Have Some Decorum: Michael Bruno

So, before the rug was pulled out from underneath me, I actually had a job. It was the best job in the whole wide world. Really, it was. I had the luxury of working at 1stdibs. What’s that you ask? Only the greatest place on earth. Officially their tagline is: The Most Beautiful Things on Earth. 1stdibs is the world’s largest online luxury marketplace. Inspired by Founder Michael Bruno’s love of Paris’ legendary flea markets, it is the go-to source for leading interior designers and in-the-know wealthy consumers seeking antiques, design, estate jewelry, vintage fashion and fine art.

Does it get better than that? I think not. I stalked the founder, Michael Bruno, for about three years until he gave me a job at the headquarters in New York. When he told me I could work there, I think I literally levitated. I walked into the offices the first day with the biggest goofiest grin on my face. I was in the nucleus of everything that I loved. My unofficial job was to archive furniture from the 1stdibs website and relate it to interior design magazine, Elle Decor. Basically, I got to read back issues of Elle Decor all day and say, “Oh, we have that.”

Here’s the funny thing… Exactly 2 weeks into working at my dream job at 1stdibs, I was diagnosed with ALS. One day, during lunch, I told Michael Bruno that I would be back later because I had to make a quick stop at the neurologist office. Little did I know what was ahead of me that day. I never got to go back to 1stdibs… Ever. Honestly, I was more upset that I didn’t get to go back to work at 1stdibs than I was at having ALS.

Michael Bruno

1stdibs Founder

After having to tell Michael the devastating news, he, the greatest boss on earth, told me that I would always have a home at 1stdibs. He told me that if I wanted to work remotely from home I could. I sadly declined because I knew I had to deal with what was happening. I kind of crawled into an ALS rabbit hole and put my love of furniture, interior design and antiques on the back burner. The way back burner. I didn’t even open an interior design magazine for about 2 ½ years. Not one! I didn’t go to a flea market, an antique store, a designer showcase house…. Nothing. I could barely bring myself to watch Million-Dollar Decorator for God’s sake.

Fast-forward three years. Last November, I passed the three-year mark with ALS. The majority of people with ALS die within 3 to 5 years. Here I was passing the three-year mark and something changed in me. I thought, “Well, f*ck, if I’m not going to die yet I might as well look at furniture.” So here we are today. Ellie can look at furniture again! In honor of this milestone, I thought I would share with you my 1stdibs Picks of the Week! Here we go…