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What We Bought After Our Apartment Fire
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items After our apartment fire, Benjamin and I had to replace almost everything we owned when we moved into our new home. Some of these are replacements for items we loved before. Others are things we discovered because starting over gave us the chance to ...
Sections
5
The Room of Living
Bedroom / Office #1
Home Office #2
Kitchen
Bathroom
The Room of Living
Our apartment doesn't have separate rooms for everything. Instead, one open space serves as our living room, dining area, Benjamin's second workspace, laundry area, and front entry. Every item here earns its footprint.
We bought this Macy's Radley sofa through AptDeco, saving a significant amount while ending up with a sofa that's comfortable enough to spend entire evenings reading, watching movies, or just relaxing.
Radley 86" Fabric Sofa, Created for Macy's
When we rebuilt our apartment, we looked for furniture that could do more than one job. This coffee table serves as storage, a dining table for most of our meals, and even an occasional workspace from the sofa. It's one of the hardest-working pieces ...
Millwood Pines Eoghan Lift Top Coffee Table with 2 Drawers & Reviews
1
In a small apartment, every piece of furniture needs to earn its space. This table stays out of the way for daily life, then expands when we're hosting friends. It's one of those purchases that's proven itself over and over again.
Adonica Extendable Rubberwood Solid Wood Dining Table & Reviews
When we had to furnish our new apartment, these were an easy decision. We'd owned them before and knew they were comfortable, durable, and worth buying again. The cats seem to agree—they're always curled up in the bucket seats.
Tyrone Side Chair & Reviews
1
This was one of those inexpensive purchases that ended up being more useful than we expected. It keeps the entryway tidy and gives us an easy place to take shoes on and off before heading into the apartment.
3 Tier Shoe Rack 6 Pair Shoe Storage for Closet Entryway
1
One of the few splurges we allowed ourselves after moving into the new place. We'd happily used a Litter-Robot 3 for years, but upgraded to the 4 about six months ago. With two cats, it's one of those purchases that makes everyday life noticeably eas...
Whisker Litter-Robot 4 Core Bundle - Black
1
Added to our Litter Robot 4, makes not scooping litter so much easier!
Litter-Robot 4 LitterHopper™ | Automatic Cat Litter Refill
1
As Clover's hips have gotten worse, we wanted to make every day a little easier for her. This ramp has helped her get in and out of the Litter-Robot more comfortably, and it's become one of those small purchases that has had a big impact on her quali...
Litter-Robot 4 Ramp by Whisker, Black - Cat Ramp for Litter Box, Custom Fit for Litter-Robot 4, Non-Slip Rubber Feet, Suitable for Small & Older Cats, Made in the USA
1
A few years into renting this apartment, the original washer finally gave out. We chose this LG as the replacement, and it's been dependable ever since.
LG 4.5 Cu. Ft. Stackable Front Load Washer in White with Coldwash Technology WM3400CW
1
Bedroom / Office #1
n a Brooklyn apartment, rooms rarely have just one purpose. During the day, our bedroom becomes Benjamin's office, so everything here has to work for both productivity and rest.
We spent weeks researching mattresses during the pandemic before settling on this Beautyrest When we needed a new one we didn't even shop around—we replaced it with the exact same mattress. That's about the strongest recommendation I can give.
Mattress Firm
1
I already owned a BedJet before and absolutely loved it. While we were living in temporary housing, I reached out to ask about a replacement discount because I was dealing with hot flashes. Instead, they surprised me by replacing my entire system at ...
BedJet 3 Dual Zone Climate Comfort System
1
After replacing our bedroom furniture, we realized how much bulky nightstands can dominate a room. These strike the perfect balance between storage and an open, uncluttered look, which is exactly what we wanted.
17 Stories Kindall Industrial Rustic End Table Nightstand With Two Drawers And Open Shelf & Reviews
1
Space is always at a premium in a Brooklyn apartment. We bought two of these and stacked them in our closet to maximize vertical storage. They're lightweight, surprisingly roomy, and have worked out even better than we expected.
17 Stories Aquetong 8-Drawer Double Dresser for Bedroom, 39" Wide Fabric Dresser for Storage and Organization, Bedroom Dressers, Chest of Drawers for Living Room, Closet, Entryway, Wood Grain Print & Reviews
1
One of our best office upgrades. Benjamin works from a standing desk in the corner of our bedroom, and being able to switch between sitting and standing throughout the day has made the space much more functional without needing a dedicated office.
Standing Desk - Height Adjustable Desks for Sale
1
A good chair matters when you work from home every day. This one has been comfortable for long hours, pairs well with a standing desk, and fit both our space and our budget.
Office Chair, Ergonomic Home Mesh Office Desk Chairs, with Armrests, Wheels and Mid-Back Task Chair with Lumbar Support，Black
1
These are part of our "stay cool" strategy. We use them in the bedroom to circulate air from the portable AC at night and keep the room comfortable throughout the day.
Lasko 16" Oscillating Standing Fan & Reviews
1
Brooklyn summers can be brutally humid. After our first summer in this apartment, we added this portable AC to the bedroom, and it's been one of the best quality-of-life purchases we've made.
Insignia™ - 350 Sq. Ft. 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
1
Home Office #2
I realized that the conventional desk I had always used caused me to have poor posture, since my legs were so short and my torso was longer. Having this desk allows me to set it as low as needed, while also letting me put a walking pad under it!
Standing Desk - Height Adjustable Desks for Sale
A good chair matters when you work from home every day. This one has been comfortable for long hours, pairs well with a standing desk, and fit both our space and our budget.
Office Chair, Ergonomic Home Mesh Office Desk Chairs, with Armrests, Wheels and Mid-Back Task Chair with Lumbar Support，Black
I debated upgrading for a long time, and I'm glad I finally did. The extra screen space lets me work with multiple applications side by side, and I can't imagine going back to a standard monitor.
Samsung 34” ViewFinity S5 Ultrawide QHD 100Hz AMD ...
I use two of these shelving units in my office to organize products in labeled storage bins. They've helped me maximize vertical space while keeping everything easy to find and access.
5-Tier Shelving Unit (72" H x 36" W x 18" D)
An all in one printer was a must with my job. Brother always comes through for us!
Brother Wireless Digital Color All in One ...
Kitchen
Our new landlord upgraded several of the appliances before we moved in, and this LG range has been one of our favorites. We cook at home most nights, and it's been a dependable part of our new kitchen.
LG 30 in Wide 5.8 Cu. Ft. Smart Freestanding Gas True ...
Before we moved in, our new landlord replaced the apartment's aging refrigerator with this LG. It's been spacious, reliable, and one of those everyday upgrades we've appreciated from day one.
LG - 30-in Wide 20.2 Cu. Ft. Top Freezer Refrigerator
Benjamin does most of the cooking, so we wanted something more comfortable than standing on a hard floor. These mats provide just enough cushioning to make time in the kitchen easier on your feet and back.
2 pieces Modern Non-slipping Kitchen Floor Mat & Reviews
We liked this trash can enough to buy two—one for everyday kitchen trash and one dedicated to bottle recycling. The motion sensor works well, they're easy to keep clean, and they fit our kitchen perfectly.
NineStars Nine Stars 13.2 Gallon Stainless Steel Motion Sensor Trash Can & Reviews
Bathroom
Bathroom storage is always limited in Brooklyn apartments, so we try to use every inch of available space. This cabinet turns the empty area above the toilet into valuable storage without making the room feel crowded
Over the Toilet Bathroom Spacesaver Wall Medicine Storage Cabinet with Adjustable Shelf