It was the summer of 2019 when I finally lost it. The “paper basket” in my parents’ living room overflowed with untouched magazines and catalogs. As a devout Marie Kondo disciple, I hired myself as their very own professional organizer (free of charge considering they raised me) and started to purge what didn’t bring me joy.
I was ruthless, except when it came to the design magazines. As a 30-something with an apartment of my own (no roommates! no boyfriends!), I look for inspiration, and deals, everywhere. Flipping through each back issue, the funkiest bathroom caught my eye. This tiny space mixed forest-green walls, even more green cement floor tiles, marble everywhere that wasn’t green, champagne brass fixtures, and plants wherever they could fit.
Yes, the description sounds chaotic, but every element made sense together. It proved that interior design can be playful in any room. Put artwork over the toilet! Love orange and turquoise? Add both! No, you do not have too many ferns!
I scooped up my phone to stalk the designer’s Instagram and was greeted by pattern mixer, plant daddy, and gallery-wall king Dabito, the founder and creative director of website Old Brand New. Recently, we connected online, where he was able to take time out of his schedule as an artist, art director, designer, blogger, and photographer to talk interiors.
Scroll through to see some of Dabito’s coolest projects, uncover his inspirations, and discover his favorite APIA designers, artists, and creatives we should all be following.
