I’m Paige Wassel. WAS the Newsletter is your weekly dose of design inspiration, where our fates are full of good fortune and even better thrifting.

The objects people put in their homes are kinda like tarot cards: if you look carefully enough, they can tell you a lot about someone.

Today we’ll see what the metaphorical cards reveal about my effortlessly cool friend, artist, confidant, and model BFF Basma Alromaih, who’s sharing five of her all-time favorite finds.

1. MURANO GLASS LAMP

This is an Italian 1970s Murano glass and chrome floor lamp designed by Reggiani. I found it on Facebook Marketplace for $300, which is wild considering these usually go for anywhere between $2k and $5k. Easily one of my best steals. It feels more like a sculpture than a lamp. The woman who sold it told me it belonged to her dad and that he’d had it for a long time. That just made me love it even more.

2. VINTAGE IKEA CABINET

This is a vintage Ikea piece I found on FBMP. I love the warm wood color and the soft tint of the glass doors. It’s from the 70s or 80s, back when Ikea was still making modular, high quality stuff with a really clean look. Not sure what it’s officially called, but it reminds me of the Fabrikör line.

3. TINY BRASS FRAME

I have a thing for tiny things in any form. I found this little frame at a flea market in Mexico City and never changed the photo. I don’t know who she is, but she’s stayed with me while I wait for the perfect picture to take her place. I also found this tiny bone cross the same day. And yes, I’m always collecting rocks and shells. They just sort of end up all over my house.

4. WOODEN LAMP

I first saw a turned wood lamp with that Brazilian butterfly pattern in a shop here in LA. it was beautiful (and expensive) so I passed. then like a month later, I’m at some flea market (honestly can’t remember which one), and this beauty shows up. Same vibe. crazy cheap. Obviously, I grabbed it. I’m obsessed with wood grain in general, and this pattern? Unreal. It’s got that soft sculptural shape and those dark teardrop markings I can’t stop staring at.

5. SILVER BRACELET

This is one of my favorite finds. It’s an Amazigh Moroccan silver bracelet. I’ve always been into silver jewelry, but lately I’ve been especially drawn to Amazigh designs. They carry so much history, and each region has its own visual language. This one feels like it might be from the south, maybe Tiznit. I love the bold shapes and the little raised silver domes. They’re often used in protective jewelry, like amulets, and sometimes symbolize fertility or strength. I don’t know the exact name for this style, but it just feels powerful. Jewelry is one of my favorite things to search for. I’m always on the lookout for pieces that feel sculptural, symbolic, and a little mysterious (but hopefully not haunted)? This one checks all the boxes.

DO / DON’T by Basma Alromaih

xx,
P