless visual transition.

Here, in a bathroom transformed by Trouthouse, the small square yellow tile of the shower walls comes down around the tub insert, as well. This could have easily been a standard white porcelain tub, but the tile surround creates a more intentional design moment.

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Would I be nervous to have a wooden top and sides to my bathtub? Yes, but certainly, there’s a way to make it work. Either way, it sure does look serene and spa-like thanks to the minds at Honeyedfigs that dreamt up this muted space.

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On the opposite end of muted is this glitz and glam bathroom by Gregory Rockwell. I love how the red marble continues from the bathroom sink basin, tub wall, and floor, and baseboard detailing.

Fluted Glass

Shower details always make our bathroom trends roundup, and this year, we’re covering glass specifics. Fluted details in general have been everywhere for five-plus years, and now they’re frequently being used in contemporary bathroom spaces. Advantages include moderate privacy while allowing light diffusion, added texture, and limiting the visibility of water spots. Bonus points for a cool red frame to make the wall of glass the protagonist of the room’s design, as Megowan Architectural did here.

I’m partial to how youthful ribbed glass can come off looking with a colored door frame like in the previous project. Here, the mauve-lilac Butterfly Studio used here is quite eye-catching, don’t you think?

The international design and property acquisition firm Banda Studio kept things sleek and luxurious in this outrageously covetable bathroom with a frameless fluted shower wall. The vertical lines of the glass texture add a nice rigidity to the more organic veining of the marble and Roman clay or limewash walls and floors.

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Stop. Scroll to the fourth photo. Okay, now we can talk. I really wanted to show this bathroom, in the home of celeb Rita Ora, designed by Joanna Plant, for anyone thinking fluted glass is simply for contemporary bathrooms. It’s not, and certainly has a place in more traditionally minded areas, too.

Stone Basin Sinks

Last year, I presented the idea of raw-edge stone sinks as a trend, and this year, it’s similar but more refined and polished. Full stone sink basins are very popular right now as they strike a balance between simple, clean lines, luxury, and an impactful visual story through dramatic natural stone.

There’s a lot to take note of in this bathroom by Marie Flanigan, including the gorgeous pinkish stone for the sink basin and vanity. The side wall-mounted faucet is a unique approach that, to my eye, keeps the focus on the stone; the pendant light on the left beautifully echoes and balances the small window at right.

Cannes-based firm Caprini & Pellerin designed this elegant luxury bathroom, complete with a deep teal stone basin and countertop. I very much appreciate the slight lip detail (also seen in the Marie Flanigan sink) to limit water spill and run off. The coordinated marble frame around the mirror and lights is a nice touch to mimic the lines of the cabinet and tub in the foreground.

Raw-edge stone is still absolutely appropriate; Ursino Interiors masterfully uses the boulder effect to bring a rustic quality to a luxury space, juxtaposing polished brass and a metal window-frame shower stall.

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Another beautiful example of the visual power of the stone basin vanity, this time in a refreshing spearmint, by Benjamin Vandiver.

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Wall-to-wall installs don’t get to have all the fun. What a compact yet powerful statement this stone sink makes in a bathroom by Zoe Feldman.

Bathroom “Islands”

Bringing up the rear of our trends list today is what I’m affectionately coining the bathroom “island.” Perhaps there is a more technical and accurate name for this, but I haven’t found it. Basically, what I mean by bathroom island is a freestanding unit that houses a key bathroom fixture, such as sinks or a shower.

Case in point, this floating vanity (note the fluted glass! and the stone basins!) in a space by Australian firm Se Déa. In these types of installations, the mirror is most often supported by a metal structure attached to both the island and the ceiling, which can free up valuable wall space and take advantage of positioning that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Of course, you’d need to run plumbing through the middle of the room rather than along the perimeter.

Another one by Caprini & Pellerin that this time showcases an unusual shower island. It’s quite a cool concept, and the center placement in the room opens up the walls to added storage, display space, and a separate vanity space.

I found this opulent bathroom design via Belgian interior architect Wouter Tousseyn. I’m fairly certain it’s a rendering, but I wanted to include it as another visual study of the sink island, as this angle helps you to see the practicality of a double-sided floating vanity, which can be used from either side by multiple people.

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Pierce & Ward show that the use of a floating bathroom fixture doesn’t have to be one-note, either. Here, they’ve adjoined the sinks and cabinetry to a large soaking tub.

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And finally, proof that it doesn’t have to be this grand thing, either. By LA. M Studio, back-to-back sinks in a narrow cube-like island turn open floor space into a memorable design moment.

—

So now we’ve reached the end, and I have fully exhausted my ability to say another word about a bathroom. After all, how many synonyms can one find for the words sink, bathroom, tub, tile, and the like? I may have gone against my journalist instincts to say the same thing over and over again, but I hope you’ll forgive me and were too focused on the expertly designed bathing spaces to notice.

Any that stood out to you? Any others you’ve taken note of recently that you want to add to the list? Feel free to party on in the comments. I’ll be there responding.

Until next time, friends…

Opening Image Credits: Design by Ursino Interiors, styling by Brittany Albert, photo by Nicole Franzen

Hope everyone is having a good Sunday. We will always do our best to bring you great design and lifestyle content every day, but please know that in weeks like these and in the many before, we are all deeply affected by what’s going on here and abroad. If you feel the same, we are with you. Be safe, and let us all take action in any way we can. Ok, here are this week’s links for a little needed lightness<3

From Emily: I am IN LOVE with this drawer and car vacuum. I honestly didn’t know that I needed it. I thought it would be another appliance that I’d buy and store, but I’m stress cleaning my house this January – every drawer, every cupboard, and I’m using it all night and through the whole weekend. I even used it in my freezer – to get into the corners where little bits of breaded chicken nuggets got, and I can’t get out with a rag. I used it in my vanity, and it picked up all my rogue hairs and tiny bits of who knows what in my deeper drawers or in the back of the cabinet. It is rechargeable and has only 2 parts. Don’t get me started on my spice drawer!! Now the suction isn’t so high that I’d recommend it JUST for cars, but certainly works (but if you are a consistent car detailer, then you might want something stronger). IT also engaged my kids a lot as they helped with the “great January re-org” at the Henderson house. I read a lot of reviews, and there were many that were much more expensive or some that were oddly cheap, but at $38, it felt like the right amount for an investment. Now I just need to invent an apron that has a pocket big enough that I can keep it on my person all weekend long (think like a pistol holder, but for a small vacuum).

On that note, if you are purging and in Portland, I have a FANTASTIC new place for you to give your used home goods to (and not just gently used – they’ll take most things!). Community Warehouse is a massive bank of home goods that serves people transitioning out of homelessness. They work with their caseworker to come in and shop (for free), and they need everything- yes, used mattresses, used Tupperware, dishware, sheets, towels, furniture (obviously), art, lamps, working coffee makers – all the things that you might donate to Goodwill. But don’t donate there (Goodwill is fine, but its for profit). This serves our local community, and they make it SO EASY. There are three locations – NE Portland, Tigard, and Gresham- and you don’t need to make an appointment. AND some of the better stuff (vintage or just new and nice) goes to their estate retail thrift store, and it’s LEGIT good. The profits from that go to support the massive overhead they have. I’m so grateful to know about them. OH, and they’ll pick up larger pieces of furniture for $50, which is WAY less than even going to the dump. Community Warehouse, folks. It’s where it’s at (and hopefully more to come with them this year – we are trying to figure out the right way to collaborate to help these families outside of just donating all our leftover goods from shoots).

Also From Emily: In case you missed it, yesterday we soft-launched a more personal newsletter that Brian and I are co-writing (separate posts, but doing it together). While some personal stuff will always live here (highlights, struggles, AMAs), if you want to get even more personal, that would be the place. You can sign up for free for a week to get the first two posts to make sure it’s something you want to spend your $5/month on. Head over there to check it out if you are interested. xx

From Cailtin: Are you freaking out? Does everything feel terrible? TRUST ME, I GET IT. And I have a nice, accessible, quick read to recommend: the aptly-titled Reasons Not to Worry: How to Be Stoic in Chaotic Times. I’m a big philosophy dork, albeit not usually too into the Stoics (I’m more of a Platonist fan – this one from Boethius is my all-time favorite!), but the title jumped out at me at the bookstore for obvious reasons. It’s relatively breezy, it’s very easy to read – I was able to focus on it, even in the chaos of a hospital! – and it made me feel a little better (or, honestly, maybe even a lot better?) about the world spinning out of control around me. You’ll fly through it in an afternoon or two – think of it like a beach read, but a beach read that might prevent you from having a mental breakdown. I think we could all use a little wisdom from the Stoics right about now, don’t you think? (And thank you all for the kind words last week. They warmed my heart more than you’ll ever know. I’m so grateful to have “met” all of you over the past 6.5 years!)

We thought, since there are a fair number of you that aren’t on Instagram, that we’d start embedding some of our favorite posts we created here! Our social team works so hard to also create helpful, fun, and interesting content, and we don’t want you to miss it either. Enjoy!

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All of our jaws DROPPED when Emily unveiled this incredible new piece of art she recently got. We all want it!

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Remember Robyn’s beautiful living room and dining room reveals? Well, this is a little “start to finish” carousel of photos of those projects:)

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Finally, a little celebration of the blog’s 16-year anniversary, here’s a great reel about the wild and wonderful journey<3

From Mallory: I find that large coffee table books are some of the most necessary items in a home, but are also the most annoying to buy. So I was absolutely THRILLED when I received 3 amazing books as gifts!! The Studio Shamshiri book, the Pierce and Ward book, and this AD book are now my favorite books on my coffee table. They’re all substantial (which is oftentimes the hardest to find) and are filled with the most amazing photos and stories. I highly recommend these if you’re in need of some big styling books! And PS – you can also buy them “new and used” on Amazon!!

From Gretchen: One of my goals for the new year is to get my headstand back. I’ve been practicing yoga on and off for years. Pre-pandemic, I was a yoga fiend. I was so dedicated to an almost daily practice, but when all of my favorite studios fell off as the world shut down, I lost a ton of progress. In the last year, I’ve really re-committed. I’ve been going back to my favorite hot yoga studio roughly 3 times a week. I feel like I’m almost back to where I was…except for my headstand. So to practice at home, I went ahead and invested in a headstand chair. It’s not the most beautiful piece of functional furniture, but I do like that the cushions come apart and back together again to make it a regular stool, should you happen to need an extra seat for a guest or meditation or whatever. But it works as advertised, is quite comfortable, and feels very durable! And it’s nice to feel safe while I practice going upside down again. Another funny plus is that the box it came in ended up being the perfect weird skinny size to store my large wooden snowflake decorations. If you caught my post on Tuesday about DIY storage ideas, I ended up decorating the box this arrived in and now use it to store some of my Christmas stuff. I painted it baby blue with a red snowflake, and while it’s a little dumb, it makes me happy to reuse something I would’ve otherwise thrown away:)

One more thing! I want to give a big THANK YOU to all who shared such helpful comments on last week’s link up in regards to my morning headaches. Not sure if my upside-down chair is going to help or hurt my progress with this, but it’s great to have a bunch of your helpful suggestions in my back pocket the next time I have a flare-up. You guys are the best!

From Marlee: I’ve never been real big into setting spray when I do my makeup – to be honest, I was skeptical of it and felt like I didn’t do anything that would require me to use it. In my head, it was only for celebrities on red carpet events when there’s hot lights melting the makeup off their face. After buying the milk hydro-grip primer spray, I get it now. I’ve been using this on nights out, basically anytime I’m applying blush, concealer, and any bronzer, etc, this stuff is amazing. Not only does my makeup actually last the entire night (normally I feel like my blush has disappeared after a few hours), but it also leaves me with such a nice dewy glow. It doesn’t feel sticky or stiff at all; it just sort of seals everything in. I’m a fan! You can use this both before and after putting on your makeup – I love the Saie dewy gel as a primer, so I’ve just been using this as a setting spray.

From Jess: In case you’ve been waiting for a sign to start a retinol or just don’t know where to start, I have used and love Shani Darden’s Retinol Reform. Here’s a video podcast of Shani being interviewed about all things skincare and her award-winning retinol. I used her orgininal formual for since 2020, then took a little break after I had finished my last bottle to try the awesome Allies of Skin Multi Peptide Growth Serum. I really love them both, and since Shani changed her retinol formula to make it even better, I’m just going to trade off days between the two. Or once I build up my retinol tolerance after a few weeks, use the growth serum in the morning and the retinol at night. We’ll see what works best! PSA – If you use retinol, you HAVE to wear sunscreen. Sara Tramp told me before I originally started that if I didn’t wear sunscreen, I was going to cause way more harm, and it would be pointless. Just so you know<3

Also From Jess: In a time that feels and is extremely scary, donating to organizations like this one is so important and does make a difference. If you already donate but can afford to tack on a little more, now is the time. That’s what I did. It’s not all we can do, but it’s something, and it helps.

From Arlyn: For day-to-day stuff, I still very much find my Lululemon Everywhere bag incredibly useful. Except that sometimes, I just need more space to carry things like stacks of my daughter’s library books, my actual full wallet, snacks, etc. So for Christmas, I asked Santa for a large canvas tote bag. I had had my eye on the famous L.L. Bean tote, but it was backordered in the color and size I wanted. After some research, I found that Land’s End had a very similar tote, so I added that one to my list in the zip-top design and large size. Um, I LOVED it. It ended up being so much better than L.L. Bean’s because that one doesn’t have any interior pockets, while this one has great organization. The zip-top prevents things from falling out when I inevitably have to bend over to pick something up while carrying three other bags (#momlife), and it’s so well made. TBH, I loved it so much, I immediately ordered one in a different color (olive) in the medium size for more everyday carrying, because the large is VERY large and better for traveling. It’s on sale right now for under $40. HURRY!

Thanks for spending this time with us. Hopefully, most of us get the holiday off tomorrow, but let it be a time for some reflection, given the man we are honoring. Peace, equality, and everything else we hold dear as a country doesn’t happen without action. We will see you back on Tuesday. xx

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