Interview with Arvin Olano

Arvin’s collection with Desenio reflects the balanced elegance that has made him a beloved voice in interior design. We sat down for a chat in the Stockholm Atelier to hear a little more about the collection and the process of bringing it to life.

 

Describe your interior style in three words.

Minimal, collected, and comfortable. 

 

What sparked your interest in interiors?

My interest in interiors started when my husband and I bought our first home together. Back then I didn't know much about how to decorate a room so that led me down a rabbit hole into learning as much as I could. My first love was fashion, and a light bulb went on when I figured dressing a room and dressing yourself is the same. 

 

What’s your secret tip for people getting started with their own interiors? 

My secret tip is to master the skill of shopping high and low. It's as easy as investing in just one special piece for a room and using the rest of your budget in a really smart way. Because you invested in that one special piece, that piece will just elevate everything else in the room. A big mistake that I made when I first started was that I wanted to save on everything and because everything was a budget friendly find, everything was playing on the same level. The moment I added one special object - it just lifted everything up.

 

Who or what is your biggest style influence? 

The biggest style influence for me would have to be the 20th century. I adore anything modernist in design or with modernist principles. The idea that modernism is looking to the future is so interesting to me, so I try to apply that in everything that I do.

 

How do you get your creativity flowing?

I get my creativity flowing by traveling. I love going to places that I've never been to before: I’m so inspired by old architecture and the shapes of buildings. I go shopping in flea markets in new places and find that really inspiring.

 

If you could share three essential decorating tips that you always swear by, what would they be?

1. Master the skill of shopping high and low. 

2. When it comes to fixtures for your home or choosing between metals like brass or silver think about how you want the room to feel. Brass will make a room feel warm and cozy and a bit rich, however choosing something silver or chrome will give the room a brightness and a crispness. 

3. Always shop vintage first. Vintage adds a sense of history and patina that you can't replicate with anything else.

 

How do you think art can transform a room?

Art can set the tone of a room. It can really add something exciting, or soothing.  Art is full of emotion and that's something that I wanted to create with my collection with Desenio, so I hope that comes across.

 

Which object couldn’t you live without?

It would have to be an incense burner. I light incense every morning when I make my coffee, and every time I walk into my office.

 

Tell us about your influences for the collection with Desenio.

My collection with Desenio was influenced by vintage art. I wanted the pieces to feel like you have collected them over time, during your travels. I really love the idea of picking something up at a flea market. Not only does it remind you of a memory or a fun vacation, but it also makes your space feel a bit more personal. 

Do you have a favourite piece from your collection?

My favourite piece in the collection would have to be In the Market. To me it's a piece that really embodies the emotions I feel when I'm shopping at flea market. There's excitement, there's curiosity, and it's full of colour. I can't wait to get In the Market in my own home!

 

What message or feeling do you hope people take away from your collection?

I hope that when people see my collection it evokes a sense of curiosity. A lot of the pieces are abstract, and to me that allows the viewer to give a piece its own meaning. Even though I did name the artworks to give them some own of my own meaning, I hope it inspires curiosity in other people. 

 

How would you describe the collection in just one word?

Collected.

What has been the most enjoyable or unexpected part of this collaboration for you?

The most unexpected part this collaboration was the use of colour. I am typically drawn to more neutral, calming spaces but I really wanted to push myself creatively and use a lot of colour. The colours feel personal to me: they are colours that I love but may not always use in my interiors or don't wear as much. Some of the pieces really surprised me – I’m so happy we went for colour. 

 

Tell us a bit about the process of making this collection.

The process of creating the collection with Desenio was so fun.  We even referenced some of my own paintings at home because I wanted this collection to feel like something I would personally buy for our home. I know sometimes curating art for your spaces can feel daunting, and so we did the work for you. If you buy a few different pieces in this collection, it will feel collected over time.