Haute Talk with Nostalgic Nooks | Turning Vintage Relics into Timeless Pet Furniture

What if an old television headed for the landfill could become your pet’s favorite place to sleep?

This week on The Lexy Show, Lexy talks with Andrew Parsons, the creator of Nostalgic Nooks, a Brooklyn-based shop transforming vintage televisions and radios into custom furniture for cats, small dogs, and even animals like ferrets. Andrew began the project as a creative side hustle after leaving his career in journalism, but a viral video quickly pushed the growing business into the spotlight.

Andrew shares how he finds unwanted electronics through Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, collectors, junk removal contacts, and families searching for a better option than throwing them away. He explains how he taught himself woodworking and now uses secondhand fabrics, tiny decorations, and reclaimed materials to make each piece more sustainable and personal.

Lexy and Andrew also talk about the creativity we lose when everything is designed for convenience, why locally sourced and secondhand items can be more meaningful, and how custom furniture can become a lasting part of someone’s home. Andrew shares the process behind personalized orders, including choosing the television, wallpaper, finish, curtains, and details based on each pet’s personality and needs. They also offer practical ideas for finding useful secondhand goods through Buy Nothing groups, Habitat for Humanity ReStores, thrift shops, estate sales, and neighborhood businesses.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to The Lexy Show, and follow Nostalgic Nooks for more vintage transformations and custom pet furniture.

Social Media
Instagram: @nostalgicnooksbk
TikTok: @nostalgicnooks
Website: nostalgicnooks.com

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to The Lexy Show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to make more mindful choices for themselves and the planet. For more information visit https://lexysilverstein.com/

Transcript

NostalgicNooks_LEX

lexy: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Lexi Show Fashion that gives a damn. This week I'm joined by the creator of Nostalgic Nooks. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Andrew Parsons. Well, you created Nostalgic Nooks, a boutique custom pet furniture shop in February of 2025.

So where did this idea come from? 

andrew: Uh, the idea came from, I guess, uh, two different. Branches. Uh, one was that I, I think I probably at some point saw that something like this on social media, like a tv, old TV or radio, um, actually I should say probably just an old TV repurposed into a cat ed. And I saw a free one on Facebook marketplace and decided to pick one up and try to get for my cats, um, my cats are rescues.

Mm-hmm. And they do not like being enclosed spaces, so they never used it. I put it on Facebook marketplace to get it out of the house, and it just went really quickly. And that coincided with a company, a podcast company that I had, um, kind of running outta money, uh, [00:01:00] with the sort of downturn in, uh, the economy for, um, podcasts and, and, uh, movies as well.

Um, and so. We were laying everyone off, including ourselves. Um, the, the guy I started that business with, you know, eventually got some more funding. He is, he is pushing another, uh, season of um, uh, a documentary that we had been doing for Audible for now. But I just decided to cut loose and, uh, I thought, you know, maybe I can sell these in my spare time along with.

Um, you know, along with, uh, freelancing and that will make it, uh, it can make ends meet that way. Um, and then it's just sort of like I got more ambitious with what I was doing and, uh, decided to, you know, have more professional staging and get on Etsy and just kinda shipped nationally. And then a video went viral and I just kind of, I kind of forced myself into doing it full-time now.

lexy: Well, that's awesome. 

andrew: It's still very new though. That only happened the viral video that like made it so I could do it full time. Only happened about two months ago. 

lexy: Oh my [00:02:00] gosh. Wow. Congratulations. That's really cool. I think it's always so interesting, like what social media can really do for us. And I was just watching a video that some, the comments were big mad at people about it, but it was like, it was like.

There's a TikTok trend that is going around that's like if someone tells you to do this thing, like 100% do it or something, and then it'll be like, I don't know the outcome of whatever that thing that they were told to do. 

andrew: Mm-hmm. 

lexy: Um, and someone had posted their experience of like becoming a, a social media influencer and what it had gotten them.

Um, and I'm like, it really is truly a crazy world that we. Live in. And prior to starting this business, you were a journalist. So is there anything that you kind of learned from that career that helped you to build nostalgic nooks, whether it was like the marketing around it or just anything? 

andrew: Yeah, I mean, um, I mean, like I said, I'm very new in, in sort of getting this ho, like turning a hobby into a business I should say, [00:03:00] which I guess I did once, but that was helped with, um, you know, the boom of a podcast, uh, industry.

Um, but. I would say the thing, there's two ways that it helps. Um, one, you know, is storytelling. Like that was, uh, what I did though. I did much more long form, uh, documentary storytelling and there's been a shift in my brain on sort of how to do better storytelling on social media. I have a lot. Followers right now.

I need to, uh, think through how to improve engagement so that I could possibly get sponsorship, stuff like that, and sort of help balance just selling the products as well. Um, but I'd say the biggest thing is, uh, just there's like a problem solving when you're doing documentary journalism where you're like, okay, here is a story.

I need to figure out how to make it into something. Unique and special and like really well crafted, and I'm gonna make a plan for that and the plan's gonna go wrong and I'm gonna have to solve problem, solve my way through that. And then the end is probably gonna be better than what I envisioned in the first place.

And I, [00:04:00] that's essentially what I'm doing right now too. Yeah, digging this thing. Then I'm like, okay, I think I can envision this as something else. Let me figure out how to do that, and then I'm gonna run into all these problems along the way, and then problem solve and uh, figure out, you know, a even better way forward.

lexy: Yeah. I think that's so important, like to, to think about things like that because it's like, I, I'll always say this, I, for part my job outside of. Having a podcast, my nine to five, um, I, we throw a lot of events and I've been mm-hmm. Attended a lot of events and I'm like, I, people get like, so stressed out or like, I think about like, you know, wedding days and stuff like that where it's like something is going to go wrong.

Like there's. No stopping that something's going to go wrong. Like it happens every single time. Um, something, you know, the photographer doesn't show up. The something that was gifted wasn't supposed to be gifted like anything, which, which are two real world examples I recently just dealt with. Um, and I'm like, it's, it's important to [00:05:00] like.

Prepare for the thing to go wrong, essentially, where it's like, don't freak out. Whatever ends up happening, it's gonna happen and it might even, you know, make the thing better in the end. And I think that's so, um, important, especially for like starting a business. Um, because I think that, I mean, when starting a business, like something's gonna go wrong, but.

It's, it could honestly be for the better. And then I think that's just a great mindset shift that we should all make when thinking about life. Where it's like, eh, sometimes things are gonna suck, but there's a reason for everything. 

andrew: Yeah. And I think in the creative process that's like. Part of it, right?

That is the, that is like built into the process is stuff going wrong? Uh, I once had, um, I used to pass around a, uh, creative six step creative process to my staff, um, because like, you know, we did multi-part documentaries, took months and months to do fact check, like you interviewing 50 people, blah, blah, blah.

Mm-hmm. And, uh. And it's really hard and I think it was like step one. This is [00:06:00] gonna be great. Step two, this is hard. Step three, this is shit. Step four. I am shit. Step five, maybe this is good. Step six. This is pretty great. 

lexy: I love that. Like you should put that on a t-shirt. That's great. 

andrew: Uh, and like, you know, this is like a much smaller scale.

Um, it happens like in a week, but, uh, I think just embrace that, you know. Stuff will go wrong, but you'll figure it out and it will probably even be better, uh, as a result, especially if you're, you know, doing, I, I know like what your, uh, your brand is, is sustainability, right? So, uh, it's easy to get something prepackaged.

Mm-hmm. It's easy to get something, uh, just like from the store that has all of, you know, those, uh, that carbon footprint attached to it. Uh, it's harder. To like find something that has been used and make it, uh, an upcycle into something better. Um, but it's more rewarding. It's more unique. It's more interesting.

Uh, the style's better, but like what is [00:07:00] packaged into that is, you know. Working a little bit harder and doing something a little bit more interesting. 

lexy: Yeah, no, completely. Well, that was the perfect segue to my next question. 

andrew: I am a professional journalist.

lexy: Where, um, so you build pet furniture, um, out of old radios and television, which is not only so creative, um, but also incredible for the environment. So can you talk a bit about your sourcing for these items and how you save them essentially from ending up in a landfill? 

andrew: Yeah. Um, I mean, it used to be exclusively just like looking on Facebook marketplace.

Mm-hmm. Um, I'm in New York City and a lot of old TVs and radios. Even the ones that don't work, um, costs a lot within Brooklyn or like Manan. Mm-hmm. Uh, but they're, you know, people in Long Island and New Jersey are. You know, they're the ones where you're gonna get it for like 30 bucks. You're good for free.

Um, and so I just, I used to just really keep an eye out for them, uh, and pick up any. But now after going viral and everything, [00:08:00] people reach out to me. Um, and so I'm kind of building that work of people that keep their ear to the ground, go to auctions, you know, um, get storage lockers and stuff like that.

And, um, or collect them. And, uh, and you know, they give me, you know, they say like, oh, I have a couple for you, or, I met this, uh, the most recent, um. A post on my Instagram is this, uh, this brother and sister who contacted me whose dad used to be a radio repair person, and, um, they had just like 30 old TVs that were half taken apart in like an old like warehouse off their dad's property.

And. They just wanted them gone. Their dad's 92. He is an old folks home. They've just been there forever. They're trying to figure out what to do with all this stuff. Um, and they just didn't wanna throw it away, but they didn't know what to do other than throw it away. Um, and. They, they were just like, oh my God, I saw your video.

And they was like, does he want this? And the answer is yes, yes I do. Um, but uh, but yeah, I can, starts with just like looking around. But Facebook marketplace has been a huge, um, huge [00:09:00] resource. But now I also, someone I need to actually tech this guy. So someone texted told me that their neighbor does junk collection and gave me his, uh, his.

Phone number. So I'm gonna text him and be like, Hey, you know, 'cause she's like, he comes across us all the time and they end up in the landfill. Um, you know, and this is like beautiful, beautiful furniture. 

lexy: Mm-hmm. 

andrew: Like the, the needs of the wood usually needs work to be done on. And I had to, I've taught myself woodworking this year to, to like actually rehab them.

Um, but like, they're beautiful statement pieces, like that's what TVs and radios were. They were furniture. Uh, so. I essentially find them, I have a CRV, I pick them up and, uh, and start the process of just trying to figure out how to make it into a cat bed. And it's been evolving. Uh, cat or dog, I should say, small dog bed as well.

Um, but uh. It's, you know, but that's sort of how the sourcing starts. And then I have to figure out how to get from there. And I, I will say like it's been, I've been trying to figure out how to make it more and more sustainable. I think very, you know, early on, very quickly I was like, oh, let's get [00:10:00] a cute lamp, or like some fake art from like, you know, from Amazon or something.

Yeah. And now I'm very much like, you know, I'm in thrift stores. I've always been in thrift stores all the time. My girlfriend, you know, resells on, um. On Poshmark, uh, anytime we leave the city, you know, she spends about two hours in different, like goodwills, like they're tiny lamps there. Like, I need to start just collecting 

lexy: Yeah.

andrew: And getting the la like, same with the fabric. I have like pot fabric, you know. Initially, a friend of mine was like, there's a store in Brooklyn, like a, a place in Brooklyn. You can volunteer and you can get like a pound free, or it's just like, but it's all like reused, recycled fabric. Just go there. Um, and I also just, and in Goodwill, like there are so many things that you can turn into like hack currents, currents for like, um, and so like I pick up fabric when I'm there and I've, I've been, uh.

I've been wanting to make sure the carbon footprint of each one is less and less, uh, as I go on. 

lexy: I love that. I think that that's so cool. And I mean, even just like clothes, like you can, I've been speaking to a lot of people recently about how, um, I mean like upcycling obviously [00:11:00] is something we talk about a lot more, but like there are so many clothes in thrift stores and like you can just use them for what they are.

Originally, and that's fabric. Um, yeah, if you're getting rid of something or if there's, you know, like a rag that is like, I have a lot of rags that are like, I've had them for so long, they're like, have holes on them. Like don't, they're not cute, but like dying them, washing them and then using them. Mm-hmm.

The cat curtain is a great, great option. Um, but I think that's, it's such a. Interesting thing that we don't always think about, but like we're talking a lot more about sustainability on a day-to-day basis. We're talking about it a lot in the fashion world, but like I will constantly get people asking me where it's like, I have this phone, what the hell do I do with it?

I got a new phone, Christmas, um, and I don't know what to do with this old one. And I'm like, yeah, there, or, or even chargers or old TVs and radios. I know that my. Grandpa has, I don't know if he still does. We like [00:12:00] went through his house, but, um, he, he loves to like do all the things with the radio. I don't really know what it is.

Mm-hmm. But like, he has a bunch of them. And I feel like that's something that's also really cool and sentimental where it's like, even if someone, I don't know if this is something you offer, but like specifically commissioning, like, can you use this. Piece to then make this, um, 

andrew: yeah. I have two in my basement right now that people had in their, you know, um, and they, I pick, I either picked them up or they took it to me.

lexy: Like, that's so sweet and sentimental and such a great story too. Like people come over like, oh, it's not a cat bed. And you're like, not only is it a cat bed, but it's made out of a TV that I used to have in my house. And like, that's so cool. Um, and I really think that that's something that when it comes to sustainability, like honestly we just, we just need to, we lost, I feel like so much of our creativity, the more that, um, things have become convenient and accessible.

Um. Where it's like, I've been saying this so much in like every single one of my podcasts for the last week, but like my brother brought this up and I was like, that is such a good point. But the fact that you can just get a taxi [00:13:00] basically for your like burrito sent directly to your house in the span of like five minutes from ordering it down the street.

And I'm like, we have made things so convenient that we've lost a lot of this, like creativity and it's like we. Just, just rethinking how we can use something or that's with fabric and stuff like that. Um, I, I keep everything, so me and my friends just did a holiday, like gift swap and all of the bags that they gave me, all of the tissue paper, all of the wrapping paper, those were all things that I'll keep and I'll like use throughout next year when I'm gifting and wrapping other gifts and I'm like, we just like, so much of being sustainable is.

Just not throwing as much shit out. Like 

andrew: Yeah, just 

lexy: rethinking it. 

andrew: I mean, that's, that's the way it was for such a long time. Yeah. Like before the 1940, before the Plexus Revolution really. And, um, and, uh, you know, companies figuring out that if you can, you know, make something that deteriorates with time, people have [00:14:00] to replace it, then, you know, they're gonna just throw it out.

But like. You know, if you go back to the 19th century, early 20th century, you like a lot of things were made of tin glass fabric and people knew how to reuse them, and people saved their bottles, they saved their cans, and they like canned stuff in them. They packaged them, they, you know. Save their clothing and tailored it and like learned how to sew and like that's something that definitely has not, has been lost.

And I mean that is, I've always been really obsessed with, with like vintage, like when I was a kid, like we, I went to a Salvation Army like. I went to, um, private school, uh, high school, uh, and had a, there's a dress code, so I just like went and got all of these like suits from the South Asian army that like, like little like little old men suits that get like thrown out when someone dies mm-hmm.

Are like the perfect fit for like a skinny 16-year-old. And. Like, that's what, and I get dollar ties and that's just like how I, like it was a more interesting style Yeah. Than like any, like any of the prep school. Um, 'cause I went to school with [00:15:00] anyway. Uh, but like that's, yeah, it, like, that's kind of just how I grew up.

Um, and so it's interesting to see like the rise of am like I'm obviously, you know. Uh, on the, you know, a generation above you, but just like the rise of Amazon and, and how quickly everything can, like, it's just gone less and less, like even music, acquiring music, you know? 

lexy: Mm-hmm. 

andrew: Used to like build a collection and it used to mean something.

lexy: Yeah. Yeah. It's so interesting. Um. Yeah, we've just, I, I don't even understand like why we ate. I mean, I do understand why, but like when you really think about it, why do we need everything to be this convenient? Like, I understand, I'm not saying I'm not gonna sit here on my high horse and be like, I have never shopped from Amazon.

That is not the truth. Um, but like. I understand when there's something and it's like, genuinely, I do not know where to get this. It's this very niche and specific thing. Where [00:16:00] else do I source it? Or like, I have this thing tomorrow and I completely forgot that I needed this thing. So I understand using it in that sense, um, when it's more of a necessity.

Um, but outside of that, I think. I think that's not how we're all using it. I think we're, we're just buying shit to buy shit. Um, because it's cheap and it'll come to our door tomorrow and I, 

andrew: and you can send it back if you don't want it. 

lexy: Yeah. And it's literally just, oh, and it's so easy to send stuff back.

Like, it's like you get a code and you can just, the free one sent to you and whatever. Um. But it's, it's just, it's so convenient where it's like, I understand the need for convenient things sometimes, but why have we gotten this convenient? And I remember that was something that I used to talk about, like when I was in college, we would do these like projects about brick and mortar versus online shopping and [00:17:00] whatever.

And I was like, half of my assignment was like the convenience of, um, online shopping. I'm like, but brick and mortar's, like fun. Like, let's go out guys. Like let's go to a store. Let's have that shopping experience. Like yeah, it's convenient to maybe be able to not get up off your couch and order something, but, but why, why is it so bad that you have to get off your couch and order something or 

andrew: Yeah, 

lexy: do something.

andrew: And sometimes it's even the. Uh, it's like a facade of convenience too. Like, I remember, like I've, I was crashing on something last week, like an actual, like high profile one that I had to like, customization for like Yeah. A famous person, um, that, uh, that I was doing and like it was gonna be picked up and I was still like working on it.

Um, and. My first thought was like, oh, can I get this in? Like, I can't, like I can't get this on on Amazon 'cause I'll arrive tomorrow and I don't have till tomorrow. Um, but like, you know, can I do two day, can I do three? But it's like, this was for like, [00:18:00] just a, a needle, like for like a better, uh, needle for sewing.

And I was like, there is a garment store on my corner. 

lexy: Yeah. 

andrew: I just have to cross the street. Like there are same, if I need like a tool, a specialty tool, like there are hardware stores in my neighborhood. 

lexy: Mm-hmm. 

andrew: And. You know, it might be a few bucks more, but I can have it within 10 minutes instead of, you know, the idea that, oh, we'll arrive tomorrow, that's quick.

Like, it's also pretty quick to walk down the street. 

lexy: Yeah. 

andrew: Um, it's quicker and you might pay a little bit more, but you're also supporting a local business. Exactly. Uh, but my mind defaults to like, how quickly can I get it online? And that feels more convenient, even though oftentimes it's not. Especially if you're working on a deadline.

lexy: Yeah, that's so true. I think that that has been half of like me discovering my area better is what I'm like I. Let me go explore, or there was like a very specific niche thing. Okay. It wasn't that niche, but like [00:19:00] my, it was, my boyfriend likes key lime pie and it was his birthday and I usually get key lime pie from like the grocery store and it's like frozen and it's not, it's not like good legit key lime pie.

andrew: Mm-hmm. 

lexy: And I looked up literally like key lime pie near me and I found this ca cafe. It's literally like one of my favorite cafes. Now, I like, every time my friends and family come into town, I'm like, let's go here. Like, yes, they have pie, but they have coffee, they have bagels, they have it all. And it was just like something that I, I wasn't expecting to find this new place, but since I, you know, had this one random specific thing that I was looking for, I now found like a local spot for me.

And it's like, again, it's like that aspect of. Not even like keeping something for longer, but like, but like kind of where it's like, let's like learn to appreciate our things. Mm-hmm. More learn to appreciate what's near us and let's learn to support these like local businesses instead of just going to Amazon.

My friends always call it [00:20:00] spam Amazon when they talk around about it in front of me because they know I don't like it, so I'm having a hard time. Mm-hmm. Talking about Amazon without being like Amazon. So you mentioned that the beds are for cats, maybe small dogs too. Um, are there any crazy stories that you've heard these beds be used for?

For like any crazy animals or anything like that? Any fun stories you've heard? 

andrew: No, but I, I have gone, um, re well, I, I did go deliver one, um, this weekend for a cat and like this little Pomeranian dog just got right in. Um, and immediately I started taking video, but I can't post it yet 'cause it's for Christmas present.

Like, I, oh, I was delivering it within like a window that, uh, this woman's husband was, was gone. But, um. But right now I'm working on one for ferrets. 

lexy: Okay, 

andrew: there you go. Uh, it was a custom order for ferrets. I've had a request for rats, but then, um, I gave them my, I have a link to submit a custom order and, um, that person never filled it out, but I'm probably gonna be doing a fish tank soon.

And I've been talking to someone I know [00:21:00] who, um, is, uh, who's like a fashion influencer. Offered, like I have some smaller TVs. 

Mm-hmm. 

Um, and I've, I wanna experiment with like a gecko cage. I know this person has gecko, um, and I'm not. I'm not really, especially for the big pieces. I just like, unless you're a huge celebrity, I'm not gonna give it to you.

Um, for free. Yeah. But for something small, like I think I can, I can do it for a gecko, for someone with like a lot of engagement and Yeah. This someone I used to work with who, uh, one of my former places, like not a passionate influencer, um. But I feel like, so I want to experiment with cco. I'm doing ferret, um, you know, might do some fish soon.

So, but I, I, I want to get enough, uh, other animals there so that I can like show that, you know, this is. It does take extra work and customization, especially if like they was going to be going to the bathroom there, you know, like it is old wood and you wanna make sure that like, everything is protected.

Um, but, but yeah, I, I think, you know, I can, [00:22:00] I have like an irrational amount of confidence that I can make anything work, you know? I love it. That I can like, um, so like you need. You know, a water bottle for your hamster inside, like, like, like coming out of, like, normally you tape it to the cage, like, you know, I'll cut a hole.

I'll like, you know, I'll customize it so that there's like, you can like put a water bottle right in there. Um, so, so, yeah, we'll see. I do, I have another, I know someone else who has a rabbit. Um. And I wanna do a photo shoot with her rabbit. 

Mm. 

Um, they're a little, she doesn't want, they're a little expensive for her to buy, but, um, but her rabbits are so beautiful and I, I do have, since my cats are too skittish to go inside 

Mm.

And to like, just shove them in. Um. Shove them in one. Take photos. I do have a lot of friends, like with dogs, you know, uh, I have one dog that comes over for some photo shoots occasionally. 

lexy: Oh, that. 

andrew: Um, and I wanna start one with, uh, the bunny as well. Uh, but yeah, so right now they've mostly been cats and dogs, but, um, fair.

There's, I'm working on ferret one right now, and there's some more coming down the line, hopefully. All right. It depends on like what people [00:23:00] request. Yeah. Um, and I'm gonna be, there's some like, press in the new year. That means I'll probably get some more, some more like requests coming down the line and hopefully I can get some weird ones.

lexy: I love it. My cousins have ferrets, so I'll send. I'll send the ferret one to them and be like, here you go. This is, this could be a good idea for you guys if you ever need a little Yorkie model. Um, I got a four pound Yorkie she'll model any day of the week. 

andrew: Most of them are, are, yeah. They're they're made for, they're perfect for Yorkie sizes.

lexy: Yeah. She, she is asleep right now, but she, she has outfits. She, she paints, uh, she gets her nails painted. By me. Um, but that is cute. How does the process work if someone wants to, you know, make a custom order? 

andrew: Um, well, you can just go to, I have a website, nostalgic nooks.com and there, and you just click on, um, uh, order, lemme see what exactly it says, [00:24:00] but, um, there's, uh, a place on the website, uh, in the menu where it's says custom orders.

Just click there, fill out the, um, the form. And I'll get back to you within a week with an estimate. Um, and there is, you know, there's a customization fee. There's, uh, a deposit if once you're good to go. But you know, I have like over 50 different, um. Non-working TVs and radios, uh, to choose from. Uh, so I can, you get to choose your own, you get to choose wallpaper, whether it's painted or stained, and what type it is.

You know, you get, say in the curtains and what goes inside it. And there you can, I'll even like, put tiny photos of like framed photos of your animal, like on the wall if you want that, you know. Um, and you know, it can be specific to like what your animal needs. Ferrets love, love hammocks so that ferret ones can have a lot of hammocks in it.

lexy: That is the cutest thing ever. Oh my God, I love that. I'm gonna need one. I'm like, [00:25:00] it's Christmas. Let me ask my parents like. That is so cute. I love it and I love the customization. I feel like it makes it even more special where I was talking about this with, um. I always do like thrift miss every single year.

Um 

andrew: mm-hmm. 

lexy: I myself give my friends gifted or Thrifted gifts and then I also encourage them to thrift something for me or to, I 

andrew: love that Thrift Mis 

lexy: Thrift Miss or Thrift Mica, whichever you prefer. Um, but that is like something that I would talk about where it was like, you know, you're going into a store, a thrift store, and it's not.

Curated, it's completely random and you're really sifting through stuff to find something that's very specific to that person. Um, and I think that just makes it even like even more where it's like, yes, it's sustainable, it's secondhand, but it's probably gonna be something that I'm gonna keep for longer because.

It's [00:26:00] personalized to me. My friend, like really took the time to give me something that is me. Um, and so because of that, I'm gonna keep it for longer and it's not gonna end up in the landfill. And so it's like on top of that, you're, you're already upcycling these old TVs. Mm-hmm. Then you're making it extra personalized.

Like that's something that, that's like a forever piece in my opinion. Like I would never get rid of that. 

andrew: Yeah. And I think that's the, you know, a lot of pet stuff is made really cheaply and quickly and like, only lasts a few months, um, or a year or whatever anyway. And I, I think like a cat tree, you know?

And yeah, I think that's the idea. Supplies are cheap and like cheaply made.

Uh, and one of the people I sold, uh, these two just said like, this is our forever, you know, pet furniture, um, that like is attuned with our style and you know, we'll have this like, it's a long term investment. 

lexy: Yeah. 

andrew: Um, and for me to make this work as a business and live in a city like New York City and pay my mortgage, you know, there.

It's obvious. I'm obviously putting a lot of work into each one, so they're not [00:27:00] cheap. Um, but that's, you know, like living sustainably is all about sacrifices, honestly. You know, and you're gonna be having to make choices. Um. To spend a little bit more to those shopping at your neighborhood store or, uh, just ask yourself, do I really need this?

Um, or just do the calculations of like, how much more will I be spending if I'm like, can get a thousand catch rates in my lifetime? Yeah. Um, and plan, you know, a little bit. Sometimes it's a sacrifice of time. It's just, you know, taking the time to think through like the economics of like having something that'll last longer and maybe.

In the long run, you're not spending more, but, uh, those are all calculations you have to make. 

lexy: Yeah, I think it's just, I say this all the time, but like a mindset shift where it's like, I use the same example, but it's, it's, am I gonna buy one white T-shirt for $80? And because I bought it for $80, I bought it from a company I support where.

It's that expensive because it's made well, made from good fabrics gonna last me a long time. Everyone on the [00:28:00] supply chain got paid, all that jazz. And because I paid for it for $80, I'm gonna take care of it more. I'm gonna make sure the stains are removed and I'm not just gonna throw it out and buy a new $80 one.

Um, or do I wanna buy, you know. $3 white t-shirt off of some fast fashion site, and the second it gets stained, I throw it out when I buy a new $3 one and then all of a sudden I've spent way over $80 because mm-hmm. Over the span of my life, I've always needed a white t-shirt and I have yet to invest in a.

Actual good one. Um, and so I'm just constantly making the same purchase. And so I think that when it comes to sustainability, and it comes to those things that there are ways to do sustainability cheaper, but like when it comes to those specific special things that you're gonna keep forever, like it's just about.

Changing your mindset and it's an investment piece and it's something that you're gonna get, you know, a bang for your buck or whatever. Because my dog is always [00:29:00] sleeping in one of her eight beds. And so yeah, this would be her, her new bed. Her bed that forever. Um. On that note, I always like to ask, which I, I feel like we've talked a good amount about it, but I wrap up my podcast.

I always like to ask the guests of what top tips would you give to someone who is just starting their sustainable journey? 

andrew: Um, I feel like there's like a very broad mindset shift, which is like slow down. 

Mm-hmm. 

You know? Just think to yourself, do I need this? Do I need this right away? Uh, and where can I get it?

That is, uh, not just ordering online for like one day delivery. Um, but I would also say

you want to sort of assess your daily life and just, you know, really think, uh, what you really need and. Whether there is a place nearby that you can, uh, and that you can get it secondhand truthfully. 

lexy: Mm-hmm. 

andrew: Like, um, the core question with anything you need is, do [00:30:00] I need it? You know, like, do I need to buy it new?

Um, and it takes a mindset shift, mindset shift to like, you know, slow down, go out, try to seek it out. Um, I would. Really recommend anyone look into Habitat stores, um, and thrift stores near you? Um, we have, uh, by, by Habitat store, I mean like Habitat for Humanity has stores where, like for what I do, you can get wood, you can get doors, you can get like.

You know, if you want nails, you don't have to buy like an expensive package of nails from Home Depot. Like they, they have it at those stores. Um, so it's not just clothes and books, like you can get a lot secondhand. Um, I once built a chick chicken coop in my backyard when I was living in Charlesville, Virginia.

Um. And I started by getting pallets from my friend's house. Uh, his neighbor had just like loads of pallets, so I like built, I designed it based off like getting a whole bunch of pallets in his truck. And then, and my landlord had a whole bunch of like old wood in the, the yard. But then as I [00:31:00] started to like put it together, I was like, oh crap, I need more stuff.

I started going to Lowe's and it started. Like getting, um, really expensive. Mm-hmm. And my girlfriend, this was like nine years ago, um, I just sain her earlier, um, and we're still together. She recommended going to the Habitat for for Humanity Store, which was closer to me than Lowe's. 

Mm-hmm. 

And. You know, it was just like I got all these shingles for, so I never would've shingled the top of it if I didn't like have all these for super cheap and they're just like a pile of shingles there.

Um, I probably wouldn't have even had a pitched roof on it. Uh, it's just amazing like what you can get that has been donated. That's like really still good quality. Um, and there's certain things you will have to buy new, but like. The vast majority if you just like understand what's around you, even in a rural neighbor, even in, um, a rural area.

Um, and you just make a habit of going there on a regular basis, you'll acquire a lot of stuff for cheap without, you know, paying big [00:32:00] companies for it. 

lexy: Yeah. 

andrew: Uh, and. Get to know the people who are sourcing it and selling it. Uh, and there's, there's good community in that too. 

lexy: Yeah, completely. Um, I love that.

There's also this app that, now that I'm thinking about it, I can't think of what the name is, but it's like literally for, if you're, if you have people in the area that are trying to get rid of stuff and you can, they'll just like list, like I, I feel like a common example is like. They'll, they'll list like baby diapers that you can get for free.

andrew: Mm-hmm. But 

lexy: people have found couches on there for free. I think it's similar to, in New York, I follow this account and I don't even live in New York, but I like love looking at what people find. It's 

andrew: stooping. 

lexy: Yes. 

andrew: I love that one. 

lexy: I'm like, why don't we have that in Los Angeles where I live? Like I want 

andrew: that.

lexy: Yeah. 

andrew: Stupid is amazing. I once someone went with a friend, this was years ago, who, um. Broke up with his girlfriend and he was getting like his, an apartment or moving in with roommates and, you know, had to like, you know, furnish his [00:33:00] space. 

Yeah. 

And we just rented a U-Haul at the, uh. The beginning of the month when people are moving and just went to the Upper West side in like the wealthier neighborhoods and people are leaving really good furniture and we just like furnished this entire room with like free stuff from the curb.

It was great. There's also in New York, but also in a lot of other cities, buy nothing Facebook groups. Oh yeah. Um, and I'm a huge buy nothing person, uh, too. Um, 'cause it's, one thing is like people will lend you stuff as well. And when I started this, I had, um, I borrowed someone's hand truck, you know, where I had them.

I have some now, which I got on Facebook, marketplace for cheap. Um. I was like, oh, I need to move this piece of furniture. Does anyone have a hand truck? And I, I can borrow. And, you know, and they did. And um, so it's not just for like, acquiring stuff, it's also, you know, most of my plants are from there too.

Um, people, uh, give their plants away. They give all sorts of stuff away. Like there's like, it's, it's fun to. And it's, it's, um, it's a way, it's like rooting through a thrift store, but just like on your [00:34:00] phone. Yeah. Um, so I definitely recommend, uh, buy nothing groups, uh, too, because you know, you can, and just like look up on Meetup, people have clothing swaps that they throw as well.

I mean, it's, it's, once you start looking, you'll be amazed. Even again, even in a rural area. Like what there is 

lexy: completely 

andrew: just around you, just under your nose. Like a Oh, estate sales.net too. 

lexy: My favorite, 

andrew: like I'm a big estate sales person, um, and usually there aren't like TVs or radios, um, surprisingly. Um, and if they are, they're like, not.

Uh, great deal, but I, I get tools from there. Like, I got a bundle of like tools and a new, like, you know, um, saw, like table saw, uh, bundled with all sorts of other things, like for like 30 bucks. It was an amazing hall. And like the guys that worked there, especially if you go near the end, they're just like, uh, you know, they, they're like looking at all the stuff you want.

They're like, oh no, 40 bucks. 

lexy: Yeah. That's literally when my parents sold. Um, my childhood [00:35:00] house, we had a two day, no, a one day state sale, two day, I don't know. Um, but like near the end of it, we were like. Um, we didn't, we're we're leaving this house, like, we don't need this stuff. And we just were like, yeah, take it.

Like you got it. And there were people that came that I like, literally I think knew that 'cause they were like, just grabbing shit and like, we're like, okay, like it's the end. It's the second day and the last hour. Like, what can you give me? And we were like, yeah, just take it. Like we don't even, yeah, we just want it gone.

andrew: It's amazing. We once got a amazing piece of stained glass that the guy was like asking $250 for, but we knew it was the last day of the sale. 

lexy: Yeah. 

andrew: And I was like, my girlfriend, she's such a good bargainer. She was like 60. And he was like, he was like, no, this is like, no, I can't do that. This is like $250.

She was like, okay, take care. Leave it. And he's like. 80 and she's like 70. And he is like, oh man, like if the, you know, this would, this is like worth hundreds of [00:36:00] dollars. And she's like, oh, your choice. And he is like, fine. You know? 

lexy: Yeah. That's. That's the way to do it. I like, I'm sometimes really good at that and then other times I get like super uncomfortable and can't do it.

Um, but I was at a thrift store. I was very shocked that this happened. 'cause usually like, I don't know, I've never had this happen at a thrift store, but I had found this. Rug, and it was gorgeous. And I looked at it and it, it had like a tag for $40 on it. And I was like, $40 for this. Like, huge rug. Like, that's insane.

It was cow hide. Um, and I was like, that's insane, like $40 for this. So I was like, th I don't really have a purpose for this, but I'm, I'm getting it. Like I need it $40, I'll find a place for it. Um, and I got it and the guy was like, where's the tag for it? And I was like, oh, it's right there. And he was like.

$40. This is like a $280 rug. And I was like, the, the tag says $40, like, I don't know. And he was like, um, no, it's like more expensive. And I was like, okay, well then I'm, I'm not going to [00:37:00] get it. I don't want it for that much money. And he was like, okay, you can have it for $40. I was like, what? Like, I wasn't even, I was like, I wasn't even passionate about it.

I was just kind of like, 

andrew: once you're willing to walk away, you're.

Yeah. The moment that you are willing to like do that gut check and walk away, you're, it's me and you'll be honest what you can, what you can get. Um, also for places like Goodwill a lot and like other thrift stores, like a lot of them have, um. When you walk inside, look at the day of the week and the colors of the tags.

'cause there's usually 50% off for like specific colors each day. 

Hmm. 

Um, like, you know, little tags are different colors. So like, pay attention, like if you're on a purple, 50% off purple tag day, like 

lexy: mm-hmm. 

andrew: Or, and, or you want something really bad that's a green tag, but tomorrow's the green tag and just come back and get it for half off.

lexy: Exactly, 

andrew: but pay attention to those deals that like a lot of thrift stores have them. 

lexy: Yeah, completely. Well, thank you so much. This has been amazing. Where can people find you on [00:38:00] social media, online, wherever else? 

andrew: Um, website is nostalgic nooks.com. I'm on Instagram, uh, nostalgic nooks, BK as in Brooklyn, uh, and TikTok is at nostalgic Nooks.

Um, and those are the, the main socials I'm using right now. 

lexy: Perfect. Well everyone go check it out. Get your pet a super cool pet bed and thank you so much for coming on. While you're at it, you can follow me on my social Instagram, TikTok and YouTuber. All my name at Lexi Silverstein.

That's LEXY, Silverlake the color, S-T-E-I-N. And remember to live a good life and look fucking good doing it.