But, you might be wondering: why don’t photos of my home look this polished and pristine? Henderson is letting us in on her secrets: her best “behind the scenes” tricks and tips that you might not see in the final photo (or even documented in her Instagram highlights) but that are vital to a professional-quality DIY project—and a like-worthy image. “Your walls will be smoother, your paint will stick better, and some primers even have mold- and mildew-fighting abilities,” Henderson said in an email. Her go-to primer for any paint project is KILZ. Henderson recommends meticulous planning before starting any reno job, but especially with cabinets. “I understand the urge to just dive right into a cabinet project, but your life will be so much easier if you take a beat, analyze your needs, and make deliberate functionality decisions ahead of time,” she said. In her latest kitchen upgrade, she created pull-out drawers for pots and pans (no more digging in the cabinets!), a tech drawer for charging personal electronics, and pull out cabinets for utensils, spices, and oils. “All these little considerations make maneuvering around the kitchen such a treat for the whole family,” she said. Often, these wall features aren’t the centerpiece of the photo, but Henderson said they subtly add extra wow-factor that makes a room look beautiful—as long as you stay true to the time period of your space. “They often go unconsidered in favor of installing builder-grade crown molding around the home,” she said. “And don’t get me wrong, that does look beautiful! But I do think that a home can really sing when the architectural features reflect the design direction.” “There are so many beautiful, special, and affordable options out there now and they can really make a staircase feel considered and elevated and finished,” Henderson said. When selecting balusters, or any other permanent finishes, Henderson said the most important thing to think about is how you want the space to make you feel. “If you want to walk into your house and feel like it’s clean and simple and modern, maybe metalwork is for you. On the other hand, if you want to feel like you’re in a historic and collected and warm space, maybe you’d go with something more classic and wooden. Beyond that, it’s all about the intersection of personal taste and history.” “[It’s] so easy to get tunnel vision during your own renovation, so even the pros need someone to lean on!” she said. “Even a quick consult with a local designer or architect could really open your eyes and help take your project to the next level.
