Inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places. Carmeon Hamilton found her passion when she was creating her dorm room while pursuing a degree in physical therapy. She designed custom drapes and bedding for her space, and a friend told her she should change her major. Turns out, that friend was right! Carmeon recently won discovery+’s Design Star: Next Gen competition series. With her win comes a $50,000 cash award and an opportunity for her own discovery+ series.

Carmeon graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. She was then able to blend her passion for design and healthcare by designing medical facilities and nursing homes. She learned how design can truly impact health and wellness. “I believe in the importance of environments,” said Carmeon. “Living well is part of overall wellness.” One of the ways she accomplishes this is to use items with cultural or historical significance that are meaningful to her clients. “Connection to our spaces relates back to wellness.”

Carmeon’s Memphis-based design business is Nubi Interiors, and she credits her husband, Marcus with coming up with the name. “He calls me his Nubian princess, Nubi for short. He suggested the name,” she shared. Locally, Nubi Interiors has participated in ArtsMemphis Art by Design showcase. In 2018, her first year to participate, Carmeon was the first African American designer to be featured.
If you missed the six episode series and the projects that led to Carmeon’s win, Design Star: Next Gen is available to stream on discovery+. Regarding being crowned winner, Carmeon was overjoyed to hear that her authentic approach worked. “Throughout this competition, I created spaces that were more and more ‘me.’ I laid it all out on the table here,” said Carmeon, as she reflected on the competition. She also clearly expressed her specific design narrative and personal brand through her modern Bohemian design style, which notably impressed the judges.

The host for the show was Allison Holker Boss, and the judges for the competition are interior design gurus: head judge Jonathan Adler; judge Lauren Makk; and guest judge Jonathan Scott, co-star of Property Brothers: Forever Home. They gave high praise to Carmeon, noting her sophisticated use of materials and keen ability to elevate her creations by breaking design rules.

“Carmeon is an incredibly talented designer whose creativity and heart were on full display in Design Star: Next Gen,” said Jane Latman, president, HGTV. “Plus, in an age driven by clicks, likes, downloads and views, she already has a strong social media presence with thousands of followers and that puts her in an excellent position to inspire and motivate new audiences to follow her on-air, by streams and via her social media platforms.” You can find Carmeon on Instagram @carmeon.hamilton, and her website, carmeonhamilton.com, includes a photo-rich blog with design inspirations, tips, and how-tos.

Carmeon is working on the final details of her new series for
discovery+, and it will be filmed in Memphis. “I told the producers
I wanted it to be part love letter to the city that has done so much
for me,” she said. And we can hardly wait for it to be signed, sealed,
and delivered sometime this fall!