Category: conscious design
Old But Not Harmless: What You Need to Know About Toxins in Vintage and Antique Finds
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Not all treasures are innocent. But that doesn’t mean we throw them away—it means we get smarter. You know the feeling. You spot a perfect old chair on the curb. Or a velvet lampshade in a thrift store. Or a dresser with hardware that makes your heart skip. And you think: mine. But here’s the…
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We’re taught from the jump that if something’s not working—an outfit, a room, a relationship—the solution is to replace it. Fast. The idea that “new equals better” is stitched into the seams of modern life, reinforced by ads, algorithms, and influencers who promise transformation with the click of a button. But here’s the thing: most…
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What if you treated your home less like a product and more like a living thing? We’ve been trained to think of design as an event. A reveal. A before-and-after. Something you knock out in a weekend with a credit card and a shopping list. But real homes—the ones that feel soulful, layered, and alive—don’t…
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Let’s talk about bouclé. You’ve seen it everywhere—on TikTok, in every influencer’s home, wrapped around curved sofas that all look like oversized marshmallows. It’s the texture of the moment. The shorthand for “elevated.” The darling of design trends that prioritize the look of luxury over the longevity of anything. But behind the nubby, cozy facade,…
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Let’s get one thing straight: most design shows are fantasy. Not the good kind — not imaginative, experimental, inspiring fantasy. No, they’re more like the Disneyland of interiors: scripted, sanitized, and surgically airbrushed to make the mess of real life disappear. What they offer isn’t design. It’s theater. You’ve seen the formula: A chipper host…
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Greenwashing Is the New Glitter: Shiny, Useless, and Everywhere Let’s get something straight: just because it’s beige doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. Everywhere you look, design brands are shouting their eco-virtues: “Made with recycled materials!” “Natural finishes!” “Conscious collection!” But dig even a little beneath the surface and it’s all marketing mulch. This is greenwashing—the art…
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Let’s Talk About Hand-Me-Downs Not every gift is a treasure. That’s where we start. Because when we talk about “Gifted” in the TGIF philosophy—Thrifted, Gifted, Invented, or Found—we’re not just talking about things people gave us. We’re talking about the complicated reality of inherited stuff. The hand-me-downs. The heirlooms. The boxes of “perfectly good” decor…
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Most of us don’t think twice about grabbing a new desk online or upgrading a sofa when the style feels stale. But behind every shiny new furniture purchase is a web of environmental damage that’s easy to ignore—and costly to the planet. Here are five reasons to rethink the cycle of buying new: 1. It’s…
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INTRODUCTION: BURN THE CATALOGS We don’t need more stuff. We need better eyes.Better questions. Better taste — and I don’t mean expensive. I mean earned. This is not another article about how to make your home look like a boutique hotel or a Scandinavian influencer’s rental flat. This is an article about not buying your…
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Saying these are challenging times doesn’t quite capture it. But since simply checking out isn’t an option, I’ve been finding comfort in quieter, simpler routines that bring a little peace and normalcy back into my days. This week, I’ve found myself spending more time with my plants. Watching the pothos cuttings grow their small white…
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When it comes to decorating a home, art is often treated as a finishing touch—something you add once the big decisions have been made. But at Object Lesson, we believe art can be the starting point. Not because it’s expensive or exclusive, but because of what it does, not just what it looks like. You…
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A gallery wall can anchor a room, express your personality, and bring warmth and texture to a space. But achieving one that feels cohesive instead of chaotic requires more than a hammer and a handful of frames. It takes thought, rhythm, and an understanding of how color and harmony interact across a collection of diverse…
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Creating a home that feels stylish, welcoming, and uniquely yours doesn’t require a big budget—especially when times are tight. In fact, challenging economic conditions can actually be the perfect opportunity to flex your creativity and embrace a more meaningful, personal design philosophy. Enter the TGIF rule: Thrifted, Gifted, Invented, or Found. This approach is about…
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Flea markets are a treasure hunter’s paradise—but only if you know what to look for. Amid the bins of mystery cords and chipped mugs are pieces with real design potential. Whether you’re furnishing a space, styling a shelf, or just craving the thrill of the find, here are ten categories of flea market gold worth…
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At Object Lesson, we build rooms around what already exists. Our TGIF philosophy — Thrifted, Gifted, Invented, or Found — is about designing with what’s available, what has a story, and what doesn’t require another trip to the big box store. But even in a world of secondhand treasures and creative reuse, there are still…
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The dominant message in interior design — especially online — is that a beautiful home starts with a shopping cart. New furniture, new decor, a total rehaul. It’s a message that quietly implies your home (and by extension, you) isn’t enough. But there’s another way. This philosophy has shaped everything we do at Object Lesson,…
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Before you click “Buy Now,” before you haul something heavy through the front door, and definitely before you spend a weekend assembling flat-pack furniture—you need to ask yourself one question: What is this actually doing for me?