Vince Uy is a name that most people in the fashion and lifestyle industry are very very familiar with. Having worked in publishing as creative director for Summit Media for 15 years, then overseeing fashion and lifestyle titles such as Preview, Elle Decoration, and Town & Country among others, Vince has become synonymous with tasteful aesthetics in the publishing world.
After resigning, Vince put up his own boutique advertising agency named CO Studio–a venture that's not entirely surprising for him, having spent four years with advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi right after his studies.
Career life aside, Vince loves anything design and decor-related, as well as travelling and discovering new cuisines. Take a peek into his moody, jewel tone-tainted world as he welcomes us into his maximalist home.
Tell us a little bit about your home and the people you live with. I've been living in our home together with my partner Nino Gaddi for about 9 years now. (We actually moved in December!) I planned everything including the floor plan of our place. It took us almost a year to renovate this condo unit. I redid so many things to fit our lifestyle.
While I am a maximalist by heart, I wanted a spacious place. We didn't hire any decorators as I was really very hands on when it came to sourcing and designing pieces for our home–case in point: I designed our dining chairs (art deco inspired with Pinoy touch) among other things. I also chose the paint and finishes.
Describe the style of your home in 5 words or less: Eclectic maximalist meets classic comfort.
What is the best advice you have given or received when it comes to interior styling? a. Never rush to finish decorating your place at one. Don't hoard or do a one-time-big-time spend on interiors. Decorating takes time. Start with the basics and eventually build from there. b. The best way to organize your thoughts is to follow a general theme but always make it personal. I find that the most interesting homes have pieces that are not just aesthetic but come with special, personal stories.
Recommend three Netflix movies or series to watch while in quarantine. Nino and I are huge fans of thrillers and horrors so I would recommend watching Contratiempo (The Invisible Guest), Forgotten, and The Call
Ice cream or cake? Does sherbet count?
What was the biggest design challenge you faced in designing your home? Storage!!! I'm a very organized person so balancing design and storage space really was THE ultimate challenge for me.
What is the biggest embarrassment in your home? The lack of storage space still. Haha. Oh, and the lack of rugs.
What makes a house a home? A home for me is a place where you are free to be yourself. A house becomes a home when it reflects who you are, where the pieces in your home speak of your stories and reflect your journey in life.
Name the top 5 Instagram accounts you follow for home design. @kellywearstler @mydomaine @jeremiahbrent @eyeswoon And I follow #JosephDirand (because this French architect doesn't have an IG account yet)
Which room do you spend the most time in? Which room do you spend the least time in? Currently, the room I spend the most time in is our study/home office (aside from our bedroom). The room I spend the least time in... hmmm can I say our tub? Haha. Nino is the one who's always using it. Since we moved in, I've only used it maybe 6 times? Haha.
If you could source anything from anywhere (regardless of cost or logistics), what would it be and from where? OMG. This question is so so hard. I have so many things in mind... Original mid-century chairs or lights from estate sales, tons of moroccan rugs, and green onyx anything (and an entire kitchen perhaps?)
What’s your ultimate tip for organizing clutter at home? In every area of space in your home, make sure you identify what is clutter from non-clutter–this is a good practice so to avoid misplaced items and piles and make tidy-ing up a daily habit.
What advice would you give for creating a home you love? First and foremost, appreciate your home and never compare it to other homes. Make sure you are surrounded by things and people that make you smile and feel happy. Lastly, always keep your home organized and clean.
Japs Medina
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