Black interior designer: Meet the Black Designers Who Are Changing the World of Interior Design

Meet the Black Designers Who Are Changing the World of Interior Design

Interior design is a powerful part of our everyday lives. How we create and shape our environments, especially our homes, can impact the way we work, relax and navigate each day. That’s why interior designers can play such an important role when it comes to curating our spaces: They’re pros at adding style and function to your home’s layout, sparking joy around every corner.

But while the world of interior design is inspiring, it’s also competitive — and unfortunately lacks diversity. Many Black interior designers are all too often overlooked, despite their significant accomplishments in the field. That said, many veterans in the profession continue to pave the way for the next generation of creatives, while leaving a major footprint for others to admire and respect.

In light of Black History Month, we’re celebrating a few Black designers who are changing the world of interior design. From Maryline Damour and Malene Barnett to Mikel Welch and Beth Diana Smith, these are some of the talented Black interior designers we think are worth keeping on your radar — now and forever.

Courtney McLeod

Kate Seward/John Neitzel

Courtney McLeod, New York designer and founder of Right Meets Left Interior Design, originally hails from New Orleans. With her work, you’ll find vibrant and joyful colors inspired by her Asian and European travels, along with her Creole background.

Learn more about Right Meets Left Interior Design

Malene Barnett

Alaric Campbell/ Courtesy

Although she’s not an interior designer, Malene Barnett is an outspoken force within the industry. Using her passion for African heritage, Malene creates sculptural ceramic tiles, handwoven rugs and other home products inspired by traditional cultural experiences. Through her global platform, the Black Artists + Designers Guild, she provides support and safe spaces for Black creatives to be seen and heard.

Learn more about Malene Barnett

Delia Kenza

Jessica Neste/ Sean Litchfield

Inspired by her grandmother who shares her first name, Delia Kenza designs homes with bold and clean lines, neutral accents and a modern approach — all while adding character and dimension to any space she touches. The perfect example? Her own home, featuring ornate moldings and herringbone floors.

Learn more about Delia Kenza Interiors

Nicole Gibbons

Courtesy/Kirstin Francis

TV personality and interior designer Nicole Gibbons founded her online paint company Clare, in 2018. Originally from Michigan, Nicole later moved to Harlem, where she designed spaces with a timeless yet modern aesthetic. With Clare, she strives to make the paint shopping experience easier — where you’re given designer-curated colors and expert advice to choose the perfect shade for your space.

Learn more about Nicole Gibbons

Saudah Saleem

Antar Hanif/ Keyanna Bowen

Sophisticated yet approachable is what defines Saudah Saleem’s design style. As a native New Yorker, Saudah is inspired by the hustle and bustle of the city. Her work features unexpected color combinations, eclectic patterns and design elements that are full of color and energy.

Learn more about Saudah Saleem

Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters

Courtesy of Forbes Masters

Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters are an Atlanta-based design duo with collaborative work dating back to 2012. It wasn’t until 2014 when they decided to establishing Forbes + Masters, a full-service interior design company for residential and commercial spaces. Their projects showcase statement pieces along with layers of texture.

Learn more about Forbes + Masters

Keita Turner

Kelly Marshall/ David Land

As a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Keita Turner has a strong fashion and interior design background. In 2007, she was named the second prize winner of the International Design Awards (IDA) for Residential Interior Design and was one of the designers invited to unveil the new room vignettes at Macy’s Herald Square in 2014. Her goal: to ensure a fashionably classic style by mixing natural subtle tones and vibrant accents.

Learn more about Keita Turner Design

Breegan Jane

Courtesy/ Ryan Garvin

If you’re looking for elegance and modern comfort, Los Angeles-based designer Breegan Jane can bring that design to life. Previously featured on Hallmark’s Home & Family and HGTV’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Breegan is able to evoke just about any mood you’d want in your home (with customizing being her favorite part of the process).

Learn more about Breegan Jane

Linda Hayslett

Lauren Pressey

With an extensive entertainment and fashion background, Linda Hayslett founded LH. Designs. After years of living and working in New York City, Linda moved to Los Angeles, where she styled celebrities such as Hilary Swank, Sandra Oh and Charlize Theron. While her work varies, she once mentioned her appreciation for neoclassical design, where she fell in love with the traditional elements and rich wood of the spaces.

Learn more about LH. Designs

Mikel Welch

John Bessler/Carmel Brantley

Founder of Mikel Welch Designs, Mikel Welch shared his renovating pointers and clever decorating tricks on Quibi’s Murder House Flip. When it comes to his personal style, Mikel describes it as “primitive modern” — the same name of his furniture line with Yosemite Home Decor.

Learn more about Mikel Welch

Beth Diana Smith

Mike Van Tassel/ Courtesy

Layered textures, curated art and an array of diverse cultural influences inform New Jersey-based designer Beth Diana Smith’s work. Beth launched her interior design firm after years of working in accounting and finance. Since her career transition, she’s completed an array of residential and commercial projects with a focus on luxurious finishes, inspiring color palettes and eye-catching patterns.

Learn more about Beth Diana Smith

Laura Hodges

Tara Hope Photography/ Laura Hodges Studio

As the owner and principal designer at Laura Hodges Studio, Laura Hodges is known for her global-inspired interiors. Influenced by her diverse cultural background— including her Norwegian grandmother and Jamaican father— Laura curates a clean and eclectic feel, while adding vintage finds and natural elements.

Learn more about Laura Hodges

Maryline Damour

Allie Holloway/Matt Petricone

Maryline Damour and her partner, Fred Drake, are co-founders of Damour Drake, an interior design and construction firm based in the Kingston, NY. Maryline’s work exhibits a unique cultural flair, with her designs ranging from an airy Brooklyn loft to a cathedral in her native home of Haiti.

Learn more about Damour Drake

Michel Smith Boyd

Courtesy of Michel Boyd

Michel Smith Boyd is the founder of the Atlanta-based firm, Smith Boyd Interiors. You’ll find him featured on the hit shows Luxe for Less and Buying it Blind, where his work encompasses a lush and soulful vibe. He’s a master at perfectly weaving masculine and feminine touches into a design scheme. Plus, he’s brilliant at incorporating natural materials into interiors.

Learn more about Michel Smith Boyd

Nikki Klugh

Chris Wojdak/ Jim Brady

Designer Nikki Klugh, who is based in Southern California, has more than 19 years of interior design experience. Her education includes formal training at the Art Institute in Albuquerque, NM. She’s also a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

When asked about success in the industry, Nikki credits her imagination and creativity, where she dives into every challenge eager for the next.

Learn more about Nikki Klugh Design Group

Justin Q. Williams

Sean Cason Studios

Atlanta-based designer Justin Q. Williams, started his interior design firm, Trademark Design Co., when he was 21. Originally from Alabama, Justin’s accomplishments include appearing on HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen. His design aesthetic boasts a seamless combination of modern and traditional style that he deems as “penthouse pinache.”

Learn more about Justin Q. Williams

Nicole White

TYE Studio/ Gloribbell Lebron

Florida-based designer Nicole White’s work is inspired by her Jamaican heritage. She loves nothing more than infusing the bold colors and textures of the Caribbean into her designs, while being guided by her clients’ personal style.

Along with her passion for design, Nicole loves writing. This led her to launch Live Laugh Decorate, where you can get behind-the-scenes details on her latest design projects.

Learn more about Nicole White Designs

Tiffanni Reidy

Tyrone Syranno Wilkens/ Our Endless Adventure

As the founder of Reidy Creative, Tiffanni Reidy helps her clients create a modern yet colorful space, all while adding a vintage aesthetic with clean architectural lines. Before launching her design firm in 2018, she was the founder and creative director of DomiCile magazine, where she featured the handmade products from local small businesses in the D.C. metro region.

Learn more about Reidy Creative

Justina Blakeney

Dabito

When you look at the work of Justina Blakeney, you’ll notice the lively combination of color, texture and greenery — or, as she likes to call it, the jungalow decorating style. Along with being an interior designer, Justina is also the author of several design books and the founder and creative director of home decor brand, Jungalow.

Learn more about Justina Blakeney

Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content.

13 Black Designers Who Are Changing the Home Design Industry in 2020

Navigating the design world—a predominantly white industry—comes with its own set of unique challenges when you’re a decorator of color. In addition to executing design projects with a commitment to excellence, securing meaningful opportunities for recognition is equally arduous. But despite the undeniable struggles that exist in the business today, Black designers are consistently delivering outstanding design schemes that are more than worthy of accolades.

While organizations like the Black Artists + Designers Guild, founded by ceramist and rug designer Malene Barnett, have boldly addressed the need for more Black representation in the industry, there’s still a great deal of work to do.

For Black History Month, we invited a selection of accomplished Black designers to candidly share their experience navigating the industry and how their culture shows up in their work. Amplifying the voices of Black designers, like this group of talented professionals, is not only crucial for Black History Month, but for the success of the industry in the years to come.

Breegan Jane

Ryan Garvin Photography

“In an industry where there are few faces that resemble mine, the sense of responsibility to show up as both my best self and a positive model for aspiring and future designers of color is palpable. I’m ever-cognizant of my ability to pave the way for the next class of Black and female creatives, and I take that opportunity seriously.” —Breegan Jane

Rayman Boozer

Nick Parisse

“New York City itself has significantly shaped my development as a designer—from James Baldwin’s essays and novels, the fashion of the 1970s, the sights and sounds of Greenwich Village, and countless other influences. While the city always inspired, the beginning of my career lacked artists and role models that looked like me. As a Black designer today, I know people are watching and I have a vital responsibility to set an example for younger generations.” —Rayman Boozer

Delia Brennen

Courtesy of Delia Brennen

“In my daily design practice, I don’t think about being a designer of color. I think about creativity and beauty. My clients’ aesthetic drives the design. But I know my ‘Black girl magic’ makes me sensitive to culture, history, and the contributions and genius of people globally and I try to incorporate that when I design.” —Delia Brennen

Tavia Forbes & Monet Masters

Andrew Michael Phillips; Ilya Zobanov

“Our culture has always been heralded for its boldness, and our approach is as such. We infuse and are inspired by our own imagery in art and textiles birthed in Africa. Being a Black designer today means being at the cusp of changing the trajectory of our industry, by being an exemplar for young people of color, who will see themselves represented in an industry full of creatives with viable careers.” —Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters of Forbes + Masters

Bailey Li

Jennifer Santiago; Brian Winston Fraser

“To be completely honest and transparent, Black artists and interior designers have not had their fair share of recognition, visibility, or opportunities. We have always been a creative, colorful, highly talented group of people that have influenced the arts throughout history, yet we have always had to take a back seat and/or demand and fight for our seat at the table. We now have platforms like social media that make it difficult for publications and media outlets to continue to deny us and ignore us. What it means to be a Black interior designer today is that we have to recognize our worth and we have to seize this moment. There’s no better time than the present for us to be authentic and unapologetic in our design perspectives and our point of view.” —Bailey Li

Saudah Saleem

Antar Hanif

“Black designers have never sought special treatment within the design industry because we are black. We have only pursued equal treatment and to be recognized for our work. Despite the long-standing lack of diversity in the industry, we’ve continued to be unapologetic in our points of views as designers and are now being embraced for the tenacity, talent, and wide range of style we possess as creatives in this industry. Through increased representation, we are sharing new perspectives, inspiring others and making design more accessible to consumer communities of color who have previously felt left out of the art and design world. It is an exciting time for Black designers!” —Saudah Saleem

Leyden Lewis

Pratya Jankong

“As a designer, I am the sum total of my training, travels, experiences, and my heritage including the age, time, and place(s) that I live. I spring from a rich Trinidadian heritage that is, and will always be, a part of the way I see and experience the world. As a Black designer today, I live a Creole existence where cultures and technology fold into a hybrid of identity both modern and ancient.” —Leyden Lewis

Brigette Romanek

Mark Romanek; Courtesy of Brigette Romanek

“I was born on the South Side of Chicago. For the first years of my life, all I knew were African American family homes. What I remember is that almost all of the homes had one piece, that one piece that had cultural significance. A drawing, a painting, a stool, a sculpture. It was about being proud of who you are and holding your head up high—that I take with me everywhere. I’ve never for a second allowed the color of my skin to stop me from doing anything! My color has nothing to do with my ability to design. Since my clients have most likely looked me up before calling my firm, I haven’t felt any prejudices from them. And if someone hasn’t wanted to hire me because I’m African American, I wouldn’t want to work with them either. My interiors are about bringing happiness and joy! When I design, I love to add African pieces, stools, bowls, or cloth, or sculptures. Those touches ground a space and bring warmth and heart and tell stories for all of us.” —Brigette Romanek

Neffi Walker

Courtesy of Neffi Walker

“My company, the Black Home, from inception to design, is influenced solely by my heritage. The idea of my culture being truly beautiful and not dismal is my reasoning for adorning my clients’ walls in black. The strength that lies behind struggle and the beauty in resilience allows me to repurpose cotton in ways that we are proud to showcase in our homes. Taking these elements that are signatures of the Black Home and pairing them with the opulence that we as a people embody is our mission. As a Black designer, it is important to have representation that can showcase our stories through home design. We see our stories being told through fashion and art, yet it is seldom that home design is valued as greatly, although it is just as important.” —Neffi Walker

Anishka Clarke & Niya Bascom

Seleen Saleh; Niya Bascom Photography

“What binds us together as a partnership is our shared mindset on resource management, mindfulness, and a respect for our environment and the impact this has on our design thinking, aesthetic, and process. These characteristics are a direct result of our upbringing, shared heritages, and experiences as Jamaican-Guyanese living in New York City. Our approach is to continually produce our best work at all times, never settle or compromise, and allow the work to speak for itself and attract the attention of the world at large year-round.” —Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascom of Ishka Designs

Christopher Charles

Courtesy of Christopher Charles

“Being a Black interior designer today, in this time and space, is phenomenal. The public’s increased desire for diversified points of view within interior design has grown exponentially. Being in a position to provide uniquely globally influenced interiors to a wide array of culturally divergent clients is rewarding both professionally and personally. Although there have been some roadblocks, due most impart to some old-guard attitudes still existing on the fringes of the industry, the field of opportunities and access to success is so much more tangible than it was just a few years ago. I am grateful and excited to be an African American interior designer during this time. More than just a fade or a passing fancy, my participation in this industry is a force to be reckoned with, based on my merits as a capable and talented designer.” —Christopher Charles

Monique Valeris
Senior Home Editor
Monique Valeris is the senior home editor for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital.

Black color in the interior: how to apply?

Black color in the interior – taboo or trend? Stereotypes are associated with it: it depresses, eats up light and space, and black furniture looks bulky. But when used correctly, black is a neutral base color on a par with white. It erases the boundaries of space, visually expands it. The black color looks very dense, creates a special deep atmosphere and, if used correctly, it can create not a “mourning”, but an elegant, laconic, sophisticated interior. nine0003

Due to its unpopularity in the interior, black is an original and bold solution. As a base color, it is great for large areas. For small rooms – can be chosen as auxiliary and used in decor elements and accessories.

Cream pastel and coffee black

All light, pastel colors, and even light gray are ideal for black in the interior. Darkness enhances these shades. They become expressive. With such combinations, there is no oversaturation of space with color. nine0003

Black color soothes, absorbs external irritants, so it goes well even with complex shades. It is a bridge between different colors of the spectrum. If you choose a dark background, then its depth will competently saturate the interior, highlight the details of the decor, give them expressiveness. But not everyone dares to choose a black solo in the interior.

Monochrome interior

Black and white – the epitome of classics. Such a neighborhood visually splits the space, so the details should be larger. Do not use small elements, otherwise the room will ripple a lot. A very contrasting combination can irritate the eye, so they choose not snow-white, but milky or grayish. Black and white is suitable for minimalism, high-tech style, urban, European and Scandinavian styles. nine0003

Monochrome interior should be in the whole space: a typical mistake is to use a checkerboard pattern on the floor with monochrome furniture. Much more interesting than simple geometry look in the interior of natural stones, marble and other natural textures.

Black in contrast with bright colors

Black can also be combined with bright colors. Then one color should be chosen as dominant. For example, the color of the walls, and the rest of the shades – elements of furniture or decor. The pattern in such an interior softens the situation. nine0003

Neo-gothic style can be created with red; sensual and passionate combination. Brown and black together look expensive and noble – a serious atmosphere for men’s offices in the English style. Black plus green is suitable for interiors with a natural accent. Darkness enhances greenery, creates an atmosphere of depth and mystery. The nobility and aristocracy of this combination will suit the styles of art nouveau, neoclassic and neo-baroque. Black is more luxurious than others, combined with bronze and copper, matte or aged gold in an art deco style and is suitable for spacious apartments. You can alternate not only colors, but also matte, glossy black surfaces. nine0003

When using black, you need to think carefully about lighting. There can’t be too much light in a dark interior. Suitable multi-level lighting, long chandeliers with many lamps, hidden lights. Warm lighting, transparent partitions and reflective surfaces are welcome.

The best areas for dark interiors

The black color is perfect for the kitchen space, especially for the backsplash, as in the Mossebo studio project in Vladivostok. Designers try to pick it up in contrast with bright or soothing light, pastel shades, so as not to create the effect of excessive “darkness”. nine0003

Another room where black does not look pretentious is the bathroom. It can be used with a standard white bathtub and sink, or it can be completely “drowned” in black throughout the room, if space permits.

If you choose black for your bedroom walls, we recommend using it only at the head of the bed or on the wall behind it. Also, a classic design solution would be decorating with white bed linen, as well as bright pillows of natural ornaments. nine0003

For the living room, black is also a bold and elegant solution, but you should use it on one wall, for example, behind the TV. Thus, the black wall will fade into the background, becoming the backdrop for the original decor or TV. Large paintings are often used that cover the wall as much as possible and draw attention to themselves.

There are many nuances in the use of black. It can be very different on different textures: stone, natural marble, wood, matte or lacquered furniture, glass. To make the black interior stylish and bright, ask the designers for help. nine0003

Black color in the interior: 11 examples from designers

Apartments

We are talking about eleven projects in which designers and customers were not only not afraid to use black, but made it the main character of the interior.

Ekaterina Karpukhina

May 7, 2020

We remind you that in our section “AD Photos” you can always find projects by the colors you are interested in.

Penthouse with terrace and spa in Kaliningrad

Many customers are afraid of black, especially in the bedroom. But this time, the designer Marina Kutuzova was very lucky: the young spouses who ordered her a two-story apartment project fully shared her tastes and views on the organization of space. It was decided to maintain the entire 300 m² area in the same style: expensive high-quality materials (parquet board, natural stone, wood) and colors – restrained, cold, like the Baltic sky behind the panoramic windows of the penthouse, almost not diluted with contrasting spots. nine0003

Sergey Ananiev

Apartment for a girl with character, 80 m²

The owner of this apartment likes “masculine” interiors — restrained, laconic, in monochrome. Therefore, the designers of the bureau I.D. Interior Design offered her a number of non-standard, but spectacular solutions: the floor throughout the apartment is dark, almost black. It visually expands the space and is a very advantageous backdrop for furniture in bright colors and works of art. In addition, all rooms are painted in dark colors, except for the kitchen-living room: in the bedroom, the walls are slate-colored, and in the hall and hallway, not only the walls, but also the ceiling are black. nine0003

Apartment on Taganka by Natalia Maslova

Black color in Natalia Maslova’s project is present not only in the living room and master bedroom, but even in children’s rooms. “This is a very expressive color, but few people are ready to live in it, so I am glad that my customers were not afraid of it,” says the designer. For example, in the son’s bedroom, the entire space around the bed is painted black, while the girl has this color in the area behind the desk, which is complemented by dark curtains and a carpet, as well as a punching bag. nine0003

Stéphane Julliard; Stylist: Ksenia Breivo

Visiting Albert Sagiryan and Marina Izilova

Albert Sagiryan’s apartment. The YoDezeen bureau, whose projects are dominated by dark shades and minimalism, helped to realize the idea. In the master bedroom of Albert and Marina, as they wanted, black walls. But to show that the apartment is in a historic building, Arthur Scharf added classic stucco moldings to the walls and painted them the same color. nine0003

AD Video: visiting Albert Sagiryan and Marina Izilova

Sergey Krasyuk; Stylist: Natalia Onufreychuk

Brutal apartment with graphic details, 52 m²

In the apartment designed by Anna Gutsalova, the bedroom is located in a wooden cube in the center of the room. From its outer side there is a kitchen, and the inner walls are painted black. The designer really wanted to emphasize one of the main advantages of the apartment – the view from the panoramic window, so she made a hole in the bedroom. “When there is a black wall around the window, it looks like you are looking at a painting in a gallery.” nine0003

Evgeny Kulibaba / archive of the press service

Private cigar club in Moscow

The task set before the designer Olimpiada Arefyeva was truly extraordinary. It was necessary to make a bachelor’s lair with a lounge, a dining area for two, a bedroom for rare overnight stays and a bathroom in a small attic in a stalinka (first level – 45 m², mezzanine – another 15 m²). And with an impressive supply of wines, cognacs, whiskeys and cigars. “In the first discussion, the word “loft” sounded, but it seemed to me that it would be too simple, says Olimpiada. “The customer is a very bright personality, and I decided that the interior would be the same: brutal and artistic at the same time. ” nine0003

Sergey Ananiev

Black and white apartment in Moscow, 95 m²

Natalya Belugina is a master of using black, because in her practice she designed dozens of monochrome interiors. And this project was no exception. “For me, the main thing is the graphics and architecture of the apartment, and then the color. Basically, people come to me for this, ”says the designer. She made this apartment for her longtime customer, who buys apartments, arranges them, and then rents them out or, occasionally, sells them. But these are not typical interiors for rent – they are unique right down to the accessories on the shelves and the art on the walls. The bedroom and office in this project turned out to be chamber. The latter is dominated by black, flavored with gold details. “I wanted to “warm” it and make it very saturated,” says Natalia. nine0003

Sergey Ananiev; stylist: Daria Soboleva

Apartment in the center of Krasnodar with bold solutions, 120 m²

Anna Lutaeva’s clients completely trusted her, which made it possible to implement several bold ideas: a black ceiling and a shower in the bedroom. The designer combined the living and dining areas, having at their disposal as much as 64 m², however, with a small height of the room. Anna elegantly made up for this shortcoming: the corridor leading to the two bedrooms, along with the ceiling, was painted deep black, which visually reduced this part of the space and hid it from prying eyes. In this contrast, the living area began to seem larger and more spacious. This game of hide and seek was also supported by a dark graphite kitchen with an adjacent slatted wall. nine0003

Mikhail Chekalov

Apartment in Moscow designed by Sisters’ Design

The apartment designed by Sisters’ Design has a lot of black color, art, and unusual textures. For example, a huge black shelving unit is made of veneer with “torn” fibers that create the effect of burnt wood. For balance, Ilona and Irina added a dark color to the opposite wall and came up with a screen made of the same material. “We wanted to create a graceful corner here, so a large Apparatus wall lamp in bronze, horsehair and frosted glass was hung on ebony.