B. Smith's "Afrasian" Line for Hammary

After Oprah, B. Smith has got to be the number one African-American lifestyle expert today. Well-known and well-loved, the list of firsts in her career (including having been the first African American cover model for Mademoiselle in 1976) is beyond impressive. Smith was the first black woman to have a national lifestyle brand, the first to publish an entertaining/lifestyle book, the first to have a nationally distributed lifestyle television show and the first on the Culinary Institute of America's board of directors -- whew! The woman is an entrepreneur!

So, it should come as no surprise that she's expanding her brand. In two weeks, Hammary (a La-Z-Boy subsidiary) will be introducing a collection of casegoods by B. Smith at the Highpoint Market. The B. Smith Home line includes thirty-four pieces.

The line is defined by bold lines and dark-hued woods. Personally, I loved Smith's own statement from a recent press release about the style of her line. "That look," B. Smith said, "is 'Afrasian' and it fills a void in the market." Indeed, the subtly eclectic furniture has several "ethnic" influences, including Asian, African and Carribean elements, without being too heavy handed. While these pieces aren't exactly blazing any new paths in the world of design, they do offer B. Smith's affordable-yet-stylish vibe to a wide audience.

It's great to see B. Smith at the top of her career more than 24 years after opening her first restaurant. Way to go B.!