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Now that we are about a month into summer, Marlee posed the question the other day, “What are everyone’s summer staples?” A big gab sesh started so naturally, we then thought that it was a pretty great blog post idea. So here we are! And much like a capsule wardrobe, it’s helpful to really pinpoint what types of pieces we gravitate towards and can wear with what we already own. It makes us better buyers and happier in the long run. No more “I’m sure I’ll find a place to wear this” and then never do. Each of us on the team has our own little style variations, so hopefully you’ll find some good inspo and/or pieces that will help you beat the heat. First up, our fearless leader…

Emily

Overall Summer Style:

I’m living casually per usual, but dialing in things that make me feel cute enough around town.

Great Flats – I’m still loving the Dolce Vita mesh leopard ballet flats – they strangely go with everything and are super flexible (not stiff, and therefore comfortable). The bright blue Nike sneakers are solid, and my new pointy clear jellies are strangely flattering and comfortable, and still loving these brown sandals from Anthropologie.
Jean Shorts (Multiple Lengths!) – We are all going baggier than we used to, and I’m still loving these Agolde shorties and the longer Gap Bermudas (I have in both white and light denim).
Blousy Tops – I really like the new one from Nordstroms I’m wearing in the opening shot. But my go-tos tend to be either Doen or Love Tomas (Emerson Fry). The delicate cotton is so breathable, and they are just so pretty and yet casual.
Head Scarves – I can not stop wearing scarves on my head, either as a triangle or a headband. Alex Mill, Madewell, and Urban Outfitters all have great ones. This one is super cute.
Aviator Sunglasses – I go mostly for knockoffs, but my last pair (Fetch) was from Consign Couture in Multnomah Village, where I sell a lot of my clothes, and I love them. These are great too!
Pearls – I like a light strand around my neck at all times – pops just the right way.
Patterned Dress – I’m sad my Evereve dress is sold out (snag it if it comes back), but this new Madewell one is FANTASTIC. Such a great drape, comfortable and versatile (and the pattern makes it so forgiving).
Baseball Hat – This hat (in the opener photo), from Anthro, is my new absolute favorite. It’s a trucker hat with mesh backing and is so cute (despite being a fake souvenir hat, which I think is hilarious – but it’s such a good hat that I ignore it).

Jess

Overall Summer Style:

Oversized Button Up – This has been a staple for me for many summers. What’s easier than throwing on an oversized button-up with some shorts, over a swimsuit, as a nighttime extra layer? It’s so versatile and effortless. Now, I got my first Frank & Eileen button-up as a surprise for Christmas, and it has been in heavy rotation ever since. It’s pretty perfect. Of course, that one is not all that budget-friendly, so here’s a great alternative for a fraction of the price.
Activewear Shorts – I’m new to the love of “activewear” pull-on shorts that Emily and likely many of you have been on for a minute. Remember this post Em wrote a few years ago? Well, I’m finally here and I am happy as a clam. It started with my new bright green Lululemon shorts and soon expanded. I love throwing those on with my Frank & Eileen button-up with my ballet jelly flats. It’s easy, casual, and a little fun. The other pair I bought is super similar to these (except these are a little less “activewear” and more “cute summer shorts”).
Jean Shorts – A jean short is a staple for many of us, so no shocker here. But to get specific, like Gretchen, I am a sucker for these Agolde Parker shorts. They are just the perfect fit, the perfect wash, and regardless of what my waistline has been (I’ve fluctuated a few sizes over the past few years), I’ve always felt confident in them. They do have a longer version if that’s more your preference. And speaking of longer jean shorts, these will also be in HEAVY rotation this summer and beyond.
Baseball Hat -Any ole regular baseball hat will do, but what I keep grabbing are my “local merch” ones. I got a great one when I was in Oaxaca from a cafe called Onnno that just says “Sándwich”. It’s fun, silly, and reminds me of my incredible trip with my friends. But there are also places like Altadena Beverage & Market that were thankfully able to reopen after the fire. They are selling these “Altadena” baseball hats, where 100% of the proceeds are going to fire victims. Just a small way to feel a little more connected to our communities and the businesses that we want to uplift. (Also, if you live close enough, Altadena Beverage & Market has the most incredible wine selection, a vast non-alcoholic spread, and a bunch of other delicious goodies and gifts.)
Jelly Ballet Flats – The true winner of the summer! I want to wear these shoes EVERYWHERE. I bought them in clear after seeing our photographer, Kaitlin, wear them on our retreat, and I haven’t looked back. They go with everything, are so easy to slip on, and are fun but cool at the same time. Ok, I’ve talked myself into it, and I need to get the red ones now.
Fun Tee – What can I say? I love a fun tee! I prefer either pretty fitted or fairly oversized. This “oranges” one is fitted and so cute (and those oranges sit ABOVE your boobs, in case you were wondering:))! I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on it. I know it’s not cheap, but it’s made from 100% deadstock cotton in Los Angeles by a women-run brand and sizes up to 3x. Happy to support these kinds of companies when I can.

Honorable Mention – A flowy dress you can dress up-ish or down. This is a no-brainer, but I don’t own any that I can link up, but it had to be said in case you see me in the street in a flowy dress and think, “but that wasn’t on her summer staples list?!” 😉

Caitlin

Overall Summer Style:

THE Sunglasses – I know the all the cool kids are doing tiny sunglasses, but I DON’T CARE. Wayfarers are classic for a reason! They’re universally flattering (especially if you have a big ol’ round face, like I do), polarized for extra protection, and they never get caught in my hair.
Hair Clip – You know that whole “reject modernity, embrace tradition” meme? Well, reject your modern plastic claw clip and embrace the vintage slide barrette!!! This $9 fish-shaped hair stick has been my most-used purchase of 2025 – it’s the simplest way to elevate your look with absolutely no effort. (My greasy 3-day hair has never looked more polished.)
Fun Sandals – Have I been sharing these fresh flip-flop alternatives incessantly for the last several weeks? Yes. Do I have any plans on stopping? NO. My pair gets better and better with wear – the leather footbeds have now molded to my feet, they’re divine for long walks, and they’ve been garnering so many compliments from cool women on the street!! I can’t believe they’re under $70 – I would have happily paid double that price because I love them so much.
Thigh Saver – I buy a few Thigh Rescue minis every year and scatter them amongst my tote bags, suitcases, and purses. I know some women like to wear shorts to prevent chafing, but I run hot and can’t handle extra layers in the summer – Thigh Rescue keeps me comfortable and pain-free whenever I throw on a dress or a pair of shorts. (PS. I’ve been relying on it since 2019, so this recommendation comes with lots of experience!)
Pull-On Linen Pants – Take it from someone whose ancient apartment lacks insulation and regularly tops 95 degrees: these linen pants are a dream to wear on extra-hot days. Gap really does a great job here – the 3 pairs I grabbed last summer have held up beautifully over countless wash and dry cycles.
Skort Dress – I bought my first skort dress in 2023, and I’ll never go back. It’s breezy, it’s simple, you can go bra-less (!!!,) and it’ll keep you cool when it counts most. (Seriously – this is what I wore to explore the blistering Australian outback.) Dress her up for date night! Dress her down for the beach! Wear her in the middle of a desert! Anything goes! This dress gets perfect marks from me – it’s likely the most versatile piece I own.

Arlyn

Overall Summer Style:

Classic Huaraches – Who am I kidding? As a SoCal resident, I wear these year-round, but they are, of course, most appropriate for summer. I’ve had my Nisolo’s Huarache Sandles in Almond since we did a sponsored post with them like…six years ago? They are my go-to shoe for basically everything. I wear them with dresses, shorts, jeans, even leggings to run out to the store. Because they are so good quality, they’re still kicking after what is likely 50,000 miles on them. They can’t be beat, seriously.
Short-Sleeve Linen Shirt – Thus begins my “broken record” summer fashion list, because basically all I wear from May until November is some variation of a button down camp shirt. I’ll admit I do not have this *exact* shirt from Quince, but I have many just like it I bought a while back and wear on rotation. The price ($35) on these is at least half if not more of the camp shirts I used to get at Madewell. They are so easy to throw on, don’t stick to my body when we’re in heatwave territory, and look great with basically everything and on everyone.
Boyfriend Button Down – I’ve had maybe four (?!?) of these boyfriend button down shirts from Old Navy over the last five or so years, and the linen one I have is on regular rotation now. I tend to grab a few during one of their many 50% off sales and just wear them into the ground. The best part about their loose fit is that you basically don’t even feel them touch your body, which is high on my priority list for summer attire. They are very roomy, so I’d size down if you don’t want to look like you’re wearing a parachute (though you do do!).
Barely There Cotton Blouse – Annnnd more button downs. I ended up at Kohl’s about a month or two ago hunting down the only Winnie the Pooh quilt I could find for my daughter’s upcoming big gi

Hi everyone! It’s me, Jess. In case you’ve missed my dad, Les’, boomer dad gift guides, he’s quickly become a beloved contributor here at EHD. And while I couldn’t be more biased, I honestly wasn’t surprised. He’s my favorite person, and getting to share him with you is simply the best. (Plus, he feels like a celebrity the day the posts go up, and it’s pretty cute, ha.) Today, however, he’s not sharing with you his specific yet truly helpful gift ideas, no. Today, he is showing you the cabin he and his girlfriend have poured their hearts (and probably some blood) into. This is a true DIY cabin, y’all. I finally got to see it for the first time this week, and while the photos are great (well, they’re “fine” because I only had my iPhone camera and very amateur skills), the warmth and coziness are practically overwhelming. So please enjoy my dad and his cabin in the woods.

So I decided to buy a cabin in the woods. Being an inner city boy from Chicago, it’s a big move. I knew nothing of the outdoors until COVID, when my girlfriend and I bought our Airstream. I somehow found peace in that endeavor. So now I have a cabin in the woods. It was built in 1920 and is on Forest Service land. I own the cabin but lease the land. That brings the price down dramatically (can’t argue with that). Anyway, this place looked more like the 1950s than the 1920s. Hated it, but we saw some potential. What I didn’t see was the amount of work needed to get it to our taste. I figured I could live old school. Well, not if you’re living with the girl I happen to be living with. Geez.  So, after a couple of months of hard work, I think we’re done (though I never know). 

The hardest part was the floors. Lorinda wanted to save the original floors. I thought it was worth a shot, but was skeptical. She said she would sand them down herself. Well, after peeling up the linoleum (which I kinda liked and saved a piece for my pantry wall), she and a girlfriend got to work. Two days later, they couldn’t move a muscle. By the way, a big shout-out to Cheryl, one of our best friends. As I looked at the original floor after they were done, I could see the ground below the house. Yikes! Then I stepped in and, with a buddy, laid down all fresh plywood and a new laminate wood floor. Three days later, I couldn’t move a goddamn muscle. Ha!  After that, the rest was easy.

Microwave | Toaster Oven | Electric Kettle (similar) | Sconce

Originally, there were two entries into the kitchen. Seemed unnecessary, and it was. We eliminated one by building a pantry and using the back side of that wall for the TV in the living room. I covered that backside with shiplap. We eliminated some cabinets in the living room and repurposed them in the pantry. One of them worked better upside down. My whole life, I have looked at things from an upside-down perspective. Strangely, it seems to serve me well, Ha!

Pendant | Shade | Faucet | Sink

I bought an 8-foot piece of 8 foot butcher block and made a new kitchen counter out of it. (with my son’s help) Dropped a new sink into it and Wallah! Looks like a new kitchen. We also bought an old butcher block to create a small island to prep food on. Works great and doesn’t take up any room.

Rattan Flush Mount

I left the appliances but built a dish rack to cover the side of the fridge. Now, when a bear looks into my window, he will not see a fridge. Yay, as that is what they look for when taking a peek. If they see a fridge, it’s dinner time. (Who knew!)

Lo had me install a shelf of her making on top of the fridge (really slick). She’s been luggin that piece of wood around since I met her. It now has a home. She then found the right height little log from our property to prop it up. The basket is where all of our kitchen paper goods – wax paper, aluminum foil, saran wrap, etc. Gotta get creative in a small kitchen.

Wall Mount Bookshelf

For some reason, the prior owner drywalled the entire joint. Not very “cabin-y” if you ask me. So I went out and bought some knotty pine tongue and groove and paneled a few of the walls. Lo stained it dark to match the floor and beams (Now I’m feeling like Davy Crockett). 

The water I cook with and bathe in is pulled from a stream behind the cabin. (Davey Crocket indeed). When I bought the place, it had no water filter. Jess and I installed a filter in the river this week. I feel better about it now. Probably her first time in waders.

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I never thought I’d be this excited to show you the prettiest garage doors ever. When we finally agreed to invest in making our garages better, our goal was to make them functional, but we had very low expectations on how beautiful they would be. Our garages aren’t on a street where neighbors can see (only friends and our trusted FedEx guys would see them), they aren’t part of our curb appeal (not attached to the house), so our goal was “better and basic” (along with “dry, not disgusting, less spiders and mold,” and ultimately way less dangerous). But today we are talking specifically about the doors – what we now call the best garage doors ever. And because I clearly have a disorder where I can’t do anything simply or “without obsessing about how pretty it could be,” therefore I ended up choosing these pretty doors that make me so happy – far happier than predicted.

Before we get into the full post, here is a fun little video (just wait for the ad to play:))

The Before

Here is where we started 5 years ago. We knew we were lucky to have this huge garage at all (right?), but they weren’t in the best shape, and everything needed repair.

We ignored them for a couple of years, finally hiring the most affordable painter in town who was willing to just paint without any prep (a real literal lipstick on a pig situation) because they were such an eyesore after our house was finally done. But we knew they were not in good enough condition to invest in scraping and painting properly. The fresh coat kinda helped, but otherwise we didn’t touch them for another 3 years.

Starting in January, we knew that we needed the storage soon because we wanted to start restoring the original carriage house on the property. We’d need the garages to be our future and permanent storage space for my vintage hoarding and any future product lines (not to mention life and holiday stuff). So we hired my brother’s brand-new company, Afore Construction, to fix them up, and new garage doors were a clear must.

I received multiple word-of-mouth recommendations for Ponderosa, a local (and experienced) garage door installer. I reached out and really loved their customer service, speed, communication style (fast and personal with easy text notifications), and variety of great door products. After telling Ken, the owner, that I wanted carriage-style doors, he suggested we work with a company called Clopay because they are meant to be the best garage doors, with a massive variety of customization and styles (ours are vintage style, but they certainly have very contemporary and modern as well). They range in price, as expected, and ours are more than average, but for our style of property (more historic and antique), we felt we needed to pick something that really aligned with the property. Turns out even though I promised myself “I didn’t care”, more focused on function and speed – turns out I always care, always.

I chose the Canyon Ridge Elements garage doors, and to get all specific about them (should you want to copy them exactly), they are low-maintenance, insulated steel garage doors with composite overlays. We chose Design 22 (how the diagonal lines are designed) with the SQ23 windows (size and configuration style) and had them all painted SW Dutch Tile Blue (they can match any Sherwin-Williams color).

My goodness, are they beautiful. Ponderosa installed them in one day – ONE DAY!! They arrived, a team of 3, and powered through without me having to do a thing. And they were extremely professional, knowledgeable, and just so impressive. 10/10 service. They texted their eta, and were so easy to communicate with, with everything being electronic (so not a lot of annoying contracts and paperwork at the end). They offer a 5-star service program which provides annual maintenance and has the quietest motor (and it’s oddly quiet, not something I thought I’d care about, but it’s really lovely). They are also very hard to break into with high-end steel and mechanisms, which is clearly important.

We added the faux handles and strappings in black to make them look more vintage, working with the farm design of the property. And we wanted windows on top to add natural light inside (and charm).

Sconce | Doors | Door Color | Plants

They had a lot of options for all of these elements, both in style and color (we chose the spear style strap). I literally couldn’t be happier with what we chose and how they turned out – they add such charm and are super high quality. And there is a slightly “faux” wood grain finish to the garage doors that adds a really nice texture, which I was SO relieved looked fantastic in person (I’m always nervous about faux anything, but this is not cheesy, just subtle and nice).

We chose to have each controlled separately, with individual codes, and inside, there are convenient buttons to open and close.

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Five and a half years ago, I wrote a post called “The New Classics: The Timeless Pieces That Will Always Be A Great Buy”. With the brains of me, Emily, and the rest of the team, we came up with a pretty awesome list, which spoiler alert…we still stand by! I mean that’s the whole point, right?? A classic means it’s a forever thing, and in our case, for these posts, a forever design piece. It’s basically what we try to do here every day. Sure, we love a design trend (even the really out there ones), but ultimately, we try to steer you and recommend things you’ll love forever. Hey, maybe even pieces you will want to pass down to your kids one day:) So, since it had been a little over half a decade, I thought it was high time to see if there was more to add to the list from your favorite design experts. I’m sure you can guess that answer was a resounding, YES. So let’s get into these new additions to the “new design classics” and why we think they deserve to be on this list (and maybe in your home:)). 

The Jewel Toned Solid Rug

Solid colored rugs have really gained some heavy traction over the past few years. The likes of all of our favorite high-end interior designers started to really lean into this look. We’ve used them more by way of our old rug line, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love this kind of rug so deeply.

Why Is This A Safe Bet?

Solids and jewel tones never go out of style. They’ve been around since the beginning of time. If you choose a good quality rug, in a color you love, it will be very hard to ever get tired of it. While we LOVE a great pattern, those can box in a design plan if you want to mix things up in a big way. Whereas solid rugs are there to support and don’t necessarily call as much attention to themselves. Basically, they are extremely versatile, especially if you choose a color you design most of the time. Add a little fringe for some added specialness, and you are so set…forever if you so choose.

1. Clio Solid Color Hand Loomed Wool Area Rug | 2. Chiltern Handmade Rug | 3. Henry Handloomed Wool Area Rug | 4. Arrel Speckled Wool-Blend Rug | 5. Henry Handloomed Wool Area Rug | 6. Greenwich Area Rug

All of these colors make my heart jump! I also feel as though they are neutral in essence. I’m sure some of you just did a spit take after reading that, but I stand by it. These are saturated, versatile, and frankly, stunning. I do want to point out the little fringe accent on #1, #3, and #5. It makes them a little “less serious,” but they remain completely sophisticated. I did add #6 in with that slight pattern (because it was so pretty), but the solid solids are what this classic is really about. But hey, rules are made to be broken sometimes, right?

The Knife Pleated Shade

I’m a little surprised this wasn’t on the last list, but maybe we needed a little more time to see if it had staying power…Dare I say it’s only gotten stronger?

Why Is This A Safe Bet?

This is my and probably the whole team’s favorite style of shade (I didn’t officially ask them, but given their homes and past conversations, I feel ok with the assumption:)) Like I said, its popularity has only grown over the past 5+ years, and it’s used in so many different styles of lamp bases and homes. It’s cool, is a twist on a traditional pleat, and looks so clean. Plus, Emily has used this style of shade in countless rooms at this point, and usually, when she uses something over a long period of time, it’s absolutely a safe bet. This was a MUST on this round’s new design classics.

1. Louis Table Lamp | 2. Matin Table Lamp | 3. Flores Plug-In Sconce | 4. Callahan Floor Lamp | 5. Bianca Black Marble Table Lamp | 6. Ceramic Table Lamp

Well, I love them and narrowing them down was a challenge. I love that this style works on a super modern lamp like #2 and a far more traditional lamp like #4. But if you want to go more “glam” or “luxe”, #5 is perfect for you. There’s a knife pleated lamp for every style in any home. I promise!

P.S. Take a look at Emily’s side table lamps in her bedroom below:)

The Arched Headboard

It’s always surprising and fun when a simple shape finds a new, cool way to reinvent itself…like the arch. The arch TOOK over design around 2019. You could hardly find a designer, a design blog, a DIYer, or a design brand that wasn’t leaning in hard. Remember when Emily wrote this post about whether or not people should put arches into their homes? That was more in response to the craze of the time, but now that things have calmed down about “arches everywhere,” we are left with really great options that can make sense for our homes. Especially, in the headboard/bed department.

Why Is This A Safe Bet?

First and foremost, it’s a classic shape, so depending on how you decorate the bedroom you are using it in, it can feel timeless. Then, with most bedroom furniture being very square or rectangular, having a softer shape is such a welcome contrast. Plus, Emily Henderson designed an arch bed for her guest room (currently in her primary bedroom) for her eclectic but timeless farmhouse. I think it’s safe to say it’s a safe bet.

1. Arlo Upholstered Arched Bed | 2. Almelo Queen Velvet Headboard | 3. Upholstered Bed Frame | 4. Vaila Blue Queen Chenille Fabric Upholstered Arched Platform Bed | 5. Catania Queen Natural Wood Platform Bed With Arched Boucle Upholstered Headboard | 6. Danna Solid Wood Platform Bed with Arched Headboard

For the most classic feeling bed options, #1 and #6 are the best choices. The arches are slightly elongated, and the bases are super simple and traditional. For an arched headboard that’s a little more “now,” #2 is such a fun choice! You really can’t go wrong with any of these styles. 

The Modern Plaid Blanket

In our world where everything seems to be controversial no matter the topic, allow me to enter another talking point into the “I HATE that/I LOVE that!” conversation: Kitchen islands with tile surrounds. Tile is one of those things that we all accept and even adore when it’s somewhere we’ve grown accustomed to, such as floors or on our bathroom and kitchen walls. But put it somewhere other than that and all of a sudden, it’s a wild concept.

And while I’m not really a proponent of tile as a counter surface material for practical reasons (I had some in my previous kitchen and UGH all the crumbs that get stuck in the grout lines is such a hassle), it does have its merits elsewhere. Remember this post with a killer kitchen reveal from earlier this year where Jess explored tile in an unexpected spot—the vertical rise of the base of a kitchen banquette?

If you were a fan of that look, it’s not that far a leap to wrap an island in tile, is it? That said, it’s worth exploring the pros here:

• Affordable: You could make the base of the island in a fairly affordable wood or material since it would mostly be covered in tile.
• Low-maintenance: Tile is durable, easy to clean, and non-porous. It resists water, heat and stains.
• Colorful: Tile is an easy and dramatic way to add color and texture to a kitchen.
• Cool-looking: It makes you do a double take (and your friends and neighbors likely won’t have the same design treatment…don’t you want to be unique?!?).

Of course, no idea is without its cons. Between grout maintenance and the possibility of cracking or chipping of one of the tiles (total bummer), there’s also your home resale value to consider. A tiled kitchen island surround is a very niche look, and likely one that won’t be understood or appreciated by the masses. Anytime you put something in your home that’s distinct, you run the risk of it turning off future buyers if your goal is to sell down the line. Don’t let that stop you from putting your full self into a home design, but it is something you should keep in mind.

During my research of this tiled kitchen island trend and concept, I discovered that you’re likely to see one of three tile categories used to accomplish the design: Standard ceramic or porcelain 4″x4″ tiles, Zellige tiles of varying shapes and sizes, or a more custom looking decorative tile, all of which I think can look good in the right application. In general, though, the look leans contemporary with some exemptions for retro/mid-century vibes and even warm transitional designs. Let’s take a look.

Simple 4″x4″ Tiles

Regular readers may know that I’m quite the fan of the versatility (and affordability) of a classic 4″x4″ tile, though they have a fairly specific look that might not be right for every home. On an island, this type of tile definitely reads modern, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it work with something warm or even a touch rustic.

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Maybe it’s the color of the tile, or that the white wall tile seamlessly transitions into the countertop which then is echoed on all surfaces of the island, but I love the look of this kitchen by Whitewood in New South Wales. It’s one of those things you’d never think to do, but once you see it somewhere else, it just might become a contender.

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One thing tile-surround kitchen islands do well is lean into a look. That cohesiveness of material between the walls and island (just like in the previous photo) is unbeatable for making a statement and bringing in so much intentionality. Granted, the grand architecture of this home designed by Years Studio (featured in Architectural Digest), helps support the very bold look.

As you know, I took my team to the new luxury estate property in Oregon Wine Country for our last retreat in May, and as the first guests, we were blown away. Now, what you might not know is that it’s owned by one of my best friends (of 25 years), so I write today’s post with an extreme amount of pride, despite having nothing to do with the design. It’s something we’ve talked about since they closed on the property four years ago, and I’ve gone out to visit it many times to see the progress. So I’m extremely emotionally invested in The Carly (just not actually invested). The design of it is so incredible, and I just want to shout it from the rooftops – group retreats, corporate retreats, bachelorette trips, family reunions, weddings – it’s an incredibly luxurious place to stay with the most beautiful setting. Max Humphrey designed it alongside my friend (and the architect Beebe Skidmore), and the result is stunning. So today we are going to talk more design elements, point out what we love, how they broke rules, layered in ways that surprised us, and created a truly unpredictably homey and totally stylish vibe. If you like Soho House designs (not a member myself, but who doesn’t love the design?), then you’ll love The Carly.

It’s out in Carlton, Oregon, which is only an hour away from Portland (and the drive is generally gorgeous, not on a freeway). It has a large pond (for dipping and swimming) and a few outbuildings for fun, with a massive field for weddings or larger events.

The Fern Lodge

There are two main buildings for sleeping – the Fern Lodge and the Hummingbird Cottage. Pistils Landscape Design did the landscaping, and it’s pretty amazing. The Fern Lodge has five suites (sleeping 10), all with king beds with en suite bathrooms. It has a commercial-style kitchen that is still so cozy for pizza nights and a media room for movies/presentations.

I was blown away by all the hard finishes. Not a spec of drywall in sight. Every surface has paneling, tile, and/or trimwork, making the details so fun to soak in (we nerded out for hours looking at how and why they did everything).

That is the entry – a massive window with smaller cozy vignettes, styled out like a home (but a home that a butler set up perfectly for you).

The Kitchen

The kitchen is stunning – mixing a lot of patterns (floor) and colors (the black with the robin’s egg blue is so surprising). It can be shut off with a huge barn door should the guests want to bring in a private chef, like we did. It’s well stocked and feels so homey. What you can’t see is the scullery (the dishwashing room is hidden and closed off). Curtis (the owner and my friend) really thought of everything for every style of guest/stay.

I love how they mixed those pendants over the island with the tiny flush mounts on the ceiling and picture lights – it looks so special and custom. The ceiling paneling is a nice detail that is a great design hack – low work with high impact, as it’s in semi-gloss, so it catches the light so nicely.

Totally classic and timeless, but still interesting and warm. Max really nailed it (I also love the reeded glass and the decorative shelf bracket).

The Main Lodge Lounge

This is where we hung out most of our retreat – the living room and big dining table. Such an incredible mix of textures and patterns, and styles. Eclectic and cohesive FTW.

That epic light fixture was one of the first things purchased, bought from the Rejuvenation Vintage collection – a 1960s Italian piece. It was originally in the iconic Portland bar on NW 21st called Gypsy Restaurant & Lounge that closed in 2014.

This was one of my favorite places to sit in the morning with my laptop and coffee. Please note the seasonal stream right out of the huge picture window. The custom green leather banquette adds so much dimension – I love how they chose such tight tufts to catch the light like that, creating a pattern out of a texture.

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Happy Sunday, everyone. In case you missed it, the PDX gals made another incredibly fun and entertaining YouTube video about the garage’s storage plan (PS IKEA was the star. Please check it out, and if you aren’t subscribed, we’d really appreciate it if you clicked that button too:) Ok, let’s get to the links.

This week’s house tour is from the incredible mind of design studio Claves. It’s a newly rentable townhouse where “where surrealism meets art deco splendour”. You just have to go take a look:)

From Emily: I think the most important link this week is a huge shout-out to Gretchen and Marlee – my PDX DREAM TEAM, who are tag-teaming our YouTube series (amongst so many other jobs). I was nervous to add another platform to my workload, but they are making it so easy, so organic, just like following along with what we are doing, and yet shooting and cutting it in a way that is genuinely entertaining and funny. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you are a long-time reader (thank you!) or just landing for the day, watch episode 1 and episode 2 of the carriage house re-org (and yes, you’ll get a tour soon, I promise). And then for the love of the algorithm gods, like and subscribe if you are into it, heck, comment and share, too! (it makes a massive difference on how YouTube shares it with others). We are having so much fun, and they are working so hard on it despite both just learning on the job, so give them some love – they deserve it!

Also From Emily: Shout out to our new AI comment tech (thank you, Caitlin!) – We now have AI that can detect when a comment is negative and filters it out for human approval, while all the other comments get auto-published immediately. This is extra exciting because even though we’ve monitored comments for years I had to still see them as “pending” if I wanted to go into the backend and comment back to people (you have to be signed in to comment back as me, and once signed in you see all the pending in the same feed). While 95% of the comments are lovely, supportive, or even constructive (which we generally find helpful), the typical few meant to ruin our day made it hard to go into the backend, so I would often avoid it. While I have thick skin, the distraction and derailment was damaging and even worse, they could made me more cynical about the world at large – so bummed that people found such pleasure in saying intentionally mean things, happily ruining the day of me and my team that work so hard to put good things into the world. My anxiety would spike, and then dark thoughts about my career/future would spiral (helpful to literally no one, including and especially my wonderful team). So this tech is FANTASTIC because I can go in and engage immediately with your non-negative published comments, then someone on my team will also read through the suspicious comments and publish those later in the day, should they be appropriate. That’s all to say that if you don’t see your comment published immediately, it’s because the AI has found something in it that it thinks is negative. This has happened to me twice – I wrote “shoot” in one, and then “I hate…” in another, and it held those two for approval. So essentially, the AI tech can filter out what it deems “negative” and then a human goes in and publishes or not, but meanwhile, I don’t see any of them, and all the positive comments or questions get published immediately. Take my Belize post (the first post we tried this with), I was able to go in and with confidence answer all the questions, knowing that it was safe (and I wasn’t going to read a bunch of hateful things about my family, etc). This won’t be perfect, by any means, but it’s only been a week, and it’s been really fun to engage in the comments in a way that feels totally healthy and safe. Three cheers for using AI for good and EHD.

Also Also From Emily: Attn Portland folks (and anyone else who needs encouragement to be a tourist in your own state). We’ve lived here for 4 years now and I couldn’t love the nature of the PNW more (sure, Nov – Feb can be rough, but once we started skiing it got a lot better- rain here means snow up there). I’ve become quite nature-obsessed (it’s the main reason to live here, IMHO), but like the Virgo + Enneagram 7 that I am, I want a really fun weekend agenda. So I have four books that I reference ALL THE TIME. I know that you can get a lot of info on the internet, but I don’t love being on the internet all the time, so I have my own little library that I reference on Saturday morning while I plan out how I’m going to torture my family through waterfall hikes. 1. Oregon and Washington 50 Hikes with Kids by Wendy Gorton. The kids will thumb through this and help pick, too. 2. Portland Family Adventures by Jen Stevenson. A fantastic, thorough city guide of all the best things to do with different aged kids (inside activities included – and day trips). 3. The Portland Book of Dates by Eden Dawn and Ashod Simonian. I LOVE this one – yes, more for grownup dates, but gives you a lot of good ideas of really unique things you can do, odd sites to see, not just restaurants or more predictable date night stuff. 4. Citi x 60: Portland (60 local creatives bring you the best of the city). This one is more about cool design, art, and creatives – so less family stuff, but if you have friends in town, a great insiders perspective of inspiring stuff. Also please let me know in the comments if you want my guide of “what do do while visiting Portland” – I’m not an expert (again, only 4 years back here) but I have my favorite SOLID hikes that please every Californian that visits us, the restaurants that hit every time, the bike rides that avoid cars, the parks that wow even in the crappier months, etc. I love an insider’s itinerary, so just ask and I’ll write it all up:) Obviously buy local when possible (Powells!) but I linked up for convenience.

From Gretchen: If you’re like me and love the smell of sunscreen or just wish you could bottle up and wear the scent of a sunny beach day, you absolutely can. And don’t be surprised if people compliment you on it! Anthropologie’s “Beach Trip” perfume has been my go-to smell this summer. It’s light and airy, slightly floral, a little coconut-y, and neither is too intense. It smells perfectly sunscreen-y to me, and I just can’t stop spraying it. Perfumes normally cost a pretty penny, but Anthro’s line is only $24 for a full-size bottle. A few of the reviews mention the smell subsides after a while, which I haven’t really noticed, because I have a little trick for that; When I rub a light layer of vaseline on my skin first and then spray, the smell stays on me wayyy longer. But beware, you will get complimented when going in for a hug!

From Marlee: I’m always looking for shirts that are a step up from a t-shirt or tank top, but nothing too complicated – this shirt from Madewell is exactly that – I grabbed it in white, but I might have to go back for the striped one. It’s a super simple loose fit, but I love how it has a little cinch in the waist and drapes over the sides. It falls right above my hips (I would say I have a somewhat shorter torso, so it might be more cropped for someone with a longer torso), but I like that I can make it more cropped if I’m wearing it with something more high-waisted. It’s a super soft fabric, not see-through, and super breezy/airy. I got a size XS because they were OOS of S at the time, and it definitely fits fine, but I would size up next time for an even looser, drapier fit. I can’t stop wearing it – I’ve repeated the same outfit 4 times in the last week:)

From Arlyn: As I was running out of my giant Costco moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, I wanted something lighter, fresher, and easier to travel with. Years ago, on my old personal blog, I did a review of shampoo bars, and the one from The Earthling Co. was by far my favorite, so I tapped back into that this time around, and I’m so happy I did. My hair is clean, feels bouncy and not weighed down, and I don’t have two enormous plastic bottles taking up room on my shower caddy. WIN WIN! I also picked up the conditioner bar and this silicone storage/travel case, which I keep right in my shower to stash my bars. Oh, and the best part? Everything is 20% off all month for their Plastic Free July Sale, so stock up!

From Mallory: Have you ever packed a suitcase for a trip and forgotten something critical?! Well, I packed for Hawaii and forgot bathing suits (cool!), so I had to do that classic “SOS, I need to go get a bathing suit or two right now” shopping trip. I then stumbled upon the most affordable and SUPER cute swimsuit!! It was $20 for the bottoms and $25 for the top, and has the cutest little ball details on the tie, plus the fabric looks expensive. They have it in white and red, and when I tell you…this is now one of my favorite suits ever.

Also from Mallory: I snagged this cover up set (top and bottom) from H&M when I was there too…it fits great and the stripes are so adorbs.

From Jess: I was bopping around with my cousin on Sunday, and we stopped into RG, a small, woman-founded, affordable jewelry shop, in Atwater Village. While there are some pieces that are a little more expensive, most of what I saw (and bought) was so reasonable. I got these thin, everyday gold hoops and these sweet little tri-crystal cluster studs for my new second hole. Both were under $50 and I love how special…but simple they are:)

Also From Jess: I finally invested in a couple of new bras that I LOVE. I’ve tried Third Love, Negative Underwear, etc., and was never all that impressed. I really dislike any added padding, so I’d been wearing inexpensive mesh cup ones that were on their last leg. Then, when one of my best friends was visiting last month, she was raving about her Fleur du Mal bra. I tried it on and immediately ordered it. I first ordered the lace one in black because their “t-shirt bra” was out of stock. Once I got it, it was the only bra I wanted to wear because it was comfortable but still a little sexy. When the t-shirt bra came back in stock, I hit add to cart and got it a few days ago. The cup is soft (not padded!) and so smooth under tops. It’s also just so freaking flattering. I feel incredible in both of them, which is such a good feeling. No more kinda sad bras that fit “good enough”.

From Caitlin: I was lucky enough to spend this weekend with my mom, and she treated me to the cutest pair of summer pajamas! They’re from Jockey (!!!), they’re super budget-friendly, and the top and bottom can be purchased separately to best fit your sizing. I LOVE THEM – the photos don’t do them justice! I’m obsessed with the piping detailing on the cami and around the legs; I can’t get enough of the ribbon tie on the bottom; and they’re SO COMFORTABLE to sleep in. I got an XL on top (though I could have sized down here, and I’m a 36F!) and an XL on bottom, which feels great on me. They’re so cute that I feel excited to change out of my daytime lounge clothes and into my nighttime lounge clothes! Highly recommend for any summer vacations, slumber parties, or just as a general pick-me-up. I slept in them every night this week and am so pleased by the price:value ratio on them – they feel like a splurgy pair of Printfresh PJs at a fraction of the cost. Thanks Brenda!!!

We also wanted to give our love and support to those affected by the Texas flood. More than ever, it feels as though there is a never-ending occurrence of unbelievable harm and devastation happening, whether it be by man or by nature, and it’s especially heartbreaking when children are involved. We are so grateful for all of the people who are on the ground helping.

Thank you so spending a little time with us today and see you tomorrow for a really great reveal/tour. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photos by Kaitlin Green

I tried to sneak into the Nordstroms Anniversary sale before I was allowed to try things on to show you, but it was a mad house and I didn’t have a card (and then ran into The Daily Tay – I HAD NO IDEA SHE LIVED IN THE PNW!!) and got distracted. So I looked for stuff on sale, but honestly, what I was into was the expensive stuff that was now just less expensive, so I didn’t buy anything on sale. Instead, opting for some pretty dang cute, and mostly affordable pieces. Here are a few if you want to see (and then I rounded up some of the sale items I really liked, too). Also, you are about to see a lot of scarves on my head, it’s a thing for me right now…

Dress | Flats

This dress is a solid 9/10. It’s so comfortable, so drapey, so easy to wear – and for virtually every occasion (work, happy hour, grocery shopping, date night, even a walk and chat – just so easy). It has pockets and a loose waist that is still flattering because the sleeves are big. It’s a cute pattern, but not too loud. My only issue with it is that you need a bra that has straps that are pretty wide (or don’t mind showing off your bra strap – but maybe it’s a sign for me to get some new bras, good lord I go a LOOOONNNG time one the same three super supportive but not terribly beautiful bras). They didn’t have my size in stock, so I bought a size 6, but I think if I had sized down, it would have fit in an unflattering way because my boobs would have pulled up the waist, and it might have hugged or poofed in the wrong places. I think if you are smaller on top, then order your size, but for me, sizing up really worked here as it just drapes really nicely. It’s such an incredibly easy dress to wear, and I hope they make it in a lot of other subtle patterns.

Head Scarf (similar) | Top | Skirt | Flats | Purse (unavailable)

This is a “new to me” look that I know is trendy (and admittedly cute). A linen set that is pretty affordable (skirt is $55 and top is $75, sold separately). As you know, I’m stupidly self-conscious about my arms/shoulders, so you may have never seen me in a tank top, but this cut (where it comes really close to the armpits) felt more flattering than most, de-emphasizing the areas that I have dumb sensitivities to. Preppy and cute, fun to wear, and comes in black and white, too. I can’t tell if I really will wear this enough to warrant keeping it, but if I had a job where I needed to be in an office or meetings with clients, this is perfect in the summer. The linen is thick, but not wrinkly AT ALL, and the skirt is flattering on its own. I’m wearing a small in both. OBSESSED with these jellies. They are so flattering (elongates my feet and legs) and extremely comfortable (feels like I’m wearing nothing). SIZE UP – I’m a solid size 7 shoe, but wearing an 8 here and can’t imagine going any smaller.

Head Scarf (similar) | Sunglasses (similar) | Top | Shorts | Flats

Ok, I was on the fence about keeping this (again, unsure I would wear enough to warrant adding it to my already full closet), but after seeing these photos, I’m pretty dang into the outfit. The top is super drapey and I felt flattering for how easy it is to wear, the shorts are tailored but still comfortable. I should have shown you the back because it is more open, which is my only issue. I asked my team what I was supposed to do here, and they said not to wear a bra and try those bra “cakes” instead. So now I want to do a roundup/review of bra “cakes” for larger ladies (and yet, how would we show them on the internet???). Again, the jellies are rad and I think the scarf and aviators are really working with the outfit, if I do say so myself (also trying to not damage my hair as much by styling it so thus the head scarves).

Head Scarf (similar) | Top | Shorts | Flats

This blouse is a solid 10/10 if you don’t mind showing a bit of bra in the middle of the ties. For $65, I think it has a lot of detail (think Doen, but 1/10th the price) and is extremely easy to wear, without being too “pirate-y,” i.e., too much fabric. The longer Bermuda shorts were all I saw in New York (can’t say they are the most flattering – I’m a short-short lady, but I’m embracing the trend and starting to love them, although I love my Gap ones just as much as they are almost 1/3 the price). I think the trend with the bigger Bermuda shorts you are supposed to wear a tiny top (crop, tank, or square neck) and either flip flops, ballet flats, or Hokas, FYI. I don’t know – I want to write a whole post about how fashion is wack right now (New York was extremely uninspiring, TBH. I don’t know what is happening, but I felt like a tourist by just wearing an outfit.)

Head Scarf (similar) | Sweater | Shorts | Sandals (affordable option)

This looks boring, but these are two excellent staples. I was looking for a mid-weight cardigan to layer. Most are either too thin (won’t layer easily over my tops, which are admittedly voluminous) or too thick (too hot). This one is fantastic on its own, but has enough structure, weight, and room to layer on top. SIZE UP if you want to layer (I’m wearing a medium). The shorts are pull-on, drawstring, patterned, and perfect for all your daytime occasions (I think you could even pair them with a t-shirt and blazer for casual Friday office days since they read trouser shorts, not pajamas). I’m wearing a medium, FYI.

Hat (similar)

Two years ago, I explored the idea of doing a DIY blockprinting treatment on the existing curtains in my living room (below). I’m here to confess that two Julys later, they still look exactly the same. I could never commit to a pattern or color, let alone the time and effort it was going to take. But also, I knew in my heart that I actually needed taller curtains. These were 95 inches (possibly 98 but I can’t recall and I’m not going to dig out my tape measure).

I purchased them nearly seven years ago for another home with much lower ceilings than I have now. They worked great then, but are basically just a bandaid in this home that has roughly 12-foot ceilings. In my original post where I shared this image, a handful of readers suggested I needed longer curtains hung higher and TBH, at first I was miffed. “No, I don’t! Leave me be,” I thought. But that’s just my typical knee-jerk reaction for most things; I don’t like being told what to do.

When I stepped away from my temporary ego, I, of course, agreed with them. While I’m not a stickler for how high to hang your curtains as long as there is some distance between the top of your windows and your curtain rod—about 10-ish inches—in this instance, I was just barely clearing the sliding glass door and making it look out of scale to the room and ceiling height.

Not to mention, some of my panels were hovering above the floor a few inches while others kissed it. That’s kind of the name of the game with cheapy panels from big box store (these are from IKEA).

All in all, my living room curtain situation could use a serious upgrade. Truly, I need 108-inches (or higher) curtain panels but WOOF! They are EXPENSIVE. I’ve explored custom options for a high-end look since this is the main room in my home and very stately as the full expanse is about the full width of the space. But you guys, buying six to eight custom panels of at least 108 inches is wildly cost prohibitive for me at this moment. I’d be willing to invest in that if this were my permanent home, but it’s just a rental so it’s a no-go.

My budget restrictions are your gain, as I’ve decided to put my research hat on and see what’s out there. My mission? Extra-long readymade curtain panels of at least 108 inches that come in under $100 each (so under $200 for a pair). This was not an easy feat by any means, especially mostly trying to avoid some retailers I’m not currently shopping from. You can see all my 27 picks if you keep reading, broken up into solid neutral—what most people buy—solid color, and patterned (my heart’s favorite).

Before window shopping (ha), let me break down a few facts about what can affect the cost of drapery as prices vary wildly. You might find a cream linen-looking curtain on Wayfair for $60 a pair just as a cream linen-looking curtain on Nordic Knots for $600. What’s the difference? Let’s break it down:

What Affects The Cost Of Curtains

Just like with anything else in our homes and, essentially, the world, quality is the top driver of price tags (well, and branding but that’s very subjective so I’ll leave that out). Here are TKTKTKTK aspects that will drive the price of curtains up:

1. Fabric type: Natural fibers are typically going to come at a premium when it comes to window coverings. If you look at the product description between curtains from Amazon and those from even a place like West Elm, polyester is most common on low priced curtains while mid-range to higher-end readymade curtains will be cotton or linen.
2. Fabric weight: This is by far the hardest thing to tell about curtains when you’re shopping online. You may think you scored big with $50 100% linen curtains from Zara Home only to find they are incredibly lightweight. This can be totally fine if you want light-filtering curtains, but not so much if you need extra privacy for your bedroom, for instance. Fabric weight can also affect how a curtain drapes (or falls), with wispier fabric weights looking kind of dinky and messy when opened up.
3. Lining: The nicer the curtain, the higher the likelihood that it has a lining. While that’s not always true, you’ll probably at least get the choice by the retailer for no lining, light-filtering lining or blackout (even sometimes varying degrees of blackout). The strength of the lining will typically drive up the price.
4. Width: Readymade curtains are often between 48 inches and 54 inches wide, and the wider the panel, the wider your wallet has to be to afford them. Keep a lookout for double-wide curtains of 100 inches or so, as well (I have some below). Remember, a good formula to follow for how much width you need is 1.5x the width of your window for a standard look, or 2x for a plush look.
5. General quality: Something to keep in mind with cheaper options on the market are the less expensive they are, the higher your chances of lengths not being exact across the board. Quality control is simply not as high on a mass-produced item then something either custom-made or made to a higher standard (a.k.a. more expensive). Length consistency is one of the most common problems with lower quality curtains, which can be SUPER frustrating if you’re trying to cover a large expanse of windows or doors. It’s less obvious if you’re just using two panels, but when you have six or more, it’s a nightmare and looks awful. Though more expensive, a good way to combat this is to get one size more than you need, and get them hemmed all to the same length. This, of course, is tricky when you need 108-inch curtains or more, because many retailers stop at 95/98 inches. If they offer 108, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything higher. 120-inch curtains do exist, and are available on some of the curtains I selected below, but it’s not common.

Solid Neutral Extra-Long Curtain Options We Recommend

If you’re a neutral curtain lover, I have to tell you about Half Price Drapes, where some of the below were plucked from. It’s hard to beat their pricing or value. You may have seem the name pop up if you’ve ever searched from curtains on Amazon, but they have their own proper website, which I much prefer. Their selection of ready-to-ship curtains under $100 a panel is awesome, especially if you’re after linen-look curtains. Definitely a designer “secret source” if you will. Other stores to peruse include H&M Home (though their curtains are a bit on the thin side), Quince, and IKEA, though many of their curtains don’t go as high as 108 inches.

1. Mink Textured Faux Linen Room Darkening Curtain – 50″x108″ | 2. 2-Pack Long Blackout Curtain Panels – 55″x118″ | 3. Barley Heavy Faux Linen Curtain – 50″x108″ | 4. Single-Pack Long Wide Blackout Curtain Panel – 98″x118″ | 5. Organic Cotton Natural Taupe Window Curtain Panel 52″x108″ | 6. Ritva Curtains 1 Pair – 57″x118″ | 7. Luster Velvet Room Darkening Curtain – 48″x108″ | 8. Safaa Cotton Sheer Curtain, Natural Linen Cotton Curtain – 52″x108″ | 9. Sun Zero Amherst Velvet Thermal Extreme Back Tab 100% Blackout Single Curtain Panel – 50″x108″

With neutral curtains, be sure to study the product description to make sure they are what you want. Lined? Linen? Faux-linen? Pleating? Pre-trained? Of course, this applies to all the other curtains on this list, but specifically here because the online options can seem endless and indistinguishable. See if you can find a close-up detail of the texture, too. As I already mentioned, the Half Price Drape options are great (#1 and #3), and have subtle differences you can read more about on their site. Also, #1 is the same one that Caitlin has in her living room (just a different color). She RAVES about them and everyone assumes they are really expensive when they see them.

The Ritva curtains from IKEA are one of the rare panels in this size range but have a nice texture, as does #8 from Etsy (almost like a honeycomb). And don’t overlook JCPenney for super affordable curtains, either, though you’ll have to dig a bit. These thermal velvet panels (#9) are under $100 for TWO. Wow.

Solid Color Extra-Long Curtain Options We Like

Love the drama and interest of pattern but need to pull it back a bit? Solid color is your jam. I LOVE a solid color curtain, especially in velvet (in the right room). While something that visually weighted wouldn’t work in my own living room, a fresh color in a lighter linen just might. Let’s explore what I found.

1. Khaki Green Faux Linen Extrawide Room Darkening Curtain – 100″x108″ | 2. Velvet Room Darkening Curtain Pair – 52″x108″ | 3. Dusty Blue Linen Curtains Pair – 52″x108″ | 4. Olivia Signature Thermal Lined 100% Blackout Velvet Curtain – 50″x108″ | 5. Wild Rose Velvet Rod Pocket Room Darkening Curtain – 50″x108″ | 6. European Linen Curtain Cotton Light Filtering – 48″x108″ | 7. Broadway Curtain – Set of 2 – 50″x108″ | 8. Linen Cotton Fringed Stripe Trim Curtain, Peach – 50″x108″ | 9. Vision Home Chambray Blue Pinch Pleated Full Blackout Curtains, Set of 2 – 40″x108″

My heart belongs to olive green or Swedish blue curtains for my own home, but they’re also just so stately without being overbearing that they’d work almost anywhere. The khaki-colored ones from The Home Depot are great because they are extra-wide at 100 inches wide, so you only need one panel for each side for a larger window or sliding door. Something like this is also great if your curtain rod doesn’t need a center support and you want to have your drawn panels only off to one side (a good look). The blue on the Quince panels (#6) is so nice. I actually just saw a panel of theirs at Jess’ who was testing out a color. They are lined and she was impressed with the quality. Those terra-cotta velvet panels from Wayfair (#2) are an incredible price and well-reviewed, so def check them out if you’re into earthy neutrals. And #9 is another pair for under $100, though note the narrow width of 40 inches due to being pinch pleated.

Extra-Long Readymade Curtains With Pattern

As I mentioned early on in this post, I have dreams of patterned curtains in my living room (the ones I think might be able to work are below…keep reading). The only issue is that I need six to eig

They did a study once where they scanned customers brains before entering The Container Store and then again leaving (with all the organizational goods) and found that dopamine levels had spiked – and not just because of shopping (which as we all know, does give you a high) but they concluded it was due to the hope/prospect of a more organized version of yourself is just so thrilling. Now, that might be an urban legend, but it rings true to me. Take this, for example – we have the most rundown garage ever (close to 200 years old and not maintained) and then a “hoarding house” next to it full of so much stuff (the goods and bads) that it can’t possibly stay organized. So while this garage rehab was quite the business investment, the value that I’m getting out of it is not just good for business, but incredible for my emotional inner world. I’M SO EXCITED. If you want to be a gold star reader, you could watch the Youtube that we made (Gretch and Marlee are killing it at this!!) and please, please, please like and subscribe (it’s so good for the algorithm which helps other people see the video – it’s rough out there!).

Where We Came From… The Before

The befores are pretty spectacular – “rundown” being a wild understatement. So my brother’s company (Afore Construction) set off to restore it, using the same footprint, the same structure, most of the original wood and posts (shout out to old growth wood – while some were too rotten from rain and had to be replaced or scissored, a lot were solid and remained in tact). It took a few months and cost far more than I want to publish on the internet (over six figures), but she is incredible now. She is weatherproof, with functional electricity, a new concrete floor (in one bay), new doors (on all), cadet heating for winter, and super sealed up. Spider proof!! (We hope… those harmless yet terrifying wolf spiders are INSANE).

We ended up cladding all walls and ceilings with pine tongue and groove to ensure that it’s a finished out space that allowed for the most flexibility, while being obviously really pretty. The end use is definitely prop/tool storage, but it’s pretty big, so in the summer, the team might work out here and certainly do DIY projects.

So, essentially, we have three walls that we could put storage on. But what kind of storage? Deep Shelves? Cabinets? Drawers? Bins? Peg Wall? So I made a list of what we really needed to store and what would be the best way to keep them organized long term, while being easy to access.

• Need to be in drawers/easy access but closed:
  • Everyday tools for easy access nails, screws, command strips, batteries, zip ties, glues, tapes, sharpies, crafting tools (but not supplies – are those in bins?)
  • Design materials: fabric samples, wood samples, wallpaper samples, paint (Samplize and paint decks), hardware samples
  • Bath props and office props – pretty soaps, scrubbers, bath oils, pens/pads, small trays
• In bins or drawers:
  • Specialty tools: drills, paint sprayer, small saws 
  • Table linens, napkins, placemats, (could be in cabinets: flatware, dishware, glassware, prop mugs)
• Large art:
  • Need good solution – rolling rack? Small art or uframed art – lay flat in drawers?
• Pretty things for shallow shelves (too deep makes it hard to reach):
  • All vases, vessels, sculptures, cute small things, vintage collections by color
• Big things for large shelving (need to be deep to stack two rows):
  • Lamps
  • Large vases
  • Pillows?
  • Bins of vintage fabric (so many)
  • Bins of Fresh towels, bathmats
  • Planters/pots
  • Medium art?

In the big storage unit (not in this garage, the next garage): furniture – vintage and furniture line samples, rugs – big and small, camping stuff + sports stuff, all holiday, bins of memorabilia, vintage stuff that I can’t seem to quit.

IKEA To The Rescue

So I set off to shop for storage furniture that would provide both cabinets, drawers, deep shelving, and more shallow shelving, closed and open, AND ALSO LOOK GOOD. I knew that a whole room of open shelving would look busy and messy (and I’m not great at say, putting things back in bins on a daily basis), so a combination of open, closed and some with drawers was the goal – some easier access, some labeled for more specific use. I know that our needs are specific – most people just want shelving and maybe a tool drawer in their garage. I landed solidly at IKEA due to price, availability, design, and a lot of options that looked good together (non-spon or traded). But I still had to check dimensions, lay it out, price it out, and triple-check my work. I came up with the plan:

This felt like a solid plan that checked all my functional boxes while still being aesthetically pleasing. This wouldn’t be a garage with 80s Porsche posters over bins of screws – she would be as pretty as she was functional.

The Back Wall – The Prettiest Focal Point

Due to the depth possibility and the shorter ceiling, I thought this would be the best place for a wall of streamlined cabinetry. I chose the IKEA PAX closet system, but designed for shelving and drawers, not closet rods. The kicker here? The green door fronts are so pretty, and I knew they would look good with the below shelving and pop off the pine so nicely. Their online design program was an excellent user experience, and everything was added to cart, including every hinge, shelf, bits, and bobs. Incredibly easy.

I chose the 39″ cabinets (wider than the slimmer ones) and, as you can see, chose shelving on top and drawers on the bottom. I winged it a bit, opting for mesh drawers on the bottom, not really knowing why, but figured maybe something would be good to put in those (paint materials? dirty drills? prop slippers?).

Once installed, you can see how it worked IRL, which is exactly like the design. And yes, we hired IKEA Task Rabbits to put everything together (took one day, although we put on the doors later so that we could shoot it open like this at first and waited on the shelves to plan out what height we needed with specific props).

The West Wall

For whatever reason, this was the wall that I dedicated to deep shelving – not 12″ or 18″ but tall, wide, and deep for big bins and lamps. Obviously, there is a lot of flexibility here, and it’s not like I measured every lamp or pillow. I love the green and black design of this BROR unit (thank you, IKEA, for caring about aesthetics).

The East Wall

This wall is shorter, having the door to the other garage along this wall. This seemed like a great place to have a combination wall – shelving on top, cabinets on bottom. And here is where I wanted slightly more shallow shelve