Welcome back and sorry for the unintentional hiatus!
I had been collecting (non-affiliate!) links for this issue through Pinterest for over three months, only to discover when I went to actually schedule this post, at least half of them were dead — *cue watering eyes emoji*. I felt pretty disappointed about losing that work, but after reminding myself of my own ethos about kismet, I finally pulled myself together and re-did the list (which I think is substantially better than it was before), and I’m now ready to share it with you below — with new, non-dead links AND reference photos (some of them can also be found on my Pinterest) as an extra insurance policy!
But first, a few thoughts on surviving winter. Also in this issue, my top weekly art picks under 50€ and 100€.
*just a note, this issue will be truncated via email. If you’re a paid subscriber, make sure you’re logged in to check it out on Substack directly.
Learning to love winter
If there's one thing I consistently notice that sets everyone up for failure, it's the view of winter as a season to simply "grin and bear." Just like our brains can't distinguish between fake and genuine laughter, we must train ourselves to embrace winter wholeheartedly.
Surviving winter without falling apart requires building a genuine love for the season. You can't spend your days counting down to summer, or you'll miss out on what could potentially become your favorite time of year. I've often stressed the importance of establishing routines and having rituals to look forward to, but I also believe that keeping a list of enjoyable winter activities at your fingertips is a fantastic way to beat those winter blues. Don’t make the mistake of trying to do the same activities in winter like you do in summer — you’ll just burn yourself out even faster. Instead, why not create your very own winter favorites?
Here are a list of suggestions that are sure to cure at least some of your wintertime sadness:
Markthalle Neun — if you’re based in Berlin, make it a ritual to check out their Street Food Thursdays. Lots of delicious food and great natural wine abound!
Go to a jazz club — I went to Bar Bobu on Valentine’s Day last year and it was a ton of fun. And the general sultriness of it all is a natural match for winter.
Check out a comedy club — Even if the comedians are horrible, it’s just as much fun to laugh at them. I’ve been to the Wall Comedy Club in Friedrichshain a few times and really enjoyed it.
Take a painting class or plan your own arts and crafts day — I’ve been very publicly captivated by Delaney’s (@tremont_home) many great ideas and have shouted them out in this newsletter before. Today’s video on making your own clay clementines is no exception. A perfect winter activity.
Go to the movies — a tried and true winter favorite! If you go to a cool, indie theater, you’ll feel more cultured for it. Wins abound.
All about rugs
Welcome to part one of my official guide to my textile recommendations — starting with rugs!
I’ve had a number of requests from readers to cover this topic, and I wholeheartedly believe that few things can elevate your home's ambiance as effectively as the inclusion of some truly exceptional rugs.
If you follow me on Instagram or TikTok (or paid close attention to vol. 9-11 of Brunch at Sera’s) you likely already know that the two rugs I have on display in my home are from Turkey 25+ years ago and were given to me by my parents.
I’m obviously a big fan of the Turkish/Persian/general Middle Eastern rug style, and I love a colorful, geometric pattern. The below rug is a great example of maximizing your search terms — I found it on Chairish under the name Vintage Colourful Moroccan Kilim Rug, but be warned, it’ll definitely break the bank.
Using a variety of search terms on Etsy (or Wayfair/Overstock/the standard discounters if you’d like to go for the most budget friendly option) like “Turkish rug,” “Persian rug,” “Hamadan rug,” “Turkish kilim,” “Anatolian rug,” or “Oriental rug” should get you some good (significantly cheaper) results that run the gamut from more traditional styles (like the ones I have in my home) to the funkier options (like the rug pictured above).
These are also the best types of rugs to search for while traveling or at flea markets. Here’s some general inspo to have an idea of what to be on the look out for:
If you feel like you already have enough pops of color in your home, or prefer to stick to neutral tones, might I suggest something like this:
I love the dimension that the above black and white rug adds to the space. This particular rug can be found at Westwing and is available in a few different sizes. The one in the photo above is the largest size, and the most expensive, at 400€.
I also love a checkered print, as seen below — the contrast of the red chairs is stunning:
I found the above image on Pinterest, and while I couldn’t find the exact rugs, Ruggable has a nice option. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of the look of Ruggable rugs, though.
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