By the time an HGTV producer recruited Carmeon Hamilton of Nubi Interiors to participate in the competition show Design Star: Next Gen in the spring of 2021, she was already a star to many. Through her blog and social media, Carmeon had built a massive following of fans eager to be inspired by her interior design ideas and thoughts on parenting, fashion, and more. “I treat social media and my platform as a way for people to have a different perspective,” Carmeon says. “I have a unique perspective in life.”
Part of that perspective is maintaining an attitude of gratitude even in the face of tragedy. Carmeon’s husband Marcus died in 2021 after being hit by an intoxicated driver. Yet, she remains determined to live a joy-filled life even while navigating the grief.
After winning Design Star, Carmeon landed the opportunity to star in her own HGTV show Reno My Rental. Though Carmeon is a native of West Memphis, Arkansas, the city of Memphis, Tennessee — where she’s lived for 10 years — has become the hometown of her heart. Her one requirement for Reno My Rental was for the show to be set in the city she calls home. We’re excited to introduce our newest FACE of Memphis, Carmeon Hamilton.
What are some things that help you stand out from other designers?
I have a really large and highly engaged online community, especially on social media. I’ve always been a sharer and educator, along with my blogging career. I’ve been blogging for 12 years now. Giving insight into my decisions and empowering people who can’t hire me in the design process or their own spaces is what sets me apart.
What do you do to make social media work for you and keep it from becoming overwhelming?
First and foremost, I ensure that I am always 100 percent authentically myself. I’m not bouncing between personalities or personas. That’s one way to alleviate a lot of stress. I’m the same person in person as I am online.
What did winning Design Star do for you both professionally and personally?
Ultimately, I realized I was completely prepared for all the challenges that the competition brought about because of my background and journey in interior design. I’ve had several careers in the same industry — from healthcare design to retail and production. So, designing on fast timelines, for the camera and the masses — I’ve done it before. All the things that helped win that competition … I was equipped with everything I needed before I got there.
[It was also about] having the validation that I am a great designer. I knew I was really good at what I did, but I’m not a competitive person, so I never really compared my career to anyone else’s. My husband had always told me I was amazing and would be a star. Winning that design competition solidified his opinion of me. It showed me what he had seen for many years.
What did you enjoy most about Reno My Rental?
My favorite part was understanding who my clients were. I had to design their spaces before I actually met them in person. I got to do all of this background digging through their Pinterest pages, social media pages, and anything else I could find on them. So, the design process for each individual client and making it personal to them was my favorite part.
Was it important to you for this show to film in Memphis?
Absolutely. In the creative process of coming up with a concept for the show, I told them, “I don’t care what kind of show we do, but I’m doing it at home.” I wanted to bring what I knew the production of a TV show could do for the economy of Memphis. I’ve lived in the city for a little over 10 years now, and it is right at the cusp of being another Atlanta or a D.C. It’s gotten a bad rap. It has horrible PR. Everything about it … is typically negative. I had the opportunity to put Memphis on a national platform — actually, an international platform — and I wanted it to be seen the way I see it every day.
What do you love about Memphis?
I feel like I’m in a big city while still having a down-home, Southern, slow feeling. And then layer the people of this city on top of it. We are southern-bred, and there’s Southern hospitality. The circle of people that I’ve collected all want to see this city grow and be great. We actively work together to show Memphis in a great light. There’s just an energy amongst people like that. You don’t want to leave it. There’s growth there, and there’s always a fun time.
You’re very open about offering advice — not just on interior design. Has anyone reached out to you about navigating grief?
I have not specifically been asked for advice on grieving, thankfully. But I share my grief journey as another perspective so people can see it doesn’t have to be a painful process. There’s going to be pain, but your grief journey doesn’t have to be painful. You can acknowledge it, talk about it out loud, feel your feelings, and still be able to function, be happy, and have a joyful existence even though you are experiencing grief.
How have you prioritized your family and mental health while still growing your business?
I live in a state of contentment. I am 100 percent grateful for where I am today. If I get nothing else, that’s perfectly fine with me, too. So, I’m never chasing anything. If I’m not chasing something down, I can focus on what’s in front of me. I also have the time and clarity to think about the things that fall into my lap because that’s how every opportunity I’ve taken has come to me.
I have a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house out in the suburbs. I don’t want the McMansion. If I were chasing down a mansion, I would strive for all of these jobs, be incredibly busy, and miss out on things with my son. I also love catching up with my girlfriends. We have a weekly date every Wednesday.
What’s the best advice you have to offer?
I’m not a glass half full or glass half empty type of person. I’m a “glad I have a glass” type of person. Being grateful for what you have can transform how you feel about everything — the things you want and the things you lose. The things that you gain, you’ll be grateful for, and the things that you lose, you’ll be grateful you had them for as long as you have.
Name three things you can’t live without.
Chapstick, my phone, and Jake, my nail artist at Nail Bar.
Thank you, Carmeon!
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