An Interior Design Firm Stole A Black Artist’s Work. She Responded By Opening Her Own Studio On The South Side

ARMOUR Sq. — There are handful of Black interior designers — but Marissa Nelums hopes to make the market more obtainable and encourage many others by opening her studio, Glasshouse Interior Design and style.

Nelums celebrated the showroom’s opening Saturday at 2910 S. Wentworth Ave. The spot of her shop — the initial brick-and-mortar showroom she’s had — is intentional: It’s correct off the expressway and on the South Aspect, the spot she fell in really like with as a scholar at the Global Academy of Design and style. It’ll allow her to encourage more Black Chicagoans to get into inside design and style, and she’ll provide expert services for purchasers who may not believe they can manage a designer.

“I often desired to retain my group at the forefront of how we structure factors,” Nelums said. “I started off this for the reason that there wasn’t a lot of representation for persons who look like me in structure. We’re really happy to attain far more than just the people who can afford style and design companies.”

But Nelums’ aspiration studio nearly did not materialize.

Nelums was interested in inside structure for a lengthy time, but the previous visual merchandiser didn’t pursue that enthusiasm until she received a drive from the universe — in the kind of an additional studio thieving shots of an condominium she’d decorated.

“I considered, ‘If I’m excellent ample to steal from, perhaps there’s a little something to this. Perhaps this is some thing I can do longterm,’” claimed Nelums, whose work can be found in Architectural Digest and Coming Property journals.

Now, what begun as a interest to maintain Nelums active soon after her father’s dying has turn into a vocation, endlessly altering the trajectory of her lifestyle.

Nelums reported she loves to incorporate elements of glamour with deep shades: Jewel tones and metallics for people who enjoy a minor flair, neutrals for straight-laced clientele who desire to continue to keep it uncomplicated.

As Nelums commenced constructing her portfolio, men and women started to acquire discover.

And Nelums introduced a property furnishings line for individuals with lesser budgets. Six yrs later on, her custom pillow line is a strike, she claimed.

Nelums has expanded the selection to include things like non-public label drapery, artwork and furniture — samples of which are on display in her Armour Square showroom. Website visitors can check out out Glasshouse’s virtual service, which presents 3D renderings of clients’ dream areas, alongside with instructions on how to put into action the style and design.

That services — coupled with the property furnishings line — has allowed the business to reach customers across the place, Nelums reported.

Glasshouse Interiors is open up 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and by appointment Saturday-Sunday.

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