Arianne Bellizaire

If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Florence, Italy. The art, the history, the architecture—need I say more?

What are three words to describe your style?

·      Elevated

·      Soulful

·      Intentional

Tell us about your childhood bedroom? (a sentence or two would be great here) Pepto Bismol pink (there’s a story there!) with bunk beds and a dresser. I shared the room with my sister, who was my first design assistant. ;)

What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? (a sentence or two would be great here) A vintage desk and credenza that I found while shopping for our home right after we moved to Houston.

In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Sheila Bridges. Her ability to weave cultural storytelling into every detail is masterful and deeply moving.

No room is complete without: Texture.

People think of me as polished, but I am really a goofball at heart

 Things you omit from:

·      A flower arrangement  Baby’s breath

·      An hors d’oeuvre platter Anything jiggly

·      A bar cabinet Sweet mixers

A song for:

·      Dinner at home As by Stevie Wonder

·      Working at your desk Something from my K-pop playlist (current favorite: Can’t Get You by Jaehyun)

·      Going for a run Run the World (Girls) by Beyoncé

Biggest Vice? I can’t say no to a beautifully scented candle. Ever.

If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? (if the product is something specific please include a link) Vintage jewelry is my new passion—unique pieces with a story always catch my eye.

Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Bold, colorful, makes a statement and leaves an impression—completely aligned with my brand. 

Who is your star crush? Boris Kodjoe sharp, stylish, intelligent, and effortlessly cool. Total gentleman energy.

What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it?  Have a space that is absent art. It’s not for me, but I respect a minimalist moment when it’s done right. 

If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be?  Ironically, yours Alexa. The Language of Design was one of the first coffee table books I added to my library as I fell into my passion for design. The other? Furniture World Styles from Classical to Contemporary. My art history professor told us to keep it close for understanding the historical references of furniture forms and profiles—and I still do.

For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for?  Spaces that tell a deep and meaningful story for the people who inhabit them.

Your Favorite:

Movie: Home Alone 2

Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

Scent: Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’Eau (Lilithpea)

The fabric you always come back to: A good luscious aubergine velvet

Dream project: A boutique hotel in the South of France

Meal: Crawfish étouffée with rice and garlic bread

Drink: A caramel latte—I’m a coffee girl

Hotel: 1 Hotel in Los Angeles

Travel Destination: Italy

Artist: Kehinde Wiley

A cause near and dear to me: Design education access for underserved youth

Thing to collect obsessively: Vintage jewelry and killer shoes

Era in the history of design: Bauhaus and Art Nouveau

Museum: The Met

Paint Color that always looks great: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray

Favorite person to follow on Instagram: @justinablakeney

Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? Dogs—especially my goldendoodle, Toby!