Interior Design
Explore inspirational homes from across the African Diaspora and the stories of the people who give them life.
Paul Suepat: Color and Whimsy in Brooklyn
Kingston born and Brooklyn-based, artist Paul Suepat is a student of contrasts. Focused constantly on the nebulous space between ambiguity and definition, his art moves between sculpture and painting, whimsical figures and strong abstract shapes, specific emotions and imaginative contexts. His home too is a class in the power of opposites. Here, trend-forward rooms defined by bright splashes of color sit beside (or beneath) spaces where restrained motifs speak more of the past than the future. And everywhere there is art. Art that Paul creates and art that he admires; pieces gifted from fellow creatives and pieces left from his massive installations for public works and private galleries. The effect is magical, and each room, no matter how different, feels like somewhere that deserves further exploration.
Kelley Carter’s Fashion Forward Interior
In past lives she has been a home decor editor eyeing the latest design trends, a fashion editor perusing the scene at New York Fashion Week, and even at the helm of assisting Oprah in curating her favorite things. There is no doubt that stylist, editor and creative director, Kelley Carter, knows style, and she brings an abundance of it to her home in Brooklyn, New York. Her small railroad style apartment has benefited from ingenuity born from Kelley’s creative mind. A mix of vibrant textiles, customized pieces and rare art make this Brooklyn apartment a stunning space full of well-curated design ideas.
The New Bohemian Home of Justina Blakeney
Author and designer Justina Blakeney knows all about decorating with feeling. As the founder of Jungalow and author of the New York Times bestseller, The New Bohemians, Blakeney is a go-to resource for decorating advice of all kinds. Her latest release, The New Bohemians Handbook inspires us to look past the nuts and bolts of design to create spaces filled with positive energy. Visiting the author’s home in the scenic Silver Lake area of Los Angeles is like walking through the pages of her book - full of breathtaking moments, daring design, and good feelings straight from the designer herself.
Tanika And Brian’s Home In The Clouds
New York City is often touted as one of the nation’s great melting pots - a place where people of all nations come together to create a culture and a city that is like no place else on earth. And while that is undoubtedly true, New York is also a nesting doll, made of cities within cities, all constantly in the act of being built, with more popping up all the time. One of the newest places to explore is Long Island City. Not to be confused with Long Island itself, the city sits on the western edge of Queens, right at the point where the Queensboro bridge ends its trip from Manhattan. There, in a luxurious twenty-third floor apartment with commanding views of both Brooklyn and Manhattan, interior designer Tanika Goudeau Hochhauser makes her home with her husband, Brian, using all of her styling ability to ensure that the view inside her space is every bit as breathtaking as the one outside her window.
Julio and Kenza’s Modern Clinton Hill Brownstone
“My life is art,” remarks Julio Leitao, upon entering he and his wife Kenza’s five-story brownstone in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. The home that the Leitao’s have built is truly a work of art. A home that had been in the family for generations, the Leitao’s were tasked with a modern update. Transforming an outdated interior into a refreshing interior, perfect for them and their girls, Luena and Zeza.
At Home With Fashion Designer Reuben Reuel
Reuben Reuel’s womenswear brand, DEMESTIK, is making waves in the fashion world. The designer has a celebrity clientele that includes Beyonce, Jill Scott, Tamron Hall and Andra Day, and is dedicated to creating culturally-inspired pieces that truly make women shine.
Designer Dani Arps’ Harlem Apartment
Designer Dani Arps remembers her move-in day like it was yesterday. “When I first moved into my space I had very little,” she recalls. “Just the few pieces that I'd permanently 'borrowed' from my parents, a couple of pieces of artwork from my love, Billy Ruiz - an extraordinary artist - and some artwork I'd created myself.” But even without an abundance of furniture, Dani, a former art and music major, looked at the space that would be her home and saw nothing but opportunity. “I like to think of my home, and spaces in general, as artwork we live in,” says Arps. “I can look around the room and tell the story of how each item came to my home. It's important to appreciate each piece and let it tell it's story. I think that the feeling I have about the pieces in my home is what gives my apartment life.”