And that attitude’s gotten me far. That’s why Anela is trusting me to renovate her rental kitchen while she’s out of town, and why I’ve been able to build a career teaching other women they can do anything.

Home-ish

She Gave Me Her Keys for Two Months — Here's What I'm Doing to Her Kitchen

How do you know if your friend really trusts you…

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17 days ago · 18 likes · 7 comments · Imani At Home

But just because you can do anything, doesn’t mean you can do everything.

Let me tell you how my hubris got me in trouble this week.

After being a bald baddie for almost ten years, I’ve decided I want to try a pixie cut, and to help with length retention, I’m getting a good ‘ole fashioned protective style… braids.

Now, I used to wear braids all the time; eventually, I learned how to do it myself to the point where I was running a small shop out of my dorm at Howard. So, even though it had been several years since I last weaved some kanekalon through my hair, I thought it would be like riding a bike. The first braid might be shit, but every one after that would surely be something I was proud of.

I gathered my supplies (this 360 mirror is actually great) and organized my schedule to avoid getting overwhelmed. The plan was:

• Day one: washing, conditioning, blow-drying.

• Day two: sectioning and parting.

• Day three: installing the main braids.

• Day four: braiding down and styling.

And it was all going fine until day three.

I started braiding at 1 pm, a rookie mistake, and quickly realized knotless wasn’t gonna work for me. The time off cost me my grip, so I switched to traditional box braids. Not ideal, but not the end of the world.

I turned on Call the Midwife and locked in.

After finishing the back and slowly working my way up the sides when it hit me: I hate this shit.

The parts were too big. The braids weren’t consistent. The color mix looked stupid. And I couldn’t put my neck down without feeling a sharp pain in my kitchen.

So I got the scissors out, started clipping, and texted a friend for her braider’s info cuz this shit was for the birds.

My mind was like, “how can you cut a 90* angle, but can’t part your own damn hair?”

I let the feeling of failure wave over me 2.5 seconds, until I realized I would rather fail, quickly recover, and hire a professional than walk around looking crazy as hell to hold on to my pride or whatever.

As women, we’re fed this idea that we have to be superwomen. The cooking, the cleaning, the working, the planning, the everything, all at once, all by ourselves. And I’m over it. There’s no prize for being the person who suffers the most, so if you can’t or don’t want to, give up and hire an expert.

And if you can’t find an expert, steal some of my favorites.

• For wallpaper installs & painting, hire Nathan!

• Falling behind on laundry? HappyNest gets your clothes back to you in 24 hours or less.

• Are your baseboards a disaster? I just used this really nice lady from TaskRabbit did an amazing job on my apartment.

• Can’t do electrical but want new fixtures? Michael is my go-to guy!

xo,

IK

P.S. — braid shop review coming soon. Communication’s been great so far, but I need to see the actual braids before I approve.

A few more things:

• Episode 3 of 7 Things is being finalized as I type. Expect an episode in early September.

• The Labor Day Sales are starting! Get 30% off at The Container Store, up to 70% off at Wayfair, and up to 75% off at Ballard Designs.

Some people say it’s if they’d call you to help bury a body. Others say it’s when their kid starts calling you auntie.

For me? It’s when a friend tells you she’s leaving town for two months, hands you her keys, and says, “Do whatever you want to my kitchen.”

That’s the highest honor I know.

And it’s what’s happening to me right now.

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My girl, Anela Malik, is gonna be gone for two months hosting fabulous group trips around the world with her brand, Unfiltered & Fed, and when I say gone. I mean gone gone… Like on a boat traveling down the Nile River with spotty Wi-Fi type of gone…

And that’s the part that makes this an honor and not just a favor. She won’t be here to check in or provide me with feedback… This kitchen is all on me. And, Homies, it needs me.

In her own words, the kitchen is “utilitarian”…

It’s got a decent amount of storage, but the cabinets are boring, sticky, and because there are no knobs, more than one person has broken a nail trying to get a mug. Oh, and the blue paint feels like something a landlord got half off at Lowe’s.

So, while she’s gone, I’m gonna fix all of it with permission from her landlord, so I ain’t gotta worry about doing something that’ll get her evicted.

This will be the kind of project that tests whether I can hold somebody else’s vision as carefully as I hold my own. I think I can do it, and obviously she trusts me to give her a space she loves.

I’m bringing you inside the project to help me make every decision and solve problems that require clever solutions. You’re getting the whole thing, probably before Anela even sees it.

This is going to be fun!!!! Drop your ideas and wish me luck down in the comments.

xo,
IK

A Few More Things

Anela's taking a small group to Peru!

Spend 11 days through Lima's Afro-Peruvian food scene, the Sacred Valley's ceramics and weaving communities, and Machu Picchu with the time to actually take it in!

Honestly, I can’t get Anela to stop talking about how much she loves Peru, so I know anyone who travels with her will love it. Spots are limited, so book your spot ASAP!

BOOK YOUR SPOT

Explore Black-Owned Baltimore w/ Our Block

I had the best matcha of my life at Equitea in Baltimore and they were featured on the first episode of Our Block, the show where Anela travels city to city, pulling up on Black folks doing dope things in their communities.

Watch Our Block

Welcome to Dear Imani, a new monthly series where I answer questions from the Homies about everything from designing a home you love to surviving your 20s to what to do when your landlord doesn’t give you your security deposit back… Whatever you need, I got you!

Submit Your Space

Diana asks:

I get loads of sunlight from the bay windows, which I love, but I recently bought this pink rug and I hate it. I’m feeling discouraged and I’m struggling to put my vision together. I need help and I also need some positive encouragement. Budget: $2,500

Imani says:

You’ve got some great pieces (dining table, white chair, and the file cabinet), but with everything pushed up against the wall, a lack of light, and a rug that is practically the same color as the floor, there’s nothing interesting happening. So let’s fix that!

I drew up a new floor plan where the dining table is closer to the window, which clears up the space in front of the AC for your desk on a cattycorner. This will remove that “pinched” feeling that’s currently happening at the entrance. That window needs curtains, and I recommend using this rod and this connector piece to create a custom-looking window treatment. Set the bar as high as it can go and use four of these IKEA curtain panels to make the windows pop. Use one panel on the air conditioner window.

The scale of that TV stand is wayyyyy off. You need something taller and long enough to take over the open space now that we’ve moved the desk to the opposite corner. I suggest something like this to fit with the more mid-century feel, with a large plant or sculpture to the left of the TV. On the right side, add two (or three) floating shelves for balance and style with the books and plants crowding the window.

Switch out that rug with something like this to bring in the yellow and red from your throw pillows. Consider adding a plug-in swinging wall sconce with some large horizontal piece of art behind the sofa.

Shop The Room

If you’re able to find the sideboard on Facebook Marketplace, reallocate that portion of the budget into painting and a plug-in ceiling pendant to the center of the room. If you’re handy, you can make this happen on your own, but I’d recommend hiring a TaskRabbit since electrical work can get tricky.

Kendall asks:

This is our main bedroom and we cannot get the color or vibe in here right. The dusty mauvy pink would be sexy and cool but it’s giving childhood bedroom pink. The screen is hand painted and so pretty up close! We don’t want the walls to go too dark in the space but want cozy, refreshing, calm, vibes in here. Budget: $800-$1000

Imani says:

I wholeheartedly agree that this pink is not the right pink. Valspar’s Cameo Pink is what you need, and you need to do the ceiling too. I know it feels like a big deal, but that stark white ceiling isn’t helping the room at all, and color drenching feels more grown-up. If you really want to take it up a notch, do Cameo Pink on the walls and Brown Plum on the ceiling. The second option is cool because that darker color connects to the brown on the screen and brings things together. Either way, a more sophisticated pink is a must.

There’s no vibe in the room because there’s nothing in the room. So we’re gonna get on Facebook Marketplace to find two dressers and a rug. A French provincial or traditional style dresser would work on either side of the bed, and I would replace those small lamps with something more substantial - at least 20”-24” tall.

Shop The Room

An 8x10 rug to go under the bed and extend beyond the new nightstands/dressers is ideal. Getting three major pieces of furniture will likely exhaust the majority of your budget, but I would spend $56 on this French linen bed skirt to hide the simple frame and lean into the calming vibe. And moving forward, always size up in your duvet— so Queen-sized beds get King-sized duvet.

You’re off to a good start with this room, and I really, really love the idea of using a painted screen as a headboard - it’s very beautiful.

Got a problem? I got you!

Whether you’re dealing with a closet that’s seen better days, a living room that just feels off, or you don’t know how to tell your mom to stop saying rude things about your bedroom paint color… Imani is here for you!

Drop your design dilemmas here it to be featured in the next Dear Imani drop!

xo,

IK

But a few weeks ago, I started telling everyone who’d listen about my invite to her farm for lunch, a tour of the property, and a first look at the Hint app.

Before we get into the omg-wtf-ass moments I witnessed at the ultimate hostesses home, let’s talk about Hint.

Hint is an AI-powered app that helps homeowners manage every part of running a home in one place, storing contracts and invoices, and managing the tasks that keep a home running.

Sitting on a grey L-shaped wicker sofa with bright white cushions, I listened as Martha and Brian from The Points Guy walked through her decades-old idea for a home-keeping app, and how it eventually resulted in a partnership with Kyle Rush and Yih-Han Ma to build Hint, which launched earlier this week.

Hint keeps you on top of everything related to your home. You can ask their AI chatbot if your homeowner’s insurance has a gap in coverage, or if you’re overpaying based on where you live. Input your appliances, and it’ll remind you to change your fridge’s filter or clean out your dryer vents, so you don’t have a house fire.

There’s a lot of features in the app to help the overwhelmed homeowner, but my favorites are that it connects to apps like Thumbtack, so you can hire experts and that it’s embedded with Martha’s knowledge about homemaking, gardening, and design so your home can strike the balance between function and beauty.

The draw is obvious for homeowners, but does this app matter to renters? I think so.

My landlord is a piece of shit, so I already have to track more around my unit than the average renter and Hint’s reminders would make it easy to document any expenses that I might ask my landlord to reimburse me for when I move out.

Hint could also be useful if you’re renting, but helping aging parents manage their home remotely. You can stay updated on what’s changing at the property even when you’re not there.

Two of my friends and I are testing out Hint out over the next few weeks, and I’ll update y’all on how it’s actually working for us. But yeah, I recommend trying it.

Download The Hint App

Now let’s gossip…

Here are the 7 Things I learned at Martha Stewart’s house.

1. Shoes off is the only way.

Before I even got to the farm, I was told to expect a shoes-off portion of the day, so I wasn’t surprised when my little piggies were out for the “fireside chat” between Martha and Brian (an advisor and investor in Hint).

I grew up in a Black household, so tracking outside dirt into someone’s home already feels foreign to me so this didn’t bother me. If you’re hosting, set expectations early so guests have time to get a pedicure, or offer socks and slippers at the door.

2. Personalized placemats.

Lunch was served under a stone pavilion, on a table made from a yew tree Martha removed from her former East Hampton home.

shop placemats

And if that isn’t bougie enough, the placemats were woven in the USA by Chilewich. They featured a photo of expertly arranged shells Martha’s granddaughter took on vacation in the Philippines. I guess this is the luxury version of putting the grandkids’ art on the fridge; either way, I loved it, and you can shop the placemats here.

3. Even multimillionaires have mice.

Finding a family of rodents in my DC apartment was mortifying, even if it did lead to an incredible kitchen makeover, but it turns out even someone as rich as Martha Stewart has pests.

While walking along the gravel paths, I ran into the cutest cat I’ve ever seen. I assumed a beloved pet had gotten loose, but no, that baby was on the clock keeping critters off Martha’s fruit trees. #relatablequeen

4. I’ve been cooking salmon wrong my whole life.

Maybe it’s because I’m Black. Maybe it’s because I’ve had two house fires. But the salmon, cooked by Chef Jeff Srole, changed my whole approach. I always thought salmon was supposed to be crispy-skinned and (apparently) overcooked, but this was buttery, chilled, served with cucumber and dill, and unbelievably good. My mind is changed for the better and I’ll no longer be putting salmon in the air fryer.

Oh, and you need to take advantage of the season and make this delicious tomato tart with roasted garlic and fontina cheese.

get the recipe

5. Everyone loves a fun fact.

If you’re hosting or blending friend groups, it’s on you to ease people into conversation. At every stop of the day, we got fun facts that kept the table talking, and the seating chart was perfectly arranged. Everyone sat next to someone they’d vibe with, and every media person was paired with a member of Martha or Hint’s team, so shop talk could happen naturally if you wanted it.

A few of my favorite fun facts:

• Martha’s building a maze, like a legit tri-wizard-tournament-ass maze, and it’s set to be one of the largest in North America. Insane.

• Apparently over 4 miles of roads were added to the 150-acre farm and from what I could see… they did that!

• Martha had an excavator dig out 30 feet of dirt where her barn now sits, so a neighbor who thought the barn would be ugly wouldn’t have to look at it. I can confirm the barn is far from ugly and now I need to know what that neighbor’s house looks like, because I doubt it tops what she created.

6. Parting gifts are genius.

You’d think the best part of meeting Martha Stewart would be her asking to follow me on her personal Instagram, and it was, but the second best was the parting gift: a money plant in a custom pot from Ben Wolf Pottery.

The irony of a very rich woman handing out money plants was not lost on my close personal friend, Martha Stewart tho. She said they’ve worked out great for her, and I’m hoping mine brings me some abundance for as long as I manage to keep her alive.

A few leaves popped off while transporting her back to DC, but these plants propagate well, so I don’t feel too bad… This just means I’ll have plant babies to share with the Homies… Who wants one?

7. The respectful exit.

Being the first to leave a seated event is awkward, which is why I was so happy Martha stood up after dessert to make a polite announcement encouraging everyone to head to their prearranged cars. She was gracious, kind, and clearly knows how to host in a way that never leaves guests wondering what to do next. Clearly defined expectations, and a well-thought-out plan made it easy to be a respectful guest, and I appreciated it so much.

I also appreciated the car service to and from Brooklyn. If anyone at Blacklane reads this, hit me up!!!! Mama hates the subway, and wouldn’t mind having a driver for my next day trip to NYC.

This was a long one, Homies, but that’s to be expected; I was at Martha freaking Stuart’s house after all. If you’ve got any questions about the visit, the farm, the maze, Hint, any of it, drop them in the comments, I still have so much to share. Maybe we need a pt. 2?

And make sure to download Hint. Whether you rent, own, or are out here managing your parents’ place from three states away, it might be the thing you need to make life a little easier.

xo,

IK

A Few More Things

• Paid subscribers can access the Design Like Your Life Depends On It live + Q&A here.

• I’m offering a limited number of 1:1 Virtual Design Consults. If you need help making your house into a home, book your spot!

Thank y’all for joining the Design Like Your Life Depends On It live! I truly believe we all deserve to love the spaces in which we live and I’m glad we got to go live together this week to talk through my design philosophy + answer some of your questions.

As promised this is the space planning book, I recommend everyone get. Julie is an inc…

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All of the difficult, boundary-setting, “I gotta choose myself” decisions I made in my late 20s have settled, and now I’m reaping the benefits and loving it.

In years past, I spent the weeks leading up to my birthday planning, organizing, or stressing over how to make myself the center of attention. This year, my community picked up those duties, which left me time to reflect on the things I’ve learned to stop caring about in order to live this fabulous life. I’m sharing it all with you, because designing a big, beautiful life is a skill, and sometimes we need help getting there.

Here are the seven most important things you might want to learn if you’re serious about living a bold life.

1. What my parents think.

I’m putting this at #1 because it was the thing holding me back the most (and I’m guessing you too) from living my dream life.

Long before I went no contact with my parents, I struggled to decide if I wanted to be good to myself or be the daughter they wanted me to be. Every step I took toward living “right” took me further from what brought me joy. With great fear, I took incremental steps to assert myself, slowly gaining the confidence to know even if I received push back, I was sure enough of myself to stand taller and firmer in my decisions.

One of my many breaking points came when a friend asked me, “If you know you’re not going to get love from your mom, is there something she could give you that would make it worth it to stay in this relationship?”

My only answer was “money.”

So, I asked my mom for $60,000 to grow my business.

Homies, asking that woman for money was the single most dehumanizing moment of my life, and that includes the time a boy ejaculated into my freshly done box braids.

I was already bringing in six-figure revenue, which she knew about because she did my taxes, and still, every a single point I made was refuted, questioned, and stomped on as if I was some silly teenager, instead of a competent, highly successful businesswoman.

It was then I realized there was nothing else here for me. No love. No encouragement. No support, emotional or monetary, so I retreated.

I got off the family cell phone plan, and learned to trust my gut even more than Olivia Pope did before Fitz fucked it up. I took all the energy I used to spend making her happy and put it into relationships with people who love me for me, who don’t hold the decisions I made at 13 against me as the sum total of my personality.

Losing my dad in my late 20s made me realize, I’ll spend the majority of my time on earth without my parents, and it doesn’t make sense to hate my life just to make them happy, when I could make them unhappy and live a good life for a lot longer.

2. Back fat.

“If I could just get rid of this back fat, I’d be okay with my body” is a phrase I’ve repeated weekly since I was about 15, and since then I’ve only gained extra rolls, lol.

But now, while I’m scrolling Rent The Runway looking for cute dresses and going-out tops, I don’t swipe past the backless blouses and halter dresses. I add them to cart, throw some body glitter on the rolls, and go out and enjoy my life.

I focus on the good time I’m having rather than whether or not (and usually it’s not) someone’s pointing and laughing at me. I’ve said this before: my body is the least interesting thing about me, and whenever I find myself spending an egregiously long time stressing about a specific body part, I know it’s because I’m bored and need a hobby.

Redirecting will not solve every problem in the world. It will not change the fact that the current beauty standard in the US, Asia, and parts of Europe is a prepubescent girl.

But realizing I don’t wish to be admired for having the physical traits of a child helped me to be disgusted by the people who wished me to be smaller, rather than obsessed with making them see my worth.

And if that doesn’t work, try masturbating in the mirror while saying your affirmations… 😜

get my fav vibrator

3. Waking up early.

As a millennial girlie, I used to be obsessed with those articles where CEOs talk about the ridiculous things they do to be successful, and the most common talking point was waking up at ungodly hours, 4 or 5am. And, omfg, I tried so hard to be like them. And it was killing me.

It took me until last year to realize that while waking up at the crack ass of dawn works for some people, it simply doesn’t work for me.

Maybe it’s the ADHD, maybe it’s because as a kid the only time I felt free in the house was after everyone else went to sleep, IDK, but I hit my creative stride somewhere between 10pm and 2am.

Instead of working against what my body wants, I changed my mindset, reset the alarms to wake me around 8 or 9am, and I get my day started around 10am. The shift happened gradually, since Salazar needed time to adjust to this new life, but now if I try to wake him up before 7am, he looks at me like I’m crazy. I’m better for it. I’m a regular at those mid-day pilates classes, I grocery shop while everyone else is at work, and I feel freer by doing what’s actually best for me, my brain, and my body.

4. It’s okay to invest in your comfort.

There’s no prize for being the woman who suffered the most, so for the love of God, learn to ask for help, and be willing to receive it.

Getting the help you need to reset your cortisol levels means being willing to relinquish control of some things. For example, I’m not a huge fan of how my cleaning lady folds my clothes I leave out, but having someone come in once a month to put away the laundry that I sent out to be washed, is priceless.

I don’t want to do it myself, so I get over it and thank the heavens I hired someone who goes above and beyond to put away my shit, even when that’s not really her job.

5. You don’t need to know everything.

Keeping up with current events is important. You should absolutely know about the egg recall or what’s going on with the SAVE Act or this unnecessary ‘war’ with Iran. But participating in the 24-hour news cycle will have you on the brink of collapse if you take in every photo from Gaza or every video of ICE killing another person.

Taking advice from my friend and photographer, Farrah Skeiky, I picked two or three news sources that I check once or twice a day, and I leave the rest on the table.

If tragedy strikes and starts going viral, I gather the important information, find the GoFundMe link to donate, then block certain words on social media. The goal isn’t to become ignorant to the truth; it’s to stay informed without getting desensitized to the horrors of the world. I learned in 2020 that seeing every image of every atrocity didn’t make me more likely to participate or stand up. It made me depressed and disillusioned.

And I can’t handle that. And it’s okay if you can’t either.

6. High heels in the club.

I’ve been nursing an ankle injury ever since my sister’s home birth, where I fell into a ditch trying to get to her on time, lol, and at this point in my life, I’m no longer interested in hobbling around like a baby deer just to look like a baddie in pictures. Instead, I’m committed to footwear that’s equally cute and comfy.

Enter: the 3.5-inch Towee heel by Bared Footwear.

The first time I wore this shoe, I biked 3.5 miles, went to 3 bars, dropped it like it’s hot, walked half a mile, then took a scooter home while scream-singing Olivia Dean, before taking my dog on a 20-minute walk. My feet didn’t hurt once, not the arch, the toes, or the heel.

These leather, podiatrist-designed heels are perfect, and the bright red pairs perfectly with most of my outfits.

I’m in my prime, and I cannot be held back by a heel. If you feel the same, get you a pair.

7. Everyone can’t be helped.

A wise, wise woman named Diara once said:

And my God did she hit the nail on the motherfuckin’ head. There are people who are confused, misinformed, and need help, but at the core they’re good people, and those are the ones worth spending your time on. But then there are others who are dumb, and they enjoy being dumb. And you need to leave those people alone, because they’ll drag you down to stupidville just to feel like they have an ally in their idiocy.

This lesson can apply to friends, coworkers, cousins, sisters, boyfriends, and baby daddies. And what you really need to know and understand in your heart is that some people cannot and will not change. And the even more difficult lesson is that it doesn’t matter how much you love them or are enamored by them; the only people in this life whose behavior you can control are your own. And you must decide today what you’re willing to accept their behavior as a part of the big, beautiful, limitless life you desire most.

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This has gotten real heavy, and now I need to chill and leave y’all to reflect. Like I said, it’s my birthday weekend, and I’m planning on being drunk as a skunk, starting tonight with happy hour since it’s National Tequila Day, but when I’m coherent again, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this list and what decisions you’ve made to design a life you love.

Leave a comment and wish me a happy birthday.

xo,

IK

When presented with this claim, I scanned my memories of all our adventures. The time I moved to NYC to support him through a breakup. The outrageously expensive diners at Michelin-starred restaurants. The 6-hour phone calls during the year he moved out of the country.

And after all that I could only think of one thrifting-adjacent event we’d ever shared, and it wasn’t even really shared. It was them picking me up from the Georgetown flea when all the Uber XLs kept getting canceled on me.

I was shocked. Appalled. Flabbergasted.

How could I allow my bestie to be paying full price for furniture all these years?

It was time to pop my bestie’s Facebook Marketplace cherry.

And to ensure we rectified this situation immediately, I offered every bit of support I could muster after getting the infamous “what do you think about this?” text.

The “this” in question was a vintage teak credenza in good condition and reasonably priced at $500 by Avalon Furniture.

It was a helluva find, similar ones were going for $2,000+, and I was really proud of him for making their foray into the marketplace with such a banger pick.

So pick up comes, and as soon as we get there I’m immediately reminded why I always recommend taking a friend with you when you’re picking stuff up from strangers.

Yes, safety is important, and so is having an extra set of hands to lift heavy things, but the real trick is that the friend can run interference if the seller starts acting weird. Because tell me why this woman, the seller, felt it necessary to go on and on about living it up in Columbia Heights in her 20’s running home from the bars every night so she didn’t get assaulted.

Like, lady. please! It’s 10 o’clock in the morning.

And as a woman who keeps a literal line item in her budget to pay for the Ubers of the young and intoxicated and vulnerable, I get it. I really do, safety is also my #1 concern whilst living in a city, but we did not need to hear the low-key high-key racist story of how scared you were of Black men 15 years ago. It was very weird and to avoid any more of her recollections, I resorted to loudly adjusting the car seats and insisting that we left before traffic got bad. Clearly this woman had great taste in furniture, but my GOD her ability to make small talk lacked cultural awareness.

If you’re selling anything on marketplace, please stick to topics like the weather, love/history of the piece you're selling, or great places to get coffee nearby.

And if you’re wondering… Yes, she was!

But, anyway, back to the cherry popping.

We lugged the credenza across town and up the stairs of his classic DC row home into its final resting place… It was a perfect day and I’m proud to say my bestie is now hooked on the marketplace (there have been at least 3 other trips since this one), and now I can sleep well knowing that I’ve helped another person start designing a home that they love with items that fit their budget.

If you’re scheduling a pickup or hitting an outdoor flea market this weekend, stay safe, Homies, the air quality is ass.

xo,

IK

They’ve got the right sofa, a statement light fixture, and well-appointed built-ins, and yet they feel more like an expensive showroom than a home. I’ve spent 6 years as a decorator, and what I can tell you about the difference between a beautiful house and a beautiful home is this: houses are always missing a story. They’re pretty, but not grounded in reality. There’s nothing to say about them other than they look nice and everything is technically... right.

I don’t want that for you.

I want you to have a home that feels so “you”, a stranger would match y’all together in a game.

That said, my experience as a design guide has taught me how overwhelming the design process is, so to help you avoid decision fatigue, I present an easy-to-follow framework to get the home of your dreams without a breakdown: 7 Things Every Home Needs.

This works whether you’ve just moved into a new apartment and need to decide where to start, or if you’re finally committed to making the most of the rental you’ve been in for 3 years, the method to start with just seven things needed to give your home soul, life, and the feeling of a really cool woman living there. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Something You Made

Doesn’t have to be perfect. Just has to be yours. When designing a home, it’s easy to think you have to look to someone else’s talents for it to be worthy of being in your space, but none of that is true. If you took rug-tufting classes during the pandemic, I’d better see it in front of the bathtub. If you saved a desk from the landfill and gave it a banging paint job, it better be the desk you work from every day. If you’ve written something, a book, a zine, a poem, anything, you damn sure better have it framed up real nice and displayed with a gorgeous picture light to illuminate your greatness.

Imani’s Thing: My pottery. I use my pieces every day as a reminder of my own talent and everything I’ve accomplished.

2. Something Thrifted

Secondhand pieces are essential to making a house a home because thrifting lets you grab incredible or over-the-top decor at a price you can actually afford. My quick tips:

• Set your Facebook Marketplace/eBay/OfferUp location to a ritzy area with a 250+ mile radius.

• Create a list of terms and designers you like, then search for them using misspellings. (ex. Someone who doesn’t know the value of an Eames chair might list it as “Earnest chair”)

• Check your sites several times a week.

This ensures when someone passes (RIP) or starts a renovation project, you’ll be there to scoop up the good stuff.

In-person thrifting guides by city: DC, Paris, and Copenhagen.

Imani’s Thing: I grabbed this gorgeous brass light fixture (plus 4 others) in a warehouse in Copenhagen. It’s the perfect addition to my dining area.

3. Something Stolen

Whether you “borrowed” it from your momma or slipped it in your bag on the way out of a relationship with a man who had good taste, life ain’t worth living if you’ve never gotten into a little trouble, and your home should reflect that trouble. So steal things…

P.S. If you’ve got a good paying government job that you don’t want to lose due to petty theft, I’ll also accept things you got for “a steal.”

Imani’s Thing: My vintage coffee table was “technically” stolen. I tried to pay the woman 3x, but it kept getting rejected. She stopped answering my FBMP messages, and eventually I just... kept the table. And it looks damn good!

4. Something Gifted

You know that warm, gooey feeling you get when you hold the blanket your grandma knitted and wrapped you in after birth. That feeling should have a place in the home you’re designing even if it doesn’t fit your aesthetic. Those one-off items that aren’t like the rest cause people to pause, and then it’s your opportunity to share how this blanket/chair/rug/art/or whatever connects to a cherished memory or a bond, and how it earned a special place in your home.

Imani’s Thing: My pottery teacher gave me this raku-fired figurine when I graduated from Howard. It’s a reminder for me not to lose my head when shit gets tough.

5. Something You Saved For

I was originally gonna call this section “something expensive,” but I realized the cost of the items isn’t what really matters; it’s about the journey from seeing to acquiring that’s really important. Saving for something teaches delayed gratification and dedication to achieving your vision, and I think that’s super important when creating a beautiful home. As much as I love a deal, there are some things in this world that are expensive and 100% worth it, and seeing them in my home after some sacrifices and budget adjustments feels like I was rewarded twice.

Imani’s Thing: I canceled a trip to Vegas and ate spaghetti for weeks to afford this $3,000 Uzo Art x Otto Studio peel-and-stick wallpaper, and it was the best decision I ever made.

6. Something Inherited

Having the money to buy all-new stuff is great, but a piece that carries the history of someone you love is better. Not only for the sentimental value, but also for the look. Mixing your mom’s painting from 40 years ago with art prints creates an eclectic gallery wall. That mahogany bed frame your great aunt left for you is truly something special because they literally don’t make ‘em like they used to. I know getting older and seeing the generations before us go on to glory is difficult, but before tossing out their stuff, go through it and preserve your family’s history.

Imani’s Thing: My grandma’s china cabinet is my prized possession, and also the reason I’ll be hiring movers for the rest of my life. This thing is too heavy for me to carry down a flight of stairs on my own, and I’m not about to try.

7. Something Earned

Decorating your home with something you have earned through your accomplishments, not because you bought it or were given it, is essential, since your home is the place to brag. So take that degree out of the sleeve and put it in the big, expensive wood frame with the brass letters of the university scrolled across the bottom, and every time someone comes over, point to it and say, “Yeah, that’s me.”

Imani’s Thing: The most expensive thing in my apartment: my Howard University degree.

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The seven things I’ve outlined in this framework give you seven different ways of giving your home its soul, and together with the furniture you already have, they allow your home to tell a story no showroom ever could.

If you want to see this framework play out in a real home, watch 7 Things, the show where I sit down with the coolest people I know to find the objects that give their home its soul. The first two episodes are live. Enjoy.

xo,

IK

The first was hearing a recording of Whitney Houston sing the Star-Spangled Banner in 1991 at Super Bowl XXV. The second was in 2008, staying up late to watch Barack Obama get elected as the 44th President of the United States.

The third was in 2012, when Gabby Douglas became the first Black woman to win individual all-around gold in gymnastics at the Olympics.

The fourth ran from 2012 to 2016-ish, when Scandal was at its peak. There was something about those long-ass monologues about protecting democracy that made me so excited to move to DC and do my civic duty.

I look back on all of that now and feel a little naive. Being a Black American woman is to be, at all times, aware of the historical and constant awfulness of the world and of America in particular.

It’s hard to hold affinity for this country, while also holding out hope for a better and brighter future.

But I do because I will not give in to despair. I will always vote for the most far-left-leaning candidate available to me, because harm reduction is a viable strategy in electoral politics, no matter what some people want us to believe.

And I will always run towards spaces where joy is at the center.

For the last three days, that space was the Creators for Democracy festival, where storytelling, civic imagination, and joy were at the center of everything. I taught a workshop called Design Like Your Life Depends On It. The title might be a wee bit dramatic, but I believe that if we’re not safe outside, we should, at the very least, be able to feel safe inside our own homes.

I also sat in on my friend ’s workshop on taking ownership of your work and funding creative endeavors in the ever-changing political landscape. I talked with journalist Jenny Abamu about the importance of watching how special interest groups spend in our political elections.

I danced on the rooftop of the MLK Library with people of every age. I finally got to meet Glory Edim of Well-Read Black Girl, IRL! And I shopped so many Black-owned businesses, like Nailbed & Bar, Po’ Up! Card Game, and Adjourn Tea House.

I met so many of the Homies, all of whom told me how my work has inspired them to do more in their homes, and those conversations energized me and filled my heart with so much joy.

And at the same time, every day this week, I’ve had to experience the piercing whistle of an F-16 flying over my apartment for these ridiculous Freedom 250 celebrations.

As a Leo, the idea of celebrating a birthday for an egregious amount of time isn’t that crazy to me, but we gotta wrap this shit up ASAP. All the events suck. No one is even here in DC to enjoy the spectacle, and because I know the version of America that orange weirdo is trying to promote doesn’t include the people that really make this country great, it all feels so lifeless and boring.

I can say with the utmost certainty: I will not be “celebrating” the Fourth of July this weekend. Instead, I’ll hold on to the joy I found at Creators for Democracy. I’ll connect with friends. I’ll take a Pilates class to release the tension in my lower back. And maybe, I’ll have a burnt hot dog with a ‘lil ketchup & mustard, but I won’t be doing it for America. I’ll be doing it for me.

I hope you do something kind for yourself this weekend.

Stay safe in this heat.

Drink more water than you think you need.

Substack Live on July 8th!

I had every intention of sharing the footage from my in-person design workshop, Design Like Your Life Depends On It: How To Design A Home That Feels Like You, but the audio got corrupted. I’m pissed, but I’m not letting a technical hiccup stop the show, so I’m doing it again, live on Substack next Wednesday, July 8 at 8pm and everyone’s invited to join live.

Paid subscribers will get the replay to rewatch at any time. If you can’t make it:

upgrade to paid

This 45-minute workshop is a practical, inspiring session on creating spaces that reflect who you are. Drawing from my design expertise and my own personal journey, I’ll walk through room-by-room guidance, actionable tips, and the philosophy behind designing a home that feels authentic, joyful, and deeply personal. Whether you rent or own, work with a big budget or a tight one, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, renewed confidence, and full permission to make your space feel like home.

JOIN THE LIVE on 7/8

Sew In-Powered: A Sewing Workshop on July 25th

My incredibly talented sister, fashion designer and educator Amber Cuff Bond, is hosting a beginner-friendly workshop in Brentwood, MD, on July 25th at 2:30 PM to remove intimidation and build confidence when using a sewing machine. This 2.5-hour class covers the basics of using a machine and how to avoid losing a finger when getting started on your sewing journey.

If you’ve got a sewing machine gathering dust, come through. It’s going to be fun, and I can’t wait to see you there.

Reserve Your Spot for 7/25

xo,

IK

And like any other Black family event, the funeral had a color scheme: Kelly green.

Nothing in my closet gave “throwback Eagles jersey”, so I took a $25 Uber to Pentagon City Mall to find an outfit.

This green-and-white sleeveless shirtdress was airy enough to be comfortable, yet conservative enough for a Muslim funeral. Plus it had pockets for my secret stash of snacks and tissues I didn’t end up using.

The funeral was weird because I wasn’t exactly sad. I had long ago mourned the father-daughter relationship other girls got to have with their baldheaded Black daddies. So I spent most of the day going through the motions, trying to be helpful, and lightening the mood with a joke.

I’m sure my dad loved me and was fun as hell to be around, but he was often too wrapped up in his pride, outdated beliefs about what you owe your kids, and an almost compulsive need to lie for us to have a healthy relationship.

We didn’t speak for years...

Then he got sick. Five strokes threatened to take him out, so I went home. I shaved his head. I bought games to help restore his cognitive abilities. I dolled out meds. I cooked dinner. I even sent money to his main caregiver, so she could indulge in a little self-care.

I did what a good daughter was supposed to do.

But this didn’t last long.

Because one day, I made a joke about only wanting kids if I could give the baby to my gay best friend, and my dad responded by getting up on his homophobic high horse to tell me how ridiculous my idea was. I’ll spare you the slurs, but at some point he looked at me and said, “Aren’t you disappointed in your life? Don’t you want a husband, kids, and a big house in the suburbs like your sister?”

Bitch, I was FLABBERGASTACED. Like I couldn’t believe this man with three baby mommas was talking crazy to me about not living up to traditional values.

My dad, despite his faults, was always the parent I could talk to, but in that moment he showed me that, even though I was living up to every expectation I had of myself, what I was doing wasn’t good enough for him.

So I went back to my home. The safe space I created just for me.

My dad and I only spoke a few more times after that. Once I cussed him and my mom out so bad you’da thought Richard Pryor took over my body. The second was a phone call a few weeks before he died, where he apologized, surprisingly. I listened. I thanked him. Then I hung up.

Because there were some things you just can’t take back.

The next time I thought about my dad, his girlfriend was calling me at 8:45 PM to tell me he was dead.

Which brings me back to this dress.

The airy, objectively great summer dress with deep pockets. The one I pulled out of the back of my closet, spent 30 minutes ironing, then another 15 fussing with the buttons to raise the hem just enough to show off my pink fringe shoes.

shop similar looks

I looked damn good. And more importantly, I felt like my most creative and confident self.

The ability to reframe life events for a better future is a skill I’m bringing to my workshop at Creators for Democracy — a two-day civic festival at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on July 1st and 2nd, spotlighting DC-based creators expanding possibilities through storytelling, civic imagination, and joy.

Design Like Your Life Depends On It: How To Design a Home That Feels Like You

In this 45-minute workshop, I will teach you how to pull from the story of your life to create a home that speaks to the purest version of you. Expect room-by-room guidance and actionable tips to help you design spaces that feel authentic, joyful, and deeply personal.

The event is free, in person, and open to the public. But before I breathe a word of this anywhere else, I wanted my paid subscribers to have the chance to grab their spots first.

No special codes needed — just click the link, grab your spot, and come explore the best of what DC creators have to share.

Reserve Your Spot

xo,

IK

Upgrade to Paid!

Every now and again, I feel it’s important to remind you how much I hate my landlord.

Don’t get it twisted — I love my apartment, mostly because of how beautiful I’ve been able to make it. But my landlord and the property manager he hired are the absolute worst.

Here’s a short list of their offenses:

• The mouse problem that led to a full-scale kitchen renovation

• Refusing to add additional washers and dryers (two sets for the entire building is genuinely abysmal)

And their latest offense? This email:

Let’s Break Down The BS

On December 7th, 2025, a handwritten note from my downstairs neighbor appeared on my door. I’m paraphrasing, but the gist was:

“Hey neighbor, our toilet has been overflowing and management says it’s coming from the people above us. If you’re doing this, please stop.”

This was a perfectly reasonable request, but it had nothing to do with me.

I hadn’t experienced any toilet issues in my apartment and I’d recently installed a bidet that sprays my pooter and cooter with warm water so I was barely using toilet paper.

I let it go, thinking maybe the issue was being caused by the person who lived in between us.

That was until two days later, when management sent me an email echoing my neighbor’s concerns but with significantly more aggressive language.

And just like that, I went from disinterested to genuinely angry.

Here’s What I Said Back

Because they had ya girl all the way fucked up.

Beyond the obvious lack of evidence connecting my actions to the so-called “problem”, the laws of gravity and good sense make it damn near impossible for something I did to cause an overflow two floors below me without my apartment, or the unit in between us, being affected.

I have cursory knowledge of how plumbing works, partly because my dad was a plumber, but also because I have a knack for befriending everyone who works in and around my building.

A few days after I sent this response, I ran into one of the guys from [redacted] Plumbing while he was working in the overflowing apartment, and he confirmed what I already suspected: the scenario my management described was simply impossible.

What Did They Say Back?

I know you’re wondering. And unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for you.

It has been six months and no response.

I check my rental portal every month, bracing for some outrageous fee to be applied to my account, and nothing has come. Maybe they realized how stupid and ill-conceived their little plan was. Maybe threatening to get my attorney involved made them reconsider. Maybe the evidence they were expecting to come from the plumber couldn’t be produced.

I genuinely don’t know, and I am not following up to ask.

But Will This Stop The DIYs?

Hell No!!!!!

I got this email in December and have moved right along doing whatever I want because everything I’ve done in this apartment has been documented and approved in some fashion or the other.

This simple minded stunt was the work of an overzealous idiot and I’m not gonna let it stop my flow, especially because they don’t even have the balls to follow through.

And If This Happens To You?

I’ve been wanting to tell y’all about this situation since it happened, but there was a real chance it could get litigious, so I waited. Now that I’m in the clear, hopefully, I want to share some resources for anyone dealing with a slumlord.

Vote Locally

If you want better tenant laws in your city, you have to show up in local elections. Early voting is now open in DC through June 14th (early polling locations), and Primary Day is June 16th (Election Day voting locations). I’m casting my vote for Mayor for Janeese Lewis George because of her stance on ending the slumlord business model by increasing penalties for landlords who violate tenants’ rights.

My hope is she does something similar to what Mayor Mamdani is doing in New York. If landlords were actually held accountable for neglecting their buildings, the lives of renters everywhere would improve.

Use The Landlord Email Template

For most landlords, the ones that aren’t slummy pieces of shit, a conversation, written consent, and plans for how to pay for things is all you need to get to get away with upgrading your rental. If you’re having trouble putting the words together, use this template to formulate the ask and build the apartment of your dreams.

Know Your Rights

My apartment has issues; I won’t lie. But when it came time to advocate for myself and get my landlord to pay up for the kitchen renovation, I did it because I knew what to argue for. Tenant rights vary drastically by state, county, and city, so please go check your city council’s website and get familiar with what’s actually available to you.

DC Renters, click here to understand your rights. And report housing code violations here.

And If You Must, Sue

When I was figuring out how to handle my landlord’s negligence, I reached out to the D.C. Tenants’ Rights Center for advice. They were incredibly helpful in laying out the legal remedies available to me, and they offer lower-cost representation if things ever had to go to court.

Speaking of Plumbing

It is a little funny I’m writing about a plumbing problem the same week I’m being featured on an episode of Vox’s Explain It To Me, where I share exactly how much I’ve spent decorating this apartment and which projects I avoid with every fiber of my being, but life is funny like that, isn’t it!

Catch the full episode wherever you get your podcasts…

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

xo,

IK

So it’s not murder. It’s more like... manslaughter. Over the years I have killed two pothos, a bird’s nest fern, a monstera deliciosa, and most damningly, a snake plant. Snake plants are, allegedly, the easiest plant to care for since it thrives on neglect, but somehow, some way, I killed 3 of them.

My skills are so bad, I even killed the plant someone gave me after my dad died, which is morbid, but honest. And I promise to always be honest with you, Homies!

The Plant That Started This Whole Situation

The longest surviving plants in my current crew, is a big, beautiful ZZ plant I took when Tail Up Goat closed last year. That plant is experiencing some incredible growth as of late, so when it started turning yellow, I panicked.

I was not about to lose this one.

So I did what any reasonable person does when they’re out of their depth: I called an expert, Dominique of Plots & Plants. If you need proof of her green thumb, look at her living room that I redesigned last year. With so many big happy plants, I knew I could trust her opinion and I’m gonna share what Dominique told me, ‘cause you probably need to hear too.

1. Don’t Schedule The Repotting

The internet will tell you to repot every six months or so, but Dominique respectfully disagrees. If your plant is growing like crazy, go for it. But if things have slowed down, leave it alone. Repotting can be stressful for a plant, and there’s no reason risk loosing a few leaves for very little reward.

2. Don’t Over Do It On The Water

In the past, I’ve killed plants by not watering them. This time around, I was watering twice a week and it was too much, as evidenced by the yellowing leaves. Dominique told me to trim the yellow leaves because “they’re not coming back” and dial back to watering once a week.

3. Think of the Soil… It Matters

My precious ZZ Plant grew out of its current home, so it was time for a new pot. I found a slew of big beautiful pots, but couldn’t fit any of them on my bike, so I opted to split this baby in half and put them in two 8” pots I already owned.

Dominique also recommended switching up the soil. She says, a mix of all-purpose indoor potting mix and succulent and cactus mix would be for better drainage, so that’s what I did. During this process, I realized one of my pots didn’t have a drainage hole, so I added one with a drill bit. It was very easy.

How To Repot A Plant:

Separating a mature plant is not easy. Dominique method is to:

1. Lay out a tarp and firmly shake and tap the root ball against the ground until the soil loosens.

2. If needed, carefully pull a part overlapping roots to fully separate the bulbs.

P.S. This process took a full 20 minutes and I did lose a few stems, but I came out of it with three potted plants and two cuttings that, hopefully, will develop roots and grow into new plants for me to keep alive.

4. A Little More Soil

Being stingy with the soil is not a good idea. Dominique actually screamed when she saw how little dirt was in this pot, which could explain why I’ve seen no growth in this baby since I put it in here more than a year ago.

Dominque says the soil should go up to the second line of this nursery pit, FYI!

5. It’s All About Placement

As someone who thinks deeply about where to position a sofa specifically to avoid sun bleaching, I absolutely should have applied that same logic to my plants. But, alas, I did not. I chose the aesthetic over their actual survival, and now my little fern is burnt and on life support in the corner.

To fix this, Dominique instructed me to pull out the dead leaves, refresh the soil, and move it a bit further from the window.

6. Another Thing on Placement…

If your plants are leanin’ and rockin’ with it, it’s because they’re trying to reach the sun, and they need to be rotated. Plants should be somewhat straight up and down, and spinning them around every week or so ensures that each side is getting adequate sunshine.

7. You Have To Feed Them… Apparently.

This was my biggest shock of the whole conversation. Dominique asked if I fertilize my plants and I said, “No.” I thought plants only needed sun, water, and the love of a good woman, but apparently that’s not enough. She recommends fertilizing every two weeks.

8. Bobby Pins To The Rescue

I loved seeing my pothos dangling, but Dominique told me to cut that shit out and wrap the extra long stems in the soil, use bobby pins to hold them down. This ensures the nodes (the small brown bumps where leaves emerge from the stem) remain embedded in the dirt, which will result in more leaves. YAY!!!

Subscribe now

The Takeaway

I have absolutely no ego about calling in the experts because my greatest strength is knowing what I don’t know. Which brings me to you…

Book a Consultation With Dominique

If your plants are struggling, if you’ve killed things you were told were “impossible to kill,” if you don’t know what fertilizer is (no judgment, I was right there with you) — Dominique is your girl!

She is knowledgeable, she is patient, and she did not once make me feel bad about the snake plant situation. She offers consultations for everything from houseplant care to full garden planning.

Book Your Consultation

One More Thing, Homies…

I’ve loved running into y’all while I’m out and about in DC, and I thinks it’s time we do it intentionally. I’ve got three ideas! Drop your thoughts in the comments and I’ll get to planning.

1. Shop with Imani IRL @ The Georgetown Flea Market (Sundays, Free to attend)

2. Book Binding Workshop (Evenings, approx. $50 - $60 to attend)

3. Plant Care + Repotting Workshop (Evenings or weekend afternoon, approx. $100 to attend)

Leave a comment

xo,

IK

I’ve covered every step of this project here, but I kept quiet about the rug because I was focussed on the big picture… But it was truly, totally and completely the worst. Here’s why:

Issue #1: The Piling

I understand rugs shed. Hell, even my favorite wool rugs have needed a bit of TLC before their true beauty showed up, but the piling on this rug was astronomical. I vacuumed, swept, racked, and hand plucked out fibers, only to return 5 seconds later to the rug looking like shit again. It was relentless and I knew I couldn’t leave my client with a rug that would take so much effort to keep in good condition.

Issue #2: The Size

Similar to how a two-by-four is never actually two inches by four inches, this so-called 8x10 rug was, in reality, was 7’ 6” x 9’ 6”. It doesn’t show in the photo, but when standing in the room, it became obvious that a few extra inches would’ve made the rug feeling intentionally placed, rather than confusing.

Issue #3: The Return

And this is where we arrive at my final grievance. Most rug retailers offer returns. But, almost none of them offer to come and collect the rug from you, even for a fee. You’re almost always required to repackage it and cart it back to FedEx or UPS and I hate it.

I am not ten men. I am one Imani with extremely limited upper body strength and relying on the kindness of Uber drivers is getting old. RUG COMPANIES, if you’re gonna allow returns, give us in-home pickup for returns, please and thank you!

The Replacement

It took a while to find something worthy of Dominique’s space, but I finally did — thanks to Revival Rugs, who kindly gifted me this rug.

The Shell washable rug was exactly what the room needed. The size was right, the color worked beautifully with the design, and the price point is genuinely great for anyone working with a budget. Plus Revival’s Memorial Day sale is going until 5/31, so enjoy some additional savings.

A Rug For You!

What I’ve been loving about Revival, beyond this one rug, is their selection of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. They’ve got real beauties in there that are perfect for those of you that find searching on Facebook Marketplace too stressful. I pulled together a few of my favorites below to help you get started, or finished, on whatever makeover you’ve got going.

Aelun Moroccan Rug

Govira Moroccan Rug

Fynirae Moroccan Rug

Chinle Flatweave Rug

Rosy Hand-tufted Rug

Hart in Sienna Jute Rug

Palyn Moroccan Rug

Ripple Slim Washable Rug

Triplo Strato Hand-loomed Wool Rug

xo,

IK

The DC public pools are opening this weekend. My twice a week pilates classes are getting my core super tight. And the inside of my apartment has cooled down significantly thanks to my bestie Derel, who came through and installed my Windmill air conditioners.

The other thing I love about this time of year are the Memorial Day sales—it’s a great time to restock on essentials and save on the splurge piece. To make sure you don’t spend three hours doom-scrolling through every promotional email in your inbox, let me do the work for you. Here are 7 things I, genuinely, think you’ll regret not picking up this weekend.

1. ELFA Over-The-Door Rack

If you don’t have at least one of these in your home, I say this with love: you are missing out. This is the best storage hacks in the game! It works in entryways, bathrooms, pantries, or closets! Grab the ELFA Utility Large Mesh Over the Door Rack while it’s 30% off .

SHOP ELFA 30% OFF

2. Revival Rugs

A rug is the foundation of a room and there’s no better time to invest in a large, wool are rug than when Revival is offering 25% off! As your close personal friend and interior decorator, I propose going straight to their collection of one-of-a-kind, vintage rugs because that’s where you’ll find the best combination of quality construction, superior materials, and fabulous designs. Here are a few of my personal favs:

Fynirae Moroccan Rug

Omilen Vintage Moroccan Rug

Aelun Moroccan Rug

Chinele Flatweave Rug

Govira Moroccan Rug

Rosy Hand Tufted Rug

25% OFF when you spend $750+

3. Land’s End Bath Towels

Have you looked at your bath towels, lately? I mean really looked at them… Are they looking a bit dingier than when you first bought them.

Yeah, that’s what I thought!

I’ve used my good hand towels to remove makeup one too many times, and now is looking like the best time to replace them cuz Land’s End has a 6-Piece Supima Cotton Bath Towel Set for 50% off plus an extra 10% off when you use code BLUEBERRY! The towels can holdup to a thousand washes, and while you’re on the site, check out their 400-thread count bed sheets too—I hear they’re a favorite of Nancy Myers!

BLUEBERRY for an extra 10% OFF

4. The Perfect Summer Dress

A loose fitting, crisp white, cotton (or linen) dress is essential for all summer activities. I’ve had to reassign my once-upon-a-time favorite to nightgown status after it acquired a few too many rips and sweat stains and now I’m on the hunt for a new one. Banana Republic has 30% off full priced items this weekend and it’s my go to for elevated basics made with natural fibers. But, I’ve lined some other white dresses to fit every style:

IRIS Dress - $395

Marisol Maxi Dress - 108.00

Free Assembly Racerback Dress - $36

To The Moon Maxi Dress - 168.00

Tie Back Maxi Dress - $138

5. Le Creuset Dutch Oven

I’ll be honest with you: I used to think Le Creuset was completely overhyped. I know. I KNOW.

That all changed after Zillow sent me the Enameled Cast Iron Deep Skillet, and I realized quality cookware actually makes a difference… Who knew?

When my little skillet and I tackled beef ribs a while back, I realized her only flaw… No lid. But that’s okay, Williams Sonoma is offering the Signature 6 1/2-Qt. Dutch Oven for $289.95 (was $460) and they have it in all the colors! If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading your cookware, this sale is the moment to splurge!

COOKWARE - 40% OFF

6. Artfully Walls

If you need something to put on the walls… You’re in luck! Artfully Walls is offering 25% sitewide with code SUMMER25! I have a two of framed prints from them in my apartment (pictured The Dress by Adrienne Brown-David) and they are amazing. The prints are high-quality and they offer beautiful wood frames. Search by color or vibe to find the perfect print for you!

25% OFF ART PRINTS with Code SUMMER25

7. Olaplex

Since summer is on the horizon, it’s safe to assume we will all find ourselves washing our hair more and more as the temperature rises and I think our tresses deserve some extra love. Thankfully, Olaplex is having a 25% off sale on all of their haircare products! If you have chemically treated, overly heat-styled, or just generally overworked hair, this is the moment to stock up on that good shit!

25% OFF QUALITY HAIR CARE

That’s my list, Homies! May your cart be full and your wallet feel (mostly) okay about it.

xo,

IK

This post includes affiliate links and segments from a paid partnership with Walmart!

Rose C. asks:

“I need help with my kitchen. It’s got open shelving and I’m not sure how to make it look good. I need to use the shelves for storage and for small appliances. Help!”

Imani says: The only way open shelving ever works is if you commit to cute appliances — I’m a big fan of the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore line for pretty pastel air fryers and coffee makers. I’ve had my electric kettle for years and it still works perfectly every single day.

Shop My Kitchen Picks

Beyond the appliances, vintage ceramic bowls, cookbooks, and plants help fill out the open space and is your chance to bring your personality into a functional design.

I would also suggest popping a small lamp on to the shelf too for a bit of whimsy… They did something similar in the Meg Ryan’s kitchen in You’ve Got Mail and I've made it my mission to get more lamps in kitchens, so do it… Just make sure it’s under 30”.

Shop Kitchen Lamps

Casey Moore asks: “I just moved into a new apartment with outdoor space — YAY!!!! How should I style it? I need an umbrella and some cute seating. I really just want it to look nice for Spring.”

Imani says: Congratulations on the new apartment AND the outdoor space — I’m genuinely jealous. I’m a shoes-off-on-the-patio type of woman, so I agree a rug is essential! Here are a few options to get you started. I’m not sure how much space you have or how much you want to spend, so I put together two options:

This “room” with a 3-seater sofa and chair set is sooooo pretty and can be put together an entire look for under $800 — grab it here.

If you’re working with a tighter budget, I also found three chair + table options all under $150 right here that are perfect for actually enjoying your patio this season.

It’s Giveaway Time!

The first time I tried my hand at upholstery, I succeeded despite a rocky start and a few burns on my finger (read about here), but a few weeks ago, I decided to try again and the results are out of this world good.

I’ve been stubbing my toe on this queen sized camelback bed frame (worth $1300) for months, but that all ends today because after being recovered in this gorgeous woodgrain or tiger stripped pattern from Spoonflower… It’s time to find her a new home.

How To Enter:

1. Be a paid subscriber to Home-ish by May 17, 2026. Upgrade to paid, here!

2. Leave a comment on this video describing how you would style this bed frame into your space by May 17, 2026.

Selection:

1. One (1) winner will be selected at random,

2. The winner will be notified via email (the email you subscribe to Substack with) by May 18, 2026.

3. The winner must respond to the email to claim the prize by May 19, 2026.

4. The winner MUST be located within the DMV (the metropolitan region surrounding District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia).

xo,

IK

CLICK TO WATCH

All done? Great!

This episode cracked open a debate I’ve been sitting with for years — one that started in my Instagram comments, of all places. You see, I posted a video about a few art prints I purchased for my home, and a woman who I’ve never spoken to before responded, chastising me for recommending prints instead of encouraging the Homies to buy original art.

As in, no prints and no reproductions. Originals ONLY!

Her reasoning was that buying originals is the most direct way to support living artists. And I agree with her!

But at the same time…

I don’t have “originals only” type of money. I can’t drop $10,000 to $15,000 on a single piece of art. Like, Imani At Home does well, but not that well.

Hell, the most expensive thing in my apartment right now is this nude painting from an unknown artist, and it was $640. That was a stretch purchase for me. I don’t regret it by any means, but if Miss Pixies had added an extra zero to that number, this beauty wouldn’t be hanging in my house.

At the time, I was so upset with this woman for suggesting that buying prints was a waste of an artist’s time, and that it would have been a better use of my money to forgo art purchases and save up to buy an original.

I rejected that idea, because I needed to put something on the walls and because I know many artists who are holding onto those $10,000 pieces for gallery exhibitions and the hope that a private collector will come in and make their quarter, but in the meantime, they’re paying their rent with print sales.

It would be great if every artist could focus on creating rather than on small-ticket items, but that’s not realistic.

I’m no expert on the art world, but even Sotheby’s, that fancy auction house where people sell their Rothko’s and Basquiat’s, is suffering. They recently launched a program in which their consignment clients will delay receiving payouts on their sales, and Sotheby’s will pay them back with an interest rate of 7%. The Financial Times says this move would help offset costs during slow seasons, which makes a lot of sense.

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But it also shows me that if the people with all the money in the world are concerned with cash flow, then we, regular-regular people, should be too.

To get a point of view from someone not critiquing me from behind a screen, I asked Adrianne her thoughts on acquiring works of art. Here’s her advice:

1. Buy from living artists. The dead ones are dead. The living ones have rent due.

2. Originals are ideal, but screen prints are also valid. Don’t let someone else having a slightly different version stop you from enjoying something beautiful.

3. Think past the paintings. A rotten tooth held in the palm of your hand. Tea towels tacked up like tapestries. Art is wherever you put your attention.

With that framework in mind, here are three artists I came home from Adrianne’s wanting to tell everyone about.

Three Living Artists You Should Be Buying From

1. Farrah Skeiky

Full disclosure: Farrah is one of my closest friends and a frequent collaborator.

Her “Lily Pads at Kenilworth Gardens” print leans casually against the wall in Adrianne’s moody blue bedroom and I love how the greens and pops of orange are the perfect accompaniment to the paint.

Her other work, which frequently features her deep love for the punk scene, scares me with its intensity. But at the same time, it makes me want to mosh like a young white boy named Noah. Or Casey. Or whatever they’re calling themselves now.

Follow her on Instagram for news on upcoming exhibits, and head to her website to purchase her photo book Present Tense: DC Punk and DIY, Right Now (shop here).

2. Adrienne Gaither

The most show-stopping piece of art in Adrianne’s apartment is also the most unexpected — because Adrianne will tell you herself that abstract art was never really her thing.

And then, on her birthday, she walked into a gallery and was transfixed by “Safety & Stability: An Absence of Clarity” by Adrienne Gather, and now her apartment is all the better for it.

Adrienne (the artist) uses geometric abstraction to “deconstruct the world as [she] see[s] it and reassemble[s] it in a way that preserves and encodes the breadth of [her] perspective.” Her work is striking, and I want to see it in everyone’s homes.

Also, she went to Howard University, so in my mind, we’re cousins.

Learn more about Adrienne’s work here.

3. Absurdly Well

I know it’s a little strange for the host to pick a favorite thing in someone else’s home. But I cannot help myself.

Absurdly Well is a Washington, DC-based visual artist whose work lives at the intersection of traditional stencil technique and contemporary street art, and the poster on the left in Adrianne’s dining room just makes me smile.

In a world where Black women and girls are treated harshly, having a reminder of what should be commonplace on the wall is exactly what I would want to see in my home.

Keep up with Absurdly Well’s work here.

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Toni Morrison once said:

“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”

At the end of the day, I don’t care if you’re buying prints and framing them yourself (DIY tutorial here ) or walking into Transformer Gallery with a checkbook and a blank wall to fill. All that matters is that the artists keep going, and, we, the people show up to receive it, share it, and purchase it.

So buy the print. Go to the exhibit. Follow the artist. Let them know you’re there. And if you can, make a purchase from them to support the work.

xo,

IK

Speaking of showing up

7 Things exists because of this community. If this newsletter and the show have been adding something to your life, consider upgrading to a paid subscription. It costs less than your last Facebook Marketplace pick up, and it keeps this whole thing going.

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That was me, several years ago, the first time I crossed paths with Adrianne Lipscomb. We met at Tail Up Goat, where I was working, and she arrived in her general fabulousness, sometimes with a book, sometimes not, to enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine. Adrianne always felt like a woman who was exa…

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For over a decade, I was bald. And let me tell you something—I loved it.

For a Black woman, choosing to be bald during the lace front era could have difficult, but I grew up in the early 2000s with 4C hair and no perm, so my skin was thick and you couldn’t tell me anything!

Plus, I have a beautifully shaped head, as you can see!

For 10 years, I enjoyed cheap haircuts, minimal products, no detangling, and it was glorious, but one day I woke up and decided I was ready to disrupt my own peace by going blond… platinum blonde!

And now I’m in my teeny weeny afro (TWA) era, and baby…this coily, coarse hair is hungry. She is eating products like rent is due, so I stocked up combs, purple shampoo, bond repair treatments, every leave-in conditioner imaginable, curl creams, as well as a spray bottle and sponge.

my curly hair routine

In dying my hair, I knew I was signing up for bleaching every 6–8 weeks, daily styling, and actually caring about the health of my hair, but I didn’t account for how all the new products would have my bathroom looking more and more like a beauty supply.

This lifestyle change has been lovely, but now it’s clear that my space needs to grow with me and thankfully, Walmart has affordable options to make it all possible. Let me tell you about it!

The Problem: My Bathroom Was Built for Bald Me

This cabinet, which my landlord installed, has been getting on my nerves since day one the sink look mad yellow, there was water damage, and there wasn’t a single shelf inside.

So, it was time for a change!

I grabbed a new bathroom vanity from Walmart and decided to fix the situation for myself. I love that this new vanity came with soft-close door hinges, furniture style turned legs, and fluted luted details. Little touches like this are what you’re see at high-end places like Waterworks, but for a fraction of the cost.

Shop Bathroom Vanity

How to Replace a Bathroom Vanity + Sink (Yes, You Can Do This)

Let me say this loud for the people in the back:

Plumbing is not as scary as you think.

In fact, I think replacing a vanity is one of the most approachable DIYs you can do—as long as you follow directions.

Here’s exactly how I did it:

1. Turn Off the Water

Under your sink, you’ll see two valves (hot + cold). Turn them until they stop. Then turn on the faucet to release pressure.

Do not—and I cannot stress this enough—remove those supply lines without doing this first, you will flood your apartment.

2. Disconnect the Lines

Use pliers to disconnect the supply lines and drain. Put a bowl underneath to catch any water that drips.

3. Remove the Old Sink & Vanity

Depending on your setup, you may remove the sink top first or everything (sink + faucet) altogether. Then unscrew the vanity from the wall and pull it out.

Also…clean under there. I found several dried-up cotton pads.

4. Assemble & Install the New Vanity

Assemble the new vanity and secure it to the wall.

5. Install the New Faucet

Secure the new faucet, using the mounting hardware, before placing the sink onto the vanity. Make sure not to tighten anything too tightly, or else you risk cracking the ceramic sink.

6. Drop in the Sink & Reconnect Plumbing

Run a bead of silicone along the edge of the vanity, then set the sink in place. Wrap plumber’s tape around the threads and reconnect your supply lines. Again, not too tight—a quarter turn after hand tightening is all you need.

Finally, add a small bead of silicone around the drain before connecting it to the p-trap inside the cabinet.

8. Turn Water Back On & Check for Leaks

Open the valves slowly and let the faucet run for a few minutes. If you run your hand along all the connections and don’t feel any water…

CONGRATULATIONS - YOU’RE A PLUMBER NOW!!!!

Storage, But Make It Cute

When I first remodeled this bathroom 3 years ago, I added a few tried-and-true storage solutions!

Shop Shower Storage

In the shower, the Simplehuman Adjustable Shower Caddy has been an incredible buy. No rust, easily adjustable, and can hold all of my skin, body, and hair care needs. But if you’re a product junkie or your shower doesn’t accommodate the one I have, I recommend adding this corner shower caddy. A friend of mine, with hair down her back, has one and she loves, loves, loves it cuz it holds a ton!

Inside the new cabinet, I reused the clear plastic drawers to make even better usage of the space. I usually keep all my travel-size items in here, so it’s easy to pack when I go on trips.

Shop Cabinet Storage Boxes

And to corral all the things that no longer have packaging, I place them a small brown basket, again, to keep things organized and neat.

Walmart has an incredible selection of decorative baskets and inner cabinet drawers for a wide range of products. I put together a collection on my Walmart Creator Storefront for you to enjoy and shop from!

What This DIY Really Taught Me

Your life choices will always be reflected in your space.

If your learning how to cook, you’ll need better knives and a knife sharpener.

If your moving in with your partner, understand you won’t grow another closet, so bed sheet organizers and underbed bins are going to be essential for cohabitation.

And if you grow your hair out after a decade…

Congratulations—you’ll need a bathroom makeover

The Before & After

The moral of this makeover is that if you’re bold enough to bleach your head after ten years with the same look, you can absolutely do some light plumbing, install a vanity, and design a space that fits your life. And when you’re doing it with Walmart, you can do it all on a budget.

xo,

IK

Let me do something that makes every creative on the internet uncomfortable: ask you for money.

A Sincere Ask

Asking brands to pay me my worth has gotten easier over the years, but the truth is, as a Black woman, I don’t earn what my white counterparts make. On average, Black creators make 35% less than white creators, and I know for a fact that campaigns I’ve been a part of have paid white creators double for the same work.

It sucks that I have to work twice as hard, but I’m committed to building the future of design media with integrity.

I don’t want to shift my focus and become a fancy interior designer studio who only takes clients with $200,000 budgets. I don’t want to take campaigns from AI companies to fund my dreams.

I want the freedom to focus on small space living, renter-friendly hacks, and affordable-ish decor that is accessible to the many, not the few.

So, if my work has ever inspired you to:

• Ask your landlord for a new dishwasher.

• Hang that weird art you love with confidence.

• Use an unconventional paint color despite what your friends have to say…

Over the past 6 years, my creative playground has expanded from 90-second makeovers to essays, detailed design breakdowns, life advice, and now an entire show.

Enter: 7 Things

7 Things — a home tour series where I visit interesting people and ask them about the seven objects that make their space feel like home, has taken months to get off the ground, but the first episode is live, and I’m working on the second episode with talented DC graphic designer, Adrianne Lipscomb, right now!

Here’s a peek at episode 2:

That said, shows like this don’t just magically appear. They take time, travel, upgraded gear, a dedicated editor, and a whole lot of support to make it happen. I’ve shot similar projects before with publications that had teams of 4-10 people. But…

7 Things only has me, a part-time editor, and sometimes Derel donates his time (and we love him for it.)

The response to the show has been incredible, so now I’m inviting you—my community—to support this work directly by becoming a paid subscriber.

What’s In It For You?

In return for keeping this whole creative engine running, you get…

Exclusive Interviews

Last year, I sat down with Nicole Crowder of Nicole Crowder Upholstery, Sue Kim, the director of color marketing at Valspar, and Katelyn of Mid Mod Vintage. All fabulous women, with interesting perspectives on the world of interior design and decor.

If you’ve ever wanted to know how a massive paint brand picks the color of the year, upgrade.

If you want to know which controversial fabric Nicole Crowder can’t stop using, upgrade.

Giveaways + Freebies

I have so many DIY projects looking for a home, so I’m giving them to the Homies who upgrade. In 2025, I gave away over $15,000 of free shit, everything from high-quality peel-and-stick wallpaper rolls to Lowe’s gift cards and even a FULL ROOM MAKEOVER to one of my followers!!!!.

And 2026 is no different! I have so many things set aside for the folks who help me make this all happen, so consider upgrading.

Full Episodes of 7 Things & More

Imagine an entire season of home tours featuring only Black men…

An entire season of the most beautiful apartments in NYC…

An entire season of “7 Things Goes International”...

My plans are big, and paid Home-ish subscribers are the only ones who can watch the full episodes. If you want design inspo from fabulous people, as well as the extra clips that don’t make it into the final edit, upgrade today!

And if a paid subscription isn’t in the cards right now, please know this:

You being here at all means the world to me. Not many creators get to say they’ve inspired thousands of people to live life a little louder, bolder, and more beautifully, and I have. I’m eternally grateful for all the support I’ve received over the years. I just want to ensure I can keep doing this with the level of quality you deserve.

Thanks for reading, thanks for watching 7 Things, and thanks for building this weird, and wonderful corner of the internet with me.

xo,

IK

Last week, Sal and I stumbled into the newly remodeled Georgetown store, and I was reminded of an order that completely changed how I think about design. Let me set the scene…

A client was designing a bathroom for their kid, which was very normal. But they ordered a ridiculous amount of tile overage (extra tile purchased to account for cuts, waste, and breakage during installation).

10–20% is standard, depending on the design, and this person ordered something like 50-60% extra.

Surely this was a mistake, right?

Wrong.

These people were ordering extra tile so they could install, remove, and reinstall the shower head as their child grew up.

Let me repeat that for clarity… These mofos were planning to install a shower head at a height appropriate for an 8-10-year-old. Then, a few years later, they were going to remove said tile, raise up the shower head, reinstall it at a higher point, and retile the wall.

You might be thinking… “Why would they do that?”

Well, tile can have natural color (and sizing) variation or get discontinued, so instead of chancing it, they bought all the tile at once to ensure it would always match. It was a genuinely insane (and expensive) plan, but that experience, along with a few others, completely rewired how I thought about design.

So here are a few lessons I took away from that job, adapted for those of us on a budget.

1. Go Hard on Hardware

The thing about Waterworks hardware is that it’s expensive AF. The pulls I used on my IKEA STÄLL cabinet DIY ranged from $90–$250 per knob… And, if I’m being honest, I do think they’re worth it. They’re solid brass with intricate designs…

These are the kind of knobs and pulls that can make a $30,000 kitchen look like $100,000, which I know is a crazy ass sentence given that I renovated my rental kitchen for under $5,000.

All that said, you don’t have to spend $250 a pop to make a cabinet look good. Here are some incredible alternatives:

1. Top Knobs

2. Solid Brass Wavy Handle

3. Diameter Circle Knob (Set of 6)

4. Antique Silver Cabinet Pull

5. Somerset Unlacquered Blackened Brass Cabinet Knob 1.5"

6. Round Ceramic Wood knob pull

7. Brass Beaded Bar

8. Flush Center Ring Pull

9. Avery Unlacquered Brass And Carrara Marble Cabinet Knob 1.25''

2. Let The Tiles Do The Talking

Most of my time at Waterworks was spent organizing tile samples, and it was genuinely the best part of the job, since I could put on my headphones and hyperfocus on keeping mosaics and subway tiles filed in alphabetical order…

There are endless possibilities with tiles, from materials like glass, concrete, ceramic, metal, and stone to colors like black, white, blue, pink, and even yellow… The right tile does a lot of the heavy lifting in a design. A white subway tile, while classic, is kinda basic, but if you use a pink subway tile with a green liner on a backsplash, suddenly things look baller!

When you’re on a budget or in a rental, pulling out the thinset isn’t always an option, so look at some of my favorite peel-and-stick options to give your space a new look without breaking the bank or your lease.

1. Calacatta Viola Marble Contact Paper

2. Forest Green 3D Embossed Peel and Stick Backsplash Tiles

3. Damier Petra Tiles

4. Betera Blanco Tiles

5. Morocco Sefrou Tiles

6. 4" x 4" Vinyl Peel and Stick Mosaic Tile (Set of 24)

7. Minimo Nero Tiles

8. Zellige Oia Tiles

3. Marble, But Make It Lighting

I’m not even going to try to justify the $10,000 price tag on the Dante Wall Mounted Sconce… But I can point you to other fixtures that give the same luxurious feel at a more affordable price.

Incorporating stone elements into your design automatically lends a sense of gravitas… When someone walks in and sees this marble lamp, their mind instantly thinks, “Oh. I know that’s heavy.”

And that’s what you want.

Everything can’t be light and airy! You need pieces sprinkled in that will ground the design. The juxtaposition between light and dark, heavy and airy, is how you add interest to a space, and I’ve rounded up a few lighting options featuring stone (or metal) that will look great on the floor, ceiling, tabletop, or mounted on a wall.

1. Aqua Virgo Wall Sconce

2. Bianca Marble Table Lamp

3. Marble Light Switch Plate

4. Astr White Onyx Wall Sconce

5. Romani Floor Lamp

6. Carved Marble Ruffle Ceiling Light

7. Corinna Sconce

8. Butter Yellow Metal Table Lamp

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The year and some change I spent at Waterworks was incredible - and I’m not just saying that because I got a $6,000 faucet out of the deal. No, no! Working alongside some of the world’s top designers and architects forced me into a new reality. One where I know that installing unlacquered brass fittings anywhere near the beach will result in immediate patina, and that there are bathtubs so heavy you’ll need a crane and reinforced floor joists to install them on a second floor.

I’m glad I had my eyes and ears open during those years because now I get to share what I know with you! And if you’re ready to bring some new life into your own space, but need some help, you can now book a 1:1 design consultation with me!

I’ll help you figure out exactly where to splurge, where to save, and how to make it all feel cohesive. Let’s design something beautiful together, Homies!

Book A Design Consult

xo,

IK