Where do I even begin? It’s been almost two years since I penned this post detailing my homebuying experience. That, my friends, was nothing short of an act of God. My realtor calls me her favorite success story and I’m just so proud of that. It has taken me all the time that has passed to finally be ready to share my home décor. My decorating process is ever evolving and I give myself the room and flexibility to change my mind, but right now, at this very moment, this space feels So Good.
So many of my family and friends marveled at how I furnished so much of my home within the first few months of me living here. I mean what else was supposed to keep me going when I was living in a shoebox apartment in NYC and fighting for my life in residency?! Ha! It was in that apartment I ideated what my home would look like; what it would feel like. It seems like I get some of my best ideas in NYC. I developed Surgery And The City right in my brother’s Brooklyn apartment. Thank you, New York! I digress. I used the Bazaart app to create mockups of each room and filled my shopping carts to the brim. I knew it was only a matter of time before those images and Pinterest boards would become my reality. Knew with a capital K because thank you God and physician job security! (Go away, AI!)
I absolutely wanted to decorate my space myself instead of depending on an interior designer because to me, curating where I live is a deeply personal experience. At the beginning of my design process, I described my space as:
Colorful.
Beautiful.
Artful.
Avant-garde.
An Ode to Black History.
I have filled my home to the brim with Black art, iconic literature, and family portraits. I love having the ancestors surround and watch over me. No abstract art or grey/black/white colorway for me. Per.Son.Al. As soon as I got the keys, I went to work. If I’m being honest, some of the décor had already been purchased! Let’s get into each room:
THE LIVING ROOM
This is the room where I spend most of my time. It gets such great light and I wanted to maintain the calm and airy vibes. There’s a whole lotta cream in here, so my future children are gonna have to be very well-behaved! Ha! There are so many beautiful art pieces here. The young man in battalion garments is the focal point of the room. Your eye immediately goes to that piece. It’s the first work of art my Dad hung in my home. I sourced it from Westside Market. I love how the orange pops among the cream furniture. This room also houses the infamous Anthropologie mirror I had on my personal wish list for literal Years. Omg. I was jumping up and down like a child when the delivery men came in and placed it. Core memory! In the corner, I have a green chair to honor my Great Grandmother. She loved people watching and telling her next-door neighbors (a tire company) to keep their tires off her building! If she were living, I imagine she would post up in that chair and watch my neighbors from the deck window. I use the chair to work on my newsletter and blog posts, watch my shows, and occasionally peep the neighbors! Additional pieces that make this room special:
- Black art always
- A photo of my Great Uncle and the mortar and pestal he saved for when I graduated from medical school
- Black coffee table reads
- All four Vogue magazine covers featuring the Black Dandyism Met Gala
THE GUEST BEDROOM
I designed this room as an ode to my Grandmother. Before she passed, we had decided that she would one day live with me. Her favorite color was olive green, so I knew I wanted that to be the base of my color palette here. Funnily enough, I have a photo of my Grandmother in my room, but not this room. The woman pictured here is my Great Grandmother on my father’s side. Of course, I wanted her to be in this space too! When loved ones visit me, I want them to feel cozy, warm, and enveloped by comfort. My pride and joy in this room is the direct line of patriarchs in my family. The ability to trace my ancestry 3-4 generations on both sides as a Black American descendant of slaves is nothing short of God’s grace. I have the matriarchs in my room. This list. Passing on the names. Saying their names. That is so deeply important to me. I can’t wait to show my niece and tell her what I have learned. Gotta keep the history going and well-appreciated. Additional pieces that make this room special:
- Black coffee table reads
- Black art pieces
- Carafes from one of my favorite coffee shops in Harlem, The Oma Shop
THE ROOFTOP LOFT: ‘HARLEM’
THIS. SPACE. Hands down my favorite room in the house!! I would not have made it through my NYC living experience without the Harlem community. I have so much love and respect for Harlem and its rich history. The neighborhood deserved to be honored in my home. Harlem is also central to my family roots. It’s where my Dad was born before his grandfather purchased a home in cash (!!!!) and moved them to the Bronx. A Black man doing that in the 1950’s?! Do you all see where I get my grit?! Dad was born right in Harlem Hospital. His first home was a brownstone off Frederick Douglass Avenue. He took me to see it when he helped me get settled into my NYC apartment. The spirit of Harlem lives on in this space. One of my most precious gems here is a photo of my actual family in the ICONIC Cotton Club. I am forever grateful to my Aunts for ensuring I have this photo. It’s nothing short of Miraculous and Stunning. I also have a photo of my Great Grandparents at my Grandparents’ wedding AND a photo of both their homes. Seeing the juxtaposition between their humble beginnings in Bainbridge, GA and their townhome in Newark, NJ is truly gasp-inspiring. I mean really. The work ethic, determination, and all out gall it took to escape Jim Crow South and accomplish what they did is a true illustration of their drive and God’s goodness. I have a literal representation of the Great Migration in my home. Just wow. Another gem is my brother’s promotional poster for one of his shows. Aaron Bazzell, aka big bro, is a phenomenal jazz musician, so he absolutely had to be represented up in ‘Harlem.’ That’s what my family affectionately calls this loft space. That show was one of my absolute faves of his!! He played so amazingly well and his happiness was palpable. I love seeing my brothers happy. It was also the night I met his now partner, marking the beginning of our beautiful family extension. Then there is my Great Grandmother’s vanity table. This piece is from the 1940s and is still in such amazing condition. My Grandmother also used it as her vanity and then I used it as a desk during my med school years. This table has followed me to both my Atlanta residences and I love the antique quality it brings to my space. This room, in particular, is my pride and joy. I feel transported back in time whenever I ascend the stairs. I can hear jazz music playing when I sit on the velvet couch. This space definitely has my heart. Additional pieces that make this room special:
- Photos of my ancestors
- Literature from my undergrad African American Minor and beyond
- Shiela Bridges hosting set – shout out to one of our SAC community members for introducing me to Sheila Bridges! What a gift! You cannot have an ode to Harlem without at least one of her pieces!
THE ROOFTOP OASIS: ENCLAVE ON THE ROOF
Now I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but Beep Beep! Y’all!!! This right here is my spot! Especially now that I have a fan out here (Atlantans know!), I am truly outside. We got an Atlanta rooftop at Home! I don’t know how we go straight from Harlem to Tulum, but it Works! Here, I wanted chic, colorful vibes. I wanted ‘resort at home’ vibes. Mission accomplished. I love the color scheme here. The plants literally bring the space to life. Shout out to the very patient man at ACE Hardware who helped me choose perennials that could withstand direct sunlight and look “real cute!” I’m absolutely feeling like Jody’s mama up here. I read here. I watch my shows here. I dream here. I bask in the sun here. My mom was kind enough to gift me the coziest blanket so I could still sit up here when the cooler months take over. I love that for me. Here I also have one of my favorite childhood photos with my grandparents and my brothers. We were in our first home in Georgia after moving here from Massachusetts. I remember feeling loved, happy, safe, and excited for our new season. I’m grateful to have that moment frozen in time. I tested out hosting in this space last weekend and Yes. Enclave on the Roof is a vibe and will host many more functions to come! Additional pieces that make this space special:
- Florals + plants galore
- Sheila Bridges hosting set
- My comfy solo chair
Over the past two years, my family and friends have coined my home–my beloved Anya’s Enclave–with titles such as A Living Art Museum, The Obama Center of Our Family History, The MET. I love the comments and the acknowledgement of my intentionality. And let me say this: I could not have accomplished this major home design feat without my family. They encouraged me. They motivated me. My Mom, Dad, and Aunts made sure I know the family history and names—both sides m’kay?! They sent me all the photos they could get their hands on. My parents watch my home and let cleaners in whenever I am at work…which is a lot of the time. And my Dad. Whew. My Dad has been the ABSOLUTE GOAT this entire time!!! I ideated and he executed. Just about every portrait and piece of furniture were hung or built by my Dad. That makes the space even more special. If anything broke, he fixed it or came to my home to let in (ie monitor and manage!) any serviceman who came to do the fixing. I am forever grateful to my family for their support in this endeavor.
Anya’s Enclave is my home. It’s my love. It’s my sanctuary. Some days I just glide from room to room, spend a little time in each space, and bask in the joy of each design and thank God for what He’s done. I’m just so glad I took the leap into homeownership when I did. It’s beyond rewarding. Nothing like having your own and building out your legacy. And yes. I WANTED to purchase a home as a single woman first. I have always wanted that, even as a child. I believe in having my own before building with someone else. Ladies, my opinion: be careful listening to these ‘soft life’ narratives and trends on social media. Have your own. The right one will be grown, sexy, and Unintimidated! Don’t get stuck trying to be kept. Clock it!! Now that’s a Word!
On that note, I hope my journey encourages all—renters, owners, and everyone in between—personalize your space. Make it your own. Make it your Home. Part 2 is coming soon! I just have a few more pieces to add to the rest of the rooms in my house. Future projects after that will include paint and wallpaper for my bathrooms, a wet bar for my rooftop loft, an art gallery wall in the hallway, and maybe even a closet makeover! You can shop more of my home décor here. I’m grateful. I’m excited. I look forward to the next investment property and continued design intentionality. Let’s keep going! As always, thank you all for following along! Love y’all deep!
xx,
Photos by Jasmine Smith Photography
