Bold. Colorful. Luxurious. Timeless. These are just a few of the words we would use to describe the flawless style of interior designer Nicole White. Born and raised in Jamaica, Nicole founded her internationally RENOWN and critically acclaimed firm in 2010. The Beryl + Blossom team had the exciting privilege of chatting with Nicole about her life, inspiration and work.
You're known for transforming homes into spaces that are not just stylish, but retain their homey and cozy feel. How do you strike that balance?
My goal is always to create a well designed space that's also functional and inviting. So even when we add dramatic elements to a space, we are sure to include
other elements that are comfortable that beg to be used. We never want a space that feels or looks like the plastic covered sofas many of us grew up seeing.
Is there a Nicole White Look? What 3 elements would you say are constants in your work?
There is always an element of drama. I am known NOT to play it safe. There will be color, emphasis on metal finishes, and art in some form whether a custom piece or prints.
"I am known NOT to play it safe"
What are your two must-have items on any design project?
Artwork and a pop of color.
What role does sustainability play in your designs and what are some important interior decorating sustainability tips that you'd share with our audience?
We encourage clients to buy quality so it'll last as long as possible. We also love to restore
or reuse quality pieces a client owns for example re-doing the frames on an old piece of art or sanding and staining an heirloom piece passed down from generation to generation. Even when we do massive kitchen renovations, we always encouraging clients to give the old cabinets or countertops to a family member in need or donate it to Habitat for Humanity or Salvation Army.
In what ways do you think Jamaican or Caribbean culture has impacted the design world?
Haha! I mean, we are such a small island but our music, food, track and field have made us so well known and that larger than life sentiment carries through in our impact on the design world.
The passion we showcase in all these areas is the same passion we bring in design. Bold, risk-taking and full of life, that's the kind of impact we see.
Who are other phenomenal Jamaican or Caribbean interior designers, interior stylists, or architects that our audience should follow?
There are so many! But a few I know personally who represent Jamaica so well. They include:
We're so grateful to Nicole for sharing these insights with us. Learn more about her work by visiting her firm's website or her instagram page.
Written with love by the Beryl + Blossom team
Sophisticated, calming, and elegant, candles are an ideal addition to any room's decor. At Beryl + Blossom, we want to help you make the most of your scented candles, so we've listed a few tips and tricks below to ensure you have the best experience with our earth and soul-friendly products.
Trim, Trim, and Trim Some More
Before lighting, trim the wick to 1/4" using a nail clip, scissors, or a wick trimmer. This ensures a clean safe burn and extends the lifespan of our candles. Try to re-trim your wick before every use, not just the first time you light a candle.
Pro-tip: We personally prefer nail clips for our wooden wicks for a nice clean cut.
Burn Baby Burn!
When first lighted allow your candle to burn for 2-4 hours. Allow the wax to melt to the edges of the jar. This prevents tunneling. Tunneling occurs when the wick burns straight down the candle without creating a full melt pool within 2-4 of being lit.
Stop burning your candle once 1/4"-1/2" remains. Doing otherwise may cause the jar to overheat and may be unsafe.
Pro-tip: If using a 4oz candle, do not burn for more than 2 hours
Keep it Clean and Classy
Be sure to keep your candle wax pool free from matches and debris such as wick trimmings. Our soy and coconut wax candles are particularly sensitive to persistent exposure to high temperatures.
The Ideal Storage Solution
Always store your candles in a cool, dark, and dry place. Try to avoid placing candles in places where they will be exposed to harsh or direct sunlight.
]]>Things to look forward to this summer include but are not limited to, bumper to bumper traffic, unrelenting heat, too many children in public spaces, and last but by no means least, beryl + blossom's soy candle line. Each candle retails at JMD$1500 or USD$12. Our summer collection candle line includes the following quintessentially Jamaican scents:
Baby Powder
Lignum Vitae
Puddin'
Mint Tea
Ortanique
Our candles are sold primarily via our website and social media. Catch up to us online and see if we'll be in any pop up shops or expositions in and around your area for all our discounts and promotional offers.
July 29, 2018
Kingston ArtWalk
Downtown, Kingston
August 5, 2018
Devon House Emancipendence Expo 2018
If you're interested in owning your own soy candle but you are unable to make it to any of our events, we offer the following services.
Pick-up
Wednesdays at Devon House, St. Andrew
11-am - 1pm
4pm -6pm
Tuesdays at Glistening Waters, Trelawny
5:30pm- 6:30pm
Deliveries within Kingston and St. Andrew
JMD$350
Deliveries outside of Kingston and St. Andrew
Knutsford Express Courier
$600*
*this is Knutsford Express Courier's standard price for small packages. Prices are subject to change at the discretion of Knutsford Express.
]]>Our journey to creating a quintessential Jamaican company reminded us how unique the Jamaican experience is. Part of being proud of being Jamaican, for Beryl & Blossom, is knowing all the little "cutchrements" that fit into the crocus bag of "Jamaica" and knowing all the safely kept secrets that nobody else will ever be party to. The hand-me-downs, the something-news and the things that you just can't come across unless you're firmly planted 18 degrees North and 77 degrees West, span across food, music, fashion, street lingo and yes, flowers.
Gardening for Jamaicans extends far beyond mini wheelbarrows and watering perfectly manicured plants on Sunday mornings while wearing straw hats. Our gardens happen. They happen sometimes haphazardly among the mint bush, pepper trees, blades of fever grass, and bunches of indigenous species.
The gentle flicker of the flame, the soothing sound of a crackling wick, the intoxicating scent of heaven- when you ignite scrumptious Beryl + Blossom candle, a time of peace and relaxation undoubtedly awaits you- unless you live in Jamaica and bad-mind JPS cut off yuh light 🙃.
All jokes aside- candles can set the mood for a well-needed TLC or self-care session.
While you enjoy our decadent candles we want you to understand why candles are beneficial for the mind and soul. Here are five facts about the psychological and physiological effects of candles:
1. Candles trigger positive emotional memories
Did a whiff of our Puddin' scent send you right back to Christmas in mama's kitchen? According to experts at the Laboratory of Cognitive Neurobiology at Boston University you have an emotional connection to scents particularly those from your childhood. This can be attributed to the connection between the olfactory system and the amygdala in our brain. After a smell enters the nose, it travels through the cranial nerve through to the olfactory bulb, which helps the brain process stimuli. The olfactory bulb is part of the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain. Olfactory has a strong input into the amygdala, which process emotions. The kind of memories that this connection evokes are often quite powerful and is one of the reason odors cause a spark of nostalgia.
2. Candles lower anxiety
Have a fear of heights? Nervous about a test? Well, a Beryl + Blossom Lignum Vitae candle might help! In 2010 researchers at the King's College of London found that presence of a lit lavender scented candle significantly lowered the anxiety levels of dental patients who feared sitting in the dentist's chair. The same effect was observed in patients preparing for surgery at New York University's Langone Center. Preoperative anxiety decreased when patients were exposed to the smell of lavender.
3. Candles help to form good memories
Planning a romantic night with the wife? Want to set the mood for your hubby? You can make those experiences last a lifetime with the mere presence of a candle such as Beryl + Blossom's Ortanique candle. While candles can trigger memories they can also help to make them more vivid once they are associated with a particular scent.
4. Candles promote rest
After a long day on your feet or laboring away in front of a computer screen, settling in for a good night's rest can be challenging. Switching from bright LED or incandescent light bulbs to candlelight a few hours before bed can help your body relax and help your mind to prepare for rest.
5. Candles improve memory, focus, and drive
In Japan, the Takasago Corporation tested how smells affect the accuracy of typists. They found that typists made 55% fewer mistakes when they could smell lemon, 33% fewer with jasmine and 20% fewer with lavender. Additionally, scholars at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle explored the effect of scents smells on memory. They discovered that people in the rosemary-scented room exhibited better memory skills overall when compared to those exposed to no scent. So if you are studying for a test or a major presentation at work don't hesitate to light a Beryl + Blossom earth and soul friendly candle today!
Sources:
Card, J. (2018). Tips for boosting productivity with good office design. [online] The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2014/jan/23/productivity-office-design [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].
Ducharme, J. (2018). Being Exposed to Even a Small Amount of Light During Sleep is Linked to Depression. [online] Time. Available at: http://time.com/5189387/dark-room-sleep-study/ [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].
Duron, A. (2018). The Scent That Improves Your Memory. [online] Women's Health. Available at: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a19945867/the-scent-that-improves-your-memory/ [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].
Franco, L., Blanck, T., Dugan, K., Kline, R., Shanmugam, G., Galotti, A., von Bergen Granell, A. and Wajda, M. (2016). Both lavender fleur oil and unscented oil aromatherapy reduce preoperative anxiety in breast surgery patients: a randomized trial. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, 33, pp.243-249.
Holohuan, M. (2018). [online] NBC News. Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/healthmain/smells-nostalgia-why-do-scents-bring-back-memories-895521 [Accessed 28 Jul. 2011].
Kritsidima, Metaxia, Tim Newton, and Koula Asimakopoulou. "The effects of lavender scent on dental patient anxiety levels: a cluster randomized-controlled trial." Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 38.1 (2010): 83-87.