Daily Inspiration: Meet Olivia Bartlett

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Bartlett.

Hi Olivia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with design and homes in general. I always knew I wanted to be a designer but didn’t know exactly how to get started or if it would be something I could make money doing.

At 21, I chalked it up to a hobby and pursued a real estate license. I worked with a mentor and learned all of the valuable skills that I now consider the foundation of my design business. After a handful of years memorizing every nook and cranny in Denver and building relationships with realtors, I realized my love for real estate had really just been a love for homes – specifically, historic homes.

I slowly moved away from real estate transactions and into home staging, where I credit all of the wonderful connections I made during this time because they really helped ease the transition from stage to designer. I now work mostly in home renovations for clients, but still love the instant gratification that staging provides and regularly work with my trusted network of agents.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely been a long road with a few detours. I would say my biggest challenge has been carving out a niche and figuring out exactly where I want my services to land.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Historic homes are really my jam. They truly do not build them like they used to! The quality, craftsmanship, attention to detail, and charm cannot be replicated. Old homes of course come with many (expensive) issues and quirks, but the care and consideration taken during the restoration process is so rewarding. I tend to gravitate more toward mid-century homes, but I really just love and appreciate all well-designed homes of any time period and architectural significance.

Most recently, I’m really excited and proud to be a part of the team restoring a mid-century landmarked home that suffered from a complete gut job. We’ve spent a lot of time trying to replicate the original floor plan while bringing it up to modern-day functionality and aesthetics (shoutout to Amter House!)

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I would say to just be consistent, find your niche, and seek out people who are already successful at what you want to do. I literally found a mentor at 20 while working as a barista at Starbucks, which taught me that it never hurts to ask.

This was just prior to the Instagram era, which is now the main source of my networking and referrals. I have met so many great designers and industry friends through sharing my work and continue to find so much inspiration there!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.orbinteriors.com
• Instagram: @orb.interiors

Image Credits
Matthew Defeo and Audrey Boyd