Every product is independently selected by obsessive editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission. Consider it a peek into the always whirring brain of a Strategist writer. If I want cool furniture , I need to get creative with what I already have or can find for cheap. My current home-DIY project is a mirror. I had to buy it. Plus, doing things with my hands β both home DIYs and tending to my two-dozen-ish houseplants β is a good break from working with text on screens all day.
And the Craigslist adventures are worth it alone. A lot of people ask me for advice on altering and repairing clothing, which I love to talk about. When in doubt, add a patch , and check out the book Creative Mending, by Hikaru Noguchi , for knit-mending ideas. It will unlock a world of great-fitting clothing to buy online and dramatically reduce the number of things you have to return because they fit weird.
As a short king, I often ask for the sleeve length, shoulder width, and total length. The Lodge cast-iron pan is a classic solved product; ditto Felco garden pruners. You can find great free furniture on the street or on Craigslist. Just look for something sturdy and trust your intuition. While trying to ID some patchwork-quilt patterns, I found this great resource from Michigan State University called the Quilt Index , which has been online since The shirt wants to ride up, which is why, I imagine, it was on sale.
My sofa and coffee table. The Fetish Priest , a vintage seller who is incredible at historicizing his stock and is just a really nice person. It was worth it; both the couch and table are well made and durable, with a heavy metal frame. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape.
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