This House’s Style Has a Modern AfroCaribbean Vibe with a Worldly Flair

Name: Melanie Núñez, my daughter, and my mom (temporarily)
Location: Oshawa, Ontario (30 minutes outside of Toronto)
Type of home: House
Size: 1700 square feet
Years lived in: 3 months, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I closed on my house this past September after renting for four years. I wanted a home that spoke to my AfroCaribbean heritage while highlighting the treasures I’ve picked up through my many years of solo traveling. When I bought my home I wanted it to feel like an open-air museum, a gallery of sorts, reflecting the many pieces I’d collected throughout the years on my trips as well as those that family members including my dad (who is an architect) have gifted me. I want my daughter to be surrounded my creativity every which way she looks.

Yes I grew up in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago to be exact, and it was extremely important that my home reflects my heritage. Growing up in a household of creatives, with my dad as an architect and my mom as a design enthusiast, I was always consuming art and design in many ways. The primary vessel was through my dad’s art and work and I wanted my home to highlight my many art treasures, most importantly a piece made by my dad. I designed the decor in my home around the art that I collected throughout the years and that was my main focus/starting point. It was important to me that my daughter saw beautiful images of AfroCaribbean culture and its people to help reinforce the beauty within her and an appreciation for part of her.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Modern AfroCaribbean vibe with a worldly flair

What is your favorite room and why? The living room/kitchenette because it showcases my favorite art piece (created by my dad) and many of my treasures travel souvenirs. Especially now in lockdown, seeing my living room reminds me of the life I had prior to 2020 and the semblances of the world I would like to reintroduce my daughter to post-pandemic.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The thing I bought was a beautiful painting for my daughter’s room called “Sisterhood” by a Black artist.

Any advice for creating a home you love? If you have kids, create a home that speaks to the values you want to instill in them through the images and other content displayed in your home.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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