What are the furniture items or artworks that are particularly meaningful to you in your space? What makes them so important and how did they come into your life?
Many of the art and decorative pieces and plants in my apartment are associated with a memory. I have some that I’ve collected on trips or maybe it was simply a beautiful day and I was like, you know what, I’m going to get a plant or a piece of artwork to hold the memory of this day for me.
In a broader emotional sense, what does home mean to you? Outside of your literal house, where do you feel most comfortable and supported?
My home, my space, my apartment is a love letter to my past, present, and future self and I’m taking my time writing it patiently, intentionally, and slowly, enjoying all aspects of my process. Home is a place of rest, a place of joy, a place of calmness, a place of lushness, and a place of healing. As a Black queer non-binary individual, I am constantly reimagining my existence in this world, recreating/reshaping spaces to fit my needs, and challenging the white, heterosexist, and gendered status quo that this world tries to box our bodies into. And dahling, that can be exhausting!
So my home is my refuge, a place where I can escape, rest, and just be. It’s a beautiful feeling to just exist with no waves pushing and crashing into [you.] My home is calm water where I can float effortlessly in my magic, beauty, and light. My home is my happy place that allows for moments of reflection, rejuvenation, and relaxation so that I can refill myself to be able to strut back into those waves when I walk out my front door.
When traveling, is there anything you do to recreate the energy or comfort of your home?
When I travel, I am very intentional about selecting accommodations that radiate an ambiance that I know I would enjoy, so that I feel at home when I arrive at my destination with little effort on my part. I do tend to put all my clothes away when I travel—it stimulates a feeling of being home for me when I am able to navigate a space as if I was home and not living out of a suitcase.
How did you find your style, interior design wise?
I’d describe my design style as maximalist when it comes to plants and minimalist when it comes to everything else. I enjoy warm colors, bold textures, unique prints, and fun shapes when it comes to the pieces I bring into my home, because minimalist does not have to mean plain, dahling.
Is your home a social space or do you prefer to keep it more private? How does this intention impact how you’ve curated the space?
I tend to keep my space private with a few select loved ones who occasionally get to experience my space with me. This intention allows me to curate my home for my own comfort and allows me to truly build my own sanctuary for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation.