Hellen Tolbert's charming, carefully curated home

Hellen Tolbert, the owner of Ellen Designs, started her career as a waitress and a toilet cleaner. She has beaten all odds to achieve her goals and dreams, and today, she runs a multimillion fashion business in Nairobi. Hellen now dresses and styles celebrities and politicians.

The architectural design of the homes in her gated community is full of character and style. This is so appealing. They stand apart from other gated community homes I have been to before. Her main door's workmanship is exquisite. The look and feel of her home was sleek, chic and elegant as she ushered the Art of Living crew and me in.

Her entryway has character and personality. The long, rustic table with sunflowers displayed on it felt like a pocket of sunshine. The accent rustic mirror and oriental lampshade that blended with the display items looked 'Instagrammable'.

Her decor style is modern and contemporary, grey being her primary colour tone. She chose floor-to-ceiling curtains, sink-in luxurious sofa sets, and grey carpet. Her cushions were white with black patterns. One of the sofas is navy blue, infusing an eclectic feel to her space.

"This is a set of seats. I display one here, and the rest are upstairs. I like mixing up furniture to create a vibrant feel in my space,'' she said, pointing at the navy blue seat at the corner.

The chandelier's statement lighting and artistic oriental lampshades add glamour and warmth to the space, making it cosy. She designed the house, and her modern style is intriguing and inviting. The contrast of the textures, colours and patterns are layered to perfection. Devoted to creating a home that she envisioned, one wonders if she is a fashion or an interior designer.

"I wanted to have white walls so I can play around with accessories, art pieces and the furniture," she said. She is self-taught, effervescent, and down to earth. Her mother inspired her passion to go into the fashion business, which she does not regret.

Hellen loves gold and takes the rule of symmetry very seriously. She has accentuated her space with ornate mirrors in different shapes and sizes, creating a spacious and glam feel. Displayed meticulously, the handcrafted accessories infused with a touch of gold give enough dose of glam.

Her Lamu bespoke rustic cabinet with two decor pieces resembling big seeds displayed on top stands out. A rustic mirror mounted on the cabinet has the same texture - the vintage touch was unexpected and timeless.

The wooden floor and her accurate and neatly designed wooden rails to her rooms upstairs give her space character and make it warm. Her table is all glass, with a fashionable decorative mirror tray with cute accessories giving her space a sophisticated feel.

"I loved the idea of the glass because, somehow, you don't notice it exists," she said.

The dining area whets your appetite to dine and indulge in whatever the host has to offer. The stunning brown creatively designed chairs and table in gold finish exude luxury. The display of her crockery and table arrangement adds a touch of class.

Potted plants and custom made decorative baskets in her living room enhance an authentic feel and fresh natural look. Her son's room, painted in blue, has a framed map of the world and a huge piano portrait.

Hellen's master bedroom breathes calm and luxury. The white walls with a high-pitched ceiling and handcrafted bed with a plain wood headboard covered with white and maroon luxe bedding scream sophistication. The lounge area is adorned with two flowery wing chairs depicting a calm, relaxed space.

"I prefer neutral colours in the bedroom after working with many patterns and colours. This is my sanctuary, my oasis where I come to recharge and relax," she said.

What a splendid space curated by an inspiring woman.

- Watch this episode on the KTN YouTube channel and watch Art of Living at 6pm every Sunday.