Talk Shop: Angela Belt // The Mood Board Podcast
ABOUT ANGELA
Angela Belt, host of The Moodboard Podcast, is the principal designer of her eponymous firm, Angela Belt Art & Style, as well as an interiors stylist and freelance market editor. As a graduate of Howard University, she has a keen eye for what is on trend and a passion for interior design. Her work has been featured in multiple publications including HGTV, Rachael Ray, Elle Decor, and the Washington Post.
As an interior stylist, Angela has worked on REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects and Soul, released by Penguin Random House in 2013. Angela was also featured in the Telly award-winning video for REMIX, Layering Pattern in the Bedroom. She has styled shoots for ElleDecor, HGTV, AphroChic, and Maison et Objet in Paris. As an interior designer, Angela works on residential and outdoor projects, and we love her styling and interiors work for its happy, fun approach to living and living well. Angela lives in Connecticut with her husband and adorable daughter – we sat down with the designer and podcast host to chat about all things design, from favorite vendors to the best interiors advice ever received. Read it all below!
Describe your style in three words or less:
Eclectic, mid-century, colorful.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
The first has definitely been working directly with clients as an interior designer over the years in their homes. When you’re a designer you have to wear several caps at once including PR, counselor, and designer. You have to learn how to successful execute a project from start to finish and make sure you are still hitting the bottom line with your client’s budget.
Secondly, I have been a freelance interior stylist and market editor for 15 years. These jobs have allowed me to travel all over the country, and see inside interiors that I have always dreamed about living in one day. These types of projects have allowed me to flex my creativity in ways you cannot when working with a client on their home.
Thirdly, my first job working at Room & Board for 10 years. I found this job via a Craigslist ad, and it totally changed my life. This job introduced me to interior design, and its where I got my 10,000 hour of training to become an interior designer. Before this job, I was so sure I was going to be an art curator at the Studio Museum in Harlem.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
I started my company five years ago, when I started acquiring clients through Homepolish. I had just relocated to Connecticut from Washington, DC and I had applied for three jobs in the interior design industry and after countless interviews, I got none of them. I was SO discouraged, but I knew I had what it takes to start my own business, but I just didn’t know how.
During this time I ended up being on a design panel for AphroChic with Orlando Soria at Helms Bakery in Culver City. I briefly recall sharing with Orlando that I wanted to start my own interior design business but I was unsure of how to start, and he told me about Homepolish and the rest is now history.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
Absolutely, I had two mentors that really helped define my career in interior design. Both are two very talented creative men, but they both approach design from very different perspectives. Darrell really introduced me to interior design, and showed me the ropes of how to plan and install over 40 rooms in just a few months. He showed me all of the layers that are involved in the interior design process like how to install lighting, mirrors, etc. He showed me all of the layers that go into a well designed room, and all of the interior design styles, and how to make sure you’re conveying that look with each design. Most importantly, he taught me that in interior design nothing in permanent, and you have to be comfortable constantly editing and playing in a space.
My second mentor, David Staten taught me how to be a leader. He showed me how interior design was so much more than just creating a beautiful space, to be successful you need to know how to manage a team. You can’t be do everything alone, you have to train people and learn time management skills so you’re not working 12 hour days and skipping lunch everyday as the norm. He was the person who challenged me to make sure I had a complete plan before I began to execute a design.
What does your home say about you:
My home reflects my family. My most difficult client is my husband (he has a lot of opinions), and I find that throughout the home I create spaces that reflect all of us, even if I’m secretly daydreaming about a very clean line white minimalistic style room all for myself some days. We love patterns and textures, and I need to create a home that works for all of us. I can make my fantasies come true when I work on a clients’ homes.
Where do you find inspiration:
It use to be travel, and exploring antique shops, flea markets, and showrooms. Nowadays its different, I find my inspiration on Pinterest, instagram, digging through old shelter magazines and buying more interior design books. Recently, I have found inspiration by just re-arranging my home, reminding myself that nothing is permanent and each room can feel totally different by just moving some staple furniture pieces around.
Who are your style icons:
Joy Moyler, Emily Henderson, Latonya Yvette
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Oh I miss entertaining SO much these days. For me it’s all about setting the table and the mood. I get the most pleasure out of designing table-scapes, going through the layers of textiles to create a space and set a mood. I have several storage bins FULL of fabric, cabinets with various sizes and shapes of glasses, and I could alway use more dishes in my life.
Even during the quarantine I liked to bust out some linen napkins, my good dishes, and gold silverware to make the day a little bit more extraordinary.
Do you collect anything:
Vintage furniture is my thing. I got the bite in my early 20s when I discovered Ebay! My first purchase was a signed Paul McCobb desk for my office, since then I have an original Eames chair, a George Nelson bubble lamp, a signed Conant and Ball dresser, and there are more (these pieces are like my original babies in our home). Currently on my wishlist is the Heywood and Wakefield round coffee table.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
This is a tough one for me, so many favorites right now. Here are a few:
@ourbrickhousestyle, @restorationhouse, @bellybaila, @coreydamenjenkins, and @design_it_vintage_living.
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
I live by the design rule that you have to mix and match materials. A well designed room has a mix of wood, metal, and several colors and patterns in one space. A design rule that I’ve had to break lately is that everything must be centered in a room. I’m a firm believer in this rule, but lately I’ve had to play with my angles more as my entire family is underfoot all the time.
What are you working on right now:
Right now I’m working a home tour with HGTV.com so our apartment looks crazy, but its a good crazy. Lot of rooms are in flex right now, I cannot wait for the reveal this fall.
I’m also looking a new ways to engage new interior design clients since LOTS of people are leaving the city life and coming to the burbs through e-designs and working on a new Skillshare course this fall.
Lastly, I have been doing weekly interviews on my podcast, The Moodboard. In each episode I have open and candid conversations with about the intersection of race, culture, and interior design. After each episode, I design a shoppable mood board of products listeners can purchase based on our conversation. These mood boards are designed with the Morpholio Board app, my sponsor of the podcast.
Wardrobe staples:
Skirts, my chucks, and a turban these days.
Best interior advice you ever received:
Constantly keep editing and revisiting a space, it’s never really done so don’t be afraid to play around.
Best career advice you ever received:
It’s great to help others, but what have you done for yourself lately?
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
You have to invest in your furnishings like a sofa, accent chair, bed and mattress. Those are staple pieces that I will not back down on the cost. I will absolutely go hunting in flea markets and vintage shops for accent tables, buffets, cabinets most of the case-goods I would get second hand.
Your greatest extravagance:
My red Eames plywood chair I don’t need it, but I LOVE it. I can’t imagine I would ever part with it.
Favorite places to shop for home:
Apt2B, Urban Outfitters Home, Article, Chairish, Ebay, Pottery Barn Kids, ETSY, Lulu and Georgia, Chasing Paper, IKEA, and RugsUSA.
Most prized possession and why:
the kente cloth broom that is hung up in our kitchen. It was a piece that I purchased from ETSY and it was a part of our wedding ceremony. My husband and I jumped the broom at our wedding. It’s a part of an African tradition that slaves brought to America, and it symoolizes new beginnings and sweeping away the old.
Your interiors motto:
The Belt Way, creating interiors that are uniquely you. Match your mood.
Your life motto:
To be present, and accept life as it is. No time for comparisons.
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
Travel even if its virtual to figure out your style. Try on different paint colors, patterns, and see how you feel.I’m a firm believer before you start buying anything plan it out. I constantly make mood boards with the Morpholio Board app before I purchase anything. In the virtual space you can play to your heart's content, so pin away before you spend your money.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: Mushroom tacos with pineapple salsa
Drink: vanilla matcha green tea latte with almond milk
Film: Harry Potter 6, The Half Blood Prince
Hotel: Hotel Petit Du Moulin in Le Marais designed by Christian Lacroix.
City: Palm Springs
Bedding: Tuft & Needle
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): decaf tea (no sugar, honey,) just hot water and I’m good!
Playlist: I have one on my phone now called, Dope Playlist. I’m obsessed with this song called Fire For You by Cannons that I heard on the show, Never Have I Ever on Netflix.
Weekend Activity: Yoga in the park
Design Book: Remix: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul by Jeanine Hays & Mason. I was the interior stylist on this book and it was an amazing experience to style interiors all over the country.
