Step Inside this Singer-Songwriter Couple's Cali-Cool Bungalow

November 15, 2016

We've talked about meshing his and her styles together before, but for these two? It comes so natural and no wonder. This hubs and wife singer-songwriter team, Us the Duo, have a chemistry like no other. So when it came time to blend their home styles with the help of Joss & Main, they seamlessly married their gravitation toward all things classic, modern and minimal. More captured by Nicole Gerulat right here in The Vault!

When it comes to songwriting, husband-and-wife folk-pop duo Michael and Carissa Rae Alvarado each have their own strengths: Michael the lyrics, Carissa the melody. And as it turns out, the couple share a similar dynamic when decorating. Joss & Main recently redid their LA bungalow to turn it into a classic, modern and minimal space that balances both of their personal styles (and their pups' style, too!). You can shop the full look of their space here until 11/21. We chatted with the musical duo on their mix of styles and their time together at home—see the interview below!

1. Tell us about your respective styles. In what ways are they similar? And different?

Carissa loves mixing vintage pieces with modern style and Michael appreciates minimal and clean decor. Our likes are very similar and the styles work perfectly together to create a balanced living space.

2. If you could use three words to describe each other’s style, what would they be?

Classic, Modern, Minimal

3. You’ve said in the past you each have your own strengths when it comes to songwriting: Michael the lyrics, Carissa the melody. What was your dynamic like on this project?

Just like songwriting, our styles truly complement each other. We disagree on some things, yet find compromise to create a masterpiece.

4. Walk us through your design process. Where did you start?

We began working together by creating a Pinterest board to get our thought process going. After we agreed on the collective style that we wanted for our home, we brought on our very talented interior designer Keiko Harada to assist us on executing this project. While we were gone on tour, we told her what we wanted and she surprised us with a fully furnished home upon our return. She truly nailed it and we couldn’t be happier with our new and improved living space! Now we never want to leave home.

5. Is the finished product similar to what you’d initially envisioned? Totally different?

Honestly, we didn’t know what to expect. It was pretty scary not knowing what was going on, but that made the whole process even more thrilling. Needless to say, we walked in and were very pleased. She gave us exactly what we wanted with every piece of furniture and even surprised us with things we would’ve never thought of on our own.

6. Was there anything your decor had to have?

We HAD to have a bar cart! It’s something we’ve been wanting for a long time as we love to entertain. This piece might be one of our favorites in the house.

7. If you had to pick a theme song for each room, what would it be and why?

Most of the time, we are playing jazz music in our living room. The minimal vibe of the decor, and the neutral whites and grays with gold accents automatically transport us to an earlier time period. Most evenings, we play Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, or Duke Ellington on the record player. It instantly sets the tone of the space and takes us to the 1940s. Carissa spends the most time in our bedroom, doing her make-up. Her music of choice is usually Beyoncé, or something sassy and empowering. The studio room theme songs are constantly changing, as we are usually the ones making the music. The white walls and soft decor give us a clear head, easy for inspiration and creativity.

8. Let’s talk greatest hits—tell us about your absolute favorite pieces.

Some of our favorite pieces are the bar cart, the midcentury modern couch, the marble side table, and the white shag rug.

9. What’s your favorite way to spend time at home?

We love listening to records on the record player, drinking espresso on the back porch, filming cover videos on the couch, and writing new songs in the studio!