Treci Smith is a woman of many talents. As the head of her self-named studio, Treci Smith Designs, she is an interior stylist, a successful house-flipper in collaboration with her husband, Amir, and a self-styled “purveyor” of fine vintage furnishings. For more than a decade the entrepreneur has made her home in an expansive ranch-style house in San Diego, California, with her husband and four kids, along with their dog, Rose, thirteen chickens and one duck.

Many adults in their lives will experience the phenomenon of moving from a tiny apartment in the city to a sprawling property out in the suburbs. At first the change can be exciting. Suddenly you have an overwhelming amount of cabinet and storage space, never mind a whole pantry. These added perks of a home, while exciting, also make you realize that you have to be a lot more prepared.

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.

Katrina Blair lives in a beautiful Sacramento bungalow with her husband Hasani, their two boys and their chocolate lab Oliver. The design blogger and social media influencer is always tweaking things at home, and during the summer of 2020 — the first of the pandemic — she and her husband made the decision that it was time to create the outdoor space of their dreams. They did just that, turning their back patio into a retreat with a lounge, dining area and a cottage studio where Katrina can focus on her creative work.

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.

Rachel Moriarty is a dazzling interior designer, known as much for her personal style as for her amazing rooms. The CEO and principal designer of her self-named design firm, has clients ranging from creative entrepreneurs and single parents to architecture lovers with historic homes. For Susan, a California law firm partner with a love for poodles, Rachel created the perfect beach home. It’s crowning attraction - a multilevel outdoor oasis.

When people ask Shayla Owodunni why she loves plants so much her answer always starts at home: she grew up around them. However, the Minnesota native admits that they weren’t hers ,they were her mom’s - and back then she didn’t get it either. But seeking familial comfort, Shayla brought a few plants into her Seattle apartment and, from there it was the start of something big. Now back home in Minnesota, the accountant-turned-business-consultant and chief creative behind The Plant Penthouse has turned her loft-style condo into her own verdant oasis.

Ariene Bethea is the creative force behind Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio. For thirteen years, Ariene has perfected her style in the space that she shares with her husband Daren and their dog Mini.

Chris Glass has been living around the world for nearly twenty years. He takes inside his stunning 1200-square-foot, 2-bedroom apartment in Berlin, that he has worked extensively to turn into a reflection of his global lifestyle and tastes.

Rayman Boozer is the founder and principal designer of Apartment 48 Interior Design, a Manhattan-based firm with a varied client list and a deep portfolio of impressive spaces to its credit. With clients ranging from major companies to individual residences, the firm provides Rayman ample opportunity to be creative with interiors. Here, the sought-after designer takes us inside his gorgeous Manhattan home.

Olaniyi Swarn is a Chicago-based interior stylist and the writer behind the decor blog, J’Adore le Décor. For the past 25 years, the stylist and her husband have had a 900-square-foot duplex condominium to call their own. Designing the home to their tastes has been an ongoing project, one Olaniyi would be the first to call a labor of love.

Educator by day, artist by night, Rachel Crouch has a unique style that shines through in her Hyattsville, Maryland home. As principal of a preparatory school, and owner - alongside her twin sister, Rebecca - of Signed Rachel & Rebecca, Rachel knows the importance of art in education and personal expression. Her four-story interior is part home, part gallery space, with an ever-growing collection of art that can be experienced in each and every room.

“My life is art,” remarks Julio Leitao, upon entering he and his wife Kenza’s five-story brownstone in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. The home that the Leitao’s have built is truly a work of art. A home that had been in the family for generations, the Leitao’s were tasked with a modern update. Transforming an outdated interior into a refreshing interior, perfect for them and their girls, Luena and Zeza. 

Breegan Jane’s home in Marina del Rey became more than a living space, it was a symbol of her resilience and transformation, a place that honored her independence and clarity of self, and where she faced the challenge of starting over as a single mother of two while running a thriving interior design firm in Santa Monica. 

British born Sudanese artist, Huda Hashim, is an interior designer, 3D rendering and contemporary artist best known for her abstract works depicting life in Sudan. Huda was born in Liverpool, England, while her father was attending medical school. When she was just three years old, she and her family moved to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a city known for its growing medical infrastructure, where she spent her formative years. During her time in Jeddah, Huda experienced a city defined by its cultural diversity.

Connecticut-based interior designer, Naïka Andre, founder of NJA Interiors, designs a mid-century modern dream home in Georgia for Juneteenth cookbook author, Nicole Taylor, and her family.

Staten Island isn’t the first borough people mention when they think about Black cultural design in New York. But for India and James “Tep” Imhotep, it’s the place where years of love, movement, and making finally landed—where a layered life of family, travel, and heritage has found a home.

The history of Black architecture and design is an intricate mosaic that spans several millennia, a testament to resilience, creativity, and innovation, showcasing the ingenuity and cultural heritage of Black people across the globe. From the monumental pyramids of ancient Egypt, which stand as enduring symbols of architectural mastery, to the intricate beauty of the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali, Black architects and builders have made indelible contributions to the world's architectural heritage. Not consigned exclusively to the past, however, Black achievements in architecture and design continue up to the present day.

Christopher John Rogers, a Brooklyn-based fashion designer renowned for his daring use of color, bold prints, and innovative textures, has dressed icons like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Michelle Obama. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rogers discovered his passion for fashion design in an unexpected way – creating comic books with his friends in the fourth grade. As he designed outfits for his characters, his interest in fashion began to take shape.  Further inspiration came through various sources, from the scanned pages of  fashion magazines he accessed online to the vibrant personalities of designers like Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood. His creativity flourished on platforms like DeviantArt and Tumblr, where he connected with other artists and developed his distinct style.

 The first exhibition to recognize the Harlem Renaissance as the first African American-led movement of international modern art, "The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art emphasizes the critical role the movement took in shaping modern Black identity and its far-reaching influence on transatlantic modernism.