Adding Inspiration to My Family Office with Framebridge

Being the only lady in a house full of guys, I try my best to connect with the fellas on different levels. Conversations about Fornite, Roblox, and the Barbershop have been the height of how we spend our quality time here in the Shinholster/Todd House. If you didn't know, I live with three boys and a future husband, so a lot of times, anything girly will be overshadowed by all the manliness that exudes through our apartment. The only way to express the "me" in my household is through the interior decor. I have been redecorating the duplex to fit my new found aesthetic of MidCentury Modern but with accents that resonate with the male perspective. The first to be redecorated is the communal office area. It sits in-between the living room and dining room. Because this space will be used by everyone that lives here to either study or research, when I'm not creating content, I wanted to add some inspiration and also give this area some character. I've partnered with Frame Bridge for a personal Black History Month project that I think not only my Fiance' will appreciate, but so will our sons. Frame Bridge is a company based in the DMV (Atlanta & New York coming soon) that offers custom framing at an affordable price. I wanted this small section of the wall with strong black and influential men who are a staple in almost every African-American household through literature, music, or memories.

1. Dwayne (Dad) - Even though he's not a well-known, influential black man in every household, He is in ours. A provider and someone who works hard for his family, his special place on the wall, centered and surrounded by greatness is perfect.

2. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Pushing for peace in a world that had been and still to this day filled with pain. I want his picture to

3. Marvin Gaye - Marvin put his heart and soul in his music. I want him to be a reminder that the purest way to express yourself is through creativity.

4. Malcolm X - Powerful in Knowledge, Confident in his beliefs.

5. Barack Obama - I mean, He's Our President, Right?

6. Langston Hughes - This talented writer used the power of his mind and translated it through his writing to encourage, transcend and

7. Frederick Douglas - We reside in South East Washington, DC, not too far from the Douglas house. Such a great and honorable man that lived in our very same neighborhood.

8. Duke Ellington - Another native of Washington, DC, who lived his life "Beyond Category." Not conforming to the world's ideas of what he should be as a musician, I hope will spark confidence in the boy's hearts and minds. It's ok not to follow the norm.

9. Muhammad Ali - Strong-minded in his beliefs, a fighter in the ring, and for his people, I hope Ali evokes determination and strength.

These nine portraits look stunning hanging in the view of such impressionable young men. Framebridge took my vision and made it a beautiful reality. The process of getting the pictures framed was so easy. I uploaded them in the order I saw them on my wall and just submitted! Once I received the goods, I was excited to see that there were nails and a hanging guideline to help out with placement without using a ruler, measuring tape, or a leveler. Using Framebridge was an enjoyable experience, and I'm so happy that this was apart of the decor upgrade of my family office space.