Book Love: REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul: Scenes from the SoHo Launch Party

I love design.
Especially interior design.
So I have been a huge fan of  the AphroChic website–with it’s dynamic content and
compelling tagline “Modern. Soulful. Style.”– for several years.
The brainchild of dynamic duo, Jeanine Hayes and Bryan Mason, AphroChic’s approach
to style resonated with me, personally.
It all started years ago with my very first sojourn outside of this country–when I traveled
to Haiti.
It didn’t take long before I was hooked for life.

One look at all of the vibrant, culturally-infused paintings, sculpture, crafts, furniture,
folk art–and meeting the artists who made the magic happen–was all it took for me 
to develop a passion for collecting that would last a lifetime.
Over the years–with trips to Africa, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, South and Central America–
and marriage to an amazing man who also loved to collect–our cultural treasure trove grew.
Each time Earl and I brought home glorious new finds, we took great pleasure in determining
creative and culturally-evocative ways to integrate our global gems in an aesthetic and
functional manner that conveyed our story authentically and felt like “home”.

The AphroChic brand evolved from an interior decorating blog into a design company–boldly
bringing culture into our homes–but with their own signature twist.
They intertwined African culture with contemporary elements and created a distinct home
decor line of pillows, wallpapers, shower curtains, placemats and other items–which are
designed with environmental responsibility in mind.
And now they have gifted us with the ultimate guide to “Modern. Soulful. Style.”:
“REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul”.
So when I received the invitation to the New York REMIX launch party, I jumped at the
opportunity to experience AphroChic’s brand of “Modern. Soulful. Style.” in person.
And oh what a fitting launch it was!
From fried green tomatoes and pickled okra to “remixed” decor, the perfect DJ’d
sounds and the fabulous guests of honor–soulful style was reflected in every aspect
of the event.

What: REMIX Book Launch Party at Room and Board
Where: Room and Board in SoHo, NYC
When: November 14, 2013

 
 

 

“Color. Pattern. Art. Global Objects.

These are the elements of AphroChic style according to REMIX:

The building blocks of every room are the gateway to bring emotion,

culture, your personal story, and the rest of the world into your home…

Learn how to use them to transform your space into a true

reflection of who you are.”

And that’s exactly what AphroChic bloggers and designers Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason achieve
in their in their marvelous, new interior style book.
With REMIX, Jeanine and Bryan, along with Lonny co-founder and photographer,
Patrick Cline–take us inside five lovely homes which personify this concept.

“Whether you love to source pieces from your travels or

simply wish to evoke the destination of your

dreams, REMIX shows how bold color, unique patterns

like ikats and suzanis, original art, and handcrafted

furnishings and accessories can help you express your

cultural experiences in stylish, unforgettable rooms.”

A “remixed” diniing room vignette featuring items from the AphroChic tabletop collection.

Our senses are delighted by page after glorious page of  “modern soulful homes” where
“cultural, global décor breathes beauty and soul into contemporary interiors”.
For Jeanine and Bryan, the process of creating this book has been a labor of love, a family
affair and ultimately a dream come true.
And it shows.
They even chose to take all original photos for the book.

 

 

 

 

 
 

A “remixed” bedroom vignette featuring a mix of modern and cultural objects
as well as the “Brooklyn Life” pillow from the iconic AphroChic collection. 

 

 

My personal REMIX reading experience began with the warm and personal foreword by talented
HGTV Design, Star Danielle Colding.
Part One established the core design vocabulary and the elements of AphroChic style including:
*The Culture of Color
*Telling Your Story Through Pattern
*Original Art
*Global Objects
In Part Two, applications of these core concepts are illustrated with aesthetic examples from
modern, soulful homes–from Park Slope, Brooklyn to Old City, Philadelphia.
All in all, REMIX is more than just another design book.
For me, it provides validation and a vocabulary for the culturally-infused style my husband
and I have been trying to create in our home, for years.
Yes, it can hold it’s own as striking object for your coffee table or shelf, but for me this book plays a
deeper, more meaningful role–it gives weight and meaning to the concept of “eclectic” decorating
with genuine, personal style.
Now, my own autographed copy of REMIX, occupies a place of honor in our living room–
next to our treasured copies of “The Spirit of African Design” and “Collecting African American Art.”.

I think it is quite fitting that the book’s new home–which is decorated with carpets from Morocco,
scultpture from Africa, Haiti and Brazil, pillows from Istanbul, instruments, crafts and paintings
from every country stamped on our passports, as well as my own hand built pottery–reflects
our personal spin on decorating with “culture, objects and soul.”
Rarely a day goes by that I don’t curl up on the couch with a cup of chai, to peruse it’s pages,
and smile.
Why? Because REMIX feels just like home.

The Essentials

REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul
By Jeanine Hays & Bryan Mason
Photographs by Patrick Cline
Available at:
http://www.aphrochic.com/products/remix-decorating-with-culture-objects-and-soul
Website: http://www.aphrochic.com
Also…
Check out this related post about the AphroChic Home Collection

 
Now it’s your turn…
Share your thoughts and experiences about decorating with culture, objects and soul with us.

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