We’re back with a new guest tastemaker for some quick-fire questions and a mini-curation of some fab Chairish finds!
This week, we are joined by content creator Arvin Olano. On his fast-growing YouTube channel, he shares how he sources and curates vintage and contemporary design elements for his home, as well as his hot takes on current trends. Arvin – who has always had an eye for fashion and design – was inspired to launch the channel after purchasing his Las Vegas home, where he currently resides with his partner Andrew, and their French bulldogs, Marble and Sage. His documentation of renovations to the space have been a treasure trove for cozy yet eye-catching design inspo, and his exuberance and sense of humor on design are downright contagious.
His catchphrase may be “nobody asked,” but we’ve got more than a few questions for this burgeoning tastemaker. Read on to find out how he developed his signature aesthetic, and the biggest challenge he’s faced so far in the renovating his home.
You are known for your very unique and highly curated style of decorating. In your words, how would you describe your design style?
I would describe my design style as a pastiche of soft minimalist with a hit of eclectic tendencies.
How did you develop this design style, and how long did it take you to establish it?
I developed my style once I started learning about vintage and antique pieces, and how they add soul and character to a space. I am constantly on Chairish looking for aspirational pieces to either use in a space or inspire a space. This style took about two years to develop.
What inspired you to make the switch from high end retail to creating content about interior design?
Buying a new house was my entrance into interior design, as I made our home into a place of comfort for myself, Andrew and our fur babies. When we first moved in together, Andrew had more of a card table and plastic chairs aesthetic, and I had to be like “No, not happening”.
What is the coolest vintage piece in your house? What makes it the coolest and how did you source it?
My coolest vintage pice would be my 1950’s Paul Mayen rattan and iron floor lamp. I love vintage rattan pieces for their handmade quality. It reminds me of growing up in the Philippines. I sourced the Paul Mayen lamp in a local antique shop. It was hidden in a corner behind other unassuming lamps.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve come across in your renovations, and how did you overcome it?
Oooofff… the hardest part is the management of trades: Plumbing, carpentry, flooring, painting, ordering supplies. This is where having a partner really helps, because there were parts he was really good at, and parts I wasn’t. Once we determined that Andrew was going to take care of ordering materials and scheduling the trades, the process started to get easier.
One of the biggest oopsies – which actually turned out to have a positive result – was in the kitchen. I fell in love with a Calcutta Paonazzo marble, and I ordered it without verifying I had enough to cover the counter and backsplash. I had to find a solution, and that is where I went with a Spanish fluted tile. It turned out to actually work better than the original plan. Our kitchen renovation was in partnership with European Bath.
Following the events of the pandemic, people have spent the last year redesigning and redecorating their spaces to fit their new needs. And it’s caused people to consider what their unique design style is. What advice would you give someone who is still trying to discover their interior aesthetic?
The pandemic has made us also reexamine how we use the house, how to make spaces personal to us (i.e my studio, Andrew’s office). My biggest advice would be to look for inspiration anywhere and everywhere. Don’t just stop at Pinterest. Look to your travels, platforms like Chairish, and books. Gather all of your inspiration onto a board (physical or digital), so you can always reference back.
Headshot Image Courtesy of Arvin Olano