This Tool Kit Is So Stylish That You Don’t *Have* to Hide It

One of my biggest regrets about my apartment is that I moved in without a bona fide toolbox. Instead I had a canvas tote bag of loose tools my dad gave me — things he didn’t want anymore or had duplicates of. That was a decent start for me (and I firmly believe everyone should have a tape measure, a level, a hammer, a wrench, and a screwdriver, especially on move-in day), but I am judging myself a little for not having upgraded my setup in the four years I’ve lived here. Instead, I’ve just been throwing more loose tools into it as I tackle more projects, including rolls of duct tape, random paint brushes, and any Allen wrenches that come with my flat-pack furniture. It’s utterly disorganized.

I think I could save myself a lot of clutter (and time spent digging for the right tool during home projects) if I had something like TINKR’s Modern Tool Kit. 

I’ve written about my love of design-forward tools before. (Do tools have to be design-forward? No! Do I work at Apartment Therapy and care deeply about loving every little detail in my home? Yes!) And at $80, this robust tool set (TINKR’s Modern Tool Kit) has a look and a price point I like, so I might just have to make the purchase. (Something like the $20 DIY Essentials Kit might be better for a DIY beginner who just moved into their first apartment.) 

TINKR is a new brand launched by DIYer and designer Lainy Hedaya Hoffstein, who recently has worked on a custom patio table and a closet makeover for her own home. Hoffstein says the pieces are meant to make projects less intimidating. They’re also thoughtfully designed, with ergonomic grips, soft-touch finishes, balanced weight, and, of course, sophisticated, stylish colorways: a sage green and midnight blue will be available when the products launch on June 11 at Target and online.

I also think it’s great that TINKR offers kits made for specific projects, which eliminates a lot of guesswork. There’s a furniture assembly kit (yes, Allen wrenches and knee pads are included!); a painting kit with brushes, tape, and rollers; a wall patch kit that might come in clutch on move-out day; a hanging kit for shelves and artwork; and a kit specific to planning gallery walls. All of these are $25 each. 

My two next big projects are hanging artwork in my living room — I’m redoing my gallery wall again! — and adding washi tape stripes around an already-hanging frame. I know that a hanging kit could certainly come in handy for my gallery wall redo — especially because everything I’m hanging is lightweight and can be mounted with uniform nails and screws. If you have any DIY project plans, and you love for even the most practical items in your home to be beautiful, then the TINKR sets are worth a look.

What’s your next big home project? Let me know in the comments below.