Who doesn’t love adding a little color to their personal space? At age 11, Nicole White remembers rearranging the furniture in her home with the dream that she could one day afford to dress in fancier curtains and pillows. Today, she is an established, award-winning and nationally published interior designer.

“I’ve always loved design. I just didn’t know it was a career option when I was going to school in Jamaica. At the time, the key professions we focused on were lawyers, doctors and accountants,” said Nicole White Designs Managing Director and Principal Designer. Saturday life.

The former journalist has been a solo design entrepreneur for over a decade, working in the industry for 15 years. She describes her design style as bold, edgy, modern, colorful, multi-layered and luxurious. “We don’t do beige! We are often hired because of this distinction. And we’re not here to puff up the pillows and just suggest paint colors! Have you seen our work? Obviously it’s not,” White said candidly.

The Jamaican, who emigrated to Florida in the United States, did not make the smoothest transition from her lifelong and one-day passion to a successful profession. Admitting that she didn’t know how to draw to save her life initially, over time and with practice she learned the art of constructing a story from a myriad of elements: fabrics, tiles, wood and metal. Nor was the entrepreneurial side of the trip a walk in the park.

As a Jamaican-born black woman residing in a strong Spanish-speaking community, she unfortunately faced gender discrimination: “There is a lot of machismo in this industry, especially for companies like ours that specialize in renovations and new construction. I’ve had my share of confrontations with disrespectful, condescending and dismissive men. That rarely happens these days because she’s experienced enough to see it from a mile away and nip it in the bud. “We are now well known, but it took years of fighting to be seen, heard and respected,” she added.

Inspired by just about anything, from details in a piece to patterns or her travels, White works with her team to bring her vision to life. “I designed a mom cave in my house before the pandemic, and it’s where I go to sit, think, read, listen to music, and get in a creative mood.” She also takes pictures of inspiring things and uses them as a sort of launching pad when launching a new project.

In this line of work, White shared that creativity and freedom are paramount. “Our best projects are those where clients respect this creative freedom and trust us to do our job. The projects we don’t photograph or talk about are those where clients have micromanaged us and stifled the creativity of the project. We actually fired ourselves from a few projects like that. You can’t be an unhappy, micro-managed designer and be as creative as possible,” she pointed out.

Listing the design of his own furniture collection as one of the most fulfilling projects to date, White hopes young boys and girls know that interior design is a viable and respectable career. “My goal has always been to encourage everyone to treat their home as their sanctuary, regardless of their budget. Not everyone can afford an interior designer, but everyone can. inspire him to create something that brings him joy.

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5 tips for a successful home renovation

Nicola White has shared five interior design tips for renovating your home.

1. The first thing to consider when renovating a space is what can be removed or moved without affecting the structural integrity of the space, as walls can be moved and unused hallways closed off. A well-designed space should be beautiful and functional. It must make sense.

2. Use whatever artistic skills you have or what is available to you. This can include taking black and white photos of your loved ones, framing them, and creating a statement gallery wall. Don’t be afraid to display your own creativity.

3. Sanding and painting your kitchen cabinets can take this culinary space from dull to fabulous. It’s the most economical way to elevate your cabinets and breathe new life into them. Ditto on the change of material.

4. For the bedroom, get rid of the 1,000 pillows in the bed! This is a game changer for any couple designing their bedroom. For couples trying to find balance in the decor, find common ground. If she likes pops of color and it’s neutral or monochromatic, make the bedding in her color palette and add a splash of color via a bench or accent chair in the bedroom. If a couple can’t find a happy compromise in their most sacred space, they’re in trouble.

5. The bathroom should never be an underestimated space. Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses, so always pay attention to the bathroom. A paint can is the most affordable design trick in the universe. Choose a fun color and paint the walls as a weekend project. To accessorize, hang a meaningful piece of art (perhaps from your travels), roll towels in a basket, and add a soap or lotion dispenser to give the space some personality.