Jeanine Hays - Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul

Copyright 2013 by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason
Photographs copyright 2013 by Patrick Cline

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Potter Style, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.potterstyle.com

POTTER STYLE is a trademark and POTTER with colophon is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hays, Jeanine.
Remix : decorating with culture, objects, and soul / Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason.First Edition.
pages cm
Includes index.
1. Interior decorationUnited States. 2. African AmericansHomes and haunts. I. Mason, Bryan. II. Title.
NK2115.3.A47H39 2013
747.08996073dc23 2012038317

Hardcover ISBN 978-0-7704-3302-4
eBook ISBN 978-0-7704-3303-1

Cover design by Ashley Tucker
Cover photograph by Patrick Cline

v3.1

The first time I read Jeanine and Bryans blog, AphroChic , I remember thinking to myself Finally!

Someone was finally starting a conversation about the influence of culture on design in a way that spoke to my experience. Someone was illustrating how to marry cultural influences with modern design in subtle, yet profound ways. I loved that AphroChic revealed how to tastefully incorporate global elementstextiles, patterns, wallpapers, art, and accessoriesinto contemporary interiors where clean lines and elegant details reign supreme. Best of all, these two bloggers were developing fresh interpretations of cultural patterns for wallpaper and fabrics that I could bring into my own home. Finally, a design conversation for someone like me!

As a multiracial woman born in the 70s in New York City, one of the most diverse cities in the world, Ive never known anything other than a multicultural experience. From the food I ate to the music I listened to and the ethnic makeup within my own family members, my life experience has always been colored by myriad cultures, styles, and flavors.

My familys turn-of-the-century Tudor-style home was all about the mix, too, and my mother was the queen mixologist. What is now a deliberate design style in most homes was then a practical necessity for us. As a single working mother, my mom had to make her money work for her. She blended styles because it made economical sense, and she perfected the art of it. An exquisite hand-carved lion table she bought after saving for months mingled with marble-topped and iron accent tables passed down from her father, a design aficionado. Sleek white-linen sofas and shag rugs paired with carvings bought on her honeymoon cruise to Haiti. For my mother, good design was all about surrounding herself with beautiful things that held personal meaning, and she found a place for everything she loved in our home. This education on eclecticism and exposure to a range of cultures set the stage for my own meandering path, from my studies in anthropology and modern dance to my career as an interior designer.

After I won Design Star on HGTV, Jeanine Hays was one of the first people to reach out to me and ask about my experience on the show. She was also the first to inquire about my anthropology background and how culture impacts my design approach. Her questions were insightful and groundedshe wanted a deeper understanding of my design style. I immediately knew I had met a kindred spirit. Since then I have had a chance to spend more time with Jeanine and the other half of AphroChic , her husband, Bryan. Jeanines infectious smile and optimistic attitude and Bryans love of intellectual debate and discussion hooked me right away. Our first meeting was akin to reuniting with old friends: we talked about design, politics, and food as if from one mind.

Now, through Jeanine and Bryans labor of love, they have written Remix , a comprehensive guide to bringing a sense of cultural identity into the home while still honoring a modern design aesthetic. They show you how to add soulful flavor to interior spaces by paying homage to a diverse range of personal and cultural experiences.

This book is right on time. It reflects our increasingly global, multicultural, and multiethnic world, and encourages you to express yourself through a unique approach to design. Remix speaks to our commonalities, not our differences; at every corner, it seeks to include not divide. Most important, this book is not only for people of African and African American descent. It is for anyone who loves decorating with exotic textiles, bold colors, or handcrafted furnishings and art.

What amazes me most about the design process Jeanine and Bryan describe is that it reflects who we are as people and how we really live our lives. Design is no longer a rarefied endeavor focused on amassing beautiful objects according to some archaic set of rules, nor does it require you to follow the latest trends. More than ever, designing a beautiful home is an opportunity for us to embrace our own unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and to manifest that individuality in our interiors. We have thrown out the idea of matching bedroom sets, loveseat and sofa combos, and an attachment to perfectionism. We want spaces that move us. More specifically, we want our spaces to reflect our best selves. And in Remix Jeanine and Bryan show us how.

DANIELLE COLDING,
host of HGTVs Shop This Room

Bring color and pattern home with textiles and unexpected decorative objects.

We encourage everyone to look at design through their own cultural lens in order to decorate a home that reflects who they are.

Over the past thirty years, remix has become a household word in African American music. The idea of a remix is simple: rearrange old songs by adding modern elements that give them new life. We cant think of a better way to describe our approach to modern design.

When we started our blog, AphroChic, our goal was to create a space that celebrated diversity and to showcase modern homes that have a unique cultural identity. As African Americans, our culture and heritage have always informed our design process, whether as inspiration for a new interpretation of an ancient textile or in choosing a bright color to paint our bedroom. At AphroChic, we believe that the relationship between culture and design holds importance for everyone, and we encourage everyone to look at design through their own cultural lens in order to decorate a home that reflects who they are. But keeping a space modern in todays global community means considering more than your own heritage. It also entails looking at the cultures that inspire you and finding meaningful ways to make them a part of your homes story.