JAMEELAH & EBONEE

Written By: Yakira Muhammad

Ebonee Clark and Jameelah Davis, co-founders of Lauren Wesley Designs, an Atlanta, GA-based interior design and event planning company committed to curating atmospheres and experiences for every area of life. Additionally, Ebonee and Jameelah were featured in HGTV’s “Married to Real Estate” , as the official design team.

Lauren Wesley Designs puts a huge emphasis on how the environment affects mental health and well-being. They take time to create environments that are tailored specifically to each client, taking into consideration the mood and vibe that colors, shapes, and textures can evoke.

Let’s start with how you both got into interior designing and event planning.

In early 2017, Jameelah’s cousin’s wedding planner bailed on her weeks before her big day. Jameelah quickly stepped into the planning role and I was asked to assist with tale arrangements. Long story short, the wedding turned out beautiful and the three of us, Jameelah, Rachel (Jameelah’s Cousin), and myself came up with an idea to launch an event design and planning company. Due to conflicting schedules and a big move, Rel relocated with her new husband while Jameelah and I moved forward as J. Divine Events. After a successful run on the Atlanta event circuit, we began throwing around the idea of doing interior design. Jameelah had recently purchased and designed a condo and I had just helped my in-laws rebuild their Mississippi home after an unfortunate house fire. Working with the contractors and picking paint colors was truly invigorating. Ironically enough we landed our first interior design project towards the end of 2019. After the success of the project, we were hooked. Once COVID hit in 2020 and no events were on the horizon, we naturally pivoted into interior design, and we haven’t looked back since.

Why did you decide to create your own company Lauren Wesley Designs?

After we added interiors to our repertoire, we decided it was time for a name change. J divine Event became Lauren Wesley Events, a name birthed from our children. My daughter’s middle name is Lauren and Jameelah’s son’s middle name is Wesley. Together with the new company Lauren Wesley Interiors, Lauren Wesley Design emerged.

How did it feel being featured in HGTV’s “Married to Real Estate” as the official design team?

It has definitely been a wonderful experience and has challenged us to execute much swifter. We typically take a few months to a year to complete a renovation. For these families, it’s a few weeks to a few months!

I read that your company puts a huge emphasis on how environment can affect well-being and mental health. How does your company address that?

We are big on not only creating beautiful spaces but empowering our clients to live well and prioritize what makes them feel alive. Our faith ground our daily lives so when we step into the homes of our clients, we make it our mission to create spaces that lift their spirits so they can celebrate memorably, relax stylishly and live abundantly.

Always follow and trust your gut. God has given us the power of discernment and we believe that every time we trust our instinct, we can never go wrong.

Don't be afraid to invest in yourself. Going into this business, we didn't shy away from educating ourselves, hiring mentors, and paying for the proper resources and tools. Also, know that things may not happen overnight so trust yourself and the process.

You can never go wrong with seasonal pillow covers. Instead of buying a traditional pillow, try buying pillow inserts and pillow covers that are sold separately. The overs can easily be changed from season to season. Also, try a beautiful wreath on the front door or a holiday-inspired tablescape for the dining room table. That can always be a very elegant vignette.

We’ll split our time between Atlanta and Mississippi celebrating with family. I, (Ebonee) am originally from Mississippi and Jameelah will be hosting her family in the city.

We’ll be completing filming season 2 of Married to Real Estate and working on launching new digital and physical products. As our brand grows, we decided to launch a new YouTube series to introduce individuals to the behind-the-scenes process of what we do. Launching a YouTube series will show viewers a true look and behind-the-scenes into who Lauren Wesley Designs is.