Episode Six: How to Buy the Best of Everything Online

In the last episode, we shared our top secret thrifting tips because we wholeheartedly believe that you should try to shop secondhand as much as possible. And then there's everything else you need to buy new to make your house feel like home—which is a lot. This is a very quick overview of each category, so please understand it's not comprehensive by any means. But hopefully it'll provide at least a bit of guidance.

Rug:

Cost is based on cost of labor where its made, what it’s made of, how it’s made (handmade vs machine made) and generational skill of worker. Wool and silk are most expensive, best quality fibers. Cotton and other natural fibers like seagrass or sisal are less expensive alternatives. Avoid polyester, if you can.

Some favorite rug vendors:

Upholstered furniture:

Think of the 3 Fs: 

Other things to consider: measurements, sit do you like, arm height

Some favorite upholstered furniture vendors:

Tables (dining, coffee, side) + case goods ((dressers, nightstands):

Look for solid wood not wood composites or plastics. How often will you be eating here? Do you have little kids? Do you need something more durable? Opt for solid wood: pine, maple, oak, walnut. Look to see that the base is same wood as top or if its a veneer (which can mean it's not as high quality). Look dovetail or mortise and tenon joints, as well as any mention of closing mechanisms, soft-close glides. Reference vendors in bullet point above.

Lighting:

The general rule is that you want at least three light sources in a room. Consider the quality of the material, i.e. does the metal look cheap? If you don’t have a super solid vision for a space, you might want to stick with neutral lamp. But also, lamps are a budget-friendly way to play with trends.

Some favorite lighting vendors:

Curtains:

Consider the quality of the fabric when selecting your curtains (linen, velvet, etc). Does it have lining, what's the construction/style? If it's pinch or box-pleated at the top, it'll be more expensive (more labor intensive). Make sure to get samples if possible.

Some favorite curtain vendors:

Bedding:

You want to consider quality of fabric, looking for words about the material (avoid poly if you can). Make sure it's machine washable. This is a helpful article to further guide you.

Some favorite bedding vendors:

Wallpaper: 

The quality of the paper and the length of the roll determines the price. Is better quality wallpaper more expensive? Yes. Is it easier to apply and does it look better? Yes.

Some favorite wallpaper vendors:

Hardware: 

Some favorite hardware vendors:

Here are this episode's 3 takeaways:

Episode 5: TOP SECRET Thrifting Tips. 

It's finally time to start shopping for your design project! At the start of this episode, we describe exactly why we believe in shopping secondhand as our first option to furnish a home. It's sustainable, the items are higher quality at a lower cost, and it's the best way to find unique pieces.

Here are a few articles we reference that discuss the sustainability piece in general: 

‘Fast Furniture’ Is Cheap. And Americans Are Throwing It in the Trash.

Thrift stores/flea markets:

Welcome to Home, Addressed! In this episode, we tackle defining what we call "core colors" and how to start creating a design plan for your next project. If you'd like to nerd out on learning about color, I highly recommend these books: 

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Exordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee

Welcome to Home, Addressed! In the first two episodes, we learned about each other’s style backgrounds and then tackled our existing stuff and how to edit out what's not working. In this third episode, we discuss strategies for cutting through the overwhelming amount of inspiration in the world as you continue to define and refine your personal style at home.  

Here are the 3 takeaways from this episode:  

1) Figure out a handful (3 or so) words that describe a general feeling reflective of your style. 

Digital favorites: 

Welcome to Home, Addressed! We passionately believe that the best, most beautiful spaces tell our personal style stories. After learning about each other’s style and design backgrounds, in this second episode, we discuss how to tackle your existing stuff—way before you ever turn to Pinterest or click “Add to Cart.” It’s crucial that you examine existing pieces that might already reflect your personal style, and then edit out what doesn’t feel like “you.”

Here are the 3 takeaways from this episode:

2.  Remember this mantra: You have to give good shit to get good shit. It’s a wise practice to get into, releasing items into the world to make space for what’s likely even more suitable for you.

3. Consider donating to local resale shops or non-profits, selling items on Facebook marketplace or hosting a decor swap party with your friends who also love interior design.

Related articles:

Episode 1 Show Notes: Let’s Go Back to the Beginning... Welcome to Home, Addressed! We passionately believe that the best, most beautiful spaces tell our personal style stories. So in this first episode, we revisit the places and spaces that first introduced us to interior design: our childhood homes (s/o to our Moms!), our favorite tv and movie homes, and other formative people and places from our pasts.

*Father of the Bride house

Other related articles: 

*How our childhood homes shape us