Black History Month is the perfect time to pause, look around, and give credit where credit is long overdue. Interior design—like so many creative industries—has been shaped, stretched, and elevated by Black designers who don’t just follow trends, they set them. They challenge what “good taste” looks like, push past safe neutrals, and design spaces that actually say something.
This isn’t a definitive list. It’s a very personal one. These are the African American interior designers whose work I save, screenshot, study, and think about long after I close Instagram. Some are newer voices making major waves right now, others are the OGs who paved the way and made space for everyone coming after them. All of them design with confidence, culture, and zero interest in playing small—and that’s exactly why I love them.
Sit back, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy learning about these incredible ladies and their outstanding achievements.
Southern Girls
Blessed Little Bungalow – Amber Guyton
I started following Amber Guyton and her Blessed Little Bungalow brand on Instagram and fell in love with her and her colorful designs. She designs with joy, patterns and colors that you wouldn’t think to put together, but in her hands, it works. Her gallery wall game is unmatched and she’s come out with a line of wallpaper that is killer.
Based in Atlanta but born in South Carolina, Amber’s work has been featured and recognized by notable organizations and publications such as HGTV Magazine, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Forbes, Ebony, Apartment Therapy, Domino, Hunker, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, Good Housekeeping, and many more. She’s definitely on the rise, but I love her for being transparent about mental wellness and how she deals with life. She was invited to my Real Estate Staging Association meeting and she was just as lovely in person as she is on Instagram.
Forbes + Masters – Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters
Tavia and Monet have crafted a boutique, luxury design firm that is nothing short of astonishing. I found them on Instagram a few years ago and have been impressed with them ever since. Based in Atlanta, they each had separate companies that would come in contact with each other frequently. In 2015 they decided to combine forces and become Forbes + Masters. They create bold, eclectic designs that are unique and custom to their clients.
Featured in Architectural Digest as “9 Designers on the Rise” as well as “The New Creatives”, they have also appeared in House Beautiful and Luxe among others. They are also quite the fashionistas which I appreciate; having a complete brand from head to toe complements their design aesthetic.
Indigo Pruitt Design Studio – Marie Cloud
Marie Cloud of Indigo Pruitt is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and she’s a girl after my own heart with her love of mountains in the fall over beaches in the summer. I love her even before I’ve even met her. Her design firm is a firm believer that home design and wellness are intertwined. Her spaces are a testament to her building relationships with her customers in order to create classic and timeless designs with a modern touch. After working for Sherwin Williams before starting her own firm in 2017, she is a color expert and that’s evident in her creations.
She is a leader in her community and has led several initiatives for the homeless in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. She is also on the board for Highpoint x Design leading the movement for diversity and inclusion.
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.
West Coast
Romanek Design Studio – Bridgette Romanek
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 specializes in this classic California Casual look and she is one of the best at it.
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.
Tri-City
Bailey Li Interiors – Bailey Li
The OG’s
Sheila Bridges Design – Sheila Bridges
I consider Sheila Bridges to be the OG Black Interior Designer for me. I remember seeing her for the first time on her TV show “Designer Living” on the Fine Living Network in 2002 and being fascinated that there was a black woman having a successful career in interior design.She was also the first interior designer I saw who created products to sell and she is the creator of the famous “Harlem Toile”.
Malene B. – Malene Barnett
Malene Barnett is a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist-designer and owner of Malene B, an art and design studio from which she produces textiles and ceramics. In November of 2018, Barnett founded the Black Artists and Designers Guild (BADG): a “curated collective of Black artists and designers throughout the African diaspora,” as Barnett succinctly describes the group. As a champion of black designers, she has a searchable directory of not only interior designers, but architects, fine artists, ceramicists, textile and furniture designers from North America, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. She’s a true pioneer.
Jungalow – Justina Blakeney
Justina Blakeney is a designer, artist, and New York Times bestselling author. Although she’s best known as the founder of Jungalow, which began as a personal blog. I credit her with bringing the boho “bohemian” chic aesthetic to the forefront and causing this design style to explode. Jungalow is now a pioneering lifestyle brand and global movement.
The Takeaway
What ties all of these designers together—across styles, generations, and aesthetics—is fearlessness. Whether it’s bold pattern, layered color, soulful storytelling, or redefining what luxury even means, each of these creatives brings something deeply personal and undeniably impactful to the design world.
Black History Month is about honoring legacy, but it’s also about celebrating the present and future. Supporting Black designers doesn’t start and stop in February—it’s about following their work, hiring them, sharing their voices, and acknowledging their influence all year long. These designers didn’t just inspire me—they helped shape how I see spaces, style, and creativity itself. And for that, they deserve every bit of the spotlight.
Let me know if you’ve heard of any of these fabulous designers. If you haven’t, I encourage you to check them out.
See ya next time.
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