A home will tell on you before you even open your mouth. The books on the table, the scent in the air, the art on the walls and the playlist floating through the kitchen all quietly reveal who you are, what you value and how you want the people you love to feel inside your space. When it comes to making a house a home, it can be hard to figure out what you want your space to say and, more importantly, how it inspires you and makes you feel. For this edition of House to Home, we sat down with Obio Jones and Jermelle Simon-Jones to discuss their journey as a married couple and parents, and how they have brought all of their interests and creativity into their home.
For Obio and Jermelle, home was never meant to simply be a backdrop. They treat their space like a living organism, meant to be rearranged, reimagined and reborn as they evolve. What started as a house with good bones and great light has become a vibrant sanctuary layered with Black and queer art, intentional design and a refusal to feel stagnant in a place that’s supposed to bring spark. “I grew up with parents who didn’t really care about decor,” Simon told EBONY. “I think deep down I always wanted to be inspired by my home, but I didn’t have that experience to set up a home that made you feel good, so now living in a home I feel really inspired by, it helped because as a kid it wasn’t there.”
As adults, the two see their own home as a chance to honor and complete a vision their parents lacked the resources to fulfill. “I’m able to kind of take what I believe [my parents] vision would have been and put it into my home as an adult,” Jones told EBONY. For the process the two were in search of the house they would put roots down in. The space itself sold them slowly, then all at once. On their first tour, it was the windows, hardwood floors, and openness that caught their attention. Then they reached the primary bedroom.
“We went to the primary bedroom, saw that it was two stories, and we were sold,” Jones said. “We hadn’t seen a two story bedroom before. “It was big, and we wanted a lot of space, and we have children, so it was just one of those spaces that we thought could really get a comfortable environment for everybody involved and everybody in our home.”
In an era where many creatives are simultaneously building their careers and homes, lighting is everything and not just for the content and photo ops, but to really stimulate the mind and wellness. “I had moved from a home where the walls were really dark, and there just wasn’t a lot of light coming in, so I felt lighter walking into this home,” Simon said.
By the time Obio and Jermelle fully committed to the home they knew it wouldn’t just a pretty space, but a revolving door of kids, friends and family energy that make their home a solidified vibe and fun house. “Our oldest always has a friend over,” Simon said. “Our middle child, every now and then, she will, and our son is just chill, he’s a Virgo and wants to be by himself [laughs], but we host game nights and could host more, and the kids have people over often.”
When it came to the decorating process, Jermelle let Obio take the reins, which helped in the end by allowing the two to let the space’s feeling take control rather than the aesthetic. “He was a trooper because he really is more about how it felt right, and so if it felt good for him, then he was good. Now we do have a cream couch in our living room, and he was kind of like… [laughs],” Jones said.
“I did say I don’t think the cream College is a good idea, but I think it looks great, but it’ll last, like three months before it’s a black couch,” Simon said. He confirms his role with a smile: “I do just let go and let Obio do what he wants to do… My attention to detail is not as strong as his.”
What the two do come together on is that the color and detail are central to their shared design philosophy. “Color, texture, art is a big part of our home,” Jones said. Their walls carry the work of Black and queer artists like Juan Veloz and others, bringing the intention to turn the house into a gallery of representation and possibility.
“Subconsciously, it gives you somewhere to go and I think a lot of us are in search of where we’re going, especially when you get older,” Jones said. “I think when you’re surrounded by creativity and people who are being who they want to be, out loud, especially on Canvas, I think it just subconsciously sends this message that the sky’s the limit.”
Even as they maneuver their day-to-day in the home, they’ve made it clear that trend-chasing has no place here. Instead, the couple treats their home as something that should literally move with them. “The bedroom has changed 14 times [laughs],” Simon said.
The home has gone through several phases and evolutions, but represents a symbol of allowing the space to flow through whatever season you’re in. “I was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of the year, and that has changed our energy, so we both have been open to our home, evolving and evolving with us because it’s metaphoric to who we are as individuals and give our home movement and grace,” Jones said.
As the two have navigated their home life, one piece of advice the couple has is to make sure you both have your own individual sanctuaries, if you have access. “It gives us an opportunity to move things freely without any ask,” Jones said.
For Obio, his home office, full of color and texture, is his personal space to create and fully concentrate on his thoughts, and Jermelle has a gym area that gives him space to release and relax. “It was fun not worrying about what goes where, but I had been inspired by what Obio was doing in the home, where I kind of want to jazz up the gym a little bit so it wouldn’t be as boring,” Simon said.
This balance allows both of them to thrive creatively and emotionally, reminding us that a true home nurtures not just togetherness, but also individuality. With this in mind, they offer valuable insights into creating a living environment that honors both personal and collective journeys. “We can tell when we’re in a creative funk and not being inspired, which will also be a cue that maybe something needs to be moved and maybe something needs to happen in our space,” Jones said.
The couple exemplifies the beauty of crafting a living space that reflects personal growth, creativity, and familial warmth. Their home is not just a backdrop for life’s moments but a dynamic entity that evolves alongside them, embracing change and celebrating individuality. “I never realized how much your home can inspire you, how much it affects your creativity, how much it affects your choices in your career and life, and so just how inspirational your home could be,” Simon said. “A home is a place you go, you rest, you go out to be inspired.”
Their journey serves as a reminder that a home should be a space of inspiration where each family member can thrive, express themselves and find solace amid life’s uncertainties. Ultimately, it is this intentionality and openness to evolution that transform a house into a true home—a safe haven that nourishes the spirit and sparks joy.
Shop Obio & Jermelle’s Home Decor
Price: $155
