Not long after the last recession ended, Nadia Haddad and her husband, Ryan Fall, scooped up the mini-home on wheels that she calls their little cutie.

Six years later, with COVID-19 running rampant, theyre happier than ever to have their Minnesota-built 1972 Scamp RV trailer albeit with the stylish and structural updates they gave it in the meantime.

We couldnt afford a new one, Haddad recalled, so we improvised.

Paul Creager and Angela Knudson bought their 1966 Holiday Rambler camper on the cheap in 2018 to fix up as a green room for performers at the Square Lake Music & Film Festival, which they host on their property near Stillwater. With no fest this year, though, their family is getting a lot of other use out of the vintage RV.

Even just having it as a play area for our daughters to set up a little cafe in has been extra welcome this summer, Creager said.

As camper trailers rise in popularity again while the economy edges downward during the pandemic, many people are joining the wide, weird world of RV ownership by buying older trailers and remodeling them for a fraction of the cost of a new or slightly used model.

Its a trend that Family Handyman magazine picked up on and ran with for its July/August issue. The staff took three months to turn a rusty 1972 Avion Voyageur trailer into what may be the coolest little house on wheels currently parked in the Twin Cities.

Road trips, home offices

People want them for road trips now, Family Handyman Editor-in-Chief Gary Wentz noted, but they are also looking at them to use as work-from-home offices, extra space for visiting grandparents and a lot of other purposes.

Wentzs team paid $6,800 for the vintage Avion, and then spent about the same amount to fix it up with modern amenities including LED lighting, Wi-Fi, new appliances, cork flooring and even a movie projector and cellphone signal booster. A new or newish Airstream trailer with similar quality and amenities would cost five to 10 times that total amount.

The Eagan-based magazine staff originally wanted to restore the Michigan-made trailer to its original look but decided it would be easier to just update it.

You could spend months on end just trying to find the right parts, Wentz said. This way, it freed us up more, and we could get more creative.

But it still took a lot of work. Family Handymans team members spent three solid months working on the trailer and ran into plenty of roadblocks even with their know-how. Associate Editor Jay Cork spent several days trying to rebuff the aluminum exterior into a mirror-like facade, without success.

It just was not happening, said Cook, who finally settled on a durable oil-based red paint instead. And I think I like it more this way anyway. It adds more character.

You always have to expect surprises like that, Cook added, especially when youre working on unique, older trailers like this. But that can be part of the fun of it, too.

A one-woman crew

Betsy Vork-Howell of Excelsior knows about those surprises. She had to scrap plans to remodel an old Holiday Rambler when she stripped it down to find it rotted to the core.

Instead she settled on an even older Airstream, a 1959 Tradewind model that had way more solid bones, she said. She then worked her bones to the core; it took her nine years to complete the makeover, much of which she did on her own.

My ex-husband thought I was crazy to do it, but I did it, she said, crediting various vintage trailer websites and an RV repair shop she came to trust.

There is a lot of help out there, a whole community of people who love this sort of stuff, she said.

Since finishing the makeover in 2018, Vork-Howell has been crazy in love with her Tradewind. She planned to park it on land she owns in British Columbia, but with the border closed this summer, she has been instead using it for weekly trips to Duluth and taken it on longer road trips, too.

Its just huge knowing that wherever I go with it, Ill have my own comfortable place to stay at the end of the day, she said.

Not all vintage RV owners are so eager to overhaul their vehicles.

Jolynn and Dale Schuster of East Bethel ripped out the carpeting, painted, added new lighting and heavily cleaned the 1962 Shasta trailer that they inherited from a friend, but they preferred keeping its old character. They now have it parked in their backyard to host guests and enjoy themselves as sort of a clubhouse.

Its nice to have it right now just for getting out of the house, almost like taking a little mini-vacation in the backyard, Jolynn said.

The Stillwater family with the 1966 Holiday Rambler also wanted to maintain its vintage look for campy camp value.

If somebody is getting rid of seat covers with the original hideous 1960s floral designs, Ill take em, quipped Creager, who still put in a lot of work. The hardest part was probably sealing up leaks.

If anyone tells you their [old camper] doesnt leak, just wait a while. The right direction of rain or wind can change that.

A bigger expense will be upgrading his tow vehicle so his family can take the trailer on longer road trips than to the state parks theyve already hit.

Those old ones are really heavy, so you dont want to go very far unless you really have the right vehicle, he said.

The Scamp owners have no problem hauling their little cutie on long trips. They hope to do more of that now possibly to Arizona this winter since they still see air travel as too problematic during the pandemic.

Smaller is way better from a convenience standpoint, said Haddad, an interior designer and creative director for Bludot, who added new touches to brighten up the Scamps interior. Its super cozy now.

The Family Handyman team plans to use the Avion as a base for their next big project, building a cabin in the woods from scratch in budgetary phases. After that, the remade trailer will probably be sold but not without hesitations.

Wed all like to take it and use it, admitted Wentz. We have that personal connection to it now.

@ChrisRstrib

Link:
Minnesotans remodel their vintage camper trailers just in time for the pandemic - Minneapolis Star Tribune

If youre longing to escape to a time when the Peoples House was not akin to a militarized island surrounded by tall metal fencing, consider the new book about the interior design of President Barack Obamas White House, publishing September 1.

Written by Michael S. Smith, the designer that Barack and Michelle tapped for the decorating job (with help from Margaret Russell, former editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest),Designing History: The Extraordinary Art & Style of the Obama White House takes readers room by room through Smiths overhaul of the former First Familys private residence. Michelle Obama wrote the books foreword.

Though Smith, of course, goes into detail about wallpaper and textile selections, art choices, and furniture sourcing, the book also includes a fair amount of White House history and behind-the-scenes trivia.

Here are some of the most interesting tidbits.

*Smith got the interior design gig thanks to Desire Rogers, the longtime friend of the Obamas who served as White House social secretary. A close friend and client of Smiths lived in the same Chicago apartment building as Rogers, and made the connection.

*Nancy Reagan was a confidante leading up to the redesign, spending hours on the phone with Smith, walking him through various aspects of the White House. One four-hour call took place in the middle of the night for Smith, since he was in Paris and Reagan was in Los Angeles.

*About a month before Barack Obamas inauguration, Smith got to take a trip to the fabled White House support facility where unused furnishings and decor are stored. Its location is a secretSmith writes that he intentionally never learned the address. He had big expectations. Alas, he writes that it was a disappointment: Isoon realized that nearly everything of great quality or historic value is actually already inside the White House.

*Though the real redesign wouldnt take place until after the Obamas had moved in, it was up to Smith to at least get the essentials in place on Inauguration Day, during the tight window of time that the family was out of the White House. He writes that the final thing he did that day was place a gardenia in a bowl of water on both Michelles and Baracks bedside tables. He thought the scent might help calm them, and remind them of Hawaii.

*The Obamas paid for the decoration of the family quarters themselves, using royalties from the Presidents two books. Smith tried to consolidate as many furniture shipments as possible as a cost-saving measure.

*Though the redesign included plenty of high-end and custom pieces, Smith also turned to some familiar, budget-friendly sources. He incorporated ikat print throw pillows from Crate & Barrel, candleholders from Pottery Barn, accessories from Anthropologie in Sasha and Malias rooms, and even playroom furniture from Walmart.

*Speaking of the Obama daughters: After the family settled in, Smith got a call from Michelle, asking if he could quickly send her alarm clocks for the girls. Shed discovered that theyd been requesting wakeup calls from the White House operator. The girls were also expected to make their own beds every morning. Smith writes: I will always have a soft spot for Sasha and her incredibly savvy, pragmatic viewshe slept in just half of her bed after realizing it would then take half as long to make it in the morning.

*Though Smith focused largely on overhauling the Obamas private residence, he also updated some of the White Houses public areas. One of the first additions he made to the Oval Office: the wooden American Shaker bowl on the coffee table. Smith writes that he asked the staff to keep it filled with apples: Not only were they healthy, but the bowl was beautiful, the gesture was welcoming, and there was a sense of utility to it. It reflected the Obama mindset. Indeed, the apple bowl became something of an icon of the Obama Oval.

*The Obamas were frequent guests at Smiths own house in Rancho Mirage, California. The home is in a double-gated community, near the top of a mountain, so privacy and security were no problem. Rumors even circulated that the Obamas were shopping for their own house in the area, but Smith says that was never true.

Join the conversation!

Senior Editor

Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 as a staff writer, and became a senior editor in 2014. She was previously a reporter for Legal Times and the National Law Journal. She has recently written about the decades-old slaying of a young mother in rural Virginia, and the brazen con of a local real-estate scion. Kashino lives in Northeast DC with her husband, two dogs, and two cats.

Read more here:
The Obamas Decorated with Finds from Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and Anthropologie, According to a New Book About Their White House -...

Light-hued wood tones add depth and modernity to any room. BOH rounded up six new pieces that offer a fresh take on classic wooden furniture.

The Kelmscott bench by Selamat, being used as a coffee tableCourtesy of Selamat

Selamat Kelmscott Bench

Designed in collaboration with British heritage brand Morris + Co., which was founded in 1861 by textile designer William Morris, the Kelmscott bench is named after the legendary artists idyllic country home outside of London. Featuring hand-carved teak, synthetic twisted hyacinth and brass-capped hardware, the bench has endless possibilities both indoors and out.

The Joyce chest of drawers from PinchCourtesy of Pinch

Pinch Joyce Chest of Drawers

Led by husband-and-wife team Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon, British brand Pinch focuses on creating beautifully crafted furniture and lighting with a quiet, elegant aesthetic. The Joyce chest of drawers is a modern update on a classic, with the white lacquer exterior perfectly complementing the unfinished wooden drawers.

The Heidy accent chair from Lulu and GeorgiaCourtesy of Lulu and Georgia

Lulu and Georgia Heidy Accent Chair

The fall collection from Lulu and Georgia explores a balance between organic materials and structured shapes. The Heidy accent chair is a sculptural statement piece, mixing woven seagrass with a honey-hued teak.

The Kennedy nightstand from Made GoodsCourtesy of Made Goods

Made Goods Kennedy Nightstand

The new collection from Made Goods is a reimagining of evergreen pieces. Covered in faux shagreen and framed by a raised oak veneer border, the Kennedy nightstand delivers a retro flair that still feels fresh.

STC No. 1 Kitchen from St. Charles New YorkCourtesy of St. Charles New York

St. Charles New York STC No. 1

The minimal, seamless and sleek look of the STC No. 1 kitchen comes in multiple wood finishes, but lighter hues like oak and eucalyptus give the cabinetry a modern Scandinavian feel, while the integrated hardware cuts a tailored silhouette.

The Brays bar cart from Beth Webb for ArteriorsCourtesy of Arteriors

Arteriors Brays Bar Cart

From interior designer Beth Webbs debut collection for the brand, the Brays bar cart is a lesson in mixed materialsthe undulating curves of the wood and metal combine with a suede-wrapped handle, creating a delicate contrast.

The products featured in this article have been sourced from BOHs new Collections vertical, a showcase of the latest debuts from some of the industrys leading brands.

More here:
Blonde ambition: 6 new light-hued wood pieces - Business of Home

The 50 States Project is a yearlong series of candid conversations with interior designers we admire, state by state. Today, were chatting with Charlotte, North Carolinabased Marie Cloud, who founded Indigo Pruitt Design Studio in 2017, about simplifying her process, getting clients based on her shopping cart in HomeGoods, and finding ways to give her talents away.

Youre based in Charlotte, not so far from the epicenter of the furniture industryhas that shaped your career?Im originally from Ohiothats where I did my undergrad. Ive been in the Carolinas for about eight years, and over time Ive started to see the impact of the actual location in the convenience of it. Thats probably the biggest piece of it for methat Im only a drive away. Honestly, sometimes I just ride up there and look at beautiful things. But in terms of how its affected my clientele, youd be surprised by how many people arent really aware of the goodness that were surrounded by here.

Really?So many people here are not from this areatheyre from Florida or the Northeast or somewhere out there like myself. Educating my clients is the most rewarding and fulfilling step of the initial process for me, and part of that is letting them know that we have access to so many different opportunities. I can say, Lets get out of this Pinterest mindset, or the magazine-perfect Chip and Joanna Gaines look. We have access to so muchlets play around and dream!

Do you take your clients to showrooms, or is it more about inspiring them with the product you have access to?More the second one. I dont take them into showroomsin my experience, when you give a client an array of too many options and choices, you pay for it in the long run. Its been easier for me to do research and sourcing, then come back to them and have a conversation.

When did you know you wanted to be a designer?I went to Bowling Green State University to study architecture. Toward the end of my freshman year, I went to a conference and ran into this amazing interior designershe walked into the conference with such a beautiful, gentle fierceness and a confidence in the way she presented her ideas and projects that I wanted to get to know her. She mentored me for the next few months, and when I came back my sophomore year, I changed my major to interior design.

What made that switch feel like the right move?I felt like that was always within me. At least once a month, my mom would take me to model homes inwe called them the nicer neighborhoods up the hill. We would walk around these homes just to get inspired. I know now this was her way of allowing me to see a different way of livinga different life that I wasnt privileged to have back thenso I grew up seeing and having a great appreciation for beautiful design, but not really knowing that thats a talent. It wasnt until I saw these designers in college that it dawned on me that it takes skill and a giftand it wasnt too long after that that I realized, Hey, Ive got that, toolets go.

What was your path after graduation?I had an internship with a commercial office design firm, then continued with them after graduation. From there, I jumped into property management for a multifamily area in Cleveland while I was taking my real estate exams. My goal was to get to historic homesget investment properties and make them beautifulso I wanted that [real estate] title as well.

I moved up pretty quickly through that property management program. At one point, we were doing a renovation I had initiated when the Sherwin-Williams sales rep came in to get us familiar with the brand. I was the only female [on the job site], and I was running the whole thing. Im assuming he was impressed with the way that I carried myself, because he was like, Have you ever considered working for Sherwin-Williams? And I said, No, but tell me about it. I ended up applying for their management training program for the Charlotte area, which was a city I was falling in love withI had visited a few times and wanted to make my way here. I made it through the interview process, relocated to Charlotte and worked for Sherwin-Williams for about four years.

What kind of management track were you on?Its basically a fast-track to store management, so I was brought on as an assistant manager and then quickly became the manager of a store. I requested design privileges from the very beginning, and I made it very clear that my goal was to be an interior designer. The regional manager gave me those privileges, so there would be situations where, if a residential customer came in, were having a consultation while the paint is being prepared. I spent a lot of time exploring color theory, undertones, and taking a lot of additional trainings; I also kept asking for more responsibility outside of the management role, like: How can I build up a clientele within the store? Doing well with that pretty much confirmed that this was the route I wanted to go, so I set up a way to start taking on design clients.

A pair of newlyweds tapped Cloud to help them create a stylish home together, inspired by denim blue hues.Courtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio

How did you know you were ready to launch your own firm?In that last year at Sherwin-Williams, I felt like I was in this box where I couldnt really roll up my sleeves and get my hands really dirtyI started to feel constrained by it, and I started to think, You know what, Im ready to take this leap. My schooling did a great job of showing me the business side of things as well as the beautiful aesthetics and design, so I felt [ready for it].

You might be the first person Ive ever heard say that design school prepared you for running a business, too! What did that business education piece look like when you were in school?I minored in entrepreneurshipit wasnt intentional, but it just so happened that by the time I got to my junior year, I had taken [enough] business classes that I was only two or three more classes away from earning an entrepreneurship minor. That gave me the basic principles. As far as boots on the ground experience, I dont know that theres any university thats going to give you those tools, honestly. Im still learning. But the biggest thing they did teach me is that those principles that are going to be fleshed out 10 times over in the experienceits not that Im so confident in the business side of things because of the university, its that they were very realistic about what I was running into, almost to the point that it scared me [and kept my from launching my own firm] for the first few years.

What were the things you were afraid of when you graduated?Keeping track of the numbers and staying on top of the accounting piece, and then having the conversations about those things to your clientsall the things that the typical free-spirited creative mindset clashes with. I was down for the risk-taking and throwing yourself out there, but I was very honest with myself about what my weaknesses were. I love all of this left-side stuff, but that right-side stuff was like, Ugh, Im good at this, but I really dont enjoy it.

Are you still doing all of that for your business, or have you outsourced some of that?Im still doing it all. One thing that I have just come to grips with is being very honest with myself about the things that dont necessarily come naturally to me or that I dont enjoy, and I try and tackle those firstor at least put systems and processes around them to ensure that theyre easier than what I may assume they are. Im a list person. The minute I move away from those systems, thats where I get myself in trouble. I think its important to be honest with yourself about what works for you and embrace that.

The entrywayCourtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio

A close-up in the living roomCourtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio

Left: The entryway Courtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio | Right: A close-up in the living room Courtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio

What do you wish you knew when you were starting out?Knowing the importance of educating your client early and often. [You cant] have the expectation that they know anything about what youre doing, even from a budget perspective. When they [tell you what they want to spend], theyre not trying to hide their money from you, they just have no clue what good design costs. You have to spend time having good, honest conversations about the budget. The best advice that anyone has ever given me, and that I will give anyone, is be honest and have that conversation early.

Have you changed the way that you bill over the course of having your firm? Initially I was giving random numbers based on square feet: I think this room will cost this. But I had to check myself on my timeI think thats a little bit harder to charge for, just because, how do you put a number to that? My rates have increased as I grow confidence in my worth. And the more experience you have, the more appreciation a client is going to have for you. It also goes back to educating them on what youre doingeven if its killing gas driving 30 minutes to their house, or driving two hours to High Point to visit a showroom for their project. Little things like that have to be part of the educational conversation.

What kind of systems have you put in place?Early on, one of the challenges that I had to check myself on was not allowing the client to run my business modelnot allowing them to speed up a process when I know how long its going to take. If theyre saying, Hey, I need this in two months, but you know the design process going to take three to six months, communicating that up front is a way that you can honor your systems, your processes, and its a way that you can honor your client to get a better end result. Thats the main thing that Ive stayed true to. When I started, I offered five different packages; since then, Ive tailored it down to three through trial and error and figuring out what works for me.

How has your client management style evolved?Im big on relationships. Im going to spend a lot of time with you early on, were going to get to know each other a little bit better. Right now, thats been tough, so Ive had to get creative with Zoom, which has pulled me away from feeling as though I need to spend so much time with the client upfront. If anything, it has opened up my eyes to new ways of communicating and new ways of doing things. How can we still make things happen virtually and not feel as though everything needs to be tangible? Thats been the biggest change for mebut also, Im eight months pregnant.

Congratulations!Thank you! Amid this COVID season and all the disastrous things on the news, Im also preparing to bring life into the world. Although this time has been challenging, its also been a time where Ive been diving into my business and asking myself, How am I doing this? Why am I doing it this way? I needed [to make] that commitment to my business, so I took the time away from projects to work on it and prepare for whats to come.

How did you carve out the time to do that? Ive been very intentional about the clientele and the workload that I took on. Ive had conversations with potential clients that we were planning for prior to that baby, talking about what thats going to look like in the next year. This year is going to be pretty family-focused, and Im OK with that. If COVID and this time has taught me anything, it has been to embrace and be OK with keeping my family and my health first and foremost. Ill finish up a few virtual designs, but I wont take on any more full-service design clients for the rest of this year.

I share with my clients early on that my business is not my No. 1 priority in lifemy family is first and foremost, and Im very intentional about sharing my family on my social media as well as in my bios. My clients know that if anything comes up, Im big on communicationthey wont ever have to worry about thatbut that my familys always going to take precedence over their project and everything else.

A view into the kitchenCourtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio

Has that focus on family changed the way you approach that in your work?Tightening up my hours and my availability. My evenings are my family timeor, you know, I cant be on a call with you if Im at my sons football game. So I do allow my clients to text me. Not work itemsdont send me any inspiration pictures through text, right?but casual check-ins. Hey, do you have a second, can I call you? Things like that. For one, I think its just good relationship-building. It also allows me to be able to tell them whats going on in my world instantly.

How does that family-first mindset show up in the projects you do for other families?Thats the fun part. I love those projects where you get to sit down and say, What does your day-to-day look like? How do you manage your household? Where do you drop your keys off? Having those types of conversations, and then pushing the creative envelope to allow this space to work for a family of six and still be absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. I think it helps when I share how I feel about family early on so they can connect with that. My hope is that they have a great appreciation for it.

Were you always offering virtual design services, or how has that become a bigger part of your business?It was something that I was offering in a very casual way. Early on, I had to be very intentional about charging for my time if a potential client approached me wanting to talk through a few things. I [learned to] charge for that consultation because those services could stop right then and therewhether they decide not to move forward or their budget is not ready for a full-service design, I needed to make sure I was compensated for that two- or three-hour session I was spending with them. Navigating that is what led me to thinking about virtual design: offering a smaller package just for that initial consultation and some insight. COVID has only reinforced that, OK, this really needs to be an actual offering and you need to put some structure behind it.

Are you still shopping trade resources and doing the procurement piece for those virtual clients?Ive been debating that with myself. Giving the clients the space and freedom to retail items on their own always makes me nervous, but if [our] relationship is already established, then I dont mind leaning toward that. For instance, if one of my past clients right now calls me up and says, I really need to do a refresh in our guest room, then I can source out a list for them to go grab these items from my favorite retail shops. That type of projectIve been calling them popcorn projectshave been coming up all over the place lately. Folks just want to get out of their house and they dont know what to doand then I dont have to worry about the ordering, receiving, delivering, and all that jazz.

Is that a viable business model? Is there good, sustainable revenue in that process?No, its not. Thats why I say its something that I have to pick and choose when to use it. Its nothing we actually offer, and it probably would never be a consultation I post online for the public, but for an existing client, I dont mind offering them suggestions because of the relationship we have.

An office makeover for a client creates the ideal work-from-home hub.Courtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio

How do clients find you these days? Relationships and recommendations from past clients are the biggest drivers. You know, Sally tells Jan about working with me, Jan goes home and talks to her husband, her husbands like, I dont know, and then Jan calls me and we team up and convince her husband.

There have also been times where Im grabbing a few things for my own homedecorative pieces from HomeGoods or World Marketand a lady will walk past me with my full cart and be like, Oh, my gosh, you have some amazing stuff. And Im like, This is my card, call me anytime. Thats happened several times.

And those leads in HomeGoods have turned into clients?Oh, yes, they have.

Thats incredible. How different is where you are now compared to what you dreamed for yourself when you launched your firm in 2017?I probably would not have imagined that this is where I would be. Honestly, when I kicked it off then, it was more so I had to convince myself that I should do it. I dont even know if I would have told you that I had a business in the first six months because I was so scaredI wasnt going to say it out loud, because then youre going to have an expectation of me and I need to meet that expectation!

Now, I think my focus is different. I dont feel so tied down to going down a certain type of pathnot just from a business perspective, but even from an aesthetics and design perspective. I remember being super nervous about designing things that did not have that Eurocentric look early in my careeranything that wasnt the bright, airy walls and eucalyptus and a fig tree. Not to knock that aesthetic at all, but I was genuinely terrified to put something out that did not look like that. I didnt think I would be able to move forward without downplaying the boldness and color [I gravitated toward].

That [change] has come from building up my confidencefrom taking the time to get to know myself and my worth, from building relationships with other designers and listening to stories. I cant say enough what the recent events have done for my perspective on the design community. The allyship, and having conversations that dont end in how many likes you have on social media, or how many clients are you currently working with, or even, Can you mentor me? Before, everyone wanted to be mentored and get advice, but right now, I just see this community banding together to figure out how we can move forward as a community that supports one another.

Has that changed your relationship to social media?I think the racial tension in the air and my advocacy have definitely changed social media for me over the last month or so. My conversations look different. My DMs are no longer about color theory, or making recommendations and pointing people to my websiteI mean, they are, but were also having the hard conversations that weve been avoiding for years. There are certain designers that I have absolutely adored that have reached out to say, Can you come over [to my feed] to talk about this issue? And here I am in front of all of these followers who are used to seeing this individual on this pedestal, and its me talking to them about what its like to be a Black woman in the home industry. That is the type of reconciliation that I have grown to have a greater appreciation for, and then all of the conversations that leads to afterwards.

Brass accessories warm up the elegant office space.Courtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio

When you look ahead, where do you want to be, and how do you want to get there?I want to branch off with my business so that my hands and my talents are actually contributing to the community in a way that is tangible. Because of my upbringing, but also because of the current state of things in the Black community, it has really challenged my heart over the last few months: How can I take this thing that God has gifted me with and put that back into a space that the community needs? During COVID, Ive been dreaming and journaling about what that looks likeand how I can turn that into actually bringing awareness of these issues in the Black community, not just through talking about it on social media, although Ive been very active in that regard, but also: What do we do with these hands of ours? Honestly, that is where my heart is and where I want to take this design thing. Anything else is a byproduct of thatitll be just icing on the cake, you know?

How does design fit into the conversation, and into this moment in time?I think to begin with, its just having that conversation. For example, we know that there arent as many Black designersthat there isnt enough Black and Brown representation in the home industry across the board. That is an issue. So how can we be intentional about [changing] that? We cant just assume thats just going to happen, so what are some things we can put into place so that this industry represents unity, diversity and inclusion? One thing thats come to light for me in the midst of all this on social media is there is so much talent out there, and it is insane that the exposure and the amplifying of these Black and Brown faces is not there. So thats one realm, is bringing the conversations and the issues to surface.

Theres another piece, tootheres a housing crisis, theres homelessness, and these are social issues that can use the talents and gifts of designers to come in and say, Let me show you the essence of what I feel like home is. The beauty of the design world is that were able to not only see beautiful things, were able to understand what it does to a personwere able to understand the environmental effects of design on the individual. To be able to bring those ideas to an impoverished area, or to a family that just got blessed with a home and they have no idea what to do with itwhat is the expense that the design community can take on to go in there and say, Let me make this house a home for you, because you deserve to feel the essence of what home feels like.

A shared bedroom for a clients two daughters, who asked for a big girl room filled with color that would keep them inspired.Courtesy of Indigo Pruitt Design Studio

Thats such an important, beautiful mission.I dont think that we all have all this talent just to make money off of it. Were literally supposed to give it away, and thats what I hope that we can move toward, especially amid the conversations were having right now. We have all this racial tensionbut also Black designers and white allies teaming up to have these conversations [through initiatives like the #SharetheMicNow campaign]. How cool would it be if I teamed up with a white designer and we went out to West Charlotte to design homes for the homeless community, or something like that? Do you know what types of conversations would come up between the two of us? And then were not just contributing our gifts to the community, were also having good, rich conversations on how we can lock arms and figure this thing out together.

I love that notion of taking those talents and gifts and giving them away. As you chart your path forward, how does that figure into what you want to achieve with your firm?I dont ever want my business to be something that I have to do. Its something that I get to do. It is a privilege that I actually get to do the things that Im passionate aboutnot everyone has thatso Im very intentional about not allowing the business itself to keep me boxed in. If I ever get to a place where I feel as though Im trapped in it, and Im not getting the fulfillment out of it, then its time for me to tap out on it.

How did you cultivate that? I think it takes real strength and vision to say, I see all these other people in my space doing X, Y and Z, but I do not want to give in to the pressure to chase those things, too.I dont want to get caught up in the rat race or competing. Ive been in that, and the way that it wired my brainthe way that it took me away from the essence of what Im really aboutwas exhausting. Deep down, I have to be honest with myself about whats really fulfilling for me. Thats what allows me to keep from looking left and right, you know? It allows me to commend youYoure doing amazing, thats great!but know thats not whats carved out for me. The fact that I can actually take this thing thats been profitable, and that has been such a blessing to me, and allow it to be a blessing for me and othersthat has my heart going pitter-patter. Im literally getting chills thinking about.

To learn more about Marie Cloud, visit her website or find her on Instagram.

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Why this North Carolina designer isn't shy about putting family first - Business of Home

BEIRUT, Lebanon The scooter engines snorted out, and Sara el-Sayed swung herself down to the pavement outside the third damaged building she had visited that afternoon, two carpenters in tow.

Upstairs, a womans blown-apart doors needed fixing. Cigarettes and cellphone in one hand, pen and paper in the other, Ms. el-Sayed jotted down dimensions as the carpenters measured empty door frames and shattered windows.

She has taken this up as her job now: volunteering to hammer together as much of the splintered city as she can before leaving it hopefully for good.

Six days after the explosion that crushed much of Beirut, a Spanish masters degree program in interior design notified Ms. el-Sayed that she had been accepted, a long-held dream come true.

When she leaves, she will be done with all of this, she hopes: a government whose incompetence appears to have led to the blast; a corrupt political system young Lebanese blame for aborting their futures; a country where the middle class is sinking into poverty as the politicians slow-walk economic reforms, and where the only way to survive seems to be a second passport, a job or a graduate program somewhere else.

Many Lebanese were already looking for such escape hatches before the Aug. 4 explosion. An exodus now seems inevitable.

But Ms. el-Sayed cannot think about leaving quite yet.

Im not running away, said Ms. el-Sayed, 30, a Palestinian-Lebanese architect with a small custom furniture business who used to live in Gemmayzeh, one of the worst-hit neighborhoods. I want to at least have Beirut on its feet before I go.

As Beirut reckons with the destruction, thousands of Lebanese in their teens, 20s and 30s rather than government personnel have shown up to put the most damaged neighborhoods back in order, shoveling, sweeping, feeding, fixing.

Many of the volunteers have been protesting against the political system since last fall; if anyone believes Lebanon can change, it is them. Yet few say they want to stay to see whether it will. Since the explosion, countries like Canada have been hit by a wave of applications from young Lebanese seeking to emigrate, officials say.

I used to call people sissies for leaving the country, because youre afraid of doing the change and everything, said Mohammed Serhan, 30, a political organizer and cleanup volunteer who protested for months.

But the explosion had altered his calculus. Yesterday I woke up thinking, I can go to the airport immediately, tell them Im not coming to work. Go to the airport, fly to Turkey, see what happens.

He sighed. Its a little emotional. I still want to win this fight.

Ms. el-Sayed, who had just assessed Mr. Serhans damaged doors and windows, jumped in. Really, were fighting, she said.

They would both keep protesting, they agreed. But I dont have hope, Ms. el-Sayed said. Ive always wanted just to leave.

Like young people across the Arab world, their generation is well educated yet underemployed. While some of their friends and cousins left for masters degrees and jobs in Dubai and the West, volunteers like Ms. el-Sayed and Mr. Serhan stayed because they wanted to or had to, hoping to change their country even as it skidded toward economic ruin.

People who are outside love the country but dont want to come back in, and people who are inside hate the country but they dont want to leave, said Zein Freiha, 21, a college student who went door to door after the explosion with a plastic broom. We hope that we have a country to come back to. But the more we discuss it, were all just looking at each other like, OK, there really is no more hope.

For them, the cleanup is personal. Many of the volunteers used to live, work or socialize in the half-demolished neighborhoods of Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael, drawn to their cocktails, clubs, cafes, galleries and studios.

Their Beirut is now in ruins.

Ms. el-Sayeds former apartment was destroyed in the blast, along with friends homes, workplaces and cars. Doors around east Beirut were ripped from their frames. When looters slipped into the neighborhood, she began sealing off apartments. Nearly three weeks after the explosion, she had raised enough money via GoFundMe to replace about 90 doors.

One elderly couple had slept in their foyer with a heavy sewing machine pushed up against their splintered front door, fearing thieves. Others who called her had been quoted hundreds of dollars to replace their doors at a time when banks are rationing access to dollars and the Lebanese currency has lost 80 percent of its value.

Beyond fixing apartments and clearing broken glass and debris, the volunteers have assessed damaged buildings, searched for missing pets, delivered hot meals and diapers and even compiled what amounts to the incidents only centralized database of missing people. (The government has not released any official data on the missing.)

While civilian volunteers go to work, soldiers sit on street corners, rifles dangling from their shoulders and cigarettes from their lips. Only about two weeks after the explosion did government personnel begin distributing food boxes and assessing damages, residents said.

A day after the blast, Hussein Kazoun, 28, an organic farmer, took over an abandoned gas station in Geitawi and started handing out vegetables. A week later, the station, which he christened Nation Station, buzzed with about 200 young volunteers.

Its not my job to do this, said Josephine Abou Abdo, 29, an architect and designer-turned-volunteer who was coordinating food donations. But if I dont get up, people wont get fed.

Using the data volunteers collected from residents, Mr. Kazouns younger sister was mapping out the most underserved areas. Nearby sat 20 donated rolls of plastic, used to seal broken windows, that a comedian had shown up with a few days before.

As he and the volunteers have expanded Nation Stations scope, Mr. Kazoun has also tried to persuade people to stay.

We need you in this country, he said he was telling friends. If its left to the old generation, things will stay the same.

Ms. Abou Abdo listened with conflicting impulses. Sometimes I think, Enough, she said. I just want to live in a Scandinavian country and pay taxes and live my life, you know?

On the question of whether reform was even possible, she, like other volunteers, was caught between idealism and despair. Neither months of mass antigovernment protests nor the explosion appears to have greatly weakened the ruling class, whom many Lebanese still turn to for protection and patronage despite growing consensus that they bear responsibility for the countrys problems.

At one apartment that volunteers were sweeping up, Hala Youssef, 49, who lived there, said she had waited 11 days after the explosion for government aid before giving up and accepting volunteer help.

Nobody even came to say Thank God for your safety, she said of the government, using the phrase Beirutis greeted each other with in the days after the blast.

At the Nation Station recently, Joe Youssef, 39, dropped off his daily donation, a truckload of vegetables and fruits that several young women were sorting into plastic bags. Mr. Youssef said he preferred donating to Nation Station over an aid group, he said, because like many Lebanese, he was suspicious of anything that might be tainted by the countrys favor-bartering class of sectarian political leaders.

We dont trust anyone in this country, he said. They could be tied to some gang.

Disgusted with Lebanons corruption and seeing no future at home, he moved years ago to Dubai, where he worked in sales before returning on vacation last month.

But, he said, When I saw the people, the crowd not the government, not the police or anything Im proud to be Lebanese now, to be honest.

New improvements had materialized at the gas station over the course of the day. Someone had welded together a metal rack to dispense the plastic rolls. Two tons of fresh vegetables had been distributed.

Sarah Barakat, 21, an architecture student overseeing the vegetables, said that she, too, planned to leave Lebanon for graduate studies.

But Im coming back as soon as I finish my masters, she said. Who else is going to rebuild this city?

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Desperate to Leave Beirut, Young Lebanese Are Also the Ones Fixing It - The New York Times

A main idea in modern design is eliminating excess clutter or extra items. And with more folks spending time at home amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, you may find yourself sorting and purging some unneeded items from your space.

One of the key beliefs behind the modern design movement is the idea that form follows function, according to the Spruce. In other words, the design of all furnishings and decorative objects should reflect its intended purpose, and if a furnishing, decor or decorating detail does not have a practical purpose, then it can be eliminated.

When adding modern design touches to your space, there are some pillars of the style to consider. First and foremost, its all about the neutral colors and natural materials. Modern design also tends to favor open-concept floor plans, the website House Beautiful notes.

Basically, you want as few walls as possible. Furniture, instead, should differentiate spaces, like a kitchen counter providing a visual distinction from a living or dining room. Abundant natural light is also necessary to help a space feel more airy and open, so windows are kept unadorned, according to House Beautiful.

However, you can also make your modern design dreams come true without taking down walls. Integrating functional materials and eliminating excess is a good place to start.

Clean lines over curves. Neutral colors and natural materials over bold hues and synthetic materials and patterns, interior designer, Natalie Myers, told House Beautiful.

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Dreaming of modern design? Heres where to start - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Christies announced today that it will sell the wide-ranging collection of the late philanthropist and billionaire Jerry Perenchio, the former chairman and CEO of Univision, the US-based, Spanish-language media company.

The multi-faceted collection features European furniture and ceramics, prints, Old Master drawings, sculptures, silver, carpets, memorabilia, Chinese ceramics and works of art.

The items will be offered across two sales, with prices ranging from $500 to $100,000.

In 2014, Perenchio pledged almost 50 major European works to LACMA.

I never put my name on anything, he said at the time.In this case, Ive decided that its worth a temporary step into the spotlight to encourage other collectors to give to LACMA and support the fundraising.

His gift will anchor LACMAs new permanent building, slated for completion in 2023.Los Angeles helped make my career possible, the collector said.

Perenchios Bel Air estate, Chartwell. Image courtesy Christies

This marks the second time Christies will sell works from the collection. InNovember 2018, a year after his death, it offered 44 Impressionist and Modern works. Meanwhile, that same year, Sothebys sold his wine collection over two sales.

Perenchio created Chartwell, his estate in Bel-Air, through a close five-year collaboration with star French interior designer Henri Samuel.The estate was inspired by California architect Sumner Spauldings 1930s French style Chateau.

The interiors of Chartwell, built around Perenchios Impressionist and Modern art collection, were was filled with Louis XV and Louis XVI French furniture, lighting, and Chinese and European carpets.

The decorative objects were assembled to enhance the world-class quality fine art later bequeathed to LACMA, according to a statement from Christies.

Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Mouling Rouge. Image courtesy Christies.

The fine-art highlights include prints by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, photographs by Man Ray, a George Bellows lithograph titledA Stag at Sharkeys, and an oversized Taschen book by Jeff Koons, G.O.A.T.Greatest of All Time: Tribute to Muhammad Ali, signed by the artist and boxer.

A small group of Winston Churchill memorabilia reflects Perenchios admiration for the British Prime Minister.

Other highlights include signature Henri Samuel soft furnishings and tables by Marco de Gueltzl. The spirit of 18th-century collecting is embodied in ormolu-mounted Chinese porcelain and a rare pair of early 19th-century Chinese cloisonn enamel censers, according to Christies.

Proceeds of the Christies sales will benefit Perenchios eponymous foundation. The overlapping online sales will run from September 1 to 16, and September 1 to 17.

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Christies Will Mount Two Major Sales to Auction Off the Estate of the Late Spanish-Language TV Tycoon Jerry Perenchio - artnet News

A hot topic among designers across the world is how hospitality will overcome the new challenges hotels face in the time of COVID-19. Here, some of the top architects in hospitality share their thoughts on how hotel design may evolve going forward.

Inside the soon-to-open Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi.

Jean-Michel Gathy

Belgian-born architect Jean-Michel Gathy is the principle designer of the award-winning Malaysia-based hospitality design firm, Denniston. Having carried out extensive hospitality projects for prominent brands such as Aman Resorts, Cheval Blanc, St. Regis, Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons, the designer is recognised across the world for the significant contribution hes made to hotel design. Among his latest projects is the newly completed Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, which opens September 2020, and upcoming Aman New York.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, we as architects have to be more health sensitive in every detail. New systems will be installed for social distancing, therell be more glass in front of cooking stations, preparation space will be highly sanitised and layouts will change to allow more space. The buffet will progressively disappear or be redesigned to be served from inside and the number of seats in restaurants will change with increased distance between tables. Instead of having three restaurants, there may be five with fewer seats.

Architect Jean-Michel Gathy is the principle designer for hospitality design firm, Denniston.

Inside the rooms, there is likely to be a totally different approach to using materials that are more resilient to viruses and sanitising surfaces you cant avoid touching. The public areas are a major issue: we need to look again in detail at filtration systems, air-conditioning will have to be readdressed and the water in swimming pools will need to be recycled more often.

All this will be a part of our lives, so people are now thinking about what needs to change while also developing new products. Fundamentally, I think this pandemic will allow properties to be greener and healthier.

Monica Armani's latest project is Morning Breeze, a one-off designer villa in the Costa Blanca for ... [+] Somium Properties.

Monica Armani

Drawing on her design DNAwith early influence from her father, the internationally renowned architect Marcello Armanithe Italian architect and interior designer Monica Armani realises contemporary architectural projects with a Bauhaus design sensibility. The architects latest project is Morning Breeze, a one-off designer villa at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club in the Costa Blanca for Somium Properties.

I believe that hotel design will have to focus more on creating larger private spaces and welcoming lobbies that are closer to a domestic environment in being very flexible spaces. In locations that allow it, this hospitality model will become the norm as guests look to use spaces for a moment to recharge, an opportunity to see things from a new perspective. With the awareness that our jobs can now be done in many ways and that creativity is increasingly becoming a powerful driver for the productivity of our future, this may be an opportunity to be seized for the hotelier.

Architect and interior designer Monica Armani is known for her Bauhaus design sensibility.

I think that in general people will move less frenetically thanks to new styles of work and vacation. We will probably stay in hotels less often but for slightly longer periods and will expect more from hotel services. Hotels should aim to create an experience by telling as much as possible the stories and excellence of the area where the hotel is based. In other words, hotels must go beyond the concept of hospitality alone to become a driving force, a landmark for the place where they were built.

Partner of HBA EMEA, architect David TKint.

David TKint

Now partner of the recently formed HBA EMEA by leading hospitality design firm HBA, architect David TKint has overseen high-profile hospitality projects across the world. HBA EMEAs first project to reach completion was the December 2019 opened Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London.

At the moment, Im working on a renovation of a historic hotel in Cairo. Owing to everything thats happened over the last few months, were now talking about how we can enlarge the spaces and sculpt the space to accommodate groups while still allowing for social distancing.

In the rooms, one of the most important aspects will be the selection of materials. More than ever, we need to specify finishes that are easy to maintain. If you potentially have a different guest in a room every night, you need to be able to clean its surfaces easily. Materials like engraved wood are much harder to do this with. Thats not only going to be important for hygiene but also the perception of hygiene. The sense of wellbeing will become even more important than it was before as that health and safety label means guests can feel safe staying there.

Inside Great Scotland Yard Hotel, one of the hospitality projects involving HBA EMEA

When COVID-19 first broke out, we thought hotels would have to go away from buffet counters. Economically though, it would be difficult for hotels to walk away from them entirely. Now what theyre doing instead is either having a full buffet where the staff serves you, a reduced buffet with more items a la carte or keeping the buffet going while bringing back the concept of having food carts.

David Archer

Having worked for firms such as Hopkins Architects and on the design of hospitality projects such as the Delano Hotel in Miami, David Archer established Archer Humphryes Architects with fellow architect Julie Ann Humphryes in 2002. The design firms portfolio of lifestyle spaces for eating, drinking and sleeping now includes Londons Great Northern Hotel and The Beach Samui, with major ongoing projects including contributing to the transformation of London landmark Admiralty Arch.

David Archer established Archer Humphryes Architects with fellow architect Julie Ann Humphryes.

The retrenchment of ever increasing travel and accessibility requires a significant adjustment on behalf of the hospitality industry. Ideas of success and a good time have radically changed and so the aspirations of recent years of packed bars and excitement in hotel public areas have been replaced with an emphasis on family and friends, safety and responsibility. This places an increased importance on the hotel room experience being at the core of the offering.

This trend could lower room density in hotels where smaller rooms have often encouraged guests to use public areas. In this way, traditional ideals of hotel life being an escape from home and a special occasion regain greater currency. The challenge is to find the correct language in regards to both service and design to meet these new emotions and behavioural patterns while maintaining the highest standards of openness and inclusivity.

David Archer is among the architects and designers working on the transformation of London's ... [+] Admiralty Arch.

Many aspects of service will be amended to meet sanitary and social distancing requirements, however the tenets of hospitality friendliness, quality of service, comfort and styleremain timeless. A new hotel has to embody many attributes to become a success. At Admiralty Arch these attributes include history, royal association, location and beauty to name a few. However, a hotels reputation ultimately depends on the message it sends to its guests and attention to all aspects of health and wellbeing is a must.

Chad Oppenheim of Oppenheim Architecture

Chad Oppenheim

Principle designer for Oppenheim Architecture, the Miami-based architect Chad Oppenheim leads large-scale projects, including the creation of hotels and resorts, across the world. Establishing a reputation for socially and environmentally conscious architecture, the practice is behind projects such as The Wadi Rum Resort in Jordan and has just completed the design for Lago Maggiore Retreat in Ticino, southern Switzerland.

Our global hospitality work inherently embraces many of the broader notions brought to light by the pandemic: the need for healthy, sustainable environments; the emphasis on both physical and mental wellness; and the craving to connect with nature.

A part of Oppenheim Architecture's design for Lago Maggiore Retreat.

We cant forget why people may be compelled to travel in the first place, especially under such challenging circumstances - for a unique experience, to create a memory and for a bit of escapism. Our design lens will continue to focus on the sense of place and experiences. That wont change.The pandemic does, however, call upon us to seamlessly incorporate top-notch, evolving cleanliness and safety requirements so that these concerns essentially fade into the overall guest experience.It is now more important than ever to make sure these requirements remain part of a project until final execution.

At Oppenheim Architecture, we have been fortunate that the desire for healthy buildings in the hospitality space has coincided with our innate design philosophies and years of experience implementing these standards effectively, efficiently and elegantly.

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Five Top Architects On How Hotels Can Adapt To The New Normal - Forbes

Across the world, designers craft rooms that send the viewer's eye on a rapid-fire journey, darting around a cacophony of color and pattern and chaotic whimsy. At first sight, these rooms may feel bold or exciting, but they often miss a crucial aspect of interior design that sits at the core of every home: the person living inside it. At Ore Studiosa Seattle-based interior design studiothe eye is given a welcome break; instead, they curate soothing, calm spaces that feel more like a retreat. In lieu of that design rollercoaster, each room feels lived-in, but modernist.

For the studio's latest project, a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom home in the La Conner neighborhood of Skagit County, Washingtonjust an hour north of Seattlefirm principal Andy Beers employed contrasting color palettes and natural materials to create a home that allows for some much needed peace and serenity. "My aesthetic tends towards a warm modernism, but is highly dependent on client and context," Beers says. "We like to do what is right for the building, the place, as well as the client."

Studio Ore took charge of both the interior design and decorating process, as well as the more constructive architectural elements of the homeallowing the team to take full creative control from start to finish. "In terms of the interior, we wanted to make something that felt warm, bright, and clean. The house is meant to feel intensely comfortable, and not take away from the gorgeous site and views," continues Beers. "This translated to a very tight palette of finishes, and we relied on a lot of texture and contrast to make things feel distinguished and special while remaining quiet."

Here, the great room, complete with exposed beams and heavily contrasted windows, anchors the house with an organic, but modern edge. Ahead, a full tour of the space, from the moody dining room and cozy office to the textural main bedroom.

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Modern Lines and Natural Materials Created a Calm, Tailored Atmosphere in This Washington Home - Yahoo Lifestyle

The Kissing Booth movie franchise on Netflix has taken the world by storm, premiering its sequel, The Kissing Booth 2, on July 24. If youre just as obsessed as the rest of us, youll know that South African actress Bianca Bosch is certainly one to watch.

Bianca Bosch plays Olivia in the teen movie series, the most popular girl at school and leading member of The OMGs. Though shes a supporting character to Joey Kings Elle Evans and Jacob Elordis Noah Flynn, Olivia is quite the scene-stealer.

The 24-year-old actress will be appearing in the upcoming third installment, and Netflix Life got the chance to catch up with her to talk all things Kissing Booth, her experience with acting so far, and the company shes started.

Read on to learn more about Bianca Bosch and her career on the rise!

Netflix Life:Growing up you were focused mostly on dancing, correct? Was there any defining moment when you wanted to get into acting? Or was that always something you were interested in?

Bianca:It was always an interest of mine. I was always performing for my parents, and for family members, and I would always tell everyone, Im going to be an actress when Im older. But the defining moment of when I really found passion in the actual craft itself is when I auditioned for the musical Evita, and I got the role of the Mistress.

Through that audition process and being in the musical, I realized that theres so much more than just dancing, and I wanted to explore acting as well as singing. I auditioned, actually, to study overseas in London for musical theater, but while I was there, there was something in me that was like, no, I just want to do a short course, and act and perform before I commit to a three-year program.

Funny enough, that was it. I changed my mind and went directly into acting, and here we are!

Netflix Life:How did the audition for The Kissing Booth come about? Were you actively looking for roles at the time?

Bianca:It was so crazy. It was my first-ever audition. I had just finished studying in America and I came home for the Christmas holiday, and I thought, well, Im in Cape Town and its season in Cape Town, so I might as well get an agent. My agent gave me a brief of The Kissing Booth, and I thought, oh, okay this looks cool, not knowing how big or small it was.

I went there completely naive, but in hindsight looking back, I think because I was just in the moment, and enjoying it as a new experience, and living truthfully in that moment and not preempting how I would get the role or not, or how big of an opportunity it was in front of me, is kind of why I think I booked it.

It was my first audition and it was quite tedious. We went through about four rounds of auditions over four months, but it was worth it in the end.

Netflix Life: Your character Olivia is definitely a memorable one. I would say shes a very bold and confident person, as well as funny. How similar are you in real life to her?

Bianca:When people meet me at first at face value, they always think, oh shes the ditzy, dramatic blonde. They dont anticipate my intellectual aptitude, and when they get to know me they realize, oh my gosh shes actually laid back, and she values a great sense of humor, and shes easy going, and shes not her exterior at all.

With Olivia, it was interesting because I got to portray my exterior to the greatest potential. So on one hand, Im very much like her, but I think I would say theres depth to both of us that is not at face value.

Netflix Life:Based on Instagram posts and behind-the-scenes videos, it seems like the whole Kissing Booth cast is super close. Do you all keep in touch when youre not filming?

Bianca:We really do. That is no lie. I am very, very close with a lot of the cast members and its amazing because this is my first job. I came into Cape Town being employed and with a brand new family.

Especially during lockdown, we all kept in touch, and I think you really realize who is super important in your life during that time, and who you want to keep in touch with, and its been them, which has been amazing.

Netflix Life:Of course we know you cant give too much away, but what can fans expect to see from Olivia in The Kissing Booth 3?

Bianca:A lot of cool dancing, actually!

Netflix Life:These movies are such good, classic teen romantic comedies, I love it. Are there other genres youre planning to explore next?

Bianca:I mean, I would love to explore all genres. Obviously with COVID-19, at the moment everythings kind of on hold, but exploring them in my own time and making sure Im ready for when the industry is ready to open back up is my goal at the moment. But definitely, I would love to explore other genres.

Netflix Life:Do you have any favorite memories from filming either movie?

Bianca:There are so many! Funny enough, a few of the greatest memories were always off set, either happening in the green room or when the camera was not rolling, but leading up to it. I remember in the first movie we got to experience the OMG girls arriving in a limo to prom. I had never been in one before, but they had rented out a very, very fancy limo and we got to drive around the block, and they filmed us walking out and arriving all glamorous to prom. That was really cool.

Also in the second movieboth of these scenes were actually cut, funnily enoughwe got a grand entrance to the Halloween party, and we actually arrived in a Cadillac that was previously owned by Sylvester Stallone. The Ruperts in South Africa have since bought the vehicle and its displayed in their motor museum. It was so cool that I was sitting in a car that had so much history, and we were on a Netflix film set. It was insane.

Netflix Life: Pivoting from The Kissing Booth real quick, I do want to hear all about your lighting business Moodmakers. What exactly is the brand and how did it come about?

Bianca:Im so glad you asked me! So, in South Africa we have these rolling blackouts that are called load shedding, and I kind of thought of the idea that we need a stylish solution. Coming from a family of interior designers, I have always been involved, and my dads always been teaching me about it. I studied interior design for two years.

So I decided to take it upon myself to import designer portable, rechargeable light, and thats where the brand started. Its called Moodmakers because we have to set the mood, and interior design lighting is essential, you know, it creates an emotion in a space. Its hopefully going to fix the problem, and so far weve been doing really, really well. I really have been enjoying it.

Netflix Life: Since were a site that covers all things Netflix, I want to ask: If you could join the cast of any Netflix show, which would it be and why?

Bianca:Oooh, that is tricky. Funny enough, I watched Work It last night, and thats a Netflix original. So maybe I would want to be alongside Sabrina [Carpenter] dancing in Work It. But I mean, I couldnt pick one, I really do enjoy Netflix originals. Thank goodness for them!

Make sure to look out for Bianca Bosch inThe Kissing Booth 3, premiering on Netflix sometime in 2021!

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The Kissing Booths Bianca Bosch talks the third movie, her foray into entrepreneurship, and more - Netflix Life