This is Part 2 of my Black History Month: Favorite African American designers. If you haven’t seen Part 1, you can check it out here. With African Americans only making up about 2% of the interior design industry, black women designers have found a way to be successful in spite of that. From posting on Instagram to create awareness, to writing in a blog to just pure hustle and grit, black women are making strides and becoming known for their unique perspective on design. I appreciate these creative women because they have inspired me on my journey and they are all giving back to other women and communities. I know the saying might be a bit overdone but it’s true; “representation matters”.
Cecil’s Designers Unlimited – Cecil Hayes
Cecil Hayes worked as a teacher before studying interior design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 1971. She worked at a design firm for two years and then started her own firm. In 1983 she became the first African American designer to manufacture furniture and upholstery. Her style is elegant and classic and she has designed for Samuel L. Jackson, Timbaland and Wesley Snipes. She is an OG who has paved the way for many African American designers that came up behind her.
Credited as the first Black designer to be featured in Architectural Digest, Cecil Hayes was also the first black designer to be on the AD100 list. She has made the AD100 several times since and has written two design books.
This classic design is mostly neutral but the large oversized art adds a pop of color that turns this dining room into a wow moment.
I love this dining room with it’s statement wall and curvy Italian lounge sofa and leather chair. Very bougie but also approachable.
Romanek Design Studio – Bridgette Romanek
Image via Romanek Design Studio
Bridgette is based in Los Angeles and is a designer to the stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce and Joe Jonas. She has been in the AD100 for the past five years straight and is also on Elle Decor’s “A” List and 1st Dibs “50” List for the last three years. She thought she wanted to be a lawyer, but when someone heard her sing, she was snapped up by a record company for a girl group. After leaving the music industry, she was designing handbags for friends and it soon led to Barney’s and other high end department stores ordering her designs. After having several sample sales in her home, everybody raved about her home and a star was born. Opening her own firm in 2018, she creates stunning interiors that embrace the historical touches but brings in modern silhouettes.
She’s collaborated with Maison Margiela, Christie’s and Birdie’s to name a few and wrote a book called “Livable Luxe”. A lighting collaboration with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams was the first collaboration they had ever done with an outside designer. Let’s just say that Ms.Romanek is one talented woman.
From the paper chandelier to the light aqua chairs and the art, this dining room is so chic.
Image via Romanek Design Studio
“The Great” retail store was one of Bridgette’s commercial designs and I love the touches of industrial with the brass poles and black metal beams. The wood just warms everything up.
Image via Romanek Design Studio
The lighting collection with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has everything I love; brass and sexy curvy lines. Unfortunately MG + BW has been going through some financial hardships and has been bought out. Plans on the new company opening a furniture factory offering designs “to the trade” only are in the works.
Laura Hodges Studio – Laura Hodges
Out of all the designers in this series, Laura Hodges is the one that is closest to my design style. A mix of Organic Modern and Industrial, she uses unique vintage finds and art to create an eclectic design. Located in the Baltimore/DC area, Laura was actually born in Northern England. She got her Interior Design degree in New York and opened her boutique firm in 2016. Being a mother of two young children, she started out part time and gradually developed a very loyal clientele.
Honored by both House Beautiful as a “Next Wave” designer and Traditional Home, she was also named one of the top 20 designers by Sothebys in 2020. With a LEED certification for sustainable design, she wants to increase the awareness for sustainable design in the world. DOMAIN is her brick and mortar shop and online store located in Maryland.
Love this office with its light colored wood furnishings and black metal windows.
If I could design the perfect room for myself, it would look like this. Perfect mix of Organic, Rustic and Industrial.
Dark and moody, this living room has a sexy masculinity to it that I’m drawn to.
Laquita Tate Interiors – Quita Tate
Image via Laquita Tate Interiors
Here is another designer who started on Instagram and grew her business from there. Quita Tate showed us how she decorated her house room by room and eventually that led to her opening Laquita Tate Interiors in 2020. Located in Memphis, TN, her design style is a little Boho mixed with modern touches. The amazing part is that she’s an elementary school principal and works on her design business after hours. That’s just amazing.
As a content creator, she’s had brand partnerships with a host of brands like HGTV, Sherwin Williams and Apartment Therapy. Shortly after opening her firm she was asked to participate in “Art by Design” hosted by ArtMemphis which is a very prestigious annual design series supporting the art community . Very inspiring.
Colorful, but also restrained, this bedroom has the black and white contrast that goes so well with the wood.
Image via Laquita Tate Interiors
Creating a living outside, I love the black pergola and rattan lights.
Image via Laquita Tate Interiors
Beth Diana Smith Interior Design – Beth Diana Smith
Beth is located in the New York/New Jersey area and started out in the corporate world of accounting and finance. So right there we have that in common since accounting and finance is where I started. She left corporate and got an interior design degree at the New York School of Design in 2024 and opened her design firm right before she graduated. She can mix modern and vintage like nobody’s business and uses art as a way to tell a story.
She’s been written up in numerous publications like Veranda, Domino, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, My Domaine and many more. Besides being my personal inspiration, she gives back to her community and is one of the founding members of the BADG (Black Artists + Designers Guild).
I love this kitchen with the contrast of the wood and modern white kitchen.
Her living room says it all. An eclectic mix of colorful art and furnishings makes this a dynamic space.
Justina Blakeney
Last but not least, the woman who single handedly brought Boho Design to the masses. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. Fight me. Haha. What can I say about Justina that hasn’t been said already. Her motto is “Just add color, pattern and plants”. Even if you are not a fan of Boho, I’m sure you know who she is. Her style is so distinct that you can see one of her rooms and know it’s her. People have tried to duplicate her, but it’s her unique personal touch that makes her so sought after for people who want a unique bohemian style. She admits she had about 25 jobs before becoming what she is now, including graphic designer and illustrator, but everything that came before made her what she is now. She started her blog in 2009 and credits that with starting her journey. Based in Los Angeles, she defines herself as a multi-hyphenate because she does a lot but does it very well. And she looks like her brand; bold, beautiful and eclectic.
She has written three books, “The New Bohemians”, “The New Bohemians Handbook” and “Jungalow”. The Jungalow brand is an online store selling everything from rugs and wallpaper to decor items and art. Her collection for Target is iconic and I gravitate towards it whenever I’m in the store. She was named one of “The Most Famous Interior Designers Working Today” by Architectural Digest and was an AD100 in 2023.
This blue lime washed room is so dreamy and global. It makes you feel like you’re on vacation in an exotic location.
This is the quintessential Justina. Pale peach and green with plants and plenty of textures. Love it.
This Jungalow wallpaper makes this laundry space special and the red vintage sink doesn’t hurt either.
Image via Jungalow by Justina Blakeney
I have so much fun putting this list together in both Part 1 and Part 2. I want to know how you feel about these designers and if you’ve ever heard of them. I think that diversity in everything is what is needed in this world since we are made up of all kinds of people. It just makes everything more interesting and broadens our horizons to learn about other cultures.
Let me know what you think and I’ll see ya next time.
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