Suite Restoration: From Homeless to Home

Not long ago, I was staring at the edges of survival, holding more prayers than possessions. Homelessness wasn’t just about not having a place to lay my head — it was about carrying a weight of not knowing if tomorrow would offer shelter, safety, or peace.

I got the keys to my apartment in late March

And then, one day, God handed me the keys. Keys to a vintage two-bedroom, one-bath apartment in the heart of Atlanta. Keys to a fresh start. Keys to a space where I could breathe again, create again, and believe again.

That’s how Suite Restoration was born. Not just an apartment, but a boutique hotel of my own — a place where bold colors, soulful music, and the spirit of Memphis, Tennessee live in every corner. Every room is a testimony.

The Bedroom: The Belle Haven

The Belle Haven

I call my bedroom The Belle Haven, named after my favorite truth: I am a Southern belle raised in the dirty South. This room is my sanctuary, a blend of elegance and grit. The emerald green walls wrap me in grounding energy, while touches of golden yellow, mauve, and cranberry make the room feel like velvet poured into sunlight.

Above the bed, a gallery wall of Black women in every artistic form — abstract brush strokes, photojournalism, collage, and watercolor — crowns the space with a visual reminder of lineage. This is where strength and softness meet. This is where I lay down my hustle and pick up my peace.

The Living Room: Erykah’s Interlude

My favorite Erykah Badu's album

Step into the living room, and it feels like an Erykah Badu interlude. The bold magenta walls hum like neo-soul, a space alive with the kind of rhythm that makes you want to burn incense, pour a glass of red wine, and start telling stories.

The art on the walls calls back to vinyl covers and R&B history — Marvin, Jill, Badu. This room is not quiet; it is unapologetically loud in color and in spirit. It’s where I’ll gather friends, share meals, laugh loudly, and let the music carry us into memory. Fellowship lives here.

The Closet Room: A Crowned Dressing Suite

My closet room is more than clothes on racks — it’s an affirmation suite. Each wall is covered in words I need to see every day: You are enough. You’re still blooming. Crown on.

Closet/Office Room

Every outfit in here becomes more than fabric — it’s armor and expression, a reminder of Memphis women who dressed proud and bold, even when the world told them to shrink. This room lets me get dressed in confidence, not just clothes.

The Bathroom: Still Blooming

The bathroom is unfinished — and that’s exactly what makes it holy. Its story is still being written, just like mine. Restoration doesn’t rush. It unfolds.

Right now, it’s simple, but even in its quiet, the spirit of Memphis is here — raw, real, bluesy. This room reminds me that every space, like every season of life, has its becoming.

The Story of Suite Restoration: Home

Living Room

Each room carries its own theme, but together they weave one truth: this is not just an apartment. This is a testimony that God restores. That bold color is a form of prayer. That Memphis roots and Atlanta branches can co-exist in one sacred suite.

Suite Restoration is my boutique hotel — faith at check-in, fellowship lingering in the lounge, flowers in every corner whispering: you’re still blooming.

Reflection Question

If your life had a room called “restoration,” what would it look like?