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Where I Work: Diego Revollo

For this month’s Where I Work, we head to São Paulo, Brazil, the home of architect and interior designer Diego Revollo who has been blazing trails in his hometown designing warm, contemporary spaces that dreams are made of. Whether Revollo is designing apartments or houses, the attention to detail is always spot on with his keen sense of combining materials, textures, and colors. His scope goes beyond residential though, and just last year, he designed the first Armani Casa store in Brazil. Today, we go behind the scenes to see where Revollo makes it all happen.

What is your typical work style?

I’m a very organized person, my team and I have a schedule for everything. I have many projects going on and a good plan is the best way that I found to do everything on time to satisfy my clients. But my work is my main passion! So my mind is always connected with my projects having new ideas.

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What’s your office/studio environment like?

My office reflects the main values that I have in my work: a timeless, international environment with beauty and elegance. All the white structure is contrasted with the black on the floor that is completed with the designed furniture that gives personality to the office.

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How is your office organized/arranged?

We have two rooms separated with a sliding door that is currently opened. So I’m usually open to discuss the projects status and new ideas with the team.

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How long have you been in this space? Where did you work before that?

I have been in this space since last June. It is a brand new space totally redesigned to meet my needs. Before that, my office was in the same building, but in a smaller room, at Jardim Guedala, a neighborhood in the city of São Paulo (the same where I live).

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If you could change something about your workspace, what would it be?

Fortunately I had the chance to do everything that I needed and wanted when I redesigned my office. The space was completely refurbished to meet all the needs of this current moment. So, I wouldn’t change anything.

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How do you record ideas?

I usually record my ideas on a simple sheet of paper doing sketch. After discussing the ideas with the team, the idea goes to the computer to be saved.

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Do you have an inspiration board? What’s on it right now?

I don’t have an inspiration board but a board with the images of some projects that we have finished recently.

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What kind of design objects might you have scattered about the space?

The design is present in all the furniture and decoration of my office. A good example of that is the chairs of the office. I’m a big fan of designed chairs and have 8 different types in a relatively small space. Furthermore, I have pieces of art and decorative objects.

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What tool do you most enjoy using in the design process?

I usually go to the old fashion way: a pencil and a sheet of paper.

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Let’s talk about how you’re wired. Tell me about your tech arsenal/devices.

My office has wireless internet access and to draw we use AutoCAD.

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Do you have a favorite project that you’ve designed?

I’m very pleased with the results that I got with the projects of lofts that we have done lately. (See the rest of this loft here.)

When did you feel like you “made it”? With what project? At what moment/circumstances?

This year, I was invited to do the first Armani Casa in Brazil. This opportunity was an honor to me since Giorgio Armani is a big reference of luxury, beauty and elegance, values that I´m always seeking with my projects. And I´m very happy with the result that we got (the store was opened last May).

Tell us about a current project you’re working on. What was the inspiration behind it?

I’m working on a contemporary loft and the challenge was to make it completely white but not lose the coziness. The client is also a technology passionate person and I have to consider that too. To avoid the coldness of an entirely white environment, I decided to add clear wood that brought a Scandinavian atmosphere and keeps it contemporary. And considering the technology aspect, the apartment is totally automated with intelligent system of lights, sound, and temperature.

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What’s on your desk right now?

On my desk right now I have pencil, paper, and my computer.

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.