Decorating & Design
10 Design Must-Haves From Black-Owned Businesses
Updated on July 29, 2020
While you’re online shopping from your sofa and filling your space with the latest summer looks, use your spending power for good by investing in pieces from Black-owned businesses — now and forever. Find out what’s on our wish lists from these must-know Canadian and American home decor companies.
Etsy shop NonilyStudio creates accessible — and beautiful — digital prints to upgrade your gallery wall. Our choice for the summer is this sand dunes print because it transports us to destinations abroad while we’re stuck inside.
Canadian design duo Byron and Dexter Peart of Goodee know a thing or two about curating beautiful — and sustainable — pieces for your home. The Tapestry Blanket will add a modernist feel to your space thanks to its abstract shapes and rich colors. Design tip: Instead of using it as a blanket, try hanging it on a wall for a new take on art!
Dabble in decorating with rattan— summer’s biggest trend — with the Candice Bench (available for pre-order) from Toronto-based Black Rooster Decor. The owners, Nina Ber-Donkor and Prince Brefo-Donkor, even live upstairs above their east end storefront! The bench’s bold black border and breezy woven details adds the perfect dose of seaside-inspired sophistication to any entryway.
Toronto-based designer Nike Onile is the small-space master. Her shop, The Apt by 800 Sq Ft, is an online oasis of carefully-curated design pieces that shine in a space of any size. Add visual appeal to your rooms with the Dorian Flask Vase, which works as a sculpture or a home for fresh-cut blooms.
Whether you’re looking to keep cool in the summer heat or take a fresh approach to wall decor, Nomadic Citizen’s intricate woven fans are sure to give your space global appeal. Each fan is handwoven by female artisans in Ghana and take up to one day to complete. Due to high demand, this item is currently sold out, but will be back on the shop soon!
Make a bold statement this summer with Rox Textile Art’s Geo Cushion Cover. This pillow, from the Winnipeg-based company, meshes vibrant zesty yellow with a soothing shade of blue for a picture-perfect take on geometric patterns, making it a true conversation starter.
Give your socially-distanced patio parties a soft glow with Ecovibe’s dreamy handblown glass lantern. Whether hung from a cable in multiples or sitting pretty on the table, this lantern is sure to bring a warm ambience to your summer soirée.
If a relaxing Sunday had a scent, this ginger and mint candle would be it. The calming scent (available for pre-order) also has subtle notes of musk, jasmine and pineapple, making it the ideal companion for unwinding with a good book.
Husband and wife duo Orrin and Janelle Gokule started Studio Gokule & Co. with a passion for creating custom furniture for the residential market. Their sweet swing — pictured here in designer Brenda Danso‘s daughters’ room— is the perfect summer companion for little ones looking to stay entertained in quarantine. Bonus: it comes in a variety of lively hues and sizes for a one-of-a-kind look.
Add a metallic sheen to your walls with Jungalow’s patinated Moroccan mirrors. If you’re like us, and can’t get enough of designer Justina Blakeney’s style, this shopping destination has everything you need to bring her worldly aesthetic home.