Been a minute, but I’m slowly coming back to talk all things design again… because honestly, I’ve missed you, IG fam. ✨
And can we talk DETAILS?!!! It’s the tiny things that end up making the biggest impact, peeps.
Pocket doors like this aren’t typically builder-grade or something you grab off a shelf. Details like a full-length mirror integrated into the door, sizing, placement, and hardware all have to be intentionally specified early on to create a seamless moment.
NO CONTRACTOR is spec’ing a door like this in your project. And yah ain’t gettin’ this kinda door at Home Depot either. Capiche.
It’s always the details for me. Because hiring a designer means getting thoughtful quality that makes everyday life feel more functional, seamless, and beautiful all at once.
I’ll be making more appearances around here again soon… but for now, enjoy the week. 🤎
It's been a minute… so HELLO AGAIN! 👋🏾
Figured I’d jump on this 90s trend because, honestly, that era raised me. Back when life felt simple, music hit different, and none of us were thinking about deadlines, contracts, social media, or running a whole business.
Fast forward, and here I am, a Gen X’er, somehow about to be 49 this year (still wrapping my head around that 😅). A Black woman from a small-ish town in Maryland where there weren’t many of us, but I was lucky enough to grow up with good people, real friendships, and experiences that shaped everything I bring into my work today.
Being a designer and a business owner is not for the weak. The past few years? Wild doesn’t even cover it. But I love what I do. I really do.
Because designing a home isn’t just about making things look good, it’s about navigating the chaos, the pivots, the personalities, the wins, the setbacks, ALL OF IT. And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this:
I can handle anything when it comes to designing a home. The pretty parts and the messy ones.
So yeah…this is me. Then and now. Your true authentic, kicka$$ designer ready to make your home dreams & lifestyle come true! No bots here cuz Im the realist and actually come to jobsites, not in heals and make up cuz I truly work hard✨
#GenX #90sBaby #BlackOwnedBusiness #InteriorDesigner #DesignLife #FromThenToNow #CreativeJourney
We had a great time at WestWeek connecting with our design community and leading a conversation around The Power of Partnerships.
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Alongside designers Linda Hayslett, Erica Islas, and Linette Dai, Zephyr’s VP of Marketing Sarah Wahl shared insights on what makes brand partnerships meaningful and why designers choose to collaborate with brands that support their work.
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It was an insightful discussion and a reminder of the value strong, long-term relationships bring to every project.
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@lhdesigned@linettedaidesign@emiinteriordesign@artwolfgallery@sarahkwahl@pacificdesigncenter
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬
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Thoughtful brand partnerships can elevate a project, expand creative possibilities, and create meaningful value for everyone involved. Join Zephyr VP of Marketing Sarah Wahl and designers Linda Hayslett, Erica Islas, and Linette Dai for a conversation about the collaborations, relationships, and shared vision that can take great design even further.
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𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟗 𝐚𝐭 𝟏:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 𝐏𝐒𝐓
𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
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RSVP: [email protected]
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@pacificdesigncenter@lhdesigned@linettedaidesign@emiinteriordesign@artwolfgallery@sarahkwahl
Who said romance was dead?
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Because to me, it’s alive in the details, the materials, the repetition of form, and a room that doesn’t need to shout to be felt.
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As this powder room comes together, it feels like a reminder that intimacy in design lives in restraint and layering. It's found in moments you don’t rush through and in spaces that hold presence, even when no one’s speaking.
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Proof that romanticism doesn’t disappear. It just evolves. Romance, in its final stages.
My 2nd Phaidon book feature, and I’m still not over it.
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I’m beyond excited and thankful for the path that's brought me here, the stories behind each project, clients who believed in me & the people who’ve been a part of my journey.
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Which naturally leads me to ask… "Should I finally do a book of my own?" I've been asked a bunch of times when I'll be doing a book on design. I see designers left and right having books, so is it time to tell the full story of my design journey? Who's for all my project stories, work BS, travel fun and disasters, and everything in between?
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Because this next chapter feels like I'm going to be in a new phase. And we all know I've gots a lot to say and a bunch of stories to tell. We shall see! In the meantime, you can catch my work out in this incredible book of Supa Star Designers that includes yours truly!!!! IN THE HOUSE is for pre-sale now AND will be out this June! Thank you, @phaidonpress & @altonladay , for always supporting and showing Black excellence!!!!!✨
1 year. I can’t believe how fast time flies.
This was the day I saw smoke on the hilltops and thought, it’ll be fine — it won’t come down here to the flat area. Wildfires happen in LA, but they’re usually contained. By nightfall, it wasn’t fine.
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The smoke was gone and all I could see from my rooftop were giant orange flames shooting from the hillside, creeping closer from the Palisades. My mom was calling, panicking. A close friend in OC was texting and calling, telling me to get out and come to her.
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Then the power went out.
Pitch black.
Winds howling.
Ash everywhere.
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I couldn’t even see where my things were, and I wasn’t leaving without my dog’s ashes. I waited to hear if my friend, who lived right at the edge of the evacuation zone, was leaving. I was only two minutes from her. If she stayed, I stayed.
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Then I got the text: We’ve left.
And I knew I had to go.
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I arrived at my friend’s home in OC close to 2am, crying. She was just happy to see me. My mom stayed on the phone until she knew I was safe. And in those moments, a thought hit me hard: As a designer… how can you be one if you have no home?
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Before I left, I told my house: If you survive this, I won’t let you down. I’ll do everything in my power to love you. That night changed how I see homes forever.
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A home isn’t something to show off. It’s where you decompress. Where you can be yourself without judgment. Where memories are made. Where you feel safe from the outside world. A space that quietly loves you, even when you don’t realize it.
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My home sustained minor damage, while so many others were lost. The grief for those families hasn’t stopped. I see growth again, but the nightmare still lingers for many.
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To everyone affected by the fires: you will rebuild that love again. And to anyone who hasn’t paused to appreciate the haven their home has been — please love it back. Palisades & Altadena FOREVER ❤️
To 2025, the Year of the Snake 🐍
You came in hot, literally, with fires raining down on LA and expectations set high. After everything 2024 threw my way, this year reminded me just how much being an entrepreneur and business owner can test you, stretch you, and push you to edges you didn’t know existed. It’s been a rough road, but I’ve been paying attention. Learning. Watching. Gathering strength.
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Some may have thought I disappeared, but if you know snakes, you know better. Sometimes, you go quiet to conserve energy, to grow, to prepare. I was born in the Year of the Snake for a reason. What looked like stillness was really strength being built.
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Strength also comes from roots, and mine are firmly planted now. The Hong-Hayslett family are officially all Californians! Mama has fully slithered west, and we are no longer east coasters. There’s power in being home, in being supported, and in knowing exactly where you stand.
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2026, the Year of the Horse 🐎, I’m ready for the pace, the power, and the momentum. I’m steady, grounded, and prepared for everything ahead.
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So 2025, thank you for the lessons, even the hard ones. I’m shedding what no longer fits and stepping forward with a lot in store. And now, I don’t just move like a snake, I've become a python.
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Happy New Year, peeps.
See you in 2026. ☮️
Island days, disco nights, and zero snow in sight. 🌴✨
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While the East Coast is currently bundling up, scraping ice, and fully in winter mode ❄️, us West Coast'ers are living the sunny life. To help with the cold system, I’m throwing it back to last summer when I was unwinding poolside in the British Virgin Islands, exploring the insanely beautiful @rosewoodlittledixbay , battling humidity like a sport (lol), and channeling full Studio 54 energy for a wedding welcome party that turned into a full-on vibe.
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This vlog is equal parts design, travel, and lifestyle, with live saxophone moments, disco glam, and a little preview of one amazing destination wedding… and yes, we are in our own White Lotus 🏝.
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The new YouTube video is live now. Next episode is going to be magic.✨Link in bio and stories. Go watch, get cozy, and mentally escape somewhere warm for a bit. ☮️
#DesignVlog #TravelVlog #DesignerLife #IslandVibes #InteriorDesignerLife #DayInTheLife #LuxuryTravel #DestinationWedding #DesignInspo
It’s Friday, so let's escape LA and head to the British Virgin Islands together for a fabulous wedding 🌴
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From designer meetups w/@nicolewhitedesignsinteriors … to getting lost in the hand-painted magic of @degournay w/@kcnicholson , this is my interior designer life in motion.
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It’s travel, design, and real life all in one vlog. Now live on YouTube. Grab a drink🍸 + start your weekend early… link in bio & stories. Happy R&R, peeps ☮️
Secret footage leaked from the latest LA hotspot: my project jobsite.
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The slab guy came to measure, and yes, he nailed his close-up.
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A design documentary coming soon.
#CountertopConfidential #DesignerHumor #LHDesigns #DesignInProgress #BehindTheScenes
