Truly Inspired By...AphroChic

Truly is all about inspiring us to be the best we can be. And what better way to do that than by featuring individuals who inspire us to live our biggest dreams. Hence my new column, Truly Inspired By. One woman in particular that stands out among the rest is Ms. Jeanine Hays, Creative Director and Founder of AphroChic, a lifestyle blog and textile company.

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Jeanine began her career as a policy attorney. In 2007, she started AphroChic blog to escape the stress of work and express her passion for design. She made the leap from blogger to blogger/designer in 2009 with her line of pillows. Her signature look is a blend of ethnic heritage and culture with luxurious and modern style. She calls it Modern. Soulful. Style. As a psychologist who loves design, her story struck a cord with me. I imagine she must have had many fears about following a different career path, especially after spending all those years grinding in law school. But clearly she didn't let her fears stop her. Take a look at some of my favorite pieces from her AphroChic shop.

AphroChic's Haze (left) and Vibe (right) wallpaper are indeed both modern and soulful. I particularly like the 1970's vintage feel of the Vibe wallpaper.

Chevron gets a much needed update with this swanky Vibe Saffron and Pink Pillow. It adds a touch of cool to any decor.

How fun is this Brooklyn Life runner? These stylish city life images both celebrate and validate urban life.

I really like this Park Slope Placemat. It conveys urban chic in a simple, yet impactful way.

Like a page ripped from the Divine Destiny Handbook, Jeanine's design career is a lesson in perseverance and passion. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Elle Décor, and Lucky Magazine just to name a few. She was an online judge for the 2010 season of HGTV's Design Star, and her pillow collection was on the 2010 California Home + Design Hit List—how cool is that. Jeanine also contributes as a design expert on HGTV.com, the DIYNetwork.com, Houzz, and the Stylelist Home.