Room & Board Gets A 'REMIX' During AphroChic Book Launch Party

U STREET CORRIDOR -- Already a display of modern aesthetic and top shelf design, the 14th Street location of home furnishing retailer Room & Board nevertheless chose to (RE)MIX things up a bit last week for a book launch party hosted by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason.

The designer blogging duo, of course, are the husband-and-wife team behind the popular AphroChic website, which sets out to "prove that ethnic heritage and culture can go hand in hand with the luxurious and the modern."

Building upon such a message, along with the help of photographer Patrick Cline, Hays and Mason penned a just-released book which shines a spotlight on the impact of global decor on contemporary interior design.

REMIX: Decorating with Culture, Objects, and Soul "shows how bold color, unique patterns...original art, and handcrafted furnishings and accessories can help...express [one's] cultural experiences in stylish, unforgettable rooms."

And to celebrate the D.C. launch of the book, the couple teamed with Room & Board for a festive launch party on the store's panoramic rooftop deck. Indeed, the setting for the celebration was practically preordained given that Hays' sister, Angela Belt, is the visual merchandiser for the 14th Street retailer.

Guests to the Thursday evening bash were treated to passed hors d'oeuvres courtesy of chef and Hell's Kitchen: Season 3 winner Rock Harper. And Hays and Mason took advantage of Room & Board's new seasonal accessory line to demonstrate innovative ways to decorate various household rooms (e.g., the bedroom, dining room, etc.) according to the AphroChic aesthetic.