Nasozi Kakembo Shows Off Global Style in Maryland
Photographs by Nasozi Kakembo. This is an updated version of an article written by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason in 2021.
In 2011, Nasozi Kakembo founded her lifestyle brand, xN Studio. Offering beautiful pieces handmade by artisans in Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania, Nasozi’s love of African home decor accents is evident throughout her own home located in the suburbs of Washington DC. “My aesthetic is Brooklyn Afro-Scandi Modern. I love a functional minimalism that doesn't sacrifice personality and comfort. I also love the versatility of Danish modern furniture, which can be easily paired with more vintage elements, which I am also drawn to,” says Nasozi about the design of her home.
Living in a 1970s townhome with her teenage son, for the two of them, the open-plan layout is perfect for their busy lives. “It’s simple, manageable, and yet spacious at the same time. The layout is amenable to the various stages of our lives — work-from-home, school-from-home, dinner parties, movie nights — without requiring too much space… just a little creativity!”
The home features lots of creative pieces, including many DIY projects by Nasozi herself. “I did the major projects as soon as I moved in, like painting the kitchen cabinets and installing the subway tile backsplash and open shelving, and wallpapering the entry. I have updated smaller elements as time permits and whenever I get a new idea!” In both the living room and dining area, feature walls were installed. “I knew I wanted an accent wall in the living room, but I didn’t want to paint. I’m drawn to dark colors, but this side of the house can get dark and I didn’t want it to feel like a cave. I love untreated wood finishes and dimensions, so this design ended up being perfect,” says Nasozi. In the living room the raw wood wall feature was topped with a personal piece of art: “A black and white linocut named ‘A Tear for Biko’ made by my Aunt, Reneé Neblett, who was living in Germany at the time.”
To meet the needs of Nasozi and her son, the original layout of the home had to be revised. “This area was our dining room for most of the time we lived here,” she mentions about the space that now features a living room console. “When I got a new credenza — the largest piece in the living room besides the couch — I had to find room for it and it worked out so much better over here. This also allowed me to create the dining-dedicated nook.”
The dining room features a mix of beautiful midcentury modern pieces, African art and nods to Brooklyn, where Nasozi first launched her brand. “This area was part of the living room before, but we rearranged it to function more like a dining room. We don’t use the fireplace and the bench-high hearth when it’s not winter, so that doubles nicely as bench seating. It’s a great place to prop up some pillows and dive into a book since it’s off to the side, a bit away from the rest of the open living-dining area.”
In the galley kitchen Nasozi went to work immediately, updating the space when she first moved in. “The kitchen was a complete cosmetic renovation. I painted the cabinets, added hardware, installed open shelving, added the subway tile backsplash, and eventually painted the countertops in a marble-effect treatment.” The result is a beautiful kitchen with bright pops of color seen in the rug and seating area.
“I was initially uncertain about what to do with the wall space behind and above the shelving and cabinets. It begged for something, but I didn’t want to add anything there just for the sake of taking up space,” confesses Nasozi. “Extending the subway tile backsplash felt like it might be overkill. And then one day it dawned on me to try out this wallpaper design from my collection. I’ve loved this look ever since!” The wax print wallpaper adds that global touch that is an integral part of Nasozi’s aesthetic.
For her son’s room, Nasozi had to transition the space from child’s room to teen retreat, using some creative designer tricks to make it happen. “My son transitioned from his kiddie room phase to a more mature pre-teen aesthetic earlier in the year,” she explains. “This meant that the colorful mural I had painted for him was no longer an option. He wanted black walls instead. Luckily I found a removable black wallpaper that was so easy to install and truly looks painted.”
“We also saved space in this room by tucking his desk into one half of his large closet. When we moved the desk from in front of the window to the closet it made room for the futon which was in my work studio before. He now has his own retreat and lounge space when he wants,” says Nasozi.
For her own bedroom, Nasozi created a relaxing retreat in shades of blue and cream. “I haven’t quite figured out the optimal furniture layout in my room, but I painted the accent wall when I first moved in, so the decor aspect has revolved around that,” she explains. The color palette is picked up throughout the room in mudcloth, pillows and other textiles from Nasozi’s collection.
For the headboard Nasozi had another DIY moment: “I had leftover wood from my mantel project and after months of it sitting in the trunk of my car, I decided to create a headboard out of it. I used 3M removable stickies to adhere each piece rather than something more permanent, since I know I’m always changing the vibe in here.”
The final room in the home is reserved for creating. “This is where the magic happens,” she explains. “I have had a home studio since we left Brooklyn, where I was working out of an artist loft in Bed-Stuy. I love that this still has a loft-ey vibe even though it’s definitely not Brooklyn! There’s also enough room for the elliptical which functions more like a textile catch-all than an exercise machine.”
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