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Friday Five with Noa Santos of Homepolish

Born in Hawaii, Stanford graduate Noa Santos began his design career at a high-end residential interior design firm where he put his stamp on the homes of New York City’s elite. In 2011, he left to form his one-man firm, 50 for 50 Design. Along the way, he met Will Nathan and the two joined forces to create Homepolish, a network of close to 100 interior designers across six cities that an average person can hire, no matter the budget, to redesign their space. That means, for as little as $50, you can have a one-hour, in-home design visit with a designer, all the way to a high dollar renovation project, and everything in between. And the rest, as they say, is (design) history. Take a look at what this co-founder and CEO deems essential for his creative mind.

F5-Noa-Santos-1-ArtofShaving

1. The Art of Shaving
My morning routine is the calm before the storm. So when I need a shave, I like to slow things down a bit and go old school. The Art of Shaving was originally a gift but it’s kept on giving. From the badger hair brush to the old-fashioned cream it takes me back to when I was… well, I’m 25, so maybe not.

Photo courtesy of The Marlton Hotel

Photo courtesy of The Marlton Hotel

2. The Marlton Hotel
I have to escape to really think – not just from my apartment or office but from my neighborhood. Something about a space that isn’t my own evokes ideas that might not have normally been my own either. So when I discovered the Marlton Hotel it was love at first sit. The lounge, the bar, the dining rooms – they all work perfectly.

Photo courtesy of St. Germaine

Photo courtesy of St. Germaine

3. St-Germain Carafe
Gays love to entertain, let’s be honest. But a talented mixologist I am not. So when I discovered the St-Germain Carafe at the Jazz Age Lawn Party last year, I fell in love with its simplicity. The weight of the glass makes me feel like I’m crafting something worthwhile when really the clever etchings make creating the perfect Champagne cocktail a no-brainer.

Photo courtesy of Homepolish

Photo courtesy of Homepolish

4. Uprise Art
I have a mixed relationship with art – I love it but every time I move, I redecorate and want to switch it up. So when I found Uprise Art which allows you to pay for art slowly over time (or return it if you move), I was hooked. Now I keep the pieces that I like and indulge my goldfish-like attention span when I get bored.

Photo courtesy of Botan

Photo courtesy of BOTAN

5. BOTAN
Yes, two of my five favorite things are drinks, which is likely a red flag but since I’m running around all day, drinking just happens to be easier. And when it’s not a cocktail, it’s BOTAN. I’m not a green juice fanatic, I don’t frequent farmer’s markets and I don’t own a blender – so BOTAN wins. It’s tasty and a source of vegetable protein which means I won’t pass out mid-meeting AND I can stop by the gym on the way home.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.