Designer Spotlight: Dabito
I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to have interviewed a long-time favorite of mine, Dabito, the designer, DIYer, color enthusiast, photographer, thrifter, plant lover and blogger behind Old Brand New. Some of the most indelible interior and exterior spaces and DIYs I constantly think about come from Dabito, who is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his blog this year. In this Designer Spotlight, he breaks down how he starts a design, how color informs his decisions, and more on his decade-long successful blogging career. Without further ado, here’s Dabito!
Q. When in your life did you realize you had a unique point of view in design and how did you decide to make a career out of it?
A. I’ve always been a creative person. I didn’t actually go to school for interior design, though. I majored in fine art with a focus in printmaking and photography and then studied graphic design. I wanted to be a graphic designer so it was a complete accident getting into decorating. I started my blog Old Brand New ten years ago as a way to share my art, photography, and thrift store finds, in hopes that it will lead me to a good paying, graphic design job. It was also my creative outlet. The blog started picking up traffic as I shared more decorating tips. And that’s when I realized how much I love decorating and believe in owning your own space even if it’s rental. And that you don’t need to be a designer to have a stylish home.
Growing up, I never had my own room. I slept in the same bedroom with my mom, dad, and sister ’til my senior year in high school. I’m from a low-income immigrant family so we were like a pack of raccoons. But it’s so funny because I do remember changing the layout of my family’s bedroom. I was probably 13 and dissembling our bed frames and moving it around the room to find a better flow. So in some ways I think I was meant to be doing this. I just didn’t know this could be a career. After blogging for 5 years, that’s when I pulled the trigger and quit my full-time graphic design job to be a full-time blogger. And it was rough during the first year. I honestly didn’t start making real money ’til four years ago. I’m grateful I get to partner with lots of big brands to create spaces that inspire people to have fun decorating.
Q. So many of the interior and exterior rooms you have created are so vivid with color and feeling, like the black outdoor patio area and yellow dining room in your New Orleans home. What process goes into choosing color for each space?
A. I always approach a space by thinking of a color first. Color is so emotive and it creates a mood. So I think about what mood I want. Although, sometimes, it’s just a color I really love and haven’t used yet and I start with that. I pick out colors inspired by artworks, rugs, nature, or from my travels. I’ve always loved color, though.
Q. Where do you start when you design a space and then where do you go from there? Do you know when something will really click?
A. I start with color first. And then I figure out how I want to use that color in a space. Is it through a sofa, rug, artworks, chairs, or paint on the walls? And from there, I figure out how to design a space around that one colorful piece. Sometimes I do know if something will click and sometimes I don’t. I constantly move things around or change the layout a few times to see how things flow.
Q. Who or what are your design influences and how do you use those influences in your work?
A. Justina Blakeney is a huge inspiration. She has so much knowledge on art and design and I’m constantly inspired by her bold and wild interiors. I’m also really inspired from traveling and seeing how different designers and artists in other countries use color and textiles in spaces.
Q. The spaces you create are so alive, and one reason is because of how you incorporate nature into the design. Where and how did your love affair with plants begin?
A. I remember vividly (I think I was 15) plucking snake plants from our garden to bring into the living room. I knew it was a cheap (free) way to add color and life to a space. We also grew a lot of fruit and vegetables in our yard. And when I was a graphic designer for a gardening company, that’s when I learned a lot about plants and started to decorate with them.
Q. Now that you’ve been living in LA for a couple of years, have you noticed any change in your design aesthetic? How has LA influenced you at all?
A. I was born and raised in LA so it’s great to be back. I think my style changes a bit in every space I live in cause each space has a different vibe and personality.
Q. Your design is daring, with all of that beautiful color, texture, pattern and those layers. Any tips for people looking to incorporate more of that in their home?
A. I definitely have a color palette that I gravitate towards. I think once you create a swatch of colors you like, that can help you choose a color that mixes well together. But honestly, I just try not to overthink. When I see a striking piece, I don’t usually question if the color will go well in my home. It’s usually, “Will it fit in my home or where can I put it?” Haha!
Q. I talk a lot on this blog about the need for diversity and better representation of a variety of viewpoints in the design industry. Can you share with us what representation in design means to you?
A. Design is so personal. Our homes are personal spaces that represent who we are, our journey, where we’re from, and our culture. We all have unique stories and a different point of view and wouldn’t it be amazing if the design industry embraced that and shared that beauty with the world? And it’s crazy that we even have to ask for more visibility. And let’s be real, white designers using “global” influences in their work is not representation. There are so many talented POC designers out there who are not given the same treatment, awards, and clients. So, yeah, the industry needs to wake up and be more inclusive and start valuing the work of POC.
Q. Congratulations on 10 years of Dabifying spaces on Old Brand New! When you first started out, did you imagine you’d get to a place with so many people knowing your work? How do you think you’ve managed to make Old Brand New so successful?
A. Thank you so much! Being a gay POC and growing up from a low-income immigrant family with a single mom, I would’ve never imagined that this is what I would be doing and I’m so grateful that I have this opportunity to do what I love. My mom barely understands what I’m doing! LOL! And it took about six years for Old Brand New to make some real money. I was constantly sharing my work, whether it’s the spaces I styled, photos I took, logos I designed, or artworks I created. I just love dabbling in a bunch of creative projects because I’m a creative through and through. I was always proud of the work I created whether it was good or not, I didn’t care. I was just happy to share it with everyone and hoped that it would just lead me to find more work. And to this day, it’s still just me doing all the designing, schlepping, photographing, styling, and writing. And I love it.
Q. What do you hope the next 10 years look like?
A. I would love to get a few books published. I wanted to design my own furniture and home decor pieces. I want to have a shop. And I never thought I would say this but I think I’m ready to have my own TV show to help people figure out how to own their spaces (even if it’s a rental) and how to make it stylish and personal.
For more Dabito in your life, follow him on Instagram here and check out his blog here. For more interviews with interior designers, DIYers and design influencers, check out the Designer Spotlight series here.
