Issue #16: Elevated Basics and Giving Back on Black Friday

Welcome to issue #16 of The Home Catalog. Coming up today: 

• Two new homeware brands: Ensembl and Gather Round
• The founders of Russet on crafting affordable ‘elevated basics’ without having to sacrifice design or quality
• Giving back on Black Friday with Material and The Citizenry
• ‘At Home’ our new section on home trends

Hi! 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our U.S. subscribers! 

Before we jump into this week's email, I wanted to say thanks for each of you for subscribing and supporting Living Cozy so far. It really means a lot to me. 

I'm switching things up a little and moving this email to Friday's (Black Friday probably wasn't the best day to make this change, and fight against hundreds of offers in your inbox… thanks for opening). I'll also be sending the email weekly too. 

Thanks! 

P.S. Here are some of the best Black Friday deals I've spotted so far:

• Buy two candles get one free with Cancelled Plans
• Save 30% on wall art with Grafiti
• Up to $500 off at Burrow

New Brands

Here are two brands recently added to our Directory: 

Ensembl

Ensembl is re-engineering cookware. Its first product line, The Stackware Collection, is multi-functional, space-saving cookware made for modern life (pictured above).  Learn more about Ensembl. 

Gather Round

Gather Round aims to help us to celebrate the occasion of everyday. It offers a range of ceramic tableware designed for everyday use. Learn more about Gather Round.

The Roundup 

Muji x West Elm 

Muji has been selling affordable minimalist home goods and accessories since 1980, and through this new partnership nearly 100 homeware essentials will be available via West Elm. View the collection here. 

Material's new reBoard colors

Material has added two new colors to its collection of BPA-free, dishwasher-safe cutting boards. 50% of profits from the two new colors —To Pó-Po with Love and Reimagine Justice — will go to charities Heart of Dinner and Drive Change. Check out the new colorways here. 

The Citizenry's Black Friday Fund

Today, all of The Citizenry's profits go to Santa Maria Foundation, a NGO providing education for orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable girls in rural Colombia. Its goal is to fund a year of school for 165 girls. Learn more about the campaign here and shop its 2020 gift guide here. 

Founder Interview: Sophie Lavet and Stephanie Rales, Russet

When it comes to setting up your home, you're often faced with two choices: affordable, ‘that’ll-do-for-now’ furniture, or pieces that will last, move with you, and cost you more than your rental deposit.

To provide options to those who previously felt alienated by high priced furniture brands, Sophie Lavet and Stephanie Rales founded Russet — a furniture brand offering ‘elevated basics’ at affordable prices, without sacrificing design and quality. 

Read the full interview here: Russet is Creating Elevated Basics for People With (Very) Real Budgets 

At Home

In this new section we'll look at how we live, and the evolving needs we have for our homes… 

Millennials are Spending the Most on Home Improvement Projects this Year

HomeAdvisor's 2020 State of Home Spending found that Millennials are not only rapidly becoming homeowners, but they are also spending more on home improvement than any other generation.

Some key takeaways from the report:

• The top reason for home improvement spending was to make the home better suit lifestyle needs, 41% of all consumers surveyed. 
• Our spending habits have also changed with 33% of respondents shifting commuting budget, 48% shifting vacation budget, and 52% shifting restaurant budgets into home services and projects.
• The top three completed home projects are bathroom remodels, interior painting, and installing new flooring.

Check out the report here. 

Covid Pushes Real Estate Into the Future

Stefanos Chen, real estate reporter for The New York Times, takes a look at how Covid has shifted what we value in a home and the types of technologies that could shape the future of our living (and working) spaces. 

“Location matters less, now that the office is the kitchen. Size matters more, now that everyone is at home. And the best way to justify exorbitant prices is no longer the building’s amenity package — it’s peace of mind walking from the lobby to the living room,” he writes. Read the full story here. 

Did you enjoy this email? Hit reply and let me know what you liked and what you'd like to see more of. I'd love to hear from you.