This week, I’ve got some renovation budget takeaways for you—20+ items I wish we’d reviewed during the planning stage, as well as some of the things we initially regretted but that actually turned out better. Before we dive in, some New York City updates, a word about Rec League, and a call for what I should focus my next reno recs on.
The latest from life in New York
When our son Walker was about five, we had a cocktail party at our apartment. Before our guests arrived, he’d been concerned about what to say to people at this, his first adult party. We suggested that he ask guests questions and that he talk about what he cared about, because passions are interesting. At one point in the evening, I noticed that he was at the center of a group of young women who were leaning in as he regaled them. While we were cleaning up, we asked Walker what he’d been talking about. “I was telling them some facts about the blue whale,” he said. “But they were getting too close because I was too interesting, so I had to start talking about the Minke whale.” I was thinking about this the other day, as I was near exhaustion from New York City being too interesting. I’d been socializing too much. Eating out too often. Meeting too many people. I needed to change the mode and be home for a bit. Which is what’s happening this weekend. It’s 91 F outside and I am happily, peacefully working, eating cereal, and talking to no one. Yours in cocktail party training, Amanda
Two Notes on Rec League:
Most importantly, I will continue to recommend products in both my free and paywalled Homeward posts. This was always the plan and it’s what I’ve done since the beginning, e.g.: kitchen stoves, pillows, dinnerware, towels, and pizza ovens, as well as discoveries like the perfect work shirt, portable lantern, and bath towels. However, Rec League and Substack have different capabilities. For both, I draw on my years of research intel, hands-on testing, and relationships with makers and craftspeople to compile a thoughtful mix of shopping finds. Here are the main differences for me and how I’ll be recommending products on each platform. Substack:
Rec League:
If you’re interested in joining Rec League, all Homeward subscribers receive a discount (free subscribers see here; paid subscribers right this way), which gives you access to all of my recommendations. You can also join Rec League as a free subscriber on the site or app to enjoy the collage-style visual world (a former Substack developer is behind them!). Making product recommendations takes my research time and expertise, along with support from my editor and assistant. I want to be able to share excellent finds with you, and I value the work we put into them. But, put plainly, organizing and expanding my picks on Rec League entails a lot more work. I hope this helps you understand why I think Rec League is useful to have as a separate account, and why I need to charge for some of it. I’m very thankful for your support and for being part of the Homewardian community, in whichever way you choose. Moving on to a pressing question:
Renovation Budget Planning + My TakeawaysWe are not entirely done with our renovation, but we are far enough along and the bills, which for a long time felt like they were spewing at us from a firehose, have slowed to a trickle. There is art to figure out. A few furniture pieces to add. A pantry to finish. Books to ship out from Brooklyn. Bikes to acquire. A garage to organize. And future projects that have been put into the penalty box. ... Subscribe to Homeward to unlock the rest.Become a paying subscriber of Homeward to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. A subscription gets you:
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