As Apartment Therapy’s Executive Home Director, I head up our decorating, trends, and designer coverage. I studied Media Studies at UVa and Journalism at Columbia and have worked in media for more than a decade. I love homes, heels, the history of art, and hockey — but not necessarily in that order.
As Apartment Therapy’s Executive Home Director, I head up our decorating, trends, and designer coverage. I studied Media Studies at UVa and Journalism at Columbia and have worked in media for more than a decade. I love homes, heels, the history of art, and hockey — but not necessarily in that order.
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via…read more
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
I want to tell you about one of my favorite budget decor items, but fist, let’s flash back to my first time attending a live auction 15 years ago. My friends had brought me to a barn sale in upstate New York as part of our weekend entertainment. Before the auction began, we were allowed to walk around and look at the lots of things that would be sold. I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of objects on offer.
Once the bidding began, we sat in the bleachers in the cold, drafty room watching as bidders scored antique bureaus for half the cost of something from Target, art for even less — the prices were gobsmackingly low. I didn’t particularly need anything that March afternoon, but I was swept up in the excitement of the bidding and the deals. When the auctioneer brought a pair of carved marble lamps up to the block, I raised my hand to enter the fray, and not a soul bid against me. I got the pair for a cool $20! I hadn’t even gotten a close look at them when we’d walked around the preview, but I figured they were so cheap, I’d surely scored a deal.
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When I went to pick up my prize at the end of the auction, I had second thoughts about my hasty purchase. These lamps were a little old-fashioned. I mean that in an endearing way, of course, but I wondered: How were they going to look in my Brooklyn apartment, where almost all of my furniture was vaguely mid-century modern with a smattering of IKEA to round out the collection? My friends assured me they were great, and I tucked them into the back of my station wagon.
Back at home, I set up the lamps in my living room, and something magical happened: They elevated the whole room. Instead of looking too fussy, they looked effortless — chic, even. The room gained more of a collected-over-time look. My big-box store lamp landed on the stoop for someone else to take home.
A year or so later, I spotted a similar pair of alabaster lamps at a yard sale. Much more diminutive in size than my first pair, these possessed some truly awful glass shades that made them look decidedly uncool. By then, though, I knew the bases were classic style chameleons. They were also the perfect size to place on a dresser. I think I spent another $20 on these, and then bought shades to refresh their look for another $25.
More than a decade and two moves later, I still have those two pairs of vintage stone lamps in my home. After using them in many rooms and noticing them in other homes, I believe vintage alabaster or marble lamps can elevate any room. Part of their design power lies in purchasing a pair. With two matching lamps, a room feels even more finished — like something picked out by a decorator — not just something you stumbled upon at a yard sale.
If you don’t have a local vintage shop, you can buy similar lamps on eBay and Etsy for a little more (but still usually less than $100 a piece or even $50, if you really search); a quick search revealed this $80 stunner on Etsy. Your keywords beside “lamp” should be “marble,” “alabaster,” “carved,” and, if you subscribe to my idea of symmetry, “pair.” Don’t get dissuaded by a hideous shade; a replacement is just a click away, and you’ll still have spent less than you would have on a new lamp.
Still not convinced vintage marble lamps are a must? Let Nate Berkus persuade you. He’s definitely on “Team Vintage Stone Lamp,” and I am, too.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Chandler Benzinger and Lucy Benzinger live in a stylish 450-square-foot apartment on the Upper West Side of New York. As a couple, the Benzingers’ style is a mix between organic, modern, and cozy. “Our main inspiration was a simple, dark color palette,” they say in their house tour. The couple’s home is filled with tons of different warm-toned woods and white accents to make the space look bright and feel welcoming. “When we moved back to New York City in the spring of 2022, finding an apartment felt nearly impossible,” the Benzingers explain in their tour. “Initially, we were looking for a one-bedroom but after looking at what we could get with our budget, we knew that we would be compromising on amenities.” That meant just one thing — moving into a studio — and naturally, the couple was nervous about the lack of space. They mapped out the entire apartment’s layout though before signing their lease and trusted that they could make it work.
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Next to the bathroom, the “kitchen” may be the tiniest space in the whole apartment, so it took a lot of smart thinking to truly maximize its footprint. To build upon the tiny bit of counter space their little galley kitchenette came with, the Benzingers added a freestanding island and did something even more creative: They turned the nearby windowsill into a perch for cooking and cleaning essentials.
Now, this idea isn’t a pantry replacement by any means, but this little spot really does serve a purpose. Instead of having hanging curtains or blinds in the way, the couple left this window completely bare to let in maximum light. This decorating move also leaves the small, flat windowsill surface wide open for placing things like oil and vinegar, seasonings, and paper towel. What’s nice is this area is tucked right next to the stove, so visually, items are somewhat hidden (minus the paper towel holder) but easily accessible. This keeps the area from looking cluttered, and that’s why using the sill is so smart. If these pieces were stashed on the small island they brought into the space instead, that surface would start to fill up fast, since it’s fully out in the open.
“Neither of us expected to be living in such a small space, so our biggest challenge was figuring out how to make everything fit without it feeling too cramped inside” the Benzingers say. “We made our space fit our items, rather than our items fit our space, and it was a fun challenge.” I’d say using the window sill is the perfect example of their philosophy at work.