What a week. Who feels like retreating into a cozy, comforting room right now? Add in a pet/child/stuffy, some wine or tea, and some Holiday movies (or a horror movie if that’s more your jam, might feel more appropriate), and snuggle up for a few days (or years?). I really didn’t appreciate the dark cozy room til I moved to Oregon and now that I have one (or two) and have designed a few up here, I want every house to have one – for emotional retreats if nothing else. Regardless of how you are feeling this week, I think cozy rooms can help combat any general unsettling feeling or malaise, even virtually, and even if just for a moment. The room above and below is one of my best friends who lives up here, designed and revealed a couple of years ago (and yes, we are almost done with her living/dining room in her NEW house, too). It turned out soooo good and is JUST the vibes I’m needing right now.
It was such an incredible basement and while they ended up selling the house and moving into a better room for their growing boys, they still miss this room a lot. The wood paneling on the walls (shout out to Ross Alan Reclaimed) and the huge sectional didn’t hurt. Goodness, I want to be back there right now.
I’m lucky enough to call this room our TV room where we’ve been marathoning Modern Family (1-2 episodes after dinner as a family is such a nice way to unwind – and it’s so tame, network TV baby!).
I have loved this room and want to change NOTHING in it.
Kaitlin’s basement, designed last year, has the same cozy, dark vibes, but green. Color drenched in a really warm olive green (walls are Mountain Road by Sherwin-Williams) which took forever to choose to work perfectly with that sectional, but we nailed it.
That sectional (Article) is SO GOOD. I have it in navy blue at the mountain house now, and it’s incredibly comfortable and perfect for many bodies snuggling together – deep, soft, all the things. Like a womb. Should we go back? To our Mom’s womb?
Ah, Sara Tramp’s den – now that was a small space, so well executed. That dark color on all the walls, trim, and ceiling really made it feel big and cozy at the same time.
It makes me miss Sarah- she was my #2 during lockdown for the first year (she’s been a full-time photographer since then and is just the best). This whole week gave me such “lockdown 2020” vibes, in a really bad way. The not knowing what to post when/not sure what or how much to share. The 4 am editing and fear that I didn’t match the tone of the morning because I didn’t predict the outcome of any given night. The anxiety – oh the anxiety. Not just from the election, but from knowing that so many of us just don’t understand each other and how unsettling that can feel. I swear, I try to see everyone’s points of view – more than most people I know. I read Hillbilly Elegy, listened to Trump on Rogan, listened to Musk on Rogan, and read a lot of conservative substacks, free press, etc. I feel really, really helpless. I just don’t understand how we got here. I suppose it’s so hard to break out of our environmental bubbles, and our values are just so different (although, I really don’t think they are!!). Anyway, not talking shit, just feel so helpless in not knowing how to help us feel more united.
But Sara’s room looks united, cohesive even. And just so unbelievably cozy. I want to squeeze all my former EDH crew right now! And my current team! I love these women so much and I’m so so so grateful for all of them.
Emily Bowser styled it (per usual, she’s just so great) – speaking of, you are getting a fun Bowser reveal this month (for those of you looking for dope garage inspiration, she’s got you).
This is Emily Bowser’s guest room that she so geniusly designed – I love that window ledge all around the room that looks so integrated and functional.
Lastly, the cabin we shot in Arrowhead for a Target job (and my second book) that we all loved so much. The brick floor and wood walls – such cozy vibes.
Anyway, I hope these comfy-looking retreatable rooms help give you permission to snuggle up tonight and this weekend. Maybe you are celebrating and maybe you are crying. I am giving myself some time for coping in both the good and bad ways (wine and TV) and then next week the good ways (walking, souping, journaling). It’s the busiest time of the year for us and you are about to see a lot of sponsored makeovers and partnerships that we’ve been working so hard on the last few months, so yes, EHD will be returning to our normal calendar tomorrow and over the weekend. Hopefully, a little holiday inspiration will be a nice momentary break in your day and be a reminder there are a few things to look forward to – Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and a big break with our loved ones which you bet will include more snuggling in dark cozy rooms. xx
Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson and Priscilla Frost | Styled by Emily Henderson | Photos by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: My Best Friends 1970s Basement Reveal
