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Friends NYC’s design tips for elevating your space while working from home

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Let’s be honest, working from home was exotic for most in March, but it started to feel mundane as the months went on. Our once totally comfortable apartments started to look a little dreary after spending most of our days in them, and many of us have gone through added lengths to spruce them up. That’s why we turned to the experts at Friends NYC, a boutique near our newest home Common Gates, for some help. 

Friends NYC was started by two real-life friends, Mary Meyer and Emma Kadar-Penner, in 2012 and the business continues to be based on the foundations of love, respect, and fun. Mary’s experience as a fashion designer and Emma’s expertise in fashion and textile history (plus an obsession with thrifting) made them the perfect match to make their business dreams a reality. We visited Mary at the boutique to see for ourselves what amazing treasures we could find and pick her brain on how to elevate your space while working from home.

Hi Mary! From cat hats to desk organizers, your store has it all. How do you source such unique items for your shop?

We want Friends NYC to be the perfect place to find style inspiration for your closet or home. Emma and I source our selection from local Bushwick businesses and creatives all over the world! Where else can you go to find desk decor from Spain, sustainable cleaning tools from Germany, or high-quality candles from NYC all in the same place? Whenever we’re sourcing new items, we try to find unique products that will make our customers smile while also helping them live in style. 

Especially with the holiday season approaching, many of our customers are able to find unique and practical gifts for their loved ones that they couldn’t find anywhere else! We try our best to bring love and fun back into people’s homes and closets. 

Since many people are working from home during the pandemic, what are your top tips for elevating your home workspace? 

  1. Make sure your space has enough storage. Especially when working from home, extra storage is a great way to declutter your space and bring more peace to your surroundings. These simple storage crates have been flying off the shelves for this very reason!
  2. Add in personalized details. Yes, it’s important to be practical, but those small items that make you smile are what are going to improve your mood! Whether it’s a funky vase, lucky cat statue, or even a framed picture of Britney Spears, keep an eye out for little touches to make your space perfect for you.
  3. Invest in scents. Scents are an inexpensive and effective way to change the atmosphere of a space instantly. Candles and incense are some of our best selling items (and for good reason!). Changing the scent in your space is an easy way to set the mood for the day without rearranging anything.working from home
  4. Focus on eco-friendly cleaning tools. Buying eco-friendly home and cleaning products not only help the planet but can also help improve the aesthetic of your space. We recently added Redecker, a German brush and cleaning brand, products to our inventory at the boutique to give our customers more options to keep their home clean while also minimizing their carbon footprint. working from home

Thank you Mary! To explore their unique selection of home goods and clothing, check out their website or Instagram.

Do you want to live in a space that was designed for WFH? 

Common Gates, a modern coliving building complete with a coworking space, lounge, rooftop, courtyard, and even in-suite laundry is a work from home dream! Members at Common Gates get a private bedroom in a fully furnished shared space, all the household essentials, WiFi, utilities, and even weekly cleanings of all the shared spaces in each suite with rent starting at just $1,309 per month. 

Head to our website to explore virtually, or book a tour today!

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