If you, too, have been not-so secretly feeling the tiniest bit giddy that the sweaty months of 2026 are nearly over, friends, I am right there with you.
In the absence of anything resembling a vacation, I still feel wildly lucky that I got to spend the last three months doing a handful of things I love…because sometimes work can feel a lot like play, too. IE: Excavating and packing up the doctor’s office and prepping for the demo team to come in, biking Raffi to summer camp, growing our own cucumbers that despite my sad little gardening techniques really THRIVED (even if our tomatoes did not), lots of writing and art, and oc an obscene amount of THRIFTING.
Because while I have a lot of restraint with many things, thrifting is not one of them. These spontaneous micro adventures are perhaps my favorite kind of escape, because they take me out of myself and plop me into other people’s stories + worlds I could never have imagined existed (scroll to the end and you’ll know what I mean:). The other day, I was editing what I’ve written so far in the draft of our first ATA booklet, A Tiny Guide to Thrifting, and this little graf kind of captures what I mean…
Thrifting makes me think of the old folk story of the Velveteen Rabbit. The rabbit is a toy until a child loves it…and that love, like a potion, makes the rabbit real. That is also thrifting to me, and maybe to you. A thing that we go in search of or find when we aren’t even looking comes alive under our gaze, in our hands, like a heart that begins to beat because we alone noticed its beauty on a shelf in a thrift store in the Middle of Nowhere.
Yep, thrifted this old (kind of smelly) Miró book. Photo by Kris Mae Weiss.
Today’s edition of ATA is a lot about soaking up all the beauty I could this past summer, (despite all the sweating 👹)—kicking off w/ the most special things that happened, followed by the most enchanting gems I found at thrift stores + yard sales, not to mention all the prettiest/most respectable things I spotted up for grabs on the sidewalks, too. And so, happy almost-end-of-summer…and let’s get into it…xxCb
And I wish I could bottle how I felt when he showed me Phoebe. For some reason the sound got cut off at the beginning, but you get the gist. He captured all of us so perfectly; each one makes me melt. If you happen to be in Washington Square Park in NYC anytime soon, look for his striped umbrella, and if the wait isn’t too long, have him paint your portrait in exchange for a donation. Each painting took about 30 minutes, which seems utterly miraculous considering how astonishing they are + full of LIFE. This Sunday we will be picking up our new cat (I’m crying just typing that). Which is why I think I wanted to share this with you again. Phoebe4ever ♥️.
Even though I have a lot of experience creating special feelings in unusual spaces, I am not a formal interior designer. That said, when a friend asked for my help in transforming her newly expanded studio space on Elizabeth Street (with this massive industrial skylight, yowza!!), I could not say no. I pulled in Kevin as well as my former colleague and interiors stylist Alyssa to partner with me on the project. It’s early days, but I cannot tell you how excited I am to create a special space with other people I respect + care about. More soon!
Scenes from some of our thrifting adventures w/Buick this summer, photographed by my dear friend Kris Mae Weiss.
#Ad **I am very much in the camp that cars can be soulmates—imprinting on us and becoming a real connection during some profound chapters in our lives. That said, we were over the moon to have a chance to work with Buick and experience their 2026 Buick Enclave Avenir for the past month, particularly as we begin the rigorous prep work for our 1964 doctor’s office renovation. The Buick Enclave’s luxuriously roomy cargo space has been a total game-changer (and so easy to switch back and forth between seats and/or space). And, while I did not have a giant table or sofa to transport, I really wanted one just to do it with ease in this beautiful car. As with everything I surround myself with and integrate into my everyday life, I look for the timelessness of something. And that’s especially true given the investment a great car poses. The Buick Enclave really made its mark in our family’s world, particularly its knack for turning home chores and errands into everyday acts of pleasure (let’s hope our reno rolls out the same way:). Thank you, Buick Enclave, for being a part of this journey with us. Click HERE to learn more. #BuickEnclave #Buick
My friend Sheri and I had a very NYC night this summer + caught the Live recording of Fashion Neurosis at the Tribeca Film Festival featuring Bella Freud interviewing Laurie Anderson. At one point they switched spots on the couch, and Laurie interviewed Bella. PS: I recently re-listened to Bella’s episode with Zadie Smith, too, which is SO GOOD if you have an hour to yourself to spare…it’s glorious.
There is nothing cooler/more fun than circling back to someone you used to love working with. John McDonald, who is most known for owning/running many marvelous NYC restaurants, including Lure Fishbar, first came into my life back in the late ‘90s when he asked me to be his editor on a tiny startup design magazine called CITY. Over the years, we’ve both moved around, grown/changed businesses, become parents, and somehow found our way back to collaborating again. While he was building his dining empire, he also managed to grow one of the most robust and active audiences on Substack (close to a million subscribers (!!). When he asked me to help him rebrand his newsletter and carry it into a new era, it felt a little like coming home again. We named it On the House and you can read all about it here. It’s strange, but sometimes going back can also feel like going forward ❤️.
A photo I found that I took when I worked at CITY in the late ‘90s/early aughts, when I shot with film and apparently read magazines on a beach. More of my old life in magazines HERE ↓.
My Life In Magazines, Part 1
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Feb 20
Hi friends, reminder today is the last day to lock in our A Tiny Apt. anniversary subscription special—one year of our sweet little design/thrifting/style houdini world here for just $50 (reduced from $60). Stories like today’s 2-Part feature are made possible due to the ✨magical✨ support of our Paid subscribers…join us and let’s make even more inspiring space, second-hand, and personal style stuff in the year ahead.
Left: Bach in the bin. Right: Still my favorite yard sale sign ever.
When I shared these in our chat thread, almost all of you immediately told me to go for it, even though they look suspiciously like I could have scored them at the Brady Bunch estate sale. I listened, and they will be filled to the brim w/cookies soon enough.
Scored at a yard sale I spotted while riding bikes with Raffi. Turns out it was made by the same carpenter who built the house hosting the yard sale. Apparently it had been sitting in their garage for 20 years waiting for a purpose…which—surprise!!—turned out to be ME. I even asked Kevin to alter one of the closet dimensions to accommodate this door in our doctor’s office reno design. $5, can you stand it?!! And the lift the owner gave us hauling it home was totally FREE.
GOD! They DO NOT make magazines like this anymore, where the paper-stock alone could give you a mild heart attack. Also, 100% Italian, which despite not being able to read the articles made them a WIN WIN/vincere vincere! About a week after I found them, it rained biblically, so Raffi and I chose one of the covers to draw together…anyone want it? And, if you’re near Winter Park, FL, someone is selling this epic collection of them on FB Marketplace…woo!
Did I need four of these that all look vaguely similar? NO, I did not. But I had to buy them as a set, so HERE WE ARE.
Found these abandoned by the checkout at our local Goodwill (someone must have changed their mind and split). I can’t wait to stow bottles of water and wine in them ASAP.
**A quickie moment of PAID love for our friends over at Helix who wanted me to remind all of you that their Labor Day sale w/up to 30% off on select mattresses is still running HOT🔥🔥 (but never sweaty 😅). And I am proud to share that we just upgraded Raf’s Brooklyn bed to a new Helix kid’s version, too. I can say with full confidence that theirs are the coziest, most restorative mattresses I’ve ever slept on…and they don’t cost a king’s ransom either. #Helixpartner #ad
I swear, she will be wearing my shoes soon, she’s growing so fast. I was literally walking home from the train a few weeks ago, making a mental tally of all the new things I need to buy for her for school since all of her pants lately look a lot like shorts (or shants??). As if sent from the Lord Herself, I came upon these cherry-red wellies in HER SIZE on a stoop…fate. It reminded me that I also need a good-looking pair for myself for our impending Hurricane season. What do we think of these Hunters as something basic and dependable but also CUTE?
Also, not to go off topic, but as I was creating a link for these, a pop-up window served me these not obscenely priced striped cotton Cadets pants, which are, dare I say ADORABLE. Do we love them in blue or in red? Red, right?
As soon as I saw these I called a friend to go and grab them. Despite an old friend calling this shade the “saddest color alive,” I will always have a soft spot for this sort of taupe.
When I first spotted this on the sidewalk in a cardboard box by the trash, I was sure it was cracked or broken in some unsalvageable/tragic way. But NO…it was perfect, if not for some dust. It’s really quite exquisite and I can’t wait to wire it into the entryway of the Dr.’s Inn project. Plus, when we add a dimmer…DAMN, this will be PRETTY. (PS: Link to a similar 19th-century style on Ruby Lane for about $2k, too 😳). Yep, I did GOOD.
Nothing makes me swoon like shapely furniture that’s actually super comfortable. We chatted about this in our thread after I found it, but the original wool fabric is still so vibrant but also hella itchy. So, on my last visit to the Maharam textiles showroom, I took some photos of a few recycled faux shearlings that I thought could be beautiful and quite decadent for this gorgeous piece. Mixed with different patterned pillows…it’s going to be SO good.
Raffi and I were riding bikes when I saw the Yard Sale sign…she insisted on getting the bear, too, which much to my relief was not disgusting. The basket ended up in the bench we found last week at the REI store closing for $60 and has come in handy for bringing in ripe vegetables from the garden.
When Kris Mae and I were filming the Buick story, I immediately spotted it on a shelf at the Goodwill. It has such 1960s Kartell vibes, and upon further investigation I discovered it’s actually a trophy ice bucket from Target…go figure! I’m still mad about it, though.
I didn’t take either of these, but I really enjoy the ritual of photographing the discarded as a way of honoring their duty. I hope someone else grabbed them…such beauties.
I got so many sweet messages about this cutie when I posted about it on my IG Stories…I love how Little House On the Prairie it is w/carvings, etc. Whenever I find things like these that just feel very personal and like they came from a legacy of homes, I take a lot of care to figure out the best place they might live next. I’m not much of a recipe collector but I imagine it could be quite charming for a pad and pen where my future landline phone might sit (anyone wanna swap phone #s??).
Hallie had this on her table at our yard sale a few weeks ago, and as soon as she put it out, I thought, “that looks like Prada.” I waited. And waited. And then it was still on her table when we were ready to pack up, so I grabbed it. I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do with it, but it’s such a divine shade of pale pink…DREAMY.
Do you see a face? I see a face.
I hate seeing good wood things get shit-canned like this. It honestly breaks my heart. Usually shipping pallets like these are in desperate shape and hard to justify keeping, but this one had such interesting details, particularly the four cubbies at the corners that I instantly imagined putting little pieces of pottery inside for display (after I paint the whole thing, of course!). It ended up being too heavy for me to bring home, but I still like to fantasize about what I would have done with it (which is almost just as satisfying).
Another piece I didn’t take, but felt the need to document just the same. Perfect for a few extra perches outside an always-busy cafe.
I managed to score this at a Public Sale auction in late May along with another framed piece by the same artist. I wasn’t familiar with Calon’s work, but after I posted about it, she messaged me from the Netherlands that she’d never seen her work come up for auction before. I sent her photos and told her I would be a very proud steward of her art…which also got me DEEP into reading/learning about Risograph printing. I took a look and couldn’t find any good proper vintage risographs I liked, but below left and right are two original serigraphs in a similar style that are quite cool.
I met a friend over the summer who had not-so-recently left a job of nearly two decades (not her choice), and she was trying to figure out what her next chapter was going to be about — and discover more of what she loved. When I asked her what she was enjoying doing, she said, “fixing furniture.” So, when I found this book at a local second-hand book shop in Hudson, I knew who I was giving it to.
Our friend, the artist Anne Schaefer, dropped a note in our group chat that the late artist Ann Wilson’s estate sale would be happening over a weekend up near where we live. My friend Christine Cherbonnier and I hopped in her car and spent a few hours gently moving through Wilson’s home and choosing some special things from her space/life/work with a lot of care. The above are my favorite things that I bought that belonged to her…a large ceramic vase, the speckled caddie that includes colored pencils that were in her sunny art studio, as well as a woven textile in still very bright shades of pink/violet/gold (Wilson’s most known piece is a quilt painting now in the Whitney Museum’s permanent collection). Wilson died in 2023, so it felt strange walking through her former home, all her things seemingly exactly where she left them. Raffi and I have been using her pencils, and even though I’m not sure yet where the vase will go, I plan to do something special with it. For Ann and her memory…and also for us. ❤️
Thanks for following along, and if you have anything marvelous that you’ve thrifted this summer that you’d like to share, pls do drop it in the comments or our chat ↓. And, remember, if you click on or buy anything throughout today’s newsletter, we might earn a tiny commission at no cost to you. 🌹
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