I’ve been a long time subscriber of Emily Henderson. I love her whole aesthetic, and her team is just fabulous. Her mountain house project, however, is unlike anything she’s done before. She has maximalist tendencies, and yet, perfectly designed her mountain house to be a lesson in refined minimalist interiors.
She had to really challenge herself to not add so much stuff. She says she’s an avid lover of stuff (aren’t we all?), and with this home, the main goal was to not over-style. This is a home in the mountains, a serene oasis that is calming and regenerative.
A Lesson in Refined Minimalist Interiors
Emily Henderson
I’ve noticed an exciting shift among bloggers. Many of them have stopped taking on client work and have started flipping houses! Emily Henderson has been flipping her mountain house for about two years and it’s finally time for the full reveal.
I’m sure there are many people out there mourning the loss of being able to hire Emily and her team for design projects, but, something cool is coming out of this new trend. For maybe the first time, we are able to see the designer’s FULL perspective without being led by the client.
Emily has said before that many, many of her design projects never make it to the blog. And why’s that? She said that some clients change so much of her design plan and make selections that she doesn’t agree with, that she no longer feels the outcome reflects her own style.
It’s a fine line, right? Balancing the desires of the client with the vision of the designer (whom you hired for their vision). This isn’t the first solo project Emily has taken on with her being her own client (remember the Portland Project?), but this is definitely the most unique. So, let’s take a look at Emily’s lesson in refined minimalist interiors with her newly renovated mountain house.
The Importance of Choosing with Intention
Emily Henderson
As you scroll through the mountain house images, you’ll notice a common theme. Each item in each space is chosen with intention so that it can stand alone to be functional but also be a decor element. This is the best strategy when it comes to ensuring you don’t clutter the place up with decor, but still have the ‘wow factor’. More is more, but less is also more.
Emily Henderson
Each material and fixture was expertly chosen, with no detail left unattended. And, friends, it shows. The mountain house is delightfully minimalist, without being cold or cavernous (which is hard to pull off). This is why I sometimes have trouble with the Scandi style…I find the minimalist color palette and furniture plan to be a little cold and eerie. But, Emily? She nailed the balance.
Emily Henderson
Now, unless you’re doing a gut renovation, you’re not going to be fortunate enough to be able to start from scratch. But, you can see how Emily chooses her materials and you apply this lesson to your larger decor pieces. For instance, choose a dining table with architectural legs, counter stools with a woven seat, a side chair with unique angles, etc. Be particular about your selections and choose interesting pieces.
Emily Henderson
The very definition of refined is the result of removing elements. So, refined minimalist interiors are just interiors that have been Marie Kondo’ed, if you will. You can start out with a bunch of stuff, but just edit it down to your favorite items and you have a refined minimalist interior!
Look around your space; what can you give up? What isn’t your favorite? More importantly, what is your favorite and why? Figure out why you like your favorite things and then repeat that in each space. You can’t like everything, so you will naturally end up with a minimalist aesthetic. Easy, right?
If you love this house, it’s published in House Beautiful, so check that out. Happy minimizing!
-Kristen
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