Growing up in North Philadelphia, Dominique Calhoun fondly remembers decorating her childhood room with purple walls, zigzag stripes, bold colors, and magazine cutouts. “My love for interior design definitely started at a very, very young age,” the professional interior designer tells BrownStyle Magazine.
“When I grew up, we didn’t have a lot of money, but my mom— who had three kids— always found a way to make our home very comfortable for what she could afford,” Calhoun recalls. “I think everyone should have access to great products, inventory, and have that feeling of a well-designed home.”
Her love for design ultimately inspired her to launch Remix Living in 2017— the only Black-owned design studio in Philadelphia with a retail showroom and a dedicated mission to make great design accessible for all.
Making Interior Design Accessible For Everyone
As an Interior Designer and host of Cleo TV’s reality series Decor Remixed, Calhoun finds joy in helping people create a home they love, despite having limited budgets and space.
“In such a chaotic world, I think peace starts definitely at home with the spaces that we see every single day, and we spend so much of our time,” she notes. “Seeing the look on my clients’ faces once we’re done with a design brings me a ton of joy. It’s super fulfilling for me.”
Although she is unable to provide her services for free, Calhoun has created several packages to help both high-end and budget-conscious clients successfully create spaces that feel welcoming and inviting.
For those who are looking for a more affordable design option, Remix Living offers a unique and collaborative DIY package that allows clients to explore interior design without breaking the bank.
“Some people want the design curated by a professional, but they can’t afford the full-scale process. This is another way we allow people to have access,” she shares before explaining the DIY package, which starts with the client measuring their space and filling out a questionnaire about their design style.
“It’s a very collaborative process between me and the client,” she continues. “Once we have an idea of your design style, we take things from there. We use your feedback from your questionnaire and measurements to curate a design.”
By having the measurements, the design team is easily able to source furniture pieces that fit not only your style, but also your space. “We hand-deliver this design back to you in a mood board. This includes shop links to purchase all of your products. We also give you a floor plan layout that tells you where everything goes in the room.”
Inside The Remix Living Showroom In Philadelphia
Walking into the Remix Living showroom in Philadelphia, Calhoun says, expect to be inspired.
“Our showroom is a curated space. You’ll see how a sofa can be laid out and styled with pillows. You’ll see how we place wallpaper. You’ll see different lighting and statement accessories. You’ll also see how to style your coffee table,” she tells us, adding that the studio space also has cash and carry items that you’re able to purchase on the spot. “These things are hand-selected by me and my team to help you elevate your design.”
The showroom also provides aspiring designers the opportunity to work as design apprentices and learn the business from firsthand experience.
“When I was exploring a career in interior design, I couldn’t find other local women who looked like me who were successful in this business,” she reveals. “So it was my vision to provide a safe space to other Black and Brown girls who want to be successful in this business, but don’t know where to start. Yes, interior design school is great, and you learn a lot of information, but there’s nothing like real-life client-to-client interaction and being thrown into the field experience. I love to give my apprentices that opportunity!”
Soft Living: How To Create A Home You Love
According to Calhoun, creating a home you love requires being intentional and finding pieces that fit into your space. One of the mistakes the design expert says she sees often from homeowners is not properly measuring their space before buying furniture. This is why she considers this a crucial step in creating a space you love.
When it comes to bringing life to your space, Calhoun highly suggests bringing the green from outdoors into your home.
“Oversized artificial plants or even some real plants are definitely having a major impact in spaces,” she notes, before adding that wallpaper is another great way to add color to your home. “There are so many different things that you can do to make a statement in a space with wallpaper, and it doesn’t matter if you are living in the home permanently or if you are renting; they have renter-friendly options for wallpaper!”
If you decide to work with a professional design expert, Calhoun encourages you to know your budget and trust the process.
“That’s a major part of working with the professional. You have to have trust that they are going to deliver what you’re looking for,” she concludes.
To learn more about Remix Living, visit remixliving.com.
Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
