Tag: TGIF philosophy
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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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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You’ve seen the videos. A glossy hand opens a box with a flourish. There’s soft music, fast edits, maybe a pinky ring tapping against plastic wrap. The caption reads:“OBSESSED. Run, don’t walk.” What’s in the box? A new set of “aesthetic” laundry bins. A plastic spice rack with matching labels. Another acrylic drawer system promising…
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What’s In Your Laundry Detergent (And What to Use Instead) Let’s talk about something most people use every single week — but rarely think twice about: laundry detergent. Those bottles lined up at the store promising “Mountain Spring” or “Fresh Breeze”? They’re full of synthetic chemicals, many of which aren’t just bad for your skin…
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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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Color isn’t just a visual experience — it’s a psychological one. It shapes how we feel in a space before we ever have a chance to think about it. A room’s color can soothe or energize, focus or distract, uplift or overwhelm. That’s why choosing the right hue for the right room is one of…