A Farmhouse Kitchen Designed for Comfort: Emily Henderson

Emily Henderson is a fixture in the design world. Not only is she the founder and creative director of the daily design and lifestyle blog, Style by Emily Henderson, but she’s also a New York Times best-selling author of Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms and The New Design Rules. She became a household name after winning HGTV’s Design Star, which resulted in her own HGTV show, Secrets from a Stylist.

Originally hailing from Portland, Oregon, Henderson trained as a stylist in New York City before making her way to Los Angeles. Her years of dedication and professional experience helped her launch her blog into one of the world’s leading design media sites.

Today, we are proud to say we were able to partner with Henderson on her latest project, the kitchen renovation of the farmhouse she’s creating for her family back in Portland. We’re excited to share the design she created and a little more about her design process, favorite trends, and advice for decorating a warm and inviting space.

Getting to Know Emily Henderson

Henderson is a designer, writer, and mother who attributes the launching of her blog, stylebyemilyhenderson.com as the key action that changed her life.

Emily’s Signature Style

This cozy kitchen makeover is a clear reflection of Henderson’s overarching design style, which often encompasses the color blue, a signature hue for the designer. “Overall, I think my spaces are consistently happy, approachable, eclectic, vintage, and comfortable,” explains Henderson.

The Ultimate Dream Project

With a designer and stylist that’s accomplished so much already, we had to know what her dream project would be. “My ultimate dream project: to open a bed and breakfast in a town with great antiquing and vintage shopping. I have a few towns in mind…maybe someday,” Emily explained.

Henderson’s Design Process

As a professional stylist, Emily understands that her overall design aesthetic is a constant evolution, stating that “I truly love the good parts of every style, but in everything I do, I try to make it happy, personal, layered, and with something vintage.”

The Source of Inspiration

The inspiration for her designs varies from project to project. “Sometimes I’ll deep dive into architectural and historical resources and magazines. Sometimes I’ll turn to my design books or to Pinterest. And sometimes, I’ll find the perfect inspirational jumping-off point for a project when I’m thrifting or shopping at an antique store.” That ability to beautifully combine what’s old with new pieces is reflective in her kitchen island and cabinet selections.

Where to Start

With a large project in front of her, Henderson chooses to start by assessing the architecture of the home. “My team and I have renovated and designed a few different styles over the past few years – a bright mid-century modern home; a cozy, ivy-covered English Tudor; a simple and warm Scandi retreat – and we’re currently working on a comfortable, livable farmhouse and a modern, sleek new build.”

After determining the style of the home, they set to work. “We want our major fixtures and finishes to feel appropriate for the space – we can get a little experimental with decor, but we do love having a period-specific style to reference.”

Favorite Design Rule to Break

Emily Henderson knows all the design rules – and when to break them. “Some design rules are important and exist for a reason,” she explains. “Like, don’t hang a huge, low light fixture in a hallway with 8-foot ceilings, because someone’s going to walk into it.”

She goes on to say, “most furniture and décor rules are meant to be broken. It’s exciting to play with scale, shape, color, and pattern! That’s actually why I wrote my book, The New Design Rules. I wanted to teach all the rules, but I also wanted to highlight the work of designers, photographers, and stylists who have broken those rules with beautiful results.”

When to Save and When to Splurge

Every project has a budget and Henderson’s philosophy is to “splurge on the statement pieces and save on my everyday items.” When it comes to shopping for all these items, she explains, “there are so many resources now for affordable, long-lasting, chic home decor.”

She goes on to say, “I’ve never regretted splurging on an incredible piece of art or a one-of-a-kind chair. If something makes you smile and will invite a conversation whenever a guest enters your home, I think it’s worth the splurge.”

On-Trend Items Henderson Loves

Trends come and go, but Henderson has a current trend she thinks is worth incorporating into room updates. “Right now, I’m loving tonal grout. We just did this in our own primary bathroom with a blue tile and twilight-colored grout, and it feels simple but special. There is some contrast, of course, but not within the tile and grout itself. I just love how the floor reads as a texture and not too busy – but there is so much movement.”

5-Must Have Items for Every Space

Henderson’s advice for styling a space is, “if you can, live in a space before making any big decisions. Experiencing how you live in a new-to-you home will help you make the best design decisions for YOU.” Once you do, she suggests incorporating these five items into your design:

Working with Build.com

At Build with Ferguson, our goal is to provide the best selection in every home improvement category, as well as the best customer experience, including access to friendly, knowledgeable product experts.

Partnering with Build with Ferguson

Henderson explains that “we’ve gotten appliances from Build with Ferguson before and honestly, we can’t imagine trying to finish a house without Build with Ferguson. Their team is knowledgeable, the delivery is reliable, and the inventory is unmatched – we can source everything we need from one retailer with an incredibly well-curated selection of our favorite brands.”

Working with the Service/Sales Team

Henderson also spoke about her experience working with our sales and service team. “The team has always been quick to help or to answer any questions! This year, we decided to opt for an induction range (our first). The build.com team was there to guide us through every step of the process. And when I wanted to see some of the products and finishes in person, I was able to visit a local showroom where their thoughtful and knowledgeable team was really able to help me select the best product for my family’s lifestyle.” 

Advantages of Shopping Build.com

The reason Henderson chooses to shop at build.com? “If you need it, build.com has it. Their selection in every home improvement category is unmatched. Building or renovating a home takes a ton of hard work, thought, planning, and coordination, and having a one-stop retailer really simplifies the process and removes a lot of stress.

Check out all the products Emily chose for this project when you Shop by Look.