I find inspiration everywhere and nowhere! Sometimes, I'll be dreaming about how I wish I could sing like Cynthia Erivo, and then suddenly, my mind will start creating plans for a music room I don't have. Other times, I'll watch 50 apartment tours back to back, eventually stumbling across a paint color I must have... Next thing you know, I'm at Sherwin Williams, spending $120 on paint. 💁🏾‍♀️

p.s. that's how my latest DIY project got started! Check out the entryway makeover!

But my fellow creators are one place I go to more than any other when I need to spark some ideas! Looking at the space of someone you know (or at least feel like you know because you follow them on the internet😜) makes my crazy ideas seem more realistic. Ya know? It's like... If they can do it, so can I.

As a Black creator, it's tough to stand out in the home/lifestyle space - and even more challenging to make a living doing it. So I'm using my little slice of Beyoncé's internet to give flowers to five amazing creators who bring me joy and inspiration. Give them a follow & support the work! OKAY!!!

xoxo,

Imani

@Dommdotcom

Dominique, my fellow DC Design girlie, was one of the first home decor accounts I followed when I started my creator journey! Her old apartment had THE most amazing bookshelf (#shelfie 🤳🏾), and her latest kitchen is the stuff of dreams. The kitchen makeover, which she did as part of the One Room Challenge, features pink tile and a DIY archway. In her day-to-day life, Dominque studies community planning and runs A Place to Call Home, a subscriber community where she has insight into why it's so dang expensive to afford a home! I LOVE LOVE her!

@Hillhousevintage

I don't know if it was early exposure to Keira Knightly movies or that I wrote my high school dissertation on the Tudors, but I've been obsessed with English country life for a long-ass time. So when I discovered Paula Sutton over the pandemic, I used her account as my escape from reality. Although I'm a certified city girl, Paula makes me want to wear beetroot wellies and walk across my country estate. She’s got a book out called “Hill House Living: The Art of Creating a Joyful Life” and I will be gifting it to everyone I know for the holidays.

@Toldbythomas

I was drawn in by Julian’s staircase gallery wall, but stayed because of his big ‘ole smile and fun personality. This home boy from Brooklyn, who’s also on TikTok as MarfaStewart, puts up some amazing DIY’s including a laundry room makeover and a rental bathroom makeover! Seriously, he’s an amazing follow! Oh, and he just moved into a new apartment (which rents for $4300 🤯), so I’m sure there will be so many projects to come.

@Hotsundayhome

If I had to pick someone to completely switch apartments with it would be Lowe of HotSundayHome! Her one bedroom apartment in Southern California has THE BEST vintage bathroom and huge windows with so much natural light - something my home is surely missing! Outside of the home content, she posts recipes, table scapes and a hairless cat named Porshie! She manages to mix vintage finds, modern accents and cat furniture in a way that’s fun, yet curated. I can’t remember when or how I found her page, but I’m just glad to be here.

@Homediyary

One thing about Kayla is that she’s going to build something fabulous! I started following back when she added reeded glass doors to her linen closet. But the cane day bed and the floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves are some of her best work! In every video, picture, and especially in her stories, Kayla gives dance moves and DIYs, which is all I could ask.