Switch to the Substack app to read the post in full – it’s too long for a regular email 🫡

I’m OVER THE MOON to report I’m about to move. That’s not usually how people react to an imminent relocation in New York – since it’s an absolute pain in the ass – but I am, simply put, delighted.

Since I moved to NYC 5 months ago, I refused to let myself accrue too much crap. After working in magazines for six years in Sydney, my apartment was filled with stuff. Piles of blushes and blow-dry brushes, pairs of unworn sneakers and more lip glosses than you can possibly imagine. It’s a very lovely problem to have, but after moving back into my parents’ house before I headed overseas, I vowed never to be that tethered to things ever again.

SO, these days, I’m running a pretty tight ship. But in my new space – which I’ll be in for at least a year (!!!!) – I’m hoping to find a middle ground: enough thoughtfully-curated bits and pieces to feel at home, but not enough that when I eventually have to move again (whenever that is) I don’t have a psychotic break.

My new place is very wood-forward: floorboards, wooden cabinets, a warm picnic-style dining table, midcentury coffee table and exposed brick wall (aka my dream), but the bedroom itself is a pretty blank space. White walls, wide, warm-toned floorboards, and a mid-back wall window.

I cannot WAIT.

The inspo

Like any good hyperfixater, I’ve obviously got a Pinterest board for the new room. But the through-lines convene upon the edges of mid-century modern and Parisian chic, with Danish-inspired colourful accents (I hate myself, honestly). I like mixing different kinds of wood, with silver accent pieces, and I want it to be cosy, playful and fresh, without feeling overly designed or try-hard.

Here are a couple of pins I’ve saved that are guiding my decisions:

You get the idea.

Other points of reference:

The lovely Ali Whittle, who writes Smooth Brain Thoughts (one of my favourite Substacks!) has a baby blue room in her Sydney home that is just gorgeous. I love how Ali uses bold colours in a way that feels peaceful and fun, rather than overwhelming. You can see photos of it here.

Zahli from @by_zahli does the CUTEST edits of fun bit inexpensive home decor, so I’ll be taking notes (give her a follow!)

Also, fully aware this is a grocery store and not a bedroom, but I think the design of Alison Roman’s First Bloom Corner Store in Bloomville, NY is just divine. The wood, tulips and stained-glass light shade?! Cosy but fresh.

What I have

I am inheriting a few pieces, which will be great while I’m sorting myself out. Including:

• A silver drum-shaped bedside table

• A white IKEA desk (with either cover with wood-grain contact paper or just sack it and get a wooden desk)

• A mid-century, cafe-style desk chair

• A monstera plant

I am bringing:

• A huge mirror with metal accents

• 4x pieces of art

• About 10,000 photos of friends/family

• A glass jewellery dish + perfumes

• Candles + vases

• A shit tonne of books

• These mustard and warm white striped sheets from Sheet Society

• A French press

Jury’s still out on my chest of drawers, which I bought on FB Marketplace when first moved into this place. I really love it and it’s great for storage, but quite big? And a huge pain to move? But there’s a long flight of stairs on the other end, so either way, I’ll have to carry something up there.

On the shopping list

The goal is to get as much as possible from thrift stores/FB Marketplace, so I won’t necessarily purchase all of the below. BUT they serve as a useful moodboard for what I’m hunting down. I want to buy nice, quality pieces that don’t break the bank. No Temu or Shein. Amazon permitted.

#1. Curtains

There are shutters on the bedroom window, but I’m pretty keen to get some sort of floaty curtain to hang in front. The current shortlist:

• Urban Outfitters Solid Balloon Bow Window Valance Panel in Cream– $44

• Urban Outfitters Peekaboo Voile 2-Piece Window Panel in Blush – $29

• Urban Outfitters Roman Shade Window Panel in Ivory – $49

• Urban Outfitters Waterfall Ruffle Window Panel in White or Mauve Morn– $69

• Quince Cotton Sheer Curtain Set (Set of 2) in Ivory – $59

It may be nice to introduce some colour here to get me through the grey winter months?

#2. Bedside/accent table

I’m pretty into the silver one I’m inheriting, but may use it as a table for the monstera, or swap it out entirely. With that in mind, here are some cool bedside tables I’ve saved, for consideration:

• Wayfair Square Wrought Iron Sofa Side Table – $99

• Beth Bath & Beyond Modern Metal Round Side Table – $58.38

• Wayfair Ekta Iron Tray Top End Table – $49.99

• Urban Outfitters Jones Ribbed Iron Storage Side Table in Oxblood – $159

• Urban Outfitters Rue Round Storage Nightstand – $279

• Banaco Metal 3-Tier Square Side Table – $158

• Urban Outfitters Fern Tiered Side Table – $199

#3. Lighting

NO big lights in this bedroom. Well, obviously there is one, but I want to have enough light sources that the top light is largely unnecessary.

• Zara Home Monochrome Cordless Table Lamp in Silver or Maroon– $59.90

• West Elm x Emma Chamberlain Faceted Plug-In Sconce (7”) – $149 (You can find my edit of this collab here)

• Urban Outfitters XL Globe Floor Lamp – $249

• MoMa Design Store Snowman Table Lamp – $299

#4. Other bits

• West Elm x Emma Chamberlain Pigeon Glasses Holder – $35

• Zara Home Wooden Tray Mobile Holder in Maroon – $59.90 (could go with the Zara cordless lamp?)

• HAY Design Barro bowl in Light Blue or Burgundy – $49 (nice for jewellery?)

• Finnish Design Shop Steel Cup Trio coffee cup set – $43.50

• OR this Zara Home Steel Mug, Spoon and Tray set – $34.90

• MoMA I ❤️ NY Cup – $19 (Sue me, it’s cute)

• Zara Home Glass Bottle and Tumbler Bedside Set – $39.90 (would the square glass piss me off? Highly likely)

I’m also in the market for:

• A rug

• A projector

• A book/display shelf (maybe this one from Boden?)

I’d love any recommendations for great stores (bricks and mortar or online!) to find furniture and other home decor in New York. Are there any great brands I’m sleeping on? Stoop sales or markets I should be aware of? Accounts I should follow? Any and all tips are very welcome!

More from me soon – including updates on the bedroom and move <3

Hx

It’s 38 degrees Celsius and humid in a way that’s usually only possible when it’s actively raining. There’s not a lick of breeze in my neighbourhood, despite being so close to the East River, and for three days now, there’s been barely a drop in temperature, even overnight.

Despite growing up in Sydney, summer in New York is really fucking hot.

It seems insane that a city that drops to -15 during winter can also hit 40 degrees in July. But according to my quick Google search, New York is one of America’s many victims of the ‘urban heat island’ effect – meaning all the concrete and densely-packed, tall metal buildings absorb and trap heat while the sun’s up, and slowly release it at night. There’s also limited airflow, which causes the heat to hang around, ready to suffocate you the second you step out of the air conditioning.

This is my first summer in NYC, but after enduring two separate heatwaves – including the city’s hottest day in 14 years (100°F!!!) – and sky-high temps for months, I feel qualified enough to comment.

So, here is your five-step guide to surviving a heatwave in New York, from an expat who’s trying her best to do the same.

#1. Buy a hand-held fan

Not the sexiest rec to start us off, but an important one. When there’s no airflow, you have to BYO. And I can tell you with full certainty, you will live and die by your fan in this city – especially on the subway.

If you want to splurge, I suggest the ChillPill Hand-Held Fan from Shark. It’s $149 USD, so definitely an investment, but when the city’s this hot, it’s worth it. My friend Amber has one and it’s saved me from at least two potential fainting spells – and we’re only two months in.

For $99, you could opt for the Dyson HushJet Portable Mini Cool Fan, which kind of looks like a demogorgon, or the Portable Neck Fan from the MoMA Design Store, for $38. If you’re a multi-tasker, you could go for this Portable Mini Fan and Powerbank for $30, also from the Design Store. I’m also pretty keen on this JisuLife Handheld Fan 10S for $29.99, which has 4.7 stars.

I GUESS you could use a paper fan. But the waving movement will eventually warm you up, which is kind of the opposite of the point.

So, buy one, take it with you everywhere, and don’t forget to charge it/keep spare batteries around.

#2. Pay for pool access

As a born and raised Sydneysider, I wither and die if I don’t have access to a body of water. And that has actually been one of the hardest things about moving to this concrete jungle, which has mostly been a joy.

If you don’t have easy access to a pool, the first step is finding someone who does. A mate with a Soho House membership would be great for this. A mate with a pool in their building would be even better.

If you belong to a particularly lush gym – Equinox at Domino Park or Hudson Yards – you’ll probably get access to a pool there (jealous). You could also book time at a sauna and sack off the sauna part in favour of sitting in the cold plunge pool.

But if, like me, none of the above options are currently available (or that appealing, re: cold plunge) then the answer, I’ve discovered, is Resort Pass. Pretty much what it says on the tin, Resort Pass is a booking platform for pools all over the city. Hotels, spas, bathhouses and gyms – all spots you otherwise wouldn’t be able to enter without a membership or a night’s stay. It’s a genius idea and while many of the pools are exorbitantly priced, there are deals for those brave enough to dig.

My last tip: one of the best pools in the city is Bathhouse in Williamsburg. It’s not currently listed on Resort Pass, so you’ll have to book it directly, but it’s worth it. My friend Amber and I went at 9pm (cheapest and quietest time slot) and watched the sunset from the fresh comfort of the rooftop pool. We were there for hours, and finished our visit with a dip in the hot spas inside, all for a cool $40. Mid heatwave? Priceless.

#3. Have a fling

One of the best things I’ve done this summer is go completely batshit crazy over a boy. My psychosis only lasted a couple of days, but man was it an intoxicating high, and a devastating blow.

If I can admit to any addiction, it’s to having a crush. I love it – and I know myself well enough at this point to say it with my chest. You know that meme that’s like ‘I could survive the apocalypse if I had a crush on someone there’? Me as fuck. When Holly Berckelman has a crush, the lights come back on. I start flouncing around like Serena van der Woodsen (am yet to throw my phone in the bin), and doing embarrassing shit like dancing to Daylight by Taylor Swift on camera (currently residing in my hidden folder).

Before this recent crush, there was a serious lack of crushing in my life, and the best part is it caught me completely by surprise. Stealth crush!!! Incredible.

Anyway, my point is there’s no better time nor place to have a crush than summer in New York City. The days are long and languid. The nights are sticky and fuelled by frozen margaritas and heat stroke. It makes people frisky – frenetic, even. If you’ve ever considered taking drugs, skip that and give a short-lived summer fling a whirl instead.

My suggestion: fall in love for a week. Cry at each other on the street and call it off. Have one day of sulking then get over it and go hang out with your friends.

#4. Take a risk with your wardrobe

One of the best things about New York is there’s always someone crazier than you – probably just around the corner, too.

In summer, this manifests in people wearing the weirdest shit you can imagine, which means it’s an excellent time to take a sartorial risk. Want to wear a scarf as a top? Do it! Been waiting on an opportunity to wear a sheer dress with only underwear? RIGHT NOW! Eager to master the art of the non-pirate-esque bandana? This would be the time to troubleshoot.

If it sucks? No matter. When the temps drop, you can very easily claim heat-induced, temporary insanity. Plus, everyone else will be so preoccupied with trying not to faint, they won’t even register your weird outfit.

Hop on Pinterest, find some inspo, and give things a go. It’s summer, let loose and have fun with your clothes. They’re made to be worn, so wear them.

#5. Lean in, not out

A summer in New York is a privilege. Yes, a very sweaty, very volatile one, but to be in this city when all is green and bright and beautiful is a gift I’ve waited my whole life to receive. And because New York really is unlike anywhere else on earth, the city does summer its own way.

During a heatwave, you can walk into any fire station and get a free spray cap, which clips onto the fire hydrants scattered around the city, and turns them into sprinklers for people to walk through, lie under or dance in. Why the cap? Because it’s safer, and also means you won’t drop the neighbourhood water pressure, or waste 1000+ gallons of water per minute. Where else would anything as weird and wonderful exist?

This is what I mean. New York is nuts. Summer in New York is nuts. Lean IN and enjoy it for what it is.

Go somewhere like Ray’s Hometown Bar in Greenpoint, which serves FROZEN GIN AND TONICS❗ or head to Lai Rai – a Vietnamese wine bar in the LES that specialises in natural wine and niche-flavoured gelato. Yes, alcohol will dehydrate you. At least these experiences will cool you down and delight you in the process.

If you’re not a drinker, fortunately, the city is more obsessed with frozen yoghurt than ever before, with new fro-yo bars popping up almost every week. There’s even probiotic fro-yo now if, god forbid, the mere act of sparking joy (and trying not to pass out) isn’t reason enough.

If you like your gelato with probiotics too, I suggest the Greek yoghurt, honey and almond ice cream from Figo. It will blow your mind.

#6. Get the hell out of the city

If all else fails, it’s time to get the fk out of the city. Whether it’s a day, a weekend or a week, any time you can spend away from the Gotham metropolis will give you back a year of your life (unproven).

For the Fourth of July weekend I jetted up to Milford, Connecticut and had the most wonderful weekend by the sea. Did the water compare to what Sydney’s cooking up? Not even a bit. But being neck-deep in water brought me back to life – even the sinister-looking flotsam couldn’t get me down. Can you tell I’m a water sign?

Other options include:

• The Hamptons, Long Island

• Rockaway Beach, Queens

• Upstate NY (anywhere with a lake and an Adirondack chair)

• The Jersey Shore, NJ

The best part? New York is a wonderful city to come back to. And while you might be chomping at the bit for a city break, the second you get out you’ll remember why you love it so much – suffocating heat be damned.

Note: Switch to the Substack app to read the post in full – it’s too long for a regular email 🫡

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Note: Switch to the Substack app to read the post in full – it’s too long for a regular email 🫡

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