KIM COOK
\nAssociated Press<\/p>\n
Trek through home decor stores these days and you\u2019ll probably see goods from around the world \u2014 India, the Far East, South America. And Africa.<\/p>\n
Just as fashion houses like Celine, McQueen, Valentino and Missoni have referenced African prints and hues over the last few seasons, so are interior designers and retailers doing that now, drawing on Africa\u2019s wealth of crafts like woodworking, pottery, textiles and pattern-making.<\/p>\n
Jeanine Hays, creative director of the interior design firm Aphrochic<\/a> in Brooklyn, New York, works with her team to develop modern takes on traditional African textiles and patterns found in ceremonial objects. For instance, they have a collection of poufs upholstered in prints drawn from kuba cloth, silhouettes and headdresses. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re inspired by our own African-American heritage, and our interiors and products reflect iconic African-American imagery,\u201d Hays says.<\/p>\n In her own brownstone, Hays uses a long, graphite bedroom wall to display a basket collection made by a Rwandan women\u2019s collective. The vibrant shades of pink, mint, gold, and black and white pop against the dark wall, making a sculptural statement.<\/p>\n In view of adequacy and toleration of the individual patient, the dosage may be expanded to 100 mg or diminished to viagra online purchase<\/a> 25 mg. Kamagra & Its Various Soft Versions It has been the most popular drug solution ever to treat male impotence. order levitra<\/a> The medication was experimented and was intended best buy for viagra<\/a> to treat chest pain). There are Physiological Causes, which purchase viagra online deeprootsmag.org<\/a> can lead to male disorder. <\/span> One eye-catching piece that\u2019s cropping up frequently in interiors is the Juju hat, used in dancing rituals by the Bamileke tribe in Cameroon. The headdress features an exuberant circle of chicken or guinea fowl feathers.<\/p>\n Consuelo Pierrepont, designer and co-founder of Sway Studio, an interiors firm with offices in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, says the Juju hats have a softness and geometry that make them a favorite decorative element.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re incredibly versatile and can stand alone as a statement or be layered into a collage wall, with other art mediums or more Jujus,\u201d she says. \u201cAlthough they come in a variety of dyed colors, we love the tonal palette of the natural pieces. Jujus add so much depth and texture that a room hardly needs anything else to feel decorated.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierrepont also says that carved, wooden Bamileke stools have been popular with clients. The sides of the drum-shaped stools are carved in a hatched pattern evoking a spider\u2019s web. The stools are known as \u201cking\u2019s stools\u201d because they\u2019re used by royalty on special occasions.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have an appealing sculptural quality, and the real ones have a lot of character \u2014 no two are alike,\u201d says Pierrepont. \u201cThey\u2019re nearly indestructible \u2014 the barrel shape makes them incredibly sturdy, and the dark stain and wax finish hides everything.\u201d<\/p>\n While original Bamileke tables are investment pieces, there are now less expensive versions. They can make great tables in rooms that see a lot of action, like playrooms. Some are made of resin, so they can stay outdoors. Others come in lighter finishes, like white or gold. <\/p>\n
\n\u201cOur belief is that modern design and cultural style combine to create spaces that we\u2019re connected to, that we care about, and that tell our stories,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n