Thrifting In NYC
A new word I discovered after moving to New York was ‘thrifting’. I can’t really think if in London we have a similar (maybe bargain hunting?!) but thrifting is the most wonderful word and one of my very favorite hobbies. But it can be a minefield of disappointment. Which shops are full of junk and where are the hidden treasures? How come everyone on Instagram seems to find UNBELIEVABLY amazing finds and I’d be lucky to find a pot without a crack or chip? I offer some advice here on thrifting in New York City and some of my favorite haunts. Housing Works A large chain and dotted all over New York some are definitely better than others – mainly based on which have bigger home sections. I often go to the one on East 23rd Street. They have a really varied home section and I have found gems hidden among the trash on many occasions. I will say though that in recent months the ‘curating’ has really taken a nose dive – so don’t hate me if you make the trip and find nothing – it’s pretty hit and miss! Vintage Thrift Possibly my favorite shop in New York. Located on 2nd Avenue between 22nd and 23rd this place really is FULL of gems. It is beautifully curated (unlike Housing Works – sorry Housing Works) and although the prices are a little higher, you really do find beautiful items here. I don’t think I have ever been in and NOT bought something. In need of vintage glasses for your bar cart? This is the place. They have one of a kind furniture pieces, frames, art, pots and pans. They also have a pretty great clothing section! It really is a magical place – I wonder if I should even be telling you all about it? Salvation Army A lot of the people I follow that live in Southern States seem to find incredible items here. I wouldn’t say in New York I have been so lucky, but I always think it’s worth popping in JUST in case. You’re unlikely to find real gems, but I have found a couple of sad looking West Elm vases that I have up-cycled. Out of the Closet, Brooklyn I will admit, I have actually only been here the once – but had one of the most successful hunts of my thrifting career. It started dismally. I wandered round the rather shabby disorganized room and the only thing I found was an old Ikea pot for $2. I didn’t even like it, but I’d come all the way from Manhattan and couldn’t bare to go home empty handed. I left to go home and as I tried to get my bearings to head back to the subway saw a sign pointing downstairs to the furniture section! How had I missed it!!!! I re-entered the shop full of renewed hope that this wouldn’t be a wasted trip after all and boyyyyy was I right. An entire floor of furniture, all priced under $20! Things were very dusty and in need of some love but if you have the time and patience to restore items it’s so worth it. I found a vintage wooden mirror for $10, a magazine rack for $4.50 a lamp for $2….and a nightstand for $5 that I up-cycled into a thing of beauty.
Collab With Rebel Walls
I was SO excited to collaborate with Rebel Walls. My obsession with wallpaper is strong and Rebel Walls have upped the wallpaper game to new levels (my installer Jacob also tells me their wallpaper paste is the best he’s used!) Their wallpapers are incredible quality and the patterns and designs classy and bold all in one.
Top Fall Decor Items & Scents
While I tend to steer clear of the heavy Halloween decor – I love all the other gorgeous pieces the stores have to offer this time of year. To save you the trouble of trawling the internet I put together my favorite decor items and scents to transition from summer to winter. And yes, I too was skeptical about a croissant scented candle but – oh. my. word.
Useful Mood Boards
I use mood boards A LOT. I offer them to my clients as part of my packages, and regularly create mini ones if I am working on a project I am having trouble picturing how the space and accessories work together. They are particularly handy if you are flicking back and forth between web pages to work out if the colors all work together. While buying online is admittedly a slight lottery – in my experience if the colors work on a mood board they generally do in real life (don’t hold me to that). I’m currently working on a cute little Condo in Greenpoint, Brooklyn – it’s a small and lovely space but a classic ‘white box’ and her style is very eclectic and retro with a love of 60s designs. The client already owned this couch and came to me for help injecting some color into the room. I tried various shades of creams and greens and yellows until I stumbled across Faded Terracotta by Farrow and Ball and it just WORKED. Using a mood board to test all these out when I don’t have physical access to the couch was a life saver! I’m currently working on a cute little Condo in Greenpoint, Brooklyn – it’s a small and lovely space but a classic ‘white box’ and her style is very eclectic and retro with a love of 60s designs. The client already owned this couch and came to me for help injecting some color into the room. I tried various shades of creams and greens and yellows until I stumbled across Faded Terracotta by Farrow and Ball and it just WORKED. Using a mood board to test all these out when I don’t have physical access to the couch was a life saver! This is a more ‘high tech’ mood board I do for clients where I use real furniture and use these to give an idea to my clients how all the pieces work together. I have found these to be incredibly useful to my clients who just struggle with visualizing the end result! It’s super easy to change out different furniture pieces, or try a new rug or lamp and you keep going until you love it. If you want to see how this translated to a finished room click on the image and check out Washington Square Park!
A Week In Marrakech
I have just returned (literally late last night!) from an unforgettable week in sunny Morocco with my Mum, and haven’t stopped scrolling through my photos since. Never have I been somewhere more beautiful; bursting with exquisite architecture, doorways to die for, smells of spices and herbs at every corner and food that will ensure I will be on a juice diet for at least the next two weeks. I myself had a lot of help with this itinerary from a well travelled friend so it seems only fair to pass on the details… The Riads of Marrakech The Riads of Marrakech are something I was simply not prepared for. You will be walking along very narrow, derelict streets and the stumble across an inconspicuous looking door….we later learnt this was because it’s considered crude to show your wealth to the outside, so fronts of Riads’ are not decorated elaborately – but oh boy, when you enter through the door it’s another story! Another world awaits you and each unique in their own magical way – a true oasis and you can scarcely believe the Souks are only a few minutes walk away! We stayed at the exquisite L’Hotel – which I could not recommend enough. We ate lunch at Nomad rooftop and Dardar rooftop (order the vegetable tagine it won’t dissapoint!) and ate dinner at the unforgettable El Finn and Maison L’Arabe. White there we also visited the Majorelle Gardens and Bahia Palace both which I’d suggest doing with a guide to get the most out of the experience. Souks Not so fresh from long flights – we dove head first into the Souks and I was like a kid in a candy shop my head flicking left and right as I tried to take in all the goodies on offer. We had a local guide showing us through the Souks which I would highly recommend. Not only did he act as a bit of a buffer from the local sellers grappling for our attention – but ensured we saw all the amazing sections often hidden deep inside the Souks – the metal section was a particular highlight! He was also invaluable at making sure we steered clear of less authentic stores, in favor of local ones. Within two hours of arriving I had already handed over my credit card in return for a rug – which will hopefully be making it’s way to me via DHL in the next week! It’s overwhelming to say the least – but in all the best ways. You quickly realize that the 20,000+ stores offer a similar selection of items: baskets and woven goods, ceramics and pottery, textiles likes rugs and ottomans, lanterns and metal items and then there are a few larger stores offering furniture pieces. I kept it fair, and came away with pretty much everything the Souks had to offer which resulted in some quite elaborate ways of getting through airport check in on my return so they didn’t weigh my hang luggage! Tips and Tricks The art of haggling is actually something I have always enjoyed – but I appreciate it can be uncomfortable for many. However, you simply have to get on board with the process in the Souks. I took to offering half of the sellers initial opener. This was met with a variety of responses. One man simply gasped and walked off when I offered half his opener (a clear sign I got that one wrong) – but others laughed, and came back with a counter (a clear sign they are here for the challenge). You’re often bartering over a couple of dollars by the end, but the jostle back and forth is part of the fun – embrace it!