What. A. Year. New website, new products, babies, travel, new team members. It's been a wild ride up north, and (almost) all for the better in our book. What stayed the same? We still love hand-making pieces that help you enjoy your home and your favorite things. We still love seeing what you do with them. We still love the beautiful indoors and listening to records. What changed? So much...
We want you to crush this holiday. We want each of your gift recipients to shed a single tear that catches the glint of candle light just as a light snow begins to fall on the handbell choir that has gathered to serenade the class of orphans that has come to the town square to pick out a kitten from an miracle litter at the humane society. And we want them to say ‘This [sob] is what Christmas means to me.” And if the gifts in your own stocking would earn the side-eye from the Goodwill donations rep, we’d like you to have some ideas for yourself as well.
...here are 10 record players that we love to look at AND listen to. From vintage turntables to modern players, there’s something in here for almost any aesthetic.
“Trends can be really fleeting. Something might be trendy, and then you are sick of it six weeks later. And this happens faster these days because, with Instagram and these other platforms, you will just see so much stuff.” Gilmore tells her clients not to copy Instagram. “Try to dial in on what it is you’re actually attracted to,” she says. “Is it the use of lighting? Is it a really interesting wood detail?” Thinking about the broader effect, rather than the specific detail, can help you avoid creating a space that feels dated a year or two later.
Maybe your playlists are tired, or you want to know what the kids are listening to. Whatever your reason for wanting new music, finding it can be a lot of work. So get some help. In this installment, we cover how to get the most guidance out of your local record store.
Even the most dedicated of us can't listen to records 24 hours a day. But when you're not listening to music, these shows still involve music and they are wins at all kinds of different speeds. Your five recs are...
Rob is our artist, builder, and craftsman. He sees the possibility in each rough plank of hardwood, but also its desire to warp, bow, and splinter. He takes vague notions and turns them into physical products ready for mail order. And he’s the guy that gets the call if something breaks at his cousin’s house. Or his neighbor’s. Or the guy-from-the-fish-fry’s. But who is the guy behind these skilled hands? Let’s find out.
How do you organize your records? Alphabetically? By Genre? The way you organize your records can have an impact on how you enjoy them. So, as your collection grows, think about how you think about your music, and organize accordingly. Here are some popular strategies and the pros and cons of each.
Decorating with album art. It seems like a no brainer. You like albums. You like art. Albums have art. Just put the albums up on the wall as art, right? So why can it feel so weird?
You wouldn’t think twice about hanging a painting you like. But album art isn’t just album art. It’s the brand of the artist. It’s where the artist sits in the culture. And where that culture meets politics.
When it’s on your wall, that Fleetwood Mac record says you buy your vinyl at Crate and Barrel. That Bob Marley record says I hope you brought rolling papers. ThatGang Starrrecord boasts you know way more about hip-hop than you actually do. ThatSteve Reichrecord says you are either an insufferable aesthete, a charlatan, or likely both.
The “Try Anything”er: No chance it fits, but you’ll be damned if you’re not trying it. I mean, the the colors look kind of the same.
The Contemplator: Sits back. Does nothing for hours. Then grabs a single piece. The one everyone’s been looking for. The one that would unlock all the others. Fits it without hesitation or ceremony. Sits back. Does nothing for hours….
The Short Attention Span: Sits down and says things like “ohhh puzzle time!” Three minutes later retreats with with a flimsy excuse and a “ugh, puzzles are just NOT my thing...”
If the downsides of vintage outweigh the charm, consider a modern system. Modern systems are easier to buy. You can find them online or at your local stereo shop. They are easier to maintain. Manufacturer parts and support are readily available and are often covered by warranty. Modern systems look, well, modern and can come in some convenient new form factors that reduce footprint and make set-up easier. And modern systems often support features like wireless connectivity that simply weren’t around when your dad was air-brushing his conversion van. So, where to start...
