Bring the World into Your Home
By Clementina Verge
Portrait by @cassanolaphotography www.cassanolaphoto.com
Imagine lounging in a beaded chair handwoven in Nigeria, leaning against pillowcases meticulously handmade in Laos, while enjoying the tantalizing spices of Kolkata Chai served in a teacup handpainted in Japan. Home & Earth makes the compilation of such decadence and culture attainable; recently opened in Woodbury, the home decor and gift store offers an exquisite collection of handcrafted treasures from some 20 countries.
“Home & Earth was born out of a vision to bring beauty into people’s homes while forging connections with the makers and their histories,” explains founder Birgit Roy. “Our philosophy of curated living is defined by the love of thoughtful and intentional discovery of artistic creations and authentic stories.” The shop was inspired by Roy’s extensive travels and living in different places. After they graduated from the University of Michigan, where they met, Roy and her husband moved to his native India for six years and continued adventuring throughout Europe and South Africa before settling in Woodbury more than a decade ago.
Along their journeys they acquired art pieces and other crafted souvenirs; but more so, they collected stories from artisans they met in villages across the globe. A dream was born to open a store that showcases such talents and stories. Sophisticated and elegant, Home & Earth was built by New Antiquity of Woodbury and designed by India-based designer Priyanjali Bose. Its collection brims with “functional beauty”: Everyday items that are aesthetically pleasing, ranging from kitchen and dining essentials to bedroom and bath products, decor, and even spices. The abundance, however, doesn’t equal mass production. From luxurious rugs to striking ceramics and intricately carved wood, everything at Home & Earth is chosen with sustainability and ethical sourcing in mind, says Roy, who has personal relationships with many of the artisans represented in her store.
“Each piece elevates a living space, but it is also a way to sustain generational crafts, artistic traditions, and ways of life that might otherwise die out,” she explains. From trays etched in India to bamboo-mounted porcelain African Flower Diffuser Sticks hand-sculpted in South Africa, beaded Nigerian chairs used by kings and queens from the Yoruba tribe, Italian dishes, and Turkish bowls, the store provides easy ways to infuse color, texture, and style into any living space. U.S. artisans include candlemakers from New York, carvers of one-of-a-kind stone-top tables from New Hampshire, Connecticut chocolatiers. Ultimately, Home & Earth is synonymous with handcrafted quality and stands for attainable and inspirational uniqueness that is “sure to elevate the ambience of a home and create meaningful moments,” Roy notes.
“Home & Earth is on a mission to create awareness about art forms, the history of the crafts, and the journey of makers—their hopes and dreams,” she relates. “We value the art and the artisans, and want to support them through awareness—preserving and promoting the art forms. Artists are at the core of everything we do; and we make beautiful things available for everyone’s home, without needing to travel, yet connecting with different cultures and art styles.”—homeandearthshop.com
