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As a Maine picker I’ve had decade of access to countless time capsule homes selling off their contents. Unlike the things you buy new, I was privy to the provenance of the relics I picked. I only kept those things that came with good vibes. I quickly developed a disdain for anything inauthentic aka new. I’m an old soul snob!

I was off to a great start when I bought my 1950s cottage in 2009 since my home hasn’t been cosmetically updated since the early 70s save for a few coats of paint and wallpaper. Creating the illusion of time travel to mid-century America has been my creative passion at home. Instead of updating anything it’s been all about preservation and not buying new when possible.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I’ve recently retired from many things, and that includes my challenge to live authentically mid-century vintage behind closed doors in regards to material objects. Naively, I thought it would be simpler and safer to buy new retro-ish lamps for my current bedroom redecorating project. I haven’t been out picking in the past couple of years and have cycled through my many options at home. How bad could it be to try and make something new old again?

Well! After spending hours and hours trying to source the best lighting online after giving up locally, things are arriving poorly packaged, broken, and outgassing Eau Du Prop 65 Warnings from those funky flex PVC cords. Target actually sent me two large glass lamps by wrapping each with some brown paper, put them in a large box together without any buffering so that when they arrived one had punched a hole in the cardboard and naturally, were broken from what amounted to a cardboard mosh pit.

Somehow what was supposed to be simpler and safer has turned into a dispiriting experience with poorly made items, careless packaging and customer service issues. It was naive of me, I know, given the state of things today. Why would that be immune.

And speaking of sketchy, whatever happened to UL certification being a given when you buy electronics? 99% of those cool-looking lamps on Amazon seem to lack that or an ETL listing.

Homemaking and decorating in a way that’s so yesterday is therapeutic for me. I’m figuring out how to hold onto that spirit as my dreamy goals clash with the realities of what’s become of service and manufacturing. I miss the era of Made with Pride in the USA.

In addition to the photo for this post, here are other versions of my bedroom using my finds:

I have some different new lamps arriving on Friday, as well as new window treatments and a throw rug. If that doesn’t work I guess I’ll have to throw up my hands and go back to the old hunting grounds.