Home » Home Improvement » Home Improvement Ideas

Design Wisdom from Emily Henderson: Lessons from a 1910 Farmhouse Renovation

Transform project hurdles into seamless design solutions with patience and planning.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 26, 2025

Transform project hurdles into seamless design solutions with patience and planning.

In the realm of home renovation, few voices are as frank and insightful as Emily Henderson. A celebrated designer, stylist, and TV personality, Emily has long been known for making spaces feel welcoming, lived-in, and effortlessly stylish. In a recent episode of The Better Buy podcast, she takes listeners inside her most challenging and satisfying project yet: the restoration and transformation of a 1910 farmhouse in Oregon. This article explores the key lessons, personal reflections, and actionable strategies Emily shared from her journey, offering inspiration to anyone considering a major home improvement project.

The Farmhouse Dream: Emily’s New Adventure

After years of designing for others and starring in acclaimed TV shows, Emily and her family made a bold move—relocating from Los Angeles to rural Oregon to restore a historic 1910 farmhouse. The property, weathered by time and in need of significant attention, offered both a blank canvas and a series of daunting challenges. From the outset, the project was about more than just making the old new; it was about honoring the home’s history while creating a functional, beautiful refuge for her family.

The Value of Patience in Renovation

One of Emily’s most consistent messages throughout her farmhouse journey is the importance of patience. Renovating old homes inevitably brings delays, surprises, and tough decisions, and expecting perfection from the start only leads to stress and disappointment.

Expect delays and detours. Old homes harbor hidden problems, from faulty wiring to structural woes. Emily cautions renovators to build flexibility into their timelines.
Embrace mistakes as learning moments. Not every decision will be right the first time. Rather than obsessing over missteps, Emily views them as opportunities for growth and skill-building.
Remember your why. The ultimate goal is to create a home that fits your needs and celebrates its history, not to achieve Instagram perfection overnight.

Timing Is Everything: Lessons in Home Buying

When it comes to buying a home—especially a historic or fixer-upper—Emily stresses that timing can be as important as budget or location.

Shop with purpose, but don’t rush. The right property may not reveal itself immediately. Emily advises patience and persistence, focusing on priorities instead of being seduced by superficial finishes.
Know your market. Emily recommends working closely with local real estate agents who understand neighborhood nuances, pricing trends, and hidden gems that may not appear in mainstream listings.
Prepare for competition. In hot or emerging markets, flexibility and decisiveness can make a big difference. Emily often missed out on homes she loved because she hesitated too long—but she also credits these losses for leading her to the right house in the end.

Setting a Vision: The Farmhouse Style Philosophy

Upon purchasing the farmhouse, Emily confronted a dual challenge: respecting the home’s century-old structure while injecting her family’s personality and functional needs. She believes the key to a successful renovation is setting a clear design vision—but one that’s flexible enough to bend as reality unfolds.

Creating Cohesion with History

Study the home’s provenance. Emily spent time learning about the farmhouse’s original architecture and materials, using these insights to guide design decisions.
Restore, don’t erase. Rather than gutting the house, she sought to keep original moldings, doors, and windows where possible, giving the project authenticity and soul.
Add, don’t mimic. For new features, Emily avoided faux-old finishes, instead selecting materials that complemented the home’s age while acknowledging the present.

Modern Needs, Old Bones

While honoring the past, Emily had to make the home work for modern life. Experiences from this process led her to these guiding principles:

Function first. She prioritized layouts and storage solutions that made everyday living easier for her family, even if it meant compromising on some aesthetic ideals.
Blend styles thoughtfully. The renovation introduced contemporary elements—like a new kitchen and open floor plan—balanced by the warmth of vintage details.

Common Renovation Challenges and Emily’s Solutions

Even with years of experience, Emily admits that every renovation brings a learning curve. Here are some hurdles she faced in her Oregon farmhouse project, along with the workarounds that helped her succeed:

Challenge	Emily’s Approach
Budget Overruns	Regular check-ins with her contractor, prioritizing must-haves, and saving on cosmetic upgrades where possible.
Unforeseen Structural Issues	Embraced flexibility, consulted multiple experts, and made peace with adjusting the project scope as needed.
Maintaining Historical Integrity	Sourced period-appropriate materials, reused salvaged elements, and worked with local artisans familiar with traditional methods.
Decision Paralysis	Created mood boards, limited options to reduce overwhelm, and relied on her ‘gut feeling’ for final selections.

Design, Style & the Art of Evolution

According to Emily, a designer’s style is never static—it evolves with each project, life stage, and challenge. Her farmhouse project sharpened her appreciation for the beauty of imperfection, necessity of adaptability, and the value of “letting go.”

Embracing change. While her earlier style leaned glam and urban, the Oregon project steered her toward natural materials, organic shapes, and muted color palettes that better fit rural living.
Mixing high and low. Expensive statement pieces coexist with thrifted finds, hand-me-downs, and DIY art, creating a layered, approachable look.
Prioritizing comfort. Henderson’s rooms are designed to be lived in, favoring practical layouts and cozy textiles over rigid, untouchable décor.

Top Renovation Tips from Emily Henderson

Over the course of her farmhouse journey—and her larger career—Emily has distilled a set of actionable tips for anyone taking on a renovation:

Have a solid plan, but expect to revise it. Flexibility is more valuable than following a blueprint to the letter.
Set realistic budgets. Always allow for at least a 15-20% buffer to cover unexpected costs.
Invest in professionals you trust. A good contractor or designer can save you money and heartache in the long run.
Document progress. Keep photos and notes—it helps with accountability, problem solving, and telling your home’s story.
Don’t compare your journey to others. Every home, timeline, and family is unique.

Balancing Aesthetics and Practicality

One of Emily’s central philosophies is that beauty and function must walk hand in hand. She believes a home is truly successful when every member of the family feels welcome and at ease.

Choose materials that wear well. Henderson recommends stain-resistant fabrics, durable floors, and finishes that improve with age for a worry-free lifestyle.
Design for daily life. The farmhouse kitchen cornerstone is a practical work island, while mudrooms and ample storage address the realities of rural living (mud, mess, kids).
Flexible spaces. Think multipurpose rooms and furnishings that allow spaces to grow or morph as the family’s needs change.

Restoring for the Next Generation

Emily’s approach goes beyond her own family—she sees her work as a stewardship for the next owners, and even future generations. She remarks on the importance of using sustainable materials, minimizing waste, and leaving the home better than she found it.

Use sustainable materials whenever possible.
Prioritize timeless over trendy. This ensures the home will feel special and fresh for years to come.
Share your story. Emily documents her renovation process, in part, to inspire and educate others to take on similar projects responsibly.

Finding Joy in the Process

Perhaps the most endearing element of Emily’s farmhouse renovation journey is her capacity to find joy, humor, and perspective—even when things go wrong. She urges renovators to celebrate small victories, laugh at inevitable mishaps, and always keep sight of the privilege and adventure of creating a home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was the biggest surprise in renovating a 1910 farmhouse?

Emily notes that beneath the surface, century-old homes often hide unique structures and systems, such as knob-and-tube wiring and unusual framing. Uncovering these quirks required creative solutions and the help of skilled professionals.

How do you balance modern amenities with historic character?

Emily recommends keeping as many original features as possible—doors, windows, trim—while integrating modern conveniences discreetly. New upgrades should complement, not overshadow, the existing charm.

What’s your advice for first-time renovators?

Start small, plan for the unexpected, and do your research. Emily emphasizes setting realistic expectations and not being afraid to seek professional help.

How do you stay motivated through long or difficult renovations?

Emily advises breaking the renovation into manageable zones or phases. Celebrate progress, no matter how incremental, and share your journey with a supportive community.

Emily Henderson’s Essential Renovation Checklist

Define your vision with both mood boards and practical lists
Engage trusted professionals early
Prioritize structural and safety issues before aesthetics
Document and back up all progress and receipts
Allow spaces and plans to evolve as your needs shift

Resources and Takeaways

Emily’s farmhouse story is not just about design—it’s about life, family, and the ongoing dance between past and future. Her advice applies to projects big and small, reminding us that homes are living entities shaped as much by love and patience as by materials and blueprints. Whether you’re planning a full-scale renovation or one room refresh, Emily’s insights invite us to approach the process with both intention and flexibility.

This article is inspired by Emily Henderson’s appearance on The Better Buy podcast, produced by Better Homes & Gardens. For more home design wisdom, follow the podcast and explore additional resources at Better Homes & Gardens.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

Read full bio of medha deb