Design / Canal Club notebook

Keep the things you love.

Repair as a quiet form of design.

Begin with one object

Choose something worth keeping: a lamp, a loose chair, a jacket with a torn pocket. Understanding how an object is put together changes the way you see it. Begin with a small, safe repair and ask for experienced help when it involves electricity or structure.

Let the repair be visible

A contrasting patch or a new handle can become part of an object's identity. Repair is not always about returning to a factory finish. It can show that something has been used and chosen again.

Buy with the next repair in mind

Before buying a replacement, look for accessible screws, replaceable parts and materials that age well. A useful object should be allowed to have a second chapter.