Meet Olivia Bartlett | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Bartlett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Great question! I am still fine tuning my work life balance, but I no longer feel the need to take on so many projects at one time and constantly be churning out work. This always left me feeling burnt out and seemed like a never ending cycle of saying yes to things just for the sake of building a portfolio or thinking a project would take less time than it actually did. I think that’s something every designer experiences, but I am now in a place where I can say that I learned the word “no” and feel like I have much more discernment now – which took a lot of trial and error

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work has evolved mostly from a love of historic homes and the stories they tell – I love being able to bring spaces back to life with the original design intention in mind. I have a heavy appreciation for well thought out and intentional architecture with clear consideration of nature. This is usually why I tend to gravitate towards more mid-century modern homes, but am such a sucker for original character and charm that I don’t fall into just one style category. I think what sets me apart is just that – my broad love of all architectural styles and ability to work with any space. It was an introduction to real estate that ultimately brought me into the design world, I credit a lot of my connections during that time to my career now

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Denver has so much to offer in terms of thrifting, antiquing and architecture, so I would probably center the week around the best shops, restaurants and a tour through my favorite neighborhoods. Monday would start with coffee and breakfast at Stowaway in the Five Points/RiNo neighborhood following a stroll down Walnut street to check out all of the art and local shops. Our walk wouldn’t be complete without a stop into the Ramble hotel for a cocktail from Death&Co and some good design inspiration. We would have to get some thrifting in, so a stop at Habitat right outside downtown is a must before hitting every ARC in the metro area (there’s quite a few). Tuesday, I would focus on a driving tour through my favorite historic neighborhoods; Cap Hill, Potter Highlands, Country Club, Hilltop, Arapahoe Acres, Krisana Park, Bow Mar, Cherry Hills Village and of course, Belcaro. We would stop for lunch at Perdida in Wash Park and ice cream at Bonnie Brae. Talk about a perfect day! The rest of the week would be centered around antiquing – hitting up my favorite antique malls and boutiques. Old Crows Antiques in Littleton is a current fave, along with the Colorado Antique gallery on south broadway. Antiques, Etc. on Colfax is a must and Modern Nomad too. Eating at places like Call your Mother for the best bagel sandwiches and cronuts from Parlour donuts along the way.
We would have to cap off the week with a day trip to the mountains to visit Aspen Peak winery along the river in Bailey. Charcuterie and wine is a must. I don’t think a week would cover all my favorite spots around Denver, but this is a great start!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely my parents – their constant encouragement and support have been instrumental in getting me to where I am. Along with mentors, good friends and colleagues throughout my journey who have provided endless inspiration and support!

Website: https://www.orbinteriors.com

Instagram: @orb.interiors

Image Credits
Audrey Boyd, Matthew Defeo, Olivia Bartlett