About The Long Shelf
A weekly letter about keeping the things in your home working, written by one person who would rather mend than buy.
Who writes it
I'm Ines Varel. I started The Long Shelf after a shop told me a lamp with a loose wire wasn't worth repairing. It took twenty minutes and a screwdriver.
I'm not a trained repairer. I try each fix at home before I write about it, I say when something is beyond me, and I point you to a professional when it is beyond you too.

What this letter won't do
A few rules, so you know what you're reading.
- No sponsored posts and no affiliate links.
- No repairs on gas, mains wiring inside the wall or anything structural. Those need a qualified person.
- No product named without saying whether it was bought, borrowed or sent.
- Mistakes are corrected at the top of the next letter, and in the archive.
Get in touch
Questions about a repair, corrections, or an idea for a letter. I read everything, though I can't answer every message.
- 01
Corrections first
If a letter got something wrong, say which one. Corrections go out the following Sunday.
- 02
Photos help
Mention it and I'll reply asking for one.
- [email protected]