WAS [the newsletter] #29

Rebel by Design

I’m Paige Wassel. WAS the Newsletter is your weekly dose of design inspiration, signed, sealed, and delivered.

You asked for it, you got it. Here’s what’s up with me lately:

I have been busy as hell with the next WAS products launching June 23! We had our photoshoot this past Monday at Benji Plant’s home here in Los Angeles. His place is incredible and he was so beyond generous for letting us use the space. Here are some behind the scene’s from the shoot and some of the products we are launching!

Here are the boards we created for the shoot. Building a business takes an incredible amount of work but here we are. Loving every second of it. Stressed at times but so happy to be doing what I am doing.

THIS WEEK’S THRIFTED FINDS – BALTIMORE

Have I been busy prepping for a month in Chicago? Yes. Does that mean I take time off from thrifting? Absolutely not because what if I miss something? So let’s peep the best o’ the best in BALTIMORE baby!!

Vintage Wicker & Brass Chest Trunk

Vintage Eames for Herman Miller ET109 Round Table

Refinished Solid Vintage Oak School House Desk

1991 Knoll Studio Raul De Armas Arm Chairs

You always have to look because you never know what you might find.

TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU(R HOUSE)

The French say “à la poubelle” when they’re discussing something they want gone. The literal interpretation means “in the trash.” There’s even a song about it. So today we’re going to talk about the décor that I believe should be tossed.

Now, I’m not saying you have to throw the following design trends in the actual garbage. That’s wasteful and environmentally unsound. Instead, put these items on Facebook Marketplace and use the money you earn to buy some nice rosé to celebrate your home looking better.

Limewash Walls. Hard pass, always and forever. There’s one specific aesthetic where it works, and almost no one has it.
Vertical Blinds. My suggestion is that you kill them with fire. Another thought is to take down the slats and then use the track hooks to hang drapes.
Popcorn Ceilings. This is an easy fix and there’s a product now that helps you steam them off. Make a TikTok of you removing the popcorn, add a trending song, and become internet famous. Win/win.
Symmetrical Fireplace Décor. It’s much more interesting when your display is eclectic, rather than the mirror image of the other side. Don’t be afraid to be a bit off-balance.
Bad Hallway Rugs. Only lay a rug in a hallway if it’s nice and size-appropriate (or you need it for senior pets). Otherwise, it’s just a tripping hazard.
Faux Vintage Busts. Now that these are mass-marketed, they’ve lost all their coolness factor. They’ve become a trend whose 15 minutes have passed.
Matchy-Matchy Sofa Throw Pillows. If your sofa came with plain matching throw pillows, put contrasting covers on them to add interest. Otherwise, it’s a big bowl of bland.
Bad Pendants and Chandeliers. This may be the easiest swap of all. A lot of bad lights can be fixed with new shades. If yours can’t, find something you like and call a Task Rabbit to make the swap. You’ll be glad you did.