MOODBOARD PODCAST EPISODES - Angela Belt

Creative Director for Mikel Welch, James Bianca

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Tue, 14 May 2024 05:40:49 GMT

Creative Director for Mikel Welch , James Bianca

Welcome back to the spring season of the Mood Board podcast ! I am so excited to be on season eight of this show. I want to thank everyone for the continued enthusiasm and interest from all over the world (mind blown!). I also want to thank all of you for your patience as my interior design business Angela Belt interiors and the show grow at the same time.

Since the Met Gala just happened, I had to kick off the season with fashion stylist, closet designer, and Creative Director for Mikel Welch , James Bianca . In this interview, we discuss prioritizing your closet earlier in the design process and how James wears multiple hats to run her business. We also dig into what advice she would share for other young Black women who want to join the fashion and design industries.

James embarked on her styling journey in 2006, a passion that evolved into a flourishing career when she made the pivotal move to New York in 2008 to immerse herself in the world of fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Her transformative period began as a Fashion Editorial Assistant for Women’s Wear Daily, a role that deepened her understanding of the intricacies of the industry.

Seasons spent collaborating with esteemed designers during Mercedes-Benz/New York Fashion Week and within the opulent showrooms of luxury brands like Givenchy, Saint Laurent, and Valentino further enriched James's professional tapestry. The culmination of these experiences came in July 2012 when she was recruited to contribute her expertise to J.Crew's revered still life and soft goods department.

Post her tenure at the cherished American brand, James seamlessly transitioned into the realm of freelance fashion styling, showcasing her versatility by working for brands spanning the spectrum from Target to Tom Ford.

Currently, James dedicates herself to the role of a personal fashion stylist, employing her extensive industry insights to infuse editorial style into the daily lives of her clients in an accessible and enjoyable manner. Her knack for wardrobe curation naturally led to an unexpected realization – the art of designing closets became an integral part of her client offerings. Recognizing the potential for a more comprehensive service, James inaugurated a high-end closet design branch within her business in 2020, further enhancing her commitment to elevating her clients' sartorial experiences.

How Black women have influenced fashion over the decades - Supreme Models by Marcellas Reynolds
Perfect pop of color to add to your purse collection - Maria
Paint inspiration to get the look of James’ apartment featured in Apartment Therapy - Blackest Clare Paint
Dream dress to wear to the Met Gala this year - PISCES I GOWN
Of course, paired with statement heels with an edge -
Sneak peak of James’ closet featured in Apartment Therapy - Home Tour
Phillip Jefferies menswear wallpaper inspiration - Chain Mail

Beth Diana Smith, Interior Design Studio

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 22:34:00 GMT

After the Thanksgiving break if you’re anything like me you need a pick me up to get back into the work mode, and I thought my interview with New Jersey-based interior designer Beth Diana Smith was the perfect conversation to lift your spirits. In this episode, we dig into how Beth took a leap of faith left her job in finance, and followed her passion to become an interior designer. A new episode airs every Monday this fall. Please subscribe and share with your friends and family.

After more than a decade in accounting and finance at companies like Viacom and Johnson & Johnson, Beth Diana Smith left the corporate world to launch her own interior design firm. Her eye for aesthetics paired with her project management experience culminates in a truly unique approach to design. Her signature style is modern and eclectic with luxurious finishes and custom furnishings. Each vignette is a functioning art installation in its own right. Above all, her work is client-centric as she helps each homeowner hone in on their own style and create a space that inspires them and enhances their lifestyle. Beth’s goal for each project is to elevate the lives of her clients by first elevating their daily environment.

Beth holds a Master of Science degree from Seton Hall University and a degree from the New York School of Interior Design. She is a founding member of the Black Artists + Designers Guild , a member of the 2020 House Beautiful Advisory Council, and an Associate member of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Below, shop Beth Diana Smith’s mood board from photos from her recent projects and a few pieces inspired by her maximalist style.

Natalie Papier, Co-Star of Magnolia Network's Artfully Designed

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 17:24:00 GMT

Artist and Interior designer Natalie Papier’s show Artfully Designed just aired season two a few weeks ago on Max. I thought this was the perfect time to get to know Natalie a little bit better so you can binge-watch a few episodes with friends and family during the Thanksgiving break. In this episode, we dig into Natalie’s career path from artist turned interior designer and her new lighting collection with Mitzi . Also, my One Room Challenge Swiftie-Inspired tween room makeover is complete, check out the full reveal here .

Home EC. is a bold and eclectic interior design company owned and managed by Natalie Papier: artist, designer & influencer. With a lifelong love of art and color, Natalie has a strong belief that homes should be a reflection of the people who live in them, full of life, character, and warmth. Much of her interior design centers around the character of vintage pieces and collaborating with artists, designers and makers to add originality and life to the spaces she designs. Her bold and playful designs have been featured in publications such as Domino, HGTV Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, and Luxe Magazine as well as being recently honored with the 360 award from the Design Society of America. She currently stars in Magnolia Network's Artfully Designed with her co-stars, muralist Racheal Jackson , and abstract artist Frankie Zombie , taking an art-forward approach to creating beautifully curated spaces for their clients by exploring the intersection between art and interior design. You can watch season two now of Artfully Designed on Max.

Below is a visual bio of Natalie’s career and a few of her design collaborations that you can layer in your home this holiday season.

WEEK EIGHT: REVEAL DAY!

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 01:32:00 GMT

I’m excited and relieved that I completed my second One Room Challenge this year. My daughter is a huge Taylor Swift fan, and I wanted to create a space that showed off her Swiftie style. After many weeks of changing the design (three times—to be exact), we eventually settled on a design, and I left out some final decisions as surprises for her to discover along the way. When I executed the design, I got a big thank you and a hug. And she’s been in her dream room all weekend so I'm counting this design as a success. Photos Courtesy of Touch Life Studio .

How it Started

There were three reasons I made a change to my daughter’s room. First, it was no longer functional. The two closet doors couldn’t fully open due to the furniture being too large for the space. Her room also had two closets that were being underutilized. One was filled with toys she had outgrown, like her Barbies and American Girl Doll toys, and the other was crammed with clothes she had outgrown. Secondly, the ceiling needed repair. After looking at lots of DIY options, it made sense to just invest in the space properly and get it repaired by a professional. Lastly, the room didn’t reflect my daughter anymore. She was a middle schooler and die-hard Swiftie. I wanted to give her a new bedroom that reflected her style and was cool enough to grow up with her during her teenage years.

How It Ended

The transformation is so different from the design I envisioned at the beginning of the eight-week challenge. It feels like a boutique hotel to me when I walk in there. It feels so fancy, and no one would believe how affordable the pieces were in the design. I’m most proud of the wallpaper from Tempaper and the Clare paint combination.

This is also the first time in my home I painted the trim, doors, and ceiling a different color, and it came out amazing due to the skilled handiwork of my painter Jen Yanko . I’m also happy that the room doesn’t feel cramped anymore. My daughter can lounge around, and all of her closet doors open, and there are opportunities to add more storage under her bed or below the bookcase so nothing gets in the way too much.

Maybe Next Time

Similar to my spring ORC, I ran out of time to update the closet and the hanging chair I wanted to hang in the window nook of her room didn’t work because there wasn’t a stud in the sloped part of the ceiling. This project was definitely challenging to tackle in my spare time in between work and collaborating with a tween with a lot of opinions. But seeing how happy she is in her new room and knowing I accomplished it all in two months feels amazing.

The One Room Challenge is something everyone should do to stretch themselves design-wise and see how much they can accomplish. Once you transform one room, you inevitably want to start digging into another eyesore in your home in no time. Here’s to brainstorming another room to makeover in 2024.

Hema Persad, CEO + Principal Designer at Sagrada Studio

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 20:00:00 GMT

As I continue with the fall interview series for T he Mood Board Podcast , I’m excited to have Hema Persad on the show this week. Her firm Sagrada Studio is based in LA and she has designed for celebrities like Poorna Jagannathan from the Netflix hit series Never Have I Ever and Lifestyle coach and author, Jay Shetty . We dig into how Hema has been able to accomplish so much with her boutique design firm and how she knew when it was time to switch her career path to interior design. A new episode airs every Monday this fall. Please subscribe and share with your friends and family.

A native of Toronto, Canada, Hema was a practicing attorney for several years before following her heart and pursuing a career in fashion. In 2014, she moved to Los Angeles to chase her goal and spent the following 7 years dressing A-list celebrities, styling ad campaigns and editorials, and working with some of the top fashion talent in the world.

Completely self-taught, Hema's interior design career began in 2021 when one of her styling clients asked for help decorating their home. Because of her eye for design and ability to execute her creative vision, that first project snowballed into several more. Hema now designs residential and commercial spaces around the country. As the business continued to grow rapidly, it became clear that it needed its own identity apart from Hema. In 2022 Sagrada Studio was born out of her belief that there is no more sacred (“sagrada”) space on earth than where we live and create. The Sagrada Studio's mission is to honor these sacred spaces by helping clients design richly layered and livable rooms with an eye toward global inspiration.

When she’s not working, Hema loves traveling and discovering L.A. with her husband Ganesh, and their three daughters.

Below, shop Hema Persad’s mood board from photos from her recent projects and a few pieces inspired by Sagrada Studio’s style.

WEEK SEVEN: ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 02:45:00 GMT

Well, there is only one week left for my ORC challenge design , and I am feeling the pressure this time. I might have bitten off a little more than I can chew this time between my full-time job and getting my entire wishlist for the tween makeover done in just eight weeks. So, let me give you a recap of the top three things that we’ve accomplished this week.

First and foremost, the hideous ceiling that has been irking me since we moved in finally got repaired. And—it was NO small feat. The repair took an entire week, and it's actually finished tomorrow. It involved removing old plaster, repairing a poorly done tape repair on a large crack, and then three coats of skim coating. In the final week, the ceiling can get re-painted, and a new light fixture can go up.

Next, the furniture was delivered for the room, including sponsored pieces from RugsUSA and Wovenbyrd . I was relieved to order so many products from Amazon Home, and I used money from the furniture items I sold to reduce the costs. So, the final week is all about assembling everything together in time for the photo shoot at the end of the week.

Lastly, I installed the peel-and-stick wallpaper (most of it) this weekend with my husband, my design partner Cojo, and my daughter. To say that I’m sore after the install would be an understatement. But boy, does the wallpaper make the space feel totally brand new.

For week eight, it’s all hands on deck to make this design come together in time for the photo shoot on Friday. I’m definitely cutting it close this time around.

Fernando Duque, Co-Founder of Duke Renders

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 18:47:00 GMT

The interior design industry is moving towards photorealistic imagery that puts age-old processes like AutoCAD and SketchUp to shame. This week, I discuss with Fernando Duque why hiring a business like Duke Renders is a game changer for your interior design business. I used to work with 3D visual design at my previous job at Wayfair, but I’ve never done it for myself because I thought it was too expensive and took away from my bottom line. Well, over the past month, I got to work directly with the Duke Render’ s team to design a kitchen I’m working on in 2024, and I will say the results blew me and my clients away. I don’t think my assistant will be mocking up any kitchen or bathroom designs in Sketchup soon. To try out Duke Render’s services use this link and save 25% on your first design.

Fernando was born in Venezuela and describes himself as a serial entrepreneur. He has already founded more than five companies. In March 2020, in the midst of COVID-19, Fernando and his brother opened Duke Renders . The mission of the business was to help support real estate developers and interior designers to execute their visions to completion through virtual reality services. The business has skyrocketed since then and has grown to more than 100 team members worldwide and without outside investment.

The 3D Render studio in Tulum, Mexico, specializes in interior design and architectural photorealistic imaging. Duke Renders has served more than 500 interior designers and real estate companies with photorealistic accuracy for each project.

Check out my photorealistic imagery from Duke Renders. My clients wanted to update their kitchen without doing a gut renovation, and they specifically didn't want a white kitchen. We discussed going with a dark green color and making the space feel more modern. As well as change the flooring, add custom carpentry, lighting, and so much more. Use this link at Duke Renders to save 25% off your first design.

WEEK SIX: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 01:04:00 GMT

It’s week six of the ORC , and things are heating up. A local charity will pick up the old furniture next week, and everything else is being placed in bins to prepare for the whirlwind of events in the next two weeks. This is also the last week of planning, and from here on out, I’ll be able to share a sneak peek of the installation over the next two weeks. Below are final looks of the before images of this room before it finally gets transformed over the next two weeks.

This week, I wanted to make sure all of the spaces in the room had a design plan. So, I focused on my daughter’s office area, which will serve as a combination between a desk and a vanity. Her old desk was a little too big, her closet door never fully opened, and it was filled with old paper and books. I chose a mid-century modern look to complement the bed and reduce the clutter. The other thing I did since my daughter is a “Swiftie” (I am not), but as a loving and supportive mother, I decided to go for this poster art with twelve 8x12 posters from Amazon that cost $16 and will be a cute wall story above the desk.

Next week the ceiling is going to get repaired by a local handyman. The ceiling plaster is uneven and requires a skim coating process that will take three days to complete. This repair will allow me to finally do the fun stuff, like paint the ceiling purple, put up the wallpaper, and bring in the new furniture.

Below are the final looks of the images of this room before it finally gets transformed over the next two weeks.

Photowall Mural for My ORC Toddler Room Makeover

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 19:32:00 GMT

Since it’s Wallpaper Wednesday, I thought I would start talking about some of the incredible wallpapers I have throughout my home. I wanted to start with the mural from Photowall in my son’s room. And share three reasons why it’s worth investing in a peel-and-stick wallpaper, even for a teeny tiny space like my 150 square-foot room.

Adds Visual Interest

When you’re limited on square footage, an easy and affordable way to make an impact is with art. And without a doubt, the New York Skyline Collage from Photowall is a work of art in the room. When I envisioned this room, I wanted to bring a city vibe to the suburbs, and the mural was the jumping-off point for my toddler room makeover. There are so many muted colors to pull from that I used throughout the room.

Durability

A common complaint I hear from people who are hesitant to install wallpaper (especially peel-and-stick wallpaper) is whether it can withstand the day-to-day abuse from kids. And, after having it up for six months—it can. My son has thrown his milk on it, lotion has splattered on it, and toys scrape it daily. Liquid materials slide right off, and the mural remains intact. Be sure to wipe any liquids up right away to prevent any damage.

Easy to Install

It took no time to install the mural. First, every single panel is numbered—and for my accent wall, there were nine panels, and it was easy to line up. Plus, the peel & stick was forgiving, so the installers could easily move it over a little bit without the material tearing. It took them under a few hours to patch the wall and install the mural.

So, if you were on the fence before—don’t be. My Photowall delivery arrived in less than a week. You can transform any space in a short amount of time and don’t worry about the size of the room—the mural will make a statement anywhere. Check out the full-room reveal at Apartment Therapy .

Ati Williams, Netflix TV Host & General Contractor

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 19:25:00 GMT

Since we’re about to move into a new month, many of you may be contemplating a new career path or thinking about how you want to grow in the New Year. I decided my interview with Ati Williams aka your construction bestie to give you the emotional push you need to move forward.

Ati Williams is a part of the innovative design team with Mikel Welch, Jessica Banks, and Brooks Atwood of the Netflix show Hack My Home . As the general contractor, she focuses on out-of-the-box ideas to maximize people’s homes in unexpected ways. She owns Honeycomb Residential, which focuses on investment properties, construction, and real estate development. Ati was also the host of the HGTV show DC Flippers. When she’s not focused on real estate, her eye is on legacy. As an angel investor, she wants to help women-led and black-owned businesses thrive by providing them with capital to grow in their communities. She currently resides in San Diego with her family.

Below is a visual bio of Ati’s career and a few modern tools and accessories to consider for your next gut renovation.

WEEK FIVE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 01:01:00 GMT

It’s officially past the midway point for The One Room Challenge , and the design is starting to take shape. The sponsored wallpaper by Tempaper arrived this weekend, and my paint from the Black-owned business Clare comes tomorrow. I'll continue to try to push sales on the furniture pieces that won't fit in the room with the new design. Plus, work on an affordable solution to repair the ceiling so the paint and wallpaper can go up, which will give a drastic change to the room.

Every week, the wallpaper has changed in my mood board due to a very opinionated client—but I can officially declare that the Pastel Palm Peel And Stick Wallpaper from Tempaper is the final decision for the room. I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not it should be one wall or all of three, and I decided with this design, I want to push my boundaries, so the wallpaper is going to go on all the walls. I also have been doing some design consults this year where clients want to paint the baseboards, doors, and ceilings a different color besides the traditional white. I decided to take this design up a notch with Clare’s wink paint color. It’s a dusty purple, and I think it’ll make the room feel totally different paired with the wall-to-wallpaper. The last thing I wanted to add is a bold paint color on the radiator. My daughter has been begging for teal in the design, and I feel like Clare’s Keep it teal paint can make an unexpected statement on the custom radiator cover from Fichman Furniture .

The custom closet design remains unknown if I can get it within budget and my 8-week time frame—so I’m just going to hold tight until I get more info from California Closets on whether or not we can make a miracle happen. So this week, I’ll begin to blue tape the wall and get a repair painter in here ASAP to fix the ceiling so I can paint it and begin to put up everything else.

Gail Davis, Gail Davis Designs

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 17:40:00 GMT

To kick off my fall season of The Mood Board podcast, I interviewed interior designer Gail Davis and podcast host of Design Perspectives . Gail has a wealth of knowledge in the interior design industry, and like myself, focuses on spotlighting designers of color on her show. She also recently renovated her kitchen, featured in House Beautiful magazine, and it stirred up a debate in the design industry. Does every kitchen have to have an island, and should we always design with resale value in mind?

Gail Davis Designs is renowned for crafting elegant interiors that feel soulful, livable, and personal. For 15 years, celebrated designer Gail M. Davis has applied her formal design training to homes across the country, transforming houses into her clients’ forever homes.

With a background in the fashion industry, Gail is passionate about using color and textiles throughout her projects. Though her spaces are steeped in classical decorating principles, she is passionate about crafting interiors that are comfortable, functional living spaces. Each client is different, and each space must consider the reality of their lives, not just serve as a beautiful room.

Gail studied at the New York School of Interior Design and honed her craft interning at two of New York City’s most prestigious firms—Bunny Williams Inc. and David Kleinberg Design Associates. Her projects have been published in House Beautiful, Elle Decor, AD Pro, Domino, and more.

This week, I decided to pull together a living room inspired by Gail’s approach to luxury design and pattern play.

WEEK FOUR: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:49:00 GMT

This week, I wanted to quit The One Room Challenge . I started to get quotes for all the different areas of the room that I want and need repair, and the custom closet design is over budget and not guaranteed to make it in time for the 8-week challenge. So, I’m stuck on whether it is worth breaking my bottom line or looking at other ideas. Secondly, I’ve had to deal with the emotional toll of designing a room for a family member. My daughter has a lot of opinions, and as a designer, I'm juggling functionality, budget, and a lot of ideas that change daily. Lastly, I'm starting a new project with a client, and with the holidays around the corner and all of the Halloween festivities—I’m asking myself if the fall ORC was such a good idea—ugh.

So, now that I've got all of that out of my system, let's get back to the fun stuff, some design talk. An area of the room that I want to talk about today is the music nook. My daughter loves to play multiple instruments in this tiny space, and I’m wondering how I can make it more functional and fun at the same time. She really wants a hanging chair to go in this space so she can relax sometimes and then play music other times. So, I pulled together a mood board with some concepts for this space and would love your thoughts on it.

On an amazingly positive note, Tempaper & Co . will sponsor wallpaper for the space, and I cannot wait to share which design I landed on for the room. I’ve finally started to sell furniture items that don’t fit in my daughter’s room so I can make room for the new ones. I emptied a closet and had four bins worth of items to donate. My daughter and I fell in love with some cute accessories from H&M Home. So—it’s not all bad over here. Next week, the focus will be on securing all of the products for the room and beginning to implement some of the design.

WEEK THREE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 01:51:00 GMT

This week, I juggled a lot with work and pushing forward on the One Room Challenge design. I started doing probably the most stressful and necessary part of getting ready for transformational change. My daughter and I purged items, cleaned and removed furniture to sell, and stacked bins to donate this weekend. This process is always a headache—especially when your client is a family, and there are a lot of sentimental pieces from her childhood that we let go of. We said goodbye to Barbies, brat dolls, and countless American Girl doll stuff she hadn’t played with in years. It hit me how this makeover is a bit emotional for me—she’s getting rid of her childhood, too. Now, when we discuss what goes in her new room, she wants twinkle lights, a 3D floor mat, a vanity for makeup, and a spot for all her earrings.

The biggest thing happening now is a walk-through with a design consultant from California Closets. I'm lucky to have a California Closet showroom in my town, and updating the closets is a crucial part of my design. The ceilings in the closets are sloped, and I need a custom design to maximize the space. However, custom closets have a 4-6 week lead time, so it'll be down to the wire with my 8-week timeline. But to fit in a daybed, I need to free up floor space, and I can only do this by removing the nightstand and dresser.

So this week, I would love your help on what you would add to a custom closet design and your dream custom closet style. Thank you so much for your wallpaper votes on IG—I’ll confirm the winner this week. Week four will be about finishing the floor plan, donating and purging more items, and selling old furniture.

WEEK TWO: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 01:21:00 GMT

For week two of the One Room Challenge , a lot of my progress has been reaching out to potential sponsors to help bring my tween room makeover to life. Plus, measuring the room to begin the floor plan for the new layout. It’s also been a lot of conversations with my client, um hmm—daughter, about how the new room needs to be laid out, which requires her to sell or donate pieces to make room for the new. There are two areas in the room that really need some creative TLC, and I would love your feedback and thoughts on these two ideas.

My first is her room has two closet doors, which are great for storage, but they swing open and eat up floor space. I’m debating if I should keep them or remove them altogether. I love this idea from interior designer Emma Gurner and how it looks like a theatre curtain. What do you think?

Secondly, the ceiling needs a lot of TLC. It has an uneven surface, and even if I put in a new light fixture and add wallpaper, it’s still an eyesore. I was considering tin ceiling tiles since they fit the baroque style I’m going for in the room, and it’ll be a subtle pattern on the ceiling.

Let me know your thoughts and votes. Next week, I’ll have the new floor plan done for the room, and my daughter reluctantly will have to purge items to make room for the new.

WEEK ONE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 02:39:00 GMT

I have officially been bitten by The One Room Challenge after taking my first shot at this collaborative endeavor last spring. This time around, I will tackle my daughter’s room, and it’s honestly the last room in our home to update without doing a gut renovation. So once it’s finished, it’ll feel like my next round of work is all heavy lifting from here on out.

I have been designing my daughter’s room since she was born, and each makeover has been in publications like LONNY, HGTV, IKEA, and more. And now that my daughter is officially entering her tween years, her design aspirations need to be within budget and my eight-week timeline, which will be tough for someone like her who likes to hold onto everything and just keep squeezing in more new stuff.

The Vision

The vision for my daughter’s room is two-fold. The room should be a creative hub for all her aspirations, and be hyper-organized. In addition, there are three obstacles I need to address in her room.

Layout

The current footprint of her room doesn’t work. She has a lot of furniture pieces that we moved from our old apartment into our new home, and they’re oversized in the space due to a wall radiator and two closet doors that swing open into the room. To fix this, I want to remove a dresser from the room, swap out her full-size bed for a daybed, and scale down the size of her desk.

CeilinG

My daughter's overhead ceiling, similar to my son’s room, has a lot of cracks and uneven marks since we live in a home built in the late 1930s. I need to repair the ceiling and, if my budget allows—wallpaper it. Something needs to go up there to add a visual element of surprise.

Closet AND ROOM Organization

The biggest thing to address is storage options everywhere in the room. Since the room has the luxury of two closets, I want to maximize the floor space by maximizing the interiors of these reach-in closets. I also want to find organization for jewelry, hair accessories, and desk supplies so everything has a home when she’s done with it.

I’ll have plenty more to share as the weeks go on and input and videos from my daughter and me tackling this room together this fall. I’m excited for you to join me again for another One Room Challenge. And I may need a lot more coffee this time to manage my tween partner.

Hadiya Williams, Decorative Artist & Surface Designer

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 20:35:00 GMT

I interviewed decorative artist and surface designer Hadiya Williams this week on the show. She is the founder and creative director of Black Pepper Paperie Co.® . We dig into how she got started in graphic design and expanded her interests into home decor over the years. Remember to share and subscribe.

Hadiya Williams is a decorative artist and surface designer based in Washington, DC. She is the founder and creative director of Black Pepper Paperie Co.® a studio built out of a passion for creating and sharing with others. What started as a hobby-based clay business in 2017 has now evolved into a full-time decorative art and design studio, specializing in hand-made ceramics, surface pattern design, and wall art. After working as a print designer for over 15 years, Hadiya decided to use her design background to create unique objects and designs that are rooted in history, cultural memory, and migration.

Over the course of her almost 20-year career in art and design, Hadiya has collaborated with a variety of brands and companies all over the world, including well-known brands such as F. Schumacher Co., Lulu and Georgia, Brewster Home, Best Buy, WALPA (Japan), AARP, and Meta. She’s been a guest lecturer at Maryland College of Art and George Mason and her design work is also a part of the National Museum of African American History and Culture's permanent collection.

Hadiya's work brings art + design, traditions, and stories together through patterns and handmade techniques that represent cultural influences across the African diaspora, from past, present to future.

David Land, Photographer and Director

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 19:41:00 GMT

Welcome back to episode four of season six of The Mood Board Podcast! In the interior design industry, many of us work on creating gorgeous transformational rooms for our clients, and photographing these projects when they're done is a crucial part of the design process. One, you need to photograph your work build your portfolio, and use the imagery to bring in new clientele. However, finding an interior photographer who can breathe life into your project and capture the essence of your space can be challenging. So this week, I brought on the show photographer and director, David Land , who has mastered the art of photographing interiors in the industry. I have had the pleasure of working with David Land on multiple projects, including my double feature in Better Homes & Gardens magazine. David and I discuss the changing landscape of photography due to social media and everyone having a camera on their phones. Plus, what is he doing now to continue to grow and challenge himself?

New episodes will air every Monday, so please subscribe and share with your friends and family.

There are many versions of what constitutes an “American” upbringing, and David can lay
claim to an interesting one. He was born in Northern California to a knowledgeable, discerning tribe that included a pilot, a botanist, painters, Asian art collectors, sailors, and raconteurs. These were people who loved beauty, entertainment, and travel, who created the world that David absorbed at a cellular level and brings alive in his bold, multilayered photographs and moving images.

Living in Brooklyn with his husband and two sons, he has truly expanded into an even broader world, having long been committed to showcasing the work of Black artists and designers. During this past year, David has used his beautiful, eclectic home as a canvas, inviting the family into his artistic process and client work as the stars of films, design takeovers, and a daily diary.

Week Eight: REVEAL DAY!

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 29 May 2023 09:26:51 GMT

Week Eight: REVEAL DAY!

I’m excited and relieved that I completed my first One Room Challenge . My goal for this project was to makeover our office space into a toddler bedroom. I wanted to design a light and bright space that was kid-friendly and brought a city vibe to the suburbs. And based on the reaction from my son, I feel like I nailed it!

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The Accomplishments

The room was originally my husband’s office, and I had three goals. First, I wanted to make the space feel warm and cozy by insulating it better. My son’s room is the coldest place in our home, and I needed an affordable solution to add warmth to the room without a gut renovation of ripping down walls and adding more insulation. Instead, I hired a Durant Paint Company to repair the ceiling and remove all the cracks. Then I installed a wall-to-wall carpet from Home Depot and got the installation for free due to a store wide promotion for May.

Secondly, I wanted to make the space light and bright. I had a mural by Photowall installed by Durant Painting, a local wallpaper and paint installer in my town. Then my husband and I re-painted the rest of the room with Clare paint’s grayish color .

Lastly, I wanted to make it FUN!!! I added artwork with cars from Society6 (something my son loves), clear toy bins so he could easily access his toys, and a new play area. I wanted to designate a space in his room for him to build blocks, draw, and then hang up his art pieces when he’s finished.

Honorable Mentions

The space is only 150 square feet, but the new paint color brightens it and makes it feel kid-friendly. The updated footprint of the room is SO much better. I love our reading nook—we have a very comfortable leather chair and ottoman from Wovenbyrd to sit in and read every night. The play area is my son’s favorite spot in the room, and with a carpet, I don’t have to worry about him hurting himself when he falls.

Maybe Next Time

Unfortunately, I ran out of time to update the closet and the changing table nook in eight weeks. The wallpaper and acoustic tiles I ordered for this part of the room didn’t arrive on time, so I’ll have to show those upgrades in a few more weeks.

This project was also a lot of fun to tackle in my spare time in-between work and family responsibilities. And seeing the response from my son at the end of the project and how happy he is in the room lets me know I nailed it! The One Room Challenge is something everyone should do to stretch themselves design-wise and see how much they can accomplish. Once you transform one room, you inevitably want to start digging into another eyesore in your home in no time.

Danielle Woodhouse-Johnson, Founder of The Oasis Alliance

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 22 May 2023 08:59:44 GMT

Danielle Woodhouse-Johnson, Founder of The Oasis Alliance

Happy Mood Board Monday, and welcome back to episode three of season six of The Mood Board Podcast! I want to start your week with Danielle Woodhouse-Johnson, the Founder of The Oasis Alliance . I discovered the Oasis Alliance as a contributing editor at House Beautiful magazine when I had an opportunity to write a feature about the non-profit organization. Once I interviewed Danielle and her team, I knew I had to have her on the podcast for May to discuss the connection between mental health and the home.

New episodes will air every Monday, so please subscribe and share with your friends and family.

Danielle Woodhouse-Johnson is an interior stylist based in the Washington DC Metro area. Marrying unique global experience, design acumen, and functionalism, she aims to create distinctive spaces that reflect the tastes and experiences of her clients. Her services include design concept development, furniture, lighting, and décor selections, project coordination, installation, e-design, and staging service.

Inspirational artwork for new homeowners- Stay Home No. 3 Art Print
Lounge seating to carve out time for rest and self-reflection- Vesper Wood & Fabric Lounge Chair and ottoman
Inspirational quote, “Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.” - All About Love by Bell Hooks
Known as the burn tree or first aid plant- Pre-Potted Aloe Vera
Use it to promote loving frequencies in your home and to create a gentle space where you can feel safe from the outside world- Pink Amethyst Geode
The color teal is a revitalizing and rejuvenating color that also represents open communication and clarity of thought- Sublime paint
The Oasis Alliance is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization- Donate
Schumacher x Hadiya Williams Custom Fabric- Threshold Printed Linen in Ginger

Week Seven: Spring One Room Challenge

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Sun, 21 May 2023 09:35:40 GMT

Week Seven: Spring One Room Challenge

Well, I’m almost at the finish line of The One Room Challenge , and things are really heating up around here! Now it’s all about tying up the loose ends between my work schedule and family responsibilities. I need to review my to-do list for all upcoming deliveries to have a tracking number and a delivery ETA for this week. Plus, it’s a good time to review the budget to ensure I complete the project on time and within budget.

Progress Report

The New York Skyline mural in grey from Photowall was the jumping-off point for the entire design for the toddler’s room, and it has arrived and was installed this week by Durant Painting. I also had all of the cracks and uneven bumps in the ceiling repaired instead of installing the shiplap ceiling, which saved me a lot of money on the project.

I have begun to bring in accessories from Amazon, like storage bins and organizers (but we will get into those details during the reveal big reveal to style the space). The swivel chair and ottoman have arrived from Wovenbyrd , and it’s already making a big difference during story time at night. As well as the play table and chairs from Lalo so my son will have a designated area in his room to sit and play. Lastly, my husband and I spent the weekend re-painting the bedroom with Clare paint’s grayish. Thank you for your votes, it’s such a calming color, and it's in between gray and green.

Install Week

So what’s left … A LOT! I’m going to have a friend assist me this week to button up this room. Below are the big items that I need to resolve ASAP:

Wall-to-wall carpet installation
Install closet system
Paint and style closet
Install lighting
Install acoustic wall tiles
Hang wall art
Style and accessorize the room for photo shoot

The photographer is scheduled for next weekend for the BIG reveal day. I cannot wait for you to see it and discuss all of the details and budget that went into this project.

Jaime Derringer, Founder of Design Milk and Clever Podcast

Mon, 15 May 2023 17:07:00 GMT

Jaime Derringer, Founder of Design Milk & Clever Podcast

Happy Mood Board Monday, and welcome back to season six of The Mood Board Podcast! I want to start your week with Jaime Derringer , aka The Orchestrator of Awesomeness. Jaime has created and worked with cutting-edge businesses in the design industry. We also discussed in our interview how she got started and what might happen to the creative industry—with the AI revolution.

New episodes will air every Monday, so please subscribe and share with your friends and family.

Jaime Derringer has over 20+ years of experience in media, creative direction, marketing, content development, advertising, social strategy, project management, and e-commerce. She has focused on web3, blockchain, Metaverse, AI, and NFTs & how they will continue to shape art, design, architecture/interiors, society, and work in the future.

In 2006, Jaime founded Design Milk , which grew to over 250 million page views and nine million+ social followers—in addition to becoming one of the most popular destinations for design, interior design, and architecture. She sold it in 2019 and became the CCO of the new company, which included Design Milk and Kaufmann Mercantile. During my time as CCO, Design Milk launched e-commerce to expand its media business.

Jaime also co-launched Clever , a podcast about design, and formed a production company called 2VDE Media with designer and educator Amy Devers.

She is an artist, and starting in 2021, launched numerous collections and 1/1 artwork as NFTs, most of which have been acquired by collectors.

***Send Jaime a message on LinkedIn to schedule a coffee talk.

Week Six: Spring One Room Challenge

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Sun, 14 May 2023 09:39:47 GMT

Week Six: Spring One Room Challenge

Hey everyone, we are quickly approaching the finish line of The One Room Challenge . A lot of progress was made in the past week. Packages are piling up in my living room, and two more sponsors added to my toddler room design, Lalo and Clare Paint . So let’s dig into the progress report and loose ends that need to get resolved ASAP, or they need to be eliminated from the design if I want to complete this room in 8 weeks.

Progress Report

I received my mural from Photowall , and it’s the jumping-off point for my entire design. When I initially started daydreaming about this space, I fell in love with this mural as a former New Yorker. I wanted my son’s room to have a taste of city life in the suburbs. I also was enticed by the color palette with shades of brown, cream, green, and blue that I could use for other design elements in the room. This mural gets installed next week, and I’ll share some sneak peeks.

The estimates to install a ship lap on the ceiling of this tiny room have come back, and they’re all out of my budget. And time wise, I’m not sure I can pull off the DIY ship lap ceiling and complete everything else. So, just in case, I’m getting the ceiling repaired and re-painted, so regardless of the timeline, it’ll look pulled together.

I ordered a wall-to-wall carpet from Home Depot, and now I’m just double-crossing my fingers it’ll be installed before the end of the month. Lastly, Clare paint should arrive any day now, and I can begin to paint the entire room, which will make a HUGE impact on the design.

Loose Ends

I still have not confirmed a vendor for a closet system, and the space is just shy of four feet, so it limits my design options of what will fit and look good too. So my focus this week is to button this part of the design up and then begin to focus on the best part—accessories, and styling.

Next Week

I’m going all in with set-up to finish strong for The Room Challenge and will most likely be pulling in friends and family to finish it all up. I also foresee a last-minute trip to Home Goods and/or IKEA because something is always missing or needs just one more finishing touch. So stay tuned!

Lauren Makk, Interior Designer, DIY Expert, and HGTV Television Host

Mon, 08 May 2023 18:42:00 GMT

Welcome back to Season Six of The Mood Board Podcast Interview Series! I’ve been working on these interviews since the beginning of the year, and I’m so excited they’re ready for you all to listen to now. I wanted to kick it off with Interior designer and HGTV host Lauren Makk aka #thehomegirlnextdoor. Lauren’s infectious personality will make you laugh and think about what you want to do next to move on to bigger and better things.

New episodes will air every Monday, so please subscribe and share with your friends and family.

Nashville, TN based Interior Designer, DIY Expert, and Television Host, Lauren Makk has captured the hearts and attention of fans near and far with her budget friendly approach to luxury DIY and re-design, and continuing just that as she graces the December 2022 cover of Belle Meade Lifestyle. It isn’t every day that you hear the words ‘Luxury’ and ‘DIY’ in the same sentence, but that’s because it hasn’t been done before… until Lauren Makk broke out on the DIY scene and quickly started changing people’s perception on DIY with every project she does. Many people may know Lauren from her time spent on multiple design shows across many networks including TLC’s Emmy Award winning Trading Spaces, A&E’s Drill Team as well as co-host on ABC’s FABLife, but now she is re-introducing herself and taking the design world by storm. Shattering the mold of those stuffy designers, Lauren is known to shake things up by spilling her best budget - friendly design tricks, tips, and hacks, as well as her luxury DIY projects. Aiming to elevate and change the stereotype of DIY’s past, Makk insists she’s more accurately an “Interior RE-Designer”- as she specializes in re-imagining and re-purposing common every day materials in sophisticated and breathtaking new ways. And Lauren has done just that in recent TV segments with The Rachael Ray Show and The Drew Barrymore Show where Lauren taught the hosts how to create her budget friendly luxury DIY.

Week Five: Spring One Room Challenge

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Sun, 07 May 2023 09:46:59 GMT

Week Five: Spring One Room Challenge

We’re officially past the halfway point in ORC , and things are starting to heat up. This week, I got contractors to show up for estimates on paint, ship lap wall installment, and a Home Depot team member came to measure the space for a carpet install. I’m also excited to share that I have two new confirmed sponsors, Photowall and Wovenbyrd. The New York Skyline Collage mural which was the jumping off point for my entire room design will be a feature wall in the space, and the swivel chair and storage ottoman that you all agreed is a must for a toddler room will be in the updated reading nook!

This past week, I also focused on two areas of the room to update. I’ll admit one is a want, and the other is a need. I’ll get your votes on some of my ideas again to see what you think is necessary vs. splurge-worthy.

Update Flooring

One of the major concerns in this process was creating a room with better insulation. Since I live in an older home, my son’s bedroom was built over a sun room, and it loses heat. It was an important design element for me to add carpeting to retain more heat in the room and make a soft surface for him to play on daily.

I scheduled a carpet measure with Home Depot to get a price estimate to install the carpet in the space. A week later, a Home Depot team member showed up on time, measured, and created a CAD mock-up of the room in less than 30 minutes. Then I went to the store to pick up carpet samples and see which options work best in the space.

The 5th Wall

A design element I’ve always struggled with in my home are low ceiling. I want to make the ceiling feel taller than it is (essentially a design trick to draw the eye up!). One design trend I’ve been noticing is a shiplap on the ceiling. I recently spotted it in Orlando Soria’s guest room makeover and Emily Henderson’s space this weekend. The existing ceiling has a bumpy texture and needs some TLC. But my first estimate was way out of my budget, but it could also be the design element to pull the design together.

This week on IG I want to get your vote, shiplap ceiling yes or no? Is it really worth it or should I just focus on adding carpeting to the room?

Week Four: Spring One Room Challenge

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 09:54:38 GMT

Week Four: Spring One Room Challenge

We’re officially at the halfway point of The One Room Challenge ! This past month has been a ton of reaching out to sponsors, purging products, and getting ready for some big changes next month to this room. And thank you so much for your feedback on my IG account about the paint color for the room. Clare Paint in Grayish was the clear winner!

As I continue to tease you about the suspense of what’s to come, I wanted to dig into a topic that I think many parents and design enthusiasts will want to weigh in on. For the reading nook in the toddler room, are you team swivel chair or rocker? With my daughter, I had a glider in her nursery and kept it until she went to kindergarten. But with my son, I’ve been rethinking the tiny room, and those barrel swivel chairs are making me take a double take. They’re so cozy to sit in, and we could cuddle during story time.

The reading nook is small and, at most, can fit a chair roughly three feet wide. Below is my pros and cons list for each chair:

Swivel Chair

Pros

Stain-resistant fabric
Soft to touch
360-degree spin

Cons

armless

Rocker

Pros

Easy to clean
Greenguard Gold certified
durable

Cons

vegan leather will show scratches

So, which would you choose for a toddler room makeover? Vote on my IG account tonight, and I’ll share the results next week.

Week Three: Spring One Room Challenge

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 10:00:31 GMT

Week Three: Spring One Room Challenge

Welcome back, everyone!!! As I continue to source products for the toddler bedroom makeover for The One Room Challenge , I have also been ignoring the elephant in the room—paint! I love the charcoal walls in the space right now, but for me to achieve my new toddler makeover—sadly this color will need to say goodbye and get a revisit down the road with another project.

I want the new toddler room to feel light and bright, and with my vision of a mural taking over just one of the walls, the other bare walls need to be changed color. And I feel like I’m gravitating back to a color I have used countless times in past projects, and now it’ll finally be in my new house—light blue. I know it’s not bold, but it is a paint color that plays well with others, and in such a small space, I need it to feel airy, and I can achieve this look without painting the walls white.

Option #1

I’m a huge fan of Clare Paint . My home is painted with Clare, a Black-owned paint company, and the color choices are well-curated. A gallon of paint goes a LONG way which is important when you re-paint a wall from a dark tone to a light color. You should expect to paint at least three to four coats for full coverage. I have often toyed with the idea of using their Grayish paint color, which reviewers state is a soft green, and seems subtle enough to work with my vision for the room.

Option #2

Now I’m a sucker for Farrow and Ball paint , and although I’ve only gotten a handful of clients, who are ready to pay double for a gallon of paint, they’ve always been thrilled with the results, and it’s worth every penny. So many of their paint colors feel timeless and sophisticated. For a toddler’s room, I still want a color that can grow with my son and will feel airy in a cozy space.

Option #3

I’ve used Benjamin Moore paints projects due to the versatility of color options. I will admit it took me a while this week to narrow down my choices after looking at images on Pinterest and looking for the slightest difference in shade. I landed on Misty Blue —it has a slight gray undertone and feels like it won’t be too heavy in the space.

So, now I’m trying to figure out the right blue paint color for this room, and I could use your feedback. Please vote on my IG stories over the next 24 hours regarding the following three color options.

Week Two: Spring One Room Challenge

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:09:13 GMT

Week Two: Spring One Room Challenge

I know in week two of The One Room Challenge most of us get excited about painting and installing furniture, but for me when I begin a project I like to start with a BIG purge. I also like to access my current items, see what can be upcycled, and (to be honest with myself) what needs to be upgraded if it doesn’t work with the new design.

I’m going to reveal the three big places around my son’s room where I will be making the biggest furniture upgrades. There will of course be more, but first, I want to talk about

CLOSET

This is my please don’t look in here, I am totally embarrassed it is SO messy, and it needs a major makeover. So I am going to empty this space out and plan for a new custom design for the closet to maximize storage. Ideally, I want to conceal the closet door with a wooden panel design so it looks like a wall when it’s not in use. On the interior of the door, I want to install storage shelves well as inside the closet. And of course, it needs to have some playfulness. I plan to wallpaper the interior with understated car wallpaper so it doesn’t distract me from picking out clothes with too much color but adds some interest to a small space.

THE CORNER

The office chair, ottoman, and light fixture need to go. It’s time to upgrade to a rocker or stylish glider in this space. With my first child, I already had her nursery done before she was even born, but I’ll admit with my second kid this fell off my to-do list and I made do with my office chair and ottoman for the time being. Moving forward I want to make this a reading nook we can both comfortably snuggle up on together to read books and he can also play with while he looks at the window (one of my son’s favorite morning activities).

BOOKCASE

Lastly, it’s time to upgrade this bookcase that my daughter originally owned and passed down to my son. We have had this piece for ten years, it can easily be donated for someone else to breathe new life into it. I need a new bookcase with an option to conceal some of the toys and fewer opportunities for my son to wedge his whole body into it.

Stay tuned, this coming week I’m hoping to nail down my sponsors and get feedback from my installers about my vision. And see if my dream will fit my real budget (fingers double crossed!).

Week One: Spring One Room Challenge

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 12:37:36 GMT

Week One: Spring One Room Challenge

I am excited to challenge myself this year by participating in the One Room Challenge . As an interior designer, I’m no stranger to renovations and executing projects from a mood board to a complete project. But I must admit, when it comes to my home, some projects have been overlooked as I have made client projects my top priority.

So this spring, I decided to participate in the One Room Challenge and change our gorgeous home office featured in Better Homes & Gardens (sigh!) into our dream toddler room for my son. And if you are not sure what the One Room Challenge is, let me fill you in on the project.

The One Room Challenge, aka ORC, was started over ten years ago by Linda Weinstein , the founder who wanted to do a one-room design challenge with online besties to create a room. She found that by working together as a design community, design lovers could work together to meet this challenge. Over the years, it has blossomed into a bi-annual event for interior designers and influencers to share their interior design tips, DIY skills, and everything in between that comes with big or small home renovations.

THE BACKSTORY

So when I moved into my home a few years ago, our extra third bedroom was converted into an office space for my husband. And—I learned while preparing for a home tour with Better Homes & Gardens that I was pregnant with my son. Fast forward to today, the office is gone, and what’s left is a makeshift nursery that needs a lot of TLC, and the true Angela Belt Interiors touch to make it shine. Below, check out the before images of the space, and in the following weeks, I will share how I will give this small space a major upgrade.

THE VISION

I’m excited to transform this office into a toddler-friendly room with fun design elements and maximize the storage for organization. Some of the design challenges to address in the space are listed below:

Insulation
Closet organization
Toy organization
Designated play area
Multiple lighting options
Air purifier/humidifier
Maximize the square footage

I’ll have plenty more to share as the weeks go on, so I’m excited for you to join me first my first time in The One Room Challenge. Let’s GO!!!

Blair Paysinger, Founder of Post21

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 18:46:00 GMT

NEW EPISODE

〰️

NEW EPISODE 〰️ NEW EPISODE 〰️

As we kick off the month of June, Father’s Day & Juneteenth are quickly approaching, and I wanted to share my interview with Blair Paysinger, the Co-Founder of the shop, Post21 . I have been buying and sourcing from this shop for months. I wanted to learn from Blair how she took this dream of creating a hub for black-owned businesses and made it a reality.

This week for our interior design game we focus on a recent article from Food52, T he Predictions Are In: 12 Home Decor Trends We’ll See in 2022 written by Alyssa Longobucco . Blair shares which of these trends she loves or hates, and how some of these trends could come to Post21 in the future.

Post 21 was created by a Mother-Daughter duo who for years, wanted a comprehensive marketplace that focused on modern and design forward products from black-owned businesses. While the discovery process of some of their favorite products was always an exciting one, they felt strongly that there’s no reason why these products are consistently being discovered when they should be household names. So, they said let’s create the place we want to shop.

Blair Paysinger was born and raised in Los Angeles, and studied in San Francisco where she received a B.F.A. in advertising with a focus in art direction at the Academy of Art University. Blair is now a wife and mother of two, based in LA. With a background in design, she has always been an advocate for creatives, and now she is as an Entrepreneur. Blair has a fierce passion for supporting Black people is what fuels Post 21 . As a Black women, she has known for years that this was missing from the market, and Blair is so excited to have brought it to life.

BOXI by Semihandmade, Founder John McDonald

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 23 May 2022 12:17:17 GMT

BOXI by Semihandmade, Founder John McDonald

This week I'm talking with John McDonald, the Founder of BOXI by Semihandmade . I dig into how John started his original business Semihandmade , and how it has it evolved into his latest business endeavor- BOXI. For those of you listening this week, who have questioned whether or not you are on the right path or not, this interview is for you. John takes you through his career where there are plenty of ups and downs, bad choices, and happy mistakes that have made him the successful business owner he is today.

John McDonald founded Semihandmade in 2011 with a goal of using IKEA cabinets as a base for custom kitchens at a competitive price. Eleven years and twenty-five-thousand projects later, Semihandmade boasts eighty-plus employees, collaborations with brands such as Ceasarstone and Café Appliances, and showrooms in LA, NY, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Seattle. The company has been listed on Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing private US companies list each of the last six years. In 2021, Semihandmade launched BOXI, the first US-built, direct-to-consumer cabinet system for the entire home. Rejuvenation (Williams-Sonoma) will be featuring BOXI cabinets in multiple showrooms and their website in Spring/Summer 2022.

This week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it and why? John and I focus on this article from Martha Stewart Living, These Kitchen Design Trends Will Dominate in 2022 by Kelsey Mulvey. his week’s shoppable mood board is all about my conversation with John, and some of the like-minded businesses John has worked with over the years.

6 samples includes Oat Slab, Rye Slab, Ice Slab, Peppercorn Edge, Mushroom Slab and Salt Shaker- Box Set
This company specializes in slipcovers for IKEA furniture- Allerum Sofa Bed Cover
BOXI kitchen collab with Rejuvenation- Kitchen Design
Legs that you can order to add to any an IKEA piece of furniture- Hedvig Wide 160 in Shiny Brass
An alternative to wood, bamboo shelves by BOXI- Bamboo Floating Shelf
Residential project from Barbara Bestor, the architect that helped Semihandmade grow- Ojai House
The colorful kitchenware that goes well with any modern BOXI kitchen- Cookware Set Perracotta
You can also source hardware from BOXI by Semihandmade- Hardware Collection

Alberthe K. Buabeng, Founder of Albie Knows

Mon, 02 May 2022 21:03:00 GMT

NEW PODCAST

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NEW PODCAST 〰️ NEW PODCAST 〰️

It’s May, and I am back with a fresh new batch of interviews!!! Thank you for all of your patience. I took some time off for a vacation, time to take care of my new little bundle of joy, and frankly just managing design work offline. So I am thriiled to kick of my next round of interviews with Black tastemaker Albie Buabeng. I have been a fan of Albie’s design work for years, and her constant effort to level the playing field for designers of color with her work. Plus, we will be digging into her upcoming conference, The Meridian Experience for like-minded design influencers to grow their craft and network.

As interior design content creator and freelance writer, Albie specializes in connecting her decor-obsessed audience with beautiful pieces and functional design to transform their ordinary spaces into extraordinary dreamscapes. She has had the honor of working with clients and brands all over the country. In the summer 2019, Albie released her first self published book, Curate The Home You’re In: Effortlessly Create Your Everyday Dreamscape . The book’s title has served to encourage homeowners and renters alike to fall in love with their spaces again. It’s filled with practical advice and personal anecdotes, and Albie share ways that readers can create the homes that they love... right now. It is available for sale, hard cover and paperback, via online retailers Barnes and Noble and Amazon .

After nearly three years of leveraging the power of online interior design, Albie has shifted her passion for designpreneurship in the digital space by founding The Design Influence , a podcast and online community tailored to support the needs of designers looking to better navigate the online space for their businesses. An all around idea-machine, her desire to contribute to the design community has also manifested in adapting the #sharethemicnow Instagram initiative for the home industry . This idea brought together more than 100 members of the design community for candid and sustainable discussions about diversity and inclusion in the industry.

In Albie’s latest endeavor she has created the Meridian Experience , a 4-day in person event tailored to celebrate and support the multi hyphenate design creative on their designpreneur journey through a curated curriculum & intentional relationship building. You can purchase tickets for this event here.

This week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it and why? Albie and I focus on this article from Better Homes & Gardens by 5 Must-Try Storage and Organizing Trends for 2022. This week’s shoppable mood board is all about my conversation with Albie, and some of Albie’s fav storage organizations must haves for 2022.

Anitra Terrell, Founder of Reflektion Design

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:37:00 GMT

I’m so excited to continue with the good vibes this Women’s History Month with my latest interview with Anitra Terrell, owner of Reflektion Design . I’m so excited to have this interview with Anitra because we became friends through social media years ago, and we still have never meant in person but I have always admired Anitra’s business, and I have been sourcing from Reflektion Design for years. I wanted to talk about how has her business pivoted in the new normal since with so many manufacturing delays especially with vendors abroad. I also wanted to talk about how she continues to grow her brand through her Society6 collection , and her Blog series, How We Live .

Anitra Terrell is an Atlanta based creative entrepreneur and business owner with over 15 years experience producing exhibits and cultural events in the arts, music and product space.

The Philadelphia native has a Bachelor’s of Science & MBA in Marketing and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, West Africa. Ghana is where Anitra spent 8 weeks immersed in the culture and history of African art and textiles.

Her company, Reflektion Design is an Afro modern lifestyle brand for people who love cultural, heirloom quality decor with heritage and story. She works directly with artisans in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda to produce an assortment of handmade wall art, tableware, throw pillows, jewelry, baskets and more.

Her passion is educating the community about African arts and culture while helping customers and design professionals create transformative spaces that feel fully expressed.

The company mantra is, See yourself at home .

Interior Design Game This Week: THIS OR THAT! This is the first time I have done this game on the show. I wanted to get Anitra’s feedback on which African decor style works for her after pulling images from Pinterest.

Also, this week’s mood board is about getting ready for spring break with some great pieces from Reflektion design, and some other Black owned pieces to layer in for your next vacation.

Nasozi Kakembo, Founder of xN Studio

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 12:36:10 GMT

Nasozi Kakembo, Founder of xN Studio

Happy Women’s History Month!!! As a Black woman I feel like I get to celebrate for two months straight. So tomorrow is International Women’s Day, and with Nasozi’s background in international human rights it felt fitting to talk about her business xN Studio that goes beyond selling beautiful African textiles, it also has a focus on social justice. I will dig into how Nasozi started her business, and frankly what is her “why” to keep going.

Nasozi Kakembo is the founder and creative force behind xN Studio. Her company name derives from her very own, which is a Ugandan name meaning something to look up to in praise of. It is this Ugandan heritage that inspired her to establish a brand that allows her to bring the beauties of her cultural heritage into homes around the world. Born and raised outside of Washington, DC, and a Brooklynite for 12 years, Nasozi founded xN Studio in 2011. She graduated in 2008 from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

For the greater part of a decade, she worked in the international human rights and social justice fields, meanwhile indulging in African textiles by night. Having built an internationally recognized home decor brand business from an idea spawned on a plane from Dakar, she is also a subject matter expert on small business development, ethical sourcing and women's economic empowerment.

On this week’s version of Love It or Hate It, and Why? I wanted to get Nasozi’s thoughts on Apartment Therapy’s latest design trends of 2022 based on designer’s feedback by Tina Chadha . Also, be sure to check out the shoppable mood board below, I designed this one with some spring inspiration in mind, and pulling from my conversation with Nasozi some of her favorite things.

Pantone Color of The Year Periwinkle inspo- Batik Mauve HASH Mark Pillow
Nasozi is always looking for stylish ways to store her mementos- Document Box (A4) and letter size, irish
Help the Suubi School to raise and provide private funds for scholarships- Donate to the Mukono Foundation
Nasozi is reading this book now, and you should read it too- The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less
Nasozi has 4 cowhide rugs currently in her home, but I don’t think she has this washable one- Off White Zahara Faux Cowhide Washable Area Rug
Nasozi is all about finding used or vintage pieces in her home- 1970s Warren Platner Armchair for Knoll
Spring inspired wall basket from xN Studio- Papali African Baskets - Uganda and Rwanda
Update your planters with this new look from xN Studio- Bogolan Bauhaus TWIST planters in Kahlo Blue

Stephanie Dixon, Director of Brand Marketing at Society6

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:30:00 GMT

On the last day of Black History Month, I wanted to connect with the Director of Brand Marketing at Society6 , Stephanie Dixon. I am showcasing pieces from Society6's Discover Black Artists Collection throughout my entire home in my upcoming exclusive home tour with Better Homes & Gardens magazine. I have always been impressed with the marketing strategy behind Society6. This brand is constantly trying to stay above the curve with initiatives like the @Society6community or providing Skillshare classes for artists that want to be a part of the platform. Plus, creating curated mood boards from interior designers and taste makers in the By Design series . I wanted to connect with Stephanie to learn the origin story behind Society6, and also hope that this conversation will inspire new artists of color to join the platform. I wanted to connect with Stephanie to learn the origin story behind Society6, and also hope that is conversation will inspire new artists of color to join the platform.

Society6 is an online, print on demand marketplace of unique wall art, home decor and lifestyle goods featuring designs by independent artists. With artwork from over 450,000 creators and the knowledge that every purchase pays an artist, Society6 allows you to empower creativity around the world and in your everyday life.

For Black History Month 50% of profits from the Discover Black Artists Collection is going to the arts non-profit, Little Black Pearl which supports urban youth of Chicago. To make a donation to Little Black Pearl donate here .

For this week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it and why? Stephanie and I focus on this article from Refinery29, Home Decor Trends for 2022 . Plus, will any of these trends be in Society6’s future? This week’s shoppable mood board is all about my conversation with Stephanie, and a sneak peak of a few of the pieces featured in my home upcoming home tour with BH&G from the Discover Black Artists Collection .

Nicole Crowder, Founder Of Nicole Crowder Upholestry

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 12:54:30 GMT

Nicole Crowder, Founder Of Nicole Crowder Upholestry

Happy Valentine's Day! I feel like today's episode is all about self-love, and following your passion. I had the pleasure of interviewing Black Tastemaker, Nicole Crowder, founder of Nicole Crowder Upholestry. When it comes to Nicoles journey with upholstery, she is self taught and learned it all with hands on training. In our conversation, Nicole leans into why its so important to do love what you love vs. what everyone assumes you should do. For listeners this week, Nicole’s interview is the perfect Monday Motivation to follow your passion, and leave your ego at the door.

A sneak peak of Nicole Crowder’s collection at World Market

Nicole Crowder Upholstery is a Black-owned furniture and upholstery studio creating commissioned, one-of-a-kind heirloom furniture and home furnishings like meditation pillows, poufs and more. Nicole's work has been commissioned by the leading hotel chains, restaurants, and spaces across the country, and has been featured on the award-winning HBO series Insecure. She also has created bespoke pieces clients across the commercial, hospitality and residential spaces and has been featured in leading design publications, including Architectural Digest, Business of Home, Better Homes & Gardens, Elle Decor, and Martha Stewart Living.

Today Nicole has collaborated with World Market to design an exclusive collection of handcrafted furniture that will add a bright burst of joy to your home. This collection highlights Nicole’s vibrant and eclectic mixed prints and World Market’s unique silhouettes that blend style, comfort and storage. Each piece is one of a kind, and named in homage to an important woman in Nicole’s life.

For this week’s interior design game Nicole shares with me her insights on some vintage pieces, which ones are worth salvaging and which ones you should just throw away. Check out the furniture pieces below, and decide if you would repurpose it or let it go?

This week’s shoppable mood board is all about Nicole, and her love of upholstery. Plus, some tools you’re going to want to invest in if you want to reupholster a piece of furniture on your own in the near future.

A graphic pattern that Nicole would love to use in her own work- Society of Wonderland, PABLO - BLACK
A new piece from Nicole’s World Market collection- Nicole Crowder Green Banana Leaf Elaine Loveseat
A must have tool for reupholstering furniture- Stanley TR150 SharpShooter Heavy Duty Staple Gun
Nicole has one of these pendants in her home to keep her going- You Got This
Staining wood is also important when breathing new life into old furniture- Interior Wood Primer & Undercoat
You will need something to hold all of your supplies- Yamazaki Wood-Handled Storage Box
A new accent chair from Nicole’s World Market Collection- Nicole Crowder Mixed Print Marie Upholstered Chair
A limited edition puzzle from Nicole’s very popular meditation pillows- 500 pc Meditation Pillow Puzzle

Diana Adams, Founder of Sample Haus

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 23:49:00 GMT

I’m excited to be kicking off the second week of February with Diana Adams, the potter behind the brand Sample Haus. I have been a huge fan of Diana’s work for awhile, and I had the pleasure of showcasing her pieces in my upcoming home tour with Better Homes & Gardens. This week I wanted to find out how Diana has thrived in a space that is often reserved for white people. Plus, I wanted to know how we could help with her current fundraiser for NCECA to bring more people of color to attend this event.

SampleHAUS is a place where they create unique and one of a kind art work from interior design waste and discontinued marketing samples. They also make small batch pottery such as their well sought after planters.

SampleHAUS got its start by creatively up-cycling interior design waste into eclectic home decor. While working at an interior design firm, Diana was always surrounded by beautiful fabrics and other materials that mostly ended up getting thrown away, for reasons as discontinuation or project surpluses. She decided to begin collecting these excess materials and that’s when SampleHAUS was born.

Today, Diana’s pottery has taken the spotlight and running the business, but it is funding her mission to reduce textile waste in the world too.

Help Bring more Potters of Color to NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts)

The National Council on Education for the Ceramics Art, NCECA, is a pretty big deal in the ceramic community, it’s kind of like Comic Con but more educational. It happens every year, and it cost a pretty penny to attend. I would love more Potters of Color to attend, especially since we all found each other in 2020. It’ll be the perfect time to meet each other in person, network, and grow our craft.

The funds collected will help pay for housing and other amenities in Sacramento, where the event is held, for at least 10 potters. I have rented an entire house that fits 10 guest. Depending on how much we raise, others can submit the cost of their housing to be covered fully or partially.

I’m using The Kaabo Clay Collective’s Paypal account. The Kaabo Clay Collective is a mutual aid network for Black Ceramicist. See more at https://www.kaaboclaycollective.com/

2 ways you can donate:

PayPal: @kaaboclay
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kaaboclay

Buy a Pot: We are hosting a Pottery Sale February 12th at 7am PST
https://www.kaaboclaycollective.com/

Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it and why? Diana and I focus on this article from Better Homes & Gardens by Leanne Potts, Houseplant Trends for 2022 . This week’s shoppable mood board is all about my conversation with Diana, and her predictions for the trendiest house plants this year.

Joy Williams, Joyful Designs Studio

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 12:33:41 GMT

Joy Williams, Joyful Designs Studio

Happy Black History Month!!! I’m so excited to kick off Season 5 of The Mood Board podcast with interior designer Joy Williams, the Principal Designer of Joyful Designs Studio. On our interview this week, I wanted to talk with Joy about how has her interior design business been able to thrive in the new normal with manufacturing delays and travel issues being commonplace. Plus, I was excited to learn about her recent interior design projects that are submitted to the LUXE Red Awards, and I wanted to know how listeners could vote to help Joy win.

Joy Williams is the Principal Designer and Creative Talent behind Joyful Designs®️Studio, a nationally recognized full-service residential interior design firm with offices in Chicago and Augusta, GA. The firm specializes in creating cultured, curated and colorful interiors. She describes her style as artfully eclectic and believes that the homes she designs should evoke a feeling as unique as their owners and cultivate curiosity. Her design process is informed by connection to culture and place and bends towards functional artistic beauty. The firm’s portfolio encompasses residential and commercial projects, full-gut rehabs, new builds, and remodels at all stages of the design process. Joy loves designing furniture and has been offering her unique designs to her clients since 2019. One of her designs was recently a finalist for the International Society of Furniture Designers Pinnacle Awards in 2021. She is currently working on her own capsule collection that she plans to offer in a limited run to the public.

Joy’s approach to design ensures that clients receive personalized and function-forward spaces that stand the test of time. The firm’s design work has been featured in various outlets including Elle Decor, Sheridan Road Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Apartment Therapy, Forbes, My Domaine, Lonny Magazine, Business of Home, and Facebook for Business. Joy’s take on design trends has been featured by Architectural Digest Pro, Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens, My Domaine, The Zoe Report, and High Point Market Authority among others. She was recently named to the 2022 Advisory Board for the Design Influencers Conference, named a 2021 Design Influencer, named to Sheridan Road Magazine’s 2021 List of Power Women, named an Ambassador for the New York Design Center's What's New, What's Next Conference and is one of the newest members of the Design Leadership Network whose membership includes titans of design and architecture.

To Vote for Joyful Designs Studio at the LUXE Red Reader’s Choice Awards:

***Make sure to vote by February 4th (you can vote every 24 hours)

On this week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it, and Why? Joy and I focus on this article from House Beautiful written by Mary Elizabeth Androriotis, These Are the Interior Design Trends That Will Be Huge in 2022 . This week’s shoppable mood board is all about what Joy is predicting will be the latest trends in interior design for 2022.

Joy loves fabrics with textures, be on the lookout for more of this in 2022- C aroline Cecil Textiles, Bridge-Rust
Oversized lighting is on the rise- Isabella Ten Light Chandelier
LUXE magazine- Vote for Joy’s Designs
An image from Joyful Design Studio- WOW room
Joy is a fan of orchids faux or real- Orchids & Geode in Round Metal Container
Joy believes vintage pieces will be a big hit in 2022 as manufacturing delays persist- Disc Desk From on Madison
Every room needs an accent ottoman- Minted for West Elm Geo Ottoman, Shibori Lines by Sweta Mobi

Meg Young, Founder Of Cailini Coastal

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 12:29:04 GMT

Meg Young, Founder Of Cailini Coastal

Many of us (especially East Coasters in the US like me) we are starting to realize that the last few days of summer are upon us this Labor Day weekend. Many of us are also contemplating how can we hold onto the feeling of summer in our homes as we transition into the fall season? So I knew it was perfect timing this week to talk Meg Young, the founder of Cailini Coastal , and dig into how can we keep the coastal vibes of tranquility and relaxation in our homes all year round. I also was excited to learn about how Meg has been able to start a business during 2020, such a tumultuous time, and why it was so important to Meg that her business had a purpose.

Cailini Coastal specializes in the coastal finishing touches that make a room feel complete and turn a house into a home. From floor coverings to kitchen accessories and wall art, Cailíní Coastal offers high quality and unique coastal-inspired décor, blending a laid-back California look with a timeless East Coast elegance. In April of 2020, Cailini Coastal was founded by Meg Young, a former PR pro and lifelong design aficionado who sought to offer only the best quality pieces that you couldn’t find everywhere. The types of special pieces she would find at a local shop while vacationing in coastal towns like Santa Barbara or Nantucket. While many retailers in the home space focus on furniture and offer a limited selection of decor and accessories, Meg saw an opportunity to bring shoppers like herself a curated destination for home accessories with a wide breadth of well-designed products. Among its offering is a large collection of blue and white ginger jars, quintessential coastal accents like woven mirrors, recycled sea glass beads, and rattan trays and a curated art shop featuring up-and-coming female artists from around the country.

Meg knew she wanted to use her business to impact others in a direct and positive way. Family Promise is an organization that Meg’s late mother was actively involved with, so it feels only natural that Meg carry on her mother’s work and partnered with the nonprofit during the brand’s launch in the height of the pandemic. Cailini Coastal pledged 100% of their proceeds for the first six months in business after their April 2020 launch to assist in the drastic increase in need caused by the COVID pandemic and donated $15,000. Going forward, Cailini Coastal will continue to partner with the non-profit and work closely with the national headquarters and local Los Angeles affiliate to support their ongoing programs and help to raise awareness around the crisis of family homelessness.

The interior design game is also back, I discuss with Meg how can we translate coastal style into our fall trends? I focused on The Top Fall Decorating Trends to Cozy Up Your Home According to Designers written by Jessica Bennett for Better Homes & Gardens. This week’s shoppable mood board is all about how pieces from Cailini Coastal and other coastal inspired shops can help you enjoy the coastal vibes all year long.

Meg thinks this is an essential piece to make your space entertainment ready- Lemon Topiary Cocktail Napkin Set
This fall if you’re thinking about adding earthy inspired pieces to your home- Sconset Coaster Set - White-Washed
One-of-a-kind ginger jar- Mini Hydrangea Jar
You can never go wrong with this throw for the fall season- Oceanside Buffalo Check Throw
This photo frame made of bone tiles and carved blue bone trim can work with any interior- Hermosa Photo Frame
This fall think about mixing and matching this pillow to freshen up your home- La Selva Linen Euro Pillow
Think about adding in natural textures to your home this fall- Boca Chica Jute Rug
To Learn more about Family Promise, and help at risk families for homelessness- Donate today

Brad Bruckner, CMO At Homethreads

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 12:23:37 GMT

Brad Bruckner, CMO At Homethreads

This week I'm excited to be talking with the co-founder and CMO of Homethreads, Brad Bruckner. Homethreads delivers some of the most sought after furniture, rugs, window treatments, bedding and pillows in the online home decor marketplace. Thanks to years of experience from Brad and his partner Neil Marcus, they have cultivated a wide network of partners and suppliers that enable them to provide only the highest quality products designed for comfort, durability and style at factory-direct prices.

As many of you may be wondering where to shop this fall, and even brainstorming about the holiday season Homethreads is a website you need to check out. Homethreads is also one of the sponsors I am currently working with for my exclusive Better Homes & Garden's Home Tour. I want to share with listeners my firsthand experience with this brand. Plus, the next time you buy from Homethreads use the discount code Angela5 and save 5% on your order.

Before the launch of Homethreads, self-described “serial entrepreneur” Brad Bruckner had been the leader of a successful marketing company in White Plains for more than two decades. Homethreads is an e-commerce company that delivers the top-quality, factory-direct bedding, bath accessories, window treatments, area rugs, and other home furnishings designed for comfort, durability, and style. Launched in 2017, Homethreads is already on track to earn $50 million in sales this year, with the lofty goal of $1 billion by 2026.

This week’s shoppable mood board is all about Homethreads, and how you can have a one stop shop experience from this e-commerce site. I put together a mood board for a dream dining space for the holiday season, and everything on it is from Homethreads. In addition, anything you buy from Homethreads use the discount code Angela5 and save 5% on your next order.

Wallpaper with a botanical feel- Seabrook Designs Boho Rhapsody Animal
Dining Chairs with performance fabric and lots of style- Discern Pleated Back Upholstered Performance Velvet Dining Chair Set of 2 Pink
A chandelier with some swing to it- Elsa Frosted Glass and Gold Metal Frame Six Bulb Chandelier
a dramatic mirror to make your dining room feel grand- Uttermost Jacqueline Vanity Mirror
An area rug that’s stylish and durable for dinner time- Safavieh 8' x 10' BOH701A Ivory Black Rug
Every room needs artwork as a good conversation starter- Fashion Faces Wall Art Small Black and Gold Leaf Set of 3
dining table with a glass top so it’s easy to clean- Blaze Dining Table - 71"
Custom drapery to make sure your room stays warm during the holidays- Fynn Lattice Print White for Parisian Pleat

Ariel Okin, Founder Of Ariel Okin Interiors

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 12:17:21 GMT

Ariel Okin, Founder Of Ariel Okin Interiors

This week I’m back with my summer interview series all about home renovations. I am currently working on an exclusive home tour with Better Homes & Gardens magazine for 2022, and I want to share renovation stories from tastemakers like Ariel Okin, who recently relocated from NYC to the suburbs of Westchester, NY. Ariel will share some of the what she has learned as a first time home buyer, and what’s worth spurging on in your first year, and how you can make huge changes to your space without breaking the bank.

This is also The Mood Board Podcast’s 50 EPISODE!!!!! So I am asking all listeners to DM me on instagram @_angelabelt their renovation who as and one lucky listener will come on the show to get some design help---STAT!

Ariel Okin is the Founder of her eponymous firm, Ariel Okin Interiors , a New York-based, full-service interior design firm specializing in luxury residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across the country. Ariel’s signature style can be interpreted as “Traditional with a twist” – warm, livable and elegant spaces with an edited, contemporary and practical approach. Ariel established her firm in 2016, and has since been featured and profiled in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Domino, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine, among others. Ariel has worked with celebrity clients from Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP Headquarters in NYC to spaces for the likes of Lena Dunham and Sara Foster. In addition, Ariel has created signature collections with One Kings Lane, Society Social, Chasing Paper, The Mural Source, and Hudson Valley Lighting, among others. She is also a contributing writer to Vogue, Architectural Digest and Domino.

One of Ariel Okin’s designer for celebrity Lena Dunham featured in DOMINO magazine- Lena Dunham’s Designer Turned a Closet Into a Bar in Her Own NYC Rental
Fenimore Lane the sister brand that Ariel created to connect with other interior designers in the industry- T alk Shop Interview Series
Traditional with a Twist is Ariel’s signature style- Kirkwood Accent Chair, Fawn Linen
Herringbone fabric from The Shade Store designed by Sheila Bridges - Houndstooth Winter
A staple paint color for Ariel from Farrow and Ball- Breakfast Room Green
Ariel is a huge fan of hurricane lantern lighting- Leigh Pendant
A sofa collab with Society Social- The Bunny Sofa
A wallpaper collaboration with Chasing Paper- Hydrangea

Monique Valeris, Senior Home Editor At Good Housekeeping

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 12:12:26 GMT

Monique Valeris, Senior Home Editor At Good Housekeeping

This week I’m excited to be talking with Monique Valeris, the Senior Home Editor at Good Housekeeping magazine . I have admired Monique’s work for years, so I was thrilled when she said “yes” to come on the show. During our interview Monique and I talk about how to be successful in the interior design industry as a Black woman and getting comfortable as the only one in the room.

In addition we dug into what’s trending right now for Good Housekeeping magazine this summer, and we discussed how Good Housekeeping can help all of you first time home buyers out there with how to get it all done on a budget with their expertise and advice. Be sure to check out the latest issue of Good Housekeeping which is out right now!

Monique Valeris is a highly experienced writer and editor who has covered lifestyle topics ranging from beauty to home decorating. Her unique background in both the corporate communications and editorial worlds, including roles at Hearst and Time Inc., translates into an in-depth understanding of how to craft content, especially for digital. You can find her work on sites like ELLEDecor.com, Vogue.com, Refinery29, RealSimple.com, POPSUGAR.com, and ESSENCE.com, among others.

This week’s shoppable mood board is all around my interview with Monique, and some great links from our conversation that you can use to from Good Housekeeping magazine and some other great resources that we discussed.

Check out award winning recommendations for products you are going to want in your home right now- Good Housekeeping Awards
A recent article written by Monique & Kelsey Mulvey for Elle Decor- 50+ Clever Ways to Reinvent Your Living Room Layout
On stands now the July/August issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine- Good Housekeeping Print Magazine
A sneak peak of Monique working behind-the-scenes- @Moniquevaleris
The Good House Keeping Institute- H ow to Become a Product Tester for the Good Housekeeping Institute
A recent article written by Monique for Good Housekeeping- 26 Inviting Family Rooms That Are Full of Style
One of the recent DIY projects of by Anna Mae Groves, who Monique discovered on IG- @annamaegroves

Whitney Jones, Owner Of Whitney J. Decor

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 12:08:50 GMT

Whitney Jones, Owner Of Whitney J. Decor

This July 4th weekend I will be talking with Whitney Jones, New Orleans’ based interior designer and owner of the shop, Whitney J. Decor. I know Americans love celebrating July 4th, and we also love to shop, so this is the perfect opportunity to support a Black-owned business at the same time. This week we will also be playing the Interior design game, Love It or Hate It, and Why? Whitney will share what spring/summer home decor trends she is loving right now.

Whitney Jones is New Orleans born and raised, and is constantly being inspired by the city's bold use of color, fun personality, and eclectic vibe. Space planning and accessorizing are her favorite parts of the design process, because they allow Whitney to show her clients both her technical side and her ability to style spaces. Since Whitney started her design business in 2012, she has worked with clients all around the US, and even internationally (including the UK and Australia), through her eDesign services.

On this week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it, and Why? Whitney and I focus on this article from Apartment Therapy written by Alyssa Longobucco , 7 Spring and Summer Home Trends You Need to Know Now, According to Designers. This week’s shoppable mood board is all about what Whitney loves from these spring & summer home decor trends that are trending right now.

Whitney likes to sprinkle in rattan with her interior design- I sabella Rattan Oval Mirror, 46" x 37"
Wallpaper everywhere is a must for Whitney, especially if its bold- ' Faux Bois' Wallpaper by Wallshoppe - Blue
Lighting is so important to set the mood- Bicoca Table Lamp in Red Wine
Whitney sells these eye catching brushes at her shop- Beige Bone Calligraphy Brush
Whitney likes mixing different pieces of stone together - Monti White Lava Stone Side Table
You can’t go wrong with a serving tray for decor- Mudcloth Cross Tray
An inspiration shot from Whitney’s portfolio- @whitenyjdecor
A decorative box is always needed- Balinese Red and Black Beaded Offering Baskets
When serving a dish make a statement- Mango Wood Salad Servers with Feather Handles

Keyanna Bowen And Malcolm A. Simmons, Reno Series

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 12:01:13 GMT

Keyanna Bowen And Malcolm A. Simmons, Reno Series

Hello everybody I’m back! This past month has been a doozy preparing for the home tour with Better Homes & Gardens, and just managing offline life with baby number two on the way. I’m excited to come back this week with my first two person interview with interiors photographer & design blogger Keyanna Bowen and interior design of Mas Means More, Malcolm A. Simmons. I will be continuing this week with my spring/summer series digging into home reno stories and sharing the ups and downs of these design challenges during our new normal.

Keyanna Bowen is a Maryland based interior photographer, designer, and blogger with a passion for inspiring others to create a home they love, no matter where they live. A graduate of Howard University and self-proclaimed “serial-penuer”, Keyanna has dabbled in everything from radio and writing, to real estate and social media marketing. It wasn’t until she started her blog, East & Lane , that she found her true passions, interior design and photography. What started out as a hobby of styling and photographing homes for her blog quickly turned into an exciting career. When she's not behind the lens or designing, you can find her enjoying the outdoors or renovating her rental, which she documents on her YouTube Channel . Keyanna is also the first mentee for Emily Henderson Design .

Photography by Keyanna Bowen

Small-Scale Desk- Slim Desk
Daybed- Isla Sofa in Coconut
Coffee table- Rattan 27.5" Accent Table
Throw blanket- Mendocino Linen Throw
Accent vase- PORTLUX
Overhead lighting- Stella Nova Lantern, Pearl Boho
Accent pillow- Coral Cross Miao Lumbar Pillow
Area Rug- Suzanne Kasler Emilyn Hand Knotted Rug

Originally from Virginia, Malcolm spent most of his childhood growing up in tropical environments like Honduras and Brazil, which inspired his diverse perspectives on life and design. He majored in visual communication design at Virginia Tech, where his graduating thesis was all about the correlating aspects of interior and graphic design (which included a very convincing theory that designing the function of a printed piece is no different than designing a functional physical space). Since then, he has leaned into a love for small-to-large DIY projects, renovating homes across his home state of Virginia, and hopefully inspiring others to do the same. Malcolm is the owner of an interior design consultation company named Mas Means More, a design contributor for Emily Henderson Design , and has been featured several times on Apartment Therapy.

Photography by Keyanna Bowen

Gold frames- Antique Brass Metal Clad Frames
Inspired by this book to do design work- Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves
Planters- S/2 Honeycomb Planter On Metal Stand, Blk/Gld
Duvet cover- Cultiver Linen Bedding, Fawn Duvet Cover
Area Rug- Zehra Rug
Headboard design- 12 in. DIY Natural Wood Dowel Rods for Arts & Crafts and Decor
Bench- Malibu Woven Backless Bench
End table/nightstand- Nero Brown Marble Accent Table

David Quarles IV, Lifestyle Brand

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 31 May 2021 11:44:27 GMT

David Quarles IV, Lifestyle Brand

This week I will be continuing my spring/summer interview series all about home renovations. I am currently working on an exclusive home tour with Better Homes & Gardens magazine for 2022, and I want to share renovation stories from tastemakers like David Quarles IV around his renovation story of his home gym that he designed during the pandemic. David will share with us all of the ups and downs of sourcing products during the new normal, and how he had to think outside of the box to get this project done.

Born and raised in Memphis, TN, David Quarles IV comes from a place where art and culture are celebrated, and being a part of spreading awareness in those areas is his mission. Being of African/Afro-Caribbean, European, and Indigenous-American descent, David likes to allow his appreciation for culture to influence how he views the world. Everyone's perspective and understanding of life should be considered; everyone is beautiful - and so is life.

This week instead of an interior design game, I decided to dissect David’s design of his home gym that he made over the pandemic. You can read the inspiration for this space on his recent home tour with Apartment Therapy here .

If this space is giving you all of the feels like it did for me, check out this week’s shoppable mood board. You can get a similar look and re-create it in your garage or wherever you can find some extra square footage around your home.

You’ve got to have a storage area in your gym for all of those water bottles & healthy snacks- Corridor Bar by BDI
Picking out the right machine to build muscle is key in your home gym- Weider XRS 20 Olympic Workout Rack & Bench
One of the biggest things David focused on in this is paint, and boy did it make a difference- Sublime, Blue Ivy, Golden Hour Paint Colors
Greenery is great for air quality and is a perfect addition to any home gym- Round Natural Rattan Floor Planter
Give yourself a space to sit back and relax after all of your hard work- Bene chair
Multiple weight options are great to target specific muscle groups of the body- Fit Bench One
Having a mirror in your space is important so you can track your efforts (it’s not there to shame you) - Hub Floor Mirror

Dabito, Old Brand New (Is Back)

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 24 May 2021 11:34:09 GMT

Dabito, Old Brand New (Is Back)

This week my interview is going to be a little different because I am starting a spring/summer interview series all about home renovations. I am currently working on an exclusive home tour with Better Homes & Gardens magazine for 2022, and I want to share renovation stories from tastemakers like Dabito around renovation stories in rental properties as well as homes. I also wanted to dig into what was it like to be an interior stylist for the third book with Justina Blakeney, Jungalow Decorate Wild.

This is also my second interview with Dabito so if you want to learn more about his journey into the interior design industry listen here .

Dabito is a blogger, photographer, artist, décor guru, tastemaker, passionate vintage hunter, and lover of all things design. As the force behind the creative studio and online design resource, Old Brand New, he has not only won an impressive social media following, but has been recognized by major outlets including Nylon, who named him one of the best Instagrammers, and Better Homes and Gardens, who included him in their Best Decorating Bloggers of 2015.

This week instead of an interior design game, I decided to dissect one of Dabito’s designs, his dining banquette which you can see above. You can read the inspiration for this space on Dabito’s blog. I have been obsessed with the design ever since we moved into our new home because I felt like we had the same type of layout. Also I don’t know about you, but I feel like since Covid happened last year, I really miss going out to restaurants and sitting in a booth; so when I saw Dabito’s space it made me feel like I was having a fine dining experience at home.

If this space is giving you all of the feels like it did for me, check out this week’s shoppable mood board around how you can get a similar look and re-create in your home (you can have the Dabify effect!).

Moody botanical wallpaper is a MUST- Botanical Midnight Wallpaper
Boho light fixture with a little cane sprinkled in (of course)- TOV Lighting Black/Natural Bohemian/Global Clear Glass Drum LED Pendant Light
Sculptural dining table- Sonali Dining Table
Accent pillows with a one-of-a-kind feel- Nora pillow
Turquoise and shades of green vases- Kähler Hammershøi Miniature Vases, Mixed Green, S/3
Dining Banqutte that reminds you of purple rain- Dining Banquette, Signature Velvet, Orchid

Davina Ogilvie, Founder Of Wovn Home

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 17 May 2021 11:24:16 GMT

Davina Ogilvie, Founder Of Wovn Home

I’m back with new episodes of The Mood Board podcast, and I’m excited to kick off my spring/summer season with Davina Ogilvie the founder of Wovn Home. Right now lots of people are doing home renovations due to downsizing, buying their first home, or they’re simply tired of looking at the same old things day in and day. Well, that also means many of you are wondering what to do about your window treatments these days. Many of us find that ready made window treatments don’t quite work for old homes with unusual measurements or that once you want to buy them the price is astronomical once you start multiplying it by ten. So I decided to talk with Davina about her business Wovn Home, and learn why she decided to jump into the custom window treatment business.

Davina Ogilvie is the founder of Wovn Home, a direct-to-consumer custom window treatments company based in New York.

After growing up in Bangkok, Thailand surrounded by beautiful custom window treatments, Davina was surprised to find a lack of options to choose from when she was decorating her own Manhattan apartment. When she turned to local upholstery shops, she found they were incredibly expensive and also required months-long lead times. On the other hand, big box retailers only offered standard sizes that were often poor quality. Rather than choosing either of these less-than-desirable options, she decided to use her previous experience from working in the New York fashion industry to create her own custom window treatments. From this experience, she created and launched Wovn Home in September 2019, offering designer- quality custom window treatments at an accessible price point.

Finding from her own experiences that shopping for window treatments was a notoriously painful process, Davina created a seamless process that’s easy for the customer to understand - from ordering to installation. The Wovn Home website guides consumers through the ordering process in a few easy steps - from the selection of designs, high quality fabrics, linings and measurements to complement a wide variety of styles and aesthetics. In addition to a streamlined purchasing experience, Wovn Home has ensured that the installation process is quick and easy for both the drapes and Roman shades. The Roman shades are shipped with a clip-in bracket system with the hardware pre-attached that can be installed in a matter of minutes by either a professional or home owner; while their custom drapery rods ship with all hardware needed for installation, including screws, drapery rings and mounts in the selected finish.

Wovn Home’s fabrics are made of luxurious linens sourced from premium textile mills in Belgium, while the patterns are designed exclusively for Wovn and screen printed in Los Angeles. The brand’s drapes, shades and pillows are produced in North Carolina through family owned workrooms that have generations of experience and knowledge in the industry to ensure a quality product. By partnering directly with fabric suppliers and custom workrooms, Wovn Home is able to create designer-quality, hand-crafted products in less than four weeks at an accessible price. Through Wovn Home, Davina hopes to enable consumers and designers alike to create beautifully customized spaces that complement and reflect their own style and preferences.

Davina has formerly held buying and merchandising leadership positions at companies such as J.Crew, Verizon and Steven Alan. Davina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Harvard University, and resides in New York, New York with her husband and son.

This week for the interior design game, I wanted to get Davina’s opinions on some window treatment questions readers asked me on Instagram, as well as the dos and don’ts of window treatments.

The proper way according to Davina to hang window treatments above a french door- HGTV show home of 2015
It’s a constant battle finding the right window treatments especially with radiators blocking most windows- Vidaxl Radiator Cover Anthracite 44.1"X17.5"X31.9" MDF
Custom drapery from Wovn Home- Euro pleats
This vintage accent chair would go great with your window treatments- Chairish vintage accent chair sale (get it while you can)
All of the details matter when selecting window treatments and that includes the curtain rod- Carved Light Woodtone Ball Curtain Rod Natural - Opalhouse™
It’s always a nice detail to add tie backs to your window treatments- Clustered Fan Tieback
When Davina went to school at Harvard she studied Anthropology - Anthropology: What Does it Mean to Be Human? 5th Edition
Custom pillows available at Wovn Home- Accent pillows

Demetrius Robinson, At Home With Savvy

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 11:20:23 GMT

Demetrius Robinson, At Home With Savvy

I'm so excited this week to share my interview with 28 Black Tastemaker Demetrius Robinson class of 2021. Demetrius is the Founder and Creative Director of AT HOME WITH SAVVY. He is an interior designer, photographer, avid baker + home cook, tastemaker and visual story teller.

I’m so excited this week to share my interview with 28 Black Tastemaker Demetrius Robinson class of 2021. I discovered Demetrius on social media a year ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I knew that this year we would have to connect because I wanted to learn more about his approach to interior design. So often on Instagram, I see Demetrius doing reels and IGTV of his daily photo shoots at his home or a recent client installation, and I really wanted to know how does he manage it all?

I also wanted to get his take on being a Black man in the interior design industry, and what has helped him succeed in the industry. Lastly, we discuss some recent interior design trends from Elle Decor, and get Demetrius’ thoughts on whether he loves it or hates it.

AT HOME WITH SAVVY is an online resource dedicated to elevating the quality of your home lifestyle. Spanning from design, food + cocktails to entertaining, there’s value within this community for each and every one of you! Demetrius, the Founder and Creative Director at AT HOME WITH SAVVY is an interior designer, photographer, avid baker + home cook, tastemaker and visual story teller. His blog is a fusion of all of his passions; interior design, food, entertaining and photography!

Since heading his Chicago based interior design firm back in 2016, Demetrius has become known for his very edgy, distinctive black + white design aesthetic, ability to mix high-low items as well as items from different eras and design styles.

Demetrius currently lives just outside of Indianapolis, IN with his partner and two dogs, Gabbie (Jack Russell Terrier) and Zoey (Toy Poodle). When he is not creating content for the blog, he can be found building his photography + videography production company, curled up on the sofa with a good book or out hitting the pavement! Demetrius has become obsessed with running and usually go for a run every morning before coffee.

A Black & White Color Palette is a must for Demetrius- Ullio Black Ikat Indoor/Outdoor Rugs
Demetrius can always find at least one thing he likes from Z Gallerie (he’s just not buying the whole store)- Weston Glassware Collection
Demetrius is a fan of horizontal channeling on furniture- Strato Boucle Right Arm Sofa
One of his favorite books to style with on a coffee table- Jean-Michel Basquiat
Demetrius likes rugs with a geometric pattern- White Moroccan Diamond Pinstripes Tassel Area Rug
When in doubt, put an arch on it- Arch Wall Decal in Black
Bubble shapes like this lighting helps to soften an interior- Alto Compass 6" Opal
Demetrius loves these vases from Whitney J. Decor’s shop- Ceramic Duck Lips Planters – Set of Two

Sara Berks, Founder Of Minna

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 11:16:14 GMT

Sara Berks, Founder Of Minna

I don't know about you, but I am itching to bring in some new home decor looks for my house since spring is just around the corner. One of the brands that I have been really interested in lately due to their geometric patterns and soothing color palette is MINNA.

I don’t know about you, but I am itching to bring in some new home decor looks for my house since spring is just around the corner. One of the brands that I have been gravitating towards recently due to their geometric patterns and soothing color palette is MINNA . I didn’t even realize how many of their pieces I had pinned until I started to do some background work on Sara Berks, the founder of MINNA .

During our interview this week, we talk about how Sara started her business, what is her businesses’ approach to the BLM Movement and the LGBT community. I also just wanted to know what is Sara attracted to this spring for home decor.

Sara Berks is the founder and creative director of MINNA , an ethically made home goods brand rooted in traditional craft techniques. MINNA employs a cottage industry approach by partnering with master weavers and artisan collectives in Bolivia, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay, which helps ensure craft preservation and job creation. MINNA’s line includes bedding, pillows, throws, kitchen and tabletop accessories and rugs.

MINNA was founded by Sara in 2013 in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Hudson, NY in 2016, where the storefront and studio are now located. As a queer-owned business, Sara works collaboratively to create multipurpose products by collaborating with master artisans in Central and South America which ensures craft preservation and job creation in these regions.

With a background in graphic design from The School of Visual Arts, Sara's approach to textile design is strongly influenced by the Bauhaus. As a weaver and painter, she often begins the design process on the loom or with paint. Sara began her design career in branding and digital design. Unsatisfied and unfulfilled by the field, she left digital design in 2013 to freelance and taught herself to weave. MINNA grew out of Sara's art practice and her desire to use design to create impact.

On this week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it, and Why? Sara and I focus on this article from Real Simple magazine written by Kristin Granero, 1 0 Home Decor Trends for Spring That Are Taking Over TikTok and Instagram . This week’s shoppable mood board is all about what Sara loves from these spring home decor trends that are so popular on social media right now.

Check out one of Sara’s original paintings that often influence the home decor collection at MINNA- Two Portals
Sara is all for layering in curvy & geometric vases to your home decor (even if its just a bud vase)- Shape Studies Bud Vase, Set of 4
Sara’s work for MINNA is inspired by the Bauhaus movement- Bauhaus Multicolor Blocks Poster Wall Hanging Art, Museum Exhibition Print Weimar 1923, Home Decor Accessories Picture
A new pillow from MINNA’s spring collection- Barragan Pillow Peach
Sara loves pieces with rattan and brass accents this spring- Sculpted Rattan Mirror
Sara self-taught herself how to weave- Small Weaving Loom
Sara can see people gravitating towards a monochromatic space this spring- Stripes Duvet Cover Clay
MINNA is a queer owned business, and focuses on an effort to do business for good- Red Equality Flag

****ALSO IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN DONATING TO ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MINNA DISCUSSED DURING OUR INTERVIEW HERE ARE THE LINKS:

Natalie Norcross, CEO Of A Design Partnership

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 11:11:25 GMT

Natalie Norcross, CEO Of A Design Partnership

As we enter the second quarter of 2021, many of you interior designers may be asking yourself, "How can I grow my business?" Well hiring Natalie Norcoss and her PR firm, A Design Partnership may be your solution.

As we enter the second quarter of 2021, many of you interior designers may be asking yourself, “How can I grow my business?” Well hiring Natalie Norcoss and her PR firm, A Design Partnership may be your solution. As a former interior designer turned CEO of a PR firm that targets interior designers and lifestyle brands, Natalie knows how to turn those problems into actionable items to get your business going in the right direction. This week I talked with Natalie about how she started a Design Partnership, and what her thoughts are on the latest trends from Forbes . Also bonus news, Natalie is giving out a FREE content calendar to anyone who fills out this form here !

Natalie Norcross is an entrepreneur at heart. The founder of A Design Partnership , a PR agency specializing in design, and a former interior designer herself, she has an in-depth understanding of the design and luxury market and a visionary for driving business growth, brand awareness, and securing powerful press placements.

Natalie started her career as an interior designer. After building and selling her successful residential and hospitality design firm in 2008, she was repeatedly approached by other designers to help them with marketing and business development. Since then, the agency has grown to a dynamic group of communication experts who focus on growing the brands of our global client base through media relations. Passionate about helping clients transform their brands by securing coverage and feature stories in domestic and international publications including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Robb Report, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Departures, Town & Country and World of Interiors. The team has vast experience working with brands, start ups, e-commerce and interior designers across luxury and mass market categories, including home and design, fashion, tech, beauty, travel and hospitality. From content curators, to results oriented experts, she leads a dynamic, design-savvy team who knows the shelter industry, love their craft, and are fanatical about helping brands grow. Natalie is an official member of Forbes Agency Council, as well as a regular speaker and panelist in both the communications and design industries.

On this week’s Interior Design Game: True or False, and Why? Natalie and I focus on this article from Forbes, Eight interior Design Trends we will see in 2021 by Amanda Lauren . This week’s shoppable mood board is all about what Natalie loves from Forbes’ predictions for 2021.

Natalie agrees vibrant shades of green are definitely trending this year. Check out this best seller at Clare.com- Current Mood
This year more than ever the outdoors is influencing the indoors in interior design- Malibu Woven Bench
To learn more about Natalie’s company, A Design Partnership- Services & Pricing
Traditional-Inspired looks are making a comeback- 20th Century Modern Baker Furniture End Table
Expect to see more dramatic uses of stone finishes this year- VICTORIAN FIRENZE
Refined curves from the 80s are back- Fitz swivel chair
Flexible kitchen Layouts say hello, goodbye open concept kitchens- A design by a client of A Design Partnership @maestristudio
People are going BOLD with walls in 2021- 'El Quijote' Wallpaper by Chris Benz - Persimmon

Janelle W. Hughes, KJ Design & Mortar Styling LLC

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:04:20 GMT

Janelle W. Hughes, KJ Design & Mortar Styling LLC

This week I'm kicking it off with 28 Black Tastemaker Janelle Hughes, co-owner of KJ Design & Mortar Styling in Baltimore, MD. During this interview we talk about the importance of building community for Black interior designers and creatives through social media platforms and membership organizations.

Janelle Williams Hughes is a writer, interior designer, and lover of all things that illustrate the ingenuity of her fellow human beings. She is the co-owner of KJ Design and Mortar Styling LLC, a home staging and interior design firm based in Baltimore, MD. Her interior design work has been featured in publications including Apartment Therapy and she was recently selected to serve on the House Beautiful Advisory Council. In 2020, she started the #shareblackspaces campaign and initiative to promote the variety of designers of color that exist across the globe.

Janelle's writing has appeared in internationally known publications including Reader’s Digest, Black Enterprise, Shop Smart/Consumer’s Report, Heart & Soul, and Harvard University’s Transition Magazine online. Her skills have supported various federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its Administration for Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Education Center's, Offices, and programs; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and U.S. Department of Transportation. She completed her undergraduate education in journalism at Howard University, and her graduate studies in Publications Design at University of Baltimore.

On this week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it, and Why? Janelle and I focus on this article from Veranda magazine written by Lauren Wicks around top kitchen trends for 2021. This week’s shoppable mood board is all about what Janelle loves for outdoor trends this spring.

Interior design space Janelle designed with allmodern.com- Janelle’s portfolio
Shes’ fine with compositing and self sustaining gardens as long as someone else does the composting- Countertop Composter
She is all about more residential gardens for city dwellers- The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America
Janelle loves the idea of outfitting your outdoor space for year round use- Wood Burning Outdoor Pizza Oven in Stainless Steel
Janelle is a Howard University alumni so she has to rock some swag- BOAT TOTE MEDIUM
Outdoor space inspiration for 2021- Manila Indoor / Outdoor Dining Chair, Natural
Janelle always loves to use lighting in her projects so it’s a major priority for outdoor spaces- Nanton Outdoor Patio Wicker Lantern Set
Planters are a must for any outdoor space- Rizzy Mid Century Planters (Set of 2)

Quintece Hill-Mattauszek, Studio Q Designs

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 10:59:53 GMT

Quintece Hill-Mattauszek, Studio Q Designs

This week I'm catching up with the Principal designer/owner Quintece Hill-Mattauszek of Studio Q Designs based in Alexandria, Virginia for another interview a part of the series, Where Are The Black Tastemakers Now?

This week I'm catching up with the Principal designer/owner Quintece Hill-Mattauszek of Studio Q Designs based in Alexandria, Virginia, for another interview a part of the series, Where Are The Black Tastemakers Now?

Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Quintece for her interior design skill set as well as a friend. When it comes to bringing people together, and seeking out interior designers for an editorial opportunity Quintece always has somebody in mind. She’s a connector, which is why I wanted to talk with her about the new group Design Collective DC (DCDC) which Quintece is a founding member; as well as what were thoughts on the latest interior design trends for the kitchen according to Elle Decor.

“I always want to hear my clients say, ‘It’s so good to be home,’ or ‘How about you come to my place instead?’ That’s how I know I’m doing the right thing.”

— Quintece Hill-Mattauszek

Quintece grew up learning how to design and create beautiful things. These formative years included helping out in her mother’s fabrication workroom as she learned how to sew draperies and slipcovers. She also accompanied her father in his part-time landscaping business – a passion project outside of his full-time job as a mechanic. That experience served her well at the University of Maryland and Montgomery College, where she studied mechanical engineering and then interior design, while paying her own way with money she earned by offering creative services such as decorative painting and architectural renderings.

Quintece’s education continued through her early professional career as she worked under some of the area’s most accomplished designers, before establishing Studio Q in 2012. Through her own business, Quintece regularly employs her engineering background by integrating smart-home technology and innovative lighting design into her interiors. She’s also not afraid to get out her tools and build custom elements when the need arises. “I don’t think there’s a single project where I haven’t made something in some capacity,” she says. Among her many creative projects, Quintece has built custom cabinetry, doors, paneling, and crown molding, in addition to regularly utilizing her sewing machine and decorative-painting skills to craft truly unique environments for her clients.

Quintece gained widespread attention in 2016, when The Washington Post featured the roof-terrace design she produced for that year’s DC Design House. The project involved upholstering a mail-order daybed, building a canopy around it, and draping it in lush fabrics she and her mother sewed to invoke the iconic decorator Dorothy Draper’s bold and colorful aesthetic. She’s since been featured in several publications that have highlighted her diverse projects, which currently run the gamut from a farmhouse in the country to a chic home in the city.

Beyond her clients’ work, Quintece continuously tries to follow the “Each One Teach One” philosophy and extends her knowledge of the design world through her position as a college professor at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. Teaching and nurturing the next wave of design talent through her class Advanced Presentation Techniques for Interior Designers , has been a passionate mission as a way in which to give back. In addition to helping shape the future DC Designers, Quintece also is one of the founding members of Design Collective DC (DCDC) , a membership is a local organization of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) interior design professionals dedicated to providing industry-wide support for their individual members, while simultaneously promoting racial diversity within their creative field, in the DC Metro Area.

Quintece lives close to her studio in Alexandria, in the home she shares with her husband and two sons. It’s never a dull moment as the whole family cares for a steady flow of foster puppies while the pups await their forever homes.

On this week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it, and Why? Quintece and I focus on this article from Elle Decor written by Kate McGregor around top kitchen trends for 2021. This week’s shoppable mood board is all about what Quintece loves in the kitchen.

Quintece is all about the classics when it comes to cookware- 29, Your Way
When it comes to most smart appliances Quintece is not a fan, but of course when it comes to her clients she will find the perfect smart appliance for the project- LG InstaView™ Door-in-Door
One of the things Quintece and I were stuck on was heavy duty paint for the kitchen, check out this brand from Farrow & Ball- Duck green emulsion paint
When it comes to interior design being able to show your clients through 3D renderings of what a finished space could look like is crucial for your presentation- Duke Renders Kitchen
To learn more about the Design Collective DC group- Member Inquiries
Glass containers to add to your kitchen storage- Marie Kondo Glass Spice Jar with Bamboo Lid
A high-end looking stove at an affordable price- Kucht Professional KNG 30-in 4 Burners 4.2-cu ft Convection Oven Freestanding Gas Range (Green)
Sleek wall tiles for the kitchen- NOA MINNESOTA ASH

Sam Moore, VP Of Brand At Jenni Kayne

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 10:52:15 GMT

Sam Moore, VP Of Brand At Jenni Kayne

As we continue to celebrate Women's History Month, I'm excited to talk with VP of Brand at Jenni Kayne, Sam Moore. Jenni Kayne is the laid-back, luxe lifestyle brand rooted in California minimalism that boasts cult status among celebrities like Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lawrence, and Hailey Baldwin. Sam and I talk about Jenni Kayne's approach to more diversity and inclusion in the brand; and in our interior design game we discuss what does, "Color Me Bright Really Mean?"

Over the last five years, Sam has worked to crystalize the brand’s market positioning through cohesive omnichannel storytelling on all consumer facing touchpoints. Recognizing the company’s potential to be an all-encompassing lifestyle brand, she has led go to market strategy for multiple category and campaign launches, new retail stores, and media ventures. She has developed an immersive content experience on the brand’s website, executed experiential initiatives like a nationwide Airstream tour, a lifestyle book with Rizzoli, and series of Jenni Kayne branded homes and a corresponding wellness retreat. She has also led brand partnerships with notable companies like Parachute, Lulu & Georgia and Nordstrom. Her efforts have resulted in prominent features in publications ranging from Architectural Digest, Forbes, Vogue, and The New York Times. Jenni Kayne operates 9 retail stores nationally and runs an in-house editorial blog Rip & Tan.

Over the past year, Jenni Kayne’s revenue has grown from $24 million to over $50 million, more than doubling in revenue, and increased its social audience from 290K to 400K followers. Gearing up for even more growth in 2021, the brand is expanding into new categories like beauty and fine jewelry, and as well as existing categories like furniture, home decor, and wardrobe staples. Sam is also leading the charge for another branded home renovation in Venice, CA.

Like most businesses around the country, the Jenni Kayne brand closed its stores and corporate offices at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With Sam leading marketing and brand strategy, she was determined to think of creative ways to keep the business afloat and shift their tone to speak to the current climate. She and her team created relevant content online including wellness practices, DIY projects, inspiring interiors, and the Jenni Kayne products that make the most of staying at home.

On this week’s Interior Design Game: Love it or Hate it, and why? Sam and I focus on this article from Domino magazine written by Gabrielle Savoie around renovation trends according to experts for 2021. This week’s shoppable mood board is all about lifestyle imagery since Jenni Kayne is the ultimate lifestyle brand.

Learn more about the story of Jenni Kayne- How Jenni Kayne built the Ultimate Lifestyle Brand
Jenni Kayne’s first book, and second one coming this fall of 2021- Pacific Natural: Simple Seasonal Entertaining
Jenni Kayne is all about Breezway spaces, connecting the outdoors with the indoors- Breeze chair
Self care is a must with the Jenni Kayne brand, and that starts with what’s underfoot- Shearling Moroccan Slipper
Sam is about maximizing space in a home, and making every inch count- Home Office
You always need a good hoodie as a staple in you wardrobe- Cashmere Fisherman Hoodie
Warm earth tones are on trend for 2021 - Angle Lumbar Pillow Terracotta

Professor Carmichael, Program Coordinator For Interior Design At Howard University

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:46:12 GMT

Professor Carmichael, Program Coordinator For Interior Design At Howard University

Jacqueline Carmichael, ASID, CKD, NCIDQ, an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Interior Design at Howard University. Inspires students to be social change agents designing equity, restoring marginalized communities impacted by systemic racism while exploring traditional canons of architecture and design.

I have been interested in interviewing Professor Carmichael since last fall. One thought that continues to be top of mind for me is what can I do now to help the next generation of Black interior designers? And so much of that work is already being done by Professor Carmichael. I had the pleasure of meeting her years ago when I was a visual merchandiser at Room & Board. I had invited Professor Carmichael and the interior design students at Howard to come for the book signing of Remix, a book that I worked on as an interior stylist and was featured in with AphroChic. The conversations that I had with Professor Carmichael then still resonate with me now; and its why I reached out to her this fall again to re-connect with the interior design department at Howard as an alumni.

There is a lot of work to be done to continue to support and encourage more people of color to join the interior design industry, and Howard University is 1 of 3 HBCUs that currently offers it as a degree program. So I wanted to learn from Professor Carmichael how does she prepare Black interior design students to go out into the interior design industry. Plus in a time like no other with Covid and the BLM movement, what is top of mind for the next generation of Black interior designers?

Jacqueline Carmichael, ASID, CKD, NCIDQ, is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Interior Design at Howard University. She inspires students to be social change agents designing equity, restoring marginalized communities impacted by systemic racism while exploring traditional canons of architecture and design.

Jacqueline's research, the "Chocolate City to Chocolate Chip African American Housing" series, addresses homelessness, affordability, and housing inequity due to chronic displacement in Washington, DC. Other research includes defining African American aesthetics in residential interiors, slave cabins; design psychology emphasizing African American identity; visual culture, memory and place, and experiential object-based learning. Projects include preserving the cultural aesthetics of the historic District Barry Farm Public Housing community. Moreover, she proposes lifespan familial housing typologies to set precedence in affordable housing policy for inclusion, equity, and wealth-building

Professor Carmichael serves as Interior Design advisor and HU Student Chapter of ASID advisor. Professional membership in the American Society of Interior Designers, National Kitchen and Bath Association, and Smithsonian Institution docent - National Museum of African American History Culture.

This week’s Interior Design Game, I share with Professor Carmichael some commercial and residential design trends, and I want to know from her whether these ideas are OUTDATED or still IN STYLE, and why. Check out the shoppable mood board to see what she thinks is still on trend and what needs an update.

Show some school support for Howard University with this classic tee- LEAGUE INTRAMURAL BOYFRIEND V NECK
Professor Carmichael wants to make sure her interior designs are unapologetically Black when they go out into the real world- Chasm Art Print
Gender specific bathroom are outdated, in commercial designs gender neutral bathrooms are in-style and much more cost effective-
Perhaps in the future we do more of a hybrid design consultations (some online & some in-person). Here’s the perfect chair for those in-person meetings- Warren Platner Lounge Chair for Knoll International, 1966
Drafting floor plans and elevations by hand are still in-style and are taught to interior design students at Howard University- Keadic 12 Pieces Plastic Drawing Template Ruler Kit
An interior design book that talks about the Black aesthetic- Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul
If you’re going to be drafting by hand, a vintage drafting table will help a lot- Studio Designs Solid Hard Wood Vintage Drafting Table, 42"
Home office spaces need acoustics to dampen out the sound, look at these as a inexpensive option so everybody doesn’t have to hear your meetings at home- walmeck Acoustic Foam Panel Soundproof Foam Wedge Studio KTV Wall Echoes Absorption

#28TM: SHOPBLACKCT

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:51:00 GMT

The mission of SHOPBLACKCT.com is to challenge structural racism and transform the legacy of economic and social inequity in the U.S. by providing a platform to drive business to and awareness of local Black-owned businesses.

The success of SHOPBLACKCT.com is thanks to many people working together to make a difference by spreading the word about our site and offering resources to elevate and amplify Black-owned businesses in Connecticut. A team of volunteers give their time, energy and talent to keep this site running and relevant. Team members do not profit anything off of the site nor is the site used for any financial or personal gain. This effort is 100% about giving, lifting up others and expecting nothing in return.

What Does Black History Month Mean To SHOPBLACKCT This Year?

I asked one of the many volunteers that work together to make SHOPBLACKCT a reality, what does Black History Month mean to them this year? Read below for their thoughts.

With Black History Month upon us, it is important to recognize how vital Black-owned businesses are to the American economy and celebrate their many contributions Black entrepreneurs have made throughout history.

Supporting Black entrepreneurship generates growth and opportunity in multiple ways through our communities.Yet, Black-owned businesses receive less business financing, less often and at higher rates, with just 1% obtaining a business loan in their first year. Compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to face disproportionate challenges to succeeding and expanding. One way to help? Support local Black-owned businesses. Our goal is to amplify and elevate Black-owned businesses in Connecticut, encouraging consumers to choose to "shop Black" in an effort to address systemic racism and economic inequalities that exist.

What Is the SHOPBLACKCT Team going to do Post Pandemic?

ShopBlackCT.com has brought together tens of thousands of people (if not more!) across Connecticut and the United States through our free platform. While we love connecting virtually, we are looking forward to having some in-person events where we can foster community on an even deeper level.

#28TM: Zhay Smith

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 01:14:00 GMT

Zhay Smith is a New York-based personal stylist turned surface pattern designer. She is the Lead Designer and CEO of ZHAYSTYLE Studio. With an eye for beauty, she often uses photography as a jumping-off point for her work, and incorporates bold elegant typography to make a statement. She is an avid learner with a playful spirit, who infuses her background in fashion, interior design, and fine art into her illustrations and graphic design work.

Growing up in a beach town, Zhay says she was surrounded by design. The house she grew up in was custom-designed, and built by an architect for his family. She watched her aunt collect unique pieces of driftwood have them painted or sanded, and then varnished to finish off the look of a room that she was hired to decorate. Even her mom was constantly making everything from curtains to culottes to handmade plush toys to sell. And don’t even get me started on her dad! He helped Zhay develop her eye for fashion and style. He taught her how to pull together colors and coordinate prints and create looks for men’s clothing. When Zhay began to sell her own work as a teen, her father even helped her plan and build custom art pieces made of stained glass and wood.

Zhay’s family was full of designers, but they didn’t know it. It came so naturally. So, I guess designing is in her blood. Zhay considers herself a multidisciplinary artist and designer. She loves to explore many different mediums. However, being a Surface Pattern Designer brings it all together. She gets to see her art on products sold all over the world. You can find some of Zhay’s work at Minted.com .

What Does Black History Month Mean To You This Year?

Since this is Black history month, I would like to share that I have relatives who were architects, and worked on one of the first hotels in my hometown, The San Carlos Hotel. They built houses for rich people in town. They were my great Uncle Alexander and Uncle George Eagan. They kind of passed for white so till this day, I don’t think anyone but our family ever knew that Black men helped design that hotel. I feel like this month is when these family stories really bubble up to surface for me.

Some pivotal heart-wrenching events have brought us to this new level of awakening for many here in the US and across the world. Many people were sleepwalking. Black history this year means not being invisible anymore...not being a blip on the screen. While I don't rejoice in the fact that brothers and sisters had to die so senselessly in order for everyone to finally open their eyes, I'm grateful that now all peoples are paying more attention. Friends of mine from other races are actually not just giving lip service or stopping at placing a little black square on their IG posts. They are caring enough to learn about "our Black American" heroes and heroines. They are having uncomfortable conversations with their friends, close relatives and communities. We are beginning to respect that Black history IS American history. It is not to continue to be a side note. We are challenging the absence of Black faces, Black voices, and Black perspectives in art, design, and culture. Black people are some of the most brilliant, resilient, gifted and triumphant people groups to walk the planet. That should be honored and respected. They have been a voice for the voiceless. How does that saying go? A rising tide lifts all boats.
And for us to truly understand ourselves we have to go back further than the sixties, further than slavery. We all have to continue to work to make sure our full stories are told and are balanced to correct mis-education or partial education. It is the removal of omissions for me. Black history this year is still being written and still being discovered. We must keep moving forward.

What Is The First Creative Thing You Are Going To Do Post Pandemic?

Does everybody say travel? It's amazing the things you take for granted until they are gone. You know what I would love? I miss seeing LIVE events and dance theater performances like Alvin Ailey " Revelations " & other Broadway shows. I get so inspired! It would also be great to go to a summer concert series in the park again.

To Learn More About Zhay visit:

Website: zhaystylestudio.com

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhaystyle/

Minted Store: http://shrsl.com/2n0ds

#28TM: Kymberlyn Lacy

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 23:03:00 GMT

Kymberlyn Lacy, is the Former Vice President of the Black Interior Designer's Network, she is also the founder and CEO of the award-winning interior design firm, International Flair Designs whose been featured in Forbes, Oprah's O Magazine, and Essence. Kymberlyn is greatly sought after for her business acumen and effective leadership in organizational management, strategic planning, strategic partnership development, contract management, and team building. She brings an interdisciplinary approach to leadership and a professional perspective that dovetails with best practices in her respective industry.

She has single-handedly developed strategic partnerships with national powerhouses such as IMC, Uttermost, Williams-Sonoma, The Pottery Barn, Verizon Wireless, and Hilton Hotels to only name a few. Her philanthropic efforts and commitment to social change has garnered numerous awards and an official day "Kymberlyn Lacy Day" in her honor in the State of Arkansas.

She also has a love and dedication for mentoring young interior designers, creatives, and nonprofit organizations . She is currently working with the STEM Coalition to integrate the field of architecture and interior design as an identifiable, integral component of STEM education.

Her work has been featured in Elle Decor, Essence, NBC, Designer's Today, NBC, IONTV, CBS, and FOX 16 in addition to a growing list of others.

What Does Black History Month Mean To You This Year?

Coming from a long, family lineage of educators who were pioneers and forerunners of desegregating schools in the South researching, studying, and knowing our rich heritage and culture was foundational if you were a part of my family. Black History was celebrated and embraced daily through curated art collections, cuisine, music, architecture, fashion, and style to only name a few.

Since I was a little girl it was ingrained in me that “African American history is what cultivated history as we know it today. Always, live your life as if you are drafting a blueprint for the generations to come.” The quote stemmed from my grandmother, but it has always been one of the core values I have patterned my life and purpose after.

After the heightened awareness of Black History, spanning the globe recently. I am more hopeful than I have ever been, more optimistic, and I have never been prouder of our resilience; and how we continue to change the trajectory of our country.

Recently, I have noticed an uptick in supporting minority owned business’ spanning cultural bounds. Although, I am grateful to service a clientele base that is culturally diverse, it is heartwarming and inspiring to witness allies rallying in support of minority owned business’. It is my greatest hope the support and efforts are continued and flourish for your years to come.

What Is The First Creative Thing You Are Going To Do Post Pandemic?

Having the ability to “Monitor and adjust” is infectious. Instead of complaining about how, when, and what business and our daily lives once were pre-pandemic. Our design team took a step back to evaluate all of our systems from on-boarding clients, rebranding, to implementing more robust CRM’s; leading to advancements that will enhance high touch point areas for a more seamless design experience for the clientele we service.

Like many of my clients, traveling was on the top of my list pre pandemic (Africa and India). The pandemic has sparked a newfound interest with clients. Instead of desiring to travel, they are ‘monitoring and adjusting” to our “new normal” by allowing our design firm to transform their primary bedroom retreats to resemble their favorite oasis, getaway, or resort they once were able to travel to pre-pandemic. Fortunately, I have remained creative throughout the pandemic. I am looking forward to unveiling our rebranding efforts and launching a few surprises as well (stay tuned).

To Learn More About Kymberlyn:

Website: kymberlynlacyinteriors

Instagram: @kymberlynlacyinteriors

Facebook: @kymberlynlacyinteriors

Pinterest: @kymberlynlacyinteriors

Twitter: @kymberlynlacyinteriors

Linkedin: KymberlynLacy

Jean Brownhill, Founder & CEO Of Sweeten

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 10:40:13 GMT

Jean Brownhill, Founder & CEO Of Sweeten

Happy Black History Month!!! I am so excited this month to be having this interview with Jean Brownhill, who is literally making Black history as we speak with her company Sweeten.

Happy Black History Month!!! I am so excited this month to be having this interview with Jean Brownhill, who is literally making Black history as we speak with her company Sweeten . I have been looking forward to this interview for a while because I wanted to learn how Jean got into the contractor’s business as an architect; and how was she able to streamline a service that so many people ask me about all the time as an interior designer, “Can you refer a good contractor?”

Jean Brownhill launched Sweeten (as in “home, sweet home”) in 2011. Today, Sweeten has nearly $1.5B of construction projects in the pipeline. The two-sided marketplace brings trust, transparency and technology to a $400B industry, creating the end-to-end standard for the renovation experience. Sweeten has been called a “Renovation Game-Changer,” with Jean hailed as “The Contractor Whisperer” by New York Magazine and one of Inc. Magazine’s “Most Innovative Women Founders in America.”

Jean is a Loeb Fellow from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, where she co-founded the African American Student Union (AASU), an organization supporting African Americans in architecture, real estate and urban planning. As a member of the 2018 Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute, she recently launched SAW (Sweeten Accelerator for Women) to help female contractors build their businesses.

The Interior Design Game this week is, TRUE OR FALSE? This week we focus on a piece written by Zoe Sessums for Architectural Digest, Renovation Trends for 2021. I wanted to get Jean’s opinion on whether these ideas are really trending or just farfetched?

I decided this week to design a shoppable mood board based on my dream ADU (accessory dwelling unit) office that would be built by a dream contractor from Sweeten one day.

Every space big or small needs an accent wall- Kali in Gray on Taupe - Forbes & Masters
Buy pieces that has one-of-a-kind charm and rounded curves - Casoli 60" Marble Top Desk, Gunmetal
Design for the dream ADU office- Modern Backyard Home Office Plans
Every space needs some life- Ponytail Plant
Felt tiles for acoustic installation in a space- Ombre
Remember your office should feel like a retreat so add in a personalized scent- Zenful Diffuser-Restore
Vintage office chairs when round table meetings can happen again, “Yes please!”- Vintage Houndstooth Chairs, set of 4
Perfect table for meeting and to lay out your work- Council Entry Table
Desk lamp with a timeless design- Linear Wood LED & USB Table Lamp

Anderson Somerselle, CEO Of Somerselle

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 10:35:00 GMT

Anderson Somerselle, CEO Of Somerselle

As CEO of SOMERSELLE, Anderson has utilized his decade of interior design experience to come up with a new way to approach the showroom. His e-commerce site Sommerselle is the modern showroom, which caters to interior designers by offering wallcoverings, textiles, and more.

Thank you all for being patient with me as I have started to kick off Season 4 of The Moodboard Podcast. It has been a wild month, and I’ve had to remind myself to listen to my body, and when my body says it needs to slow down… well then I have to slow down. So I am thrilled to get things back on track with my first interview with Anderson Somerselle. Do not let this serious photo below fool you, Anderson has an exuberant personality, and he has a story and message that many people need to hear right now as we all think about how we can reinvent ourselves in 2021.

Anderson Somerselle has come a long way from the Virgin Island beaches of his childhood. Employing the charismatic spirit he was born with and later developed as a radio personality, Anderson has spent the past decade cultivating close relationships with the artists and CEOs of interior furnishing brands around the world. With an intuitive understanding of current and upcoming trends, Anderson has served as the critical point person between brands and the designers who rely on their products. He entered the industry working in sales management, visual merchandising and design consulting for well-known businesses such as Pier One, Arhaus Furniture, and Modshop. He spent years fostering close connections with designers and driving sales for brands as the Purchasing Coordinator at Holland & Sherry. Most recently, as the Textile Manager at John Rosselli & Associates, he put his eye for design to good use as he helped brands develop new collections and highly effective visual marketing strategies. As CEO of SOMERSELLE , he will utilize his decade of interior design experience, his arsenal of industry allies, his keen sense of design trends, and his radical vision for the growth opportunities available to the modern showroom.

Anderson designed this mood board based on this week’s interior design game around Elle Decor’s recent article by Melissa Feldman The Top Design Trends You’ll Be Seeing in Living Rooms Next Year . His mood board is around the design prediction for 2021, strong colors mixed with neutrals.

Represented By SOMERSELLE

Top Left corner, Light Fixture by Jenny San Martin- LAMP SHADE IN APERTURE | POUNCE
Top Left corner, Artwork by Liam Dean- TIGERDACTYL
Top right corner, Cabinet by Sisli Home- ROSA I CABINET
Center, Coffee Tables by Sisli Home- OPERA TABLE
Center, Sofa by Sisli Home- TORINO SOFA

Not Rep’d by SOMERSELLE

Center, Carpet by Malene Barnett- SCRAFITTO
Bottom right corner, Stools by Studio Lani- TALKING STOOLS

Angela Belt, Founder Of The Moodboard Podcast (ME!)

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 10:29:07 GMT

Angela Belt, Founder Of The Moodboard Podcast (ME!)

Angela Belt is the principle designer of Angela Belt Art and Style LLC, she is also an interior stylist and the host of the Moodboard Podcast. She is the interior stylist for the book, REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul, released by Penguin Random House in 2013.

Last week, I had grand plans of kicking off season 4 of The Moodboard Podcast with the founder & CEO of Sweeten, Jean Brownhill; but then the world was turned upside down due to an insurrection at the Capital building by Trump supporters in Washington, DC. I decided this was not the week to treat life or my podcast as business as usual.

So in rare form, I took questions that you asked on IG, and shared my thoughts for this week’s podcast interview. To all of the listeners out there, please know I enjoy being the interviewer FAR MORE than been the interviewee.

This week my mood board is focusing on self care, and thinking about what are you going to do to speak up against hate. The interior design industry is not immune to racism and inequality, now is the not the time to be silent, please speak up!!!

“ constantly remember this quote when in crisis, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing by Edmund Burke.”

Pillow from AphroChic’s collab with the RED Campaign- (APHROCHIC)RED Dunham Throw Pillow - 18 x 18 Inches Indoor Decorative Pillows for Living Room and Bedroom
Original artwork from Orlando Soria- Rainbow People Silkscreened Print
Journal to start daydreaming about the world you want to live in- Pretty Vibes Only :: Notebook
Yoga mat for peace of mind- THE CULTURE FIT YOGA MAT, BLUE ANKARA
Plants are a must for self care- Sansevieria Sayuri
Sit down with meditation cushion & get a calm app discount
Write for change- Calm Meditation Cushion
Walk like you’re Kaep- Air Force 1, Colin Kaepernick

Abigail Marcelo Horace, Casa Marcelo

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 10:18:22 GMT

Abigail Marcelo Horace, Casa Marcelo

This week I talk with Abigail about the connection between self-care and the home. The interior design firm Casa Marcelo was founded by Abigail Marcelo Horace in 2017. The firm's mission is to help career women & Moms to alleviate their mental stress by providing home therapy.

This past week, I have been sick with a cold, and this Christmas is one I will never forget. It was just our family of three, all of us wearing masks because of my cold, and then a family Zoom call for dinner. Our holiday Zoom call felt more like a memorial service since we had lost another family member the week before, and we had multiple family members recently diagnosed with Covid, in the hospital because of it, or others living with what is now called Long Covid.

This week I began to feel overwhelmed and guilty about any good fortune I was experiencing right now because so many others that were close to me were suffering. So I went back and forth on whether or not I was going to do a podcast this week, or simply replay and oldie but goodie interview. But then I thought about the interview I did with Abigail a few weeks ago around interior design and self care, and I felt like it was the perfect interview to end 2020.

Casa Marcelo , an Interior Design firm, was founded by Abigail Marcelo Horace in 2017. The firm’s mission is to help career women & Moms to alleviate their mental stress by providing home therapy. Abigail provides her clients a personalized design experience and translates her expertise in order to consistently execute high-level, quality design. As a new mother and member of a large family, Abigail realized the need to create design systems and functionality within the homes of her clients. She specializes in shaping beautiful spaces that inspire creativity and expand unused potential. Abigail’s previous clients have described her as organized, thorough and solution-oriented, leaving them impressed with her mindful execution of their projects.

With a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Interior Design and over a decade of experience designing for notable Interior Design Corporate firms, including Dumais ID and Hendricks Churchill, Abigail brings her extensive knowledge, refined eye, and exquisite cultural taste to any space she designs. As a first-generation American and a daughter of Dominican and Panamanian immigrants, Abigail brings a unique perspective and palette to her ideas. The name Casa Marcelo is a nod to her heritage, to her ‘familia’, and to her ‘hogar’ (home).

Casa Marcelo has been previously featured on Dwell , Design*Sponge , Tastemade Video , Mercury Mosaics , and more!

The Interior Design Game this week is, “Love it or Hate it, and why? This week we focus on a piece written by Cait Munro for Refinery 29 around Why Home Care is the New Self Care for 2020. I get Abigail’s opinion on what self care tools for the home she loves or hates. Plus, I picked some self-care gems you can also take home with you to re-create a space like the one Abigail created for her yogi client in Westport, Connecticut.

“ A well-designed space promotes peace, clarity, and inspiration in the midst of chaos in the outside world.”

-Abigail Marcelo Horace, CEO & Founder of Casa Marcelo

Abigail is all for crystals in the home to create positive energy in the home (and she can happily refer you to an expert for the task)- Crystal & Stone bookend
Silk pillows are not just good for hair, they’re also quite luxurious and help with a restful night’s sleep- Pillowcase - Light Marble - Standard
Plants are a must in any interior, and help with reducing stress in a space- Mini Money Tree
Abigail is drawn to shades of blue, green, and coral color tones. This new green color from Clare paint will be hit for a calm and serene space in 2021- OMGreen
Every interior needs art to make it feel complete and add a personal touch- VINTAGE GEOMETRY AVE B
Photo inspiration from Casa Marcelo’s portfolio- Pondside Oasis, Westport CT
Abigail is a firm believer that luxury candles are worth every penny, and they set a mood- "Lenox" luxury candle
Meditation pillows are a must in 2021 to carve out some self-care time for you- Meditation Pillows (get on the mailing list to updated on the next drop for the new year)

Eve Epstein, VP Of Content At Hunker

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 10:12:38 GMT

Eve Epstein, VP Of Content At Hunker

Eve Epstein is the VP of Content at Hunker, the fastest growing home and decor site that offers design solutions and tips from real people for real people. We discuss what she's letting go (design wise) for 2020, and what's new on the horizon for Hunker in 2021.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to move onto a New Year!!! So I was thrilled when Eve Epstein from Hunker agreed to come on the podcast, and discuss what she’s letting go (design wise) for 2020, and what’s new on the horizon for Hunker in 2021. Plus, we had some real talk around cultural appropriation in interior design; what should you ask yourself before buying something just because it looks exotic or cool?

Eve Epstein is the VP of Content at Hunker , the fastest growing home and decor site that offers design solutions and tips from real people for real people.

At Hunker, she leads editorial, social media and creative partnerships - growing the brand to one of the top home and decor sites within just two years. Additionally, under her leadership, Hunker has secured key partnerships with Fortune 500 companies as well as major influencers within the home decor and design space such as Walmart, Home Depot, Blu Dot, and Danish Design.

She’s spoken nationally on sustainable and ethical design, branding through design, cultural appropriation and more. Her work has been highlighted in Forbes, Business of Home, and the Los Angeles Times. A writer, editor, and media expert, she has also co-authored two books including X vs. Y: A Culture War and The Scratch & Sniff Book of Weed (Abrams, 2017).

With nearly 20 years of experience building content and e-commerce brands, she began her career as a magazine writer and editor, contributing to national publications including Vanity Fair, Glamour, and Allure. Prior to Hunker, Eve was VP of content at Participant Media’s TakePart.com and Editor-in-Chief of DailyCandy prior to that.

Eve grew up in New York City and attended Williams College where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English. She now resides in Los Angeles.

This week’s Interior Design Game is all about interior design trends to say “Bu-Bye” to in 2020 & Predictions for 2021. This mood board is all about my conversation with Eve, and some last minute gift giving ideas for the holiday season.

***(Also, FYI the fluted wooden dowel look that I’m obsessed with right now is from the IG account @hotpinkpineapples )

Daily Candy, Eve did content writing during the beginning of her career- online media company from 2000-2014
Perfect gift for a friend with a black thumb (like me!)- Scout Regalia Paint-by-Numbers Cactus Duo, $40
History of the Geisha & tea pot- Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World & Hasami Porcelain Teapot, $78
Cotton tree memorial- Tabletop Cotton Tree
Mudcloth (learn what it’s all about)- Large White Black Mud Cloth Fabric Throw B and blog post about mudcloth
Books by Eve Epstein that are the perfect ice breakers this holiday season- T he Scratch & Sniff Book of Weed & X vs. Y: A Culture War, a Love Story
Cane bed like the one Eve has at home- Cane Queen Bed
Overlapping translucent colors are one of Eve’s predictions to see more of in 2021-

Tina Ramchandani, Trc Interior Design Firm

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 10:07:35 GMT

Tina Ramchandani, Trc Interior Design Firm

I'm excited this week to be sharing my conversation with NY based interior designer Tina Ramchandani at Tina Ramchandani Creative (TRC); her team designs warm, modern interiors that fully capture their clients' polished lifestyles. I was so happy Tina could fit me into her busy schedule, and we also got to talk about her furry interior design assistant.

I’m excited this week to be sharing my conversation with NY based interior designer Tina Ramchandani. She often describes her portfolio of work as Soulful Minimalism, and I could not agree more. Tina’s work is filled with upscale interiors that show a keen eye for selecting just the right materials, and adding those finishing touches for a sophisticated look. Plus, you can tell that finding just the right piece of artwork is paramount in her design process. So I was happy that Tina could fit me into her busy schedule to talk all about her approach to interior design, and also learn more about her furry interior design assistant.

At Tina Ramchandani Creative (TRC ), her team designs warm, modern interiors that fully capture their clients’ polished lifestyles. Tina’s passion -- Soulful Minimalism® -- allows her clients to experience life surrounded by the things that matter, so they can focus on the people that matter. Tina’s work has been nationally recognized by publications including Elle Décor, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Cottages & Gardens, Lonny, Gotham, and Cover. She was most recently named a “2018 Next Wave” designer by House Beautiful.

This week’s Interior Design Game: Predictions for 2021. I picked Tina’s brain on what trend in interior design I have noticed picking up steam, and may be all the rage in 2021. I also wanted to get her thoughts on what’s hot for the New Year. This week’s mood board is all about what Tina loves for 2021 predictions, and some highlights from our conversation.

Tina is all about living a minimalist lifestyle, and this book is the perfect read to get you ready for a clutter free lifestyle- The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt
Tina predicts in 2021 people more than ever will be looking for multi-functional furniture- Horizontally Opening Queen Wall Bed with Desk
In 2021 Tina is on-board for a warm neutral color palette- Light and Dwell blog
Next year cane furniture will still be in-style- West Natural Cane Bar Cabinet
Faux plants will continue to be a trend, and Tina swears by this store for all your faux goodies- NEW TRADITIONALIST faux orchids
Interior design photo from Tina’s portfolio- Project in the West Village of NYC
Tina is all about channeled sofa with a color-block option (you have to listen to the interview to get it)- Gage 85" Long Velvet Sofa Channel Tufted Arms and Back
In 2021 Tina predicts textured wallpaper on the walls and ceiling will be all the rage- Chevron Texture Silver Wallpaper

Racheal Jackson, Diy Interiors & Custom Murals

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 10:02:54 GMT

Racheal Jackson, Diy Interiors & Custom Murals

I don't know about you, but this week I just need to see and hear some good news. So I decided to air one of my favorite Instagram accounts I like to visit for a pick me up, Racheal Jackson's banyanbridges.

I don’t know about you, but this week I just need to see and hear some good news. So I decided to air the interview I did with one of my favorite Instagram accounts, Racheal Jackson’s banyanbridges . Racheal’s style is bold and colorful, and I discovered her account after it was recommended to me by Ariel at PMQfortwo several years ago. Two things keep me going back to Racheal’s account: she is fearless with her approach to DIY and murals design, and secondly, she is always her authentic self. So I wasn’t surprised that when we did this interview it felt pretty easy to talk to her.

Racheal’s mom was a self-taught general contractor, and her dad a self-taught everything else. She has been playing in construction homes for as long as she can remember. Racheal doesn’t recall her parents actually having her use any tools or work on any projects with them, but the proximity to the projects made her more comfortable with the process. As an adult she had access to their tools and watched a lot of YouTube tutorials.

A few years ago her parents bought a 1950’s farmhouse. It needed A LOT of work. And they were kind of “over” doing projects themselves. So they worked out a deal, Racheal would renovate it, and afterward her parents would rent the house out to her family. So, with a 9-week-old baby (#3!) strapped to her back, she renovated the crap out of this place. And SHE LOVED it.

Before she moved into the house, she spent a lot of time on Instagram and in homes of friends and noticed that all their put together spaces had one thing in common: they were neutral. So, she painted all the walls grey and installed all white tile. White cabinets, white trim “Mature”.

After living in “maturity” for a year she came to the conclusion that she is not a neutral person. So Racheal began the journey of painting all the walls, introducing color, stripes, funk; She made her home a reflection of her family—colorful, slightly bizarre and awesome.

For this week’s interior design we played Good Idea OR Bad Idea on when to put a mural on it, and when should you pass. I was inspired by the dining room that Racheal designed in #4 of the mood board, so I wanted to share some pieces you might want to buy recreate the look.

In Racheal’s dining room she has a faux plant wall- 20 x 20in Boxwood Mat
Get the look of this retro pendant- Conic Chandelier in white
A wooden round dining table with a pedestal base- Irune Table
Inspiration shot from Racheal’s dining room- Banyanbridges IG
SMEG custom refrigerator that is worth every penny- Dolce & Gabbana x SMEG Majolica Refrigerator
Pair of custom dining chairs- Nora Dining Chair, Nigerian Koyo (Set of 2)
One of Racheal’s favorite tea pots- Stagg EKG Electric Pour Over Kettle
Digital artwork from Racheal’s shop- Collide | Digital Print

Rasheeda Gray, Gray Space Interior Design

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 09:38:04 GMT

Rasheeda Gray, Gray Space Interior Design

This week I'm doing a special Thanksgiving podcast interview with Rasheeda Gray is the owner and principal designer of Gray Space Interiors, a full-service design firm in the Philadelphia area. We're going to talking about what's her zoom background going to look like this Thanksgiving, and what is she most thankful for in her home this year?

This week I’m doing a special Thanksgiving podcast interview with interior designer Rasheeda Gray. We’re gonna talk about what she’s grateful for in 2020, and how is she going to be celebrating Thanksgiving this year.

Rasheeda Gray is the owner and principal designer of Gray Space Interiors , a full-service design firm in the Philadelphia area. Launched in 2016, Gray Space is devoted to curating a client-focused, transformative and seamless design experience. With over 75 residential and commercial projects completed, the Gray Space approach to design can be found at the intersection of creativity, functionality and process. Rasheeda's path into design begins at the tail end of a fifteen year career in Marketing and Communications with the nation's top insurance companies. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Marketing and International Business as well as a Masters of Business Administration degree (MBA) with a concentration in Marketing. Additionally, she holds a professional certificate in Interior Design from Temple University. Features include HGTV, House Beautiful, Good Day Philadelphia, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest Pro, Designers Today and more. Rasheeda is also the co-founder of Gray Real Estate Group, a real estate development company, along-side her husband, Jake and together they have two children, Jacob Jr. and Kennedy.

For this week’s Interior Design Game we focused on Thanksgiving, and what was going to be different and what is Rasheeda grateful this year in her home. Below check out the shoppable mood board to get a taste of conversation, and it’s just in time for Black Friday sales!!!

The perfect carpet design to go under your dining room table- Intonaco - Marble Rug
Dinnerware for your holiday events (even if they’re scaled down this year)- Airstream Marbled Enamel 6-Piece Dinnerware Set
Sell This House on A&E with Gray Space Interior Design (binge watch today)- Sell This House Episodes 2020
Photo of an dining room for the One Room Challenge- Portfolio of Gray Space Interior Design
The perfect dining chair right now- Stature Ivory Chair, Black
Armoire to store all of your dining needs- Riley Cabinet
A tableware accent for your dining room table- Black and White Mod African Baskets - Uganda and Rwanda
Table runner by Bole Roads- Allen Table Runner - Onyx

Anne Sage, Interior Designer & Content Creator

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 09:34:00 GMT

Anne Sage, Interior Designer & Content Creator

Anne Sage has been blogging since 2008 with her signature smart yet stylish approach to interiors, entertaining, wellness, and more. In 2010, Anne co-founded the online lifestyle Rue Magazine. She is also the author of an interiors book entitled Sage Living, which was released Fall 2015 from Chronicle Books.

When I first got serious about doing this podcast in May, I wrote down a list of people that I admired, and I wanted to know more about their journey in interior design. Anne Sage was on the list because I remember one of my first styling shoots for AphroChic was with Rue Magazine, and Anne is the co-founder of this publication. Plus, I really enjoy perusing her IG account every week to see her styling shots vs. reality as a new mother. This week we have some real talk around Anne’s approach to the BLM Movement, and discussed what is she letting go of (interior design wise) for 2020.

Anne Sage has been blogging since 2008 with her signature smart yet stylish approach to interiors, entertaining, wellness, and more. A graduate of Stanford University, she worked as a consumer strategist in Manhattan prior to becoming a full-time content creator.

In 2010, Anne co-founded the online lifestyle Rue Magazine; and in 2016 she co-founded Light Lab, a photo and events space in Los Angeles. She is also the author of an interiors book entitled Sage Living, which was released Fall 2015 from Chronicle Books.

Currently, Anne splits her time between maintaining her own social platforms and offering client services in interior design, art direction and photo styling. She lives in Southern California with her husband, daughter, and their three pets.

Since we’re getting close to Thanksgiving, this week for our interior design game I wanted to focus on the future, and what are letting go of in 2021. I asked Anne to share with me 5 things in interior design that can create a happier home, and what is she letting go of interior design wise for 2020 to live a happier life in 2021?

The shoppable mood board this week focuses on Anne’s style, and some pieces from our conversation that you can bring home.

One of the things Anne loves to use to create a happier home are old family photos- Lot of 12 Old Photos, Family Photos
Anne is the author of this book- Sage Living: Decorate for the Life You Want Hardcover
Anne is the co-founder of this online interior design publication- Rue Magazine
A recently blog post from Anne- Diversify Your Instagram Feed with These 5 Tips
It’s important to invest in pretty appliances for a happier home (you use them everyday)- Haden Silt Green Dorchester Toaster
Anne’s daughter Halo is named after this Beyonce song- Halo Music Video
Another thing that is so important for a happy home are lots of closet space- Summerland Closet
Anne swears by Crypton fabric for your furniture pieces for a care free life- Crypton® Home Hesse Grey 54" Fabric

Nile Johnson, Interior Design Studio

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 09:30:03 GMT

Nile Johnson, Interior Design Studio

Since the Presidential election was decided this weekend by the state of Pennsylvania (also my hometown), I thought it was fitting to share my interview I did a few months ago with Philadelphia based interior designer Nile Johnson.

Since the Presidential election was decided this weekend by the state of Pennsylvania (also my hometown); I thought it was fitting to share my interview I did a few months ago with Philadelphia based interior designer Nile Johnson. We discuss what has his experience been like as a Black interior designer in the industry, and we also dug into what trends Nile loves right now (and it’s more difficult than you think, since Nile LOVES everything).

Nile Johnson Interior Design is a boutique design firm that specializes in comfortable, curated, and elevated spaces. From residential to commercial, and celebrity to CEO, our approach to every project is rooted in approachable luxury, and tailored to fit our clients needs.

House Beautiful Advisory Board Member & African-American top 20 Interior Designer; Nile Johnson was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, and is the multi-award-winning Interior Design Principal of Nile Johnson Interior Design. His work has been featured on HGTV as well as in national and local publications. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree, in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Philadelphia, and a Master of Science degree in Interior Architecture, from Chatham University.

Nile currently resides in Kennett Square, a western suburb of Philadelphia. He is an adjunct faculty member in the Interior Design department at a local college, a supporter for underprivileged youth, and a member of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

For this week’s mood board, I asked Nile about 5 Design trends from House Beautiful for 2020 , and we played LOVE IT or HATE IT and Why?

Nile loves window treatments that let’s the light in- Euro pleat drapes
Layered bedding is a must for Nile- St. Frank Bedding Textiles
Mosaic tile like this would work for a Nile Johnson Interior- Dean with Vintage Patina Stone Mosaic Floor and Wall Tile
Nile loves playing with texture and neutral tones in his spaces- Brown Shell Necklace on Stand
Nile likes a good saffron hue mixed into a space- Clementine Occasional Chair in Various Colors
Nile was featured in this issue of House Beautiful as an Advisory Board Member- The HB Advisory Board Members
An image of Nile Johnson’s work- Portfolio
Neutral tone abstract art is a must for Nile’s interiors- GEOMETRIC LINE BY TEAGUE COLLECTION

Elizabeth Rees, Founder Of Chasing Paper

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 09:17:59 GMT

Elizabeth Rees, Founder Of Chasing Paper

This week on The Moodboard Podcast I'm talking with Elizabeth Rees the founder of Chasing Paper. We discuss how Elizabeth got into the peel & stick wallpaper business, and how has she managed to make Chasing Paper a continued innovator in the marketplace.

This week of The Moodboard Podcast, I’m talking with Elizabeth Rees, the founder of Chasing Paper . We discuss how Elizabeth got into the peel & stick wallpaper business, and how has she managed to make Chasing Paper a continued innovator in the marketplace. We also have real talk around what is her companies approach to the BLM Movement, and what are they actively doing to create more change with inclusion and diversity. Lastly we get into some questions I hear ALL the time from clients about the Dos and Dont’s of wallpaper installations.

Elizabeth Rees is the co-founder of Chasing Paper, the pioneer and leader in the wall coverings company. As third generation in her family’s printing company, she grew up learning the ins and outs of ink, paper and patterns. With the belief that printing is not only a family tradition, but also a craft, Elizabeth carved out her own path in paper by developing a line of innovative, design-conscious removable wallpaper.

Elizabeth cultivated her entrepreneurial spirit over the past ten years of work, study and travel. After countless conversations with serial-movers, stylish mamas, renters who feel like anything but, DIYers and, of course, commitment-phoebes, the idea for Chasing Paper began to take form and Elizabeth, together with her brother Michael, formally launched the company in March 2013.

With the philosophy that design is for everyone, Chasing Paper offers customers an affordable, fun way to transform spaces of all sizes. Wallpaper is an extraordinary way to transform an environment, and removable wallpaper removes that fear of commitment many people have.

In 2020, the brand also launched traditional wallpaper, in their innovative and signature panel sizes (versus conventional rolls). Today, Chasing Paper has collaborated with numerous designers, artists and brands, including ban.do, Pottery Barn, Betsey Johnson, Penguin Random House, Pehr Designs, Darcy Miller, Lisa Congdon, Molly Hatch, Rebecca Atwood, Soludos, Ariel Okin, Nickelodeon and many more. The brand is sold at retailers including Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, Crate + Kids, and more.

For this week’s mood board, I focused on Chasing Paper’s approach to DIY, and looked for an area in the home that you can always make a big impact with a small amount of space (If you need some inspiration check out my entryway office I did with peel & stick wallpaper from Chasing Paper to transform my space). I thought an entryway was fitting for this board because it’s small, and probably the perfect starter space to play with peel & stick wallpaper for the first time.

Some tools that come in handy for your peel & stick wallpaper install- Wallpaper Tool Kit
Entryway Runner- Senna Rug
Peel & Stick wallpaper collaboration with New Hat- Rising Sun Wallpaper
Entryway inspiration screaming for wallpaper upgrade- Entryway space
Abstract shape mirror- Peyton Asymmetrical Wall Mirror
Ottomans to store under console- Auburn Ottoman
The Loveland Foundation therapy fund for Black women and girls- Donate
Entryway Console- Bone Inlay Console Table

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Leah Singh, Designer & Founder Of Leah Singh Inc.

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 09:12:05 GMT

Leah Singh, Designer & Founder Of Leah Singh Inc.

I'm excited to be kicking off this week with my interview with designer and founder of Leah Singh Inc. I have been a huge fan of Leah's work for years.

I’m excited to be kicking off this week with my interview with designer and founder of Leah Singh Inc. I have been a huge fan of Leah’s work for years. When you design with her pieces they instantly make a statement in any room, and as we move into the fall and winter months I think we need to look for home decor pieces that energize us and make us feel happy to be home. I feel like Leah’s home decor collection can do the trick!

Leah Singh features a collection of handcrafted textiles that mix traditional Indian craft techniques with unexpected color combinations, and modern, geometric forms. Designer and founder Leah Singh works directly with artisans in villages across India using embroidery, weaving, and printing techniques that are native to the region. Her philosophy is to rejuvenate these age-old, traditional crafts by transforming them into modern objects.

Leah grew up in India surrounded by it's rich cultural heritage, and then moved to New York to study Industrial Design at the Parsons School of Design, where she was surrounded by the structured, minimal lines of Western architecture. Her eclectic upbringing is reflected in each piece she designs.

She now travels between her two homes in New York and Delhi, collecting inspiration for new collections.

In our interview, I selected five design trends from Elle Decor’s List of Design Trends that are IN and OUT for 2020 written by Lucia Tonelli and Kelley Carter. I designed a mood board based on our conversation of trends that Leah loves, and also imagery of where Leah finds her inspiration to design this home decor collection.

Designed by Leah Singh, VERA BLACK RUG
Art Deco Inspired Sofa, Jimi Sofa in Green and Pink Velvet and Upholstery
A good read to learn more about textile art of India, Patterns of India
Art Deco Inspired Lighting, Empire Wall Sconce
Leah was inspired by The Bauhaus Movement, Bauhaus Sutterlin Poster
Leah loves a monochromatic space with bold colors, Monochromatic Room
Designed by Leah Singh, BLAH BLAH SQUIGGLE PILLOW
Design by TMSbyNIGHT, Bauhaus Art Credenza

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Byron Cordero, The Connector

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 08:49:59 GMT

Byron Cordero, The Connector

This week I'm excited to talk with Byron Cordero, Principal at Cordero Consulting to give us the deeds on the importance of PR and interior design. Byron has been in PR since as long as he can remember, and he's in one of the most competitive PR markets in the world-New York City.

If your looking at your brand and you feel like your portfolio is fire, but no one seems to be picking up on your work; hiring a PR agent can make all the difference from being stuck and going nowhere, to growing your business in the right direction.

This week I’m excited to talk with Byron Cordero , Principal at Cordero Consulting to give us the deeds on the importance of media relations and interior design. Byron has been in PR since as long as he can remember, and he is in one of the most competitive PR markets in the world—New York City. Little do interior designers know that the real matchmakers that help your business grow are people like him. They are the real matchmakers between publications and brands that are looking for interior designers who can execute a certain look or style. So when it comes to representing interior designers and getting them to the next level, Byron shares how you have to listen, and not just what they’re saying, but what are these designers doing to stand out from the crowd?

Byron and I also discussed the hurdles that he has experienced as a man of color in the interior design industry, and why allyship and calling out a racist incident when it happens are so important to begin to move forward with these issues.

For this week’s mood board, I designed an office space inspired by Byron’s overall style. I also thought an office space was fitting because when you get a PR agent it’s time to get to work!

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Danielle Blundell, Home Director For Apartment Therapy

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 08:42:33 GMT

Danielle Blundell, Home Director For Apartment Therapy

Danielle is the Home Director for Apartment Therapy, which is a lifestyle blog and publishing company focused on home design and decor. I hope you enjoy our talk where we discuss Danielle's editorial journey into the interior design industry, and what is Apartment Therapy doing in front of and behind the lens to create more diversity?

I am officially kicking off the fall season with my latest podcast interview with Danielle Blundell, the Home Director for Apartment Therapy . Ever since I was in my early twenties, and I got my first apartment in Brooklyn, the AT blog was my interior design Bible. Ever year I remember agonizing over images from the Smallest Coolest Contest, and studying how could I maximize every square inch of my apartment. In that little space I had a full size bed, a leaning desk, and a 65” sofa and media unit. So when I got picked to be one of the twenty designers for the Small/Cool experience for Apartment Therapy it was a dream come true.

I hope you enjoy my talk with Danielle where we discuss her editorial journey into the interior design industry. Plus, in connection to the Black Lives Matter Movement, what is Apartment Therapy doing in front of and behind the lens to create more diversity?

Danielle Blundell is a New York-based writer and editor that covers interiors, decorating, and organizing. She was the Senior Home Editor at Meredith publications, and she has written and been in a senior editorial positions for multiple publications including: This Old House, Family Circle, and Rachael Ray Magazine just to name a few. Danielle is now the Home Director for Apartment Therapy, which is a lifestyle blog and publishing company focused on home design and decor. The website was founded in 2004 and is currently led by Maxwell Ryan.

This week’s Interior Design Game is Name That Trend. Since Danielle is a guru at trend forecasting, I gave her word descriptions from a popular trend article she wrote that I have used on this show with other guests. She had to guess that trend with rapid fire responses. Shop the conversation with the mood board I designed below:

Boucle, although in Danielle’s opinion how practical is it? Beaumont Bouclé Settee
Broken Stripes, a patterned rug that took off for 2020- San Pedro Area Rug Olive - 8' x 10'
Painted arches, when in doubt put an arch on it- REMOVABLE Painted Arch Wall Decal, 22" wide - Fabric Peel & Stick!
Small Cool Contest, Interior shot from the Teeny Tiny Winner- Monique Villiger’s home
Beige is back, another trend for 2020 that really took off- Beigeing by Clare paint
Mask hook, a simple idea for under $15 to organize your face masks- Set of 3 Steel Hooked Refrigerator Magnets
Rachael Ray Home collection- Highline by Rachael Ray Home Upholstered Canopy Bed
This Old House publication from 1980, Danielle’s first job in the interior design industry- This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House Paperback

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-the-biggest-home-decor-trends-of-the-year-will-look-in-2020-36677880%3famp=1 and then ask you to name that trend, rapid fire responses.

Joy Moyler, Interior Designer To The Stars

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:34:46 GMT

Joy Moyler, Interior Designer To The Stars

This week I'm catching up with A-List interior designer Joy Moyler in another interview a part of the series, Where Are The Black Tastemakers Now? I wanted to learn more about Joy's new job at Veranda Magazine as contributing editor, and what can we expect from her IG Live weekly interviews, High Tea with Joy.

For consecutive 2019, 2020 Elle Decor A-List, and 2019 Top 20 Hollywood Reporter Interior Designer Joy Moyler has been influenced by fashion and it has underscored the content of JMI's projects. These influences of textiles, color, depth and pattern seep into projects carving their own place. They are punctuated with bespoke details often found in haute couture and men's haberdashery.

"Spain, at the age of fourteen led me on my career path. Enthralled with the colors, textures, angles, light, allure, flavors and fragrance of Madrid and Barcelona. The architecture beckoned me".

With a Bachelor of Science Architectural degree and more than twenty-five years of experience, Joy has worked with some of the most notable interior design firms and fashion houses: Ralph Lauren, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Kohn Pederson Fox, Swanke Hayden Connell, John Saladino, The Office of Thierry Despont and was the US Head Designer of the Giorgio Armani Interior Design Studio.

Several projects to date have included: Pia Getty Residence (London), John Mayer residences, Leonardo DiCaprio residences, David Garrett residence, Angelo Moratti residences, Adrien Brody residence, Harry Winston (Beverly Hills), The Mittal residence at Kensington Palace Gardens (London), David Geffen Residence, Boca Raton Resort, Price Waterhouse, Merrill Lynch to name a few. HRH Marie Chantal of Greece (London).

JMI is currently at work on several incredible International projects. RAEVO, a luxury golf resort just outside Moscow, Russia with a notable course designed by the famed golfer Jack Nicklaus. Also in progress is a Parisian flat in the landmark Hotel Plaza Athenee, English Country house and Portofino, Italy seaside villa.

On this week’s interior design game: LOVE IT OR HATE IT from Veranda 2020 Design Trends written by Rachael Burrow and Dayle Wood , check out the mood board above that I designed around trends that Joy loves from 2020. But remember, Joy Moyler doesn’t follow trends, she walks away from them and makes her own.

Midnight florals, dark and moody are a must for Joy- Ailey Wallpaper
The story of Joy’s bike- Huffy 24" Women's Nel Lusso Cruiser Bike, 54576, Mint, Wire Basket
Joy is the NEW Contributing Editor at Veranda Magazine- Veranda Print Magazine
Residential project from Joy Moyler Interiors- Close up shot photographed by David Land
High Tea With Joy her weekly IG LIVE show- Interview with Vincente Wolf
Furniture with curves is a Love it with Joy (but watch your angles when floor planning)- Onslow Curved Sectional, Berry Crypton Velvet
White Oak finishes Joy loves all the way - WALD 1L CUSTOM SUPREME PALATINADO
Joy can’t resist a piece with a cubist silhouette- Stylish 'Cornerframe' Chair with a Minimalistic Backrest

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Clarence Gabriel, Next Level Renaissance Man

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 08:29:36 GMT

Clarence Gabriel, Next Level Renaissance Man

This week I'm doing another interview a part of the series, Where Are The Black Tastemakers Now? I decided to catch up with Clarence Gabriel, who is a photographer, real estate agent, interior designer (and the list goes on and on).

This week I’m doing another interview a part of the series, Where Are The Black Tastemakers Now? I decided to catch up with Clarence Gabriel , who is a photographer, real estate agent, interior designer (and the list goes on and on). The last time we did an interview together was in 2016, and he owned a furniture store called 7th & Spring in Los Angeles. Well, a lot has changed since then; and now he lives in Atlanta and does photography, real estate, and multiple other projects. Plus, I have always enjoyed connecting with Clarence because of his infectious attitude towards positivity. To say that 2020 has been a trial for people is an understatement. There has been a lot of loss, sacrifice and overwhelming choices to make day in and day out. So I felt like talking with Clarence gave me a lot of hope and optimism on how to approach the unknown. Instead of focusing on a fearful future, Clarence reminded me to plant the seeds, dream big, and actively make your dreams a reality.

This week we played the interior design game, LOVE IT or HATE IT and why. We focused on interior design trends for 2020 from Architectural Digest written by Mikki Brammer. Above is a shoppable mood board based on my conversation with Clarence, be sure to listen and then shop the conversation.

Amped up neutrals, Lemieux Et Cie by Momeni Goubi Rug
A Portrait Chroncile of Black Emotion amidst extreme racial tension by Clarence Gabriel, @Ijustwant2live
Black owned Custom furniture designer Kevin Fuller, Velvet Bliss Chairs
Lived in luxury by none other than Kelly Wearstler, LOMA sofa
Clarence always has something with marble, Saarinen side table
Bold and colorful artwork to energize a space, Untitled from the Series, Losing It

Jenna Talbott, Editor In Chief Of New England Home Magazine

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 08:24:49 GMT

Jenna Talbott, Editor In Chief Of New England Home Magazine

I'm excited to be kicking of season three of The Moodboard podcast with Editor in Chief, Jenna Talbott of New England Home magazine. This publication is dedicated to showcasing the unique architecture, design, and building that defines the luxury home in New England.

I’m excited to be kicking of season three of The Moodboard podcast with Editor in Chief, Jenna Talbott of New England Home magazine .

Jenna Talbott is the new Editor in Chief of New England Home. This publication is dedicated to showcasing the unique architecture, design, and building that defines the luxury home in New England. From urban lofts to mountain retreats, from oceanfront compounds to suburban estates, New England Home celebrates the very best of living in New England.

On this episode we discussed what’s on this horizon for this publication after celebrating its fifteen year anniversary this fall? Plus, what steps is New England Home taking to get more people of color represented in front of the camera and behind the lens?

I decided to create a mood board this week based on our conversation inspired by businesses and creatives from the New England area. I also sprinkled in a few pieces that just feel so right for a New England inspired space.

15 Year Anniversary Edition of New England Home
Rattan X-bench, Costa X-Base Stool
Elizabeth Eakins Rugs, Donna’s Plaid, Vasa
Master Series Wool/Linen, Pattern Name: Donna’s Plaid in Cream/Denim/Natural
Hand Dyed/Hand Woven Wool/Linen Private Reserve, Pattern Name: Vasa in Tangerine
Table lamp, Chambers large table lamp in Cinnabar
Lumbar pillow, Floral Ikat Lumbar Pillow Cover in Tangerine/Blue
Patterned sofa, Slipcover sofa in Azul Doro by SF Girl By Bay
Wallpaper, Flora - Casbah Blue Floral Wallpaper
15 percent pledge, Sign the pledge

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Rebecca Atwood, Designer & Artist

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 08:14:43 GMT

Rebecca Atwood, Designer & Artist

As we creep closer and closer towards the end of summer, I've been trying to think of ways to hold onto that feeling of summer bliss. Well it took me no time to realize that I should reach out designer Rebecca Atwood.

As we creep closer and closer towards the end of summer, I’ve been trying to think of ways to hold onto that feeling of summer bliss. Well it took me no time to realize that I should reach out to designer Rebecca Atwood. I first discovered Rebecca’s home decor collection at the Javits Center in 2015. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw her home collection was that it was colorful and serene ( a combo I assure you in interior design that often goes horribly wrong in execution). I knew this conversation was going to be perfect timing for many, including myself as a New Englander, knowing that winter is coming, and I desperately want to hold onto that feeling of summer in my home this fall!

Rebecca Atwood is a designer and artist whose original collection of homegoods focuses on the artistic process. Blending traditional textile techniques and hand painting, Rebecca creates products that are both simple and luxurious. The line is deeply rooted in Rebecca’s everyday observations of her life in Brooklyn as well as her personal history – growing up on Cape Cod surrounded by the ocean, antiques and the family restaurant. With a focus on printing, weaving and embroidery, the products are truly one of a kind. Rebecca’s collections span pillows, fabric-by-the- yard and wallpaper, are they all designed and ethically produced in small editions in the United States. Rebecca is also the author of the best-selling design book, Living with Pattern, where she demystifies how to use pattern, a design concept that often confounds and confuses, demonstrating how to seamlessly mix and layer prints throughout a house. In her highly-anticipated second book, Living With Color, Rebecca explains how to create a color palette, teaching readers to find what resonates with their personal aesthetic and bring the magic of color into their homes.

In this week’s interior design game, Rebecca and I played the LOVE IT or HATE IT game, and why? This week’s trends were from Better Homes and Gardens and was written by Julianne Hilmes Bartlett. Fortunately Rebecca loved all of these trends, but there were some caveats. Check out the shoppable mood board below to get some ideas on how to bring these looks into your home this fall.

Statement Headboards, Deco Sun Headboard
Colorful botanicals, Flora pillow in terracotta
Support BLM Movement, Sketch by Rebecca
Daybed and its also velvet , Hutton Chaise in banks straw & River pillow in cerulean
Rattan & Cane pieces, Cane sideboard in green
Signed Copies of Rebecca’s Books, Book Bundle
Textured Wallcoverings, Cardiff Paperweave Wallcovering
Rebecca Atwood x Pottery Barn Collection, Rebecca Atwood Surf Reversible Organic Percale Duvet Cover

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio board app

Hilton Carter, Author & Interior Stylist

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 07:32:50 GMT

Hilton Carter, Author & Interior Stylist

I don't know if you've noticed it or not, but in interior design plants are definitely getting their 15 minutes of fame and then some (and I don't get it). So I decided to reach out to Hilton Carter aka The Plant Doctor and find out what is all the fuss about plants.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed it or not, but in interior design plants are definitely getting their 15 minutes of fame and then some (and I don’t get it). I have been working into the interior design industry for fifteen years, and plants have always been an important part of finishing off the interior design process. Every room needs a life, which in interior design refers to cut flowers, succulents, or a floor plant (faux or real these days). But I never thought about designing a room around plants, making a plant the centerpiece of a room. Also I don’t have a green thumb so potted plants have been reserved to photo shoots in my home. So I decided to reach out to Hilton aka The Plant Doctor and find out what is all of this about.

Hilton Carter received his BFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art and a MFA in film from Art Center College of Design. While drawing and film-making became major parts of his life, Hilton started to develop his skills in the styling and design space.

Over the past six years, Hilton has been filling his home with plants and teaching himself how to blur the line of indoor and outdoor. In 2017, he started creating video content on how to care for plants. Hilton shares weekly care tips as the "Plant Doctor" for Apartment Therapy. In the same year, he started traveling around the US to host plant care workshops and still do so today on Airbnb. In 2018, he wrote my first book on plant care and plant styling titled, Wild at Home and this spring he released his latest book, Wild Interiors . You can find Hilton sharing daily content on his Instagram @hiltoncarter .

For the interior design game this week, I wanted to get Hilton’s thoughts on the latest plant lingo. I also designed a shoppable mood board based on our conversation for some plant essentials you are going to want in your home. I hope this board gives you some inspiration for your next plant project or at the very least, you now know not to throw away your pencil shavings in the trash anymore.

The full look to be a good plant parent, The Plant Keeper Apron
Meditation pillow to become one with your plants, Black & White Mudcloth Floor Pillow
Add some POP to your plant room, Theo Lounge Chair
Vessel for propagating your plant cuttings in style, Osage Orange Live Edge Cradle
The iconic plant for your room, Fiddle Leaf Fig Potted Houseplant
Plant hack, Pencil shavings for plants
Watering can to give your plants the Midas touch, Haws mini water can
SIGNED copy of book by Hilton Carter, Wild Interiors Book

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Nicole Jackson-Bertrand, Njb Interiors

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 07:22:39 GMT

Nicole Jackson-Bertrand, NJB Interiors

I decided to do an interview this Nicole Jackson-Bertrand, she is a DIY guru and whenever I look at the jaw dropping beautiful photos of her home, and her backyard oasis I like to virtually transplant myself there, so I thought you might want to do the same (but for real, check out her IG design_it_vintage_living).

For many of us this summer we’re having a staycation, and for you lucky souls that were able to take a real vacation this year, I’m sure it was quite different from past years when it was mask free, and a lot less worrying about washing your hands every time you went to a new place. So I decided to do an interview this Nicole Jackson-Bertrand, she is a DIY guru and whenever I look at the jaw dropping beautiful photos of her home, and her backyard oasis I like to virtually transplant myself there, so I thought you might want to do the same (but for real, check out her IG account ). I decided instead of hearting her photos everyday, I wanted to learn more about her interior design business NJB Interiors. Plus, I wanted to pick Nicole’s brain about when should you DIY vs. Hire A Pro in this week’s interior design game.

Nicole Jackson-Bertrand is an Interior Designer, Builder/DIYer with a passion for interiors. Wood is her go-to material for tying spaces together to create a warm and sophisticated home, while keeping it on a "thrift store" budget. Her home is her canvas, a place to create a loving and livable home for her family. Nicole was featured in Parade Magazine, Curated Quarters Magazine, The Olive Guide, mentioned in Domino, and more

I was so inspired by Nicole’s backyard, that I decided to design a mood board based on her outdoor aesthetic. Check out the shoppable mood board I designed with the Morpholio board app, and pick up these items quick before you miss summer.

Slingback chair to lounge in while you read a book, Cabana chair in Tusk Doro
Outdoor daybed for naptime, SOL dolphin gray daybed
Outdoor lighting to set the mood at twilight, Simple String Lights
Statement outdoor rug, Rancherio Modern Minimalist Indoor/Outdoor Gray Rug
Outdoor stool to rest your drink, Ceramic Drum Indoor/Outdoor Side Table
Over scale lighting to layer with your string lights, Summerland Outdoor Bell
Umbrella with some fancy fringe, Black Sands Beach Umbrella
Basket to carry your drinks, Wicker Basket
Accent pillow to layer anywhere and everywhere, Sunbrella® Awning Striped Indoor/Outdoor Pillow, 18 x 18", Black

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Michiel Perry, Black Southern Belle

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 08:19:27 GMT

Michiel Perry, Black Southern Belle

This week we are going to talk with Michiel Perry, Founder of Black Southern Belle and a 28 Black Tastemaker, about how is she managing her business in the new normal and how are Black owned art galleries being impacted by the pandemic.

This week I connected with Michiel Perry Founder of Black Southern Belle, and she is also a part of the 28 Black Tastemakers class of 2017.

I have been a fan of the Michiel’s work for years. Black Southern Belle was the first time I saw a lifestyle brand from the south that fully embraces the experience of a Black women. Now full disclosure I am not a southern belle, and I have lived above the Mason Dixon line my whole life. The farthest south I have ever lived in is DC. But regardless of all that I still have always gravitated towards Michiel’s work; and its even why when I was in the beginning of my interior design business I saved up enough money from my interior design projects to travel to Charleston and be a panelist at the Black Southern Belle Collective in 2016. This week we are going to talk with Michiel about how is she managing her business in the new normal, and how are Black owned art galleries being impacted by the pandemic.

Mrs. Michiel Perry, 32, is a South Carolina girl who loves all things Southern and stylish. With a little inspiration, while planning her wedding in Charleston, S.C., and decorating her first home in Maryland, Mrs. Perry was inspired to develop a lifestyle brand focused on African-American women with a Southern connection called Black Southern Belle.

With her digital lifestyle brand Black Southern Belle, Mrs. Perry wanted to create an online and offline resource of lifestyle inspiration for African-American women in the South. In 2015, Mrs. Perry and her team expanded Black Southern Belle and developed an editorial division, ambassador program, online store, and the Black Southern Belle Collective. Black Southern Belle has been featured in numerous outlets, including HGTV, Essence, Black Enterprise, Draper James, Apartment Therapy, Brides, Today, Levo League, AOL Lifestyle Collective, and more. We have also done marketing campaigns with Pure Leaf, American Express, Gildan, Walmart, and various Fortune 500 companies.

This week Michiel and I did an interior design game around six design trends from House Beautiful for 2020 written by Hadley Keller that you are bound to see, and I wanted to know if Michiel LOVES IT or HATE IT and why. Above is a shoppable mood board based on my conversation with Michiel, be sure to listen and then shop the conversation.

Artwork by Jonathan Green, Soft quilts, 2017
Southern collard greens recipe
Rattan style end table, Annisa rattan side table
Apps to get you organized, Chloe digital
Purple Rain inspired sofa, Covet Paris como sofa
Classic blue trend, Pantone Color of the Year
Vintage Ebony Jr. Children's Magazine, Janet Jackson Randy Jackson November 1975
Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Multi Olden Medallion Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Seana Freeman, Geeky Glamohemian

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 07:18:18 GMT

Seana Freeman, Geeky Glamohemian

On this week's podcast, I decided to focus on the other side of interior design, home ownership. When you look at the facts, only 25% of African Americans are homeowners, while our White countertops are over 70%.

On this week’s podcast, I decided to focus on the other side of interior design, home ownership. We all know that for many, interior design starts when you own your first home. But when you look at the facts, only 25% of African Americans are homeowners, while their White countertops are over 70%. This great divide wasn’t due to lack of trying (or not pulling up our boot straps), it started systematically in 1940s & 1950s by the Federal Housing Administration that stated Blacks and people of color were barred from suburban like housing projects that were made for White low-income and middle class families. You can read more about this history in the book, The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. I decided to talk to Black Tastemaker Seana Freeman about the pitfalls of home ownership for Black people, and how can we create generational wealth?

Meet homeowner Seana Freeman aka the Geeky Glamohemian @bellybaila on Instagram. She discovered her passion for interior design after she bought her first house. For the first few years as a new home owner she refrained from decorating too much, her home was a new build and it looked beautiful, but it was missing something…paint. So Seana started with her first project, her office space. It wasn’t a primary room in her home, and it the perfect place to start with something bold, she chose fuchsia paint. Once she painted the room she actually felt a shift in her mood. From there Seana developed a fever for color, and her second adventure was with her peacock blue painted room with the gold ceiling. The third project was her room with a deep, dark rich green that almost looks green at first glance. Seana realized these rooms had an energy shift to them from the rest of the house. Now every room in Seana’s house isn’t painted bold colors, she has other neutral color spaces too. She sees her home as a giant canvas to paint and play with and she’s not afraid to shake things up.

During our interview I decide to ask Seana, ”What is the first room a new home owner should decorate?” and “How often do you bargain shop vs. buying new?” Check out the shoppable mood board I designed with the Morpholio board app to get inspiration for your next room makeover.

Drapery that pulls all of the colors in the room together, Layne Velvet Curtain
Book by Richard Rothstein, Color of Law
Leopard print Louis style chair for a personality piece, Darcy Armchair
Add a bold dramatic pop to any sofa or bed, Kuba pillows
Yellow is back, Piper Petite Velvet Pillow
Every room needs artwork, Caribbean Galaxy VI
Don’t be afraid of paint, Royal Fuchia paint
Layer these shapes anywhere organic shapes, Nyla Tables

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Genvevieve Gorder, Interior Designer & Tv Personality

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 07:03:57 GMT

Genvevieve Gorder, Interior Designer & Tv Personality

I decided to catch up with my friend Genevieve Gorder a few months ago when the pandemic had just started to learn about how was she surviving quarantine life in Manhattan, and talk about how she doing interior design work when NOTHING is business as usual.

Genevieve Gorder’s soulful style and genuine enthusiasm have made her one of America’s favorite interior designers for many years. She is the founder and director of the Genevieve Gorder brand, a television host and producer, a home product designer, contributing author, and global ambassador for home and human rights.

Gorder has appeared and been featured in over 20 lifestyle shows around the world. Currently, you can find Genevieve on Netflix, HGTV, Sony Channel Asia, The Design Network and as a regular contributor on The Rachael Ray Show. A two time Emmy nominee and regular design host at the White House, Genevieve has built multiple lifestyle collections for home. From rugs, textiles, wallpaper and stationary to a full line of furniture and decor for children debuting July 2017 with partner The Land of Nod.

Off Air and internet, Genevieve designs for a diverse group of clients and companies. She has guided many hotels, restaurants, cruise lines, cities and private clients towards their design fantasies. She travels the world with Oxfam as a Sister on the Planet, using her influence to fight global poverty, hunger and injustice with a particular focus on home and empowering women and girls worldwide.

Gorder’s work has been featured in numerous publications both nationally and internationally. Currently you can find her on the cover and featured in the NYT best seller “In the Company of Women”.

Genevieve resides with her husband, daughter and their very adorable puppy in Manhattan.

In our interview, I selected five design trends from Elle Decor’s List of Design Trends that are IN and OUT for 2020 written by Lucia Tonelli and Kelley Carter. I designed a mood board based on our conversation of trends that Genevieve loves, and just some fun takeaways from our conversation that you can also take home. I hope this board gives you some inspiration for your next design project or that the bundt cake at least helps your grumbling belly.

Indoor Herb Garden
Earth Tone Color Palette
Monochromatic Rooms
Wheat Elsinore Mali Cloth Area Rug designed by Genevieve Gorder
Bundt cake recipe
WAVERLY Genevieve Gorder Flock Velvet, Yard, Valentine
Marte Lounge Chair

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Interview With Andrea Pippins & Marcus J. Moore

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 06:49:46 GMT

Interview With Andrea Pippins & Marcus J. Moore

This interview is a part of my series, Where Are The Black Tastemakers Now? A few months ago I decided to follow-up with two tastemakers and learn what life looks like during quarantine living abroad. I also wanted to hear whats new with their careers since they left the US.

These interviews are a part of a series called, Where Are The Tastemakers Now? A few months ago I decided to catch up with two tastemakers that live abroad, Andrea Pippins and Marcus J Moore. I wanted to find out what’s new with their businesses, and how are they managing quarantine?

Andrea Pippins is an illustrator and author who has a passion for creating images that reflect what she wants to see in art, media, and design. Andrea is the author of: I Love My Hair , a coloring book featuring her illustrations celebrating various hairstyles and texture; Becoming Me , an interactive journal for young women to color, doodle, and brainstorm their way to a creative life; and We Inspire Me , a collection of essays, interviews, and advice on cultivating and empowering one's own creative community. She also illustrated Young Gifted and Black and Step Into Your Power . Her most recent publications is called, Who Will You Be? , were Andrea writes a book about all of the hopes and dreams a mother has for her newborn child. Andrea is based in Stockholm, Sweden with her husband and two children.

As part of my conversation with Andrea I was excited to design a mood board around her recent book, Who Will You Become? I imagined a reading nook where Andrea would read this book to her own son, check out the links for some design inspiration.

Andrea’s recent book, Who Will You Be?
Fun floor lamp for a reading nook, Camber floor lamp
The dreamiest chair and ottoman on earth to sit and read a book, Womb chair + ottoman
Fun pattern area rug, Bana rug azure
A curvy bookcase with some personality, Isobel bookcase
Color pencils to get inspired, Prisma color pencils
Coloring book, I Love My Hair

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Marcus J. Moore is an award-winning music journalist, senior editor, curator, pundit, budding music supervisor and author of The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America . The book is being published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, on October 13, 2020.

Marcus is also a contributing writer with The Nation and a contributing editor with Bandcamp Daily. His coverage of soul, jazz, hip-hop, and rock can be found at The New York Times, Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, NPR, Rolling Stone, and The Atlantic, among many other outlets. He currently resides in Nairobi, Kenya with his wife.

For Marcus’ mood board I decided to create a lounge area to listen to music. I remember being inspired by the music room that Forbes + Masters created, so I wanted to use that in my board for some ideas. Check out the links to get inspired too.

Marcus J. Moore’s upcoming book, The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America
Interior Design by FORBES+MASTERS, Music Room
Low key textured area for the space, Kista Rug
The perfect noise canceling headphones to enjoy your music, Beats Headphones
Accent pillow for daybed, Turquoise Batik SPOT Pillow
Accent pillow for daybed, Yellow Ankara Pillow
Daybed to hangout on and listen to your favorite music, Black and White Daybed
Your dream speaker system to listen to music, Speaker

***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Dabito, Old Brand New

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 06:40:44 GMT

Dabito, Old Brand New

DABITO is the founder and creative director of OLD BRAND NEW, a creative studio specializing in interior design and brand partnerships. In our conversation, Dabito shares how interior design was an outlet to help him deal with his depression growing up as a child.

We have been living in the pandemic for months now, and many of you may be feeling like your home is in need of some radical change. So I decided to reach out DABITO to get some expert advice on how to update our homes and transform them into mini oases.

Dabito is a blogger, photographer, artist, décor guru, tastemaker, passionate vintage hunter, and lover of all things design. As the force behind the creative studio and online design resource, Old Brand New , he has not only won an impressive social media following, but has been recognized by major outlets including Nylon, who named him one of the best Instagrammers, and Better Homes and Gardens, who included him in their Best Decorating Bloggers of 2015.

Best known for his creative use of color, his seamless mix of modern and vintage pieces, and approachable, DIY approach to design, Dabito has had his work featured in the New York Times, Architectural Digest, the Los Angeles Times, Dwell, Elle Décor, and House Beautiful. He also produced the stunning photography in the best-selling The New Bohemians Handbook series.

During our interview I decide to ask Dabito, ”What are 5 things every room should have to get the Dabito stamp of approval?” I must admit, I added a few more items based on Dabito’s instagram feed that are staples in his interior design work. Check out the shoppable mood board I designed with the Morpholio board app to get inspiration for your next makeover.

Paint color to add warmth to your space Deep Dive
You can’t go wrong with the color yellow Grasshopper floor lamp
Every room needs a plant Fiddle Leaf Fig
Artwork adds personality to any space Black Hair No.7 Art Print
Woven baskets can be layered into any wall gallery Ekibbo African Baskets
Make sure you add something quirkly to your room Face Art Cushion Cover
Every room needs something vintage Terenzio Rug
Furniture pieces with personality Micro Wingback Chair Black Leg Caaisa 09

***This Moodboard was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Angela Tafoya, Editorial Director Lonny Magazine

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 06:14:25 GMT

Angela Tafoya, Editorial Director Lonny Magazine

Discussed with Angela TaFoya the action items that LONNY magazine is taking to address the lack of inclusion of Black interior designers in the interior design industry.

Over the past month civil unrest around the Black Lives Matter Movement has spread across the country. It has also been a watershed moment in the interior design industry to address the lack of diversity and opportunities for Black interior designers. These conversations are not new to Black interior designers, and they have fallen on deaf ears for far too long.

Well it looks like the tides may be changing. I did an interview with Angela Tafoya the Editorial Director at Lonny magazine to discuss what are the action items her publication is going to take to create a more inclusive environment for Black interior designers in the design industry. As we said in the interview, this conversation is the first step towards change.

Angela lives in the Bay Area covering interiors, travel, weddings, and parenting. Her writing has appeared everywhere from Refinery29 to Opening Ceremony to Conde Nast Traveler. Her vision for LONNY is to have a daily dose of interior design inspiration for readers that is accessible if you’re a renter, a first time home buyer, or you need new ideas to refresh your home.

This shoppable mood board was inspired by the conversation I had with Angela about how to create more inclusion for Black designers in the interior design industry. Below are links to interior design platforms that are accepting donations, as well as conversations and a photo shoot I have done in the past with Lonny magazine.

Top Right Corner: Black Interior Designers Network

Middle Left: Aurora James, the force behind the idea the 15% pledge

Middle: Black Artist + Designers Guild

Middle Right: The Vogue Room foundation

Bottom Left: Nursery design my first publication with LONNY magazine

Bottom Right: Conversation I had with LONNY, Black Interior Designers Spill On Diversity In The Industry

***This Moodboard was designed with the Morpholio Board App

Where Are The Tastemakers Now? Interviews With Rochelle Porter & Rashad Frazier

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 06:09:13 GMT

Where Are The Tastemakers Now? Interviews With Rochelle Porter & Rashad Frazier

I launched The Moodboard Podcast to continue the discussions around race, culture, and interior design all year long. These interviews are a part of a series called, Where Are The Tastemakers Now? I decided to catch up with Rochelle Porter and Rashad Frazier, two tastemakers that I haven’t spoken to in years to learn about what’s new with their businesses, and how are they managing quarantine.

Rochelle Porter Design (RPD) is an Atlanta-based lifestyle brand specializing in vibrant, happy home décor and fashion textiles derived from her original artwork. In Rochelle’s designs she believes that sustainability can be stylish and affordable. Her brand’s eclectic travel pouches, throw pillows, and mobile accessories are ethically made with high-quality organic cotton and eco-friendly materials. RPD aims to design the flyest possible products while doing the least possible harm.

The Charlotte native, Rashad Frazier rolled up his sleeves six years ago and started PULLEDTOGETHER , a food and lifestyle brand with a curated collection of products and culinary services. The mission is simply to demystify what it’s like to make a good meal and to share the tools to do so. PT is the destination for those who marvel at tradition and enjoy bringing loved ones to the table to not only break bread, but shape traditions.

Rashad also launched four years ago, Yoshi Jenkins , a unique food platform which designs and crafts curated dining experiences for brands such as Macallan Whiskey, Vera Bradley, Tequila Avion, Jonathan Adler, Uptown Records and many more.

I felt it was important to interview Rochelle and Rashad for this podcast because health and wellness go hand and hand, and Rochelle’s new athletic collection felt like the perfect compliment to Chef Rashad’s flavor-able and healthy food. Listen to our conversations, and get some inspiration for your summer athletic leisure look and some new recipes to add into your rotation.

Rashad’s essential items for your cupboards, tuna
Rashad’s essential items for your cupboards, pasta
Rochelle Porter Designs, Red Lala pillow
Rashad’s essential items for your cupboards, honey
Rochelle Porter Designs, Pundamilia Sports Bra
Rochelle Porter Designs, custom cloth napkin
Rashad’s summer BBQ salad, recipe
Rashad’s essential items for your cupboards, Anson Mills rice
Custom made pottery, DM ceramicist Denise McKenzie-Lee

***This Mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board app

It's A Family Business: Interview With Amber Guyton & Cheryl Luckett

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 05:51:33 GMT

It's A Family Business: Interview With Amber Guyton & Cheryl Luckett

When I started 28 Black Tastemakers in 2016, I wanted to create a list to celebrate the work of black interior designers and creatives from around the globe. Little did I know that quite a few of these black tastemakers were related like Amber Guyton from Blessed Little Bungalow and Cheryl Luckett from Dwell by Cheryl . They are cousins, and they both have distinct styles with interior design.

Southern Home describes Cheryl Luckett’s style as "opulence in reach” with “vintage treasures and ingenious restyles” as essential tools in her design kit. Cheryl believes her clients should dwell in a home they love; a place that gives them a sense of well-being both indoors and out. She describes her design aesthetic as sophisticated but approachable; easy and livable. Launched in 2012, Dwell by Cheryl Interiors continues to grow with clients raving about Cheryl’s ability to transform a space, as well as her professionalism and attention to detail.

Amber is the blog creator and design consultant of Blessed Little Bungalow. She is a South Carolinian turned Georgian, Texan and now Californian, that faithfully decided to create something new. Amber wholeheartedly believe that you should love where you live, and loving your home shouldn’t require spending a fortune! Amber has been a design-on-a-dime decorator for herself and loved ones for years, and after purchasing her second home affectionately known as Blessed Little Bungalow, she decided to share her interior design journey, DIY adventures, decorating advice and services with the masses.

In my interview I wanted to learn more about Cheryl and Amber’s family history with interior design, and what are ten essential items everyone’s desks should have when you’re working from home.

Every desk & office needs lighting: Stem table lamp
Store your desk accessories in boxes & baskets: 15” Pompano Box
Florals are must real or faux: Hydrangea Centerpiece in planter
Use trays to corral your mess in the office: Bamboo Accent Tray
Nearby storage: Vintage 14 Drawer Oak Maple Cabinet
Stylish and functional office chair: Finley Swivel Office Chair
Desk accessories with some style: Gold Metal Wire Desktop Organizer Kit
Artwork and motivational quotes: Magic…The Black Girl Kind
Lighting with some personality: Amur Table Lamp
Writing Desk: Lexington Nautica Campaign Style Emerald and Brass Desk

***This Mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board app .

Where Are The Tastemakers Now? Interview With Magalie Rene

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 05:43:43 GMT

Where Are The Tastemakers Now? Interview With Magalie Rene

This interview is a part of the Where Are The Black Tastemaker's Now? Series. I connected with Magalie Rene about the importance of self care in a time of pain and suffering.. We all need tools protect our mental health to heal, grieve, and focus on strategies to move forward with allies.

I launched The Moodboard Podcast to continue the discussions around race, culture, and interior design all year long. Listen to a conversation I had with business strategist and author Magalie Rene about the importance of self care during a time of so much uncertainty.

Magalie René is a Business Strategist, Speaker, Corporate Facilitator, and Bestselling Author of the book, Kid-Smart Spaces: Decorating a Classroom That Changes Lives . With a 13-year career in public relations, marketing and philanthropy, she has worked with companies like Heineken, HGTV, Fidelity Investments, New York Life Insurance, and The Ford Foundation, among others. More recently, Magalie has delivered team-building and leadership workshops for Live Nation, California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech), and Kaiser Permanente.

As the founder of “Find Your Shine,” she hosts transformational events and courses for entrepreneurs and business leaders, inspiring them to conquer fear and share their message. Magalie is a contributor to Mind Body Green and has been featured in Dr. Oz The Good Life Magazine, Goalcast, Good Housekeeping Magazine and more.

When she’s not speaking, writing, or coaching you can find the native Brooklynite on a walk in her cities of residence (Los Angeles and Palm Springs) with her dog, Prince.

Gabriela Gargano, Grisoro Interiors

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 05:37:53 GMT

Gabriela Gargano, Grisoro Interiors

Gabriela Gargano first discovered her love of interiors at the age of 14 with her first job at an interior design boutique, where she worked directly for the owner and buyer for 6 years. After graduating from college, she spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs, as a sales trader and relationship manager. She simultaneously grew her passion of interior design through real estate investing, renovation, and staging of her properties in Manhattan. Gabriela’s background in finance and real estate investing allows her to apply a rigorous and result-oriented focus to interiors.

Established in 2016, Grisoro Designs is a full service interior design firm located in New York City. Their style blends clean lines with rich textures and eclectic pieces, referencing art and vintage design. The studio has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Domino, NY Spaces, and several other publications. Services offered include interior design, full-scale renovations, project management, budget management, art curation and real estate advisory.

Gabriela’s portfolio of work has been featured in many publications including Architectural Digest, Domino, and House Beautiful. In our interview, I hand picked design trends from Elle Decor’s In and Out List for 2020 written by Lucia Tonelli. Also, Gabriela’s work merges rough and refined elements together to create a timeless look; so I was inspired to create a chic office mood board inspired by her style. I hope it helps you re-think your own office space, it’s all about the layers and adding a “soul” to your space.

Favorite spot to source fabrics, Schumacher Sierra Natural
Architectural Sketches, Brunelleschi’s Dome Print
Antique Desk, Antique French Louis XVI Style Ebonized Desk
Lounge chair, Holly Hunt Harlow Lounge Chair
Refined office tray, Project 62 Rectangle Wood & Metal Tray Set Black /Brass
Earth Tone Color Palette, St. Frank Blush Cactus Silk Euro pillow
Rough accessory, St. Frank Teak Tree Root Bowl
Handmade accessory, Project 62 Decorative Rattan Black Basket
Office chair, Eames Soft Pad Management Chair with Pneumatic Lift
Refined office clock, Project 62 20” Walnut Woodgrain Wall Clock Black
Desk Lamp, Glisan Table Lamp
Broken Stripe Rugs, Stripes Pink/Red

***This Mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board app

Carmen Rene, Aquilo Interiors

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Mon, 25 May 2020 05:27:42 GMT

Carmen Rene, Aquilo Interiors

Carmen is an Oakland-based interior designer from Aquilo Interiors specializing in bold, culturally-rich, curated design. Her design style is eclectic, layered and maximalist. She loves to blur the lines between clean modern pieces, playful shapes, bold colors, fun prints and dynamic patterns. Carmen brings those elements together to create a beautiful and unexpected work of art. She believes interior design is a personal journey where we can bend the rules to chase our wildest dreams.

As a classically trained designer in both Architecture (B-Arch) and Fine Art, Carmen loves to combine functionality and innovation. Over the past nine years, she has designed high-end residential homes, kitchens + baths, hotels, restaurants and bars throughout the Bay Area. As a potential client, you can anticipate a personalized experience that will be comfortable, authentic, exciting and just plain fun!

Carmen was featured as one of the 20 Changemakers of 2020 by Apartment Therapy. So in our interview, I selected pieces that reflect Apartment Therapy’s 2020 Trend list written by Danielle Blundell. Then I designed a mood board based on my conversation with Carmen. I hope this curated list of interior design trends that Carmen loves will inspire you to make your home more BOLD and playful.

Indoor Murals, Abstract Female Figure 20 Wall Mural
Marie Kondo Living, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Horizontal Stripes, Bold Stripe Cotton Rug
Beige Is Back, Farrow & Ball Elephant’s Breath
Perfect For A Fort, Twilight Sleeper Sofa
Faux Plants, Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant
Black & White Interiors, SIN Pillow
Mirror Magic , Believe In Who You See Mirror
Sculptural furniture, Isadora Table

Orlando Soria

angelabelt.interiors@gmail.com (Belt) — Fri, 15 May 2020 04:59:16 GMT

Orlando Soria

Orlando Soria is an interior designer, writer, and host of the show, Build Me Up coming to HGTV this summer. He got his start on HGTV as Emily Henderson's on-camera assistant on the home makeover series ' Secrets From A Stylist .' After working with Emily Henderson he started his own interior design firm, Homemade Design. He is best known for his blog Homemaker and his popular Instagram account. Orlando has been a staple of the design industry for years, appearing in TV series on OWN and many other networks. His first book, "Get It Together!" was released in April 2018. Orlando currently resides in Los Angeles.

In our interview, I selected five design trends from HGTV ’s List for 2020 written by Caroline Alkire. I designed a mood board based on our conversation of trends that Orlando loves, and found pieces that you can buy to recreate the look. I hope this board sparks some joy for your next interior design project.

SHOPPABLE MOODBOARD SEASON 2 EPISODE 3

Nature Inspired Design, Catta Natural Coffee Table
A New Spin On Blush, Bandera Rug
My Favorite Color Is Pink, Benjamin Moore First Light
Cute & Curvy furniture, Gwyneth Boucle Loveseat
Make It Vintage…But Not French, Vintage Art Deco Sideboard
Garden Rooms (bringing the outdoors inside), Faux lemon tree
Abstract shaped decor, Grand Lubin Mirror

MOODBOARD PODCAST EPISODES - Angela Belt

Creative Director for Mikel Welch, James Bianca

Creative Director for Mikel Welch , James Bianca

Beth Diana Smith, Interior Design Studio

Natalie Papier, Co-Star of Magnolia Network's Artfully Designed

WEEK EIGHT: REVEAL DAY!

How it Started

How It Ended

Maybe Next Time

Hema Persad, CEO + Principal Designer at Sagrada Studio

WEEK SEVEN: ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Fernando Duque, Co-Founder of Duke Renders

WEEK SIX: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Photowall Mural for My ORC Toddler Room Makeover

Adds Visual Interest

Durability

Easy to Install

Ati Williams, Netflix TV Host & General Contractor

WEEK FIVE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Gail Davis, Gail Davis Designs

WEEK FOUR: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

WEEK THREE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

WEEK TWO: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

WEEK ONE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

The Vision

Layout

CeilinG

Closet AND ROOM Organization

Hadiya Williams, Decorative Artist & Surface Designer

David Land, Photographer and Director

Week Eight: REVEAL DAY!

Week Eight: REVEAL DAY!

The Accomplishments ﻿

Honorable Mentions

Maybe Next Time

Danielle Woodhouse-Johnson, Founder of The Oasis Alliance

Danielle Woodhouse-Johnson, Founder of The Oasis Alliance

Week Seven: Spring One Room Challenge

Week Seven: Spring One Room Challenge

Progress Report

Install Week

Jaime Derringer, Founder of Design Milk and Clever Podcast

Week Six: Spring One Room Challenge

Week Six: Spring One Room Challenge

Progress Report

Loose Ends

Next Week

Lauren Makk, Interior Designer, DIY Expert, and HGTV Television Host

Week Five: Spring One Room Challenge

Week Five: Spring One Room Challenge

Update Flooring

The 5th Wall

Week Four: Spring One Room Challenge

Week Four: Spring One Room Challenge

Swivel Chair

Rocker

Week Three: Spring One Room Challenge

Week Three: Spring One Room Challenge

Option #1

Option #2

Option #3

Week Two: Spring One Room Challenge

Week Two: Spring One Room Challenge

Week One: Spring One Room Challenge

Week One: Spring One Room Challenge

THE BACKSTORY

THE VISION

Blair Paysinger, Founder of Post21

NEW EPISODE

〰️

NEW EPISODE 〰️ NEW EPISODE 〰️

BOXI by Semihandmade, Founder John McDonald

BOXI by Semihandmade, Founder John McDonald

Alberthe K. Buabeng, Founder of Albie Knows

NEW PODCAST

〰️

NEW PODCAST 〰️ NEW PODCAST 〰️

Anitra Terrell, Founder of Reflektion Design

Nasozi Kakembo, Founder of xN Studio

Nasozi Kakembo, Founder of xN Studio

The Accomplishments