“This used to be our workshop,” says textile maker Nadia Yaron, standing in the Clinton Hill living room she shares with her business and life partner, woodworker Myriah Scruggs. Back in 2008, the space—within a 1,100-square-foot floor-through—was outfitted with a handsaw and at least one drill. Now it’s simply where they relax. With their business, Nightwood, the duo create what they call “reincarnated” décor out of salvaged wood and cast-off furniture. Once business began booming at their Brooklyn Flea booth and custom orders started coming in, the couple moved production to a studio nearby, allowing them to turn the virtually raw apartment into a power-tool-free sanctuary with white walls and furnishings of their own reinvention. “Pieces and spaces with a history have a romance,” Scruggs says. “And we like the simplicity of making a lot from a little.” While they’re still tweaking the place, the pair have a new project in the works: On June 11, they will debut the first permanent Nightwood store, on Grand Street in Williamsburg, where they will sell their signature wares as well as a collection of lighting done with master illuminator Doug Newton. Like their home, the shop will be purposefully layered, not crammed—giving each piece room to tell its story. Says Scruggs: “We like things airy and sparse; the negative space is important to us.”
The Living Room
Coffee Table: An old chicken coop, which now functions as a coffee table, was found at a flea market. Yaron, who is currently building her second Navajo loom, wove this rug from scratch.
Sofa, Left: Originally covered in an eighties pastel fabric, this vintage sofa was found at a secondhand shop on Long Island, then reupholstered in linen and burlap.
Mirror: The salvaged-oak mirror was warmed up with a copper paint job.
Credenza: The TV credenza is made of recycled oak floorboards, cypress, and pine, dyed naturally with tea to create a consistent hue.
Sofa, Right: Scruggs built the frame for this settee out of poplar and oak, then Yaron created complementary tea-dyed linen coverings.
Photo: Dean Kaufman
The Kitchen Nadia painted the kitchen walls a deep navy. Myriah made the cabinet by the stove by sawing a found desk in half and reconfiguring the drawers. The kitchen built-ins are all originals but the couple changed the original cupboard handles to the present wood ones, and painted the hanging light fixture with copper metallic paint. Photo: Dean Kaufman
The Bedroom Myriah built the Cider House bed using salvaged wood from Manhattan water towers. Nadia painted the vintage matelasse quilt with tea dye. Photo: Dean Kaufman
The Bedroom The side table was made by Myriah from plywood, poplar, and oak and was tea-dyed as well. Photo: Dean Kaufman
The Living Room The crate used as a side table was found in the neighborhood. “We use crates as side tables a lot,” Nadia says. “Myriah made the corner bench for us; nook seating is like a fantasy come true to her.” It has storage bins underneath the cushion and a hinged top. It is made of scrap cedar, pine, and other miscellaneous materials. Photo: Dean Kaufman
