Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my new weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
This week, Berit in NYC needs a very important household item: “We’re moving to our first apartment in the city, and the recently-renovated kitchen cabinets are—most of them—really, REALLY tall. My partner and I are 5’5” and 6”1’, respectively, and we totally need a ladder/step-stool to access half the kitchen’s storage. It seems like it will need more than only two steps, too? Unsure. We need what feels like a unicorn of a tool: sturdy, compact, easy to keep at hand/tuck into a corner!”
Dear Berit,
First of all, congratulations on your new apartment AND for having smart storage in your new kitchen! Nothing is worse than unusable wall space above cabinets, especially in NYC where storage space is a luxury. From my limited experience shopping for step ladders, the prettiest ones always have the slimmest steps. If you’re clumsy like me, this is not okay and you really need room for at least most of your foot on the step.
I have a distinct memory from my childhood of family dinners at my grandparent’s house where they didn’t have enough chairs to go around the kid’s table. One lucky kid got to sit on the top step of the kitchen step ladder, which was *the* best place to sit, because you got to be higher up than everyone else. All of this is to say that one apartment-friendly strategy to take would be to choose something that could also function as seating in a pinch. In which case, I can attest to the versatility and quality of this one from Ikea for $69:
I have also owned two of the exact same step ladder from COSCO ($60), which I LOVE more than I ever though I’d love a step ladder. With three steps, it can get you surprisingly high so you can also use it for changing lightbulbs and DIY projects. Even though it’s tall and the steps are made for an actual human foot, it folds pretty flat (less than 3”), so you could slide it behind something or hang it from a hook on the wall. This brand is often sold at big box store as well as local hardware stores and has been specializing in step ladders for ages.
I understand that my beloved COSCO can be a bit of an eyesore if it has to be out all the time, so perhaps this one from Frontgate (pricy but currently on sale!) is a good compromise. It comes in a lot of different colors and has stellar reviews:
And finally: for anyone reading this who has excellent balance is wants something design-y, meet the Hasegawa Lucano Ladder ($262), which has won a bajillion design awards:
A step ladder is a boring thing to shop for, but I can assure you that it’s worth it to own one that actually works for you and your apartment so you’re not dragging chairs around and/or risking injury. Have fun organizing those cupboards safely :)
Quick Answer:
Ed in the UK says: “I am a classroom teacher and I need a heavy duty sharpener (electric or hand crank) that can be attached to my desk, that won’t break after two weeks, that the children can use but that won’t go straight to landfill when the blades get dull. Oh and it needs to be available in the UK too. I’d love to try a classroom friendly, but the shipping costs literally double the price.”
Good news for you, Ed! There is actually nothing proprietary about the Classroom Friendly sharpener. It’s made by the same manufacturer in China as most other sharpeners of the same design, including the Carl Angel-5, which is more widely available and also has replaceable blades. And I do agree — if you insist on having a hand-crank sharpener in your classroom, these ones are the easiest to troubleshoot/maintain and make a perfect point. The alternative is electric, and none of the ones currently on the market have replaceable cutters and likely won’t last you longer than a school year with heavy use.
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Confession: I’m 31 years old and I’m just now figuring out how to wear eye makeup. Apart from a cat eye liner phase in high school/college, I’ve never really been one to wear visible makeup. A quick brush through my eyelash extensions, a swipe of tinted brow gel and, in pre-mask times, a little lipstick. That’s always been the extent of it. In recent months I’ve been obsessed with the idea of wearing eyeshadow and have spent hours trying on different colors and formula types in makeup shops. From the outset of this mission, I’ve had a few rules: must be able to apply with my fingers, must not be metallic or too glittery, and must be FUN, because that’s the point. A couple of weeks ago I was out with some friends, and one suggested that we stop at Credo to try Bobbi Brown’s new line of clean makeup, called Jones Road. Out of an impulsive tactile desire, I immediately plunged a finger into a pot of MEGA glittery eyeshadow and was left feeling very confused and surprised by the feelings it evoked. The formula is smooth, soft and doesn’t require any rubbing for blending. Dab, dab, dab, done! The base color is a wearable sheer light pink, and the glitter is a cool blue (This formula, in Icy Pink). I’ve worn it to jury duty, to a meeting, for a regular day out — to be honest with you, I’m shocked that this product has made me a glitter person. Wearing this eyeshadow feels to me like I’m wearing a grown up version of Art Stuff products circa 1999 (IYKYK), which is worth much more than $26 to me.
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next Friday for fresh recommendations! xo Caroline
Now I want to try that glitter
So awesome! Thank you for picking my request. ☺️ I’m excited to review all these cool options! Thank you for including such a range! ❤️