APHROCHIC BOOK COMING FALL 2013!!!

I am so excited to reveal some BIG NEWS to you.  A few months ago I received one of the best emails of my life.  It was from an editor at Clarkson Potter who was interested in publishing an AphroChic book.  Soon, my husband and I were in New York at the Random House building having a meeting about a possible book.  We submitted a proposal, and weeks later we had a book deal!  Clarkson Potter is the leading publisher of lifestyle books like Undecorate, Details, and the Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces.  To know that our book will be among these amazing design books is exciting and incredibly humbling.

I want to thank all of you so much for your support.  Without you none of this would have happened.  You are all a part of this amazing journey, and you will continue to be as I give you some behind-the-scenes info on how the book is developing here on the blog, and also ask you to submit your homes!  Soon Bryan and I will be traveling around the country, identifying homes that really reflect AphroChic style.  And I hope some of you can be a part of this.  

APHROCHIC: MODERN.SOULFUL.STYLE will come out Fall 2013.  It's going to be one amazing journey friends.  Let's all enjoy the ride!

Matchbook Magazine + AphroChic + Mochatini = A Beautiful Photo Shoot!

It's not every day that you get to have amazing designers, a magazine editor, a fab photographer, and a group of your best friends over for a photo shoot, but that is exactly what happened at my place on Saturday, July 16th.  We were all getting together to do a photo shoot for Matchbook Magazine on my rooftop deck.



The day was filled with sun, sangria, bright colors, some AphroChic patterns and lots of laughter.  Manvi Drona-Hidalgo from Mochatini and I had been working for months on the design of the space, design texting our favorite ideas back and forth, and it all came together in one beautiful shoot!



You can see the full article, A Rooftop Soiree, in issue 7 of Matchbook Magazine.  It all starts on page 80.



Thank you Manvi, Matchbook, Rachel and all of our wonderful guests.



And a very special thank you to my sister Angela Belt, and our interns Ambra Hyman and Nikki Porcher who all worked so hard on styling for this shoot.  It turned out beautiful!

{Photography: Rachel McGinn for Matchbook Magazine}

Home by Novogratz

Is it me, or does HGTV's Summer programming rock!?  I cannot get enough of the new shows, and am loving Home by Novogratz.  I have had a design crush on Bob and Cortney's style since I saw their first show on BRAVO, but Home by Novogratz is even better!  Instead of trying to be a reality TV show, this a true design show that features the innovative, edgy and eclectic ideas that this couple is known for.



From stunning photo walls



To interesting color schemes like neon green, black and white



Bob and Cortney never disappoint.  Their spaces are completely original, which is what makes every episode so much fun to watch!  If you haven't caught the show yet, check it out on Saturdays at 10 EST on HGTV.  You are going to be hooked!

{Images via HGTV.com}

Sneak Peek: AphroChic Wallpaper on Secrets From A Stylist

I have some amazing news to share with you.  Last week Emily Henderson from Secrets From A Stylist tweeted this gorgeous sneak peek of the room that will be featured on the Season 2 finale of her show.  Why am I so excited?  Well, for one, I love the show and never miss an episode, but this season's finale will be especially dear to my heart because AphroChic's The Vibe Wallpaper will be featured!!!!

You can see a snippet of our wallpaper in this peek that Emily sent out.  As we move closer to the Season 2 finale I will let you know when the episode will air.  Look out for "Sexy Aphro Glam" later this season.  It's going to be amazing!

Happy weekend!

Original Art: Vigilism

What happens when the world of art and architecture come together?  That's the world that Brooklyn artist Olalekan Jeyifous explores.  He recently sent me some images from his series, City Settlements, and I fell in love with the city spaces that he brought to life on paper.



Worn, and reminiscent of areas of so many cities I have been to, each piece is part of a narrative that the viewer is free to create.



As Olalekan states, "I try to evoke a notion of 'place' rooted in immanence and possiblity".



Anything is possible in these digital media cityscapes.  You can explore more of his incredible work at Vigilism and purchase prints from his Vigilism Etsy shop.

Whimsical Design At House of Hackney

"Traditional British homewares for a new generation", that's the tagline for House of Hackney.  This online boutique has luxury wallpaper, bed linens and fabric that offer traditional designs with a pretty unique twist.



The Hackney Empire collection is a fun line featuring frogs in bowler hats, and badgers drinking cocktails against a classic black backdrop.



Each piece makes you look twice as you discover more to the whimsical pattern that's printed on everything from wallpaper to china.



Explore more of this innovative collection at House of Hackney.  Enjoy!

Book Love: The Meghan Method

I recently received a signed copy of the new book, The Meghan Method in the mail.  This book by Meghan Carter breaks down the interior design process in an approchable and fun way.  I showed the book to my sister, a visual for Room & Board, who wanted her own copy immediately.  She loved all of Meghan's worksheets and sample plans.



Meghan spent two years traveling cross country and interviewing interior designers about their methods, and in the end developed who her own concrete viewpoint - The Meghan Method.



In a world of floor plans, space planning, and technical aspects of design, Meghan has synthesized the design process and brought in some wonderful practical planning skills that she gleaned from talking to designers across the country.



If you're an interior design student or an interior designer looking for a little refresher, definitely pick up The Meghan Method.  And check out her site too.  She has a list of amazing design resources including the AphroChic blog!  Thank you Meghan!

{Images via MeghanCarter.com}

AphroChic In The Philadelphia Inquirer!

See my feature in the new Making It column in the Philadelphia Inquirer today.  You can also view my video segment on what keeps me inspired at home.  Have a beautiful weekend!

{Image by Michael S. Writz, article by Caroline Tiger}

Meet AphroChic Intern Nikki Porcher

I am happy to introduce you to our social media intern, Nikki Porcher.  Nikki is getting her degree in Advertising & Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia.  She is full of social media talent, and we are excited that she will be working on a new project this Summer creating video content for the AphroChic Vimeo page!  Look for some fab video from this girl.  But enough of me going on and about her, I'll let her introduce herself to you.



Greetings AphroChic readers! I would like to introduce myself.  I am Nikki Porcher, Summer Intern for AphroChic! I am in my second year of studying Advertising and Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. The opportunity to learn both sides of the field and understand how the two work together makes my goal of  becoming a creative director seem that much closer. I hope my love for colors, typography, concept development and layout design will be a great addition to the AphroChic brand.  This Summer I hope to wow AphroChic readers with new concepts and design elements for the blog, website and newsletter that will have you thinking about AphroChic even more than you do now!


Love & Hugs,
Nikki

Today's My Birthday!

I take birthdays pretty seriously.  Today I turn 33, and the thirties have been better than I could have ever imagined.  I'm taking the day off to make some new wishes and dreams come true.  Have an amazing day everyone!

{Image sent to me on Facebook via Ruth Fichtner.  Thank you Ruth!}

Gorgeous Construction: IZM Furniture

Jerad Mack and Shane Pawluck are the design duo behind IZM Furniture.  The two have come together to create a gorgeous line of handcrafted pieces that I just can't get enough of.  Their work features the rustic quality of hardwood, married with unique storage compartments, and a timeless look.



The collection includes furniture that can be passed down for years, like this Visualizm audio/visual cabinet.



The Eyeful coffee table boasts a unique construction.  The angular legs feel so modern.



And the woodgrain that appears in each piece, like this Myside/Yourside nightstand, highlights the beauty of natural elements.

Find more unique furnishings at IZM Furniture.  Enjoy!

AphroChic Pillows In Anthology Magazine!

It has always been my dream to walk into a store, look through some things, and then spot one of our pillows. Well, my dream came true earlier this week when I stopped by Anthropologie in Philadelphia.  As I was leafing through the latest issue of Anthology Magazine I spotted two of our Haze Mimosa pillows in the home of Hello!Lucky founder Sabrina Moyle (on page 101 of the Spring 2011 issue).  It's always so nice to see a product that you've created in someone's home, and I was thrilled to see that Sabrina had bought our pillows from Lotus Bleu in San Francisco, and incorporated them into her bright and beautiful decor.



Besides seeing my pillows in the issue, every time I read it I just fall more and more in love with Anthology. The magazine is gorgeous, and I can't wait to see issue 4 in Anthropologie soon.

Have a beautiful weekend everyone!

{Images via Anthology, scanned by Jeanine Hays}

Meet AphroChic Intern Ambra Hyman

I am so excited to have two incredible interns on board with us this Summer. Today, I would like to introduce you to our interior design intern, Ambra Hyman. Both Bryan and I really enjoyed meeting Ambra who is getting her degree in Architecture and Interior Design at Drexel University here in Philadelphia. But instead of me gushing on and on about her (she's fabulous!), I'll let her introduce herself to all of you.



Hello facebook friends, twitteristas and blogger buddies I wanted to announce that I am a design intern for AphroChic. My name is Ambra Hyman and currently I am studying Interior Architecture and Design at Drexel University. I am a full-time graduate student and I aspire to become an interior designer. I love interior design and all things beautiful. Interior design has given me an outlet to be innovative and inspired. This summer I am very enthusiastic that I was chosen to be a design intern for AphroChic.


May 2009, I graduated from Temple University majoring in African American Studies. My academic program in African American Studies has given me a strong understanding of the historical, economic and psychological factors that affect people of African descent. Furthermore, the courses I have taken at Temple University have prepared me to take roles of effective agency; including social activist domains of professional and community life. Currently, while studying at Drexel University, I continue to work. Right now, I work in education and human services. The experience of working in education and human services gives me insight on how precious life is; while gaining a deeper appreciation for my life. The decision to study Interior Architecture and Design is not about change; it is about growth. I will always stay connected to the African-American community and will combine African-American aesthetics into interior design. Like AphroChic, I believe interior design should be a personal reflection of who you are. I look forward to interacting with all of you this Summer. Stay tuned for interior design updates from me.


With Love,
Ambra Hyman

Happy 4th of July!

Source: mochatini.org via Jeanine on Pinterest

This weekend I hope you have time to sit back and enjoy the sunshine.  Have a lovely holiday weekend everyone!  I'll be back here again on Tuesday.