Gibbons is also an online contributor for Domino, a lifestyle magazine. Stellar designer Nicole Gibbons. "We're a start-up, so we have to kind of take things one step at a time, but there's obviously lots of other adjacencies within paint or category extensions like exterior or even different sizes," Gibbons says. [2], Although she never intended to pursue a career as a designer, Gibbons always maintained an interest in interior design. She initially pursued a career in public relations and served as the Director of PR and Events for a global fashion brand for a number of years. Nicole Gibbons is an American interior designer, television personality, Founder of Clare and design blogger. She was raised in Southfield, MI, and attended nearby Mercy High School. [3] The show brings home improvement experts to help deserving families redecorate a space in their home by teaching them clever, do-it-yourself, cost-saving techniques. [8], Television appearances and other projects, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Beyond the Pencil (Skirt): Nicole Gibbons, Interior Designer, Design Expert Nicole Gibbons On New OWN Show, Holiday Trends & Budget Decor Tips, "Inside The One Bedroom Apartment Of Oprah's Newest Design Star", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicole_Gibbons&oldid=978329374, Northwestern University School of Communication alumni, Articles lacking reliable references from December 2014, BLP articles lacking sources from December 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 September 2020, at 07:27. It's not that there are no Black designers or whatever existed. It's just the people that were chosen to be celebrated over and over were just not diverse. Gibbons faced challenges like any other business owner, from learning about paint chemistry and how to manufacture quality products to working on raising venture capital. Although Gibbons did not originally intend to pursue a career in interior design, she credits her parents' influence as the foundation for her current success. In January 2008, she launched her decorating and lifestyle blog, So Haute, as a creative outlet. It just felt like a bigger business opportunity than doing just another fill-in-the-blank product line.". She is also the founder of Nicole Gibbons Studio, LLC, which specializes in high-end residential and commercial interior design. When the goal is inclusivity, there's more work to be done. "I ultimately got a job, working in fashion PR out of school and, all while I was working in fashion, especially in the early days as a young twenty-something, I spent a lot of free time still immersing myself in all things design," Gibbons tells MyDomaine. "I love it when folks are not afraid of using color," Gibbons says. Gibbons chalks up some of the missteps in the industry to ignorance or obliviousness. She is best known as the founder of the decorating and lifestyle blog So Haute, and for her frequent television appearances. Decorating with bolder colors makes an instant impact on the space. And like I said, it's going to take a concerted effort before it becomes like normalized behaviors to think of other perspectives, making inclusivity more of a norm than something that you have to make a concerted effort towards.". Does Online Dating Work? "So watching all the design shows on HGTV back when they actually had real design shows and not just real estate and renovation and reading all of the magazines and just kind of consuming all forms of design-focused content, because I just found it really inspiring, and I've always loved living in a beautiful space. "I didn't feel like there was a shortage of places to buy furniture and fabrics or wallpaper or whatever, but the paint shopping experience is really terrible," Gibbons explains. I was in a job for 10 years where I felt like I was way too smart, too good, not appreciated enough, not paid enough, all these things. Nicole Gibbons Style is a decorating and lifestyle blog that serves as a go-to guide to stylish living for décor obsessed readers around the globe. "For example, right now we only sell gallons, so we know that there's a market for different types of paint.". I was always the only one in the room, that kind of thing, but I didn't have any experiences that I would necessarily portray as negative, nor would I ever say that being Black has hindered me or my career in any way. Gibbons has a tight group of friends that she knows she can count on while growing her business. "I think it's just a lot of ignorance and like obliviousness to what's the right thing to do," Gibbons says. By using MyDomaine, you accept our, Transform Your Space With Art And Décor From These Black & BIPOC-Owned Home Brands. The designer and founder/CEO of paint start-up, Clare, has been making waves in the design industry since she started her decorating blog in 2008. "I think people just need to be a little bit more aware and a little bit more thoughtful. "How has it that they can't figure out how to create a better experience to shop? After years of bright white minimalist decor reigning supreme, Gibbons is predicting a return to moodier colors. It's not that I wasn't passionate about it.". "While the industry isn't particularly diverse, I wouldn't say it's racist," Gibbons says. [4] In June 2008 Nicole established Nicole Gibbons Interiors, LLC, as a part-time design business focusing on small scale decorating projects in Manhattan.[2]. "I think a bold color on the wall will have so much more of a dramatic impact in the space than painting the whole room white. "You can use it to frame an entry console or a bar cart. She has been featured in multiple television, print and online publications, including HGTV, House Beautiful,[6] TLC, InStyle, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, The Nest, and Elle Décor. Though the paint industry has several established brands that have been in the market for decades, Gibbons saw an opportunity in the space for more creativity and innovation.