Aphrochic - by Jeanine Hays & Bryan Mason (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An interior design book featuring the stunning homes of those who have made significant contributions to Black American culture-from chef Alexander Smalls to Don Cheadle and Bridgid Coulter to Danielle Brooks. From the creators of the lifestyle brand AphroChic comes an interior design book that steps into the intimate spaces of actors and musicians, creative rooms of artists and curators, generational homes with history, and "boss" offices of entrepreneurs and executives. Throughout, you'll find historical information that sheds light on the Black homeownership gap, serving as a tome of inspiration for anyone who owns a home or wishes to. Exploring Black design through 17 homeowners, the pages of AphroChic resonate with stories of resilience and resistance. Owning a home might represent the American dream, but it's long been out of reach for a large portion of Americans. With tours that feature striking interiors filled with art and cherished heirlooms; stories that explore memories about family and community; and historical sidebars that touch on the obstacles to homeownership many Black Americans face today, AphroChic honors the journey, celebrates success, and envisions the future"--

Book Synopsis

WINNER OF THE BOOKTIQUE BOOK AWARD - A powerful, visually stunning celebration of Black homeownership, featuring inspiring homes and family histories of notable Black Americans--including chef Alexander Smalls and actor Danielle Brooks.

"The most important design book of our time."--Stacey Lindsay, design editor, Camille Styles

Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason invite you into the intimate spaces of actors and musicians, the creative studios of artists and curators, the "boss" homes of entrepreneurs and executives, "off-the-beaten-path" homes that defy the stereotypes of urban living, and places filled with pieces handed down from generations past. Tour the creative and culturally infused Washington, DC, rowhouse of author Jason Reynolds. Take in the bursts of color and layers of memory that fill the Harlem Renaissance-inspired interior of renowned chef Alexander Smalls. And get inspired by the design of actor Danielle Brooks and her husband Dennis Gelin's Brooklyn townhome, where Haitian heritage and South Carolina roots meet.

Showcasing the amazing diversity of the Black experience through striking interiors, stories of family and community, and histories exploring the obstacles Black homeowners have faced for generations, this groundbreaking book honors the journey, recognizes the struggle, and celebrates the joy that is the Black family home.

Review Quotes

"AphroChic transforms stories about home into reflections on plantations where ancestors were enslaved; a conversation about design into a recollection of the Great Migration that brought a generation of refugees north and west; and a homeowner's stylish love of color into a rebuke of this country's efforts to cover over its past with thin coats of beige and gray."--Robin Givhan, Senior Critic-at-Large, The Washington Post

"This book is an homage to cultural alchemists who transmute the material of everyday life--experimenting with color and texture, playing with pattern and placemaking, and crafting new stories of belonging that ripple across generations."--Ruha Benjamin, professor of African American Studies, Princeton University

"With AphroChic, Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason have written the most important design book of our time."--Stacey Lindsay, design editor, Camille Styles

"Sixteen tours thrillingly document Black homes in Bryan Mason and Jeanine Hays's AphroChic, at once a rousing celebration of Black homeownership and a salient reminder of the obstacles that many still face."--Parker Bowie Larson, style director, ELLE Decor

"Jeanine and Bryan laid down the magic recipe: design sparks the eye, story opens the heart, and space moves the soul. AphroChic continues to celebrate, elevate, and inspire us all."--Kim Myles, HGTV host

"With their stunning new book, Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason have interwoven the rich, complex history of the Black home as a concept with dazzling examples of it today. Pairing the history of migration, redlining, gentrification, and other elements of the history of Black Americans with tours of vibrant, personal interiors paints a captivating and celebratory portrait of the Black home in all its beauty and complexity. I wish more design books dove this deep."--Hadley Keller, digital director, House Beautiful

"In the luminous book, AphroChic: Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Family Home, authors Bryan Mason and Jeanine Hays capture the sacred spaces we occupy. Places where we cherish our ancestors, reside, and entertain our loved ones. Locations where we reflect, revitalize, and LIVE fully. This is a visually vibrant and meaningful excursion into personal expression, inherited artifacts, memories, and a reminder that there is no place like home."--Dyana Williams, entertainment broadcaster

"Designers Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason, the dynamic duo behind AphroChic, explore the Black family home and its role in culture and life. Through 16 house tours, the book sheds a light on the challenges many Black homeowners still face along with valuable decorating lessons."--Sarah DiMarco, assistant editor, Veranda

"A new book from AphroChic blends history and modern living to paint a picture of the Black family home."--Kaitlin Petersen, editor in chief, Business of Home

About the Author

Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason are the authors of REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul. Their media and design brand, AphroChic, celebrates African Diaspora cultures through their lifestyle magazine, podcast, and product lines available through Perigold and 1stDibs. The couple resides in upstate New York in their lovingly named AphroFarmhouse.