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In case you missed it, everything is so expensive. My grocery bill is consistently over $100, even when I only buy a handful of items. Every entree on the brunch menu is $26 (is it the eggs?), and the sticker shock I get when I browse the websites of my favorite furniture retailers is real.
We hope The Aesthetic Edit is a bit aspirational, but we also want to make sure we’re always recommending items that are affordable and accessible (with the occasional super-fancy piece thrown in there).
So in today’s mini-issue, we’re highlighting a company that’s crafting (somewhat) affordable, high-quality pieces we would definitely take home. Let’s get into it.
Reika: I’m always on the lookout for truly budget-friendly pieces—and let me tell you, that hunt has only gotten harder. With new tariffs in place and so much of our furniture being imported, prices continue to climb. I could go on and on about how tough it is to keep up with the constant price increases for furniture and fabrics, and I feel like I’m constantly the bearer of bad news when I update clients on their quotes (don’t shoot the messenger!).
Just to clear up a common misconception: even though a lot of furniture is coming out of North Carolina, many of the parts still come from overseas. So yes, just about every part of the industry is feeling the impact.
That’s why I wanted to share a recent gem I discovered: Nathan James. They offer a pretty selection of case goods, from bookshelves and cabinets to dressers, all at refreshingly reasonable prices. What’s more, many of their pieces are modular, meaning you can line up multiple units to create a built-in, custom look for a fraction of the cost.
If you’re trying to get that designer feel without the designer price tag, Nathan James could be a great resource. Hope this helps!
Leigh: We had a lazy long weekend, with hours spent at the playground playing in the sprinklers. We had friends over for turkey burgers, cupcakes, and salad on July 4th, and took a day trip to Hudson on Saturday. Here’s the highlight reel..

Reika: Oakland really gets into Fourth of July, which is either fun or terrible, depending on who you ask (my dog hated it). Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Thanks for reading! There are now almost 700 of you following along, and that makes us so happy. See you on Saturday!
Xo,
Leigh & Reika