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Even though most of the world is still cold AF, i'm already getting spring/summer clothing promos in my inbox. Crazy right? Wasn't it just the 2020 apocalypse? If 2020 taught you anything, it was to fight for what good we have left and take nothing for granted. As we shacked up, there was so much more importance placed on our living spaces and interior design ideas and concepts. Self-care is no longer an option, and we have room to integrate both. If you haven't already (who are you!?) it's that time again to reduce what no longer serves you and make shit look fly. A great interior plan is known to boost mood, productivity, creativity, sensuality etc, and you need that.

Heres 5 ways to get started with your Spring Cleaning and Interior Design.

Need more tips, reach out right now at thenappybohemian.com for a free consultation. Until next time!

@thenappybohemian

xoxo

It's that time of year again where all the meme's (besides the presidential election) lead towards warm coffee drinks, updated cozy decor and booty rubs. This year, my gift giving will be filled with all the vibes you need to create sensual experiences all winter long. Heavy on the small businesses by BIPOC :)

2. @Blue.Reign Vegan Leather Lingerie. Here's the thing, everyone feels sexy in whatever they consider to be sexually comfortable. Im a bit of a rebel, and this one here is definitely my lane. It's nice when you can hide something under your day clothes, knowing there is a cute lil' leather treat hiding right underneath. These are handmade just for you from London, so get on it now in time for Xmas. (bluereign.london)

3. @Puffallin Premium Cigar Leaf. I'm very sensitive to what I put in my body so i'm also researching the safest way to enjoy a rolled relaxation stick. Im a hemp paper kind of girl, but babe is all about the Leaf. Ensuring quality and a slow burn, these will have you begging your local stores to carry them. They are very transparent about the "farm to rolling table" experience, and i'm all for it. (puffallin.com - Starting at $10)

4. @LeeRickeyCollection Mens Luxury Clothing. This is something for the fellas. There is no games played with this one. They are also in California pushing the line on traditional mens wear. Some of this is outside ready, but there is some silky smooth shit ready for a nightcap that had to make the list. Ever see a sexy NBA player in silk night garment? Its very well could be Lee Rickey. (leerickiecollection.com - Starting at $45)

5. @_54kibo Textiles. I've been literally obsessed with this brands decor for a while now, only to recently find out that they had textiles, and i'm all over it. This year, i'm focusing on bedding and throws to elevate my bedroom experience. That's why cozying up to an Ethiopian throw blanket is the real winner. (54kibo.com - $155)

6. @TheHairPillow - Let's be real, to take the bonnet off or not? There is nothing worse than messing up a fresh hairstyle, no matter how it happens. The Hair Pillow is shaped in a way to prevent hair compression. Can't wait to try this one! (www.lifestylepillows.com/products/hair-pillow - $75)

7. @BoujeeFitShapeWear - shape wear for all tones and sizes. Talk about making things for real women, Boujee Fit Shape Wear blends the perfect balance of confidence and sexy that can easily transition to reshaping sexy lingerie. They are making it happen for all, with a wide range of shapes, colors and sizes for every single body type. Can you say nude for real!? (boujeefitshapewear.com - Starting at $23)

8. @Rufescentlips Red Lips - The deep red lip is my absolute go to, day time to night cap. I seriously will wear the same shade everyday if it works for me. It goes really well with my skin, and a set of lashes plus a flawless brow are my only trio I feel I need to keep it sexy. They do not advertise as being the well-behaved brand, and i'm all over it. (www.rufescentlips.com - Starting at $20)

9. @OUIthepeople hair removal - This brand is taking hair removal to a whole other boss shit level. I won't share what I do and don't remove, but I will say they have all the goods to keep it cute and clean no matter what your preferences are. They have us on the sensitive skin, plus the ingrown hair prevention. They even have a gold razor, and what woman wouldn't need something like that in their life. I've heard so many good things about this brand, i'm ready ready! (OUIThepeople.com - Starting at $7)

Shop like you care this season, we've got work to do :) OH, and be sure to subscribe to thenappybohemian.com for the deals!

This week on a Zoom call, something really struck a nerve. The topic was culture, and what company culture means from the outside in. I'm currently in transition at The Nappy Bohemian from just taking design projects to building a full lifestyle brand I can get behind. I'm seriously building ("trying to build" is no longer in my vocabulary) something that supports the livelihood of clients, community, and family. Growing a business sometimes feels... clueless? Even if you are clear on WHAT you envision, it's not the same as knowing HOW to make that happen in the long term. When you are figuring your business out as a woman, the world is less forgiving. For a Black Woman, let's be real, there is NO ROOM to make mistakes in building your business (even though that's impossible). The hustle has to be real. I can go on and list from here how fucked up that is, but i'll save it. For now, i'll just dabble in what I have the most control over right now, and what i've learned so far. I'm building a brand worth the mentions. Not just as a Black Owned Business, but as a business period. It's also worth it to say that the hinderance isn't because you are Black. The hinderance is White supremacy, but I digress (chill Tiff, chill).

What does that mean though? Have you ever had a great idea, started it, but there just wasn't enough heart pulling you to continue? Shit got hard, and something else felt easier?How do you grow? How do you attract clients, be genuine, post on social media, be motivated, drink water, take care of personal responsibilities etc for the long run. My new tagline for the Nappy Bohemian, "Designing a Life Worth Twerking About", is a lifestyle goal defining my whole strategy. For you and for me. I'll explain.

You know that moment when you hit a small win, and you stick your tongue out a bit and hit a lil move? THAT is my business and life goal for the both of us. When you walk into a space that I designed for you, I'd want you to hit that lil' move for yourself. Have a moment of self care indulging in my Shea Butter body oil candles? Feel good and hit that lil' move. How can I continue to create those small moments over and over again so that I can have something sustainable in the long term. I always think about how can I enhance my client experience. How can I make my branding better. How can I respond faster. How I can also embrace the culture of us all.

As Kanye would say, "You don't have the answers Sway". News flash, I don't either. What I do have is experience, and a mission I can be completely transparent about. Here are 5 ideas that I have thought about, that is currently preparing me for continued growth.

I can only share this with you because I value transparency. I hope you found this helpful, and i'm excited to hear all about it. Until next time, chat soon. Make sure to subscribe for more, and be on the lookout for more content like this.

Thank you!! :)

Hey guys! Episode 3 is here (horn toots!), and I had SO much fun with this one. You know those accounts that seriously seem unreal? Yeah, that's the creator behind this one! Not just that, but he is the first Black man in "The Black Maker" series! Get to know my new buddy Hilton Carter! Not sure where you've been if you haven't seen a post or a re-post of his luscious home full of some of the finest greenery and plant envy on Instagram. His thriving account has landed him his own book that I was eager to purchase, Wild At Home, as well as account takeovers on Apartment Therapy, and work behind the scenes with AllModern. I'll dive right in!

TNB: "This one is a bit different for me because I see you as our favorite plant whisperer, but you have such a beautiful sense of style and design. So how did you get into all this?" Hilton Carter: "I got into design early by going to all types of art schools. I went to an art high school, undergrad, and got my masters in Film. So my eye for style and design has always been apart of who I am. I've always wanted to create visually. I remember being 5 or 6 years old, wanting to create stories visually. TNB: "Oh wow. So you didn't choose the life, the life chose you (laughter)? " Hilton Carter: "HAHA basically! Everyone says follow your passion, but my passion seems to be following me. I've been just going along minding my own business, and the moves that happen are just reactive to all the moves I made prior, unintentionally. Even with the book, I thought I'd one day have a beautiful coffee table book with more of just beautiful imagery versus a how-to but this is what I've been blessed with. I just keep winding up in the right space. Its interesting how things work out." TNB: "Yass! I get that. You have to always believe you are where you are supposed to be. I know you from your beautiful IG squares, how did this book idea come about? " Hilton Carter: "It was so funny actually. The publishing company reached out to me, and the need to put out content like mine was already there. I had been posting for a while greenery via social in general about plant care and stuff, it was an easy grab for the publishers. Why not? The engagement has been amazing." TNB: "Perfect timing too! I feel like these days, things are so hectic and crazy. We just want to bring back nature and find a more holistic way of life. All of this happening on the back end, while you are doing your natural thing. You fit in perfectly! Hilton Carter: Right, and plants are apart of styling home." TNB: "But wait... you are not just the table top plant guy, you are all in!" Hilton Carter: "Hahah true. I think I just wanted to live in the feeling that washes across me when I go into a botanical garden. It's the feel that I wanted to capture in my space. I added plants, maybe 3 plants at a time sometimes lol, all with balance. I learned to put a cap on it so that I can be mindful about how I'll care for them, or learn to. That's what my book is all about. You can't just go to a nursery and get everything, you need to plan it, know your light, know what type of caretaker you are, know what direction your windows face etc. You can bring that info to your nursery and do it the right way. Be self aware, know where you are and what you have." TNB: "Well i'm definitely anticipating owning your book, you are already dropping so many gems! Now i'm curious, are you balancing your plant styling career with a standard 9-5?" Hilton Carter: "Yes! Im working full time to full time. I also work at an ad agency around strategic content creation for clients. So when I get home, there's a balance of work and play with my wife. I mean obviously, I wouldn't had been able to do any of the things I've been able to do without her full support and guidance. I know that's not everyones story. I feel like I still benefit from the passion of my full time job so I never feel stressed too. I feel like both sides (9-5 and 5-9) support me in terms of happiness." (shout out to wifey, keep supporting him sis!) TNB: "I get that! Im really public around my work relationship with Fireclay Tile as a Design Consultant, and I really enjoy what I do on both fronts. I feel like that actually helps you grow because you aren't approaching your side hustle with too much pressure." "Okay so, let's get it out in the open. You are a Black straight man, and you are in the plant styling and interior design industry. I often talk about just being a person of color in an industry where we are only 3% black. I thought it was really interesting to add straight black male to that. When I first saw you I was super proud, and also wondered how everyone else sees it? How do you feel about the diversity around that, like, what are people saying?" Hilton Cater: "You tell me! You're the people! hahah. No but... its rare right? I'm from a different perspective now, because of the amount of followers I have I can actually step back and see how many brothas are really feeling greenery in their home. I don't know if I'm the first (lol), but I feel like it! I mean, there's all this talk around gender roles right, what you can and can't do. Maybe 10 years ago I'd be looking at what type of job I can do based on my appearance, but even with me coming from an art background it's a sin to think you should hinder your art based on what people will think you. Even as a kid growing up in Baltimore, it was always like, "oh you are an outsider, you're an art whatever". People can see it one way. I feel like being Black holds space. Even with my publicist she's like who do you want to reach? I'm like, I want to reach Oprah! Tell Oprah that Im a Black man in a predominately White Woman space. My publicist is like, ok but how do I say that? Im like, just like that! I own it! TNB: "Totally! I didn't realize that in my own home adding greenery really brought out something in my husband, who is now much more open to talking about how important the greenery in our home is." Hilton Carter: "I also want to add that I make sure whatever image I take, will always have a motif with a plant in it. I can't randomly post about my coffee or drinks with friends. I look at accounts I like to follow, and think about what I gravitate to and I make sure its that way." *Guys. Im starting to think my free for all posts need more curating. Coming soon? TNB: "So how do you handle copy-cats? I'm sure people use your images all the time but do they pretend its their own?" Hilton Carter: "People send me stuff all the time and show me things someone posted without credit. At the end of the day, you have to understand what platform you're on, so you can't stress too much about that. I remember when (insert BIG NAME CLOTHING BRAND) posted my work and tagged someone else. It was the most liked post they had posted in a while. People tagged me though!" TNB: "Oh no! At least your tribe came to bat for you! This has been so fun! I really feel like you did a great job of showing us how things have came to fruition for you. Do you have any advice and final words for the newbies out there?" Hilton Carter: "Im sure they have heard this before, but at the end of the day, you have to put out or do what's inside of you. Even when you are talking about just creating an opportunity for yourself, social media has been crazy right? You can put whatever you want out there and create a platform." TNB: "Yes! For sure! Okay, I told you there was a one-off question, so here it is! Whats your favorite Ice Cream? If I had to guess, it would be some hippie, soy free, organic, dairy free situation, Haha" Hilton Carter: "Really?! Lol! Actually, there's a small shop here called The Charmery! Baltimore is dubbed Charm City BTW. I have to plug my boy, they make this flavor called Maryland Mud and its chocolate, chocolate chips, and Oreo pieces. If you give me chocolate anything, done! Thanks Hilton It was such an honor to talk, and I look forward to getting your book! Please subscribe to stay up to date with episodes and ideas! Like, share and repost all this goodness as well. Make sure you order Wild At Home ASAP while he's signing copies!!

Okay, let's be real. Its been a wild ride already. When I first set out to interview some of the interior design industries most creative influencers, I didn't really have a grasp on how much i'd be learning from these discussions. Chileeee.... issa blessing. (I'm not crying, you're crying!).



Next up, Cheryl Luckett of Dwell by Cheryl. I've been following her for a while, and she was definitely someone I was impressed by from the start. Not only is she an AA Top 20 Interior Designer, as well as featured in Southern Home Magazine, but she also is in partnership with Sylvester Alexander (a Black owned furniture maker with over 30 years of experience) for her own exclusive furniture line, The Belle by Cheryl Luckett.



















Upon our first few minutes of our chat, it was easy to notice that she was such a Southern Belle, and all around beautiful person. Here's how it went:



TNB: "Thank you so much Cheryl for taking my call! I'm going to pick your brain a bit. So how did you get into interior design?"



Cheryl: "My major was in nutrition at TSU, but it was multi-discipline and included a focus in Interior Design. So it was always around from the start. I continued to learn collegiately, and by experience while I worked in Nutrition. By the time I decided that I was ready to start taking clients, I had been prepping for it for at-least 5 years on the side. The preparation part was very important for me. At that time, I wanted to make sure that my clients had no idea that I was doing interior design just on the side because I was so prepared."



TNB: "Oh wow. This is really helpful for me and i'm sure others just starting out. Do you have a certain strategy you can share for building exposure for the makers that are just starting out?"



Cheryl: "Invest! For 5 years, I financed my side hustle as if it were my only business. My professional career allowed me this luxury, and I poured into myself and my company. From everything from marketing to finance, I made sure my business was ready. By then, I was ready to accept the return of my investments, and it was really successful.



TNB: "I love that. Sometimes it's hard to really pour actual dollars into your side hustle, but if the plan is for it to be a thriving source of income then it only makes sense. So how did this partnership with Sylvester Alexander come to fruition? Were you looking for partnerships? I mean, i'm all here for a good partnership (Justina, Joanna, holla' at me!)"



Cheryl: "It was so funny actually. They reached out to me ! There was a secretary that would call and we would miss each other for a while, but when we did talk she mentioned they wanted to partner with an Interior Designer to collab and build exposure. I then wondered, well that's cool! I wonder who they were going to choose? Not knowing, they were talking about me! I couldn't believe it! "



TNB: "Awww, what a blessing! So you have walked in a few different lanes, how do you handle being the "first" or "only" when you walk into a room? I talk about that a lot because it's a real feeling."



Cheryl: "I grew up in Mississippi from parents who grew up during the civil rights movement. My parents had to learn how to navigate as a Black person, and taught me to do the same long before my interior design experience (deep right?!). It was already embedded you know? I knew I had to make sure I always showed up with my stuff together (..and sometimes striving to be the best in the room) to make sure I was accepted in the industry being the "first" or "only". It got to the point that it became second nature. I didn't know anything else because I have been living this all my life.



Cheryl touched on something I struggle with sometimes too, especially in my own interior design business. Is it important to constantly self-identify in efforts to appear acceptant of my Black skin? Am I trying to have a seat at the table, or am I bringing my own table? With a name like The Nappy Bohemian, do I also need to constantly mention that i'm Black and that I'm proud of it? Does it help or hurt my business? Does that add to the "Angry Black Woman" vibes that have tarnished our stereotypical image for years? Le' Struggle!



Well in short, hell nah. Cheryl talked about a level of understanding that she knows that people already sees that she is Black, and when she walks into a room that there is no need to mention it again. From then on, it's time to show up and show out.



And for fun as always...



TNB: Whats your favorite ice-cream?



Cheryl: "Im lactose intolerant now, but my favorite Ice Cream used to be Pralines and Cream. I lived for a good praline! "



If you guys didn't know, praline was created in the South. This makes a lot of sense because like Cheryl (also made in the South), she was just as sweet and approachable. If you personally have any questions for her, reach out! We joked about having so many chains of command that it makes us almost un-reachable, so act fast! This lady is on fire! :)



Thanks Cheryl! It was such an honor to talk, and I look forward to speaking again soon!



Please subscribe to stay up to date with episodes and ideas! Like, share and repost all this goodness as well :)

I can finally share the details to something that has been secretly brewing! I mean, I wanted to share about it more, but you know how that goes. If it doesn't happen right away, all people hear is yea, yea, yea. So I kept my head down and got to work. Life has its way of accelerating you in different directions, and that's when things get VERY interesting. For a while I've been gathering inspiration, knowledge, and brilliance from some of the industries most amazing, magical, and dopest POC. Introducing, "Interviews : The Black Maker" . Episode 1 starts off with no other than the gracious Malene B Atelier. Featured in Domino Mag, Architectural Digest and many more national publications, Malene was sweet enough to grace The Nappy Bohemian and spread all her good juice.

Talking with Malene was a true honor. She radiates all types of grace and confidence. She is an artist by nature, flipping through various mediums with style and grace. She is a creative influencer with a philanthropic vision. She is also the amazing creator of The Bad Guild (Black Artist + Designers Guild). BADG is a curated collective of Black Artists + Designers throughout the African diaspora. Here's how it went: TNB: "How did you get into Ceramics?" Malene: "I decided to take a ceramics class at a local studio, and coming from a 20 year rug design background, it came natural for me. It was just using a different medium. I started painting clay for about a year first. I started subscribing to different magazines and increasing my exposure." TNB: "Love that it just came natural to you. Now for me, when I walk into a room, i'm used to being the only or first in the room. How do you handle the diversity in ceramics? Do you feel like we are represented the same?" Malene: "When I created rugs I experienced the feeling of being viewed as different, but with clay, we have a such long history of using this medium historically. It felt natural and apart of me already so I didn't have to struggle to feel like I need to fit in." Malene talked about how welcoming clay felt and how natural it was to her. She explained how dominant clay making is within our lineage. When she talks about clay making, I legit feel a certain rich history within her that made me feel a certain ownership of the art that I'd never felt before. I thought of beautiful women in tribes in Africa adorning their hair in the rich red clay and all the melanated men covered in clay mixtures used for vanity, practical and spiritual purposes. TNB: "Do you have a certain strategy you can share for building exposure for the makers that are just starting out?" Malene: "You just have to be clear with who your clients are, and really go for those people. It takes time, and when you are first starting off it is a lot of experimenting to see what works, but you have to analyze whats working and go to those clients." TNB: "How do you handle the copy cats?" Malene: "I don't. I just don't experience that. I try not to look at other people's work as inspiration, and neither should others. You have to find the real sources of inspiration." Malene made it clear that we should appreciate each others work, but finding the source of inspiration is the key. Be inspired by things in its natural form, the trees, the wind, the people, etc. I talked with her about seeing completed work, and wanting to recreate that idea and she single handedly debunked that like a true artisan would. I realized more so, that you can stay original in a world full of reposts and Pinterest pins by finding your own interpretation sparked from the original sources. TNB: "Did you ever have to change your vision or road to get here?" Malene: "Of course! You have to shift with the market and evolve, that's how you grow as an artist." TNB: "Any advice for other makers looking to get started in ceramics?" Malene: "Just go take a class. You just have to commit to starting. It's not hard to start, but you do have to start." And for fun... TNB: Whats your favorite ice-cream? Malene: "Tofutti, Vanilla Almond Bark. Its non-dairy, but you still shouldn't eat too much." Thanks Malene! It was such an honor to talk, and I look forward to owning some of your work! Please subscribe to stay up to date with episodes and ideas! Like, share and repost all this goodness as well :)

Interior Design, sounds fancy right? What if I say, interior vibe or living room goals, what does that mean for you? Do you get more of a visual or a feeling than just referencing Interior Design? If I walked into your home, what would your interior vibe say about you? Okay ready for the truth? Keep reading…



In 2010, I had my baby girl. I was living in the same apartment that I am now, only shit was REAL different. I had a couch and a bed and a TV, the dressers and such and such, and all the other things I thought made up my home, but I also had HELLA clutter. Nothing I purchased (ever) was because it made sense, it was purchased because we just needed a table to eat on, a bed to sleep on, and so forth. I picked things I liked though, but when I brought them home things just looked more and more cluttered and weird together. All surfaces had pictures, trinkets, fake plants etc, but I just didn’t have enough storage and thought (at-least from what I thought). Clothes never got folded, my vacuum and anything with a plug lived in the living room, and my tables became landing spots for anything in pockets, purses, and backpacks. Sound familiar?!? I was too tired to even start on what I should do.



Let me tell you, with a little help I SWEAR IT GETS BETTER! I never invited anyone over, and had full panic attacks at the thought of a surprise visit from ANYONE. My vibe was a no! I’d work all day, stress over new mom duties, blame everything on my man, and never felt I could relax. My environment did NOT make me feel good, period. The anxieties of the world intensified, and something had to change.



Over the years, I studied Architecture, religions of the world, interior design, and the Black Diaspora. I became infatuated with changing my environment to bring me peace. That’s what Interior Design is about for me. The more I learned about what intention and attention to my environment meant, I thrived mentally. The closet space I thought I didn’t have? I really just needed to donate shit, like really holding on to things because I thought the amount of things I owned meant I was doing better. Read that AGAIN. I thought that acquiring items completed me, and that if I let things go (even if it was broken or didn’t fit) I’d somehow be more behind in life. I also didn’t want to buy things for my home, because I had too much already.



My process including a LOT of using what I have, remixing, painting, DIY, etc, but most importantly being honest about what I needed. What if I told you that an interior designer would do that for you. What if I also told you it was NOT expensive? My dream is to make each client tear up at the idea of changing their world through their living conditions, no matter the budget. I want Interior Design to be my superhero.