Incorporating Culture Into Your Home

There is a beautiful movement happening right now. HillmanTok has ignited a collective desire among people of color to reconnect with Black history in art and design. Whether it’s appreciating art from Black countries across the world or proudly incorporating Black influence into design, the narrative is shifting. Unfortunately, this hasn’t always been the case. Now, we're embracing our stories in new ways—through our homes, our art, and the personal touches we bring to our spaces.

For me, incorporating my culture into my home is deeply personal. It’s not just about decorating—it’s about storytelling, honoring my heritage, and creating a space that speaks to my family's history and values. My gallery wall in our dining room is one of my most intentional design choices, each piece carefully selected to reflect our history, our faith, and our love for one another.

The Story Behind My Gallery Wall

When I envisioned my gallery wall, I knew I wanted a muted, monochromatic palette with neutral hues, but more importantly, I wanted it to reflect my roots. I started with the largest piece—a framed printed fabric from Mali. While it’s the least personal piece in my collection, I loved the aesthetic of it. I love the soft, hand-brushed geometric lines on the linen-textured fabric. Its presence anchors the entire wall, much like the foundation of my cultural heritage.

gallery wall in Dining Room

Next, I wanted to incorporate pieces from my late mother’s wall decor collection. My mother was a devoted Christian and always had one particular framed scripture hung on our wall growing up. Acts 4:12, has traveled with us from home to home—from New York to Boston to New Jersey. When she passed, I inherited it. The simple faded off-white print, framed in a worn red-tone stained wooden frame, holds profound sentimental value. I never truly appreciated it as I do now—it’s a reminder of my mother’s unwavering faith and presence in my life.

But this gallery wall isn’t just about my past—it’s about my entire family. My husband’s contribution comes in the form of a black-and-white silhouette of an old oak tree, reminiscent of the trees near his grandparents’ home. And for my children, I wanted to include something uniquely theirs. My daughter loves creating digital art, so I had her trace and sketch my grandparents’ farmhouse in Haiti on her iPad. I printed it in black and white and placed it in a warm wooden frame. Now, it’s a treasured part of our home.

Le Neg Marron (in Haitian Creole, Nèg Mawon) Photo taken during our travels to The Ogier-Fombrun Museum

One of the most powerful pieces on this wall is a silhouette of Le Neg Marron (in Haitian Creole, Nèg Mawon), a bronze statue of a runaway slave, shackles broken, machete in hand. This powerful symbol represents Haiti’s strength and resilience. In 1804, enslaved Haitians defeated Napoleon’s army, making Haiti the first and only nation founded by a successful slave revolution. At the time, 70% of the enslaved population had been born as free men and women in Africa. The world feared Haiti’s victory, and as a result, it was politically marginalized for centuries. Nèg Mawon stands as a beacon of that struggle—defiant, unafraid, blowing a conch to call others to freedom.

Above Nèg Mawon, I placed an old-world map of the Caribbean. Maybe it’s because both of my parents were born in the Caribbean, or maybe it’s my love for its rhythmic beats, vibrant cultures, and mouth-watering food—but the Caribbean holds a special place in my heart. I’ve visited many islands—Haiti, Barbados, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Croix—and I’m still not done exploring. I intentionally selected a map of the Caribbean before Haiti and the Dominican Republic became separate nations, showing the island of Hispaniola as a whole.

Designing a Space That Reflects You

Your culture and heritage can be expressed in so many ways, and it may look different for everyone. Maybe it's a gallery wall filled with meaningful pieces, a collection of photos from your travels, or souvenirs displayed specially. It could be a beautifully woven tapestry turned into artwork, an heirloom rug passed down through generations, or a personal library showcasing books that have shaped your worldview. Perhaps it's a specific color palette that evokes nostalgia, accent pillows with diverse prints and textures, or even a themed room that tells a unique story. The beauty of design is that it allows us to celebrate our identity in a deeply personal way.

A well-designed space is more than just aesthetically pleasing—it should evoke emotion, create comfort, and spark conversation.

Your home should tell your story. Every piece should reflect who you are, what you value, and the legacy you want to honor. A well-designed space is more than just aesthetically pleasing—it should evoke emotion, create comfort, and spark conversation.

If you’ve ever wanted to incorporate your heritage, faith, or personal history into your home design but weren’t sure where to start, I have a solution for you.

Join the waitlist for my Virtual Design Group Workshop—an intimate 6-week transformative experience with 3 guided virtual sessions where I work closely with a select group to help them bring personality and cultural depth into their homes. In this workshop, I'll guide you on placement, balance, and how to seamlessly blend your heritage into your design. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

Why Copying Someone Else’s Design Is a Big No-No and What to Do Instead

As homeowners, we’ve all been there—You scroll through Instagram, spot a beautiful living room, and think, "I want that exact look in my home!" While it’s tempting to copy a design you love, it’s a big no-no. Why? Because every home is different.

The Problem with Copying Someone Else’s Design

While it might seem like a good idea to duplicate a room you love, the reality is that each space has its own unique layout, lighting, and proportions. A design that looks perfect in one home might feel cramped, awkward, or mismatched in another. When you copy someone else’s design, you miss out on the opportunity to create something personal and authentic that reflects your tastes, lifestyle, and needs.

Here’s why copying can be a big design mistake:

1. Cookie-Cutter Look: A design that’s been copied too closely from another space risks looking unoriginal and bland. What may have felt fresh and exciting in someone else’s home could feel generic and impersonal in yours.

2. Piecemeal Result: Simply copying elements from one space to another can create a disjointed effect. Without a cohesive vision tailored to your home, the design can feel like a random assortment of pieces rather than a seamless and well-thought-out space.

3. Different Space, Different Feel: Your home’s architecture, layout, and natural lighting are unique. Even if you duplicate a room exactly, it will always look and feel different due to the context of your space.

Family Room designed to be serene yet functional for everyone’s needs in the space -- Interior design: Georgette Marise Interiors Photography: Thunderbird Productions

How to Make It Your Own

The key to a beautifully designed home is making it your own. Instead of copying, use inspiration as a jumping-off point to create something truly unique for your home. Consider the following:

• Personalize It: Think about how you want to feel in the space and how it needs to function for your lifestyle. This will guide your choices and ensure the design reflects your personality.

• Tailor to Your Space: Every room has its own strengths and challenges. Work with the unique aspects of your home—whether it’s maximizing natural light or creating flow with an open layout—to make the design fit perfectly.

• Create a Cohesive Vision: A home that feels pulled together starts with a clear vision. From colors and textures to furniture and decor, every choice should work together to create a unified and harmonious space.

“Formal Living Room” transformed into an exercise + meditation room -- Interior design: Georgette Marise Interiors Photography: Thunderbird Productions

Ready to Create a Home That’s Truly Yours?

Don’t settle for a cookie-cutter design that feels piecemeal and disconnected from your space. Let’s work together to create a home that’s authentic, unique, and perfect for you.

Every room can look drastically different with personalization. family room transformation

Book a complimentary design call today to discuss your project, and let’s start designing a truly one-of-a-kind space! >>> Click here to book your call today!

5 Ways to Personalize your New Construction Home

A new construction home has a polished look and feel to it when you are touring around the newly drywalled rooms for the first time. Everything is brand-new, clean and fresh like a blank canvas. Often times, unless you are working on a custom built, new construction homes are in a development, community or street with other similar models. Though the exterior core of your new construction may have to look similar to your neighbors, the details and the design of the interior can be unique to you.

1. Paint or Upgrade your Front Door. As guests walk up to your house your front door is the first impression they have of your home. It should be welcoming, inviting…overall it should reflect YOU! Unfortunately, most new construction homes have standard fiberglass exterior doors in neutral colors. If your development allows, I suggest painting or changing your front door to a color and style that not only elevates your curb appeal and compliments the architecture of the house but also brings out your personality.

upgrade your front door. this single fiberglass door was changed to a custom wrought iron double door for a grand welcome.

2. Upgrade your Fixtures. Unless you are building a custom home where you can specify all the fixtures and finishes, I suggest upgrading your builder grade fixtures (such as your light fixtures, door hardware, etc.) to your personal style. This can be overwhelming but doesn’t have to be done all at once. My advice is to focus on one room at a time, this will make each room feel complete.

upgrade your fixtures. designed by sharina liverman

3. Add Architectural Features. Architectural features such as fireplaces, molding, ceiling finishes, wall applications can all take your simple blank canvas and transform it to your personal oasis. The key is to know what features to add and where.

add architectural features.

4. Paint your Walls. Painting your walls is the least expensive way to transform a new construction home. If you are purchasing your home while it is under construction some builders are willing to paint using your specified colors instead of the standard flat off-white or beige throughout. This will allow you to move into a freshly painted house that you don’t have to worry about.

5. Add Wallpaper. Add texture, pattern, color, and design to your space by incorporating a wallpaper that compliments the overall decor of your home. Wallpaper is a great way to add your personal style to your new construction. Depending on your design you can use it on an accent wall, in the hallway, on the ceiling, or in a small room. The possibilities are endless.

Do you live in a new construction home? What are some personal changes you made or would like to make to your blank canvas? Share in the comments below!

À la prochaine,

Create Your Dream Space in the New Year.

The start of a new year brings new beginnings, goals, and new tasks to accomplish. One of the top to-do tasks on the new year's list is usually completing a renovation project in the home. I am a big advocate that your home should reflect your personality, therefore I encourage you to define qualities you would like to create in your dream space.

"Your home doesn't need to look like anyone else's but your own."

What is most important to you in your home? Decide what is important to you in order to determine the functions for each space in your home. Once you have a function defined, this will provide the purpose. Having a purpose is the beginning phase to creating a plan. 

How do you want to feel in your home? Having a plan allows you or your interior designer to create a layout that will be the base to your design. Once the layout is finalized it's important to know how you want to feel in your space. Colors, lighting, texture, placement, and finish options are all choices that affect how you feel in your space. Your choices have to be chosen strategically.  

What personal or meaningful touches do you want in your home? The difference between a house and a home is personalization. A house is just the shell, whereas a home is the soul. Your home should showcase your style, your personality, your hobbies, your loved ones and your prized possessions. Someone should be able to walk into your home and know who you are. 

follow the steps to achieving your dream space

Are you excited about creating your dream space yet? Stay connected to Georgette Marise to find out helpful do's and don'ts for starting a renovation project from our own expert contractors. Share with me ideas for your dream space in the comments below.

Here's to creating dream spaces!