X
Emily Henderson Header Image Emily Henderson Emily Henderson

Inspiration for every room Rooms

Shop our favorite home decor Shop

Emily Henderson Emily Henderson
  • Blog
  • Vacay Giveaway
  • Shop
  • Gift Guides
  • Rooms
  • About
  • Press
  • STYLE QUIZ
  • About
      • About
      • Press
      • Contact
      Emily Henderson

      Hi. We are a design/style LA based company specializing in mixing eclectic styles on moderate budgets. Also we have a strange amount of fun blogging about all our design and style adventures. Right now I’m happy to say that I’m Target’s home spokesperson, bringing accessible/stylish design to the masses.

      Read More

      Emily_Henderson_Good_Housekeeping_Fall_2015

      Good Housekeeping

      Click through to see recent press articles that feature and highlight Emily’s work

      Learn More

      For design inquiries please contact us at

      design@emilyhendersondesign.com

      For all blog partnership and sponsor requests, please contact Michael at

      michael@emilyhendersondesign.com

      For all general inquires, product reviews, and gifting please contact us at

      hello@emilyhendersondesign.com

      For all press inquiries, please contact Jess at

      jess@emilyhendersondesign.com

      For TV appearances contact Benjamin Simone

      bsimone@WMEentertainment.com

      For all commercial, brand endorsement or speaking appearance requests, please contact Strand Conover at

      sconover@wneentertainment.com
   
May 13, 2014
 
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
0 Shares

Animal Shelter make-over sneak peek

When Brian and I were 26 years old we wanted a dog, REALLY bad. I would molest every single adorable dog on the street, but we lived in a 250 square foot studio apartment and worked 60 hours a week so it wasn’t really in the cards. There is something about living in New York that makes you crave nature/innocence or something. I even walked dogs as a job for a year when I was 22 in Manhattan. I was one of those people who had like 5 dogs on leashes, looking like they were being drug around the town all day picking up poop, at the whim of these animals, but secretly loving it.

emily Henderson bearcat

So we actively tried to appropriate our love of dogs onto cats and it totally worked.

Neither of us had really owned cats (we had some growing up but they were indoor/outdoor so not really around). We went on Craigslist and found these two tiny kittens to rescue from the projects in the Bronx. Of course we thought we were rescuing street kittens; stray cats abandoned in a dumpster. But when we got there it wasn’t quite the case as we realized (slowly) that they were in fact people who found cats, mated them and sold their litters. Once we realized what was happening it seemed like even though it wasn’t a traditional rescue situation, these cats still needed to be saved and needed good homes.

We actually only intended on getting one, Mimi who was the most beautiful of the litter, but then Bearcat started meowing and kinda bit me in a sassy way. They were 1 week old when we first met them and 3 weeks old when they insisted that we take them off their hands – which was way too early and when we knew that these people were bozos.

MY LATEST VIDEOS
MY LATEST VIDEOS

Brian and I both knew we should get two cats and thank god we did. And we didn’t call the ASPCA on them because well, clearly they were desperate/pathetic people whose lives we didn’t want to ruin even more, but we did tell them that we called the ASPCA and that they were going to be doing random checks at their address. Maybe we should have actually turned them in but they had our personal info so, you know, threatening seemed a lot less terrifying. Hopefully that worked.

bearcat kitten

Anyway, cut to 8 years later and we still have these two hilarious cats that we love so much, Bearcat and Mimi. Bearcat is the friendliest, most full-of-love cat you’ll ever meet. You only have to meet her for a couple of seconds and she will rub her face on yours and snuggle into your armpit. Mimi, or more properly, ‘General Meow’, has quite the attitude, independence, and sass, indeed, but she loves us, (Brian at least). As far as whether we are cat people the answer is ‘absolutely’, but we are also dog people and there are many of us out there – people who just love both animals for how quirky/dumb/happy/lovable/smart/clever/friendly they all are. Animals are awesome; cat or dog.

brian-henderson-cat

So when Arm and Hammer approached me to makeover a cat shelter in New York the answer was ‘absolutely’, without hesitation. It sounded like an interesting design challenge, and for a good cause (the shelter got a free makeover by Arm and Hammer and free Clump & Seal litter to help keep it smelling super fresh). If it will draw more people to the shelter and adopt out more sweet kitties then that seemed like not a job to turn down. Not to mention create a happier work environment for the vets/Volunteers that work there and a happier life for the kitties themselves until they find their new home.

So here are some pics of the space before construction started. I had about an hour to see it for myself a month ago, but otherwise I’ve had Isabella Patrick, a wonderful friend and designer, helping project manage it.

cattery-before-2 cattery before

If any of you are interested in seeing the ‘after’ in person, and interested in hanging out with me (and Charlie if he up for it) after the press event on thursday come on down to Animal Haven, 251 Centre Street, in Soho, this thursday from 6-7pm.

Here’s a sneak peek of what is happening, but it doesn’t show all of it, including  an installation by visual artist Kathryn Godwyn.

cat-wallpaper

Don’t let me sit there alone, staring out the window, batting around a feather and occasionally licking myself. What am I saying?!!! I’ll be in there playing with them kitties, sticking their fur in my face and asking them if them if its true that someday their planet will take over ours. But come by and interrupt me and see the space.

Besides, Charlie doesn’t know it but he’s a cat/animal person, too, so he’ll be there pulling some tails.

bearcat

This thursday, May 15th. 6-7pm, Animal Haven, 251 Centre Street (at Grand) in New York City.

So quick poll friends: ‘Cat person’, ‘Dog person’ or both (or neither)? testtest

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
0 Shares
Rooms Home

Introducing the brand new

Room By Room

Design, trends & how-tos for every room

Shop Home

Introducing the brand new

Shop

A curated selection of decor favorites

no responses
 
Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
0 Shares

Hello!

Emily is a stylist, author and T.V. host with a strong commitment to vintage inspired approachable home style for every single person. Perfection is boring; Let’s get weird. learn more

Interior Design Blog by Emily Henderson

I started this interior design blog in 2010 as a journal of my style and home projects with the belief that design should be approachable, informational and accessible no matter what budget.

As a home style expert who has a strong commitment to peeling back the intimidating layers of the world of home decor, and showing how every person can have a beautiful home that represents their personality, no matter what the budget.

After styling for magazines and catalogues for years, I started my own interior design blog, won HGTV Design Star, and have gone on to host my own hit TV show Secrets from a Stylist, Author the book STYLED, and create the design firm Emily Henderson Design.

My motto has always been to write and publish on my blog what I personally want to read about.

My interior design blog remains personal, totally transparent and honest - documenting both proud and embarrassing design moments/mistakes and giving real life pricing and expectations.

I believe that your home should look like you, that every room is soul-less without something vintage or antique. I also believe in having fun. Like, a lot of fun.

  • Fashion
  • Advice
  • My Family
  • Book
  • Press
  • Trends
  • Roundups
  • The Mountain House
  • The Portland House
  • Lifestyle
  • Life
  • Food
  • Makeovers
  • Shopping
  • My House
  • Styling
  • DIY

I Design,

You Decide

You have a say...

It's a "choose your own adventure,"

but for our new house.

weigh in
Subscribe to our Newsletter

Favorite Posts

My House, Styling

My Style Evolution, Where It’s Going, and a Big Return to OG EHD

Read More.
The Portland House, Makeovers, Shopping

Portland Project: The Living Room Reveal

Read More.
Makeovers

House Tour: Mel’s New Place Makes Us Want to Declutter Immediately

Read More.

instafeed

@em_henderson
 2937
 2330
 5425
 4984
 1651
 10238
  • Blog
  • About
  • Press

© 2014 Emily Henderson. All rights reserved

Emily Henderson
    Bloglovin Bloglovin Feedly Feedly  
@EM_HENDERSON

Go To Top
[3041]
[3041]
[3041]
[3041]
[3041]
[3041]