DESIGNER HIGHLIGHT: HONORING THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHITECT/DESIGNER: PAUL R. WILLIAMS

In honor of Black History Month, I present to some and introduce to others Mr. Paul R. Williams, the first African-American Architect/Designer. 

Paul R. Williams
(1894 - 1980)

Paul Revere Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1894. When Paul was 2 years old, his father died and 2 years later his mother died. He and his brother were placed in separate foster homes. Paul was fortunate to grow up in the home of a foster mother who devoted herself to his education and to the development of his artistic talent.

Williams studied at the Los Angeles School of Art and Design and at the LA branch of the New York Beaux-Arts Institute of Design Atelier. He went on to attend the University of Southern California School of Engineering, designing several residential buildings while still a student there.  Williams became the first African American certified architect in 1921.

Young Williams c. 1920s

During the 20s and 30s, his great success was in designing homes for wealthy clients in the elite hillside subdivisions like Bel Air, Brentwood and Beverly Hills.  Sought by entertainment industry leaders, Williams became known as "Architect to the Hollywood Stars."

Williams' Residence in Los Angeles 

Interior of Williams' Residence

Interior Architecture

Although residential design remained an important aspect of his practice, commercial and institutional commissions became increasingly significant. Over the course of his five decade career, Williams designed approximately 3,000 buildings including the Hollywood YMCA, The Golden State Mutual Insurance Building and the Theme Building at the LA Airport.

Hollywood YMCA built in 1928

Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building built in 1949

Theme Building at LA International Airport built in 1961

In 1957, he was the first African American elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.  He ran his practice until he retired in 1973. He died in 1980 leaving a rich history of amazing architecture as his legacy.

Great work, Mr. Williams...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

DESIGNER HIGHLIGHT: DIVERSITY IN DESIGN SYMPOSIUM...

The NY Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers recently held its first "Diversity in Design" Symposium at the NY School of Interior Design located on the Upper Eastside in Manhattan.

The panel consisted of Robin Wilson of Robin Wilson Home (via video message as she was due to give birth at any moment), Anisha Clarke of Ishka Designs, Joy Moyler of Joy Moyler Interiors, Freeform & Deform Creative Collaboration, and Michel Boyd of Smith Boyd Interiors. Among other design luminaries in attendance were Malene Barnett of Malene B Carpets, Orlando Dominquez of GIN Designs and Karen Young of Hammocks and High Tea.

 (L TO R) JOY MOYLER, MICHEL BOYD, MODERATOR, ANISHA CLARKE, ARCHITECT, ARCHITECT, AND MALENE BARNETT

The panel displayed examples of their work and discussed the important role of designers of color.  During the Q&A session, the common theme communicated was (1) build your brand, (2) collaborate with like minded individuals and (3) always be prepared. I was extremely pleased that ASID recognized the need to emphasize the role of designers and architects of color in the industry. Bringing a broad perspective to design ignites creativity for all the enjoy.

I'm looking forward to future discussions of the same...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

THE 40/40 CLUB...

I was pleasantly surprised to find a picture of me and my daughter Courtney (r) with Kimberly Ward (c) of Pink Eggshell Blog at the African American Top 20 Designers Event held at the 40/40 Club in NYC last May. (Click here to see my post on that event.)

Most people know that the 40/40 Club is owned by hip hop mogul Jay-Z and his partner Juan Perez.  The club made headlines recently when Jay-Z and Beyonce hosted a fundraiser for President Obama's reelection campaign a few weeks ago. Opened in June 2003 and renovated 2 years ago, the 40/40 club is a 12,000 sf sports and entertainment lounge designed to evoke the feeling of a lavish NYC penthouse and glamorous court side seats.

That lead me to wonder, as beautiful as it is, why did Kimberly, who is based in Atlanta, select that venue for her inaugural AA Top 20 event. Let's take a look... 


 

 Any design aficionado can see why. The photos don't really do it justice. I went there for drinks one Saturday evening this summer before the nightlife crowd poured in. I was able to take in the enormity and grandeur of the place. I get it...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

Photos courtesy of the4040club.com and Kimberly Ward



DESIGNER HIGHLIGHT: AND THE WINNER IS...DANIELLE COLDING!

Danielle Colding, HGTV's Design Star

Danielle Colding, an interior designer from Brooklyn, NY, has been crowned this year's HGTV DESIGN STAR. (BTW, she was my pick from day one.)  During the season finale, the judges delivered the life-changing news to Danielle that she had won a contract for her own show on HGTV. 

Danielle was in a fierce competition against eleven other talented designers, with Britany Simon as the last to beat.  With this win, she will star in her own series called SHOP THIS ROOM.  See some of Danielle's designs that made her the winner:

Great Room Challenge

White Room Challenge

The Kitchen of the Kardashians' Office Challenge

Hollywood's 125th Birthday Bash Challenge

Kitchen Makeover Challenge

To learn more about Danielle Colding, click here.  Congratulations - you rocked it, girlfriend!!  All the best to you, Danielle!

Happy designing...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

Photos courtesy of HGTV.com

DESIGNER HIGHLIGHT: TOP 20 AFRICAN-AMERICAN INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Welcome to the inaugural entry for the 'The Bold and the Beautiful', a lifestyle blog by me for you, featuring my favorite things from the world of design, art, fashion, food and travel - but mostly interior design, of course.

This first post is old news but I would be remiss if I did not give kudos to the Top 20 African American Interior Designers.  This list was compiled by Kimberly Ward of the design blog, Pink Eggshell.  She hosted a fabulous event last month at the 40/40 Club in NYC to announce this prestigious group of "artists."  So here they are (in alphabetical order)...

 Marian Akinloye of MA Design Studio in New York 

Helen Bailey of Urban Living in Chicago

Michel Boyd of Smith Boyd Interiors in Atlanta

 Keitha Brathwaite of Contrast Design Group in Chicago 

 Sheila Bridges of Sheila Bridges Design in New York

 Howard Brown of Howard Brown Design in Atlanta

Darryl Carter of Darryl Carter, Inc. in Washington, DC

 Anishka Clarke of Ishka Designs, Inc. in Brooklyn, NY
 Joan Goodwin of Verandah Interiors in Columbia, SC
Elaine Griffin of Elaine Griffin Interior Design in New York
Cecil Hayes of Cecil's Designers Unlimited in Miami
Alicia LaMar of Alicia LaMar Home in Los Angeles
Joy Moyler of Joy Moyler Interiors in New York
Janice Palmer of Palmer Design LLC in Atlanta
Roderick Shade of Roderick N. Shade Interior Design in New York
Erin Shakoor of Shakoor Interiors in Chicago
Courtney Sloane of Courtney Sloane Design in New Jersey
Lisa Turner of Interior Obsessions in Los Angeles
Robin Wilson of Robin Wilson Home in New York
Ron Woodson of Woodson and Rum in Los Angeles 

Seated from left: Erin Shakoor, Lisa Turner, Anishka Clarke, Janice Palmer, Michel Boyd,
Ron Woodson, Howard Brown and Joan Goodwin.  Standing from left: Alicia LaMar,
Joy Moyler, Robin Wilson, Kimberly Ward and Elaine Griffin

My GOAL: To be on this list within five years...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

Photo courtesy of PinkEggshell.com