Living Gallery - Miami Design District Magazine
Living Gallery - Miami Design District Magazine
Living Gallery - Miami Design District Magazine
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Spotlight<br />
All in the Pink!<br />
A Self-confessed <strong>Design</strong> Junkie,<br />
Nisi Berryman Loves Her Work, Life<br />
Story by Debra Kronowitz I Photos courtesy of Nisi Berryman<br />
NIBA Home owner Nisi Berryman is a self-confessed design<br />
junkie. Armed with a degree in painting and art history from<br />
Louisiana State University, she immediately moved to New York<br />
where her passion instantly became design and decorative<br />
arts. She worked for renowned furniture designer Dakota Jackson, launching<br />
his first New York showroom; and after moving to Florida in 1989, she<br />
managed the Tui Pranich showroom and went on to open Holly Hunt <strong>Miami</strong>.<br />
Prior to launching NIBA Home in 2004, Berryman was the <strong>Design</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
marketing director for Dacra Development.<br />
“I fell in love with the design world in New York, and was lucky enough to<br />
make it my career and be surrounded by passionate, talented designers<br />
and artists,” she said.<br />
As owner of NIBA Home in <strong>Miami</strong>’s <strong>Design</strong> <strong>District</strong>, Berryman helps many<br />
clients style and complete their design projects with a rich mix of accessories,<br />
furniture and lighting. Her style is about surprising and welcoming<br />
color. In fact, she is wild about hot pink. “I absolutely love hot pink,” she<br />
enthusiastically said. At home, her front door at home is hot pink. Her front<br />
hall is hot pink. And though most of the rest of the house is painted in other<br />
vibrant colors, many shades of pink appear on a sofa and a coffee table, in<br />
pillows and tablecloths, even in the art.<br />
“To me, hot pink is just the most sexy and vibrant color ― it makes me<br />
incredibly happy to be around it.”<br />
In addition to her time spent at work, Berryman sits on the advisory board<br />
of DASH (<strong>Design</strong> and Architecture Senior High), <strong>Miami</strong>’s magnet school and<br />
the only high school in the United States devoted to design. “This is very<br />
dear to my heart. It is a transformative place for kids, and launches many<br />
into a productive and creative life,” she said.<br />
She also donates her time to FIU’s Wolfsonian Visionaries Group, which<br />
brings awareness to, and raises funds for, the museum. Other “pet” charities<br />
are WLRN, Habitat for Humanity and Grubstake. “I wish I could support<br />
everything ― so many causes and people need help!” she exclaimed.<br />
Until 2009 (when it folded) Berryman was the <strong>Miami</strong> city editor for Metropolitan<br />
Home <strong>Magazine</strong>, where she sought out and wrote about design and trends.<br />
Aside for her passion for design, Berryman loves politics, education, recycling<br />
and creative people. Though she says she has made NIBA Home her hobby,<br />
she does enjoy yoga and the outdoors ― walking, biking, boating and dining.<br />
“I love to cook, but it’s not happening very often these days,” she added.<br />
With her son in college she is finding more time for reading, playing piano<br />
and nightlife. “I miss him so much, but it’s not as bad as I feared,” she admitted.<br />
“I make a point of enjoying dinner and wine with friends, going to the<br />
movies, traveling and haunting vintage stores.”<br />
What’s next for Berryman “My fantasy project is a NIBA hotel right in the<br />
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>District</strong>, with a great lounge for live music!” ◆<br />
18 <strong>Design</strong> <strong>District</strong>