I have said many times that motherhood is one of the most challenging, yet most rewarding jobs in the entire world. It’s still true. Of all the hats I wear, it’s the one that means the most to me. All those years ago, when I just knew I was pregnant with baby girls each time, I could never have guessed the rollercoaster ride of emotions being a boy mom would bring. I continue to be surprised at all the lessons I’m learning along the way. So, when the boys and I took another visit to Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, is it any wonder that the lessons went well beyond surfing and water sports? Moms, yo ..read more

I’m often asked how I can look at a “blank canvas” property and envision everything from furniture layout, to paint colors and even bathroom and kitchen fixtures. The answer, for me at least, is simple. My mind just works differently. My job as an interior designer is to discover the features that will coalesce into one cohesive display. But that doesn’t always mean selecting items that are similar. In fact, contrasting elements in interior design can often make for the very best styling! Curious? I’ll tell you more. Opposites Attract? It can be tough to believe that contrasting elements work ..read more

My work as a philanthropist is about so much more than simply “giving back.” Likewise, my work as an interior designer is more than decorating the interior of a house. In both instances, I want to be a part of building something. My job allows me to focus on empowering women as an example. Simultaneously, my philanthropic work gives me the opportunity to support girls and women as they fight to create a life and space for themselves in their communities. The interwoven strand between these two aspects of my work is the emphasis on creating a place of safety, solace and security—a “home”—both p ..read more

Before-and-after carousels on Instagram are fun, aren’t they? Nobody loves a good dramatic home improvement reel more than I do! I mean, it’s inspiring! We all enjoy these kinds of posts because they show us what’s possible, while simultaneously leaving us stumped on how someone was able to go from “this” to “that” in the blink of an eye. But, real life isn’t a social media trend. Most successful people don’t just wake up one day with everything in their laps. So much of what we see online and even sometimes in the split seconds we run into people at the grocery store or an event can appear to ..read more

I wear a lot of hats in my everyday life. I’m what I like to call a serial entrepreneur, an interior designer who tackles everything from residential and commercial properties to virtual consultations, a philanthropist working to end FGM in Kenya and across the globe, and an author. That last one is especially crucial because I was inspired by the biggest and most rewarding job of all, which is being a mom to my two little boys. I wanted them to love reading for so many reasons. I don’t think you’d get a single argument from anyone regarding the importance of literacy for our kids. However, ch ..read more

Today everybody is scrolling on social media and looking at perfectly curated homes. What you may notice after a while is the striking reality of homes all (seemingly) starting to look the same. If everyone is into tan and cream, that’s what you will begin to see everywhere. It makes sense to me as a designer that if you’re styling your home, what better way to make it feel like yours than bringing more of YOU into the interior design? You can create a home that looks like everyone else’s that is amazingly designed, sure. Or, you can create a beautiful home that looks (and feels) like you! The ..read more

When you think of interior design, how often do you think about your closet? I know, I know. The furniture, artwork, pillows and paint colors are the fun aspects we all like to pick out and dream about. But when I’ve helped people decide on houses, often one of the most asked about features is closet space! We all wear clothes, and having a suitable and sufficient space to store them is important. Today, I’ll tell you what to keep in mind when you’re deciding on your closet design. Do You Have Enough Closet Space? This is probably the number one question in people’s minds when they consider t ..read more

Homebuyers have a multitude of options from which they can choose when it comes to purchasing the perfect house. The big question they have to ask themselves, though, is what is it that makes the perfect house? It’s different things for different people. As many homes as I’ve been able to design and beautify, I have never found the perfect move-in ready home for my family. So, I opt to create it! Home customization will always be the way to go for me. Here’s why. Family Friendly Amenities One of the biggest reasons I opt for home customization is my kids. Having two active little boys running ..read more

With several years under my belt as an interior designer, I’ve had clients that span the gamut. I’ve done commercial design, large estate design and residential design. Every project comes with its own set of challenges and requirements. I welcome it all! After all, part of the fun of interior design is finding unique and innovative ways to make magic happen within a space. Even still, some of the toughest clients to design for might just shock you. Kids! Design for kids demands a particular approach, and if you execute well, nothing is more rewarding! Today, I’ll share with you what I’ve lear ..read more

Life can get hectic for us all. It absolutely does for me. With television and media appearances, design projects, building my own home, raising a family and trying to find time for myself, “hectic” can be an understatement sometimes. Thankfully, I learned early on in my maturing how important meditation can be to help maintain balance in my life. Here’s why—and how—I practice meditation with my family. Meditation: Myths Versus Reality What is meditation, really? A simple definition describes it as a practice that involves focusing on clearing your mind using one or several mental and physica ..read more