What’s Happening: A viral TikTok shows a woman excitedly refurbishing a “designer” sofa she found on the sidewalks of New York, sparking shock and disbelief from commenters concerned about mold and bedbugs.

The Download: Most of the time, sidewalks in New York are covered in piles of trash bags, ensuring the city constantly smells like reeking garbage and is overrun with rats. Occasionally strewn among the trash, however, are pieces of discarded furniture and home goods ripe for the picking. Shopping this way on city curbs is called “stooping”—and it has become somewhat of a culture among thrifty New Yorkers eager to unearth their next treasure. Instagram accounts dedicated to stooping have gained steam advertising streetside finds, whether a vase of pampas grass, a giant stuffed animal, or a vending machine.

This was the experience of Amanda Joy (@yafavv.mandaa), a young TikToker who stumbled across her dream couch. She identified the cobalt blue item as the Bubble Sofa, a bulbous statement piece designed by Sacha Lakic that has quickly become one of French furniture brand Roche Bobois’ most recognizable products. Joy did what she thought any New Yorker would do when discovering a free sofa that retails for around $8,000—she enlisted the help of her father to pick it up, deep-clean it, and move it into her apartment, excitedly documenting the entire process on TikTok.

Turns out the tolerance for stooping has its limits. Joy’s video quickly amassed tens of millions of views from users aghast at her behavior. Many commenters were concerned about the sofa’s cleanliness, especially after the two-week-long deep clean failed to remove visible stains. “It’s so cool, but I’d be petrified of what kind of insects and such have penetrated it,” one commenter wrote. Others raised questions about mold when Joy revealed the sofa had been rained on all night when she found it.

It’s somewhat of an unspoken rule among New Yorkers to be wary of cloth furniture left on the street, which can carry the risk of a bedbug infestation that can cost thousands of dollars to exterminate. Joy brushed off the concerns in a follow-up video by saying no bedbugs had emerged during the deep clean, but she may not realize the pests are nocturnal, cold-blooded ectoparasites that can enter dormant states for up to six months without feeding. The pesky bugs are quickly lured out of hibernation by body heat and carbon dioxide from warm-blooded animals. Whether the sofa is infested remains to be seen, but some pointed out its tears don’t bode well as bedbugs are biologically designed to congregate in cracks and crevices.

To make matters worse, some observers noted the sofa may be a Roche Bobois knock-off. Close-ups of Joy cleaning the upholstery revealed a cheaper-looking fabric than the Bubble sofa’s typical wool-polyamide blend, leading some to draw similarities between her sofa and clear replicas sold on AliExpress for as little as $600. Regardless of the sofa’s authenticity, the episode illustrates the pitfalls of uninformed stooping—and the power of social media to unite people in rage against someone who thought she was leveling up her apartment. One person’s trash may be another person’s treasure, but sometimes the secondhand goods are simply too filthy to justify. (At least the memes are worth it.)

In Their Own Words: “It was thrown out in front of a very rich building,” Joy says in her follow-up video. “I took the opportunity and brought it in. Rich people throw out all their furniture all the time because they get new furniture every other year.”

Surface Says: Misguided as she may be, Joy still seems far more resourceful than the teary-eyed TikToker who lied about “accidentally” buying a $100,000 couch as a ruse to plug her OnlyFans.

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Known for its stylish aparthotels, Locke is heading to West London for its latest debut. Situated in a historic Victorian mansion that was once home to a private members club, Ember Locke channels Kensington’s decadent heyday with nods to the Art Deco Kensington Roof Gardens and erstwhile Biba department store. Local firms Atelier Ochre and House of Dré reimagined the interiors with bold hues of red, orange, and green, outfitting the 121 boudoir-style apartments with velvet banquettes, small kitchenettes, and custom curtains by London textile company Yarn Collective.

Following in the footsteps of the brand’s other properties scattered across Europe, Ember’s communal spaces are vibrant with a coffee shop, restaurant, and bar replete with a live band stage, co-working space, and tropical garden when it opens in July. Expect the culture crowd to soon embrace the property whose location on Cromwell Road is minutes from the V&A and Natural History Museum.

As the founder of London interior architecture firm Sella, Tatjana von Stein has established herself as a creative force with a distinct flair for color, texture, and form through marquee projects like private suites at Ascot, the Locke Hotel in Zurich. The Franco-German designer is now delving into another avenue of expression through her foray into furniture, an eight-piece collection that melds French craftsmanship with Modernist influences to exude an atmosphere of indulgence and warmth.

Last week, the Art Students League of New York hosted its annual Dream Ball—a bacchanal of costumes, cocktails, and dancing—to support its mission of making art education accessible to all. The League’s Vanderbilt Gallery Ballroom was transformed into a disco with music by DJ Black Helmet and burlesque performances. Guest judge Murray Hill handed out golden tickets to guests dressed on theme and selected participants for a costume parade. Prizes were awarded for creative outfits.

When was it? May 20

Where was it? The Vanderbilt Gallery Ballroom, New York.

Who was there? Nadja Sayej, David Marchi, Elton Ilirjani, and Olga Ferrara.

At Fuorisalone, “Transcendence” was the theme of Ross Gardam’s moody exhibition that dove into the innate allure of illuminated glass. Each luminaire originated from the Australian lighting designer’s fascination with the intersection of engineering and traditional craft techniques. None of the studio’s creations embodies that dichotomy better than the sprawling Volant chandelier, a dazzling statement piece and one of the many highlights of his first Milan Design Week showcase.

For a historic site, being listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual list of Most Endangered Places can be a one-way ticket to survival. The organization first launched the list in 1988 to draw attention to places across the United States in danger of irreparable damage, whether from vandalism, fire, dilapidation, or gentrification. Historical weight—not flashiness—is the main prerequisite for inclusion. Since launching, the organization has spotlighted more than 350 cultural sites, and only a handful have met the wrecking ball. Some, such as Arizona’s long-abandoned Camp Naco, secured $8 million in grants and have since been restored for community use.

This year’s list highlights a cross-section of historic sites reflective of the perils faced by dated urban areas. Union Pier played a crucial role in Charleston’s early economic vitality and served as a major point of arrival for thousands of enslaved people, but a proposed 65-acre mixed-use development may undermine its original character. Ditto for Miami’s Little Santo Domingo, whose proximity to in-demand real estate threatens the Dominican enclave with displacement.

Tend is the first dentist you’ll look forward to. Launched in October 2019, Tend was created to set a new standard for oral health by providing dentistry the way it should be—hassle-free, personalized, and straightforward, with a focus on patient happiness—all in a calm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed space.

Surface Says: By prioritizing hospitality and design in equal measure, Tend has made dental care downright chic.

The earliest recorded kiss now goes back around 4,500 years to Mesopotamia.

American workers are now testing positive for weed at record-high rates.

This museum is offering Rembrandt-inspired tattoos to grow its audience.

Skims opens a summer pop-up shop in the heart of Rockefeller Center.