On this week’s podcast, I decided to focus on the the other side of interior design, home ownership. We all know that for many, interior design starts when you own your first home. But when you look at the facts, only 25% of African Americans are homeowners, while their White countertops are over 70%. This great divide wasn’t due to lack of trying (or not pulling up our boot straps), it started systematically in 1940s & 1950s by the Federal Housing Administration that stated Blacks and people of color were barred from suburban like housing projects that were made for White low-income and middle class families. You can read more about this history in the book, The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. I decided to talk to Black Tastemaker Seana Freeman about the pitfalls of home ownership for Black people, and how can we create generational wealth?
Meet homeowner Seana Freeman aka the Geeky Glamohemian @bellybaila on Instagram. She discovered her passion for interior design after she bought her first house. For the first few years as a new home owner she refrained from decorating too much, her home was a new build and it looked beautiful, but it was missing something…paint. So Seana started with her first project, her office space. It wasn’t a primary room in her home, and it the perfect place to start with something bold, she chose fuchsia paint. Once she painted the room she actually felt a shift in her mood. From there Seana developed a fever for color, and her second adventure was with her peacock blue painted room with the gold ceiling. The third project was her room with a deep, dark rich green that almost looks green at first glance. Seana realized these rooms had an energy shift to them from the rest of the house. Now every room in Seana’s house isn’t painted bold colors, she has other neutral color spaces too. She sees her home as a giant canvas to paint and play with and she’s not afraid to shake things up.
This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App
During our interview I decide to ask Seana, ”What is the first room a new home owner should decorate?” and “How often do you bargain shop vs. buying new?” Check out the shoppable mood board I designed with the Morpholio board app to get inspiration for your next room makeover.
Drapery that pulls all of the colors in the room together, Layne Velvet Curtain
Book by by Richard Rothstein, Color of Law
Leopard print Louis style chair for a personality piece, Darcy Armchair
Add a bold dramatic pop to any sofa or bed, Kuba pillows
Yellow is back, Piper Petite Velvet Pillow
Every room needs artwork, Caribbean Galaxy VI
Don’t be afraid of paint, Royal Fuchia paint
Layer these shapes anywhere organic shapes, Nyla Tables
***This mood board was designed with the Morpholio Board App