Determined By Design Adds Comforting Touch to Boutique for Breast Cancer Survivors

Washington, DC—Cherry Blossoms Intimates recently underwent a transformation when Determined by Design, an interior design firm, completed their store design for their new boutique in Prince George’s County, MD. Cherry Blossoms Intimates is a boutique catering to breast cancer survivors who need to shop for prosthetics and lingerie.

“Traditionally, women have had to buy prosthetics from medical supply stores that feel cold and impersonal. Through our use of color and materials, we wanted to create a place where you feel like you are walking into you best friend’s living room,” said Kia Weatherspoon, founder, Determined by Design.

Weatherspoon started Determined by Design “because there is/was a lack of diversity in the design industry. I couldn’t find firms of color led by women of color,” says Weatherspoon.

She also took note of the lack of design equity in multifamily housing, specifically, affordable and supportive housing, which was predominantly occupied by and located in communities of color. She needed to change that narrative because she knew that without an advocate for design equality, nothing would change, Weatherspoon tells GlobeSt.com.

Using the theme “graceful rising” and acknowledging the store’s name “Cherry Blossoms,” Determined by Design chose natural materials and created an elegant healing environment. The designers then infused the space with variations of the pink tones found in cherry blossoms. Examples include cascading drapery, gold chandeliers, hot pink live moss behind the cash register and a light wood patterned wallpaper aimed at creating a soothing and natural feel.

Another example of a unique project by Determined by Design is “Uncle Bobbies’ Coffee and Books” in Philadelphia which required Weatherspoon and her team to dip 250 individual book pages in resin and hang each one from the ceiling. The client regards that installation as the immersive experience he wants for his patrons.

The brainchild of breast surgeon Regina Hampton, MD and former Miss DC Jasmine Jones, Cherry Blossom Intimates was founded to provide breast cancer survivors a safe, gracious and graceful place to be fitted for prosthetics.

“Cherry Blossom Intimates is about celebrating life. Our approach to the design was to create an elegant, graceful, soft space that elevates the shopping experience for breast cancer survivors and all women,” says Weatherspoon.

Beginning with a small pro-bono project for domestic violence survivors, Determined by Design has grown dramatically, designing more than 2,000 units and 65,000 square feet of public spaces since 2016. The firm provides full-service interior design for multifamily, affordable and supportive housing properties, boutique hotels, and small businesses located in economically challenged and emerging communities.