Live

Home

Soul of the Home

Embrace the energetic
colors and striking
culture that inhabit
these one-of-a-kind
family spaces

Back in the day, many homes

looked like replicas of one another,
with plastic-covered sofas, hulking
wooden dining room sets and floral
or paisley draperies throughout.
Then, the Afrocentric design of the
80s and 90s overwhelmed rooms
with excesses of African masks and
animal prints. Although those eras
will forever hold a nostalgic place in
our hearts, the new Black home is a
personalized hybrid of cultures, styles
and flavors. From an industrial loft
in Brooklyn to a bungalow in New
Orleans or a California ranch, AfricanAmerican homeowners are tastefully
incorporating global elementssuch
as textiles, patterns, wallpaper, art
and accentsinto their spaces where
distinctive style reigns supreme.
It is this new wave of interior design
that inspired husband-and-wife duo
Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason to
write Remix: Decorating With Culture,
Objects and Soul ($30; Potter Style).
As a design lover, Ive always wanted
to have a book that showcases diverse
families of African descent who have
amazing interiors, says Hays, cofounder of the textiles brand and blog
AphroChic. Its not something that
you find leafing through the national
home-decor magazines. What began
as a fruitless search for a pillow with
a woman sporting an Afro turned into
a six-year project to showcase their
variety of elegant edge.
From Congolese kuba prints in the
kids rooms to original works of art by
Mark Bradford or Kenturah Davis in
the foyer, Mason says contemporary
Black homeowners find clever ways
to blend heritage, where [they] come
from and point of view in ways that
warm up what can be a cold standard
in modern design. In advance of
the November release of Remix, the
Philadelphia couple shows off three
extraordinary spaces to demonstrate
their style.

70

v i s i t e b o n y. c o m /

Di n in g o n D is p l ay
This Brooklyn abode
allows dynamic color and
iconic images to take center
stage as the cooling turquoise
simply inspires, says Hays.
Reminiscent of tropical seas,
the dining room is given a
soulful touch with a rail of
striking black-and-white photography. Though a cursory
glance reveals the notable
faces of Luther Vandross and
Ella Fitzgerald, a closer look
illuminates shots of family
and friends in the collection.

october 2013

The Brooklynite keeps a

neutral palette for the dining
set and accents, mixing birch
with glass, metal and simple
cotton chair covers tapping
a variety of retailers such as
CB2, Restoration Hardware
(the chandelier) and AphroChic. Sidestep the traditional
rules of design, says Mason;
instead, Focus on principles
that will bring culture into
spaces. Now and even as
modern design evolves, these
principles will still hold true.

GET THE LOOK:

Behr Paint in Bali Bliss

PPU13-5 (prices vary;
behr.com)
Numi Candleholders
($4.95 each; cb2.com)
Steel Polyhedron
Pendant Small ($395;
restorationhardware.com)
Black-and-White Photographs
of Historical Figures (from
$39.99; ebony.com/store)

P h o t o g ra p h s b y Pat r i c k c l i n e

re p r i nte d fr o m R e m i x , c o p y r i g ht 2 0 1 3 b y J ean i ne H ay s an d B r yan M as o n , p u bl i she d b y p o tter st y le , a d i v i s i o n o f ran d o m h o u se llc

"This is a
smile-inducing
shade. It
makes people
feel good,"
says Hays.

Live

Home

Ethnic-chic
decor patterns
such as ikats
and chevrons
now pervade
home design
and fashion.

T r av e l

e rs Pa r a d is e

& In this Inglewood, Calif., living

room, a glamorous feature wall is juxtaposed
with collected objects from international travels. Embrace the wallpaper trend as a way to
make a big expression, says Hays, who designed this graphic print. African stools, Indian
inlaid chairs and the curated collection of figurines are all examples of traditional items that,
when arranged against this backdrop, show
off the owners interactions with cultures half a
world away. Trading kitschy souvenirs for authentic pieces, travelers, Mason says, are ever
mindful of elegant decor while vacationing. It
is completely different from the way people
used to travel years ago, adds Hays. When
shopping for global furnishings, keep these tips
in mind: Look for pieces that have a sculptural
design, are made from natural elements and
go beyond themes such as safari chic to truly
reveal the culture they represent. Hays insists
this will make the pieces carry more meaning
in your home.
GET THE LOOK:

The Vibe Wallpaper

($150 per roll; aphrochicshop.com)
Natural Bowen Wishbone Chair
($139; worldmarket.com)
Rhino Object and Abstract Giraffe
($29 and $24; westelm.com)

P r i n ts C h a r m i n g
# Bright and bold,
these hot-pink oversize ikat
prints make a stylish statement
in this girls room in Venice, Calif.
You can get ikat prints in so
many color weaves today, [and]
they can take on such a life of
their own, Hays says of the vivid
touch that is both versatile and
more elevated than a typical
childs room. Adorning the twin
beds with solid-pink valances
keeps the space from looking too
busy, while the floors and walls
provide a neutral base. Hays

72

v i s i t e b o n y. c o m /

suggests considering vibrant

suzani, chevron or geometric
kuba print textiles for a DIY project; eye-catching upholstery can
completely transform new or
repurposed furniture.
GET THE LOOK:

Robiya Magenta Silk Ikat Pillow

($100; thebootstrapproject.com)
Ndebele Rug (prices vary;
maleneb.com)
Tommy Hilfiger Bedding, Preppy
Ikat Comforter and Duvet Cover
Sets ($70 to $250; macys.com)

october 2013

Home decor,
says Mason,
"revolves around
personalization."