Black Heritage Decor: How I Learned to Decorate from My Mom

Decorating and maintaining a home is one of the things I love most about growing up in the South. From picking out curtains to setting tables, I grew up taking care of the home and learned so much of what I learned from the women around me. The more I talked about my love of home, the more I learned so many other women had the same experience. For many of us, the experience manifests into our personal lives and lifestyles, but for a few of us it takes a deeper meaning and inspires us to start an entrepreneurial journey. One of those women inspired to make homemaking into a business is Kenya Brantley. This Newnan, Georgia native runs her lifestyle storefront Greenhouse Mercantile and has branched out into home design services, showcasing her modern, southern aesthetic through the homes of her clients.

Here we took some time to learn more about Kenya and what inspires her to decorate and the role her mom played in that inspiration.

Q: How did your mom inspire your love of home design and decorating?

A: My mom always kept an immaculate home! There was so much thought into what went into our space growing up. Pristine antiques, beautiful art, and lovely trinkets. It was always so much fun to visit local antique stores with her. Gosh, I loved that so much! I think that’s where my love of things of the past came from.

Q: What role do those design memories play in your current personal and professional lifestyles?

A: And although I take more of a simplistic approach to design in my own home, those memories are forever in my heart and mind. I love spending time with my children, and we have just recently taken up a love of plants!

Q: How are you passing on the tradition of design and decor with your mom to your own children?

My children have been such an integral part of my design journey. From visiting vintage markets, helping me set up my booth at Scott’s Antique Market, to helping me at my shop, they have always been surrounded by antiques. I only hope that I have passed down a love of the past as my mother did with me.

Mrs. Brantley is definitely one of my favorite tastemakers and I am honored to know her and follow her story. From her stylish shop in downtown Newnan to curated, modern southern spaces, she is making her mark on design and creating spaces for families to know and love for years to come.