I spent last week in East Hampton, full-time caring for my daughter with help from my parents. It was special, but I wouldn’t call it restful. I had almost no energy for anything extra — every night my head hit the pillow and I was done for. This is the choice for so many mothers: stay home (the hardest job there is) or work and spend your life trying and failing to balance everything. Both demand so much, I often wonder how all these mothers are still standing. But yesterday, with help at home and one less thing (work) off my plate, I was brimming with energy even after bath, bedtime, and cooking dinner. Who was this person? I didn't recognize her. The sad reality is she won't stick around for long.

I don’t fully know what I’m getting at here, other than that it feels incredible to slow down and actually experience the life you’re living. I’d love to figure out how to feel this way more regularly — if you have the secret, please tell me. Until then, I’ll spend my numbered free days hitting museums, ducking into vintage shops, grabbing iced matchas at whatever cafe I can find, hanging with my daughter, and planning my upcoming trip. Maybe even squeeze in an end-of-summer dinner party. At the very least, I will be making a moodboard for it.

The Summer Send Off

1. The Table Linens

I am a white tablecloth loyalist, and yes, I’m digging in my heels on this one. My latest excuse for using a white tablecloth at the end-of-summer dinner party is the age-old adage that you can’t wear white after Labor Day (!!), so you’d better get it onto your table while you still can. Jokes aside, I came across this Once Milano tablecloth, which feels like the perfect white linen — I love the lace-trim border. But you don’t need to spend a fortune on white linen, and I’d actually advise against it, since white gets dirty fast. For simple linens, I like the brand Solino Home. For napkins, this new blue-and-brown style from Porta is such a great combo — appropriate for end of summer, but cool enough to carry into a fall table setting.

2. The Cutlery

My allegiance to Sabre flatware almost rivals my loyalty to white linen. I like what I like! This calico-like style called Dune is a favorite — similar in spirit to tortoiseshell, but distinct enough to feel completely its own. It’s another colorway that works for summer but can transition straight into fall; I love the idea of pairing this set with a jewel-tone napkin or tablecloth. I’m heading to Paris soon, where I will almost certainly be hitting the Sabre shop — it’s a candy store for the always-on host (not me, but I aspire to be one). If I spot this style in the wild, I might have to snatch it up.

3. The Plates

I am completely obsessed with the Porta x Tess Newall collection, particularly the Ottoline plates in Terracotta. It’s another blue-and-brown combination that carries through season to season, and the design doesn’t feel too precious — it works just as well as an everyday set if you’re looking to invest in quality dinnerware.

4. The Details

Fish silhouettes, shell details, hints of mother-of-pearl — get it in while you can. For candlelight, I have my eye on dark brown, which feels rich and moody enough to welcome the shorter days (do we welcome shorter days? We do if we have kids). Another collaboration I’m loving right now is Leanne Ford x Il Buco Vita, especially these brown beeswax tapers. The rest of the collection is just as good: the black-and-white splatterware is a yes from me.

House Stuff

Some very minor updates on the home front including some rug samples, our living room lighting fixture and a $45 vintage chandelier. Hoping to find some more vintage steals over the next couple of weeks in the NYC secondhand shops and fleas in Europe. Stay tuned!

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Pleats Please Striped Midi Length Skirt — I just consigned a bunch of things with The RealReal and opted for site credit instead of cash payout, because I’ve read your money goes further that way — annoying, but smart of them. I’m waiting for my site credit to tick up and this one to go on sale, because it’s so fun.

2. Homemade Pesto — There is no better summer recipe. Made this last night with fresh basil from a farm out east and it was perfection.

3. The Ivy Sneaker — Trying to find the best “walking in a European city” shoe. I think this might be it.

4. Pierre Frey Calypso — An incredible Pierre Frey fabric my friend Micaela sent me, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

5. Still Here Sport Jean — Tried these on in store yesterday. A perfect, comfy fit in a great color for fall.

I have grand plans for our apartment with the time I have off. Home and vintage stores I never have time to get to are on the list (looking at you Nickey Kehoe, Industry City Outlets, Horseman Antiques, Good Behavior). So are some DIY projects with leftover wallpaper — I’ve been watching a few too many TikTok tutorials, I guess. I’m also getting ready for a trip to Paris and Copenhagen, where I’ll be hitting every flea market and design shop I can squeeze into my itineraries. Any and all recommendations for these two spots, let me know!

Curtains

I was planning to wait to install curtains (because they are SO expensive…) but decided to pull the trigger for our main sleeping spaces — the primary, my daughter's room and the guest bedroom. After the chaos of the move, with boxes unpacked and things finally slowing down, I began to focus my attention outwards on all the little things I missed during the many site visits throughout the spring and early summer, like how close our apartment is to the ground (we live on the third floor) and just how much you can hear from the street (yikes !!). Our old place was tucked into a courtyard so we got a little too accustomed to pin-drop quiet and privacy.

To combat my extreme panic (type A personalities where you at), I did two things. One: I purchased blackout curtains and tension rods from Amazon — surprisingly kinda chic and also, noise muffling. Two: I bought myself ear plugs. I've been reading a lot about habituation, which is basically the ability to adapt quickly to new surroundings. Eventually your brain settles and starts to ignore things you once perceived as threats. Thank god it’s true (be still my anxious mind). But! I still highly recommend the ear plugs, not necessarily to sleep in but to get into a zen state before bed. They're kind of amazing.

Rugs

Rugs are another home item that get expensive fast, so I always try to find the good discounts where I can. For anyone in NYC, the ABC Carpet & Home Outlet in Industry City is one of the best places to search for great quality, discounted rugs. I've found a number of really great large-scale options, and I’m talking extremely nice Persian rugs, most under the $1500 price point. Other places I'm looking for discounted rugs are Chairish, specifically the vendor Casa Cosima Rugs. I've ordered from them before and was able to get the price down to 50% off. Most look like they are made-to-order so it takes some time to ship to you, but I love that they offer a range of sizes, colors and patterns to choose from.

And last but not least, Facebook Marketplace, which is really just a goldmine for everything (I think primarily based on your location and the offerings nearby you). I can't believe how many insanely discounted Nordic Knots rugs I've found, all in really good condition.

Beds + Bedding

The only furniture piece I feel like I need now is a queen-size bed for our guest bedroom. We somehow have friends and family staying with us four weekends in September and October so need to finish this space fast. Beds are something I find really hard to source. I've had recommendations for Maiden Home and Coley Home, which people seem to love, but fall on the higher range of what I'd like to spend for the guest bed. I came across the internet brand Thuma and have my eye on a few of their platform styles that feel simple and easy to fit into any kind of space. Bonus points that most of them ship within 1-3 days.

For bedding, I'm looking at Boll & Branch for comfy, crisp sheet sets that also look extremely high end. I just purchased the Percale Hemmed Sheet Set for our primary bedroom to replace our old set and will add to the hype! They feel amazing, like luxury hotel sheets. For duvets, pillows and more of the real styling items for the bedroom, I'm perusing Nickey Kehoe's duvet covers, Beata Heuman’s quilts, any thing and everything Studio Ford and Nordic Knots, which has the prettiest blue percale duvet set I've seen.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Hothouse Bloom — The description just speaks to me.

2. Bespoke Only — The only design inspo I need. Particularly this dining nook.

3. Suzie Kondi Pan Pants — I love the length and the cotton poplin is extremely comfortable. Also really cute in the brown gingham.

4. SAVED New York — The most amazing cashmere studio I came across this past weekend at Il Buco Vita.

5. Posse Esme Set — A vacation outfit I have my eye on that can transition into fall with a cozy sweater.

It’s easy to fixate on the negative when your mind is already stressed. I anxiously texted my brother—a homeowner twice over—to pile on that our purchase was one! big! mistake! He wisely offered two things: that moving is one of the most stressful life events, second only to divorce (a gross exaggeration, I’m sure, but you get it), and that a new home is like bringing home a new baby—you have to get to know it. It takes time.

I’m happy to report that almost two weeks in, the dread has completely dissipated (aside: is everyone this dramatic?). Little things still go wrong pretty much daily, but I’m learning that home-owning is mostly rolling with the punches. The good news: the place is starting to feel like home, thanks to the work we did before moving in—a full paint job, wallpaper, and a few light fixtures we managed to sneak in. I’m breaking up the decorating into phases so I don’t lose my mind and/or bankrupt my family. Here are a few things from phase one that made a real difference on move-in day.

Paint

We officially closed on our apartment on July 6th, meaning we had a little over three weeks since being handed the keys to paint, wallpaper and swap out some of the lighting fixtures. I thought this would be the easy part. I was quickly proved wrong. I decided to phone a friend (thank you, Andrea!) and got a great recommendation for a Brooklyn-based interior designer, Meagan Camp Interiors, to help with the initial design process. Best decision I could have made, for two reasons. One: Meagan knew exactly where to source in-stock pieces. I wanted the apartment to feel halfway finished on move-in day, so that I didn’t feel like I had an insurmountable amount of work to get done, but instead like I had a blank canvas to work with. Two: she brought in vendors who could do things I didn't even know were possible. The result: a completely transformed apartment in under a month.

Our paint was all Benjamin Moore. I'd had my heart set on going exclusively Farrow & Ball, but when it came down to it, I just looked at the colors and stopped caring about the brand. The goal was to lighten up a space that had leaned heavily gray and blue (see some befores here). We swapped the cool tones for warm ones—mostly cream and beige for the main living spaces, a pop of olive green in the kitchen, and fun bursts of color in the bathrooms (peachy pink) and on the bedroom trims (muted green, orange-y pink). I love how it all turned out.

Medallions

Medallions feel like an insider secret I should be gatekeeping. I first came across newly installed ones when I wrote this feature on Madison Snider Podpirka’s gorgeous Fewer Finer Townhouse in Williamsburg. I was immediately taken by the medallions in her space and assumed they were original to the building—but Maddie let me know she’d actually purchased and installed them herself. That opened up a whole new world for me.

After our first walkthrough, Meagan suggested we install similar ones as a way to bring back some historical character to our apartment, which was built in 1920. Shockingly, medallions turned out to be the cheapest line item in our entire budget—the smaller ones start at just $50 (!!). It’s the easiest, most affordable way to elevate a home. If you are on the fence about it, I’m telling you to do it.

Wallpaper

I’ve already written about a lot of our wallpaper selections in moodboards 3+4, 5+6 and 7+8. We ordered every roll from Sandberg Wallpaper which is a Swedish wallpaper company with some of the most gorgeous designs. I had heard of Sandberg, but never really thought twice about using the prints in my own home preferring to go with Schumacher, Howe, Pierre Frey—in my mind, the design darlings of the wallpaper world. But unfortunately (or fortunately, in this case) my options were limited to brands with in-stock inventory, so I narrowed it down to a few Sandberg prints for the guest bathroom, guest bedrooms (here and here), primary bedroom, and nursery.

The Ottilia print in misty blue, in our bedroom, has been the showstopper of the whole apartment. It's also the one I was most on the fence about—and the actual reason our move got delayed, because I refused to give it the green light. A healthy combination of crowdsourcing opinions from friends and just getting sick of my own indecision finally got me to pull the trigger. And wow, it's absolutely stunning.

Lighting Fixtures

Lighting is still a work in progress. We’re currently living with a lot of hanging bulbs since most of the original lighting fixtures don’t fit with the medallions we hung in all the rooms. That and we hit our interior budget pretty quickly and lighting was the first thing to get cut from the list. Which is fine, honestly, because I’ve hit real decision fatigue at this point in the process, and choosing between a dozen lighting options is one of the last things I want to be doing right now. You know it’s time to step back when the thing you love starts to feel like a chore.

We did manage three lighting purchases before hitting pause: fixtures now up in the office, the primary bedroom, and (soon) the living room. All three came from in-stock options—Lulu and Georgia (sneaky good lighting!), Visual Comfort (the reigning lighting retailer), and Soho Home (another reliably good source).

So much more to come, but for now, we take a beat.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Staud Mateo Linen Pants — I’m so sick of summer dressing but I am thinking about pulling the trigger on this pair of linen pants which I feel like can easily transition from summer to fall. I love the rich brown color.

2. Bode Lasso Tee — I’m saving all my money for home things but if I were not…I’d be saving for things from the Bode fall collection.

3. Skall Gaby Jacket — LOL to me saying I’m not shopping right now, I’m really not! BUT I got an email from Skall yesterday announcing their new fall collection and had to take a peak. I have this jacket in black and I love it so much, it’s the perfect fall barn jacket. Obsessed with the new yellow and brown colors. The short style is great too.

4. Tehran — Friends recently recommended this show and my husband and I are hooked. If you love a good spy thriller, this one is for you.

5. Aerin Scallop Shower Curtain — I just bought this shower curtain to match the blue tiling in my daughter’s bathroom and this mirror. It’s adorable and the perfect thickness.

Sharing some final moodboards for the last two rooms in our new space. In the coming weeks, I hope to share how the rooms actually turned out, plus what I learned along the way in my (wildly unrealistic) attempt to update the space in a little less than three weeks….been watching a little too much HGTV, I guess. A few small things to leave you with before then: no, cosmetic-only isn’t the shortcut you’d think it is. No, wallpaper and paint samples don’t just show up in a few days. And yes, nothing looks the way it does in the photos online. But! We prevail.

Moodboard #7: Girl’s Room

The most up-to-date room in our current apartment is my daughter’s which I finished two years ago. I wrote about some of the design choices in one of my earlier sends here. I love her room (still) and will be keeping much of it the same as we move into our new space. The things now entering the equation will be some colorful curtains, a fun lighting fixture and wallpaper. I don’t really have any inspiration to go off of for this room because I already have a lot of things I like. I have however, looked at lots and lots of nurseries with red trim and pops of red to get a sense for how wallpaper will look against our already chosen red-ish/pink paint trim. I love this scene from Studio Humbug’s Instagram and have this kind of color scheme in mind for the space.

1. An Extremely Playful Wallpaper — If you’ve been reading this series, you’ve seen a lot of Sandberg recs. That’s because I’ve found it to be more affordable than some high end styles and it’s all in stock, which has been the challenge of this whole process. I landed on this design because I love Ottoline wallpaper and I like how this Sandberg pattern pulls off a similar aesthetic to the Madame Ziggle style. Fingers crossed it works!

2. A Colorful Chandelier — My daughter’s room is a mix of reds and pinks and I’ve been thinking about a red lighting fixture to add to the mix. One thing (of many) I have learned during this process is that rooms with not a lot of windows (in this case, one) need more lightbulbs to distribute more overhead light. I’m normally drawn to pendants and flush mounts, but have been steered in the direction of chandeliers to brighten the room. Loving this vintage style found on Etsy.

3. A Bobbin Mirror — This is something I already have in my daughter’s room and absolutely love. It’s the perfect shade of red and the bobbin style adds an interesting shape to the room. I have it placed above her changing table and I’m happy to report that she loves it too. It’s currently sold out in the red, but the burgundy is just as pretty.

4. Contrast Curtains — I’m thinking about contrasting the dark pink in the wallpaper and wall trim to a dark red with the curtains. This is something I’ll decide on down the road because I really think you need to live with the paint and wallpaper before adding on the decor elements to actually get a sense for how things will look. Plus, I have decision-making fatigue. But! I do love this style from Studio Humbug.

Moodboard #8: The Flex Room

We have an extra room in the apartment which we’re planning to use as another small office space that will also flex into a guest bedroom. We decided to paint the official office in a pistachio green to give it a more masculine (ish) vibe, so with this room, I’m going full feminine with a floral wallpaper. It’s an extremely tiny space so we will be wallpaper enveloping to make it feel even more cozy. I love the office— particularly the paint trim to floral wallpaper contrast — in Heidi Caillier’s East Hampton project. We’ll be going for a similar look with a muted floral print and a sage green trim.

1. A Floral Print — I had my heart set on Howe’s Little F Wallpaper in Tutti, but the small scale of the print and the very colorful design felt overwhelming in this room with again, very little light. This Sandberg style has a similar effect, but at a scale that feels right for the space. I also like that it’s more ‘grown up’ and can flex into a refined guest bedroom easily.

2. A Vintage Writing Desk — I’ve been hunting the secondhand sites for something stylish but small enough to fit into the very small amount of space in this room. I absolutely love the look (and color) of this Scandinavian Extendable Writing Table. This one is too big, so I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for a similar mini desk if I can find it.

3. The Perfect Pull Out Sofa — A lot of you reached out to me last week with suggestions of where to find a great sofa — thank you!!! I’m going to do a similar thing here and attempt to crowd source for a sleeper version. Where are we finding the good ones!? This one from Maiden Home actually looks comfortable, with a good selection of material and color options.

4. A Pretty Flush Mount — I’m going against what I said above about multiple lightbulbs for dark rooms here with this ceiling light suggestion, but I’m okay with this room reading darker and hopefully, cozier. I see these Soane Britain scallop lights in every single House & Garden home tour. I love the shape and how the brass makes it feel vintage.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. TWP Cotton Silk Organza Shirt — Have my eye on this really pretty cotton silk button down with the matching pants to wear as a set for an upcoming event. The color is perfect to transition into fall.

2. Jessie Bush’s Nursery Reveal — Timely! Love all the blue, especially the checkered rug.

3. Matilda Goad Pearl Oval Mirror — Just pulled the trigger on this in pale blue for my daughter’s bathroom which has a light pink paint and blue tiling. Going for an overall beach-y effect.

4. Monastery Skincare — A friend just gave me this skincare to try. The packaging is so gorgeous and the product is incredibly luxurious. I love the Rose Cleansing Oil which has quickly become a new favorite.

5. Smart Lightbulbs — I might be the last person to know that these existed. A very easy way to achieve dimmer lights in your home without an electrician!

I’m embarrassed to admit that this is the third time our apartment has flooded. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me a third time and…I mean what the efffff are we still doing here??? What I’ve been asking myself since Saturday. To our credit, the building had just undergone a huge construction project to re-pitch the pipes and prevent future flooding events. And the moral of the story is: to never live on the ground floor of an apartment building and especially not one with a raised courtyard.

Sunday rolled around and it was almost comically perfect weather. I took my daughter to the carousel. I looked out over the East River and noted how pretty it looked (yes, the East River) glistening in the sun with an actual breeze coming in over the water. I thought about a walk almost two years ago along the same waterfront with my great-uncle and my daughter only a month old at the time, asleep in her carrier. He asked to take our photo. Someday, he said, she’d look back on it the way he looked at old photos of himself in New York City as a boy and she would be in awe of the backdrop she had the privilege of growing up alongside. How could you possibly forget words like that?

I love all things home because I believe what you surround yourself with shapes how you feel. But what surrounds you can be undone in an instant…stuff comes and goes or is ruined by things you can't control, and none of it really matters. What does matter, what actually has staying power, is your backdrop: the place, the people and the community you get to call home. New York is one of the most iconic there is. I still feel in awe to live here, despite how much of an actual pain it is. Despite living in apartment buildings that flood every couple of years. It’s the dream. Or so I keep telling myself.

Moodboard #5: The Living Room

I'm normally someone who hates a neutral color palette. The quiet luxury, millennial minimalism thing has never been for me. But! I'm making an exception for the living room. It's the main living area in our new apartment, and it's unfortunately a little cavernous — the kitchen steals all the light (which is more important to me anyway). So I'm trying to warm it up with neutrals. We just painted the walls a cream, which has already helped to soften the space. I've had the living room from Cathy Horyn's dreamy farmhouse in Virginia stuck in my head and am trying to recreate that same calming effect: neutrals as the backdrop, with pops of color coming through in the textiles.

1. A Beige Linen Sofa — Where do people buy good sofas? Restoration Hardware is the only destination I can think of for quality linen couches. I love their Belgian Track Arm Sectional, which feels more grown-up and refined than our current Cloud Couch. I’m not exactly going for refined with a toddler around who loves to lounge on the couch eating fruit and wiping her hands on everything, but I’d love for this room to be the one area of the house with a slightly more sophisticated vibe. We’ll see how long it holds up.

2. A Pretty, High-Hanging Pendant — We have a built-in media console that will house the TV, which limits our lighting options: if it’s too low or too large it will obstruct the view. I’ve seen these plaster tulip lights everywhere (particularly in Europe) and never pictured them in my own space, but this style feels perfect for this room. Decorative without being distracting, and it hangs in exactly the right spot.

3. Marigold Drapes — I’d love to do custom, more formal drapes for the living room windows. I was recently introduced to the textile house Studio Four and have been mining their site for fabric inspiration. I love their yellow-y, marigold prints, especially the Posey Print and the Crochet Lace design.

4. A Fun Cocktail Ottoman — Ottomans are another piece I struggle to source, so if you have recommendations, please comment! I love the idea of a patterned cocktail ottoman to break up all the neutral. This vintage French style is the inspiration, but way too pricey so I’ll hold out for something much cheaper on auction sites or Facebook Marketplace.

Moodboard #6: The Primary Bedroom

I originally planned to paint the bedroom, but the more I pinned, the more I found myself gravitating toward print-heavy primary bedrooms. Give me anything Heidi Caillier — particularly the blue bedroom from her East Newton project. I love how wallpaper makes a space feel really cozy and I think ours will get there through the print and the overall blue palette…which I’m hoping lands zen rather than too saturated.

1. Sandberg’s Ottilia Wallpaper in Misty Blue — We landed on this floral for the primary bedroom. It has a neutral backdrop, which I hope will help to make the room feel open (not too closed in). There are also some really great bay windows in the bedroom we’re planning to trim in dark green for contrast against the print. It goes up this week! I read somewhere that everyone gets a flash of buyer’s remorse after wallpapering, but that you’re always just three days from loving it. Fingers crossed on this one!!

2. Fabric Pendant — I’m looking for something soft for the bedroom lighting. Our current apartment is full of industrial, modern fixtures, and I don’t think I realized how much that hardens a space until now. Excited to try a fabric pendant instead. I love this one because I feel like it can really go anywhere.

3. Fabric Sconces — I’ve gotten really into Swedish mid-century design while hunting for this apt…no era/location does lighting better. I found a few great fabric sconces on 1stDibs that I’m now using as inspiration to search for cheaper options elsewhere and specifically holding out for a trip to Europe later this summer to see what I can bring back. Until then, Lulu and Georgia is a surprisingly good source for nice, affordable lighting. These are a near-perfect dupe for original mid-century Swedish pine wall sconces.

4. The Perfect Blue Bedding — Using this move as an excuse to finally replace our bedding. I’m hunting for the right shade of blue — not too blue, not too grey — to fit the palette. I love this chambray set from Nickey Kehoe and am still working out the right quilt combo to layer on top for contrast.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. The New Valesque Collection — I love their bucket tote, but it’s been out of stock in the colors I like for a while. I’m really trying not to shop (saving for apartment things), but when I saw my beloved L’Ensemble post the Fall/Winter collection, I had to pop over and take a peek. I walked away with a really pretty pearl color, but they had SO many amazing new mini bag styles in crushed velvet, all in the $200 range…perfect evening bags!

2. Studio Humbug — My friend Meg turned me onto this UK-based textile studio. I already ordered a bunch of fabric samples to check out for roman shades in our kitchen. I love the Wasabi style.

3. Whistler — My latest read. Big Ann Patchett fan (nothing will ever compare to Tom Lake) and I’m loving this right now.

4. This 1stDibs Seller — I look solely for inspiration and reverse Google image searches because nothing is under $2,000, but the finds are amazing.

5. Haley Nahman’s Latest — I just love her. Sometimes I feel like I think about, talk about, write about motherhood too much — to the point where I annoy myself and feel insufferable!! I read this and felt a little (a lot) validated.

At its core, Darling is a children’s apparel boutique, and a very good one — it carries some of the best brands in the category. But it’s also one of the only storefronts in Brooklyn (and Manhattan to my knowledge) housing a serious collection of vintage home goods for adults and kids including but not limited to a perfect mid-century Swedish hutch, painted wooden children’s chairs and probably the most detailed antique dollhouse you’ll ever see. And that’s by design. Rachel and Michelle are trained vintage hunters, sourcing since childhood, and vintage (particularly children’s vintage) is the foundation the whole store was built on.

I’ve had Darling on my radar for a while, so I was really excited to meet Rachel at my friend Taylor’s Coco Shop pop-up at the store this past spring. One conversation was enough to tell how much she loved vintage — and I’m thrilled she and Michelle were down to share their vintage tips and tricks for the second installment of The Vintage Vault here.

An interview with Rachel Jones Bellas and Michelle Friend Sternlicht

Most people know Darling as the destination for children’s clothing in Brooklyn, but it’s also a treasure trove for vintage home items. How did you each get into vintage, and was vintage sourcing always part of the plan for Darling?

R: Vintage has always been a part of the plan for Darling. It was one of the first things that Michelle and I talked about when dreaming up the store. My love of vintage started early. My mom has been a vintage and antique aficionado my whole life, she would wake up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays to shop garage sales with her best friend, and I would beg to tag along. And from there I found my style as a teenager in a small town by hunting the racks at the Salvation Army. So when I had children, of course I would be dressing them in vintage!

M: Also super into thrifting and markets as a teen in California— always loved finding special pieces and loved the hunt too. My kids are dressed in vintage 90% of the time. Part of the inspiration for Darling was to share those super special finds with the community.

Darling is such a gorgeous space. Can you tell me more about the design process for the store?

As with most design projects we started with a moodboard, pulling images that captured a playful, whimsical world that also spoke to the sophisticated tastes of parents. We hunted for the furniture pieces that had beautiful details but that didn’t compete with the decorative artwork we knew we wanted on the walls. We worked with local artist Aislinn Forbes to develop the design for the border of the room. We then sought out accessories that felt unexpected and joyful. Our favorite piece is a yellow vintage Italian mirror sculpted like a ribbon in the style of Fausto Melotti (similar here). It’s such a special piece. One of our team members picked it up in New Jersey and carried it back on New Jersey transit with no wrapping. We were holding our breath.

We also felt it was important that everything in our store be for sale! Though it’s sad to part with these favorite pieces, we love knowing that they’re going to a special home and it helps to keep the store looking fresh. We do offer children’s bedroom decorating services as well.

Walk me through your sourcing map for the shop — which dealers, markets, auction sites, estate sales, or overseas trips do you lean on most?

We do an annual sourcing trip to France. We find so many beautiful pieces and inspiration on this trip. We have some great relationships with dealers who are constantly sourcing for us. We of course love going to Saint Ouen and Vanves to see who’s there as well.

Here in the states we love a trip to Brimfield and we go twice a year. Otherwise flea markets and estate sales are on our agenda everywhere we travel.

Was there a piece you hunted the longest for before you found the right version — for the shop or yourselves?

We searched forever for our cash wrap and when we were in Brimfield we met a man who had shipped this particular piece from Europe. We knew it was the one.

Of everything you’ve each collected for your own homes, what’s the find you’re proudest of?

R: I knew we wanted a piano in our home, and I hunted for months on online auctions for an old one. I wasn’t even able to articulate what I wanted it to look like, but figured I would know it when I saw it. When I came across the perfect one, the auction was the following day, and I was unable to visit the piano in person. I called the auction house and asked a million questions, but they could not tell me if it would play. I took a crazy chance and bid on it sight unseen and won it for $300. And amazingly it only needed to be tuned!

M: I just bought an antique glass case to house my vintage colored glassware collection. The case is the perfect size and shape for the little nook where it lives next to my kitchen. I live in a converted church and the lines of the case mirror the lines in the architecture of my home. It was a million pounds and my husband helped huff it up three flights of stairs!!

Any search habits or tricks? Specific platforms, search terms, dealers — anything you’d pass on to more successfully shop for vintage?

We always make sure to seek out clothing items in natural fabrics to help ensure their longevity and the wearer’s comfort.

Whose taste are you obsessed with right now?

We love and are inspired by the work of Beata Heuman, Maryam Keyhani, Christopher Moore, John Derian, Thank You Have A Good Day, Line Sander, and Reve DeGosse. Also West Murray, a long time collector of children’s antiques who had an incredible store in SoHo in the 80s. She has an insane collection of kids’ vintage dating back to the Civil War. It belongs in a museum.

Rapid fire!

• Favorite flea or fair: Hard to say, we find the best stuff just bopping in and around Paris.

• Favorite era for furniture?

  • R: Right now, mid-century Scandinavian.

  • M: Currently art deco.

• A piece you’re hunting for right now?

  • M: Queen size bed frame (a vintage challenge).

  • R: The perfect umbrella stand.

• A bucket list piece?

  • R: Decorative Murano glass mirror.

  • M: Antique wood stools for my kitchen.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Tane Organics — The sweetest baby brand discovered on my latest visit to Darling.

2. Josef Frank Pendant Light — Searching high and low for a fabric pendant light like this one for my daughter’s room, but less price restrictive.

3. Porta x Tess Newall Ottoline Collection — Love the patterns on the new Porta collection in collaboration with decorative artist Tess Newall.

4. TWP Small Red Tarp Bag — I am completely obsessed with this red tote that doubles as a clutch. It’s a little on the pricey side but the ability to use it two ways drives down your cost per wear! It’s also made from extremely durable tarp and leather meaning it withstands any wear and tear.

5. In Season Peaches — Have a chokehold on me this time of year. Use them in oatmeal for breakfast or in the very classic peach cobbler recipe from this vintage cookbook, which is…not at all healthy…but it’s the best cobbler you’ll ever have.

Back to reality this week with a very real life milestone — we officially closed on our apartment yesterday! It’s been a long time coming and I’m so excited to put down roots somewhere and design a space that I love. We're deep in paint, wallpaper, and lighting decisions now, racing to lock it all in before we move at the end of the month. More before-and-afters to come but for now, sharing the ideas rattling around in my head for furnishing the space.

Moodboard #3: The Office

Our new place has a tiny room off the kitchen that we're planning to use as an office. It's a small space with lots of edges and corners, so I've been trying to figure out ways to soften it up. Wallpaper helps smooth out the corners, while paint tends to make them more pronounced — so I'm on the hunt for a minimal wallpaper in the right color for the space (love this reference image from Beata Heuman but thinking we’ll go with a green). Until I find what I'm looking for, I'm focused on softer furniture and decorative pieces in oaks and sleek shapes to make the room feel less serious.

1. A Sleek Desk — I’m hunting for the perfect sleek (narrow) desk to fit our small space, but one that also feels like a statement piece. I love this 1950s Axel Einar Hjorth style with the layered look and fun hardware. You can make it even more unique by switching up the hardware with something cool from Petra Hardware.

2. An Interesting Floating Shelf — In my dream space, I’d have enough room for a proper bookshelf, but a floating shelf will have to do for the tiny room we’re working with in our Brooklyn Heights spot. I found this cool vintage style in Nickey Kehoe’s current vintage drop — a reverse Google image search easily turns up a lot of cheaper options. I don’t love too much matching wood, so I’m gravitating towards an acorn color to pair with the oak desk.

3. A Comfy Statement Chair — A proper reading chair is an absolute must for our new space, preferably tucked away in a room farthest from the TV, which is somehow playing in my household at all times (thanks to my husband). I’m still thinking about an iconic Eames Lounge Chair because they are SO comfortable. But I also love the idea of finding a comfy style with a foot rest and reupholstering it in a fun print to add some pattern to the office. I found this style on 1stDibs (but any vintage shop would have something similar for way less) and used Gemini to visualize it reupholstered in Josef Frank’s Textile Mirakel print. Budget permitting, this is the option I’m going with.

4. A Colorful Area Rug — I purchased this great flatweave rug by the seller Casa Cosima Rugs on Chairish for my daughter’s room a few months ago. It’s in a vibrant red stripe and is such a good pop of color in a space. I’m planning to repurpose it for our office since it’s the perfect size to fill the room. Pro Tip: I bid on the piece and got it for almost 50% off. I’ve learned to never pay full price on vintage/secondhand sites — sellers will almost always accept your lowball offer!

Moodboard #4: The Guest Bedroom

There is a den off the kitchen with a sliding door that's currently being used as a kid's space, which we're planning to convert into a guest bedroom. I'm thinking of a yellow color palette for the room, since it's one of the rooms in the apartment that gets the most natural light. Plus, yellow plays well with the cream we're doing in the living room, which gives the whole apartment a nice flow. The challenge will again be furnishing the small space and fitting in everything you need to make a guest bedroom feel homey. I love this reference image from Lucy Williams' London townhouse and have been keeping a blue in mind as a contrast color.

1. A Muted Yellow Wallpaper — I’ve only ever lived in rentals, so I’m taking full advantage of being a homeowner and using as much wallpaper in the apartment as one can stand. I was recently introduced to the wallpaper company Sandberg by my friend Maddie (who writes a great Substack called Five Fine Things) and have fallen in love with this striped yellow style for the guest space. It’s the perfect scale of stripe and also a great sandy yellow — playful, but the color makes it more refined for a guest room.

2. A Statement Pendant Light — I am indecisive when it comes to lighting fixtures. There are so many amazing vintage and antique options that I find it overwhelming to choose. So I didn’t…for this room. For anyone not in the mood to hunt for vintage (or bother with an electrician), Visual Comfort and Hudson Valley Lighting Group are great destinations for new lighting fixtures. I lean towards colorful, more whimsical styles for lighting (I feel like they should function as art!) and love the look of this brass star pendant, which adds some interest to the space.

3. A Small Space Dresser — I am so predictable with the mid-century Danish furniture, but I just find it so sweet looking and also, so well made. I love this oak style with curved edges and long drawers to accommodate just the right amount of clothes so that your guests don’t overstay their welcome!!

4. Very Narrow Nightstands — I am looking for minuscule nightstands to fit in this space but also add a needed design element. These ones from 1stDibs are perfect but way too expensive, and a reverse Google image search is only turning up ones from the big box stores, so I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled in local vintage shops for the narrowest of nightstands.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. LouLou de Saison Roll Neck Sweater — I stumbled upon this very on sale sweater in a boutique in East Hampton last week and had to have it. I am big on oversized, long sweaters that cut in the right spot to wear with wide-legged pants. This style is the perfect cream and in a soft linen-silk fabric great for summer. It’s such a winner.

2. Beata Heuman Chintz — Absolutely love the gorgeous new chintz print she dropped last week. Would be such a pretty fabric to work with for custom curtains or pillows.

3. The Correspondent — Another trendy read and another book I finished in a week. Do not be deterred by the letter-writing style. It’s almost even easier to follow the storyline…and more fun.

4. Suzie Kondi Atlas Shorts — A bit pricey for shorts, but the fit is so amazing and the material is a perfect cotton twill. I got the white and red pair which is sold out on their site, but the black pair is great too and a color you can dress up or down!

5. Hereu Leather Trimmed Tote — I got this bag in the mesh version a few years ago and have worn it constantly this summer — perfect size, light enough to haul around all day. They discontinued the mesh (unfortunately), but the cotton version is just as good, and it comes with a zipped pouch for cards and the small stuff.

If you’re thinking about hosting a Fourth celebration this year then I think the only way is to go full-on Americana vintage. Partly because the colonial-esque, country vibes are the most distinctly Fourth of July thing I can think of. Partly because vintage gives you the right amount of kitsch without veering into cheesy territory. And partly because it’s exactly suited to what the day (and night) calls for…a picnic spread or a cookout…a table begging to get a little messy. I love the idea of leaning into the nostalgia instead of chasing something too precious. Nothing is worse than a chic Fourth of July.

After all, we’re celebrating 250 years…feels like the right moment to be a little sentimental about it!!

Fourth of July Fête

1. The Table Linens

For the Fourth of July I suggest you lean in HARD to the ginghams and the overall picnic vibe. It's not difficult to find a gingham tablecloth out there, but the good ones are made in quality linens with saturated color and the right scale of pattern. For ginghams that look chic and level up what your grandmother was working with, look no further than Heather Taylor Home. She has a number of prints that could work for the occasion, but her tried-and-true Soho Red is the winner for me. Pair it with a larger blue gingham and you've got a perfectly Americana canvas.

2. The Glassware

I went down an Etsy rabbit hole looking for something vintage, retro, a little kitsch-y — patriotic leaning, but still fun. Enter the Libbey glass with an on-the-nose American flag print. It’s mid-century, post-war cookout in a single set. Bonus that Libbey is an American heritage brand with a very interesting backstory. Use them for cocktails, serve them with fun stirrers, then keep them around for your World Cup viewings.

3. The Cutlery

A little boring, maybe, but a table classic nonetheless. I tried finding styles with stars or some kind of stripe and couldn't find anything that felt nostalgic in the way a Fourth of July table should look. A simple white Sabre set is always a good purchase, and one that will make your table pop with a touch of white to complete the red, white, and blue palette. I also love the hint of silver that comes through in the Bistrot style.

4. The Plates

Spongeware everything. Spongeware is distinctly Americana to me and screams country house — as in, you have a place in the Hudson Valley and you're hosting friends for the weekend, all sitting down for dinner after the parade and before fireworks in someone's (impeccably landscaped) backyard. Fun context, spongeware came to America in the 1840s as a British import and was very quickly adopted by the American potteries. It feels very revolutionary with a capital "R”, and therefore very, very appropriate for America's 250th birthday. For any and all spongeware, head to Audrey Gelman's destination for all things Americana, The Six Bells. Or just shop your local antique store. Sage Street Antiques in Sag Harbor is great for spongeware finds.

6. The Details

More spongeware (eBay if you can't get to an antique store). A rattan cake stand…or, pie stand…let’s be honest (another easy Six Bells find). And a Fourth isn't a Fourth without some sparklers or the more family-friendly confetti poppers.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. The Julia Dress — Name a better Fourth of July dress. Also loving the Bea Dress.

2. Baby Bubble Short — Why is it so hard to find toddler shorts?! I love these from Mischa and Puff. The summer collection is too cute.

3. Ripple Knob — My whole world right now is hardware and paint selections. Currently very into this new style by Matilda Goad.

4. June Baby — A little hard to get into at first, but I’m loving it now. The Block Island setting is perfect for a summer beach read.

5. Nairobi Leather Sandals — Very cute sandals and very on sale. Someone should snag them.

I talk about this a lot with my career coach who writes a really great Substack called Half Moon Hustle (a must-read for working mothers). Before working with her, I couldn’t really describe what I was searching for. All I could articulate was this immense desire to achieve more for myself outside of motherhood — not because I felt unfulfilled, more like I was getting a taste for what a full life felt like through motherhood and it made me want to squeeze every last drop.

But as with everything, momentum rises and then it stalls. I’ve been feeling pretty stagnant lately, wondering if all the things I’m doing — motherhood, work, personal projects, my social life, my family life — are actually keeping me from excelling at any one thing. Each bucket giving and taking from the others in an endless loop we so casually write off as normal, or worse — as “not being able to keep up.” So it’s no surprise that I absolutely devoured Haley Nahman’s most recent feature, The Tragedy of Trying to Live Well — which so perfectly articulates a truth that I’ve personally been marketed into believing otherwise: you cannot prioritize everything. And when you say that out loud, instead of “lean in” (until you fall flat on your face) or “you have as many hours in your day as Beyonce” (until you literally check into the hospital for exhaustion), it actually *frees* you from the impossible expectations you set for yourself.

We’re moving next month into our first real home. And I, the girl who writes about design, have done…absolutely! nothing! to plan the space. I keep blaming it on no free time, but really I think it’s this “paralyzed by all the responsibilities” feeling that has kept me from making time for the things I actually love.

But something shifted this past week. I don’t know if it’s the weather, or my parents babysitting, or me coming out of a fog, or it’s the Knicks winning and the collective joy you can feel like a pulse moving through the city — but the energy (my energy) is ticking back up. And with that the dreaming, the thinking, the planning shifts back into gear. Sharing some of the wish-listing that I *finally* managed below: 8 things I have in mind for two rooms in our new space. Because, baby steps.

Moodboard #1: The Dining Nook

Our new space has a great little dining nook to the right of the kitchen with amazing natural light, framed by windows overlooking a tree-lined street. I was sold on the apartment the moment I saw it — having a space big enough to host the number of people I want to host has been a dream for a while. The nook has a built-in banquette long enough for a serious dining table, so I’ve been saving every banquette image I come across on Instagram and Pinterest, training my algorithm to serve me all of the inspiration. And of course, I was led straight to Kendall Jenner’s dining nook in her mountain home, designed by Heidi Caillier.

1. The Perfect Long Oval Dining Table — My dream table from Peterson Antiques, an LA-based dealer known for gorgeous custom pieces, with a collection of really stunning oval tables that I keep gravitating toward. Unfortunately they’re way out of my price range, so I’ll be hunting for similar styles at antique stores and Facebook Marketplace until I find the right one. This one is a pretty good dupe.

2. Vintage Mid-Century Dining Chairs — I want something wide enough to actually feel comfortable sitting in, what a concept! I love these original Compass Chairs by Allan Gould and will be using them as inspo to search for cheaper styles at Horseman Antiques in Brooklyn.

3. Banquette Upholstery — What I will be spending my money on is custom upholstery for the banquette cushion and dining chairs. I want a fun pop of color that still feels timeless — something I won’t fall out of love with in two years. Howe’s Knurl Linen in Rust is a current favorite, but will need to figure out if it’s performance grade to withstand the wear and tear by a toddler.

4. Overhead Pendant Lights — I love the way a pendant light looks over a dining nook or breakfast banquette. City Foundry in Industry City is my go-to for vintage lighting, but I also love this contemporary brass pendant from Matilda Goad.

Moodboard #2: The Entryway

Another space I’ve fantasized about. A styled entryway with an oversized statement mirror, good lighting, and a console table or bench to rest your stuff (or yourself) on the way in or out. Beata Heuman is the designer I always come back to for entryway inspiration. I love the one in her own London home, with a custom, perfectly whimsical radiator cover that doubles as a console table.

1. An Extra Large Statement Mirror — I've been really into Italian Murano glass mirrors lately and would love to find something in a similar style but within my price range and maybe in a softer color palette. This is ridiculous to write, but my daughter only smiles for the camera in selfies, even better if it’s a mirror, so this piece will be a very important part of my camera roll soon and will need to look the part.

2. Some Pretty Decorative Lighting — Sconces are made for hallways and actually a very easy thing to come across in antique and vintage shops. I’ve loved the Scallop Sconce by Nickey Kehoe every since the brand launched it (they used to have it in pastel pink and yellow and I’m so sad they discontinued). I love the Polished Nickel color way and think it would look really nice against a more muted backdrop.

3. Interesting (But Not Too Much) Wallpaper — What a privilege to arrive at a time in my life when I actually get to play with wallpaper. I love a statement print in an entryway that sets the tone the moment you walk in. Beata Heuman's Nettle Wallpaper is at the top of my list: intricate enough to be interesting, but it works as a backdrop rather than taking over the room.

4. Antique Bench or Console Table — Something that looks nice and frames an entry space but can also be a catchall for all the things. I love the details on this oak bench, and love even more that it has storage — specifically for toddler shoes and baby gear.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Everything in Nickey Kehoe’s Latest Vintage Drop — But specifically these terracotta glazed planters.

2. Greenskeeper Body Wash — A plug for my day job, but truly this is an amazing scent and a perfect last-minute Father’s Day gift for the dad in your life who loves to play a round.

3. Dyson Airwrap — Late to the game on this one. My mom was in town last weekend and let me use hers before a wedding and I cannot believe I’ve been missing out all this time.

4. Renewing Bakuchi Creme — I’ve been testing a retinol alternative for summer when my skin gets more sensitive. So far so good.

5. Therabody Depuffing Wand — A must for dark circles and puffiness. It has a hot and a cold setting and works wonders!

Design is my first checkbox when researching a place to stay. A genuinely well-designed hotel that also delivers on service and comfort is harder to find than you’d think — I’ve stayed at plenty of nice places that missed the mark on one or the other. Hotels are one of the few categories where I actually think you need a personal recommendation. A million good reviews online will only get you so far; the one that counts comes from someone who actually put in the time there.

Consider me that person today. Below, a short roundup of my favorite design-forward hotels in Europe from the past few years — all strong on interiors and ambiance, but also on service, food and overall experience. If design is your number one checkbox too, give these a second look for your next Euro trip.

Grand Hotel Milan (Milan, Italy)

We stayed here on our way back from our honeymoon in Italy — only two nights, but I can easily say I enjoyed it more than most hotels I've spent a week in. The space was refreshed a few years back by Dimorestudio, the Italian cult-favorite firm beloved by the design set. It's designed in muted pinks, greens, silks, velvets and lots of gold fringe. The studio describes the space as "Retropolitan": an interior design combo of historical references and just enough whimsy to keep it from feeling too overdone. Think: extremely lively, lounge-y, colorful lobby spaces and rooms that feel like you're staying in someone's very chic Italian villa. It draws the Salone del Mobile crowd for a reason. The negronis at Gerry's Bar are top notch.

Hotel Tremezzo (Lake Como, Italy)

Also a honeymoon stay and my favorite hotel I’ve ever stayed in. I think many who’ve had the privilege to stay here (it’s $$$) would agree with me. The hotel overlooks Lake Como, so you couldn’t really ask for a better view. The building facade and interior design in general leans very Art Nouveau — the moldings, the grand chandeliers, the pastel palette — but somehow manages to feel warm and approachable rather than overly stuffy like other hotels in the area, which is a very challenging design feat in my humble opinion. The colors and fabric choices do a lot of the work to make hotel Tremezzo feel immediately disarming; everything is gorgeous, but nothing feels too precious. Can’t go wrong with the negronis or the food either. It’s heaven on earth…peak la dolce vita.

Quinta da Comporta (Carvalhal, Portugal)

A beachy, whitewashed resort sitting right on the Comporta rice fields, which is one of the cooler natural environments I've ever come across. Quinta is the kind of place where you can watch the best sunset you've ever seen from the resort deck and still feel like you've landed somewhere most people haven't found yet. The design is rustic-bohemian: rattan furniture, earthy fabrics, everything organic-feeling in a way that reads extremely relaxed and very Comporta-coded. Comporta gets called the "Hamptons of Portugal" a lot, and while the aesthetic somewhat tracks, the food, the wine and the (actually European) people-watching are in a completely different league.

Soho House Amsterdam (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

I'm still a Soho House member solely because of the ability to stay in the international houses, which I do for two reasons: the design is consistent across locations, and the price is sometimes up to half of what a comparable hotel would run. The European houses are better than the US ones across the board, but Amsterdam is by far my favorite. It's housed in a 1930s former trading office — limestone and granite exterior, genuinely interesting Art Deco bones — and the interiors feel more site-specific than most Soho Houses I've been in...maybe because it's one of the older houses, back when Soho House actually did a good job catering to its clientele. The design team clearly took the Amsterdam brief seriously: a lot of the furniture is antique, sourced from markets in Holland, which gives the whole space an eclectic, collected feel rather than the more formula-forward Soho House approach you sometimes get. Canal views from the top floor lounge are not to be missed.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Hotel Vermelho — I didn’t stay here so left it out of the main guide, but if you’re going to Comporta, a day trip to Melides for lunch at Hotel Vermelho is a non-negotiable. Designed by Christian Louboutin, it has some of the most stunning interiors I’ve ever seen. A design lover’s dream.

2. KULE All Over Stripe Tote — There is no better travel tote. Canvas so it holds its shape whether it’s getting thrown in a trunk or shoved in an overhead. Sneaky spacious.

3. Kallmeyer Brunch Bag in Jeans Blue Suede — Have had my eye on this bag for a while. The brand just dropped this blue suede colorway with the pre-fall collection and it’s going straight to my wishlist.

4. Vintage Pucci Scarf — Eyeing as a head scarf to accessorize summer outfits. I’m not really a scarf-over-pants kinda girl…but I could be convinced.

5. La Ligne Cropped Colby Pant — I bought the crepe beige Colby Pants and immediately had to hem them. The short life chose me. Of course the brand dropped a cropped version a week later. Loving these in a crisp white for summer.

For this first one, I’m excited to share a Q+A with Madison Snider Podpirka, founder of Fewer Finer, a fine jewelry brand specializing in high-end pieces for everyday wear. I first connected with Madison through Substack, and while her jewelry has been on my wishlist for a while, it was her interior design chops — which come through in her newsletter Five Fine Things — that really caught my eye, particularly this piece she wrote about the Fewer Finer Townhouse, a space in Williamsburg that houses the collection and where Madison and her team work. I recently visited the townhouse and chatted with Madison about all the work that went into restoring the townhouse and the very chic choices she made (much of them vintage) to style the space.

Below, Madison on designing the Fewer Finer Townhouse, tricks she picked up furnishing her own home, and plenty of sourcing ideas worth saving.

An interview with Madison Snider Podpirka

Most people know Fewer Finer for the jewelry, but the townhouse made me realize how thoroughly your taste extends into home. Have you always been into interiors?

As an adult I’ve gotten very into interiors and the obsession is only getting stronger! Unlike jewelry, where I love helping other people design things for themselves, interior design is something I like doing for myself — the idea of helping someone else design a home or space sounds stressful because I think it is so personal and layered. But doing it for myself is such fun. I love that there are so many different things to play with — colors, textures, origins, materials — and that together they can be a true reflection of you, or in the case of The Fewer Finer Townhouse, of the brand.

When you started furnishing the townhouse, what was your inspiration? Were you chasing a specific feeling or referencing certain spaces?

I wanted it to feel like a home, while not feeling like the studio apartment the space once was. My favorite hotel is Ett Hemm in Stockholm — I love everything about the space, the design, and the way you feel when you are there. That was my North Star in terms of inspiration. I would call the style collected, Swedish-inspired, refined, artistic, comfortable, and thoughtful.

I’m loving the Henning Kjaernulf Razor Chairs in the dining space. I’ve been searching for them for a while for my own home, but have trouble finding sets that aren’t extremely expensive. Where did you find them? How did you decide on the upholstering?

I love those chairs and feel very lucky to have found them on 1stDibs with the shearling already done. They were a splurge, but I knew they would set the tone for the space — and since it’s really the main place our clients sit when they come in, I wanted them to both look and feel special.

Walk me through your sourcing for the townhouse — which shops, markets, auction sites, or estate sales did you lean on most?

So many sources. A few highlights:

• Custom pieces — don’t sleep on this. We did custom cabinetry in the kitchen and jewelry display to maximize space, and a custom tile in the entryway that really sets the tone.

• Fairfield County Antique and Design Center — one of my favorite vintage resources. I always find great things there, from art to our backyard table and chairs to small decorative objects.

• Zara Home — great for low-priced small items. The chrome cup holders at each desk setting (technically meant for toothbrushes) and the little café tables between our seating areas both came from there.

• Good Behavior in Greenpoint — my favorite local vintage shop.

• Facebook Marketplace — we bought the beautiful tree in our showroom there.

• Etsy — amazing for vintage pottery and smaller décor, like the Hollywood Regency-style shelf in our kitchen that holds glassware.

Was there a piece you hunted the longest for?

This is random, but it might have been something above the kitchen fridge. We did a custom built-in kitchen but kept the design modest to control costs, so our built-ins don’t go to the ceiling. The way the fridge cut off always bugged me, and the space above it felt perpetually empty — but I didn’t want whatever went up there to look like storage, and getting the scale right was tricky. Finally, I found a set of three clay vases that were exactly what it needed.

Switching to your own home — when did you start collecting vintage for yourself, and was there one piece that set the whole habit in motion?

I probably started small, since my spaces were always small. I found a pair of vintage upholstered stools at a local shop that were so cool — they gave my space a warmth and an interest that nothing new could have. I’ve also always loved vintage art and have collected it for a long time.

Of everything you’ve collected over the years, what’s the find you’re proudest of?

We used to have our office in the industrial part of Greenpoint, in a warehouse building where J.McLaughlin is also based. Right around when I was furnishing my house, they did a big warehouse sale of furniture that had been used in store displays and photo shoots — everything was under $50. I scored so many good pieces, including a table that folds out to seat four, which I refinished in red paint and use at the top of our stairs, and a beautiful ottoman base that I had refinished and reupholstered and now sits in the middle of our living room.

What’s a piece you got for a steal?

The vintage light I’m hoping to hang in my bedroom. I found it on Etsy for under $500 and have never checked out faster. I don’t even remember how I came across it — it was pure luck, and I adore it.

Any search habits or tricks that you use to search for vintage and secondhand home?

Two things. First, train your Facebook Marketplace algorithm — use it often and heart things you like even if you don’t plan to buy them. It learns what you actually want to see. Second: make frequent stops into vintage shops with good turnover.

Are there categories you’ll only ever buy vintage? Anything you think is actually better bought new?

I don’t think I have any absolutes, but I’d say you should almost always try vintage first — it gives so much more interest to a space, whether for small or large pieces. As for what I’d always buy new: I’ve never bought a used sofa. Something about a couch is just too intimate.

Whose taste are you obsessed with right now?

• Interior designer: Michael Vincent Design

• Artist: Alejandro Asensio

• Substack: I Look You Buy

• Instagram: Kristen Ellen Hockman — I love her design, her property, and her style

• People in my life: My mom and sister. I rarely make an interior design decision without texting them first. We share a similar obsession and a lot of overlap in taste, but each of us is distinct enough that it’s a really nice balance.

Rapid fire!

• Favorite flea or fair: Dying to go to Brimfield, but I’d have to say the Original Miami Beach Antique Show, which I go to every year to source vintage for Fewer Finer.

• Favorite era for furniture: 1950s — specifically Italian, French, or Scandinavian.

• Best online source most people don’t know about: Chairish Local. It’s a more curated Facebook Marketplace, and if you reach out to the seller directly, you can almost always get at least 20% off.

• A piece you’re hunting for right now: A Danish wood credenza in just the right size. And art — I’m always collecting, whether I have a place for it or not.

• A bucket list piece: A series of hand-painted frames from Gusto, displayed as a collection.

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Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Fewer Finer Diamond Daisy Huggies — The perfect everyday diamond earring.

2. Yesteryear — Another Substack-influenced read that I absolutely devoured. Kind of obsessed with the extremely polarizing main character? June Baby is next on my list.

3. Róhe Lace-Trimmed Silk Camisole — Just picked this up in light blue on the Net-a-Porter sale. Perfectly versatile and lightweight for summer — dresses up or down, and comes in white too.

4. Land of Belle Substack — I used to exclusively shop Land of Belle for all things tabletop and am happy to see it making a comeback through Annabelle’s interiors POV. Particularly loved the recent feature since I’m in the market for a good white house paint.

5. TWP Summer Collection — I love a brand that does really cool modern dressing and workwear in one. Currently eyeing this deep red relaxed shirt. (My friend Kate heads communications for them — as if I needed an excuse to love the brand even more.)

A vibe made so much better (in my humble opinion) by a tablescape that adds an extra something to the already great ambience of outdoor dining. I particularly love a Mediterranean-style table. Two summers ago in Paris, I came across so many incredible '60s-era French sea-themed ceramics at flea markets we stumbled upon — pieces I keep coming back to as the north star for a summer table. We did manage to walk away with some amazing vintage French Majolica knife rests that my brother owns but I borrow on occasion.

I really love any kind of fish motif, Italian or Portuguese ocean-forward ceramics, anything sea shell-related…basically any element that screams of the sea. Which is actually very easy to find, both vintage and contemporary, since a Mediterranean summer will always be trending. Sharing some recent tabletop finds below to help you recreate what I’m calling the seascape tablescape, for all of your summer fêtes.

Outdoor Entertaining

1. The Table Linens

White table linens are my go-to indoors — I like how they make bolder ceramic or flatware moments really pop. Outdoors, I change my tune entirely. This is where I want print, pattern, and color in the textiles. Lisa Corti is a great reference for fun, summery linens that won't completely break the bank. I love the Once Milano Striped Linen Tablecloth (featured above), but you can easily find something similar for less — Solino Home is great for an affordable version. Pair a simple summer stripe with some festive fish-embroidered napkins and you've got an easy, breezy summery contrast.

2. The Glassware

There is an abundance of fish-themed glassware out there, especially in the vintage realm. I first came across these Fish Bottles when I was in Mallorca a few years back — now I see them everywhere. I like how versatile they are: great to have around in the summer as water pitchers and can double as a vase. Ichendorf Milano also has a great selection of nautical-themed hand-blown glassware that would be fun to invest in if you tend to host more over the summer months. I love this really special Blue Fish Tail Jug by Italian glassmith Casarialto, though pricey!

3. The Cutlery

This is where you can (and should) go deep down the vintage rabbit hole. I found an overwhelming number of vintage seashell flatware sets on Etsy, most of which I'd happily use as my everyday set. Pearl flatware gives a similar seascape effect and comes in a wide range of price points; I recently featured this Zara Home set that looks almost indistinguishable from the Sabre styles. I tend to use my rainbow Matilda Goad flatware on repeat over the summer. The color combo is so good.

4. The Plates

I love a fish dish, but I can't bring myself to commit to a full set knowing I'd only reach for them over summer. That said, if you lean nautical, don't mind paying a premium for the theme, or live near the water year-round, a dedicated fish set makes total sense. Until my beach house dreams come true, I'll stick to one statement fish serveware piece. If you want more than that but need the price to be right, vintage French Majolica fish ceramic ware is a great search.

6. The Details

Your local antique store is your best resource for summer table accents. Vintage seashell napkin rings are practically their own category. I found so many great vintage seashell serveware pieces but ultimately landed on these delicate little cocktail stirrers to feature. Gohar World always delivers on a great mermaid-y pearl moment. And I think this little guy just might be the SLB-adjacent tabletop number.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now. Of-the-sea addition!

1. Il Buco Cookbook — Speaking of the Mediterranean, I revisit this cookbook every summer — I love the summery Italian recipes the team at Il Buco serves up.

2. Eli Oversized Linen Shirt — I swear by Reformation linen. I have one long-sleeve linen button-down and one short-sleeve that I’ve worn from the brand every summer since I bought them in 2022. Might have to add this perfectly oversized version to the collection.

3. Fishbone Paracord Necklace — Is it even summer if you’re not wearing a fish necklace? I have a Chan Lu Sardine Necklace from last summer, but I’m loving this year’s paracord version.

4. Sardine Napkin Rings — Sardine Girl Summer makes its way to the home category.

5. Gala Sequined Bag — The SLB of the sea and real-life mermaid pouch if I’ve ever seen one. Great for a summer wedding.

Why am I like this? I keep coming back to this podcast on knowing your values. The guest uses the example of beauty as a value — not in the superficial sense, but the feeling you get from surrounding yourself with beautiful things, finding beauty in your environment, seeking it out for the dopamine hit. People who value beauty tend to feel better when they fill their lives with it. Social scientists call this awe — a phenomenon where seeing something makes you feel smaller, in a good way. Everyone agrees…it’s good for your mental health.

And I can confirm that design is good for mine. Despite running around the city in 85-degree heat between spots not at all conveniently located near each other, I ended the weekend feeling energized. Below are the six stops I checked out, what I loved at each, and what’s still worth catching before the week wraps. Hurry before you miss it!

Ana Kraš at Emma Scully Gallery

16 E. 79th Street. On view through June 13th.

My first NYDW stop was uptown to check out Ana Kraš’s exhibit Svila at Emma Scully Gallery on the Upper East Side. It’s a small, considered show of limited-edition tables and wall mounts wrapped in silk (svila is the Serbian word for it). The pieces are minimalist and functional, with special attention to materiality and detail. I especially loved the carved flowers tucked into the edging of the coffee tables.

I’ve been following Ana since meeting her at a dinner during my West Elm days. She’s a Serbian-born, Paris-based furniture designer who also works in photography and fashion—with an incredibly interesting back story.

Next door, Acquavella Galleries is showing a new Matisse exhibit, The Pursuit of Harmony. I’d planned to go, but the line down 79th Street killed it for me. The gallery girl at Emma Scully told me weekday mornings right at the 10am opening are the move. It closes this Friday!

TEFAF at Park Avenue Armory

643 Park Avenue. On view through May 19th.

Not technically a NYDW event, but the New York art fairs overlapped with Design Week this year, so there was a lot to pack into a small window. TEFAF still delivers on design — albeit very, very high end design. It’s the international fair held in NYC every year for fine art and antiques and I’ve wanted to go for years but never managed to snag a ticket. It completely blew me away. The number of Picassos, Basquiats, De Koonings, and Warhols on view — to name a few. And the antiques! I was particularly drawn to the Parisian galleries, which had incredible mid-century pieces, including Giacometti chairs and consoles that were absolutely to die for.

If you can get there today, go — even if just for the people watching and champagne. A very glamorous collector crowd.

Pitt Room at ZAROLAT

140 Plymouth Street. On view through July 11th.

I always like to support my local DUMBO design spots — they put on great displays every year but get way less Design Week buzz. Zarolat, an architecture studio and gallery in the neighborhood, just launched PITT ROOM — a curated mix of collectible furniture, lighting, sculpture, objects, and artwork from emerging artists and designers whose practices are grounded in formal, functional, and material experimentation.

It’s colorful and quirky, and a good way to beat the sudden NYC heat if you find yourself bopping around DUMBO. I apparently missed some of the bigger pieces, which had moved over to ICFF, so I’ll for sure be back to see the rest of the collection this summer.

While you’re there, stop into beloved design store, Hudson Wilder, just around the corner which has a Design Library of books on view and for sale as part of their installation for Design Week.

Afternoon Light at WSA

161 Water Street. On view through May 19th.

Afternoon Light is a design fair of up-and-coming designers and contemporary artists that runs during NYDW every year. I think of it as the cool kid to the more established, trade-forward ICFF and Wanted Design shows. Fittingly, this year it took place at WSA — the cool-kid building itself. I’d been once before for a dinner, but wow, the space really shines in the warmer months. The views are the best part — I get why everyone wants an office there.

Beyond peeping the inside of WSA, the design on display was pretty swoon-worthy too. I tend to lean traditional, so the contemporary scene doesn’t usually do it for me, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a few pieces I’d happily want in my own home. One was Queens-based Parmatile, with an impressive selection of Delft tile sourced from The Netherlands. Another was LA-based Willet, whose floor-length mirrors I loved. And Sara Schoenberger, a New Orleans-based lighting designer with sculptural pendant lights and chandeliers that stopped me in my tracks.

Simone Bodmer Turner Tableware at the SB-T Studio Shop

109 Thompson Street. On view through May 20th.

You might know Simone Bodmer Turner for her unmistakable ceramic vessels and brass objects. For New York Design Week, she’s unveiling a 12-piece tableware collection at her newly opened pop-up at 109 Thompson Street. The collection is beautiful — especially in person. You can see the handcraft in the small variations across pieces; each one feels unique. Alongside the tabletop items, you’ll find equally stunning 18th and 19th century American antiques sourced by the dealer Christopher Cawley, all available for sale and deeply covetable.

I walked away with two SB-T short tapers, which was an exercise in restraint — I wanted so much more, including a stunning Christopher Cawley-sourced antique cabinet that would look so gorgeous in someone’s farm house.

I highly recommend checking out the pop-up before it wraps on the 20th. It’s a perfectly peaceful place to duck into for a break in your day. You can even grab an iced coffee next door and sit outside the shop in one of those gorgeous antique chairs. The people watching on Thompson Street never disappoints.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Petra Hardware — Chic hardware seems to be having a moment, and this new brand by Sight Unseen’s Monica Khemsurov is topping my list. This design in particular. Equally loving Matilda Goad’s Mirror Studs, which launched this morning.

2. Dumbo Design Day — Brooklyn Friends! Mark your calendars for tomorrow! A full lineup of DUMBO studios and shops will open their doors for New York Design Week.

3. COS Cotton V-Neck Tank Top — This heat wave has me digging through drawers for tanks to layer under button-downs to easily go from hot sidewalks to over-air-conditioned offices. These feel effortless, but the V-neck gives them a little something.

4. Liffner Push Lock Clutch — I can’t stop thinking about this little clutch. The pink might be impractical, but I think I still need it.

5. Crown Affair Texturizing Air Dry Mousse — The second the temps rise, I break this out so I can air dry and go. It tames frizz and adds just enough wavy texture. Highly recommend for city humidity.

Bingka was also the first person to properly introduce me to Beata Heuman, my now favorite interior designer. I won't forget this, because during one design review I heard her say Beata’s name out loud and realized I'd been mispronouncing it all along. For anyone still guessing: it's Bee-AH-ta, not Bee-ta.

I've touched on print and pattern here and there, but the textile world — where to look, how to search, how to find the right print style and what to appreciate — is something I've been wanting to dig into more. Bingka was the obvious person to reach out to. Lucky for me, she said yes!

Below is our conversation on her career, her sourcing secrets, and a very covetable personal project she’s currently working on at home.

An interview with Bingka Leung

Tell me a little about your background. How did you get into home? When did you start working in print and textiles?

I am actually a furniture designer by education, but early in my career I worked at DwellStudio, a bedding company where we featured a lot of print. We were best known at the time for kids and home — one of our most famous prints was a modern Chinoiserie style that I still sometimes see around today.

Was there a moment early on that made you want to work in home?

Not really a single moment — I went back to art school thinking I would be in fashion, but liked my 3D studio so much I ended up studying furniture design, and that led to interiors. Living in Tokyo for middle school and high school definitely informed my aesthetic sensibility too.

Where do you go to source archival and vintage prints?

Flea markets and tag sales are great, especially if there are old books with photos and illustrations. I love the Chelsea Flea Market, particularly the seller NYC Visions Art Gallery. For online, I scour the European versions of eBay and LiveAuctioneers — both are excellent for vintage design, especially prints and wallpaper. Auctionet is another great one, and LiveAuctioneers aggregates international auction houses so you’re casting a wide net.

Any search tricks we should know?

Know a little art history. Once you find an artist or designer you love, research others of the same period or movement and search for those names too. It opens up a whole world.

What’s a favorite home project you’re working on right now.

I’m currently reupholstering a great set of chairs. I got them last year at Brimfield Antiques Market — I went a day late so they were really marked down. They’re vintage 70s with a chrome frame, and I’m redoing them in Josef Frank’s Textile Hawaii fabric in Brown from Svenskt Tenn.

How did you land on that specific fabric for that specific chair?

I liked the idea of an unexpected mix — a seemingly incongruous juxtaposition of a sleek silhouette with a bold print.

Fabric can be tricky and costly. Any tips for using custom textiles on a budget?

It helps to understand fibers and the weight of fabrics for upholstery — that makes it easier to find great options at a place like Mood or even JoAnn, where things are more affordable but still high quality. I’m a big fan of reupholstering. Either a vintage piece, or sometimes updating an inexpensive new piece, can be completely transformative.

When you’re developing a print or pattern, where do you typically start?

It’s usually a visual reference — looking back at historical textiles or starting with a room image, then pulling things together to build an idea. Old books, museums, paintings — so many places to find inspiration. The Met is a treasure trove of decorative arts. I love when they recreate rooms by time period and region. The Frick is also stunning — the fabrics, the wallpaper, all of it so inspiring.

When you see a historical print you love, how do you make it feel contemporary?

Color and scale are important. Also reduction or addition of elements — making something decorative more minimal, or vice versa. Anything that shifts the context will help it feel fresh and relevant.

Whose work in print or textile are you especially drawn to right now?

So many — Pierre Frey, Antoinette Poisson, Elitis, Erté. But also Mark Rothko and Jean Cocteau. Cabana Magazine is excellent for the maximalist look.

And which interior designers are you loving?

Right now, Laura Gonzalez, Chused & Co, Beata Heuman. I was also completely gobsmacked by the recent Sotheby’s auction of the de Gunzburg collection — it was all curated by Jacques Grange.

Where do you personally look for inspiration?

Everywhere — fashion, museums, art, hotels, restaurants. And I still love a printed magazine. It’s a guilty pleasure.

Favorite textile design at the moment?

Honestly, Josef Frank’s Textile Hawaii. I can’t wait to finish my 70s chairs.

Favorite wallpaper?

I really love Athena Calderone’s parchment wallpaper for Calico. It’s very elegant — and what a great idea if real parchment isn’t an option.

You can find Bingka traveling for work, at the Chelsea Flea on a good Saturday, or somewhere deep in the European auction listings — and when she's at home, usually reading a magazine with a homemade matcha latte.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Vintage Issey Miyake — I picked up a vintage Pleats Please blazer at the Manhattan Vintage Show recently and now I'm a little obsessed, it goes with everything! Front General Store in Dumbo has a great selection of vintage Pleats Please styles and The Real Real has tons of secondhand.

2. J. Crew Boyfriend Long Sleeve Tee — This is the best long sleeve tee. It’s relaxed for a baggier fit, but somehow still flattering. Perfect for transitional weather with a light comfy wide leg pant.

3. Comme Si Deep V Shirt — I’m very into this deep v poplin top for easy breezy summer dressing.

4. Laura Gonzalez Showroom— Bingka’s recommendations reminded about the Laura Gonzalez showroom in Tribeca, which is gorgeous and definitely worth a stop if you’re looking for great interior inspiration.

5. Sisi Joia — A Paris-based jewelry designer working with vintage beads. Found her through Bomi NYC. Especially loving the necklaces which are beautiful and surprisingly affordable.

It’s a weird thing to have your parenting on display for all of your coworkers to see. How would I handle a temper tantrum? Would I be reviewed on this? Kidding! But I’m very serious about the convergence of identities which had me feeling a little off. I left for the day, daughter in tow, thinking: there’s a certain luxury in having just one title.

Motherhood is layered. You split into different versions of yourself, and those selves show up differently depending on the room, the audience, the moment. It can be exhausting. It can also, I've come to realize, be life-altering. Perfection is impossible—and this is the point. The wave of relief that comes when you just accept it arrives faster than you'd think.

Life doesn’t end when you have children—something I wish I could tell my pre-kid self, along with a few other things. Like that there’s no reason to panic-plan every experience you think you might miss out on when you have kids. That someday it will even feel a little funny to think of “experiences” (with a capital E) as something beyond your everyday. Life evolves, your world expands and so does your definition of fulfillment. Relationships deepen in a way that can feel almost disorienting—you realize how much more you could have nurtured them, and you feel the weight of the time you didn't. But you also feel more grateful than you ever have. Motherhood has woken me up to who I’ve always been. It serves as a daily reminder of who has always been there for me. Pre-kid me was only just beginning to understand these things—only scratching at the surface of my joy.

Becoming a mother is the best thing I’ll ever do. It still feels a bit like an insider secret—you don’t know what you don’t know. And what you don’t know is just how much better it all gets.

With love to all the moms <3

Mother’s Day Brunch

1. The Table Linens

If you’ve been reading long enough, you know that table linens are my love language. For Mother’s Day brunch, I’m thinking florals, but a vintage floral. Styles that evoke nostalgia and elegance without trying too hard—like a really good chintz you stumble upon in an antique shop. This John Derian collaboration with Summerill & Bishop feels like vintage, but in a contemporary way (if that even makes sense). The colors are decorative, but not too feminine, and the white makes them easy to work into pretty much anything.

2. The Glassware

And by glassware, I mean mugs, because the moms need their caffeine. I’ve been very, very drawn to Natalia Criado’s designs since discovering her collaboration with Laboratorio Paravincini for Milan Design Week. Her pieces are as effortlessly cool as they are genuinely sculptural. I’m loving the silver brass items in particular with pops of color playing off the metal in such a beautiful way. I wouldn’t say they are the most practical for everyday life at $300+ a pop, but I would say that I would like to receive them as a Mother’s Day Gift and maybe you would too.

3. The Cutlery

Pearls are another detail that come to mind when thinking of mom. Is there any more fitting natural element to evoke the leading lady in your life than Mother of Pearl? I’ve featured a lot of Sabre, so this week I went for flatware that still brings visual interest to the table without the $$$. This Zara Pearl-Effect and Silver Flatware more than does the job…and at $34 for a set of four, it’s a perfectly affordable gift.

4. The Plates

Leaning more into the pearl: I’ve had my eye on these Astier de Villatte Ceramic Plates with a glazed, pearl-like edge for a while now. If there’s one great gift for a mom who loves to host, it’s a truly excellent set of versatile plates. Lately I find myself gravitating toward simple white (white tablecloths, white plates) so that the small details can really do the most. I love contrast, but the amount is key. Printmaxxing (coining that?) is apparently becoming shorthand for taste, and it’s not for me. Think focal points! Think like a painter. When everything is competing nothing stands out—the beauty gets swallowed. A little restraint goes a long way. I have a feeling your mom would agree.

6. The Details

I think it’s the Natalia Criado effect, but silver is having a serious moment for me. Not the muted, minimalist, everything-must-be-silver-and-sleek…more like silver as an anchor that you contrast against feminine things to get a layered, slightly unexpected result. Etsy is the best source. I came across a Berlin-based seller with some amazing sculptural silver pieces, including these salad servers that are so fun and so pretty…I must have them! A silver teapot is another easy Etsy find and a genuinely thoughtful gift for a mom who loves her tea. I loved this art deco style, but there’s a whole world of modern shapes worth the browse. And Matilda Goad has several beautiful silver touches…her brushed silver Apple Bowl doubles as a serving dish, and her sunburst candle holders have been on my wishlist forever.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now, Mother’s Day Gift Guide edition — aka the gifts I’d like to receive.

1. Fox Fodder Farm Mother’s Day Bouquet — Always my go-to gift request, but also maybe a floral arranging class?

2. A Day Off to Go Antiquing — Crossing my fingers and toes to get myself to the Brimfield this May.

3. A Callisto Farm Stay — I grew up in upstate New York and have been wanting to take my daughter for a weekend away. Callisto Farm feels like the right move — beautiful farm house for me, real life farm animals for her.

4. A Really Fancy Necklace — I love anything and everything Marisa Klass ($$$) and/or the more affordable Milne Watson styles ($-$$).

5. A Really Fancy Dining Table — A mom can dream….of $ Italian mid-century teak perfection !!

Which is why I think I find myself shopping more secondhand and vintage—both fashion and home. I like to tell myself it’s about the thrill of finding something unique, which is true. But there’s also the less rosy reality that prices on the new stuff have inched so high, they’ve pushed me firmly into the bargain-hunting lane. So, let me tell you that there is no more important destination (aside from Facebook Marketplace) for a bargain hunter than an outlet.

I wish I had a more expansive list of furniture outlets beyond NYC, but I am something of an expert when it comes to the outlets at Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, which is the destination for discount home pieces—often up to 50% off. More people need to know about the goods hiding in plain sight at Industry City!

If you’re in the market for furniture, it’s worth making a day of it. There are also some really great coffee and drink spots to dip into between shops, which makes the whole experience a bit more enjoyable.

Pro tip: Go on a weekday morning when things are quieter—and when you’re more likely to catch fresh inventory hitting the floor. Most outlets receive shipments early in the week…rumor has it Tuesday is the unofficial drop day.

ABC Carpet and Home Outlet

Rugs are nearly impossible to buy online. You really need to see a style in person to get a sense for materiality, thickness, color, and how it will actually look in a space. Take it from a person who has purchased many a rug online just for it to show up looking…not as expected. Rugs are also sneaky expensive…I find myself gravitating towards styles that start around $3,000 and easily climb to $10,000…thinking specifically here of the Instagram (rug) darling, Nordic Knots.

The ABC Carpet & Home Outlet solves both the issue of needing to see to believe and spending a small fortune on a carpet. The space is enormous and allows you to comb through a number of different styles to get a sense for what you like. And the discounts are incredible. The experience is also excellent—the sales associates are extremely attentive and knowledgable and will flip through styles with you and lay them out so you can really visualize how a style will look in your home. I was there this past weekend and saw some great Persian-style rugs marked up to 30% off, along with a good selection of vintage-style Moroccan pieces.

Pro tip: they offer you an additional 10% off discount if you are a first time buyer, so make sure to say so!

Design Within Reach Outlet

Another very good outlet pretty much always stocked with the best of the best DWR pieces. Looking for a Noguchi Table? An Eames Chair? A Saarinen Dining Table? Chances are you’ll find them here for up to 30% off…sometimes even more. Last year, I bought a handloom rug that I absolutely love from DWR. I spotted the same one at the outlet this past weekend for nearly half of what I paid. The upside of shopping DWR is that they exclusively carry the iconic designs, so nothing ever feels “last season,” not that I believe in the sentiment behind that term, but you might!

Take for example the Eames Lounge Chair which is everywhere and always will be—she’s an icon! A legend! I love a reupholstered Eames chair moment—the white version above is basically a blank canvas for it—and I still think about one I spotted in a house tour years ago redone in this Josef Frank print.

The lighting selection at this location is similarly not to be missed. Like every minimalist influencer that lives and breathes whites and neutrals, I also love a Noguchi Akari Lamp (particularly in a kid’s room), and they had some great HAY dupes in stock.

RH Outlet

I have to admit—I’m not a huge Restoration Hardware fan. It’s all a little too neutral, a little too modern, a little too minimalist for my taste. I find that everything now looks like an RH catalog and I am very anti the sea of sameness, particularly in the world of interiors. Personality, individual taste, judgement—these are things that go a long way in modern culture, even more so with the AI apocalypse that is coming for an interior design firm near you…

Kidding! Kind of? On a lighter note, I do own a white RH Cloud Couch that I bought from the outlet when we moved into our apartment, and it’s been one of the best furniture purchases we’ve made, mostly because…it is insanely comfortable…like, next level comfort. The RH Outlet this past weekend had multiple Cloud sofas in stock, along with a number of their other classic designs, at up to 50% off retail. I’m currently on the hunt for a slightly warmer, off-white linen sectional for our next place and will be stalking this outlet until further notice.

City Foundry

Not exactly an outlet, but an excellent source for vintage furniture, decorative accessories and antiques and easily my favorite shop in Industry City. I found mostly Danish mid-century modern styles that were definitely on the pricier end…but still incredible finds none-the-less. The space is packed to the brim, which can feel overwhelming at first. But there’s a lot to discover, and it’s a great place to source pieces that are truly unique, case in point the teal art deco dresser featured above. I was especially drawn to the selection of decorative mirrors, many at surprisingly reasonable prices.

And my final thought: look up! The lighting might be the best category in the store—so many beautiful vintage pendants and chandeliers to choose from.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Le Monde Beryl Raffia Flats — I have a couple of Le Monde Beryl flats and love them. The designs rival that of the luxury designers and they are extremely comfortable, perfect for work. These Raffia ones are great for warmer weather…even better now that they are on sale with an additional 20% off!

2. The Laila Gohar x Arket Carousel — I am obsessed. Hands down my favorite installation for Milan Design Week.

3. Matisse The Pursuit of Harmony Exhibit — I will be planning an Upper East Side trip to check out this exhibit at Aquavella Galleries before it closes—especially excited to see the paintings.

4. 44OME Cotton Lightweight Polo — Is this considered fast fashion? If so, I’m guilty. I was influenced to try this brand and just picked up this light blue polo—it actually feels really nice and I love the color for spring and summer.

5. 10% Happier Episode with Arthur Brooks — I love Arthur Brooks and I loved this recent listen from the 10% Happier Podcast on how to “reclaim your brain, find purpose and escape the doom loop.” I promise it’s not as depressing as it sounds!

Every year, I think about planning a trip to Milan to see the installations in person. Something that the design fairs could do a better job of is publicizing just how many of the exhibits and installations are open to the public! Unfortunately for me, my schedule won’t allow a quick getaway to Milano, so I’ll be living vicariously through the highlights on Instagram and a little bit of Salone shopping.

I pulled together a hit list of tabletop, Salone-specific collaborations and launches I’m loving—many featuring designers I’ve shared here before—that I’m hoping make their way to a website near me very soon. Until then, I’ll be refreshing until I can officially add to cart. Grazie!

A Very Milanese Table

Casa Milana x Laguna~B’s Madre de Agua Collection

Casa Milana, a Milan-based creative studio, will host a preview of new furniture by the founders in their Brera residence—an incredibly chic space recently profiled in T Magazine. A capsule collection from glassware brand Laguna~B, Madre de Agua, will also be on display in the home during Salone. You’ve heard me talk about Laguna~B here—I love all of their glassware, especially the colorful Murano styles they’ve become known for (and that you can find at Outline in Brooklyn if you’re curious to see them in person).

The Madre de Agua collection (featured above) leans sleeker and more minimalist for the brand. I love the wooden detailing and the range of cylindrical shapes.

A favorite Laguna~B style: JW Anderson x Laguna~B Murano Glass Jug

Metalia by Laboratorio Paravinci & Natalia Criado

The fabulous ceramics atelier Laboratorio Paravinci—featured on here a number of times, most recently here—will present an installation at Salone del Mobile titled The Invisible Table in collaboration with the designer Natalia Criado. The collection will feature Laboratorio Paravinci’s signature hand-painted ceramic dishes with custom metal chargers by Criado. The objects are meant to take on a more sculptural form on the table to reinterpret a traditional setting and position the table as a conversation in contrasts, while highlighting the power of everyday items to define spaces.

Now if that isn’t table art...I don’t know what is.

A favorite Laboratorio Paravinci style: Bloom Ceramic Plates

Disco Aperitivo by Sophie Lou Jacobsen

Everyone’s favorite glassware designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen will debut a new collection inspired by Milan’s disco culture of the ’70s and ’80s—fun! Some pieces are produced in line with her existing designs, while others are developed in partnership with a Venetian glass workshop, making them feel especially custom and elevated for the Salone del Mobile crowd. A very colorful piece called How to Host a Retro Disco Party featuring some of the designs just ran in the Financial Times here. I’m loving the design references she’s been sharing as inspiration for the collection!

A favorite Sophie Lou Jacobsen style: La Verre Bonbon Set

A Milano Design Guide

I wrote a little bit about the city and it’s design scene in a very early send here! Rossana Orlandi Gallery and the Laboratorio Paravinci atelier are not to be missed.

And! My Milan map here to save down for your next trip, which I hope for you is next week!

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. A Current Affair — I went to A Current Affair at Industry City back in 2022 and hadn’t been back (big mistake) until last weekend. OMG—the vintage finds. I took home a gorgeous burgundy ’80s leather Loewe jacket that I’m quite thrilled about.

2. Raleigh Vintage — Because of A Current Affair, I’m now obsessed with this vintage shop—and the IG account. I’ll be thinking about the Margiela blue fringed jacket I walked away from for the rest of my life.

3. Coco Shop x Alice Kathleen Kids Collection — My very chic friend Taylor’s brand Coco Shop just launched a really fun kids collection with Alice Kathleen. I can’t wait to check it out in person this Friday at their pop up at Darling Shop in Brooklyn.

4. Marni Pants — My TRR find of the week. I love these for warmer weather. I’m really not one for a logo, but I have a white shift dress with the similar Marni branded stitching (shown on the back pocket on these) which is a detail I love…I used it as a reference for the logo for this newsletter!

5. Our Way Home Coffee Table Book — Have been revisiting some of my coffee table books for inspiration for our next place. I’m not moving into a farmhouse, unfortunately—but if I were, this book by the design studio Henricks Churchill would be the bible.

In all seriousness, I love an antique mall. There is no better place to find really great vintage finds for excellent prices. The best malls are in the secondary and tertiary cities (I’m sorry to call them that if you live there, but also—lucky you). I’m a big fan of the antiquing in Richmond, VA where my brother lives and which I get to travel to and antique in a couple of times a year. Sharing a few finds from my trip this past weekend to the West End Antique Mall which is a glorious destination for some really good deals.

And if by the end of this I haven’t convinced you about antique malls, then you should just trust the experts. Audrey Gelman writes a Substack for The Six Bells that’s essentially her candid reviews of antique malls across the country—pretty funny. If that’s not enough, just check out all of the designs by Frances Merrill of Reath Design. She regularly sources things from antique malls and references them in her projects—particularly ones in Maine.

The West End Antique Mall Haul

The Haul

1) Outdoor Stunners

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: antique stores and malls are the best places to source outdoor furniture and accessories. The West End Antique Mall has a great overflow space at the front of the shop, filled with really excellent planters and beautiful pieces—like the wooden hutch featured above, a similar style here!

And can we have a moment for the Victorian garden benches? If I had a house and a proper backyard, I’d be buying this pair immediately. The color is amazing. Similar styles to be had on Etsy.

2) A Perfect Vanity

I stumbled upon this incredible Heywood-Wakefield vanity and stool set in the mid-century modern section of the mall. I love the curved form and the detailing of the drawer pulls. This would be so fun in a city apartment for doing makeup and putting on jewelry. Here it is on Chairish for $2600. West End Antique Mall had it listed for $2150…but I would bet you could bargain it way down.

3) The Cool Kid Card Table

Another one from the MCM section. I love this card table with the accompanying upholstered Compass Chairs. The upholstery was in pristine condition, and the pattern feels very retro, but still modern.

I love the idea of a card table to fill negative space—also great for kids. I saw this and immediately thought of this Beata Heuman moment.

4) The WTH Roll Top Desk

This is the one thing I almost purchased and honestly might have to go back for. A perfect Danish mid-century modern roll top desk. I love this piece for small spaces and when you have to make use of space in a lot of different ways. I’m thinking about a convertible desk for a bedroom in my next era of WFH (read: we’re moving) and this one feels like a winner. Going for $2500 on 1stDibs. This one was listed at West End for $800.

5) Dec Acc for the Undecided

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed and/or scared at this point, you might just be a dec acc (decorative accessories)–only kind of antiquer—and that is perfectly okay. West End had some particularly great smaller items in the form of art, prints, lamps, vases and planters. I found an amazing wall of pressed floral gold framed prints which would look gorgeous as some sort of gallery wall moment. I also found a great clamshell planter a la Matilda Goad which was going for about $100. Someone please snag it.

6) Venetian Glass Galore

The second thing I regret not purchasing is this fantastic Venetian style mirror, which would look perfect styled over a catch-all table in an entryway or above a dresser. The beveled edges! The multiple reflections! It’s the perfect selfie mirror.

I also loved this colorful Venetian glass vase. I briefly considered attempting to get it home in my suitcase, but traveling with a toddler is heavy enough. It would have been the perfect tulip vase for spring though, sigh.

7) More Dec Acc for the Undecided

I’m partial to a sunburst mirror—I love them. In a bedroom, in an entryway, especially in a kid’s room. I found this great sunburst style that reminded me of a ship wheel, which would be so cute in a boy’s room.

I also loved this rattan lamp from the ’70s with a fun, curvy base. The image doesn’t do it justice—it was much larger in person, and therefore even cooler. I’d probably swap out the lampshade for something more colorful so it doesn’t feel too natural-on-natural.

8) Martini Glasses

There is always an amazing vintage martini glass to be found in an antique mall. These were the ones for me. I loved the thick cylindrical stem and found them to be nice and heavy in your hand, in a good way. They looked so chic as a set. I will think about them for a while. Might have to pull the trigger on this Etsy set in the meantime.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Still Here Tees — I am always on the hunt for a good white tee. I’ve tried the COS ones (very good, but thick) and the Flore Flore ones (also good, but fitted). I’ve been searching for something a little boxier and lighter weight and was influenced to try these by the one and only Juliana Salazar who is the style icon for me.

2. Secondhand Raey — I used to love the brand Raey which was the in-house label of MatchesFashion…RIP. I always look for it on the secondhand sites. Currently eyeing this really nice wool coat that popped up, which would be great for New York “spring”.

3. Dorsey Maxwell Earrings — Thank god for Dorsey—such a great brand. I love this simple sterling silver style as an everyday earring.

4. Tulip Vases — It’s tulip time, so get out your vases. I like this one from Lulu and Georgia.

5. Brawler by Lauren Groff — A collection of short stories by Lauren Groff, who you may know from Fates and Furies. So far, so good.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the book Lost Lambs by Madeleine Cash which I just finished—and which was wild. I loved the ending where I felt the writing shined and one part in particular which struck me about motherhood being a creative position. That it’s the most “profound medium.” That your children are “your masterpiece.”

Easy to believe this in theory, harder to feel it in practice. I think because motherhood takes so much. There are phases that feel completely draining. The masterpiece becomes the master, so to speak. It is a creative endeavor…I really believe that. But it’s creating in a selfless way where the labor is mostly hidden, and the outcome—our kids, their health and happiness—it feels expected, when it should be nothing less than impressive. This is the reality of motherhood that bothers me. It is the hardest job in the world, but it hardly gets enough credit.

So it’s short and sweet today (read: I’m tired). Sharing some ideas on container gardening—conveniently, something of a collaborative project? The toddlers…they love a tantrum, but they love a good mess even more.

Container Gardening 101

For the gardening novices: a container garden is just plants in pots, grouped together to feel more like thoughtful landscaping…it’s important to be aspirational! I’ve spent the last five years trying to figure out how to design (and sustain—the tricky part) one in my very shaded patio space. Sharing the tips I picked up for patios, decks, porches—whatever you call your outdoor space.

1) Invest in some nice planters.

We’ll start with the fun part. Planters can go a long way in an outdoor space—they give you that extra layer of design without having to try too hard. Pro tip: the good antique malls and shops always have a backyard or overflow area where you can usually find planters at great prices. I’m personally drawn to European styles and have learned to look for the below names:

Bitossi Ceramiche — The gold standard of Italian ceramics. Lots of earth tones and colorful glazes. Look for Aldo Londi Bitossi to narrow down your searches to the Mid-Century Modern styles which I think are some of the better designs. Some really good finds here and here.

Fratelli Fanciullacci — A bit more playful and less polished. Often featuring etched decoration and quirkier forms. These are great for adding personality. Loved this, this and this.

Raymor — Not a maker, but an American importer of Italian ceramics (including Bitossi and Fratelli Faniullaci). This one is amazing.

2) Shade-friendly plants are your friends.

I have a very shaded outdoor patio, so I’m pretty limited in what I can actually keep alive. Because of this, I’ve become partial to a more fern-forward look. There’s something about layers of green, especially in a city outdoor space, that feels very zen.

A few summers ago, a friend connected me with her friend, a pretty experienced gardener, who came by to assess my space and then helped me to select what would actually work for shadier spaces. Her go-to suggestions: hostas, astilbes (a flower!), hellebores (also a flower!), and caladiums. I’ve tried all over the years and happy to report—they did not die!

3) Employ the one + one + one rule.

The easiest way to make a container garden look designed—without trying too hard—is to use the one + one + one rule. The idea is simple: pick one tall plant, one medium plant, and one trailing plant, and repeat that combination across your planters. It creates instant variety, depth, and repetition to make the space feel cohesive. This works especially well on a confined deck or patio space.

It also makes shopping much easier. You can walk into your local garden center (I recommend GRDN or Chelsea Garden Center in you live in NYC) and ask for the three plant types that will work for your space in your amount of sun, then scale that across however many planters you have.

Happy potting!

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now, green thumb addition.

1. Hape Gardening Tool Set — Toddler gardening! Who knew. Also plugging the Pehr Park Splash Pant which are great for aspiring gardeners and toddler life in general.

2. Flamingo Estate Night Blooming Jasmine and Rose Candle — A perfect spring scent.

3. Modern Container Gardening by Isabelle Palmer — A very good guide if you are thinking about a container garden and just starting out.

4. Matilda Goad’s Garden for T Magazine — The ultimate garden goals.

5. Apartment 387 Silk Flowers — For if you do NOT have a green thumb. My friend Andrea put me onto this brand and followed up with a photo of a bouquet in her beautiful Brooklyn home—they look very real and are gorgeous.

Between my family and my husband’s, we celebrate both Passover and Easter. I love a Seder dinner—something about it falling on a weeknight and breaking up the day-to-day. My sister-in-law will be hosting, so I just get to show up and set the table (my preferred role). Same with Easter which will be at my brother’s—we’re traveling, but you better believe I’m packing the table linens.

Below, a few ideas for your spring fêtes—whether you’re hosting or attending…maybe with a very good hostess gift in hand.

Seder Dinner

1. The Table Linens

I like that Seder dinners tend to be more formal—tablecloths and usually candlelight—it makes the holiday feel reflective the way it should, and of course celebratory. Keeping symbolism in mind…blue, white and silver feel right for a color palette...maybe with a pop of burgundy to make it modern. These Anut Cairo napkins would be perfect for a Seder dinner as would these D’Ascoli linens, mix and match them!

2. The Glassware

Crystal clear and simple goes a long way in my book. These wine glasses from Nickey Kehoe are a great option and would be a good investment generally for your more formal entertaining. I also love this style from Porta which leans artisan with a hand-blown glass effect.

3. The Cutlery

Seder dinner is a great time to break out the vintage silverware, if you have it. If not, Etsy and Chairish have endless options. I found this fun spiral-detail set from one of my favorite Etsy sellers—modern but still works.

4. The Dinner Plates

I’m always coming across really beautiful blue and white dinner plates. I love this style with a floral design from Porta. This one from Carolina Irving and Daughters is also great or you could go with a simple everyday design.

5. The Candlelight

Are you sick of me talking about candelabras yet? The assortment of great vintage styles on the market makes it hard to shut up about, so I’m sorry. Lots of minimalist Danish styles or you could go for something more traditional, like this.

6. The Details

Never say never to more silver. These swan napkin rings are a fun find and would look great on a Seder table. Swans? Spring? Makes sense to me.

Easter Brunch

1. The Table Linens

I love a brunch occasion, it feels like an excuse to play up pattern and color, don’t ask me why. I have this Heather Taylor Home tablecloth which would be great for an Easter table (I also use it as an outdoor blanket, it’s thick!). For napkins, something with a floral print (groundbreaking…etc). I love the brand D’Ascoli —the linens are thinner (more delicate) but great quality. These are gorgeous—I like that the colors are slightly muted so the style is versatile (i.e. not too bold of a pattern).

2. The Glassware

What is Easter without a mimosa? You’ve seen me link to this Porta style a lot, because it’s perfect. It’s a thicker, hand-blown glass with a nice weight to it, which goes against the usual thin stem champagne glass ethos (I like to be a little contrarian here and there). I’m a fan of the traditional flute = less spilling.

3. The Cutlery

Colored flatware is an easy find (search vintage!) and a fun add to an Easter table—you can reuse for celebrations like birthdays. I recently came across the brand Late Afternoon and love the color selection. This yellow would be great for an Easter brunch (the other colors are good too). Matilda Goad similarly has a great colorful teaspoon set which would work well with lots of coffee and smaller dishes on the table.

4. The Plates

I realize I share a lot of fancy, expensive Italian ceramics here. I think of them as pieces to collect over time (budget permitting, one by one?) and eventually pass down. It’s called legacy. I’ve been eyeing these Laboratorio Paravinci Bloom Plates for a while. I like that the design is elevated but simple enough to use in a variety of settings.

5. The Details

Serveware is meant to be served, so put it on the table! This platter from Porta in a yellow spiral design fits an Easter theme as does this really amazing cakestand from the Italian designer Carlotta Maiuri. And no Easter table would be complete without…an egg cup? This is a great thing to shop vintage for…lots of fun ceramic styles. I love this striped number from Issy Granger which also comes in red and yellow.

Table Notes

A quick rundown of things I <3 right now.

1. Korres Greek Yoghurt Wide Awake Eye Gel—I’ve tried a lot for dark circles and never stuck with anything, but I’m into this. It’s a roller tool which gives it a cooling effect, plus it’s super easy to use. And it’s not a million dollars. Shoutout to my beauty guru friend Agee for this find.

2. Secondhand Khaite Pants—I love Khaite, h8 the price. The RealReal always has great secondhand options—I just bought a pair for $142. These are similar and will probably go more on sale. These are great too. Add a ‘Khaite pants’ search to your TRR. Trust me on this.

3. Spring Pasta Bolognese Recipe—Made this on Sunday and already planning to repeat. Swapped the cream for milk and doubled the veggies—insanely good.

4. The Home Tour of the Creative Director of Ganni—Lives rent-free in my head, recently revisited this home tour…a truly creative space that feels very spring-y!

5. Skall Studio Yellow Sweater—I love the fit of this sweater and the color. It’s way too expensive so will wait for a sale…until then, taking any and all dupe suggestions.