Character in a new build? I’ve got this
This material = instant cozy.
Convenient outlets, even floorboards, a regular-size refrigerator—these were just some of the features that sold me on my new apartment. But to gain a lot of the amenities my previous Manhattan walk-ups lacked, character had to be sacrificed. My barely one-year-old space’s walls are crisp white, just like the kitchen cabinets and shower tile, and the aforementioned floorboards are contractor-grade gray. It’s all a little too fresh—I’m craving warm wood! And no wood is cozier (or more on trend) than pine. —Lydia Geisel, home editor
On Board
Don’t just take it from me that pine is popping off—Nate Berkus called it first. He revealed his love of 1930s raw wood Swedish furniture in his Home Front guest edit last summer, specifically Axel Einar Hjorth’s iconic Lovö pine cabinet. Since then, I’ve seen other designers going so far as to use the species in ply form on cabinets and as paneling on ceilings (and not all of those projects are cabins!).
Here’s how I plan to perk up my shiny new apartment up with pine.
A gift to my future self: Setting up a smoothie station on this tray to make mornings a breeze.
Taking a page out of Berkus’s book, I did a deep dive for pine on 1stDibs and unearthed a pair of shelves that could double as nightstands in my guest bedroom.
Lauren Liess’s paneled beach shack in North Carolina is proof that the species can be for any style of space (my all-white unit included) if you balance it with softer elements like a fabric globe pendant.
This pine stool can squeeze into the corner next to my tub and serve as a pedestal for my favorite woodsy incense and body oil.
If I could replace my gray floors, I’d copy the reclaimed longleaf pine boards in Annie-Laurie Grabiel and Arthur Furman’s Austin bungalow.
One way to make the material feel less rustic? Partner it with gingham. I’ve already got my eyes on some pinch pleat curtains thanks to this Heather Peterson space.
Almost exactly a year ago in Home Front, I professed my desire for a giant square coffee table. I haven’t found the perfect piece just yet…or have I?
Bowls of all shapes and sizes are my go-to organizing tool. I can see this one catching my mail and keys in the entryway.
Having just unpacked my last moving box, a minimalist bed frame that assembles effortlessly (no screws!) is music to my weary ears.
Good Buys
No one does pine home goods better than Scandinavians (they’ve got a long history dating back to the late 18th century of creating pieces with intricate carvings). While Berkus is smitten with larger pieces of furniture, my budget can better accommodate smaller items, like these vintage wood lamps made in Sweden.
From left to right:
Vintage Pine Table Lamp, Etsy, $173
A simple base like this calls for a funky shade. I’ve got heart eyes for this fringed one by Palais x Hôtel Magique that’s inspired by long summer holidays in Portofino.
Swedish Pine Table Lamp 1997, 1stDibs, $1,900
I see Urban Outfitters’ popular mushroom lamp (sorry to report, it’s currently sold out) and raise you this petite light.
Swedish Sportstuge Pine Table Lamp, Chairish, $707
The slatted shade on this beauty will bring sauna vibes to any bathroom, even one like mine that’s clad in basic subway tile.
Side Notes
During recent interviews with designers, architects, and serial renovators, I’ve clocked a major shift away from white oak toward more dynamic species like walnut, cherry, and—you guessed it—pine. Here are four projects that make a case for going with the grain, whether you introduce it yourself or you inherit it from someone else.
This a.form kitchen was a welcome break from all the birch and maple plywood cabinets I’m used to seeing.
It’s technically in a dentist’s office, but I can picture this pine partition by Raul Sanchez Architects working wonders in a lofty studio apartment.
Colin King let the color of his pine floors inform the custom beige hue he used on the walls of his NYC apartment.
The trick to bringing splotchy stained pine back to life? A simple sanding and a clear wax finish, as this TikToker learned while revamping her sunroom.