How to win at secondhand shopping

What this brand strategist is loving—and shopping—lately.

It’s very common to go thrifting and come back with… absolutely nothing. A lot of it is timing and luck, but it definitely helps to have an eye for a piece’s potential once it’s cleaned up and styled in a space. Writer and brand strategist Sandy Sanchez is one of those people with an innate collector’s instinct—particularly when it comes to knickknacks. She’s written about the topic at length for both Architectural Digest and her own Substack, Small Pleasures, and today, she digs into one of her favorite places to show them off. —Lindsey Mather, digital director

Also in today’s Home Front:

• 3 secrets to secondhand-shopping success

• Sandy’s pattern prediction

• A dreamy French door upgrade

• 15% off one of our favorite sustainable furniture brands

Current Mood

What I’m loving: The idea of an intentional reading space for flipping through books, gathering inspiration, and leisurely learning—basically, a mini library. I’m currently reorganizing my entire apartment, deep-cleaning my closets, and getting rid of a few bookshelves so that I can upgrade to bigger ones that better fit what I’m looking for. I’m a firm believer that what makes every person’s home truly unique comes down to their collection of objects and the way they present them on their shelves and tables.

My elevator pitch: We all need a space dedicated to doing something we love, be it a coffee station, a mini art studio, or a writing corner. It doesn’t matter how big or small your home is—there is always something you can swap or move around in order to make this a non-negotiable.

Photography by Sandy Sanchez

Real-life ways to try it:

• I started off with IKEA bookshelves a few years ago because they’re affordable and pretty good quality, but I’ve started replacing them with vintage pieces. Sourcing the right things takes time, but it’s always worth it. It’s tempting to rush the process, but I’m taking things slow.

• Consider turning a spare room or nook into a small study space. I love the look of Elsa Peretti’s snug and cozy library. I’d get a big wood desk, hang some shelves on the wall, and add a comfy chair in the corner.

• If you have limited space (like me), get rid of any bulky furniture and take advantage of vertical space. I’m looking into either making or sourcing floor-to-ceiling shelves. I saw a bedroom at Casa Luis Barragán and there was a narrow, tall bookshelf next to the bed (above). It brought that library look home in a space-saving way.

• Swedish writer Ellen Key says in her 1899 essay, Beauty in the Home, “In every room of the house there should be a desk and books. Books are the foremost ornament of a house.” It’s stuck with me. While not all of us can put a desk in every room, small stacks of books on little stools everywhere feel fun and doable. Not just any books, but books on topics you are genuinely obsessed with.

1. The best thing about this lamp is that it’s portable. I move mine around from room to room all the time. Get it in red or green for a pop of color, or in this delicious chrome finish, which would contrast so nicely with wood furniture.

2. These slab bookends by designer Shane Gabier come in beautiful colors and feel like special objects on their own. They’re chunkiness reminds me of big boulders.