Today, her home with husband Hasan and son Hamza, prominently displays their devotion to Islam, love of home in New York and, of course, her interest in Eastern art.

"When I was a teenager, I used to make African designs on my mother's wall and do Egyptian work on a chair," she says.

"My main inspiration is Islamic architecture and art," Alaji says. "It's what I strive to incorporate."

Her wall displays a recreation of a Spanish mosque's Islamic arches as other tokens and pieces of art cover the home.

Alaji's group of international friends has also served as an inspiration.

"They give me all these beautiful things and seeing different types of art just inspires me to do something different," she says.