Friends, I just recently participated in the Art by Design event for Arts Memphis. This event is one of the biggest fundraising events for Arts Memphis. They use the donations to support local business around the arts in our community. The Art by Design event is an interior designer showcase of sorts. It is a an event where interior designers create a space that the public can buy tickets to come and view the spaces. There are often items in each space that are for sale, so therefore, you are able to shop as well. There are also vendors who have art galleries and home decor items for purchase. It is also a great way for all designers to network and learn more about each other. Additionally, you meet and talk with various tradespeople who you could potentially work with in the future.

In 2020, I competed and won to be an Emerging Designer. Emerging Designer competition was created by Carmeon Hamilton to give new designers an opportunity to put their interior design skills on display. This allows them to be seen and recognized in the city of Memphis. Unfortunately, the Art by Design 2020 was canceled due to the Pandemic.

April 2024 is the first year in 5 years that the event came back to life. When I got the call to come to the informational, I was excited. After hearing all the details, I ultimately decided to participate this year, but I am no longer an emerging designer so that came with a price tag. My husband, Nate, wanted to be a gift to me by sponsoring my space for the event. His kindness is forever appreciated, because it afforded me the opportunity to participate and worry about the other details.

I quickly got to work to decide on the type of space that I wanted to design, and reach out to a few vendors to ask for sponsorship. I created a mood board and decided that I would do a living room with a small breakfast nook area. I wanted a space that felt good to a home owner to just come in and lounge. You could read a book and drink your tea. You could curl up on the sofa and just take deep breaths. I wanted it to be a space where you could just be.

Once I created my mood board and created a canva image of where everything would go, I reached out to my design friends to ask them to give me their honest opinion on how it all looked. I called up my two great design friends Alvin Wayne and Shavonda Gardner. My friend Shavonda Gardner told me instead of another lounge area in the space that I should do a bistro table. I quickly agreed and got to work on finding the right items to add to my space. I called up Carmeon and asked to borrow her paper latern in the event that mine didn’t show up. I also asked to borrow her record player, because originally, I wanted the homeowner to lounge with music in the background. My paper lantern did make it in time to use, and I ultimately decided against styling the space with the record player.

Take a look at how it all came together.

On March 8th, I posted a picture of my grandmother (mom’s mother) on her 77th heavenly birthday. My talented artist friend, Frances Berry, reached out to me and told me that I needed a painting of my grandmother. I immediately became emotional because my grandmother has been deceased for over 22 years, and I miss her every day. As the oldest grandchild I got to spend the most time with her. She was truly a special person, and I wish that I had more time with her.

I decided to surprise my mom by not telling her about the painting. She got to see it for the first time when she came to support me and tour my space. This was truly a special moment.

Mitchell Black gifted me 10 rolls of this beauitful Inyanga Cocoa wallpaper from Forbes Masters collection. This space was made for this stand out wallpaper which in turn made my space take center stage. It was the foundation for my designed space. It made the artwork, the green modular sofa, and the other furniture pieces pop against it.

The wonderful Kristin of Everbloom Designs blessed my space with this beautiful floral arrangement for my bistro table. Additionally, my space was right right next to a stunning floral installation also by Everbloom Designs. It would be an understatement to say I was one lucky designer.

I wanted to make sure my space was full of beautiful black artwork, so I grabbed some pieces from the house. I have another Frances Berry piece, a few pieces from Cristina Martinez from SewTrill, a piece from Lauren Pearce, and a Monica Lewis art piece. Every piece was simply perfect in the space.

Danny Broadway loaned this beautiful artwork for the space. It literally stopped people in their tracks. It is such a vibrant and stunning painting. I am so glad that he was willing to lend it to me for my space.

Just look at all of the details. The color combinations were just so good!!

Check out some behind the scenes of how the space all came together. I call it the chaos before the pretty.

Although it was a very busy 2 days of getting everything together, it was so very worth it. The entire process was executed very well. The other designers were so welcoming and kind. Some of the connections made will carry over into personal friendships.

All photos were taken by Kim Thomas of KPFusion.

Please stay tuned for more to come!!

ART by DESIGN