Feels Like Home

Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Inspiration

This new nesters spotlight was featured in our 2020 Heart of NC Weddings print edition, and features Durham blogger Nicole Marie Cranley, Ph.D. and husband Nathan Maxwell Krowitz’s mid century modern decor. The photos are by Morgan Caddell Photography and makeup is by Silverceiling Beauty Consulting. 

“My only regret is that we can’t get married every day,” says Nathan Maxwell Krowitz, a recent groom who articulates precisely the bittersweet aftermath of a wedding. 

Having spent some time with Nathan and his wife Nicole Marie Cranley (aka – the equally lovely and brilliant research scientist behind “The Doctorette” blog), it is clear that these two relish every moment of their newlywed life. 

This is a natural progression from their courtship, which started with a right swipe – followed by a first date spark so electric that even though Nicole was about to relocate for her postdoctoral fellowship at UNC-Chapel Hill, they plunged forward into a relationship. After nine months of back and forth visits between Florida and Durham, and a whole lot of video chat, Nathan moved to North Carolina, and they got engaged that very year.

Building a New Life Together 

The couple spent the early days of their marriage symbolically and literally building their new united life together. They completed a major renovation of their home in Durham. Leading the renovations of their first home, the newlyweds carefully considered which areas of the design were most important to each of them. For Nathan, that was a highly functioning kitchen because he is the chef in the relationship. For Nicole, it was having a master bathroom. They had to create it from scratch – but it was worth the trouble for the little oasis they now have, including a bathtub overlooking their expansive yard. The pair even tackled projects by hand – such as the landscaping, and resurfacing and staining the fireplace. 

This experience only further solidified their bond. The construction period concluded with the final stretch of labor after they moved in – while they both had work-from-home jobs. A couple that works together through blood curdling drilling, stays together, am I right?   

Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Kitchen and Dining Room Morgan Caddell
Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Gold Bar Cart Morgan Caddell
Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Vintage Style Press for Champagne Morgan Caddell
Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Dining Room Table Morgan Caddell

“I remember the moment we first met in person. It was late afternoon, and the restaurant’s entrance was backlit by late sun. When the door opened, Nicole entered, and the sun transformed into a golden halo. For the first 15 minutes of us speaking, I could hardly form words I was so taken by her presence. If that’s not love at first sight than I don’t know what is.” – Nathan 

 

Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Gold Bull Ornament Morgan Caddell

Bold Colors and Mid Century Modern Decor

The house was built in 1942, and they embraced this era in their plans with mid century modern decor paired with bold colors for a fresh take – as Nathan explains, “Some changes we made were in fact peeling back layers of ‘newness’ that previous owners had veneered over the original design. The colors were inspired by Nicole’s nail polish, her car, and our dog Loki.” 

(PAUSE: Loki is the world’s most adorable shepherd-dachshund mix, whom Nicole adopted from a shelter as an eight-week old puppy. He bears a strong resemblance to a fox, which has become somewhat of a theme in their home. There’s also a distinct possibility that Nicole fell for Nathan because his hair is a similar hue to Loki’s fur.)

Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Vintage Clock Morgan Caddell
Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Fireplace Husband and Wife Morgan Caddell
Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Bride Groom Dolls Morgan Caddell
Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Home Style Couch Pic Morgan Caddell

Post-Wedding Happiness 

In addition to fox knick-knacks, other personal touches around the house include their wedding wreath hanging on the bathroom wall, a painting of the wedding field, and cork saved from their honeymoon. As freshly planted as Nicole and Nathan are in this house, their personalities are everywhere. It feels like home. 

“Your wedding day is about you. Have some fun with it! Enjoy each other. You might think that things aren’t going the way you wanted them to, but in reality they are, because of the person standing next to you at the altar.” – Nicole

Each of them spoke about their wedding vision being an emotive experience to remember – a feeling of coziness, laughter, food and friends. It’s clear that they crafted their home with this same intention. As Nicole gave me the tour, she painted a vision of friends gathered on the back patio under twinkling lights. It’s not hard to picture – and it’s also not hard to picture these two love birds sitting hand in hand on that couch surrounded by mid century modern decor for decades to come. 

Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Decor Art Morgan Caddell

“Nathan actually came up with the name “Doctorette” and I thought it was a perfect fit because it asserted my femininity in an arena that is often intimidated by it. He’s always been my biggest fan.” – Nicole 

Durham Blogger The Doctorette Married Life and Mid Century Modern Bathroom Decor Morgan Caddell

Dr. Nicole Cranley started The Doctorette blog in 2017 after a woman told her that she “didn’t look like a researcher.” She turned that frustration with the stereotypes that are often associated with women in STEM into this creative outlet. Check out TheDoctorette.com and follow her at @TheDoctorette.

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