0 design talk webisode 13: erika ward

Erika was one of the first interior designers that I met when I moved to Atlanta back in 2009. She has been such a great friend, mentor and inspiration to me since then! While I was in Atlanta a couple weeks ago I caught up with her to see what she's been up to.

For more on Erika, please check out her blog Blu Label Bungalow! And if you'd like more information on Room Service Atlanta, click here. Make sure you tell her Niki sent you! ;)

2 missing my studio

When I moved to Atlanta in 2009, my intention was to bum on the sofa of my (then) boyfriend's brother until I saved up enough money from my new job at J.Crew to get my own place. While they were playing video games, I would research apartments everyday and dream about how I would make it into a space of my own. Things didn't work out exactly as planned but when I finally did move into my own place in 2011, it was literally a dream come true. It may have not been the best studio, but it was mine! I will always love this "first place" of mine because I put so much love into it.

Ya'll saw peeks of it in the background of Design Talk webisodes, but I never gave you a proper tour. Mostly because I never really felt like it was "done". But today I am missing my studio and thought it would be fun to share a little bit of what it looked like before I moved out!


As you can see, a lot of the items in bedroom area were made by me or thrifted, which made the space really one of a kind. The paint color was from the Martha Stewart collection at Home Depot, and I am so sorry that I don't remember the name/color. And since a few people have asked, I am still selling my custom Afro Puff pillows! You can order one (or two!) right here.

I'm already dreaming about what my next place will be like!

2 cathedral antiques inspiration house

Last night I had the privilege of attending the press preview party for the 2013 Cathedral Antiques Inspiration House. Let me just tell you, it was phenomenal!! Please, if you have the time, go see it before February 3rd. Here are just a few peeks at the rooms:



This is a real giraffe head... Wait till you see the rest of the room.

Here's a peek at what Ally From the Right Bank did on the patio.

Some of the killer artwork Reiner | White included in their space.

Just a look at the sexy bathroom Harrison Design Associates put together.




And lastly, loved this little vignette from Rhonda Peterson's space downstairs.

Get your ticket here and head to the see it for yourself before it's too late!

Happy Weekend,

3 umch room reveal + see it for yourself!

I can't thank all of you enough for your generous monetary donations and moral support throughout this project! I spent every day I had off from Pottery Barn last month working on this project, and I am thrilled with the way it came out.


I wanted the room to be cozy, youthful and still masculine. Thanks to the awesome donation of the bed from Room & Board, and the cool lamps from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams I already had a lots of color to start with! I donated my own orange wingback chair when I found that awesome Pottery Barn pillow on super clearance. I often start a room design based off of one piece, and in this case, this colorful chevron pillow was it! The color scheme and the texture reminded me Southwestern style. Since I didn't have an actual client to design for, I created a "character" in my head. I imagined a young man who loves all things country, is an adventurer, but is temporarily in the city.


Using that theme, I warmed up the clean sleek lines of the donated furniture & lighting by painting the room a soothing mocha color with chocolate trim. Adding in the vintage chair, wood elements, and original art painted on reclaimed window panes made it feel like he moved in with things that have been loved for a long time.

Below you can "shop the room"! I tried to highlight where I purchased the things you see, but if there is something you see that I didn't mention, please ask! I found some STEALS while shopping for this room, and I don't mind sharing sources.



Want to see it in person?? You can come by today from 3-7pm and see ALL of the amazing transformations.



Again, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who contributed; even if it was just pat on the back. :)

SPECIAL THANKS to Dorothy Burke, Will V., and Caroline Buttimer for your hands on help!

And to all of these generous financial supporters:
Ishea of Six Twenty Seven
Linwood McNeill
Shae of Afroniquely You
Rhonda Bellinger
Julian Gravansande
Maxine of In a Fab World
Christopher & Marnita Edwards
Gloria Mittman
LaVonde Driver
Pamela Holt
Deidre Cooper
Oreno Hooker
Willette Morman

I could not have done this without you all!

4 room service atlanta room design sneak peek

THANK YOU x 10000 so much for the generous donations I've received thus far for my Room Service Atlanta room! In a little over a week I've already raised nearly $600 towards transforming this space for a deserving young man. In addition to monetary donations, Erika & Dayka have been working hard to gain product donations from our premier sponsors! I'm so thankful to say that my room will feature a brand new bed from Room & Board, as well as two lamps and a rug donated from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. I scored some AMAZING pieces from Pottery Barn that will finish out the room, like the pillow you see featured above. I'm also donated a wingback chair of my own that I thrifted a couple years ago. I love this chair! But I no longer need it and it will fit perfectly in the space so I am giving it to the cause.

Beyond creating a beautiful functional space for this young man, my aim is to show that you can mix modern pieces, with older refinished pieces to create a really eclectic look. I want to bring in lots of color while still giving it a young masculine feel. I'm also doing some original artwork for the space that I can't wait to show you all in the reveal! :)

Again, thank you so much for all of the donations and I can't wait to share the final look! I'm still in need of donations to cover paint & painting supplies, bedding, extra linens, hangers, storage bins and more. If you'd like to make a donation, click the button below.

1 what I'm reading: instantly! how quickly I realized I hate my job

For anyone who has had that sinking feeling in your stomach while you sit in your car dreading walking into work, this novella is for you! Shameeka Ayers (aka The Broke Socialite) recently released her first book, Instantly! How Quickly I Realized I Hate my Job, and I had the pleasure of attending one of her book signing events here in Atlanta.


The book follows Nia as she enters a new job which she quickly learns is her worst nightmare and her transition OUT of a bad situation and one crafted by her own dreams. But of course, every dream has it's hurdles... Nia is surprised at the end of the novella with one of her on.



In true "TBS" fashion, the book signing was fabulous; with a bevy of sweets, bubbly and great people!


I ran into my blogging buddy Eboné Smiley! Obviously she loves animal print as much as I do...


...and I had a chance to congratulate Shameeka in person on a job well done! She has been an inspiration to me ever since I moved to Atlanta in 2009 and I wish her much continued success!

Pick up your copy of Instantly! here.

3 tea time

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending a royal tea with some lovely ladies here in Atlanta. Yes, a legit tea party, with big hats, gloves, elaborate table decor, 3 tiered serving trays... everything you pretended to have a little girl. It was absolutely fabulous! Some of you may be reading and thinking, she can't be serious! But as a girl who grew up coveting all things girlie & southern, I loved it.


Me, super geeked to be at a tea party in my extra large hat!


Maxine, of In A Fabulous World, and I.


The ladies at our table, including the chair of the event, Mrs. Kendra Hatcher King.

After the tea I was convinced that I need to have a tea party of my own, and soon! Here are a a few essentials I'd include in my tea time.



1.2.3.4

Who wants to come over for tea next weekend?

3 scott antique market

Happy Monday folk! Yesterday Claire and I checked out Scott Antique Market in South Atlanta. The weather was perfect and there was so much great stuff to see! I walked a way with a few pieces of jewelry but saw soo many drool worthy things!

Me, with a pillow I so wanted to take home!


Claire checking out this amazing handmade mirror...


Two adorable chairs and a gorgeous headboard...


Just some of the many cool lamps we saw. I actually own one just like that cork lamp! You can see it here...


And I fell in love with this gilded baby grand piano... The detail was amazing!



How was your weekend? Do share! If you've never been to Scott's, it's every second weekend of the month. Maybe we should do a SBP group trip? ;)

0 artist spotlight: radcliffe bailey

I had the pleasure of visiting the High twice this month to check out the phenomenal exhibition on Atlanta artist Radcliffe Bailey. I had a special connection to his work because he's heavily influenced by music, in particular jazz piano! He repeatedly used piano keys in his work as well as sheet music & even the body of a baby grand. I took some snapshots with my iPhone just to give you a glimpse.



The exhibition was titled "Memory as Medicine"
   Most of the pieces were multi-layered mixed media works like this one where he incorporated family photos given to him by his grandmother.
Here's a closeup of the same piece where you can see the texture of the paint and other materials beneath a thick layer of polyurethane. 
 My friends Dani & Loren standing in front of one of my favorite works in the show!
 A dramatic installation piece composed of 1000s of piano keys took up an entire room...
And another piece featured a deconstructed baby grand piano.
And lastly, here is another vibrant mixed media piece. The entire exhibition was just really cool. His works are filled with history, individuality & vibrancy. Definitely one of the best shows I've been to in a while!
And another cool fact about Mr. Bailey? He's married to the fabulous Victoria Rowell! Unfortunately, his exhibition at the High has ended but you can find information on where it will be next here.

20 deserving design delivered

I'm so happy to share with you all the makeover I did for one resident of the Nicholas House as a participating designer for Room Service Atlanta.


After shot:


Before shot:

The original orientation of the bed didn't allow for the best flow of the room, and the dresser that was in the room literally was falling a part.


That's April Denise - a God send - working on the awesome credenza she generously found & donated. It was a crucial piece in the room! You can also see the paint colors that I chose in the room clearly in this shot. I wanted the room to feel taller and brighter so I added this sherbet orange to the area above the chair rail, and a warm grey to the bottom.


I spray painted the shade you see in the background with a faux ombre effect. It didn't turn out exactly how I wanted, but it fit perfectly in the room!


We added tons of storage; and I even took the extra efforts to sort through and put away some of my residents clothing and linens. I felt that it wad the least I could do, being that I couldn't put a ton of expensive things in the room.




April & Sonja (above) were both huge helps to me, and I'd never met them before last week! They gave their time, money, skills & muscles and im so grateful! Also Lakeitha of Home to 3 Duncan Boys shared her donations and much support. Thank you! Lastly, but certainly not least, Chandra was there with me on the first day, scrubbing down the room, moving that HEAVY furniture and painting the walls. Thank you so much. I really couldn't have done it without these ladies and those that donated as well, like Mustard Seed Collective.

This experience was so incredible because it was such a challenge and a lot of hard work but instantly rewarding at the same time. I know that the residents appreciate everything that we were able to do and I can't wait for the next project!