What a week. Who feels like taking refuge in a cozy and warm room right now? Add a pet/kid/cuffy, some wine or tea, and some holiday movie (or a horror movie if that’s your jam, it might feel more appropriate), and cuddle up for a few days (or years?). I didn’t really appreciate the comfort of a darkroom until I moved to Oregon, and now that I have one (or two) and have designed a few here, I want every home to have one — for emotional retreats if nothing else. No matter how you’re feeling this week, I think cozy rooms can help overcome any general discomfort or feeling of malaise, even virtually, and even if just for a moment. The room above and below is one of my best friend’s who lives here, designed and unveiled two years ago (and yes, we’re almost done with the living/dining room in her new house too). It turned out really well and is just the vibe I need right now.
It was a wonderful basement, and while they ended up selling the house and moving to a better room for their growing children, they still missed that room very much. The wood paneling on the walls (shout out to Ross Allan Reclaimed) and the huge sectional didn’t hurt. God, I want to go back there now.
I’m lucky enough to call this room the TV room where we would marathon “Modern Family” (an episode or two after dinner as a family is a nice way to unwind — and it’s pretty tame, dear network TV!).
I loved this room and wanted to change anything about it.
Kaitlin’s basement, which was designed last year, has the same warm and dark vibe, but it’s green. The color is infused with a really warm olive green (the walls are Mountain Road by Sherwin-Williams) which took a long time to choose to work perfectly with this clip, but we nailed it.
This clip (material) is very good. I now have it in navy blue at the mountain house, and it’s incredibly comfortable and perfect for so many bodies hugging each other – deep, soft and all. Like a womb. Should we go back? To our mother’s womb?
Ah, Sarah Trump’s den – now it was a small space, well executed. This dark color on all the walls, trim and ceiling made it feel large and cozy at the same time.
This makes me miss Sarah – she was my number 2 during lockdown for the first year (she’s been a full time photographer ever since and is the best). This entire week has given me feelings like “lockdown 2020,” in a really bad way. Not knowing what to post and when/not sure what or how much to share. Editing is at 4am and I’m afraid I didn’t match the tone of the morning because I didn’t anticipate the outcome of any given night. Anxiety – oh the anxiety. Not just from the election, but from knowing that so many of us don’t understand each other and how unsettling that can feel. I swear I try to see everyone’s perspectives, more than most people I know. I read hillbilly elegy, listened to Trump on Rogan, listened to Musk on Rogan, read a lot of conservative subreddits, the free press, etc. I feel really helpless. I just don’t understand how we got here. I suppose it’s very difficult to break out of our ecological bubbles, and that our values are very different (although I don’t think they really are!!). Anyway, I’m not talking nonsense, I just feel so helpless not knowing how to help us feel more united.
But Sarah’s room looks unified and cohesive. And so incredibly comfortable. I want to squeeze all my previous crew into EDH now! And my current team! I love these women so much and I am so grateful to all of them.
Designed by Emily Bowser (as usual, she’s pretty cool) – Speaking of which, you’re getting a fun reveal of Bowser this month (for those looking for psychedelic garage inspiration, I got you).
This is Emily Bowser’s guest room that she designed so brilliantly – I love the windowsill throughout the room that looks so integrated and functional.
And finally, the cabin we shot at Arrowhead for the Target job (and my second book) which we all loved so much. Brick floor, wood walls – such cozy vibes.
Anyway, I hope these cozy looking rooms will help give you permission to relax tonight and this weekend. Maybe you celebrate, maybe you cry. I give myself some time to process in both the good and bad ways (wine, TV) and then next week in the good ways (walking, eating soup, journaling). It’s the busiest time of year for us and you’re about to see a lot of the developments and sponsored partnerships we’ve been working hard on over the past few months, so yes, EHD will be back on our regular calendar tomorrow and over the weekend. We hope this little holiday inspiration will serve as a nice temporary break in your day and be a reminder that there are some things to look forward to — Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and a big break with our loved ones that you bet will include a little more cozying up in dark cozy rooms. xx
Editorial Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and Priscilla Frost | Designed by Emily Henderson | Photos by Sarah Liguria-Trump | From: Revealing my best friends’ 1970s basement
