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

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

Last year, we skipped shooting our house decked out for Christmas because it looked exactly like the year before (so why spend the time or money?). But this year, with the advent of two new pieces of furniture (our awesome Barb sofas), I felt excited to decorate, show, and tell. But November is pretty much March Madness for content creators, so I didn’t have time to really plan; instead just winged it with what I had in the garage and a trip to the Mill End Fabric store. So despite thinking I could just pull it together, the day of the shoot was rough (at first). The first big pulled back shot took no less than 2 hours to finalize. Like one shot, styled 80 different tiny changes (if I didn’t love this so much, it would be truly maddening). I tried every combination of pillows, throws, coffee table accessories, and it wasn’t until we hit this version above, with pops of pinks and ochres, that it came together. It wasn’t what I had predicted (I thought I was going to lean into the Ralph Lauren trend, but it just wasn’t working!!). So here we have a playful, whimsical, Scandi version of our living room with a family tree dripping with DIYs and sentimental ornaments. It’s extremely cozy and fun to be in.

Pre-Lit Faux Trees | Tree Skirts (unavailable) | Garland (Clear Glass or Colorful) | Twinkle Light Curtain | Burgundy Pillow | Blue Pillow | Throw Blanket

The entry is a dream to shoot, and Kaitlin always nails it. This year, I bought yardage of plaid taffeta (fashion fabric) and ripped it into wide and long ribbons. I love how they pop in the light, and it ties that incredible Anthropologie blanket and Schoolhouse pillow (Target pillow behind it!).

Blue Velvet Lumbar Pillow | Sweater | Skirt | Tights | Shoes (vintage)

Everything twinkles in here during the day or night. You can’t really see the curtain lights in the photos, but y’all, they are 100% worth the splurge if you have the right window – so delicate and shimmery. When we shot the sweater fashion shoot the week before, I had different pillows, but once I got that red plaid blanket, I wanted to amp it up a bit and love it in here so much. Shout out to those pre-lit Alpine trees that again, add the best glow and a lot of impact for almost zero effort.

Pre-Lit Garland | Round Bells | Larger Bells | Blue Square Pillow | Green Plaid Blanket | Woven Basket | Blue Round Pillow | Burgundy Blanket

I LOVE this vignette. No one ever sits here, but every time I walk down the stairs, I see it and get that burst of dopamine that only style junkies have. I added more books and frames to give it a cozy library feel (all the gold frames are filled with Santa photos from over the years – a FANTASTIC hack and tradition that is not too late to do). I also really love the juxtaposition of the floral trad chaise and the more modern lamp, with the hits of cobalt from the Schoolhouse pillow and throw.

Pre-Lit Garland | Round Bells | Larger Bells

The plug-in lit garland is excellent, and I offset the asymmetry with no less than like 10 strips of fabric or ribbons on the left, adding bells from World Market. (TBH, I threw up what we had from last year and then just added the patterns and bells on top of it).

Round Burgundy Pillow | Burgundy Blanket | Ochre Striped Bolster | Paper Trees | Snowflake Mug | Candle | Custom Mushroom Stool

This was the shot that I couldn’t nail for 2 hours, and it’s definitely not as cohesive as other designs of mine, but I actually really love the vibe. Once we added the quilted mushroom from the art barn and the accordion trees on the coffee table (from AllModern), I was like “ok, let’s go pattern, color, and fun”. And yes, my family made the paper chain from leftover wallpaper patterned samples (but you can barely see the pattern, even in person).

Blue Barb Sofa | Round Pillow | Blanket | Velvet Lumbar Pillow | Mini Faux Pre-Lit Alpine | White Ceramic House

I LOVE this shot. The blue Barb is Barbing, and it feels inviting and fun, like these people want you to have a good time (very accurate). We’ve never had an adults-only party; we are a frat house for families with young kids, so going more whimsical feels right. And while I love a curated tree, I love our family tree more, with each ornament telling a story. “Henderson Ornament night” is where I’m shamelessly at “peak nerd,” and my kids LOVE it too, despite likely wanting to say it’s cringe:)

Elliot got home in time to jump into a shot with me – listen, I try not to involve them in my job/photos, but it’s really hard when she wants to snuggle on a pillow with me. I went a little extra this year on the mantel, which at times I was like “too much??” but most of the time I LOVE it.

Wood Bead Garland | Gingham Bow | Faux Wreath (similar) | Stocking Garland | Flocked Reindeer (similar) | Green Wood Trees (unavaliable) | Faux Garland | Wood Nutcracker | Flameless Taper Candles | Stockings (unavailable)

Most of the styling we already had, but we added the advent stocking (full of candy and kindness prompts), and we painted the black mirror a darker rose, which really softened the entire vignette in the best of ways. The faux tapers are still going strong, and the stockings from Schoolhouse are so playful and fun, while popping off the white so well. The big gingham bow is new (from Anthro), and the nutcrackers are old, from Michaels. It’s a lot, but it makes me pretty dang happy.

Rechargeable Table Lamp | Multi-Colored Lumbar | Burgundy Pillow | Striped Velvet Lumbar | Floral Tapestery Pillow | Blue Round Pillow | Pre-Lit Garland | Round Bells | Larger Bells

The little nook got an upgrade with the cutest pleated rechargeable lamp, and we switched up the pillows to pop a bit more. I’m clearly really into mushroom stools (not a typical obsession, but here we are).

Plaid Dog Beds | Pink Barb Sofa

Around 3 pm, it got so glowy and cozy (hours later, it’s even better – but so hard to shoot!). It’s busy and layered, for sure (which is why we kept the kitchen styling so simple), but when you are in the room, it feels so cozy, warm, casual, and inviting. Oscar is modeling our new Pendleton dog beds from Chewy (which are admittedly too big – I bought two “larges,” which I’m now using in our family room as floor pillows for Survivor nights in front of the fire/TV, and then I ordered mediums instead to go in here, which hadn’t arrived in time). I love the color palette of the plaid in this room, though.

I really, really love how it came together. It’s not the” Ralph Lauren” vibe I planned, but as you know, I have to shoot it again this week for a magazine (for 2026), and I’m going to use the green Alice sofas and see how hard I can lean into red/green/kitch. You don’t have to ask me twice to go all out…twice:) I’ll show you a sneak peek here, I promise (and def on stories).

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

I’m pretty sentimental writing this post. After four years (maybe 5?), this is the last room reveal of my brother’s family river house. Working on this project has been so incredibly fulfilling. If lessons are gifts (which they are), this project gave me too many to count; I’m spoiled with the bounty. Not every second was easy, but almost all were enjoyable, and I’m happy to report that our sibling friendship is stronger because of it (which is the real win here). So today you are going to see their living room, which is really just a big beautiful family room, TV on tiled fireplace, and all 🙂 I love it very, very, very much.

But not before we go back in time and indulge in some process. This isn’t a concise magazine; we belabor the details here by really forcing you to watch the process, Clockwork Orange style.

Let’s go back in time…

Anne Usher, the architect, designed the house and did an incredible job. The living room has a huge fireplace in the middle, flanked by windows and a bench seat, creating symmetry which is really easy for your eye to understand (and thus be pleased by). I also love symmetry. It makes my brain so happy (which is why I could never ever ever buy one of those houses with odd angles like a dome). Symmetry also makes a room easy to furnish. It should also be noted that I like clear and easy sight lines, so this layout worked for me.

As you can see, the living room opens to the game room, entry, kitchen, and dining room. Perhaps that’s why they call it the “great” room 🙂

It also opens to the back patio, and there is enough room for flow. She’s big and could have been laid out a million ways (keep scrolling for how I did it). The white oak windows are by Marvin, which they bought after being in our Mountain house (they are so pretty – goodness, I miss that house).

Ceiling Lights

My biggest design decisions were the fireplace tile and the lighting. The ceiling lights were chosen because they were the perfect scale for the room and they gave off the light that we wanted, while being stylistically simple. While having really high ceilings might not be your everyday relatable problem, if you should find yourself so lucky, make sure that your lighting is scaled to the size of the ceiling and you aren’t staring up at a bulb searing your eyeballs. These look like hanging lamps, with warm fabric shades that give off a lot of light (there are four of them after all), but never harsh on your eyes because they have a diffuser underneath. And the fact that we could adjust the drop to help bring the ceiling down (making it feel warmer, more intimate) sold us. They aren’t distracting. They don’t pull your eye too much. They are, quite literally, the perfect choice (she pats herself on the back here).

The Tiled Fireplace

Fireplace Tile

Ken/Katie, Max, and I all went to Ann Sacks, who was partnering with me on this home, to choose the fireplace tile, and we were extremely drawn to this 3-dimensional, incredible tile. We knew that it would be high impact but quiet (Ken and Katie don’t love flashy design) while catching the light in a way that added a pattern and texture. It’s truly excellent. Now, the reason we chose black was because we knew that they wanted to hang a TV in here. We seriously debated the green, but I felt strongly that if they were going to hang a TV on it, it needed to be black so as not to break it up visually as much.

Hanging A TV On A Tiled Fireplace

I understand that some of you might feel enraged by this choice – to drill into beautiful tile just to watch TV? It might feel like blasphemy to make the focal point of your living room a screen. It’s a real designer’s nightmare…and yet I was all for it. I know my brother, and I knew he wouldn’t sit in here on the weekends unless there was a TV in here. He’s a former football coach! Could they have laid out the room differently to provide a blank wall for a TV? Sure, but they didn’t. And I, for one, love the shared focal point, the symmetrical layout, and with the Frame TV. I think it looks RAD.

My #1 Goal with homes …

I believe in designing rooms to be enjoyed and used. I never, ever, ever, want someone to have a pretty room that has no real purpose and no one enjoys. I’m an enneagram 7 – I want everyone to be happy and have fun. I knew that they needed a TV in here, and frankly, there are times when I wish that we had one in our living room (Brian is adamantly against which I appreciate). I also forced Kaitlin to put one in her living room, and she hasn’t stopped thanking me. A room needs a purpose to gather. It doesn’t always have to be a TV, but it sure can help.

The Scenic Doors

Sliding Doors

I wasn’t involved in these, but boy, are they gorgeous and function like a dream. So smooth and just accordion open and closed so easily. They bought them from Western Pacific.

The Final Reveal

Here she is – a really warm, comfortable, easy-to-live-in living/family room that is kid/pet-friendly and yet design-forward (isn’t that what we all want???). I’m so proud of this room. It’s calm and quiet, and yet doesn’t feel basic.

Like I said, it’s a really easy living room to live in, as it should be. Look at those sweet kiddos! My kids are pretty obsessed with their kids, which makes living here 100% worth it – cousins growing up with each other is not something I got to enjoy, but always admired. Elliot and Kennedy are best friends (seriously, they prefer each other over all of their separate friends), and Charlie is Frank’s big brother. We feel very grateful.

Hallway Ceiling Lights | Entry Rug | Game Room Planter

When you enter the house, you have the game room to the right, then the kitchen on the left of the green rug, and the living room on the right. It’s extremely open and filled with natural light (like brother, like sister). I love this shot, and it really showcases Anne Usher’s skills.

Sofa Console Table | Small Sphere Lamp | Large Bowl (no longer available) | Side Table | Table Lamp

The scale of the room is big, therefore the scale of the furniture has to be big. The rug is a 12×15, the sofas are 108″ and 96″. You walk into the back of one of our sofas (the Otto), which is attractive (I love the curve of the arm from the back), but there was so much extra space, so we added that IKEA bookshelf to help fill it out.

Entry Rug | Large Faux Tree

I love the green rug leading you out to the river. It feels really cohesive and just so intentional (which it is).

The Otto Sofa | Coffee Table | Bowl | Vase | Side Table

Behind the living room is the kitchen, positioned so everyone can chill and even watch TV while cooking and hanging with friends. The coffee table is from Crate & Barrel and is pretty fantastic for the scale. I love peeping at the stairway railing in the background – so pretty.

Burgundy Pillow | Stitched Lumbar Pillow | Ochre Pillow | Striped Pillow | Throw Blanket | Tray

Man, this house sings to me. Your eye isn’t trying to figure anything out; it’s very easy to compute. The kitchen is to the left, and the dining room is back on the right. Such a dream.

The Oscar Sofa | Blueprint Wall Sconces

Looking back towards the game room, you have a lady who is seemingly very comfortable on her sofa (perhaps because it’s rated one of the most comfy sofas in the world??). I love those Blueprint sconces that act as sculptures and the glass doors that create a really cool architectural element. Shout out to the $30 World Market lamp (don’t ever accuse me of being a design snob – I’m picky, but not snobby).

Burgundy Lumbar Pillow | Throw Blanket | Burgundy Pillow | Silk Pillow | Wall-Mounted Table

I really love our Oscar Sofa and Otto sofa, talking to each other in this shot. They seem to really love each other – both friendly, soft, and welcoming 🙂

Frame TV | Bench Pillows, left to right: Cut Velvet Archways Pillow | Classic Cotton Velvet Pillow | Italian Velvet Pillow Cover | Classic Cotton Velvet Pillow | Jett Throw Pillow | Burnt Green Throw Pillow

Now, I get that the fireplace without a TV would be stunning, but I think we can all agree that the fireplace with a Frame TV above it looks pretty fantastic. Don’t let your aesthetics hinder your function; just find a way to make them work together.

The Baby Barb Chair | Green Pillow | Side Table | Canister | Floor Lamp

I love this shot. The Baby Barb is baby barbing hard. She’s really big (a chair and a half), but I’m so jealous that Ken gets to sit in her every day. I’m a really, really good sister.

Roman Shades | Pollack Fabric | Bench Pillows, left to right: Relaxed Washed Organic Velvet | Cut Velvet Archways Pillow | Italian Velvet Pillow | Classic Cotton Velvet Pillow | Italian Velvet Pillow | Throw Blanket | Side Table

We partnered with Decorview on the shades and curtains in this room, which I’ll write more about later, but it’s a fantastic reminder that rooms can feel cold without them. And a huge shoutout to Pollack fabrics for creating a fabric that brings the entire house together.

And presenting Harvey as tribute. We all love Harvey, who sheds and barks but is the sweetest dog and only wants to be held by his big baby big brother daddy Ken.

UGH. That’s a GREAT view right there. I can’t wait for the slider on this one – we worked so hard and cared so much. It’s incredibly rewarding to see it all come together (and we shot this before we had all three green runner rugs to connect together – now it’s a big, long corridor rug).

I’m really proud of this room. It’s so comfortable, coz,y and conversational. It’s easy to hang out in and yet still commands the importance of the home. Thanks for following along. This isn’t the last river house post (I want to decompress with you), but this reveal has been coming for a long time. Thank you so much for reading. I really, really appreciate you. Ask all the questions in the comments. xx

Oh, and of course, here are the before and after sliders:)

Living Room Resources:
Fireplace Tile: Ann Sacks
Benches: Custom
Bench Fabric: Pollack
Wall Color: Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams
Pendants: Rejuvenation
Sconces: Blueprint Lighting
Faux Tree: City Home PDX
Seating (Sofas and Chair): Room Service by Emily Henderson
Window Shades: Decorview
Windows by Marvin Windows and Doors
Slider Doors: Western Pacific
Flooring: Stuga

*Architect: Anne Usher
**General Contractor: JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction
***Interior Designers: Emily Henderson (me!) and Max Humphrey
****Styling: Emily Henderson (me!)
*****Photos by Kaitlin Green

Hey there, reader! Does this wallpaper look familiar? Any chance you remember this MOTO photo (below) from my last makeover reveal? The one where I plastered the tinier of my two bedrooms in DIY fabric wallpaper, forced a queen bed in there, and called it mine? Or maybe you’re up-to-date and instead recall a more recent post, where I flashed you my scary second bedroom, aptly named “The Doom Room”, and contemplated swapping the two?

The TLDR version goes something like this– I loved my initial bedroom design and still intended to keep the furniture (and fabric wallpaper) forever, but I made a mistake in choosing the smaller room for my personal bedroom, leaving the bigger room to be my “office”. Instead, this larger space just turned into a dumping ground for estate sale finds, crafty crap, and miscellaneous junk I wanted to close behind a door and forget about. I was sick of my excess stuff, desperately wanted more space in my own bedroom, and hoped that by switching the two rooms, I could finally free up the smaller one for guests. So I went for it, moving my bed and dresser to the larger room (which I’m loving btw), to free up the wallpapered room for a new project–a (hardly) blank canvas.

During the switch, a kismet opportunity to work with AllModern fell directly from the sky and into my lap. They were specifically looking to do a story about hosting visitors for the holidays. Like what?! This was my chance! A timely partnership paired with an insatiable desire to declutter and design a thoughtful guest space? It kicked my spare room dreams into high gear, and I can’t wait to show you how it all turned out.

Double-Sided Desk

When I first wrote the room swap post, contemplating how each area might look and function, I thought I wanted this second bedroom to double as an office space. Before the partnership, I had even picked out an AllModern desk (a piece I was eyeballing for its clever, double-sided, dual-purpose design). But the truth is, I like doing my daily computer work from my dining table and mostly use my vintage desk chair as extra living room seating, so relocating my “office” to this smaller room just didn’t make sense. What it did require was storage (and sadly, this cool desk was too big anyway).

Above all, I was craving a second sleeping zone that felt comfortable and spacious. A tucked-away oasis for any friend, parent, or first-date-mistake to have a place to crash for the night. A room that felt…roomy, despite its humble footprint. A private hang-out spot that could transform for guests but would still inspire me creatively anytime I needed to dig in the closet for art supplies. This old “wallfabric” isn’t coming down anytime soon, but with a hefty dose of some AllModern magic, I think we gave this familiar space a brand new feel…

Please, feast your eyes upon my new and improved GUEST BEDROOM! A funky lounge space by day, an artful bedroom by night, and with just enough storage to tuck my junk treasures out of sight. Let’s dig in, shall we?

Rug

One element I wanted right from the jump was a big hit of red. I knew this would help guide the design in a fresh direction. I envisioned a simple but interesting color-drenched rug, and it wasn’t hard to find a winner–I felt great about this one instantly! I love how its subtle, indented pattern references a similar repeat on the wallpaper, and I think the deep red color solidly anchors the space, don’t you?

Sleeper Sofa

Initially, I had imagined a green sofa bed in here. It had to be a sofa bed to save on space and maximize room function. But it’d need to be the perfect Goldilocks Green to work with the green on the walls, and I just didn’t want to chance it. I figured something more neutral, a beige, gray, or cream would be better overall. I was in-between sleeper sofas. Initially, I liked the 84″ Cleo Sleeper Sofa for its compact shape and long list of customizable colors. But ultimately I chose this one, the Savelle 88” Upholstered Sleeper Sofa (in Mink Chenille) because it shipped a little faster, had stellar reviews, and still looked just as good. Also, I was hopeful that a fold-down sofa bed over a pull-out mattress would better maximize space, even if the sofa itself was a little longer.

I am SO glad I went with this option. The oatmeal color looks so good in here and helps dial back the wild wall factor, allowing the rug to stand out a bit more. Plus, a neutral like this will work in just about any space I move to in the future–something I consider heavily with a piece like this. I want it to last!

But I also want it to be easy. So far, swapping between functions has been a breeze! From sofa to bed, you start by removing the two back cushions, drag the bench seat forward (it’s on wheels and works like a trundle bed), then flip down the solid back cushion to reveal a brand new, full-sized sleeping surface–just add bedding! Flip it and reverse it Missy Elliot style, and you’ll have a couch again in no time.

Ivory Sheet Set | Waffle Duvet Cover | Duvet Insert | Striped Yellow Shams | Pillow Inserts | Waffle Throw Blanket | Yellow Throw Blanket

The cushions are on the firmer side, but aren’t at all like a cheap futon. They feel more like a dense mattress, still with plenty of bounce. Two cozied-up friends or one Emily Henderson should have no trouble lying here comfortably! See? Actually, I’ve already had multiple guests stay over in this room (no, not my boss), and they all gave rave reviews on comfort. I mean, I did ask each of them how well they slept, and it is possible they lied to me… but I had the accidental pleasure of falling asleep on it myself recently, and can attest, it was a very solid slumber!

Gumdrop Throw Pillows | Wool Pillow | Yellow Throw Blanket | Side Table | Paper Trees

You may recognize some of the styling elements (like the throw pillows, side table, chrome lamp, upholstered chair, or paper trees) from our recent Christmas at The Carly decoration transformation. And well, that’s because I stole them for myself after the shoot. Actually, Em asked me to do a chunk of the shopping for that first holiday photoshoot, and instinctively, I pulled pieces from AllModern that I thought might also work in my space, hoping to cut down on the amount we’d need to style out both. I picked colors and textures I liked and could utilize here as well, so it’d make sense for me to just keep most of it in the end. Just some light, premeditated “stealing”. Like, I’m sorry, but I really wanted some of those jewel-toned paper trees for myself. This is meant to be a holiday guest story after all!

Wall Shelf

While I can cram most of my junky stuff away in the closet, I also wanted to include a few pretty storage pieces to round out the space. I found this super cute wall shelf to display a few of my favorite things, which finally gave purpose to this impossibly small wall next to my closet. It was super simple to put together and just as easy to hang.

Sideboard

Then I came across this beautiful thing. A storage piece in a wood tone I just loved, with beautiful lines… and a secret! To me, it echoed similar vibes to the double-sided desk I liked from before. At first glance, you think you know just what it is: A dresser with nine drawers. Now go ahead and move that little slider to the left for ultimate satisfaction. They’re actually cabinet doors! Boy, do I love a sneaky piece of furniture.

Side Chair

It’s a perfectly petite size, too, but with plenty of room inside. In my mind, having doors instead of drawers also allows for easier access to the stuff within, but maybe that’s just me? For now, this cabinet stores the guest bedding, but I’m sure eventually I’ll find a way to shove a hammer or a few vintage finds in there, too.

Mirror | Chrome Lamp | Vase | Pink Catchall

Above the sideboard is this funky, amorphous mirror. I love it. It’s a curvaceous walnut that pulls a little more red (exactly as I had hoped when I first saw it online). It totally complements the rug and accent pillows and pairs nicely (but not too closely) with the storage piece below. That lamp was also a Carly swipe. Its shape and material are just so sleek and reminiscent of the last lamp I had in here (which sadly broke).

Chrome Side Table

The little metal side table in the corner was a last-minute addition (eventually, a tall, spiky plant or narrow bookshelf might live here instead), but I love what these balanced pops of chrome add to the space. The platter sitting on the cabinet works great as a catchall, and the pink matches the flowers on the wall, but when visitors come to stay, I’ll likely clear the surface so they can use it to spread out and unpack. However, one MUST leave out a design-forward vase of flowers to properly greet your guests upon arrival!

We filled out the opposite wall with a few of my favorite artworks. The large painting is a piece my mom’s college classmate painted for her that I, yes, STOLE and refuse to give back. The bamboo-framed dancer print is one I scored years ago at a local Latvian rummage sale for just $10. And the newest addition is a piece Em commissioned for all of us by one of our favorite local artists, Purl. At our last team retreat, she surprised us each with a custom art piece for our birthdays. Mine is titled “Shopkeepers”. It was the final piece needed for this little gallery wall, which I think hangs so nicely over both the bed and the sofa. I didn’t even have to move the old swing arm sconce from my last makeover!

Well, folks, I think that about sums it up! In just a few weeks, I was able to carve out my little dream space for all future guests with the help of AllModern. The strong punches of color and wild wallpaper might be a bit much for some of you out there, and that’s okay! But I’m truly over the moon with how it turned out. It’s fun and functional, but the best part is there’s now SO much room for activities. Way more than before, even with the sofa in “bed mode”. I no longer feel like I’m tripping over crammed furniture or homeless piles of my “stuff”. Everything and everyone has a place now. So what are you waiting for? COME OVER!!! I’ll text you the address.

Sincerely, Gretch

*Design by Gretchen Raguse
*Photos by Kaitlin Green

I alluded to it, hyped it up. Even sold it hard as “my favorite room in the house,” and today you are going to see it (and judge for yourself). Although I love LOVE the living room (coming soon) and I probably give out that trophy too often, I nailed this room with very little effort (fine besides paneling the walls after a bad dark blue paint). I actually think this is way more my style than my own home at times (which, as you know, is more of a traditional farmhouse, which I love so incredibly much, but an all wood scandy blue/green and wood room has my heart).

Entry Rug

This room had a lot of help from Anne Usher, the architect who placed this room in the house with really pretty light, huge windows, and extremely high ceilings. So architecturally, we were already winning with her design. Or maybe I should give Stuga credit for that flooring we put on the walls (we used Drift – it’s perfect) because once it was up, I swiped right and am now fully committed to this room, emotionally. Til Death Do Us Part (or them eventually selling and moving, lol).

The Walls

Wall Wood Paneling | Wood Flooring | Electric Piano | Artwork | Frames

So yes, all the walls are clad in Drift paneling from Stuga, horizontally installed. We had a ton leftover from all the ceilings, and when we didn’t like the room in dark blue, we were THRILLED to be able to pivot hard to wood. It just makes a room so warm and easy to design. It’s instant-vibe. The electric piano is the same one that we have – Roland encased in a really nice-looking faux white oak. Above it, we framed 6 drawings of odd men by “Bedeupree” that are so whimsical and fun (and look perfect in here). Target frames FTW.

Cabinet Paint Color | Glassware | 4 in a Row Game

The cabinets and shelving are painted in a soft taupe called Malabar, pulled from the lighter tones of the wood. Inside the cabinets are their printer and home office stuff. And above I styled with a lot of things I had in my inventory and sent Katie and Ken on a trip to Powell’s to buy a bunch of books they’d want (then supplemented with these, which are both awesome and so embarrassing).

Katie says they all are so drawn to this room for games, chess, puzzles, homework – it’s just a room they want to be in that is still so close to the kitchen and living room.

Rug | Chairs | Table

We furnished it with a rug from our old collection, which has so many tones of blues and greens in it. I always wanted this rug to be more plush (because I want every rug to be plush), but man, the color is so good, and that light stripe is really pretty. We found the perfect darker table from AllModern, and Katie splurged (on my request) on these chairs from Soho Home. Listen, this room is the first room you see coming into the house, right off the entry. These chairs had to be pretty and special. The color is DIVINE.

Planter

Oh, and yes, they have glass pocket doors that close it off, although I’m unsure what the purpose of them is, except they look really pretty. They don’t mask much of the sound, but maybe a little? I love the look of them and wasn’t responsible for designing them, but I love how they turned out.

Oscar Sofa | Long Lumbar Pillow (similar) | Cabinet Hardware | Drawer Hardware

OMG. What is she doing up there??! Giving “Belle” hard (but in a French maid outfit and heels?). We put our Oscar sofa in green tweed in here, the cushiest, most comfortable (and best-selling in navy blue velvet) sofa in our collection. We always meant to install sconces on the sides of the cabinets (and I think even wired for it), but haven’t yet (and not sure we will).

Chandelier | Decorview

The chandelier kills me. It’s huge, both in width and length, really commanding attention in the really tall ceilings. It’s a work of art, a sculpture, and still provides perfect lighting. It’s from Blueprint Lighting, which means you can customize the colors of the enamel and the metal. We chose Pearl and Charcoal with Natural Brass and had it drop enough that you could see it fully without looking up, but it wouldn’t obstruct the view too much. It’s PERFECT.

This room needed window treatments due to it being west-facing, so we partnered with Decorview to install motorized shades in a soft taupe. We wanted it to kinda disappear instead of being a feature. And since the top window is so high, the remote easily controls them up and down.

Putnam Ladder

It’s not a super eclectic room with a lot of surprises. But my goodness, the vibe, tone, light, and simplicity draw you in and make you want to just flop on the sofa or play connect four (apparently, lol). The ladder is from Putnam, which we wrote about here. We chose the Quiet Glide version with the Walnut stain and Double Roller. It can be pushed in to be more vertical for easier storing, but passes along in front of the sofa easily.

Green Stool

The piano came with an adjustable bench that matches, but I found this stool from World Market that simply looks so much better 🙂

Faux Potted Plant | Entry Table (no longer available) | Blueprint Sconce

A big shout-out to one of the best faux trees I’ve ever seen (used multiple times in this house). I love this shot so much. The table in the background was mine, from Urban Outfitters years ago, and it doesn’t live here, but we added it for the shot. It made me motivated to get a small piece for here (the round is way too invasive, but could be a sideboard or a demilune).

Chandelier

The tones, the colors, the richness, and yet lightness. Y’all, I know that this may not be everyone’s cup of tea (perhaps too simple or not maximalist enough for many), but I’m really proud of this room and how it just sings softly and cohesively.

And my brother’s family LOVES it. I think it’s Katie’s favorite room, too (although again, wait til you see the living room). It’s easy to live in, easy to maintain, bright, and yet warm space that invites you into the house and sets the tone. It feels so balanced with warm and cool tones, with enough contrast to pop, but extremely calming. Its 100% my vibe, and we are going to live happily together, forever.

Game Room Resources:

Flooring: Stuga
Cabinetry Paint Color: Malabar by Sherwin-Williams
Rolling Ladder: Putnam
Sconces and Chandelier: Blueprint
Window Shades: Decorview
Windows by Marvin Windows and Doors

*Architect: Anne Usher
**General Contractor: JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction
***Interior Designers: Emily Henderson (me!) and Max Humphrey
****Styling: Emily Henderson (me!)
*****Photos by Kaitlin Green

We meet again! I first just want to give you all the biggest thank you for all of the kind comments on my living room. I’ve been walking on a cloud for two straight days. You’d think after six-ish reveals that the nerves wouldn’t get to you, but surprise, they never do. But maybe that’s not a terrible thing, I would hate to lose the excitement that comes with baring your design soul to the world, ha. So today we have round two, and dare I say the more intimate of the duo? Today’s the day I invite you into my bedroom, a space I love so much, and that helps to calm down and recharge me.

Where It All Began…

The first time my cousin saw my bedroom, shortly after I moved in, she said it was like a princess’s room. And that really is how it feels! The French door windows that lead out to the balcony are what really have me pinching myself every day. It will take a very special circumstance to eventually leave this magical room/home.

But as you can see, it had a beautiful base, but it needed some help. The ceiling fan was the first to go. I guess it could be worse, but I hated it. My AC unit is in the bathroom, which connects to my bedroom, so I really don’t have to worry about staying cool during the night. See ya, fan!

Those blinds were next on the list. I have heard that legally, landlords need to provide privacy on windows, but curtains would be good enough for me. Those blinds were far too sad and generic for this room. But boy, is that moulding so special!

Oops! I Designed My Balcony First:)

And just for fun, here’s a little reminder of what the balcony looks like. I did have to spruce it up for the shoot, just in case (aka re-spray paint some of the tiles with a makeshift cardboard barrier). As proof that there’s always one DIY per reveal that nearly does me in, for this balcony, it was these tiles. But after I was done, I was thankfully so in love with how they turned out. While I didn’t totally consider the design of the balcony when designing the bedroom, I have to say I think they work pretty well together – a little vintage, a little new, and a checkered pattern:)

Ok, back to the room at hand!

The Layout

This is the layout with some measurements in case you were curious. How I was going to lay the bed out was always pretty clear since there are only two usable walls, and only one where I could have two nightstands. Having two nightstands was my dream because this was my last “bedroom”…

My full-sized mattress slid right into this little nook in this apartment. It was “quirky” for sure, but honestly, I was so grateful that my studio had a layout in which I could pretend to have a sectioned off “bedroom”. But now you can see why the idea of nightstands and even a queen-sized bedroom was THRILLING.

The First Big Idea

This was my first mood board. One thing you should know about me is that, for myself, I want a fairly simple bedroom. Mostly light neutralish colors, some pattern, but nothing too intense. Everyone is different, and for me, I feel calmest in a grounded yet airy bedroom. But the tricky thing about designing a bedroom that will go on the World Wide Web is that those kinds of rooms don’t always read well. And while none of us here ever “design for the internet,” I think it’s natural to want to make sure your room doesn’t feel too boring, to have ideas that are a little unique. It’s kind of a specific issue, but it was hard not to have that on my mind. That’s where those green tiles in the mood board above came in.

My thought was that I could create an individually installed tile border underneath the crown moulding. Oh, and they would be angled down (see silly drawing for the gist). It would be a creative visual punch, but not too colorful or overstimulating for my eyes. I was PUMPED! Then I talked to my dad about it. I think you know where this is going…anyone else thinking about a certain fireplace cover?? We walked through a few different options that either changed my vision too much and I didn’t like it, or I needed to attach them in a way that wasn’t renter-friendly. A dead end. I was pretty bummed because I didn’t have another idea that I was equally as excited about. More on that later.

Baby’s First Queen Mattress

This is how my bedroom looked for at least three years. Yes, a full-grown, design-obsessed adult was sleeping on the floor. I just didn’t want to get something I didn’t love or choose something before I really pulled a design plan together that ultimately didn’t work. Did I tell myself, “Jess, it’s kind of an airy, sexy, loft-chic look,” aka a totally made-up style to make myself feel better? Yes. But was I any better than the headboardless men my friends and I try to avoid? No. No, I was not…until…

The Mint Hybrid

Here she is on the bed!! Now, when I was ordering, a few of my friends were in the king-size mattress camp. Could I have fit one? Yes. But it would have been tiiiight. Also, my parents were always of the belief that they didn’t need or want any bed bigger than a queen because they didn’t want that much space between them. I know that is not everyone’s feeling for multiple reasons, and I totally get that. However, I have always loved that sentiment so much. And given that, for the foreseeable future, this bed would just be for little ole me, and it would fit better in my room, a queen was the obvious choice. If I meet someone who can’t comfortably sleep in a queen-size bed, we can maybe talk about it, ha.

The Nightstands!

I did write about the nightstand search saga here if you want to fully go on that journey. But ultimately, I had my heart set on vintage to help give some more soul to the room. I searched high and low and then came across this beautiful burl wood 1970s set. I was able to get them at $550 and am so happy I did. I, of course, have to give a huge thanks to Julie again for coming with me (safety first, but also the seller was so lovely) and for helping me bring them upstairs to my apartment. I really owe her a fully paid vacation at this point for all the help she’s given me over the years. These beauties are hefty but give the perfect amount of weight to the room.

The Custom Bed Of My Dreams

I think it’s time to talk about the bed:)

BuildLane graciously accepted my near plea to build me a bed. I didn’t want anything wild, but I also wasn’t seeing what I was looking for on the market. I mean, this was going to be the first real bedframe (with a headboard) I was going to own since college? I wanted it to be both special but also something I could easily reuse for future bedrooms. So I put together the design above, a classic upholstered low, rectangle headboard, and a skirt with corner pleats. But what was going to set this sweet, fairly common-shaped bed apart, design-wise, were the fabrics:)

I think this was the most stressful part of the bed designing process, the height of the headboard. I wanted it low but not too low so that I could stack two sets of pillows, but still see some of the headboard at the top. So naturally, blue tape got involved. Thankfully, the height turned out perfect at 38″ from the floor to the top.

During the design process, Frank at BuildLane introduced me to the people at Kravet, who kindly agreed to gift me the fabric. I think it’s fair to say I was insanely excited and slightly overwhelmed to be in their showroom…

See what I mean?! My big eyes will always tell you everything. Choosing between all of these incredible options wasn’t going to be simple.

But like any design lover in a fabric showroom, I got the hang of it and found such special fabrics! Plus, that little phone-looking device that’s in my hand is a scanner. It’s like what I imagine wedding registry shopping to be like (or how the movies make it look), you scan, and then a beautiful little sample goes into your sample pile. Here’s what I initially chose…

Man, I love looking at these all together. The solid linen (Kravet Basics x Thom Filicia in Sweeting – Ivory) and gold velvet (Clarke & Clarke in “Honey”) were for my bed, but the other two were for a bench that THE Katy Skelton offered to gift me. Another insane pinch me moment. So that bench has a fabric seat that’s customizable, which I took them up on. So the two “checkered” fabrics were for that. Unfortunately, the Kelly Wearstler embroidered square fabric (Chalet Emb – Ivory/Black) was backordered, so I decided to go with another solid linen (Kravet Basics). That way, I could have more freedom with the bedding by not choosing a different pattern. But what I loved about the Kelly Wearstler one was that it was neutral, textured, and a different scale than that perfect green fabric (Gaston Y Daniela – Santa Eulalia – Verde Oscuro). All of these are stunning in person.

Here she is being built! And let me tell you, she is SOLID and heavy. The quality is so spectacular. Don’t worry, the fabric got tightened and steamed out:) I took this photo a little prematurely during the setup.

And this is when the bench got delivered! After these two pieces were in, I did call this room “50 Shades of Beige,” which would be rectified. I also think this shows that putting together a neutral room is an art. That’s not what I was really trying to do here (more of a temporary issue), but a good reminder that not all creams and whites in different textures automatically look good together. This room looked a bit sad to me, and I wanted to change that asap.

But one more shot of that amazing green checkered fabric and wood grain!

Bedside Table Lights – Part 1

Like the nightstands, I wanted vintage table lamps to sit on top of them. In the room, there are brass and crystal sconces, so it was important to me to get a more modern style nightstand lamp. These Italian MCM types were the ones I originally wanted, but most of them were either too expensive online or didn’t come in a set. It wasn’t looking great until I went to the Rose Bowl.

I happened upon these Japanese MCM table lamps for only $80 total! I fell for them immediately, paid the kind vendor, and the rest is history. The Rose Bowl is always a gamble. Sometimes you come home with nothing, sometimes you spend way too much money, and other times you find a truly great deal (At least it felt that way. Please don’t burst my bubble!) They give off the prettiest glow, and the shape is actually better for the room (helps offset all of the rectangles:)).

The “New” Wall Color

I believe I have the world’s kindest and most wonderful landlord. However, I am fairly certain this room did not get repainted before I moved in. The ceiling had a discoloration spot, and overall, it just needed a fresh coat. I emailed her, asking if I paid for the paint, would she be willing to pay for the labor. I showed her the areas of concern, promised her it would be another white (lol) as to not do anything crazy/non renter-friendly, and she kindly agreed. PHEW. Next stop was getting my Samplize paint stickers.

Here they are – one in bright daylight and one much later in the day. It still shocks me that a color can look like a fairly standard white on a paint fan deck, but then you get it in the soon-to-be-painted room and it completely transforms. Those “whites” range from white to blue to green to yellow. Let this be a reminder lesson to test your paint before you buy. Paint (especially trim paint) is not cheap. My bank account will tell you! So if you can, we truly love Samplize, and they will help you make the best decision with zero mess. The dream, right?

And this is my best decision – White Flour by Sherwin-Williams.

Understandably, some of you might be thinking I’m a crazy woman – “Jess, is that new white going to make that big of a difference to spend $300?” I can tell you emphatically that it made a HUGE difference. But this was also a lesson in timelines. I really wanted the bed in the room before I finalized the paint color. I wanted to feel 10000% confident that the color of the paint would look beautiful with the color of the nearly white linen. After seeing this, I was.

And see! Those two whites are pretty freaking different. Can you tell I’m really trying to justify my decisions? 😉

Curtain (And Rod) Call

Next up is the wall of French doors and the curtains that cover them. The blinds that were up when I moved in came down within the first couple of days. I kept up the curtain rod that was there, but knew I would at least be replacing it with something nicer. Those curtains were also my IKEA ones that are sadly no longer in stock, to be a placeholder. They now live in my storage unit because good, affordable curtains aren’t easy to find.

The next question was rod placement. I felt pretty sure I wanted to go higher/above the door moulding, but just to be 100%, I did this little mock-up. I knew the room would feel taller if I went higher, so this helped me confirm that.

In addition, I was trying to find the right curtains. I had the urge to try a light blue. Sure, it’s on trend, but curtains can be perfect for that. Plus, light blue wouldn’t be that intense, right?? Well, I ordered this panel from Quince to test out. While I was impressed with the quality, the color wasn’t 100% what I was looking for. Also, it would have been one thing if I had one smaller window or two windows flanking my bed, giving the curtains some breathing room. That would not have been the case in my room. I feared it would look like a wall of light blue coming at you, overwhelming your eye, and taking all the attention in an otherwise light neutral room.

So, What Curtains Did You Choose??

I found the perfect “natural” linen curtains from Anthro, who also gifted them! I was so grateful! I did, as you can see, need to get them hemmed. The next size down was too short, so I marched them over to my very wonderful dry cleaner to fix them up. Fun fact, my ceilings and/or floor are slanted, so I had to give them three different length measurements. Second, it did cost me around $300. Linen is hard to hem, FYI, so I knew it wouldn’t be cheap. But now they look great with the custom-length curtain rod I had to get. This room may look simple when you see the pretty photos (and boy did Sara outdo herself), but this room added up QUICK.

Also, a big ole thank you to my wonderful friends who helped me put this curtain rod up. There are certain things you simply need more than one set of hands for. This and that ceiling medallion were two of them:)

Bedside Table Lights – Part 2

Before we get to the pretty bedding, I want to talk about my other MCM sconces. I was feeling that this room needed a little more modern edge. I wanted softness, I wanted a sprinkle of a traditional feel, but I also wanted freshness, and that’s what these sconces gave me.

I found them on Facebook Marketplace and asked my design sounding board what they thought. I knew I wanted them, but they were *gulp* $400 (down from $475), so I needed some confidence boosting. They all agreed they were cool, so I just did it, and I’m so glad I did. Again, blue tape really comes in handy for measuring! Arlyn was the person who came over to help me decide on the ideal height. But they are vertically adjustable!

You may also be wondering why I needed two lights on each nightstand. Well, I didn’t, but I wanted them all for two reasons. Reason one is that I knew it would look great. Reason 2 is that the Japanese ones can be a little annoying to turn off and on since they look best on the outer part of the nightstand and the cords come out from the back of them. This means the switch is kinda far when you’re in bed. As I write this, I know it sounds pathetic, but I also look at lamps as sculptures/art, so if nothing else, I have 4 pieces of functional art that look great together. In case you are trying to count, I have seven lights in my singular bedroom. I tell you in every post I write about lighting that I’m obsessed, so at least you know I’m telling the truth and really walk the walk, ha.

Finding Bedding That Isn’t “Neutral”

Y’all might remember that I really wanted to get light mint colored sheets. When used well, mint is so exquisite yet extremely cool. Well, that didn’t happen for me because the way the color palette was going, it was not going to work. I bought three sets of sheets, and because I took so long finding the bedspread, I just sold them in a garage sale for a fraction of the value. Lesson learned, again!

Another purchase, not by me, was the wonderful quilt in the photos above. I had a very similar one from my mom’s side of the family that I used when I lived in NYC, but I haven’t been able to track it down since my big move a decade ago. I asked my dad again, who also hadn’t seen it, but also happened to be at an estate sale and found a very similar one for $50! I really thought I wanted to use it, but I really needed color.

Cotton Velvet Quilt | Large Hand Quilted Velvet Throw

Anderson Velvet Quilt | Hand Stitched Velvet Quilt

At first, I had my heart set on a velvet quilt. The one in my mood board was, of course, no longer available in the color I wanted, so I thought maybe a blue? My heart wasn’t as into it, but I was getting desperate. These were the top contenders I was considering. I’m happy to see that more places are making good-looking velvet quilts. I smell a trend coming:)

Indian Black Suzani Cotton Handmade Floral Bedspread | Hand Embroidered Suzani Wall Hanging

But then I decided to look at Suzani blankets on Etsy. I’ve loved these for a long time and thought this was potentially a better and more exciting direction to go in. I bought these two to see, and they both looked a bit different in person.

The description of this one said black, but the photos gave it sort of a gray-blue undertone. Let’s just say it was very black, and the embroidered part was much grayer than in the photo. I knew it wasn’t a fit. But the other was actually perfect, like spookily perfect. I will say it’s much brighter and warmer-toned in person, in case you want to order one.

The Rug(s)

As I said in yesterday’s post, I tried the Greek Long Hair Flokati rug, but it wasn’t it. Plus, I didn’t put a rug pad under it, and I almost slipped and took myself out a handful of different times. Then we had our collaboration with RugsUSA, so naturally I really wanted to make one of those work. I decided to be safe to go with…a beige Starke. I love the rug, but it also wasn’t right. So when the partnership ended, I decided to peek at Etsy, and boy, did I find the MOST magical rug. There’s a sneak peek below!

I also had to ask my other kind neighbor (with also my best friend because we needed 3 people) to help me get these rugs out and then back under this very beautiful but very heavy bed. I’m afraid he’s now probably even more excited and motivated to buy his first home. Needy neighbors are so annoying, huh?

Blank Walls No More

Since my cool tile idea was in the trash, I needed to come up with something I liked but didn’t feel too much for these walls. Oh, and if you’re curious about the little plate above my bed, I think it was some kind of call system when this building was a single-family home. So cool.

I decided to do a vertical galley wall. I needed to do at least some kind of gallery wall in this house:) So I laid it all out on Photoshop, and it’s honestly pretty realistic!

My sweet cousin came to help me again (she was my co-art hanger in my last living room), so this only felt right. Her sweet, perfect baby simply did not need her more than I did in this moment:) But before she came over, I made nearly exact cardboard cutout sizes of the pieces I wanted to use, so it was really easy to visualize. If you don’t have too many pieces and you’re putting together a gallery wall, I highly recommend this method.

I just wanted to give a special call out to these wooden shapes I bought at a Downtown Modernism flea market, and really wanted to hang them in this room. Actually, above my bed (but kinda low), off to the left. It wasn’t ultimately the best design decision, but there will be a future home I will definitely use them in.

The DIY That Nearly Killed Me

You may have clocked the hardware that’s on my French doors. I didn’t mind the finish, but some of them had paint on them from years of old paint jobs. I decided to soak all the good ones (some had missing parts that I would try to replace) that just had paint on them…

…and they turned out worse! I was able to get the paint off, but I realized I needed to polish them since they look so dingy now. I just could have never imagined what I would uncover.

Unlauquered brass! I guess I thought they were a dark bronze, but as I polished those long arms, it was clear it wasn’t bronze. Actually, at first I thought they were copper, which was not the look I wanted and I was kind of panicked. But I kept going and all of a sudden that gorgeous brass came through! Then I did a couple more pieces, and they were all brass. What freaking luck. Look at those transformations!

What I will say, though, is that it took at least 9 hours over a few days of constant polishing to get these all done. Those door locks were THE WORST because they didn’t come apart. I just had to keep doing the best I could. I used almost two bottles of Brasso, this buffing kit that attaches to a drill, this Metal Cleaning Compound Set, a lot of rags, and cotton swabs.

I knew my landlord shopped at Pasadena Architectural Salvage, so I stopped by to see if they could help with a few missing pieces I needed. Lucky for me, they had exactly what I needed. Less lucky for me, they were $55 each. I had to get three, if I remember correctly. But also, this is an old, special house that I am part of being a keeper of. While I’ll put my style twist on some things, for the real “house” details, I want to make sure I’m being really thoughtful and will leave it better than when I moved in. And don’t worry, I still had to polish the new additions too.

I think it’s time we finally see these finished photos.

The Reveal

Custom Bed | Bed Linen Fabric | Bed Velvet Fabric | Custom Bench | Bench Linen Fabric | Bench Checkered Fabric | Nightstands (vintage) | Sconces (vintage) | Table Lamps (vintage) | Pendant Lamp | Ceiling Medallion | Rug (vintage) | Curatin Rod | Curtain Rings | Curtains

It really doesn’t matter how many transformations you do or see; I’m still in shock every time. It really did feel like it came together all of a sudden…after years of slowly figuring it out. So, from “50 Shades of Beige” to this makes me feel beyond proud and so so so lucky.

I have to also say that I found that vintage rug first, and then when the Suzani blanket came, I was practically in shock at how perfectly they worked together. And in case you are unfamiliar with Suzani patterns, Arlyn wrote a beautiful post about the meanings behind popular fabrics. Here’s a little excerpt from her post:

“Suzanis are elaborate embroidered textiles whose name stems from the Persian word suzan, or ‘needle,’ as I mentioned earlier. They emerged from the nomadic cultures of Central Asia, mostly what is modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, where embroidery was a key expression of identity and artistry. There aren’t many surviving older textiles, as these groups were nomadic and lived on the move; most of the original and authentic suzanis we have today date back only to the 18th and 19th centuries, though some believe the art form goes as far back as the 15th century.”

Before we move on, I need ot talk about the ceiling medallion! Can you believe it’s from Anthro? I knew that a medallion would look so beautiful in this room, so when I saw this one on their site, it was a done deal. Well, it was actually a done deal when they agreed to gift it to me. Oh, and the painters painted it with the wall paint, so it matched perfectly!

Sham Pillows (unavailable) | Blue Pillowcases (in Dusk) | Pillow Inserts | Sherling Lumbar Pillow | Sheet Set (in Mist) | Duvet Cover (similar) | Duvet Insert | Suzani Blanket

Let’s first talk about the bedding. My duvet cover is actually the one that Arlyn also used in her bedroom reveal, and I didn’t even clock it when I bought it on a Black Friday sale a couple of years ago! Great minds, as they say:) It has a very delicate rust colored stripe. The touch of warmth is perfect. I am also sorry it’s not available. The sheets are actually linen from Quince. Here’s what I’ll say. The color is stunning, the price is great, but they aren’t the softest linen sheets I’ve ever tried. Marlee really loves hers, so maybe after more washes, it gets softer? But if you’re sensitive, be wary of these. The blue linen pillowcases are from Parachute, and you immediately notice the difference. It’s a classic “you get what you pay for,” but I’m not upset with the Quince sheets! I just want to give an honest review. So in conclusion, they are good, but not great. The raisin colored shams were Bowser’s and are old Parachute. Why they don’t sell the color still is insane. BRING IT BACK. I did a little search and was able to find just the simple linen pillowcases in that color on Poshmark (a little hack from me to you), so my bed still practically looks like this. And that tan shearling lumbar pillow is everything. I was planning on returning it because it wasn’t cheap, but I couldn’t bear to part with it. It’s also just so soft and adds some needed brightness and texture.

Bolster Cover | Bolster Insert

I’m sure people who actually design with lots of color will give a little smirk and a side eye with this next statement, but y’all, this feels like a color breakthrough for me. This might be the most colorful rug I’ve ever owned, and I might only get colorful rugs going forward. In a perfect world, it would be a little bigger, but it’s vintage, so those sizes aren’t always standard. It’s a 6×10, and I was willing to make it work because it’s just perfect.

So a fun story about that long bolster. Bowser came over a few weeks before the shoot so we could make sure I had time to order any extra things if needed. Well, I thought I wanted a patterned throw pillow for the bed, so she found this one and we both loved it. I ordered and picked it up that day. I was fully in love with it, but I felt it was a little too tall to work, and the blue was the exact same blue as the pillowcases. I decided to keep it till the shoot because Bowser is magic, and I would have been happy to be wrong. Well, she agreed it wasn’t a fit at the top of the bed, but I had been keeping it on top of that amazing bench, and we both decided it should stay there. It almost acts as a back to the bench and adds the perfect extra punch of pattern. I love that the colors work with both the blanket and the green on the dowel fabric. Serendipitous if you ask me:)

Mirror (vintage) | Sconce (vintage) | Acyrlic Box | Candle | Wood Tray | Table Lamp (vintage)

Welcome to my side of the bed. That mirror has been in my family for at least of few generations and was in our home growing up. You might remember I had it in my last kitchen🙂 But it felt right in here. I also have to sing the praises of that garden mint candle by Tatine that Sara introduced me to 6 years ago? It’s so fresh, so potent (but in the good way), and I don’t even have to light it to get those amazing moments when I breathe in, and it’s all I can smell. That sweet little box is hard to see, but I got it at the Pierce and Ward shop. The tray was from Emily, and how cool is that sconce?

Black and White Abstract by Inka Bell | Vintage Collage by Steve Tierney | Man Painting (vintage) | Figure Drawing (vintage) | Cathedral Sketch (unavailable) | Table Lamp (vintage) | Checkered Dish (unavailable)

And this is how my vertical gallery wall turned out, and I’m so happy with it! Three of the pieces (the top and the bottom two) I had. The vintage collage was from a trip I took in Oaxaca, and I found it at a gallery called El Tinglado Gráfico. I just felt immediately connected to it, so I brought her home:) The man painting was from that sale Bowser did last December, and the frame is a grasscloth, which I LOVED.

Now, I don’t think I’ve told this story before, but that cathedral sketch was a piece my dad bought for me at this small local outdoor art show in the town I grew up in when I was home from college in probably 2007. I just really loved it. Fast forward to me living in LA, looking more closely at the sketch, and putting a lot of money on it being a drawing of the Santiago de Compostela. For those of you who aren’t familiar, that’s the cathedral you end at when you complete the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route in Spain. My dad, brother, and I did the Camino back in 2015, which was 8 years after I got this drawing. It was a very special and important trip for the three of us, not in the religious sense but in the reconnecting after my mom’s death. I felt very overwhelmed in a good way, and that buying this sketch was almost like a bittersweet, if not a positive, omen for the future I didn’t know would happen. I will have it forever.

Custom Bed | Bed Linen Fabric | Bed Velvet Fabric

Here’s a closer shot of the bed and fabric. It’s truly exactly how I imagined it. Perfect.

Cailtin gifted me that checkered dish a few years ago for my birthday. I love that it has a permanent spot in my bedroom. Thank you again, sweet Caitlin!

Custom Bench | Bench Linen Fabric | Bench Checkered Fabric

I just don’t know how I got so lucky. That bench is so special. When Katy emailed me asking if I’d be interested in this bench, I’m sure my jaw dropped to my desk. A Katy Skelton piece is a forever piece.

Pendant Lamp | Ceiling Medallion | Rug (vintage) | Curatin Rod | Curtain Rings | Curtains | Hardware | Leather Tassel (unavailable) | Bolster Cover | Bolster Insert | Chair (vintage) | Basket (vintage) | Chagall Poster (vintage)

And another shot I LOVE. That chair you might recognize from my last living room. It was a Rose Bowl find for $100! It’s definitely a better plant stand than a chair:) See how warm and beautiful those tan/taupe curtains are? When I wrote about the taupe curtain trend, I had already been inspired…especially after the blue curtain fail. Oh, and that large leather tassel was from our team retreat in Todos Santos! I promise I don’t only travel to Mexico lol. But it is my favorite country, so I travel there more than anywhere else<3

I have a funny story about the basket. There’s a big antique mall where I grew up, and the last time I was there, I found this basket and the metal orb planter holder that’s on my balcony. As I was checking out, the woman who worked there looked at my loot and said, “You sure like weird stuff.” I just smiled and laughed to myself. If only she knew all the other “weird” things I’ve picked up, she’d be STUNNED.

Before and after sliders, anyone?

Well, this is where I leave you (for today), staring at you in a dress that I didn’t clock til we shot these portraits, kinda looks like a night gown, ha. Again, thank you for all of your support, your kind words, and the fun stories you share with me in the comments. I hope this post was as entertaining as the last, because if you can believe (which I’m sure you can if you’re still reading), it’s actually longer than the living room post. OOPS!

Love you, mean it.

*Design by Jess Bunge (me!)
**Styled by Emily Bowser
**Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

I half jokingly told the team that I wanted to write an Emily Bowser-style post. Now, that’s a BIG statement given how incredibly entertaining and helpful her posts are. They take you on a long, winding journey. You will laugh, you may cry, but without a doubt, you will have a wonderful time. So maybe consider this a kind of Bunge adaptation of sorts? I mainly stated this to them because my lord has this living room design been a journey that started longer ago than I’d like to admit. Did my brother get married and have a baby who just turned one in less time than it took to finish my whole living room? I can neither confirm nor deny (I did technically reveal half of it here:)). But what I can confirm is that there is a lot to cover, that I’m so proud of the final result, and of course, I feel so unbelievably lucky that this is my home. As a fun warning, there probably should have been an intro post, given how long this one turned out to be. But if I’m following in Emily Bowser’s footsteps, the longer the post, the better. So grab your favorite beverage, get seated in a cozy spot, and come with me on my living room design tale. This is why we read blogs, right? For the juicy details? I realllly hope so, ha. Thank you for your patience. I know this reveal took SO LONG, and I hope you think it was at least a little worth it:)

And no offense taken if you are like, “Jess, love ya, I’m scrolling to the pretty photos first.”

Let’s Start At The Beginning

This is more or less where I started when I first moved in. Everything here is from my last apartment, which I used a good amount of in the final design. I tried the furniture layout a few different ways, which I talk about here in this post, but ultimately this one worked the best and made me feel like I had a “living room area” and an “office area” despite them being in the same room.

The Gray Brown Fireplace Drama

My first major issue, or so I thought, was the fireplace. When I toured the apartment before I moved in, I was beyond excited about this fireplace, working or not (it doesn’t work, FYI). But then I moved in, plopped that light cream colored sofa down, and design mental chaos took over my brain. “This looks bad. I have to make a DIY cover!” I said to myself and anyone who would listen. All of a sudden, the gray undertone of the tiles haunted my dreams, the red(?) spots on the grout mocked me every time I looked their way. Naturally, I called my dad and asked if he could help build something. And because he’s the best, he said, “Draw it up and I’ll see what I can do.”

Then, on one of his trips down (he lives in Northern California), he brought these front pieces to see how he needed to proceed. Well, after a few minutes, I got the “Jess, it’s not going to happen.” I immediately blamed his lack of imagination. It was at that moment (and after about 20 minutes of telling him he was wrong) that I conceded to putting a pin in that idea for a least a little while…and luckily I did. Also, that hairstyle lasted a liiiittle longer than it probably should have. I think he really just loved showing off that he could still grow long, luscious locks.

My Sofa

Then came the new sofa. For those of you who might not know the entire EHD alum team, this sofa is part of a collaboration with Lulu and Georgia with one of Emily’s first employees, Ginny Macdonald. She’s an incredible designer, so it was no surprise that her collection was and is so special. I only got to work with Ginny for about a year before Em made the decision to close the client side of the business, and she then started her own firm. Needless to say, she’s as fun and kind as she is talented, so getting to have a sofa of hers was a dream. So aside from it having an extra special meaning, being beautiful, and very comfortable, that delicious cognac velvet totally balanced the room visually with the brown fireplace. I don’t think I had quite experienced that kind of immediate transformation before. All of a sudden, I didn’t feel the need to “figure something out” with the fireplace.

So Many Rugs

Another “saga” was the rug. I LOVE my grey checkered Annie Selke one and still have it (obviously!), but in this 100+ year old home, it didn’t evoke the feeling I wanted it to. It was a little too “refined.” I wanted a style contrast with a more organic, cozy, textured vibe, which is how I ended up ordering this rug above based on seeing a similar one in a room I loved on Instagram. It’s a Greek Long Hair Flokati rug that was a great price (under $400 at the time for a 6×9) and was really pretty, but also not right. I tried it in my bedroom too, but no dice. It now lives with the checkered rug in my storage unit (because I carelessly didn’t return it in time), waiting for its day in the sun.

But then I stumbled upon this amazing rug from Revival Rugs, which was generously gifted to me, and I was and am still blown away. The quality is so good, it’s SO soft, looks expensive, and at the time, I believe it was under $600. I know that everyone has a different budget and one person’s “affordable” is another’s “not affordable,” but let me tell you that, for the quality you get, these rugs could be much more expensive. My cousin has them all over her house (like in here), and they are all just as great as this one.

Then came the idea for the main wall…

My Dream Shelves

Of course, I thought of maybe doing a gallery wall, but since that was the main feature of my last living room, I wanted to do something different. My next thought was shelves. I looked at some vintage-looking wall-mounted readymade units, but none of them felt right. Now, I knew I wanted an architectural sconce (replacing the one that came with the apartment). So it was then that I thought of doing two asymmetrical shelves with floor-to-ceiling brass bars. There was another detail I was kinda obsessed with, and of course, it was never going to be a copy, because that’s stealing and wrong, but I’d had Flack Studio’s curved utensil bar on my mind since the first time I saw it in Troye Sivan’s AD tour. I wanted/was deserapte to do some kind of curve in the bars. The wonderful and talented Julie Rose was at my place for dinner when I told her my ideas, she gave me some great feedback, and then, without me even asking, made that render above! Naturally, it turned out a bit different in the final design, but this was so helpful to get the initial idea visualized. Thank you, Julie, for always being the best design buddy!!

You might be thinking, well, your sweet little ideas are great and all, but how and WHO is going to make this custom shelving piece for you?? Enter BuildLane. I reached out to see if they might be interested, and they said yes! I thank the universe every day that they did. While their bread and butter are upholstered furniture and case goods, they can do anything, and that’s what they did with this piece. They only work with designers and firms, so if you fall into that category or know someone who does, make sure they know about them. The process was so streamlined, the communication was great, and you will see in a minute how impeccable their work is. I also have a very important and special piece in my bedroom from them, too, so I really do stand by their work. Plus, I did get an LA factory tour, which was like being at Disneyland for me, and got to see even more of what they do. So impressed.

Here was my very professional tape job to make sure I knew where I wanted everything to land. And yes, I was extremely stressed about making a mistake and ruining everything. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll be talking about that sconce later:)

Custom furniture is no joke, despite how ridiculous and comical my cardboard shelf was, ha. It’s also why I was so grateful to have BuildLane to be able to make sure everything was exact and made sense.

And then Christmas morning came! Just kidding, but also maybe this was better? Seeing what I came up with in my head, made into a beautiful physical piece, was beyond words. Frank and the whole BuildLane team really went above and beyond. The shelves were perfect.

I need and want to give another (but not the last) shoutout to my dad. He came down to install them with me, and we only got into a couple of small arguments! And in case any of you are thinking that I drilled into the hardwood floors, the answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT. BuildLane (and a huge thank you to Stephen) made sure that the bottom of the poles had levelers and that there was a bracket at the top of each pole to secure it to the ceiling. The shelves themselves also have hidden brackets, so everything is super safe and secured.

I sent this picture to my dad after I replaced the standard (not cute) light switch that was there with the vintage one I bought when I visited him in Paris (I wrote about that trip here). It was a process that I heavily questioned at least 3 times because let’s just say A LOT of spackle was used having to go from a rectangular switch to a small circle. Honestly, I’m surprised I got an “Impressive” and not “Good thing I taught you everything you know.” I’ll take the wins where I can get them. But I’m also sure he said it in his head.

Finding “Colorful” Art

Then came choosing art. Aside from those dreamy pink stone wall-mounted book holders, I didn’t have a solid art plan. I was playing with what I had, and nothing was looking how I wanted. That large graphic piece was meant to go over the fireplace, but I decided to try it on this wall. I liked it on the right, but the black part made one of the lamp shades nearly disappear (Julie thankfully pointed that out), and I didn’t love it enough on the left to then have to find a new piece for above the fireplace. (Also, thank you to my dear friend Franchesca for being the best art holder.) Designing is better (and easier) when you have friends.

Meet my brother, Morgan, and my next victim, whom I conned into helping me with a DIY project. If you read The Link Up, then you may remember I had an emergency ovarian torsion surgery earlier this year (see ya, right fallopian tube!). 0/10, Do not recommend. However, a very sweet silver lining was that my brother immediately flew down to take care of me for a few days. For an older sister to have her little brother wait on them hand and foot…10000/10! Highly recommend. One of the projects that I had been wanting to do was build a frame for a DIY art piece to fill in that right side. But guess who couldn’t lift over 10 lbs for a month and had a brother who’s very handy at her disposal? ME. So when he asked if there was anything I needed help with, Mo Man was going to be building me my frame.

My goal with this piece of art was to add more color to the space. Almost all of my art is black, white, tan, brown, gray, you get it. However, I have this amazing, boldly colored photo print by Arielle Bobb-Willis that I really wanted to display. I bought the paint for the frame, taped out my pattern, and planned to mix the perfect blue. Let’s just say I couldn’t really get the color I wanted, and as I was looking at the frame and even the photo print, it just didn’t feel like a perfect fit for this room. I waited to fully scrap the idea until I found the right piece, and boy, did I. I can’t wait to tell you that story. That gorgeous photo print will find a home in the future.

The Nesting Coffee Table

Since we’re on the topic of DIYs. Here’s a little story about my mismatched nesting coffee tables. That black one is from my last living room, and while I love it, it didn’t look right. But I had already purchased that incredible vintage one that I’m fairly certain I got a great deal on. I bought it for $375 (with Caitlin as my “travel/pickup in an unfamiliar area buddy”), but then saw the same one for at least $600 online. A win is a win! But that meant I needed a shorter nesting friend because just the vintage one would have been too small for the sofa on its own.

Then last year, I saw this ottoman on Target’s website and thought it could work. I knew it was too tall from the online description, so I went to potentially buy it in person and check to see if dear ole dad (or me) could chop off a few inches from the wooden legs. Well, as you can see from the workshop in my bathroom, it was a success.

Tada! For $100ish, I was able to get the perfect shape and size I wanted with a little help from some power tools. I considered reupholstering it, but decided against it.

The Media Cabinet Bench Breakdown…The Mental Kind

The actual last DIY my dad helped me with was my media cabinet/bench. He built the frame, then I sanded, stained, and almost lost my mind.

My main reason for the bench was to hide all of these unsightly electronics. I won’t bore you with the whole saga (like me realizing that after the bench was done, I FORGOT to consider that the internet access cable was on the opposite side of the room. Cool, cool, cool.) Don’t worry, there’s a happy ending.

Welcome to the beginning of my losing my mind. I wouldn’t say math is my strength, so somewhat detailed measurements easily make my head spin right off. These were the cabinet doors and the beginning of “evenly” placing all of my future circle holes.

And these are actual photos I put on the internet during the process 3 years ago. Is it even a real Jess project if she doesn’t attempt a DIY that makes her question all of her life decisions?? Don’t worry, I have one for the bedroom too.

Then, after all of the holes were cut out and everything stained, I thought it would look better/more high-end if I stained wooden circle discs a darker color to have an inlayed look. It wasn’t a full success, so I pivoted and went to Mood Fabrics because I’m a millennial who grew up on Project Runway and bought a couple of pieces of black leather to stretch and then staple-gunned it to the back of the doors. I think I spent a little over $100 on the leather, which I was happy to do just to be done. Now I look at it every day and love it because I put so much into it, and it’s a piece that I did with my dad.

Look, I love a beautifully designed room regardless of whether it’s all new, all old, or a mix. But a space that has a lot of sentimental pieces and memories poured into it will always be my favorite. So without further ado (yes, we’re finally here), my living room…

The Reveal

Shelves (custom) | Sconce | Sofa | Rug | Green Side Table (unavailable) | Wood Side Table (vintage)

Here she is in all of her glory. I love the rich textures, I love the little pops of color, I LOVE my shelves, and I love that I actually have family photos up (not something I’ve always done:)). I also am so appreciative that after looking at this space for far too long, I love that Emily Bowser came to style it exactly how I was hoping it would look.

Rust Vase | Neutral Vertical Art | White Frame | Ceramic Art | Black Stash Box Tower (unavailable) | Wood Sculpture (vintage) | Vintage Light Switch (similar) | Painting (unavailable) | The Polaroid Book | Wood Sculpture (vintage) | Checkered Vase (unavailable) | Cream Plate Sculpture | Dark Blue Vase (unavailable)
Blanket | Blue Pillow | Green Pillow | Wall Mounted Book Holders (unavailable) | Lucio Muniain: Painting, Music, Architecture Book | Barcelona B. Book | All Coffee Table and Ottoman Items (vintage)

Ah, it’s hard to know where to start, but since I promised to talk about the sconce, let’s begin there. I have a love affair with lighting, and at the top of my “non-vintage” wishlist was a wall light by WO&WÉ. I feel like I first saw their work when I started working here almost 10 years ago. To me, they are modern classics. Knowing how in love I was with the light, my dad offered to get it for me as a wildly generous Christmas gift (I DO NOT deserve him). They are not inexpensive lamps, but given that they are all handmade in France, if they are within your budget, the quality and beauty are phenomenal. I would have absolutely saved up had I not been given this wonderful surprise. What is also a sweet addition to this company is that the designer, Oliver, has been joined by his daughter, Juliette, making it a father-daughter family business. Makes me love it even more. I was able to customize as well. In the standard design, the arm that extends from the wall came out further than I ideally wanted. Since everything is handmade, they were easily able to shorten it. Now it extends just a few inches beyond the depth of the shelves. It’s perfect.

Antique Foot Warmer | Chair: 500 Designs That Matter Book | The New Design Rules Book | Upstate: Living Spaces with Space to Live Book | Rust Vase

Speaking of the shelves, take a look at the details. The unlaquared brass finish and the finish on the wood are perfect. The cutouts on the front were an idea I had from a bench I saw in a New York hotel lobby. The bench’s divits weren’t different widths, but I wanted to mix it up to give a more “organic brutalist” look. It wasn’t in the initial design, so I was so grateful that BuildLane was happy to edit that detail so easily. I mean, if you’re going custom, make it count, right?

And oh, what a beautiful blue book at the end of that shelf:)

Let’s talk decor, shall we? The books on the top shelf are ones I’ve collected from flea markets, Emily, library sales, etc. The larger vase and cream ceramic sculpture are from the Downtown Modernism flea market. The sculpture is by an artist that Emily introduced us to, Melinda Forster, who is so talented and extremely kind. I love getting to see her booth each time I go, and every time I hope I don’t come off like a weird fan girl, ha. The little patterned vessel was from my first Mexico City trip, and I think it adds the perfect visual punch. It’s the “least interesting” shape-wise but the most interesting pattern-wise. A helpful little tip in mixing solids and patterns when you’re trying to style. But of course, all the styling credit goes to Bowser:) Oh, and that wooden sculpture used to be Emily’s, which I got in our LA prop garage shopping spree she let us do before moving to Portland. It may be a little beat up, but I think it’s so cool and interesting.

Ok, before we move on, I have to talk about that painting. I saw a version of it on Facebook Marketplace, and after a couple of weeks, while Bowser was over, I asked her for her thoughts, and she told me to get it. Done. I messaged the seller, and to my disappointment, the piece had already been sold. But then she told me she could make me another one, and in under a week! I was thrilled since I didn’t realize that she was the actual artist. Cut to my being in a rough headspace due to yet another horrible piece of government news, but heading over to pick it up. The artist was Utharaa Zacharias, who is half of the design studio Soft Geometry! In case you don’t know them, she and her partner, Palaash Chaudhary, design beautiful furniture, lighting, and objects. Initially, and not realizing who she/they were at first, I asked if she had any desire to be linked on a design site since the piece would be published in my room reveal. She asked which site, and when I said Emily Henderson, her response was “Wait, are you serious?” to which I smiled and said, “Yes.” It was then she told me that they were Soft Geometry. Then it was my turn to say, “Wait, are YOU serious?” I felt so silly not putting the pieces together before meeting in person. I am a big fan and now can’t believe that this wonderful painting that I loved and was excited to put on my wall, regardless of who painted it, has this really special story attached to it. So while Utharaa paints more for fun than anything else, the texture, colors, and details are more than I could have asked for. Not that anything I was upset about was fixed that day, but I was quickly reminded that connecting with people will always help to fill you up.

This might be one of my favorite shots. I have to fight the urge to tell the story of each individual piece. But I’m of course going to call out a few. You might remember that green, patterned pillow from a bedroom mood board post I recently did. Well, once I got the main bedspread, it was an “Oh, no.” It simply did not work. I did a little pivot, and as you can see, she lives happily in the living room.

The pink wall-mounted book holders I first saw 4 years ago, and knew I needed them in my home. So once the shelf idea was in the works, I reached out to the company to see if I could order them. The brand is &Jacob, out of Mexico City, and they are the best people. Back to that first trip I mentioned earlier, I thought they had a store, so my friend and I made the walk over. Well, it was definitely a private showroom (good one, Jess), but they welcomed us in anyway, we got to see some of their production process, and were even able to buy a few things. I didn’t buy them that day, but I was able to easily reach out to one of the people we met. When I look at them, they remind me of that trip, of that fun experience, and of one of my favorite places. Plus, they call to the pink curtains on the other side of the room for balance.

This shot is just a little more pulled back, so you can see how the “office” and the living room talk to each other. Oh, and that stool was a Zara Home find! But the plant and wire planter are from the Rose Bowl. Bowser was kind enough to help me pick the right plants. And y’all, you’d be so proud of how well I’m taking care of it. We were told it’s 20 years old, and you bet I’m doing everything I can to keep it healthy.

That book with the big “B” was a gift from Em years ago, and it’s kinda perfect there, huh? In this house, B is for Barcelona and for Bunge:)

Going Places Print | Collage Art | Vase | Oaxacan Wedding Bell (vintage) | Target Print (vinatage) | Blue Dish (vintage) | Wood Scultpures (vintage) | Green Candle | Black Candle | Stool (unavailable) | Wire Planter (similar)

Oh, my dear, dear fireplace. Those candles were such a good find because non-working fireplaces are not easy to style well. There are lots of ideas out there, but none of them really felt right for this room. As you can see, I have a lot of little things everywhere. So if I had added a bunch of small candles, it would have been A LOT. I needed something larger. Scale is so important. I then found these big guys, and I knew they were much more of what I was looking for.

A fun little tidbit about that target art. I found it on Chairish for my last place for $30, but it was in a spot that didn’t get photographed. I then saw the same one in a room in an Elle Decor magazine, which oddly felt very validating. I even clipped it out and added it to my vision board that year as a “Jess, you’ve got this. Stop doubting yourself so much. You have chosen art that was good enough for Elle Decor” reminder lol. And look, do I love it’s a rifle target? Not even a little. But it has such a different meaning to me that I’ve gotten over it.

The tray was from my Paris trip with my dad, the candelabra was $6 at a consignment shop in Chicago, and is something I would save in a fire. All of the art was also in my last place!

Polka Dot Tray (similar) | Black Wood Dish (similar) | Round Pillow

Another favorite shot! And see how good the sofa looks after a few years of use?? I do have to admit that the round pillow and blanket are Bowser’s, but the pillow is still available, so naturally, I bought it as soon as she left. The green table was also in my last place and was a crazy Les Bunge thrift store find! He bought it for $60, and then shortly after, I saw the same one online for $600!! He gifted it to me because I loved it so much, and I promise it was before I knew the real value.

For the art, those prints were also from Zara Home a while back, and the frames were from Amazon. I put them up pretty early on and instantly loved how they looked. But it took me much longer to decide what to put next to them. I didn’t want to leave the space empty, but I also didn’t want a visually overwhelming gallery wall. So I figured out a DIY piece I didn’t fail at!

I had been seeing these types of photo collages on Pinterest and was absolutely obsessed. And since I had so many old photos of my parents and extended family, I decided to create my own piece. I found this frame for $20 on Craigslist with no glass or back. But for $20, I was willing to take the risk, and I’m happy to say it paid off.

Oh, and that gold box on the wall is also from Paris and is an antique footwarmer. It’s covering my not-so-beautiful thermostat and a nonworking light switch, but don’t worry, it’s very easy to remove when I need to use the heat:)

I then went to a local glass place after calling a few other places for quotes and was able to get the glass and installation for $90. The trickier piece to find in the size I wanted was the mat. The largest piece I could find that didn’t need to be custom was 40″x50″, which I got from a local framer for maybe $50? Thank you, Quick Frames! While I didn’t exactly have a choice without spending an unnecessary amount of money on a custom size, I really love that the mat almost looks like it’s floating with the open space on the top and bottom.

There were just a few more things I needed, like a few wood pieces, tape, and a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig. All in, I spent under $200 for a giant piece of very meaningful art.

Next, I played with the configuration. For some context, my dad and his family are on the top row, and my mom and her side are under. They act as timelines, first just the grandparents, then photos with their parents, photos with siblings, young school photos, teenage photos, my parents “partying,” their wedding reception party (they eloped to Kauai), then finally my brother and me. I tried to match up the ages as best I could.

This was on the back of my mom’s “partying” photo, where her hand is up. I love the squiggly lines so much. What a dork:)

In case you were wondering this is what the back looked like. The Kreg Pocket Hole Jig is what gives you those angled holes. I felt invincible drilling those lol.

Here’s an even tighter shot. Julie actually first thought that the photo strip was of me and my cousin Becca, but it’s my mom and her sister. I smile thinking about that every time I look at it. So if it’s not clear, I highly recommend making one of these. It truly means so much to me.

Desk (similar) | Chair | Tray | Tape Dispener | Pencil Holder | Lamp (vintge) | Metal Bookend | Little Sculpture | Drapes | Black and White Ceramic Rock

My office! Here’s the original reveal. I did make a few changes, but overall it’s pretty much the same. First, I need to call out these amazing drapes again from Decorview. They make the room feel so happy and elevated. You can read more about my experience in the first post, but I love them just as much now as I did then. Next up, the lamp! That was another Paris find with my dad that is so dear to me. It’s Murano glass, has that wonderful striped pattern, like the one I borrowed for the first shoot, and it’s vintage. It’s never leaving me.

Now, the potential elephant in the room is that I no longer have that beautiful monitor. After needing to use my personal laptop to be able to use the monitor, it didn’t ultimately make the most sense. Emily provided me with that iMac, and since my job requires A LOT of storage space, I really didn’t want to use up all of my laptop’s space. While I miss the beauty of the old one, my best friend recently started her own business and needed a monitor, so it worked out perfectly. Another change is the brass bar on the desk in front of my chair. The rattan didn’t hold up as well as I’d hoped (they don’t even sell this version anymore). But I was able to buy that 3′ long bar for $52, drill some holes through the top, and attach it to the desk with no problems. Now you can’t even see the old damage!

White Chair (similar) | Pouf (similar) | Dinnerware

Aside from the fact that this desk was simply beautiful and the perfect size for the space, I also loved the idea of being able to use it as a dining table. You have to get creative with smaller space living, amirite? So Bowser set up this little dining look with all of my real dinnerware. I don’t use it this way a lot, but when I have, it’s been great. It’s great for a snacking table too:)

Man, these sliders are fun. Work to play and play to work!

Art | Lamp (unavailable) | Jar (similar) | Ceramic Plant Stake (unavailable) | Plate (similar) | Ceramic Object (vintage) | Roman Shade

And for the grand finale, here is the piece of furniture that almost caused my demise. She’s got quirks, but who doesn’t? All of my electronics are in there, and if it weren’t for T-molibe internet (#nonspon) and their plug-in any outlet router, who knows what kind of cord-filled mess my living room would be? The other side has, of course, more decor. Will it ever end? I kinda hope not.

As a self-proclaimed shape lover, this photo nearly makes me emotional. Just kidding. But from the circles of the bench/cabinet, to that utterly perfect checkered lamp of which I don’t think I’ll ever forget receiving as a surprise from Jayson Home. I still can’t believe it’s in my house, and I am so sad that it’s no longer available! Oh, and that piece of art was also from the gallery wall in my last apartment. I love it so much. Lastly, let’s talk about this woven roman shade. It is just so beautiful and adds so much texture and warmth. It is, of course, from Decorview as well. I really have to say that if you are able to afford custom window treatments (and check to see because you may be surprised), they simply provide the absolutely best customer service with the most beautiful products.

Oh, and since I know you were wondering, that little blue jar holds the quarters for my laundry:) Now, let’s see some before-and-after sliders before I officially let you go:

Top | Pants | Necklace | Bracelet with Pearl | Cape Cod Bracelet

It feels unbelievable to say that at the end of the week, I will be celebrating 9 years at EHD, and I still love it as much as I ever have. On top of that, I am so grateful and honored to share a piece of me with all of you again. We’ve been on a long journey together, and I’m not just talking about this over 5,000-word post. I promise my bedroom, coming at you Wednesday, will be for sure less than 4,000;)

I will also happily take any suggestions for what to call this style. Please and thank you.

Love you, mean it.

*Design by Jess Bunge (me!)
**Styled by Emily Bowser
**Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

I “finished” the living room over 2 years ago, and while I was never 100% happy with it, I couldn’t put my finger on what/why, and loved it enough (and we had to shoot it for a magazine, so yes, I might have chosen some things based on timing). Now I want to be clear – I know intellectually that it was super, super pretty and functionally it worked so well for our family, but all I can say is that I know when I nail a room and I wasn’t there YET with this one. Today, friends, we are getting so much closer, thanks to my new sofas arriving (and some surprise swivel chairs!). And I feel like I might even know the three things that I could change to get it to the 100% true love phase (which I feel for our sunroom, kitchen and family room – good design takes time).

My Alice Sofas!!!

Alice Sofas | Suz Swivel Chairs

I am in LOVE with these sofas, both visually and functionally. The arms are so pretty, the seat is cushy, the back curve is so elegant, and that darker green pops so well in here. I loved the two facing sofas in here, and our prior sofas from Lulu and Georgia were so comfortable, but the dogs lying on top of the back cushions made them almost unsittable unless I did the daily Herculean effort of taking off the back cushion and pushing, stomping, or jumping on it to make it a rectangle again. It was so annoying. I fixed them daily or avoided sitting on them altogether. So every morning since we’ve had these has been such a treat.

Wait, Do The Dogs Not Sit On There?

They sure do, but these sofas were designed as a tight back yet deep sofa, meaning it doesn’t need the two back pillows that come with it – they are optional. Since they are deeper, you might want the pillows, but they are so pretty without them (with throw pillows). As of now, we are using the back pillows but setting them flat on the sofa seat during the day while the dogs lie all over the sofas, and then they are so easy just to prop back up when ready to sit (they are small, lightweight pillows instead of one huge back cushion). I may end up not using them and just using throw pillows (which my dogs will also sit on), but I love the streamlined look in here.

If you are wondering why the sofa isn’t centered on the rug, I have a rambling reason for you. At first we shot this room with the Soho home chair (the blue velvet). The sofa and chair clearance was different. But Gretch was like, “Shouldn’t we just try the Suz chairs?” and we did, and they needed to be off the carpet (or fully on) since they are swivel. So we just forgot to center the sofa or move the rug!! You probably wouldn’t have noticed! But it’s driving me nuts 🙂

Coffee Table Vase | Wooden Tray

OH MY. How I love that shot. I joked a lot that it’s a very “Go Ducks” room (green and gold), but my team assured me that normal non-Oregon Duck-obsessed people wouldn’t think this. I think with all the blues and deep burgundies it doesn’t feel that way. I’m LOVING the Suz chairs in here, mostly because of the additional seating, how it feels more filled out, and the swivel is so fun. You can turn and look out into the backyard.

Striped Velvet Pillow | Throw Blanket | Striped Table Lamp

The Alice looks really firm, but it’s just streamlined with a lot of give. I know I’m biased, but I hope you trust me that I wouldn’t say something is super comfortable unless it was (I know you’d tell me!!). It’s not something you flop onto and sink 4″ into (like our Oscar), but it’s cushy and has a nice soft give. It’s perfect for our needs in here, which is mostly morning coffee with our laptops and lots of conversational hangs with our friends or games with our kids. But I assure you that if it were your TV sofa, you’d be so happy as well. It’s very comfortable, just looks more streamlined intentionally.

I’m really loving how they look in here. I LOVE this deep dark green in a super family-friendly velvet, especially with the darker coffee table. It just feels so rich. The dog’s hair sticks to it as much as the other velvet sofas, which is not very much (our dogs shed twice a year, but otherwise aren’t huge shedders; they are a huskie-poo mix). If you have heavy shedding dogs, the Alice also comes in a nice cream linen that has a lot of different tones to mask hair.

Tufted Pillow

The sofa is just so pretty and streamlined, but with that arm and leg that says, “I’m not boring, I’m special.” The roll on the arm gives it a slightly traditional look, but obviously not hyper traditional (not a tuft or carved wood).

Regarding the fireplace – I’m still not happy with how cold it looks, but you guys, I can NOT decide on what color to paint it!! My latest idea is to just wallpaper above the paneling and leave the fireplace white. My MIL got in my ear that painting it might feel too bold, like a big dark block in the middle of the room that would stop your eye in a bad way (I thought it would just look like a proper focal point). But I really do see her point and I fear she is right (also paint is just paint- like, Emily, JUST PAINT IT AND SEE, it would likely take one day!! ). But perhaps a soft wallpaper on the walls would help give it depth, texture and definition? I’ve ordered samples, and I can’t wait to belabor this for another 3 years.

Our Suz Chairs!!

Round Burgundy Pillows | Throw Blanket | Suz Swivel Chairs

Y’all. These chairs are so good. There are million swivel chairs on the market but these are special. Mal (on my team) designed them for Room Service, and they def have more of a regency vibe, which we love. They are deep and the seat is so comfortable. I put these round Schoolhouse dark burgundy pillows on them, which look pretty great, IMHO. And if you are wondering if you can have too much velvet in one room, we decided, collectively years ago, that “no, no you can’t.” It’s just so pretty and soft and therefore wins every time.

Throw Blanket

Which Chair Do You Like More???? Two Options…

Ok, so when we started shooting that day, we had the Soho home chair in here (above), and it looks really good (she’s a big lady). As you know, I love a really tight color palette (mostly so I can go nuts with my accessories), so this blue/green world works for me! Also, what you don’t see here is that I brought back the floral chaise in the corner (it looks way too dark/crowded in this angle, so we removed it for the sake of a better shot). I haven’t shot it yet (just ordered a rug for underneath it. But ANYWAY, that’s the blue chair version, and now check out the Ochre Suz swivel chairs option:

Ochre Swivel Suz Chairs

Suz Swivel Chair

GAH! When we looked at the laptop screen, after clicking the photo were like, “Whoa, this looks so much better”. Which we totally didn’t predict!! It’s just fuller, more balanced, looks like a better design.

Wait, What Are The Other Changes You Made??

Well, for you eagle-eyed readers (thank you!), you’ll notice that I swapped the midcentury cabinet and the French farmhouse cabinet, and my goodness, it’s so much better. The blue cabinet looked sad and grey over there and it gets way more light where it is now. And the richness of the midcentury teak piece is a much better backdrop to the green sofas and balances out the Suz chairs.

Striped Table Lamp

I DIY’d pleated lampshades!! Look at me! Of course, I did it on the weekend and didn’t shoot the process, but honestly, I just copied how Lone Fox did his and didn’t want to steal credit, so please watch his tutorial. It’s SO EASY. I used a stamped thin batik from Etsy that is so forgiving, meaning that these are not perfectly done at all, but you can’t tell. They don’t give as much light as the white shade, which we hope is fine in the winter, but meanwhile, I LOVE the more traditional pattern popping off the wall (but will make selecting a wallpaper slightly more challenging).

So, What Changes Do You Still Want To Make??

Ok here me out. Again, I recognize this is a great room but no, I have still not nailed it. Here is on my list to slowly tweak:

A Bigger Rug

This room always wanted a 12×15 rug. My RugsUSA collection didn’t come that big (I begged and begged and begged) and frankly very few rugs do. And I love a big Persian rug, but the colorway I want is so hard to find, and they aren’t nearly as cozy (and just so expensive). I sold my brother my OG 12×15 rug, which didn’t pop in here nearly as much as I wanted it to, and looks so much better in his house. A 12×15 rug would allow the full swivel chairs to be on it (we think). However, this current rug is the most cushy, comfortable, and forgiving rug on the planet (for being so light). I can’t link it because it was a one-off from the now-gone H.D. Buttercup, for $2k, which is not bad for a 10×14, but if I could link it, I would sell it all day, every day, because it’s famously the best rug I’ve ever had. I tried to recreate it with RugsUSA but they couldn’t figure out how to make it so cushy, to have so many different yarn colors, and stay within their standard price point. It’s like sitting on a cloud, and yet it doesn’t look like a shag (I also have a memory foam carpet pad underneath), and you can’t see any dog hair and barely even stains. So I’m hesitant to downgrade our comfort in the name of upgrading the design. But I’m so in love with this rug from Lulu and Georgia that does come in a 12×15, and I think could really punch up the room, so I might do it. We used it in my friend’s dining room, and it’s just an incredible colorway and pattern. It’s still forgiving but not as cushy (because no rug is, Brian and the kids are going to be so bummed if I change it). But then part of me is afraid of it being too bold. So Gretch mocked it up for you…

Lulu and Georgia Rug

I also ordered a sample (3×5) of this rug (Arvin’s denim rug from his old collection) to see if it would do the trick and not add the busyness of the above pattern. It’s such a pretty color in person, but it’s a magnet for our dog fur, so I don’t think we can do it (but I was impressed with the color/texture). I bought the round version in camel for underneath the chaise since our dogs don’t really lay there (I’ll show you soon).

Adding Wallpaper Above The Paneling

Raphael Wallpaper

If I could go back in time I would put the white/cream rafael wallpaper in here instead of the entry. Brian gave it a hard no at the time, which I didn’t understand then, but I kinda wish I had just steamrolled it. I know that it’s a popular paper, but it’s PERFECT for what I want (which is to still keep it light and airy, but give the walls some sort of definition). Remember that the room as a whole has so many openings/doorways/panelings that going high contrast would be SO BUSY, you have to trust me. Part of me says just put it up in here and re-paper the entry with something more bold since that tiny room can handle it. But I’ve ordered some more samples of subtle patterns that could work. Stay tuned.

Other Options: Darker Curtains Or Paint The Fireplace

Listen, I went safe with the curtains but they are custom and I really don’t want to replace them. They are really pretty, high quality, and nothing is wrong with them. But I wasn’t as in love with florals and tapestries as much as I am now, so if I could snap my fingers and have a patterned curtain/shade situation, I would, but for now I’m really trying to make the room work without changing them. For the fireplace, I really do want to do something to it, even if we redo the mantel. After we tiled Kaitlin’s fireplace, and it became such an incredible focal point, I got really jealous. I want this fireplace to be prettier, full stop. Oh, and I want to frame that painting on the mantel to be bigger and in a better frame, and hang it instead of leaning it.

Furniture To Add/Swap

I brought back in the chaise lounge where the blue demilune table is in these photos, and LOVE IT. Will shoot/show you soon. I want a prettier cabinet where the midcentury one is (I like that piece, but found it on FBMP the weekend before the shoot). And I want to add a footstool for the swivel chairs (thinking of this one) as well as a prettier fireplace screen (our opening is huge, so it’s hard to find one that fits).

OMG. This has been quite the ramble. This room has been hard! It’s a pass-through room, open to three other rooms with multiple focal points, and needs to be highly functional (dining nook and lots of seating), so it’s just hard to nail. Its so lovely to be in right now, thus the lack of urgency but every weekend I spend hours thinking about it while I drink my coffee 🙂

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

Welcome to the river house dining room reveal – such a warm and inviting landing spot with the prettiest views, a cozy fireplace, and a painting that my brother still doesn’t know if he’s into (but he hasn’t taken it down yet!!). It’s adjacent to the kitchen, with a shared color palette, and I layered it to be so warm and textural.

The Tile

Tile | Grout

Three years ago, Max and I picked out the tile from Ann Sacks, a really simple but textural, smaller brick tile that we stacked horizontally to create a big, quiet focal point with even a mid-century vibe. My sister in law likes neutrals and didn’t want to go bold at all, and fell in love with this simplicity (and didn’t want to take away from the view).

We couldn’t decide on the grout color – for good reason, grout is a stressful decision because it changes the look of the tile and the room, and is really hard to reverse. We ended up choosing the top right – a medium gray with slightly green undertones that created depth and a pattern, but not too dark or stark. Remember that choosing a lighter grout can work, but often you lose the idea of the stacking grid effect – so it can look more like a wall of texture rather than a more graphic geometric pattern. We wanted the pattern 🙂

One of my most favorite details is how Ann Sacks sells these corner pieces so that you don’t have to miter the edges – see below. It’s just so pretty!

You’ll notice that the tile is exactly the width of the fireplace, meaning no awkward, smaller pieces on either end. This was due to JP (our contractor) doing the math with the tiler (grout size has to be factored in) and essentially building out the structure underneath to make sure that it was exactly 19 across. These details make such a difference to those of us/you with a design eye.

Faux Tree & Planter | Artwork | Rug

We finished off the interior box with black Schluter that you can’t really see. Oh, and no, I don’t know what brand the firebox is, and yes, it was legal to put it on wood (they passed full inspections, so I think the specs of that box were fine!).

The piece of art is actually a collage of a really famous painting called “Portrait of Hanne Wilhelm Hansen” by Vilhelm Lundstrøm. An artist in LA recreates these with paper collages, and she gifted me one years ago that I have been hoarding for the right place. The colors are so perfect in here!! We used a command strip, so we didn’t drill into the tile or anything. My brother and SIL were on the fence about it – I think they like it as a piece of art, but it just didn’t feel like them and felt a bit intense in here, which I fully understood. I told them to live with it for a bit and, let’s just say, it’s still there!

The Layout

Chairs | Table (no longer available) | Vase | Mug (similar) | Rug

Anne Usher, the architect, designed and laid out the room with bench seats along the window and a fireplace – not only for warmth, but to add some design elements so it wasn’t just a box with windows. So then furnishing it was pretty dang simple. At the time that rug was in my collection and pulled the greens from the living room (which I can’t wait to show you), and used our 9×12 here. Then I was slow-moving to get them a table and chairs, so Katie found this table from Rejuvenation on clearance (and was available for local pickup). She sent me a link, and I said, “Go for it”.

The Dining Chairs

Chairs

I found these chairs online that checked all our boxes:

1. Upholstered seats and back – Not only did they want for comfort reasons, but this room needed softness and texture to make it feel warm and inviting.
2. Large scale and sturdy – My brother does NOT like chairs that are giving fragile or dinky, these needed to be side and comfy (but we didn’t want all armchairs either).
3. Kid-friendly, i.e., not a light fabric – The color also had to work with the stools and the furniture in the living room, since it’s a big open space.

There is a real hole in the market for colorful dining chairs, but I think that’s mostly for design-forward folks (meaning, maybe there is a hole for a reason – because most people are scared of that level of color commitment. At one point, I almost just had them buy my green dining chairs from Crate and Barrel (with a different rug), but I loved the backs on these, adding a pretty line and shape. They bought 8 of them, but didn’t want all 8 out on a normal day, so they have two in the family room that they can bring in here when needed.

The Window Shades

Decorview

We partnered with Decorview on the entire house for window treatments, and everyone was excited to use their motorized shades in here. The style of the entire house is pretty minimal, so we chose a soft, warm texture that worked well with the wood and wall color. They are all on one remote that is so easy to open and close (which they do, daily).

The Light Fixtures

Chandelier | Sconces

We worked with Rejuvenation on the light fixtures and chose this lovely linear and graphic chandelier that gave them ample light (no recessed lights in here) but wasn’t so busy that it would take away from the views behind it. Fun fact is that at first we had clear glass shades because I thought that would allow us to see the view even more, but it actually looked much busier (I think the bulbs inside and all the reflection were just distracting in this case). Once we swapped out the glass (Rejuvenation’s customer service was very nice), all of us said it was so much better.

Chandelier | Sconces

The sconces are actually vanity lights that can go horizontal or vertical, but since we had such a slim area, we thought they would look great here (and they do). Both fixtures are in the unlaquered brass, so they’ll patina a bit over time in a good way, but look pretty quiet in the room. At one point, I regretted not doing a contrasting finish (like black metal) for both, but now that the entire project is done, it really just feels simple and seamless, holistically. This look isn’t right for all styles of house, mind you (a more traditional house might want more contrast in finishes), but for this style, I love how all the finishes are simple, leaving the attention to the wood and views.

Bowls | Napkins | Plates | Placemat (no longer available) | Glasses | Wine Glasses | Flatware

The Bench Seat!

Pollack Fabric | Pillows Left to Right: Blue Fringe | Stripe Tassel (similar) | Gold Velvet | Long Lumbar (from Room Service sofa) | Gold | Blue (similar) | Big Stripe

This house has a hilarious amount of bench seats. And we even nixed two upstairs. Was this one needed? Not really, but boy is it fun to sit there and stare out the window, plus for me it was an opportunity to add some color and pattern (otherwise the room would have been just wood and cream). So I was really glad that they designed them into the plan. I used this opportunity to push Pollack fabric on them – the velvets are just so beautiful in patterns that really edged up the room. Then I styled them with pretty simple pillows to add even more texture and warmth.

Pollack Fabric | Cream Pillow | Gold Velvet | Blue Fringe (similar)

I love how they turned out! Oh, and yes, all of the bench seats are in fact storage drawers. I didn’t want them to have hardware so that they would just read more simple (and not just look like dressers all over their house), but fun fact – it’s a push mechanism that your heel hits perfectly and you accidentally open them all. the. time. I hope this is more funny than annoying 🙂

Vase | Bowls | Napkins | Plates | Placemat (no longer available) | Glasses | Wine Glasses | Flatware

We thought this was a pretty opportunity to set the table and add a lot more color, texture, and warmth. They ended up keeping everything (most were from World Market and Crate and Barrel) so they could recreate when they had nicer dinners.

Faux Tree & Planter

The faux tree in the corner is excellent (from West Elm!) and added a bit of softness and color on the left. The room really connects so well with the kitchen and the living room – all the finishes, colors, and textures share similarities, but it still feels customized and special.

You can see here how it all flows together with the kitchen. Designing open spaces from scratch is actually a lot harder because of this. You don’t want everything to match (so boring), but it needs to make sense together. I love how all the lights work together, the colors (green island, green rug), and the pops of black in the lights and charcoal seating.

Don’t forget to play with the sliders to see how it looked before we furnished and styled it 🙂

I personally think that all the fabrics, colors, and styling really made this room come alive. I was definitely worried at a certain point that we didn’t make enough strong, bold choices (which we didn’t really), but now that it’s all done, I am reminded that a neutral palette is so easy to layer on to make it what you want.

Dining Room Resources:

Tile: Ann Sacks
Benches: Custom
Bench Fabric: Pollack
Main Wall Color: Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams
Sconces and Chandelier: Rejuvenation
Faux Tree: West Elm
Chairs: AllModern
Rug: Rugs USA
Window Shades: Decorview
Windows by Marvin Windows and Doors
Flooring: Stuga

*Architect: Anne Usher
**General Contractor: JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction
***Interior Designers: Emily Henderson (me!) and Max Humphrey
****Styling: Emily Henderson (me!)
*****Photos by Kaitlin Green