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It's called stooping, and it's how people get secondhand furniture from New York City curbs for free. Basically, it goes like this: someone who no longer needs their old mid-century coffee table puts it on the sidewalk in front of their home and anyone who might find it useful can simply pick it up.

Stooping is a longtime tradition but in the summer of 2019, it got a modern twist when a couple from Brooklyn created an Instagram account to help castaways find their new owners. Without overthinking, they called it Stooping NYC and started sharing everything the streets had to offer.

Loyal Bored Panda readers should remember this online project since we've already written about it here, here, and here. However, it just hit a huge milestone: 250K followers. So we thought it's a nice occasion to pay them another visit.

More info: Instagram

#1

West Elm Industrial Coffee Table With Storage

West Elm Industrial Coffee Table With Storage

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"Stooping has been around in NYC long before [our Instagram account], and we think that the concept is so relevant to the city because of what it means to life in the city itself," the couple behind the account, who want to remain anonymous, told Bored Panda.

"People move so frequently, no apartment is ever really the same, the transient nature of New York... all of that means that people are always looking for new furniture, or hoping to get rid of what they have. The act of stooping has seemingly become the New York version of 'paying it forward.'"

#3

Get Lit With These Tiffany Lamps!

Get Lit With These Tiffany Lamps!

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Mimi M
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Off-brand, but those are genuine stained-glass and stunning. I'm gobsmacked. Not hard to repair either - a good professional restorer can get those into gorgeous condition. Shoot, I'm jealous.

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GoddessOdd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even just the stained glass shades, repro or not, can be very pricey.

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Layla Corman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My guess is that someone got an appartment that came fully furnished (maybe the previous owner was older and passed away) and they didn't realize what these were.

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Francesa Miller
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been lusting over the reproductions, but I can't even justify the money for those. Sigh.

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BasedWang
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wouldnt of even known I was lookin at a Tiff. Thats awesome

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DAISY
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HAVE YOU HAD AN EXPERTLOOK AT THESE AND/OR FIND THE NAME "TIFFANY" ON THE SHADES AND BASE?!

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Amaranthim Talon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not in NYC, but I was fortunate to find a repro just waiting by the garbage pile, one evening on a pup walk.

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Max L.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure if this design is original, however this size if authentic, which I doutbt, would be nearly 20 grands worth

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Louise Stange-Wahl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These would not only make my day....they would have made my year--MAGNIFICENT!

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Lily Mae Kitty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

tiffany STYLE from QVC. sell for about $100-500 depending on condition etc.

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#5

Visual Merchandising At Its Finest!

Visual Merchandising At Its Finest!

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As the couple highlighted in one of our earlier conversations, hosting stooping on social media not only means that the locals have a much better chance to find what they need, but it also allows to 'export' a part of the city to outsiders, allowing them to have a digital walk through the neighborhoods.

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"It gives access to a piece of New York City culture to people who follow from far and wide," they explained back then.

"It also has enabled us to 'gameify' stooping, with stoopers sharing stories of things they spot, stoop, take home, and ultimately give new life to. It would really be challenging to tell stories around the pieces like we do on any other platform."

#6

The Look Of A Stooping Success!!!

The Look Of A Stooping Success!!!

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#7

Sitting Very Pretty! Perfect Incredible Aqua Corner Sofa

Sitting Very Pretty! Perfect Incredible Aqua Corner Sofa

stoopingnyc Report

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The couple behind the account also said that one NYC area in particular is stooping a lot more than the others.

"Brooklyn is by far the most active stooping borough, but there are a ton of stoops that we get daily from all pockets of the five boroughs, Jersey and even Long Island!"

Stoopers are excited about a lot of things, running the spectrum from essential apartment features like bookshelves and kitchen islands to valuable treasures, such as beanie baby collections and pianos, and beyond. Plus, they also make sure that no plant ends its days on concrete!

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#9

“Take Me! I Still Work. Unlike My Freeloading Ex-Boyfriend!!”

“Take Me! I Still Work. Unlike My Freeloading Ex-Boyfriend!!”

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#10

Red Alert!!!!! Beautiful Globe Bar Cart

Red Alert!!!!! Beautiful Globe Bar Cart

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Blue
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lets hope that woman who found one of these and PAINTED it did not find this ha ha

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#11

Well This A Great Sunday Stoop! Stools Included!

Well This A Great Sunday Stoop! Stools Included!

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If you also want to try your luck hunting these gems, the couple said you should, "1) Follow @stoopingnyc on IG; 2) Turn on your notifications; and 3) Get ready to run when you see something you like! Things go quickly."

Covid has had an impact on the stooping culture too. At the start of the pandemic when there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding health and safety protocols, the couple refrained from posting. But once they started up again in the summer, they were flooded with a wave of submissions caused by New Yorkers leaving the city.

"In a moment in time when good news can seem few and far between, we continue to feel so lucky to have such a positive and wonderful community of stoopers that are focused on sharing with each other!" they added.

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#14

Holy Saturday!

Holy Saturday!

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#18

Gorg Table

Gorg Table

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#19

I Don’t Want To Be Rude, But Why Hasn’t Someone Written Us A Stoop Anthem?!

I Don’t Want To Be Rude, But Why Hasn’t Someone Written Us A Stoop Anthem?!

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#21

I Mean… Are You Serious? This Baby Blue Leather Couch Is Amaaaazing!

I Mean… Are You Serious? This Baby Blue Leather Couch Is Amaaaazing!

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Natalie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The gorgeous shade of blue and the comfy look of that couch...I want it in my house somewhere! And leather or vinyl, I don't care either way. It just looks so inviting and I want to curl up on it.

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#24

Drafting Table Alert!!

Drafting Table Alert!!

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Seabeast
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Glass isn't the best surface for a drafting board. It really needs a piece of Borco over top of it.

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#26

Wowzers!

Wowzers!

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#28

How Amazing!

How Amazing!

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#31

Basically The Cutest Little Cooking Machine Ever

Basically The Cutest Little Cooking Machine Ever

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#33

What A Beauty!

What A Beauty!

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#35

Bring Friends! In Front Of The Lab On Newel St In Greenpoint

Bring Friends! In Front Of The Lab On Newel St In Greenpoint

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#36

We Were Going To Go To Bed But Barbie’s Playhouse Exploded

We Were Going To Go To Bed But Barbie’s Playhouse Exploded

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#37

Mid Century Modern Recliner. Comes With A Beer. You’re Welcome

 Mid Century Modern Recliner. Comes With A Beer. You’re Welcome

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#39

Do You Have The Longest Apartment In The World? Then This Is For You!

Do You Have The Longest Apartment In The World? Then This Is For You!

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#40

We’ve Seen A Single Red High Heel Chair Before... But A Pair??

We’ve Seen A Single Red High Heel Chair Before... But A Pair??

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Greymom
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somewhere there’s a barefoot giant wondering where her favorite heels went!

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Note: this post originally had 133 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.