OVOLO Interiors Blog

OVOLO is honored to be nominated and selected for the PayPal Support Our City program! PayPal and the San Jose Earthquakes share a deep-rooted commitment to helping small business owners achieve their dreams. As a cornerstone of their long-term partnership, the “Support Our City” program was designed to highlight local businesses based within the Bay Area.  Together, PayPal and the Quakes support these local leaders by providing high-visibility exposure at the stadium and beyond, as well as an unforgettable experience at a match. For each home game throughout the season, a different small business is selected to receive this special honor.  OVOLO was honored at the July 30, 2022 San Jose Earthquakes home game match against Real Salt Lake. In addition to being added to the “Support Our City” mural inside PayPal Park, a short video was played at halftime. See the photos above and below about the mural and halftime video; we also posted the halftime video embedded below on o...

Our clients are trusted partners in the design process, and without this partnership, it would be impossible to create such a personalized and custom design for each Client.   Photo by Josh Nezon on Unsplash Over two years ago, Santa Clara County entered its first Shelter in Place Order. Since then, there have been many ups an downs with differing requirements as vaccination rates have gone up, new variants emerged, boosters have become available, etc. In this light, here’s how it affects our company, our clients, our future clients, our professional affiliates, and our community. We promise to follow all national, state, and local guidelines and orders as they have already been and may continue to be issued, including any masking and vaccination/booster requirements or recommendations. Our staff is fully vaccinated and boosted.  We will no longer require masks and strict physical distancing during meetings between our company and our clients (and anyone living in the sa...

  We are excited to share that OVOLO won Best of Houzz 2022! We were awarded the “Best of Houzz” award in the Customer Service category on Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including our overall 5 out of 5 star rating on Houzz and our client reviews submitted in 2021. This is our 6th year in a row winning the award for Customer Service showing that we provide great service to our clients for all interior design, decorating, styling, and staging projects here in San Jose, Santa Clara County, Silicon Valley, and surrounding areas.  The Best of Houzz awards program was launched over a decade ago to highlight the work of the most talented and customer-focused professionals in our industry. Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing at Houzz, notes “When homeowners come to Houzz to find professionals to complete their projects, the Best of Houzz badges offer a marker of credibility, support...

  OVOLO believes in providing our clients with a personalized and custom design solution that is just right for them. Instead of imposing our style upon our clients, we listen and respond to our client’s needs, personality, tastes, styles, and way of life. Our clients are trusted partners in the design process, and without this partnership, it would be impossible to create such a personalized and custom design.   As of June 15th of 2021, California has re-opened the economy and lifted most restrictions that were previously in place for the last year or more. Santa Clara County, where OVOLO is based, has similarly lifted many restrictions. It appears that we are slowly easing our way back to normal. In this light, here’s how it affects our company, our clients, our future clients, our professional affiliates, and our community. Our staff is fully vaccinated. In other words, it has been at least two weeks since our staff has received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. We wil...

  Santa Clara County has moved into the Yellow Tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy as of May 19, 2021 . While this is welcome news for our state and county as a whole, it does not change much in terms of our operating procedures at OVOLO Interiors. We continue to follow our state and local guidelines, guidance, and requirements which include the mandatory use of face coverings when meeting with clients or other persons, other COVID-19 prevention measures such as maintaining physical distance when possible, regularly sanitizing hands and tools, and encouraging virtual meetings when possible. Following these measures ensures the safety, health, and well-being of our company, clients, and community at large. Our staff has also received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine and we encourage everyone to receive their vaccinations as well. Note that the state and local guidelines, guidance, and requirements do not allow for the removal of face coverings while performing the ...

Just as flowers come forth from the earth, grow, and unfurl in the bright sunshine of spring, the news of falling case numbers, increased vaccines, and more has us hopeful and optimistic. Yes, we are indeed hopeful and optimistic about the end of the pandemic later this year and we are looking forward to that great day Unfortunately, there is still some time before that where we must keep up our vigilance and due diligence to help slow the spread of the virus and end the pandemic. To that end, we here at OVOLO are continuing to follow local, state, and federal guidance and taking our safety protocols seriously so that we can ensure the safety, health, and well-being of our company, clients, and community at large. From paint color selections, to choosing new furniture, to room designs, to kitchen and bathroom remodels, we're here and ready to help you on any of your design related projects. We are continuing to meet virtually whenever possible. However, we know that it is not possi...

We have a new "Spotlight" story on our Houzz profile. In it, you'll read a bit about how OVOLO started and how to make your house into a home by expressing your personality through design. A home is a place that should tell your story, be full of joyful memories and moments, and make you happy. See specific tips by scrolling through the photos below, but don't forget to click on the link to read all of the details.  Pro Spotlight: How to Express Your Personality Through Design

There was an article on NPR that discussed a Twitter account that has been rating celebrity and politician room backgrounds on Zoom and other videoconferencing services.  So what does it take to be highly rated? See if you can spot some common themes in these highly rated rooms below (and the one above) which scored at least 7 out of 10 points. Did you spot some common themes? Here are our thoughts on those themes for a great background:  Good forward facing lighting so the person isn't in shadow. Artwork on the walls Greenery such as plants, flowers, etc Relative simplicity without too many distractions Cabinetry and/or bookshelves Some of these rooms could still be improved by turning on the accent lighting in the backgrounds of the rooms but overall, these are very pleasant backgrounds and great looking rooms. Well done! Now it's your turn: how is your Zoom background and is there anything you can do to make it a 10/10?

OVOLO Interiors is cautiously emerging from the shelter in place order to work on construction related activities per Santa Clara County's new Shelter In Place Order  taking effect on May 4th, 2020. This new order mandates certain protocols and social distancing guidelines which we will be following so that we can continue to do our best to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of our company, clients, and community at large during these unprecedented times.  Below is a reminder of the general guidance useful for everyone at this time: Do not touch your face with unwashed hands or with gloves. Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as countertops, handrails, handles, and doorknobs. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, or cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm at your elbow/sleeve. Do not meet wi...

Practicing what we preach is important to us. In the previous blog post, we wrote about practicing gratitude as a tip for improving well-being. Today, we'd like to list some external things we are grateful for at this time. Photo by Courtney Hedger on Unsplash Here's a reminder about the practice of gratitude: It's easy to get lost in worry, anxiety, and fear with everything that is going on in the world.  To re-focus your energy, practice being grateful for what you have in your life, people around you, or things around you. Perhaps it's the home you live in. Perhaps it's the job you have. Perhaps it's your family. Perhaps it's any number of other things.  Make a daily list of 5 to 10 things that you are grateful for and don't forget to savor the moments when you are filled with gratitude. So what are we grateful for right now? Here are some of the many things, in no particular order, that we are grateful for at the moment: Doctor...

We hope this post finds you and your families safe and healthy during this unprecedented time. While everyone is trying to figure out how to navigate the current situation (including us), we wanted to let you know that we are here for you when you are ready. Quick Business Update Due to Santa Clara County's and California's shelter in place orders, OVOLO can not attend any in-person meetings, including the taking measurements for projects. We want to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of our company, clients, and community at large so we are following the letter and spirit of these orders. With that being said, we wanted to let you know that we are here as a resource if you want to connect via phone, videoconference, or email to talk about DIY projects, future projects, design ideas, etc. We can also still send you design documents, perform space planning analyses, hold design consultations, and so much more during this time. Please don't hesitate...

Photo by Austin Ban on Unsplash Typically, most people are not doing a wholesale rearrangement of the home's layout during a remodel project. A wall might be opened up to make a more open concept layout or a doorway widened, but most windows, doors, and walls tend to stay in their current locations and configurations. It's usually just within each room that a remodel takes place. And everything about the physical properties, layouts, and architecture of the house stays put when only redecorating or changing furniture! Thus, as mentioned in previous posts, most of the space planning principles are best accomplished through new construction or home additions. The next best way to accomplish them is through a remodel and finally, some principles can still be accomplished using the existing layout and architecture of a house. A good designer will apply as many of the principles as possible while working within the various project constraints. Trade-offs will most likely nee...

Photo by Random Sky on Unsplash See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook. Planning a new bathroom or planning to remodel your existing bathroom? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for this area of the home. Note that when remodeling, these space planning principles tend to be the hardest to apply due to the existing layouts and architecture of the home. Whether it's a guest bathroom, powder room, master bathroom, or kids bathroom, these should all be both functional and fashionable. Here are a few space planning principles to keep in mind for a bathroom: Bathrooms should have an accessible, yet modest and private, location. Bathrooms are best to not be seen directly from other rooms in the home; for example, a small room, closet, or hallway is best between another room and the bathroom. Bathrooms should have an adequate amount of storage, at minimum, and sufficient counter space. There should be enough room to store toiletries, a...

OVOLO Project Portfolio Photo: Contemporary Spa-Like Master Bedroom Makeover See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook. Planning to redecorate or buy new furniture for your bedroom, guest room, or kids room? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for these areas of the home. Bedrooms are vital places in the home; they are places to relax and unwind, places to revitalize and rest, and places to get ready for the day. Bedrooms should be both functional and fashionable: they should look great while maintaining the functions of their core vitality discussed previously. Here are a few space planning principles to keep in mind for the bedroom: Bedrooms should provide an anchored and logical space for the bed. Typically, this is done through the use of architectural features and/or accent walls and beds are also typically placed in a way so that the front is roughly opposite of the entrance to the bedroom. Bedrooms should have adequate stora...

Commercial Photography Services Photo by OVOLO Interiors See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook. Planning a new kitchen or planning to remodel your existing kitchen? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for this area of the home. Please note that these principles can also be applied to outdoor kitchens and cooking areas. The kitchen is considered by many to be the heart of the home. It's a place where people tend to gather, which is why many recently built or remodeled kitchens tend to favor open floor plans and expansive places to sit and/or stand. Kitchens should be both functional and fashionable: a place for you (and your family) as well as guests and visitors; it should be about the gatherings and conversations as much as about the cooking, snacking, and food storage. Here are a few space planning principles to keep in mind for the kitchen: Kitchens should have an efficient work triangle and optimal (and ideally non-overlappin...

Project Portfolio Photo: New Furniture & Decor for a Silicon Valley Condo See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook. Planning a new dining space or planning to redecorate/redesign your existing dining space? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for these areas of the home (note that the term used is not “dining room” but “dining space” for reasons discussed below). Dining spaces may be called by several names and can be both indoors and outdoors. Indoor dining spaces typically are either a dining room or an eat-in kitchen but these spaces may also include other spaces in rooms such as a kitchen countertop eating space. Sometimes, these spaces are part of larger open concept rooms such as great rooms and sometimes they are closed off to each other. Outdoor dining spaces may include porches, decks, balconies, patios, and so much more. Here are a few space planning principles to keep in mind for any dining space in your home: Dining spaces...

Project Portfolio Photo: Eclectic Redecorating and Styling See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook. Planning a new living space or planning to redecorate/redesign your existing living space? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for these areas of the home (note that the term used is not “living room” but “living space” for reasons discussed below). Living spaces may be called by several names and can be both indoors and outdoors. Indoor living spaces are typically called living rooms and family rooms but may also include other rooms such as dens, music rooms, entertainment/TV room, etc. Sometimes, these spaces are part of larger open concept rooms such as great rooms and sometimes they are closed off to each other. Outdoor living spaces may include front porches, back decks, patios, and so much more. In terms of rooms, these rooms are very important in the home. They should be both functional and fashionable: a place for you (and your famil...

Photo by Douglas Sheppard on Unsplash See these principles in action on our Houzz ideabook. Planning a new entryway or planning to redecorate/redesign your existing entryway? Below are some space planning principles to keep in mind for the entryways. In terms of rooms, the entryway, or foyer, gets easily overlooked, but it should be one of your first considerations. It’s needs to be both functional and fashionable: a place to enter the home from the outside on a day to day basis, a place to direct people to other areas of the home, and a place to give a first impression to guests. The front entry is where your front door is located and the back entry could be directly from a garage or could open onto a driveway (this entry could be the primary day to day entry of the home, depending upon it’s use). The back entry does not usually include sliding doors or french doors from a bedroom, living room, dining room, or kitchen; however, it may typically be included within a laun...

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash Let's talk about space planning, which leads to the basic layout of a room. But first, it starts with an in-depth analysis of how the space is to be used, taking into account all who live in the home and even some visitors to the home. Rooms and spaces within rooms are zoned to account for different activities that take place in a space. For example, a large open-concept great room may have a zone for living (watching TV, reading a book, holding a casual conversation, etc) and a zone for dining (both day to day eating as well as dinner parties). Circulation zones that show how people will move through the space are defined in the space planning process; you don't want furniture to get in the way of people's expected movements. The space plan is finished by adding the furniture, decor, accessory, and artwork details. Some times, there are conflicts that need to be resolved during the space planning process. For example, perhaps a q...

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash OVOLO Interiors of San Jose, CA was awarded Best Of Houzz 2018 OVOLO Interiors of San Jose, California has won “Best Of Customer Service” for the second year in a row on Houzz ®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The relatively young, but accomplished, design firm was chosen by some of the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community along with more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. A “Best Of Houzz 2018” badge appears on winners’ profiles, as a sign of their commitment to excellence; this badge will help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in the San Jose metro area on Houzz. "The Houzz community selected a phenomenal group of Best of Houzz 2018 award winners, so this year's recipients should be very proud,” said Liza Hausman, Vice President of Industry Marketing at Houzz. “Best of Houzz winners repres...