A Love Letter to Interior Design: Celebrating the Heartbeat of the Caribbean

Dear Interior Design,

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You are more than just a profession to me—you are a calling. A love that pulses with rhythm, textures, and hues, you awaken spaces and transform them into stories. In every corner, I find myself in awe of how a room can speak, how light can dance across a wall, how art can breathe life into every surface. But it is through the lens of my Barbadian heritage that I have come to see you not just as a craft, but as an expression of culture, identity, and soul.

In the Caribbean, we are born from the sun, the sea, and the land—our hearts are as vibrant as the sunsets that paint the sky, and our spirit is as rich as the earth that gives birth to our fruits. Every design choice I make is a reflection of this love for the land that raised me. The warm, golden tones of the sand beaches, the lush greens of the rainforests, the deep blues of the oceans, and the vibrant bursts of color that echo in our streets—they all make their way into the spaces I create.

Colour is our language, our laughter, our energy. From the moment you step into a room, you feel the intensity of it—bold, expressive, unapologetic. I believe that the power of color can transform not just a room, but a life. A dash of ochre can evoke the warmth of an island breeze, while a splash of turquoise can remind you of the endless horizons. These colors are not just pigments—they are a celebration of joy, resilience, and the stories we carry with us.

Art, too, is the heartbeat of our design. It flows in the movements of our bodies, it is captured in the strokes of our artists, and it hangs on our walls like a treasured heirloom passed down through generations. Caribbean art is an intricate blend of cultures, histories, and dreams—every piece a narrative, a glimpse into the soul of the people and the land. It is this rich tapestry of culture that I honor in every space I create, blending contemporary design with the timeless beauty of our artistic traditions.

You are my canvas, Interior Design, and I am forever in love with the way you allow me to bring a piece of the Caribbean into every home, every office, every space. Whether it's through the perfect placement of a handwoven throw, the seamless fusion of natural materials with modern touches, or the inclusion of locally crafted treasures, I am reminded daily that beauty is not confined to a single place—it is everywhere, waiting to be discovered.

To design is to give life to a space, and to give life to a space is to give a voice to the culture that birthed it. Together, we can create environments that do more than just house; we create homes, sanctuaries, and celebrations of life in all its colors.

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With deep admiration and an ever-growing passion,
 

Kimberlee Emerald
Interior Designer and Advocate for Caribbean Art and Culture