To celebrate National Decorating Month, we have teamed up with four home decor experts to learn more about their start in the home industry, favourite trends and more. Follow along as we are taken inside their spaces to get a first look at how they are refreshing their homes for spring, featuring a few of their favourite Umbra products.
To celebrate National Decorating Month, we have teamed up with four home decor experts to learn more about their start in the home industry, favourite trends and more. Follow along as we are taken inside their spaces to get a first look at how they are refreshing their homes for spring, featuring a few of their favourite Umbra products.
Krystal Smit
E-DESIGNER & LIFESTYLE BLOGGER
@thesmittencollective
My name is Krystal Smit and I’m a born and raised Midwesterner living the west coast life in Los Angeles along with my husband, corgi, and cat! We lived in Chicago before moving to California, where on top of my design career, I danced professionally in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls. We’ve moved around quite a bit, and love to travel and make life an adventure! Our next adventure is taking us to Austin, TX and we are currently searching for a new home… which I can’t wait to get my hands on!
How did you first get into the home decor industry?
I’ve spent the bulk of my career in the event industry designing, producing, and styling luxury weddings, corporate and social events. I’ve always said that being an event designer was like being an interior designer, just for a less permanent installation. One of my favorite parts of the job was putting together design boards for my clients, and that quickly translated into creating them for interiors as well! My lifelong passion for home décor was turned into a reality when 2020 came around and I transitioned from designing events to spaces, offering home E-Design and Virtual Decorating with my newly formed blog and social media account called The Smitten Collective.
How would you describe your style?
I love mixing styles, and I’d say I’m a combination of modern, mid-century, and overall eclectic. I’m constantly looking to add in character with statement pieces and have a soft spot for a truly vintage or antique find. If I was really left to my own devices, I’d cover everything in moody floral wallpaper with ornate brass frames sprinkled everywhere, balanced with clean lined furniture, cozy layered textures, and modern accents.
What's one of your favourite home decor trends right now for Spring 2021?
I’m absolutely loving the use of the color green! Whether that’s a sage colored accent pillow or throw, an emerald green vase, or green marble decorative tray… it’s a color that screams spring and it's a gorgeous accent color to play with!
What's something you think would surprise people about working in the home decor industry? What's your favourite part?
Probably the amount of behind the scenes work it takes to pull a look together! I spend hours sourcing products, reading reviews on pieces I can’t scope out in person, mapping out measurements, and meticulously curating looks to ensure my clients are delivered a beautifully packaged and customized design. My favorite part is genuinely being able to provide a value to someone who wants to make their space beautiful, but needs the extra help. It’s fun being able to decorate and make things look pretty for a living!
What is your favourite thing about Umbra? How do our products fit into your style?
I discovered the Prisma frames and they were the perfect combination of simplistic yet stylish! Umbra products have such a beautiful, minimal aesthetic that really go with so many styles. Which is perfect for me when I’m looking to add that modern touch to match with my eclectic style.
Krystal Smit
E-DESIGNER & LIFESTYLE BLOGGER
@thesmittencollective
My name is Krystal Smit and I’m a born and raised Midwesterner living the west coast life in Los Angeles along with my husband, corgi, and cat! We lived in Chicago before moving to California, where on top of my design career, I danced professionally in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls. We’ve moved around quite a bit, and love to travel and make life an adventure! Our next adventure is taking us to Austin, TX and we are currently searching for a new home… which I can’t wait to get my hands on!
How did you first get into the home decor industry?
I’ve spent the bulk of my career in the event industry designing, producing, and styling luxury weddings, corporate and social events. I’ve always said that being an event designer was like being an interior designer, just for a less permanent installation. One of my favorite parts of the job was putting together design boards for my clients, and that quickly translated into creating them for interiors as well! My lifelong passion for home décor was turned into a reality when 2020 came around and I transitioned from designing events to spaces, offering home E-Design and Virtual Decorating with my newly formed blog and social media account called The Smitten Collective.
How would you describe your style?
I love mixing styles, and I’d say I’m a combination of modern, mid-century, and overall eclectic. I’m constantly looking to add in character with statement pieces and have a soft spot for a truly vintage or antique find. If I was really left to my own devices, I’d cover everything in moody floral wallpaper with ornate brass frames sprinkled everywhere, balanced with clean lined furniture, cozy layered textures, and modern accents.
What's one of your favourite home decor trends right now for Spring 2021?
I’m absolutely loving the use of the color green! Whether that’s a sage colored accent pillow or throw, an emerald green vase, or green marble decorative tray… it’s a color that screams spring and it's a gorgeous accent color to play with!
What's something you think would surprise people about working in the home decor industry? What's your favourite part?
Probably the amount of behind the scenes work it takes to pull a look together! I spend hours sourcing products, reading reviews on pieces I can’t scope out in person, mapping out measurements, and meticulously curating looks to ensure my clients are delivered a beautifully packaged and customized design. My favorite part is genuinely being able to provide a value to someone who wants to make their space beautiful, but needs the extra help. It’s fun being able to decorate and make things look pretty for a living!
What is your favourite thing about Umbra? How do our products fit into your style?
I discovered the Prisma frames and they were the perfect combination of simplistic yet stylish! Umbra products have such a beautiful, minimal aesthetic that really go with so many styles. Which is perfect for me when I’m looking to add that modern touch to match with my eclectic style.
Carmeon Hamilton
INTERIOR DESIGNER & LIFESTYLE BLOGGER
@carmeon.hamilton
I am a Memphis-based interior designer, content creator and lifestyle blogger, creating my brand, Nubi Interiors. My 15 years of experience in multiple facets of the design industry, from public health-care to residential to retail and merchandising, are the foundation of my work in discovering the beauty in all things and helping others find beauty in what surrounds them every day. When I am not hosting a workshop on social media management or creating content for Fortune 100 brand partners, I am often found doting on my husband, Marcus, son, Davin, and my jungle of house plants!
How did you first get into the home decor industry?
With a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design under my belt, my career started immediately after graduation in healthcare design. I worked for almost 5 years as an interior designer for a national healthcare company, traveling across the country, designing hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, physical therapy clinics and more. The company later dissolved their internal design department, leaving me unemployed. This soon became an opportunity to start my own design business, Nubi Interiors. I worked with both homeowners and business owners, creating spaces that felt personal or on brand, but with an elevated designer’s touch.
How would you describe your style?
As a self-proclaimed modern bohemian, I believe in elevating the everyday and finding beauty in the now. I always try to seek to not only discover the beauty in all things, but to also help others find that beauty in the things that surround them every day.
What's one of your favourite home decor trends right now for Spring 2021?
I'm loving the continued use of indoor plants, and deep, moody colors, and also how people are maximizing their square footage and creating multi-use spaces to fit their needs!
What's something you think would surprise people about working in the home decor industry? What's your favourite part?
I think most people would be surprised to know that working in and running a design and home decor business is 80% "back of house" work and 20% fun and creative! But it's that 20% fun and the ability to truly change the lives and experiences of people in their spaces that keeps you charging forward.
What is your favourite thing about Umbra? How do our products fit into your style?
I love Umbra's approach to design! Modern designs that solve problems while being accessible and affordable!
Carmeon Hamilton
INTERIOR DESIGNER & LIFESTYLE BLOGGER
@carmeon.hamilton
I am a Memphis-based interior designer, content creator and lifestyle blogger, creating my brand, Nubi Interiors. My 15 years of experience in multiple facets of the design industry, from public health-care to residential to retail and merchandising, are the foundation of my work in discovering the beauty in all things and helping others find beauty in what surrounds them every day. When I am not hosting a workshop on social media management or creating content for Fortune 100 brand partners, I am often found doting on my husband, Marcus, son, Davin, and my jungle of house plants!
How did you first get into the home decor industry?
With a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design under my belt, my career started immediately after graduation in healthcare design. I worked for almost 5 years as an interior designer for a national healthcare company, traveling across the country, designing hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, physical therapy clinics and more. The company later dissolved their internal design department, leaving me unemployed. This soon became an opportunity to start my own design business, Nubi Interiors. I worked with both homeowners and business owners, creating spaces that felt personal or on brand, but with an elevated designer’s touch.
How would you describe your style?
As a self-proclaimed modern bohemian, I believe in elevating the everyday and finding beauty in the now. I always try to seek to not only discover the beauty in all things, but to also help others find that beauty in the things that surround them every day.
What's one of your favourite home decor trends right now for Spring 2021?
I'm loving the continued use of indoor plants, and deep, moody colors, and also how people are maximizing their square footage and creating multi-use spaces to fit their needs!
What's something you think would surprise people about working in the home decor industry? What's your favourite part?
I think most people would be surprised to know that working in and running a design and home decor business is 80% "back of house" work and 20% fun and creative! But it's that 20% fun and the ability to truly change the lives and experiences of people in their spaces that keeps you charging forward.
What is your favourite thing about Umbra? How do our products fit into your style?
I love Umbra's approach to design! Modern designs that solve problems while being accessible and affordable!
Elisha Kelly
HIGH SCHOOL INTERIOR DESIGN TEACHER
@ouraesthetic_abode
My fiance and I (and our two cats!) bought our first home in May 2020! I’m a certified Family and Consumer Sciences teacher (formerly known as “Home Economics”) at the high school level. I currently teach both Interior Design and Apparel classes. When I’m not at school, I’m designing and DIY-ing… I may or may not be addicted! We’re total homebodies so it's incredibly important to me to have a space that is functional, pleasing to OUR eyes, and displays our personality.
How did you first get into the home decor industry?
I’ve always had an appreciation for aesthetic environments, but it wasn’t until recently that I became more involved in the industry. I took a couple interior design classes in college and I enjoyed them but it wasn’t a huge focus of mine. When I got hired at the school I teach at now, I was actually a little nervous about teaching interior design! I preferred teaching cooking/nutrition classes. But I ended up loving teaching it and as soon as we had a home we could call ours, designing became an immediate passion of mine.
How would you describe your style?
I have a hard time determining my exact style, but I would say it's heavily modern with touches of bohemian, coastal, and traditional. I’m still discovering what I like and have been definitely incorporating more bold choices lately!!
What's one of your favourite home decor trends right now for Spring 2021?
I’m LOVING all the curved lines… all of the arches and curvy furniture have my heart!
What's something you think would surprise people about working in the home decor industry? What's your favourite part?
Maybe just how much time goes into the planning process. I feel like it’s totally normal to experience a lot of difficulty in making decisions. There will always be a lot of second guessing and revisions, but you just have to be patient! You’ll know when the design is right.
What is your favourite thing about Umbra? How do our products fit into your style?
I love the simplicity of Umbra. Everything is very minimalist and practical. Umbra’s products allow me to have a more functional space without sacrificing aesthetics… which is everyone’s goal, right?!
Elisha Kelly
HIGH SCHOOL INTERIOR DESIGN TEACHER
@ouraesthetic_abode
My fiance and I (and our two cats!) bought our first home in May 2020! I’m a certified Family and Consumer Sciences teacher (formerly known as “Home Economics”) at the high school level. I currently teach both Interior Design and Apparel classes. When I’m not at school, I’m designing and DIY-ing… I may or may not be addicted! We’re total homebodies so it's incredibly important to me to have a space that is functional, pleasing to OUR eyes, and displays our personality.
How did you first get into the home decor industry?
I’ve always had an appreciation for aesthetic environments, but it wasn’t until recently that I became more involved in the industry. I took a couple interior design classes in college and I enjoyed them but it wasn’t a huge focus of mine. When I got hired at the school I teach at now, I was actually a little nervous about teaching interior design! I preferred teaching cooking/nutrition classes. But I ended up loving teaching it and as soon as we had a home we could call ours, designing became an immediate passion of mine.
How would you describe your style?
I have a hard time determining my exact style, but I would say it's heavily modern with touches of bohemian, coastal, and traditional. I’m still discovering what I like and have been definitely incorporating more bold choices lately!!
What's one of your favourite home decor trends right now for Spring 2021?
I’m LOVING all the curved lines… all of the arches and curvy furniture have my heart!
What's something you think would surprise people about working in the home decor industry? What's your favourite part?
Maybe just how much time goes into the planning process. I feel like it’s totally normal to experience a lot of difficulty in making decisions. There will always be a lot of second guessing and revisions, but you just have to be patient! You’ll know when the design is right.
What is your favourite thing about Umbra? How do our products fit into your style?
I love the simplicity of Umbra. Everything is very minimalist and practical. Umbra’s products allow me to have a more functional space without sacrificing aesthetics… which is everyone’s goal, right?!
Andrew Cretaro
CONTENT CREATOR
@andrewcretaro
My name is Andrew Cretaro and I’m a menswear and lifestyle content creator here in Toronto, Canada. I originally started off as a wedding / event photographer but always had a passion for product photography. I decided to make an instagram to share all things products and after a few years it kind of turned into a content creation business where I got the opportunity to share with my audience products and experiences that I love!
How did you first get into the home decor industry?
About a year ago after going into lockdown I decided to create a Pinterest account and created mood boards of spaces that I loved. I realized that small condo living wasn’t for me anymore so I used Pinterest to motivate me to recreate a space in my condo that brought me joy until it’s time to upgrade to a house. I kind of fell in love with home decor over lockdown and the whole beige aesthetic in general which my Instagram has now become.
How would you describe your style?
I’d like to say my style has sorta a California/boho vibe. I love the beige and cream aesthetic, there’s just something very calming about it.
What's one of your favourite home decor trends right now for Spring 2021?
My favourite thing about spring is the flowers! I’m really obsessed with fresh flowers right now! White or blush roses in the dining room right now. It just makes everything look more fresh!
What's something you think would surprise people about working in the home decor industry? What's your favourite part?
I don’t know if there’s anything that would surprise anyone but I would say to be open to change in general. I find that my decor taste is forever changing and that’s okay. Never feel that you have to keep a certain style because that’s what people expect. Be open to change, and don’t be surprised if one day you’re into a bright space and the next a dark one. Just have fun with it!
What is your favourite thing about Umbra? How do our products fit into your style?
I love the innovative products that Umbra makes! Everything is so well thought out, and they’re known for creating products you’ve never seen before. You can really tell that Umbra has a passion for design! Because I’m really into the beiges right now and light woods, Umbra seems to offer so many amazing products in the perfect walnut tones which work perfectly in my space.
Andrew Cretaro
CONTENT CREATOR
@andrewcretaro
My name is Andrew Cretaro and I’m a menswear and lifestyle content creator here in Toronto, Canada. I originally started off as a wedding / event photographer but always had a passion for product photography. I decided to make an instagram to share all things products and after a few years it kind of turned into a content creation business where I got the opportunity to share with my audience products and experiences that I love!
How did you first get into the home decor industry?
About a year ago after going into lockdown I decided to create a Pinterest account and created mood boards of spaces that I loved. I realized that small condo living wasn’t for me anymore so I used Pinterest to motivate me to recreate a space in my condo that brought me joy until it’s time to upgrade to a house. I kind of fell in love with home decor over lockdown and the whole beige aesthetic in general which my Instagram has now become.
How would you describe your style?
I’d like to say my style has sorta a California/boho vibe. I love the beige and cream aesthetic, there’s just something very calming about it.
What's one of your favourite home decor trends right now for Spring 2021?
My favourite thing about spring is the flowers! I’m really obsessed with fresh flowers right now! White or blush roses in the dining room right now. It just makes everything look more fresh!
What's something you think would surprise people about working in the home decor industry? What's your favourite part?
I don’t know if there’s anything that would surprise anyone but I would say to be open to change in general. I find that my decor taste is forever changing and that’s okay. Never feel that you have to keep a certain style because that’s what people expect. Be open to change, and don’t be surprised if one day you’re into a bright space and the next a dark one. Just have fun with it!
What is your favourite thing about Umbra? How do our products fit into your style?
I love the innovative products that Umbra makes! Everything is so well thought out, and they’re known for creating products you’ve never seen before. You can really tell that Umbra has a passion for design! Because I’m really into the beiges right now and light woods, Umbra seems to offer so many amazing products in the perfect walnut tones which work perfectly in my space.
ALSO SOME INSPIRATION FROM OUR CUSTOMERS
"I couldn’t be happier with this mirror. The quality is outstanding and you can hang it vertically or horizontally. I love the black shelves on the edges for a cute decor. It just adds the perfect touch to the mirror."
- @myrusticmodernliving
"I just received the set of 3 & I LOVE how versatile these are! These can easily go from office, bathroom, kitchen, to bedroom. Keep them as a set or split them up for various uses. They can transition from vase to container and the “lids” allow for stacking for dual storage or can be used as a tea light holder. So fun! I highly recommend! You will find a million uses for these & they can literally go in any room for any purpose."
- @bethfisherdesigns
"This mirror is such a staple piece and can be used in so many places. I needed a mirror that was tall and this is so perfect. Plus the arch on top adds some character. In the mean time, I stuck it on top of a table and I am in love. Also it came packaged so well. I was very impressed."
- @simplyhomewithkara
"I absolutely love this new hair tool organizer! My hair tools and beauty products used to take over our entire bathroom vanity - this saves so much space and makes it super easy to locate everything with all the compartments! Love the simple but sturdy design to go with our neutral home, and the fact that I could easily wipe it down after some of my makeup spilled inside. I won’t be going back to my makeup bags that hold onto those awful stains, and are hard to rummage through. Would definitely recommend - it’s made my morning routine SO much easier! Also the heat protective silicone mat for my tools is genius! It’s a game changer for organization!"
- @woodbeamsandlinendreams
"This organizer is the perfect addition to my bathroom! I can store my makeup, brushes, and other items stylishly! The moon shaped design is a great space saver too!! I would highly recommend for any bathroom or side table!"
- @ourholmdalehouse
"I couldn’t be happier with this mirror. The quality is outstanding and you can hang it vertically or horizontally. I love the black shelves on the edges for a cute decor. It just adds the perfect touch to the mirror."
- @myrusticmodernliving
"I just received the set of 3 & I LOVE how versatile these are! These can easily go from office, bathroom, kitchen, to bedroom. Keep them as a set or split them up for various uses. They can transition from vase to container and the “lids” allow for stacking for dual storage or can be used as a tea light holder. So fun! I highly recommend! You will find a million uses for these & they can literally go in any room for any purpose."
- @bethfisherdesigns
"This mirror is such a staple piece and can be used in so many places. I needed a mirror that was tall and this Is so perfect. Plus the arch on top adds some character. In the mean time, I stuck it on top of a table and I am in love. Also it came packaged so well. I was very impressed."
- @simplyhomewithkara
"I absolutely love this new hair tool organizer! My hair tools and beauty products used to take over our entire bathroom vanity - this saves so much space and makes it super easy to locate everything with all the compartments! Love the simple but sturdy design to go with our neutral home, and the fact that I could easily wipe it down after some of my makeup spilled inside. I won’t be going back to my makeup bags that hold onto those awful stains, and are hard to rummage through. Would definitely recommend - it’s made my morning routine SO much easier! Also the heat protective silicone mat for my tools is genius! It’s a game changer for organization!"
- @woodbeamsandlinendreams
"This organizer is the perfect addition to my bathroom! I can store my makeup, brushes, and other items stylishly! The moon shaped design is a great space saver too!! I would highly recommend for any bathroom or side table!"
- @ourholmdalehouse