AphroChic Magazine: Issue No. 13.

THE BLACK FAMILY HOME
kitchen, but it wasn’t a room. It still needed to become a comfortable
living space, just like every other room in the Aphro-
Farmhouse. That meant adding seating, but more importantly,
personal touches and a bit of memory.
To create our dining nook, we started with pieces from
our former Brooklyn apartment. They fit perfectly into the
nook: a round, dark-stained wooden table, leather chairs, and
a banquette that can easily seat three. We completed the seating
area with a handmade Moroccan rug — creating a cozy feel—
and cafe curtains designed with The Shade Store.
But memories of just us weren’t enough. The kitchen has
always been our place for heirlooms, and that hasn’t changed.
Acting as a china cabinet in the dining nook is a secretary that
has been passed from Bryan’s great-grandmother to his grandmother
and mother, and now to him. Above it hangs a photo of a
cousin Jeanine never met, but always admired her large afro and
short dashiki dress. By the prep sink sits a chinoiserie style vase
— another favorite of Bryan’s grandmother. And in the bar area,
a velvet painting of Isaac Hayes, passed down from Bryan’s Aunt
Elaine, hangs with pride of place on the kitchen wall.
Other artworks round out the dining nook. A Barkley
L. Hendricks print from the Studio Museum in Harlem sits
opposite two images of Black couples by ThingDesign making a
total of three couples in the room (counting the Hendricks piece
and Issac Hayes painting) a celebration of Black Love. And on
the dining table, a pair of Hip-Hop-inspired, figurative salt and
pepper shakers from Seraphic Home add the last little touch of
contemporary Black style.
After months of planning and weeks of work, our kitchen
is finally the heart of our home. Blending old and new elements,
traditional and modern aesthetics and equal parts functionality
and comfort, it is one of our most-used spaces. The comfortable
dining nook has become a favorite place to be in the mornings,
while high-top stools at the island give us the coffee shop vibe
we’ve been missing while working in the afternoon. Best of all
it is full of Black art, depictions of Black life, and remembrances
of those we’ve loved and love still, even though they’re no longer
with us. The end result is much more than a kitchen. It’s home. AC
Left: Brenda P. Print by Barkley L. Hendricks at Studio Store
Harlem $75.
Above: Clipse Salt & Pepper Shakers by Seraphic Home $65.
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