“Strategist Brain” is a series where staffers share the stores they’ve stopped into, stuff they’ve spotted, and extra tidbits from stories they’ve worked on. You’ll hear from a different writer every week.
Like my colleague Crystal Martin wrote for this column last week — and probably like a lot of people this time of year — I’ve been thinking a lot about nesting at home.
Unfortunately, my nesting urge is bumping up against a major attempt to save money for some big-expense things coming up in my life. So while I might be coveting new rugs and dining tables, the reality is that I’m focusing my energy on smaller upgrades. The biggest of the small came in the form of a heavy-duty wire shelving rack — the kind usually relegated to kitchen or garage storage, but which I put in my closet. I wanted to go through clothes, reorganize, and make room for some of my partner’s stuff (he has a separate closet in his office, but if I’m being honest, the overall spread wasn’t fair). I purchased this one partially because it had good reviews and mostly because it came in the exact dimensions I needed to slip against the back wall, where it now houses sweaters and sweatshirts and all manner of pants, and with the bottom shelf full of shoe and purse storage (huge).
Here’s everything else I’ve seen recently:
Anyone who has been inside my home knows I love trays. They’re everywhere. A recent addition that, yes, went inside of another taller-sided tray, is this adorable striped number from Fog Linen that brings me joy every time I set my keys down. The stripes are a little design detail that goes a long way, in my opinion. (The exact one I have isn’t available, but this one is very similar — and there are many to choose from.)
I have a lot of art that’s nicely framed and some that … isn’t. I’ve been thinking about upgrading those pieces that got stuck in crappy Ikea frames over the years. Custom can be expensive, and though it’s sometimes worth the splurge, I have several photographs that will look totally nice in basic wood or metal frames. I’m still deciding exactly what I want to do, but Pottery Barn has a pretty good selection that I think will result in a lot of bang for my buck.
We’re desperate for new towels; our whole collection needs a refresh. This is perhaps slightly excessive, but I like to have six to eight on hand to ensure there are plenty to go around between wash days, and extras for the occasional guest. The problem is, that can add up quickly. Then came the Strategist chatter about how great these $12 Target towels are. They’re already on our list of favorites — but even more behind-the-scenes Slack praise convinced me to buy (they’re still on the way).
This Suay cushion is more of a wishlist item (I already own a much-beloved floor pillow from them), but I’m not kidding when I say I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I opened the tab a couple of weeks ago — specifically the citron color. I had heard of Suay before thanks to a friend of mine who is a stylist (the L.A.-based company calls itself a “vertical sewing and production shop” that in a myriad of cool ways upcycles old clothing, among other things). I didn’t realize it had an actual shop until I saw this linked to in cook Dan Pelosi’s recent house tour in Domino. Anyway, now I’m obsessed.
This isn’t a new discovery so much as a moment to love on my Staub Dutch oven — because beyond home upgrades, I am making myself feel good in this weather by cooking. In this. A lot. I’ve made pastas and soups and stews, of course. One nice perk of working from home is the ability to braise a long-cooking cut of meat on a weekday: Get it going over a late-afternoon break, stick it in the oven, and dinner is at a reasonable hour.
Speaking of cooking, we’re going to host an Oscars watch party for our friends. I’m still deciding what I’m going to make to feed a crowd — but one thing I know is that there will be popcorn. I have an old package of Bob’s Red Mill in the back of my cupboard (probably expired) — which has me thinking this is an opportunity to up my game. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang is a Rancho Gordo diehard. I’ve also heard good things about Amish Country and Popsmith, and another colleague, newsletter editor Ashley Wolfgang, says, “a big jar of Orville Redenbacher will always win.” Much to consider.
And I plan to set out this jar of exceptionally delicious cheese powder to use as a seasoning.
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