Hue of The Month: Erika Ward

This month’s Hue of the Month is Interior Designer and Blogger, Erika Ward. She is a married mother of 3 kids who thinks of herself as the quintessential Renaissance woman. Erika has an insatiable passion for all things design (and Mexican cuisine). Her designs are inspired by the latest trends in fashion  and she urges clients to look at their wardrobe for inspiration in styling their homes. Her blog, BluLabel Bungalow, is filled with sophisticated fashion inspired tips and do-it-yourself design projects and ideas.

 

Name/Title: Erika Hollinshead Ward, Editor of BluLabel Bungalow and Owner of Erika Ward Interiors

Website: www.erikaward.com and www.blulabelbungalow.com

Current City: Atlanta, Georgia

School Name/Degree: University of Georgia / BBA Finance

Design Specialty: Affordable Design / Fashion-Inspired Interior Design

Tell me a little bit about your design background. How did you get started in the industry?

My design background was cultivated as a young child surrounded by artists and entrepreneurs.  An accomplished architect, my grandfather was probably my first design professor. It was my greatest desire to follow in his footsteps, but was advised to study Finance with plans to manage the finances of the family business.  After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I still longed for formal design training. I then enrolled and completed coursework in Interior Design at American InterContinental University.  During this time, I also worked for a large Design/Build firm then for a full service real estate development company managing multi-million dollar construction budgets. Finally in 2005, I established Erika Ward Interiors and set out to answer my heart’s true calling.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in interior design?

Simply put, I gain joy from creating an atmosphere.  Fabrics, textures, colors, lighting, and materials have a way of affecting our moods without our awareness or permission. The psychology of interior design is intriguing because it engages all of our five senses, yes even our sense of taste.  Studies show that vivid colors such as red and yellow stimulate the appetite, while blue or green plates suppress the appetite.  Who knew changing your tableware could help you drop a few pounds!

Describe your first interior design project.

My first interior design project was a small space design in Midtown Atlanta. Without a doubt, I put both my formal and informal training to the test and fortunately passed with flying colors. The space belonged to a young, professional woman who had a very limited budget, but very big ideas! Think champagne taste…you know the rest. Eager and downright giddy about my first design job, I self performed the painting (in exchange for dinner) and even put a few hidden carpentry skills to use. The result was beyond what either of us expected, but I had to pretend like I knew all along how great it was going to be. I still laugh about that to this day!

How do you define your personal style?
My personal style is sophisticated, tailored, and comfortable. I tend to be very conservative in both my home and in how I dress, but occasionally I get a wild hair and surprise everyone. I favor upholstered furniture with straight lines and adore curved legs on case goods. Similarly, I love clothes tailored to fit my body’s proportions which result in a wardrobe that compliments my curves.

What inspires you?
In design, the homeowner’s lifestyle and personal beliefs are my inspiration. In my personal life, my favorite sources of inspiration come from the success stories of others. I make it my goal to find inspiration everywhere. If we look to a particular avenue to be inspired and for some reason it ceases to exist what happens to our creativity?

What is your dream interior design project? If you had the money, resources and a ready and willing client what would you create and why?
My dream project is actually more of a movement. I wish I could afford to design spaces for everyone at no cost to them. I want to spread the word that it’s really not about having expensive things; it’s about being surrounding by the things you love. I recently read an article written by Jonathan Legate (http://jonathanlegate.tumblr.com/post/875094905/living-with-what-you-love)
that explains it beautifully.

Who is your favorite interior designer? What are some of your favorite design vendors, stores, books/magazines, and websites?
Favorite Interior Designer:  Amanda Nisbet
Stores:  Horizon Home, Bungalow Classic, and bit of Ikea
Vendors:  Brownstone Furniture, Magenta, and BlissLivingHome
Magazines: Canadian House and Home, HouseBeautiful
Websites: http://www.colourmehappy.blogspot.com , http://www.eddieross.com, http://www.decordemon.com, http://www.allthebestblog.com

What do you find most rewarding about your job as an interior designer? What do you find least rewarding?
Being a designer stretches my creativity in regards to finding alternative uses for common items (i.e. using a dresser in an entryway). It also challenges me to see how far I can stretch a dollar (a great skill to have today). The least rewarding thing about being a designer is when I encounter an unreliable contractor. Problems with tradesman are a real drain of time and energy. I detest unprofessionalism and believe that sometimes you have to have enough business acumen for everyone to recover when a job goes wrong.

As an African-American interior designer, do you feel that African-Americans are under-represented in the design industry? What do you think should be done to encourage more African-Americans to become interior designers?
Yes.  I think the disparity comes from youth not having much exposure to the field. Due to tight state budgets, art programs in our school systems have been either drastically cut or eliminated. Once of my favorite vocational education classes was industrial arts. My high school also offered drafting for a short time, but was eliminated before I had a chance to sign up. It may be time for the design community to rally together to volunteer their time and money to offer relevant art programs to our youth.

What advice do you have for other African-American interior designers reading this interview?
My advice would be the same to all artists. Get out there are interact with ALL artists, not just a particular group of people. We are all united by a common thread, our God given artistic talents. EVERYONE has a place in the design community. Success is not reserved for a chosen few. Believe that.

“I believe that God made us all creators and I enjoy helping others to value the work of their hands“.

What is something you would like the world to know about you or your ideas?
I want to inspire someone to discover their passion and discover ways to win while doing a job they love.  I also want to encourage others in self discovery. Just the other day I realized that I am further from the norm than I originally thought…and I’m okay with that.

Where do you see yourself as a designer 10 years from now?
In 10 years, I will be enjoying a successful career in television, a reputation as a phenomenal motivational speaker, and be the founder of a design related non-profit organization.

 

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Hue of The Month: Marilyn Russell

“Every woman has a purpose/Nothing happens by chance/This is your life here in your hands/You gotta fight to take the stand” ~ Ay Yo by Melanie Fiona 

July’s Hue of the Month is an aspiring interior designer based in Florida named Marilyn Russell.  She’s a student and career changer who proves that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Marilyn has a good eye for color and effectively uses color to create balance in every space she touches. 

Name: Marilyn G. Russell 

Current City: Orlando, FL 

School Name and Degree: International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT) 

Current Employer or Business Name: Historian for the Interior Design club at IADT and Blogger for Marilyn’s Design Studio www.loveaffairwithcolor.com 

Design Specialty: Color, Kitchen & Bath, High-End Residential 

Professional Associations and/or Certifications: Student Member of IIDA, ASID & NEWH, which is the Network of the Hospitalilty Industry 

Tell me about yourself. 

I am a Jamaican native who spent her teenage years in Boston and is now living in Florida. I am married with three children, two boys (21 and 18) and one girl (13). I have a Bachelor’s degree in business management and am now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. I love school. If I could afford to be a professional student I would. I’m even thinking of obtaining a Master’s degree in Interior Design. In fact, I’m headed to London in two weeks to study the history of interior design for a semester. My hobbies include photography and sketching. I take photographs every chance I get. You should see my mack-daddy camera with its multiple attachments. I can’t wait to share with you my findings in London. Sketching is another favorite pastime. I sketch different interior designs when I have time. It’s very soothing to me.  

I’m a laugher, and loudly too. I embarrass my friends sometimes. I’m always laughing at myself. Laughter is good for the soul. My favorite quote is “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds” from Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. This line to me says stop the self-inflicting doubt and believe in oneself. 

Tell me a little bit about your design background. How did you get started in the industry. 

I’m relatively new to the industry. It is my love for interior spaces and redesigning and restyling my own space that has propelled me towards obtaining a degree in interior design. 

Why did you decide to pursue a career in interior design? 

I decided to pursue interior design shortly after learning my mother was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. She was only 66 when she passed, four months before she was to retire. She told me the day before she died how proud she was of me and to continue developing my craft because I was so good at it. I honed in on how my mom never got a chance to do all things she wanted to do. Which is why, at that moment, I decided that life was too short to not pursue my passion. Therefore, I said goodbye to my 15-year insurance adjusting career and now here I am. 

Describe your first interior design project. 

My first project was a residential project for school, which I absolutely loved, although it was quite time-consuming. We (the class) were given a 3,000 sq.ft. floor plan in which the only condition was to redesign the space (move rooms, walls, etc) using tools we previously learned. This was my second space planning project and was quite challenging. What I learned was that a design job takes a considerably amount of thought, research and reworking until the desired outcome is reached. In the end, my professor thought my floor plan, project and presentation was the best. Something I’m very proud of. 

How do you define your personal style? 

My personal design style is contemporary with loads of color, comfort and elegance. I believe in color. It doesn’t have to be obnoxious or scary. I also love the mixes of old with new, rough texture with smooth texture or the expected with the unexpected. Opposites do attract. 

 

 

 

 

What inspires you? 

Colors and people from other cultures inspire me. It’s weird, but when I look at something, I see color first and then go about examining the details of the object to see if it fits. Regarding people of different cultures, I enjoy learning about other people’s perspectives, and their beliefs if you will. I like to hear what other people think or why they feel the way they do; I might just learn something. Being open-minded is such a blessing. 

Marilyn's Living Room

What is your dream interior design project? If you had the money, resources and a ready and willing client what would you create and why? 

My dream project is a nightclub/dance club because I love music and love to dance. Lucky for me my husband is a DJ. Give me a 5,000 sq.ft space and watch me work my magic with colors, lighting, space planning and creative aesthetic features to create a booming atmosphere. 

Who is your favorite interior designer? What are some of your favorite design vendors, stores, books/magazines, and websites? 

Two of my favorite interior designers are both named Kelly. U.K.’s Kelly Hoppen for her timeless elegance and America’s Kelly Wearstler for her creative and bold implementations of color. 

My favorite stores are Crate and Barrel, Design Within Reach, West Elm, Pier One and Room & Board. Favorite vendors would have to be Lee Jofa, Kravet and Robert Allen for their innovative textiles, furniture from Holly Hunt, accessories by Jonathan Adler, and paint from Benjamin Moore. My favorite magazines are Interior Design and Architectural Digest. I’m currently reading The Story of Architecture by Jonathan Glancey and Colors, What They Mean and How to Make Them by Anne Varichon. My favorite website for sourcing products is TODL.com, which is exclusive to interior designers. 

What do you find most rewarding about your job as an interior designer? What do you find least rewarding? 

The most rewarding aspect of interior designing is when the customer or my instructor is completely satisfied with the project. Seeing my project on the Hall of Fame at school gives me a high sense of accomplishment. My second favorite part is interacting with people. The least rewarding aspect is that there is never enough time. It takes a lot of time to plan, research and implement. Time is the most valued commodity and should be respected as such. 

As an African-American interior designer, do you feel that African-Americans are under-represented in the design industry? What do you think should be done to encourage more African-Americans to become interior designers? 

Without a shadow of a doubt, a resounding yes, African-Americans are highly underrepresented in this industry. There’s an article in the March/April 2009 ASID ICON issue titled “The Face of Interior Design: Why Isn’t the Profession More Diverse” that discusses this very issue. The statistics are: 78.2% Caucasian, 13.5% Hispanic, 4.8% African-American, 2.8% Asian. The article states that some of the reasons for lack of diversity are cultural, lack of finances and unfamiliarity of the profession. Even in my classrooms, the lack of representation is quite apparent and disheartening. I don’t believe that minorities are encouraged enough to explore the arts as a career. On the other spectrum, I don’t see where the interior design field in the United States is inclusive of other cultural perspectives. Many people are familiar with a traditional, contemporary, etc. design style. But what about Asian interiors, African interiors, and such. The only time these cultural design styles are implemented is when the customer requests it. I think more education about the profession should be at the forefront for educating and encouraging our fellow African-Americans to pursue interior design careers. 

What advice do you have for other African-American interior designers reading this interview? 

My sincere advice is to create opportunities for yourself where you believe and/or are led to believe there are none. Learn to circumvent the word “no”.  And always believe in yourself despite what letdowns or obstacles may be at the forefront (these are temporary only challenges). 

What is something you would like the world to know about you or your ideas? 

My ideas are mine and generated based on my love for design, creativity and inspiration. I absolutely love finding diverse pieces and putting them to work in a space. I want the end-user to look at my design and say that’s the hand of Marilyn G. Russell. Don’t find fault about my ideas or anyone else’s for that matter. Instead of criticizing, take the time to learn what I’m thinking or what may have inspired me at the time of creation. If you see something inherently wrong, then steer me in the right direction as I would for you. 

Where do you see yourself as a designer 10 years from now? 

Owning and expanding my interior design firm. A color expert. Becoming LEED, AP certified and pushing sustainability where possible. And, designing my own furniture line called “The Marilyn” for production.

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Hue of the Month: Jessica Caldwell

This month’s Hue of the Month is Jessica Caldwell. When I first discovered Jessica’s blog, Design Wonderland, on the Internet a few months ago I immediately knew I wanted us to become e-buddies. She really inspired me. She’s an art junkie (has a degree in Art history) who is also extremely knowledgeable in interior design products. If you show her a picture of a piece of furniture she can tell you the name of the designer/vendor in a matter of seconds. Jessica is definitely one interior designer who is on top of her game.

Name: Jessica Caldwell

Current City: the Washington, DC area

School Name and Degree: BA in Art History from Howard University and MA in Interior Design from The Corcoran College of Art and Design

Current Employer or Business Name: I work at High-end Residential Studio in the Washington DC area; Design Editor/Blogger at Design Wonderland

Design Specialty: High-end Residential

Professional Associations and/or Certifications: Allied Member, ASID

Tell us about yourself: I grew up in Maryland outside of Washington. I have always been interested in art and design. Growing up I spent a lot of time in museums, antiquing with my parents, as well as drawing and writing. Not much has changed. I still do those things and I’m still exploring the world through art as a way to inform my creative process. Right now it is through photography, but I also love old movies, fashion and research. It all inspires me.

Tell me a little bit about your design background. How did you get started in the industry?

After undergrad, I knew I would be a designer. In fact, I started looking at design schools before graduation from Howard. I realized when I started to trade my Fashion Magazines for Interiors mags and I started buying interior design books. For me, it just took me a bit of exploration and a couple of interesting jobs to build my confidence to pursue my dreams. My first step was to go back to school. While working a full-time job, I went back to grad school part-time for interior design. Then decided to pursue school full-time and I got a part-time job working in commercial Architecture and Design firms, as a Resource Librarian. It was the perfect supplement to my education, because I learned so much so fast from the designers and vendor reps. I still do that job part-time.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in interior design?

I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but I love the interaction between space, architecture, objects and people. When I studied Art History, my favorite artists worked in installation art. That’s when I first realized space can be used to convey a story and how space can have meaning.

Describe your first interior design project.

My first project was an Exhibition Design project that I worked on as part of a Graduate Assistantship in school. It was a real world project and it was run like a studio. For a year, I worked with contractors, interacted with international museums, designed cases and plinths, headed up my own projects, assisted others on theirs and put together schedules, working drawings and presentation drawings for client meetings. I’m pretty sure I put in 30 hours a week while I was working part-time and going to school. But it was so worth it because there’s nothing like seeing a project installed and completed. It was rewarding to be a part of and work with a wonderful team of designers.

How do you define your personal style?

My personal style is varied and eclectic. Today it is global glamour with a dash of disco but tomorrow it may be French Country. I love modern design as well.

What inspires you?

Travel, art, fashion and books inspire me the most. There is nothing like looking at a beautiful dress, stopping in my tracks to look at a painting or reading an author’s words that inspire me to dream or live my life fearlessly. And I simply must see and experience more of the world!

What is your dream interior design project? If you had the money, resources and a ready and willing client what would you create and why?

My dream projects would be a boutique hotel, a beach-side bed and breakfast or a restaurant. I know you only asked for one, but I keep a list of them (it also includes a yoga studio). My only request would be that they allow me to create a space that is equally sustainable and beautiful.

Who is your favorite interior designer? What are some of your favorite design vendors, stores, books/magazines, and websites?

I don’t have a favorite designer anymore. There are so many designers that inspire me but the first designer who I really paid attention to was Kelly Wearstler. She has inspired so many designers. Her book Modern Glamour was the first interior design book I ever bought. I also love the work that comes out of studios like Commune and Work Architecture Company.

As far as books go, I’m currently reading Albert Hadley: Drawings and the Design Process, which I picked up in New York. It’s really inspiring and reminds me that I need to sketch and draw more. I also like Construction Drawings and Detail Drawings for Interiors and Visual Notes for Architects and Designers. I read a ton of magazines, including House Beautiful, Elle Décor, Living Etc and Elle Decoration (UK) and Marie Claire Maison. I also have all the issues of Domino and a few old issues of House and Garden and US Vogue’s edition of Vogue Living. I miss those mags terribly.

As far as vendors go, I love textiles, especially Maharam, Kravet and Donghia. I also love antiques so I spend an ungodly amount of time on 1stdibs.com. Bernhardt Design makes beautiful contract furniture and as a company, is very supportive of the next generation of product designers, so I love that. I’m also inspired by Lori Weitzner. I had the opportunity to tour her textile design studio for work and I was awestruck by the beauty of the work that comes out of there.

What do you find most rewarding about your job as an interior designer? What do you find least rewarding?

I work with amazing people everyday from clients to co-workers. I love design but it’s important to know that it’s collaborative in many ways, so you have to be surrounded by people who understand that, that includes me. The least rewarding part is that I often run into people who act like my job is very easy or like they see on TV. It’s rewarding, but easy and nothing like on TV.

As an African-American interior designer, do you feel that African-Americans are under-represented in the design industry? What do you think should be done to encourage more African-Americans to become interior designers?

African-Americans are grossly under-represented in this field. I’m not sure why. For me no one ever told me I couldn’t be a designer even though I never saw any designers who looked like me until I was older. I think it’s bigger than just encouraging people to be interior designers, but rather to encourage African-Americans to follow their hearts and figure out how to make their dreams happen. It sounds cliché, but if you don’t believe in yourself no one else will.

If a person is interested in interior design then that person should find a mentor. Whether they are someone you work for or not or someone who looks like you or not is not as important as finding someone who is willing to share their experience and take you under their wing. Don’t be afraid to seek someone out and ask questions. I emailed my current employer 2 years before she hired me. It started with a phone conversation and I told her I was looking for a mentor and the opportunity to learn and grow.

What advice do you have for other African-American interior designers reading this interview?

I think it’s important that African-American interior designers in the industry become visible in the creative multimedia economy. Recently, I attended a meeting on social media and interior design, and most of the room was afraid of it. I was so shocked. African-Americans designers should be at the forefront of it in this industry while everyone is still figuring it out. They should have blogs and/ or tweet and give a voice to your design style and process.

What is something you would like the world to know about you or your ideas?

I spent a summer studying Decorative Arts in London and it was like heaven. I was either in a museum or in a book everyday. I learned so much in such a short time about furniture, interiors, textiles and fashion from a different perspective than I would have gotten in the U.S. That experience sparked so many creative ideas.

Also, I love research and I will research something forever just to find out more information especially when it comes to design. In design, research is so important. You have to know your stuff in this field. Sometimes, I get lost in the social and cultural context and the story behind the design of space and objects because it is not enough to like something because it’s beautiful. The why and where is important too.

Where do you see yourself as a designer 10 years from now?

In ten years, I hope that I am the Principal/Creative Director of my own  multidisciplinary design studio.

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You can learn more about Jessica by following her blog  http://www.designwonderland.net/blog/

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