Say hello to Carina Murray of Crow and Canary, then check out her pitch perfect ephemera-packed home!
I’ve always been a sucker for “stuff” – family ephemera, vintage trinkets, and other tiny oddities often seem to find their way into my home. When my husband and I first met during college, he marveled at my apartment decor and said in complete earnestness: “It’s like your personality threw up all over the walls, but in the best possible way.” That’s still a running joke in our house and I’d like to think that my current taste reflects a slightly more grown up version of that early 20’s look. Printer’s boxes and other interesting small shelving units have helped me contain my burgeoning collection of misfit knick knacks. And if you’re wondering about all of the eyeglasses, I was an optician before starting Crow and Canary. I still adjust and repair glasses for family and friends.
Say hello to the sweet space of Kasey and Matthew from Turntable Kitchen!
Unintentionally, one wall in our house has become what we call ‘the wine wall.’ It’s where we store our everyday drinking bottles, which are suspended in a wooden wine rack. It’s also home to a photo I took on our honeymoon in Argentina (of a wine cellar in Mendoza), as well as a wine-themed National poster (one of Matt’s favorite bands). The nearby bookshelf houses many of my favorite cookbooks, so they’re within reach – along with my aprons – when I’m in the kitchen.
We just recently got a new kitchen table, and it’s already a favorite. It’s made from reclaimed wood from the nearby Marin Tunnel, and it’s where we eat all of our meals, drink afternoon coffee, and where I thumb through cookbooks.
We do most of our work from our couch area, so we wanted it to feel really cozy. We have a selection of photos and paintings behind the couch, which we’ve collected over the course of our travels, and air plants that hang from little ceramic sculptural vases. Nearby, we also have our record player and sizeable record collection.
The wooden bookcase that holds our record player and record collection was one of the first pieces of furniture we ever bought together. We thought we’d never run out of space on it, but, already, our records have started to spill over into a nearby ‘overflow’ bin. Whenever we have parties and get-togethers with friends, this is an area where people often like to congregate, browse and chat music. It’s my husband’s happy place.
This was our first ‘investment’ piece and it’s the most centrally-located place in our apartment. If you’re sitting in the leather chair, you’re right next to the record collection, the couch, and the dining room table. It’s also a great place to curl up and watch a movie.
Scones have a way of making you feel more refined, even if you’re eating one in your underwear over the kitchen sink. They’re something I’ve wanted to try making for over a year now, but I never seem to have the right combination of ingredients at the right time. (Story of my life.) The thing is, they’re actually really easy. You don’t need a special pan or weird kitchen gadgets to put a batch together. Wait, what was my excuse again?? Click on the image to be taken to the recipe source.
All photos and recipes copyright of their respective source unless otherwise noted.
Say hello to Jessie Artigue of Style & Pepper, then have a peek at her eclectic space!
Nestled in the midst of what are pretty much our only windows (besides a sliver in our bedroom), this corner is definitely my favorite in the house. The lounger is where I sit to work on writing projects when I need to step away from my desk, and I especially love it in the mornings when the ripples on the Hudson River turn the sunlight into glitter. My little assistant loves to rest her little nose on the sill while she watches her friends play at the dog park until we go in the afternoon. The framed pieces are by our dear friend Jeremy Collins and were our first original artwork purchases, the pillows were both handmade by me, and everything else is either thrifted or found on Craigslist. The little tree is a Dwarf Meyer Lemon, and was a present from Gerard two Christmases ago.
Our bookshelves hold a random collection of things that are precious to us; trinkets and gifts from the different cities we’ve lived in and friends we love. The large blue painted silk piece was a thrift store gem from Kansas City, the print is by Leigh Viner, and the photograph is one of our engagement photos and shows us chasing after a trolley in downtown San Diego. Gerard bought me the teak “infinity” sculpture while we were dating, the Jonathan Adler pottery holds the ashes of our kitty (Zoe) that we lost two years ago, and the turquoise jar holds pennies that my Grandpa sends me from Heaven.
My little “office nook”, as I like to call it, is the hub of my workdays. I love this old metal desk that was salvaged from the barracks of a Naval ship, and the vintage metal bookshelf we placed on top makes for the perfect storage hutch. DIY supplies, magazines, and photos fill most of the shelves, and the extras are an always rotating mix of inspiring images, quotes and ideas. A thrifted ceramic hand holds my iPhone while it charges, my tray full of favorite nail polish shades stands-by for when I’m in need of a quick break, and I always keep pads of paper and little sticky notes nearby for writing reminders and the occasional love-note.
