Hayet Rida’s Chicago Home Is A Study In Neutrals
Photographs by Aimee Mazzenga. This is an updated version of an article written by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason in 2021.
Hayet Rida is living a very creative life. She is the founder of KHOI, a sculptural jewelry brand. And in her glam Chicago apartment, she shows that she also knows a thing or two about interior design.
In 2020, this busy Chicagoan was searching for a new place to call home. She found what she was looking for in a 1300-square-foot, 2-bedroom corner apartment. The apartment was a clean slate, with floor-to-ceiling windows that filled the space with an abundance of light. The space was move-in ready, and perfect for Hayet to complete with her own personal style, which includes original art and handcrafted artisan details.
As the daughter of an interior designer, Hayet knows how to lay out a room. Her home is a Design 101 course in getting the most out of neutrals. It all starts with the deep contrast between the apartment’s dark stained floors and crisp white walls. To add to the color palette, Hayet layers varying shades of white. The creamy sofa and ottoman and off-white pillows add to this neutral statement. Color is brought in through wood tones, metallics and hints of blush in the throw pillows. And a blend of numerous textures in the form of rugs and throws creates depth in the space.
The kitchen is the heart of this home. Eschewing a traditional dining space, Hayet instead opted for an intimate setup for three at the bar which separates her living room and kitchen. With the home so well constructed when she arrived, there wasn’t much to do by way of renovation. “The easiest part was switching out the light fixtures and the knobs on all cabinets,” she remembers.
Hayet’s deep love of art is on full display in the hallway which she has turned into a personal art gallery. She remembers how deliberate she was in picking each piece for the home. Getting it right was one of the more challenging parts of the design process. “I knew once I picked that [piece],” she says, “it would set the tone for the room. That was hard!”
“It was important to me that I had big feminine energy,” Hayet says of her art collection. The striking photo of an African woman above the credenza in her living room is a favorite. Like the rest of the home, the portrait photography that punctuates the decor is simple but impactful. “The artwork I use at home is bold,” she reflects. “It tells a story each time and I love that they are big conversation pieces.”
With its mix of neutral colors, earth tones and art, Hayet describes her style as Afrocentric. “There are always themes from my home country of Ghana,” she explains. “I also love to add pieces I have curated from my travels.” The combination of small statues, photography and woven baskets creates a story that gets told from room to room.
Hayet was aiming for serenity when she designed her living room, and certainly serenity is most people’s reaction when they experience it. The colors are calm, the artwork is engaging and the layout makes full use of the excellent light that the home receives through its many large windows. The quiet, corner sitting area combines her signature design elements perfectly. “I love how curated the whole story is,” she remarks.
Unfortunately, not everything in life can be serene; work intrudes. And with a thriving lifestyle blog and candle company, along with a healthy social media following and a full time job, Hayet has more than enough to fill the days. In her office, design becomes a way to combat the stress of having so much on her hands, extending the feel of her living space into her working space.
Though it doesn’t offer as much space for art as the living room or hallway, Hayet has found ways to curate the more functionally-minded space of her office. Specifically, the bookcase tucked away in the corner. There, alongside her work essentials, she’s found space for more statues and various other curiosities. The beautifully understated pottery that sits atop her cabinet also helps to keep the office from becoming a place of all work and no play. “What I love most in my home,” Hayet concludes, “is how calming it is and that it’s a beautiful visual story. It feels like walking through a museum.”
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