Heritage and Heroes: A Kid Space

Nolyn Richardson has a pretty amazing life for a little kid. He travels the world with his mother, influencer and style maven Nyja Richardson of My Ephiphany. When it was time to design Nolyn’s bedroom, Nyja looked to both Nolyn’s heritage and his heroes for the concept.

The gallery wall featuring cartoon illustrations of Black Panther characters is the centerpiece of the child-friendly, African-themed space. We love how Nyja put a fresh, modern twist on the classic gallery wall by hanging the custom printed and framed art in a straight line.

We talked to Nyja to learn more about her vision for Nolyn’s room and how it came together.


Nolyn Richardson in front of his gallery wall, featuring art by PrintooShop in our Antique Gold frames. Black Panther costume: Nolyn’s own!

Simply Framed: Tell us about the framed prints. How did you find the images and why did you select them to be printed and custom framed?

Nyja Richardson: My son Nolyn is obsessed with the superhero Black Panther. I wanted to give him a Black Panther x Black Boy Joy room. I found the images on Etsy and purchased the digital files. The framed cartoon prints are the perfect addition to the room, which also features African elements like mud cloth pillows and a wooden continent.

SF: Why are these framed prints meaningful for Nolyn? What do they bring to the space?

NR: Although my son has never watched the movie Black Panther, he still understands the strength and power that the movie evokes. He’s able to look at a superhero and feel represented. I wanted his bedroom to be a safe space where he can express himself.

Nolyn gets his first look at his new Black Panther gallery wall!

SF: How did you choose our
Antique Gold frame with a mat for these prints?

NR: I went with a gold frame and white mat because gold always has a luxe feel. Black Panther is about an African king, so I wanted the room to have hints of royalty for my little prince.

SF: What is important to you when designing and setting up a space in your home, particularly a kid's room?

NR: When designing a kid’s room, it’s very important to have a functional yet child-friendly space. I wanted light colors to ensure that the room would be bright, but still have a very minimal vibe to it. All of Nolyn’s furniture is modern so that we are able to repurpose it as he grows.

SF: Tell us about your experience of working with and ordering from Simply Framed.

NR: Working with Simply Framed was very simple (pun intended). They do all the hard work. The only thing you have to do is send in the digital images, and voila, in a few short weeks your custom frames arrive at your doorstep!

Nolyn’s straight-line gallery wall is the focal point of his bedroom, and printing and custom framing the art was effortless with Simply Framed. For more style, travel, and adventures with Nyja and Nolyn, check out My Epiphany on Instagram.

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