I first met Jake in 2024. He was the first big designer I cold-emailed asking to come on the show — we were ten episodes in and I had no real connection to him, just a hope and a prayer that he'd be down-to-earth enough to get what we were doing (which was by the way, asking him to reveal some of his most coveted design secrets). The reply came back from his PR team: "Jake is excited to participate." I counted down the days. I genuinely debated whether it was appropriate to offer him a shot of tequila on arrival. Would he think that's funny?? It would only be 10:30am on a Tuesday and he would have to commute back to West Hollywood from Silverlake. Has he ever even been to Silverlake? Yes, it’s cool here but its definitely a little crunchy. Would he be horrified by my tiny little Silverlake studio? Well dear reader, as soon as he walked into the room all my fears subsided. Behind the British accent and the accolades, Jake is one of the funniest, most plainly nice people in this industry. I am very lucky to call him a friend now. And if you, like me, are a big fan of Mr. Arnold’s work, you will want to continue reading on.
Welcome to The Rolodex — the series where I ask designers the questions you actually want answered. Not “what inspires you” per se (respectfully, we’ve all heard enough about travel and nature). THE REAL STUFF. The vendors! The trade secrets!! The paint colors they’d stake their reputation on!
This week: Jake Arnold. The designer of approximately 75% of your Pinterest board, Principal of Jake Arnold Studio, and my scene partner on Get It Together — the renovation series we shoot inside his own Hollywood Hills house. Follow him at @jakearnold.
“I remember buying my first home and feeling totally overwhelmed by how to approach the design journey. This series is for everyone out there who is just trying to make it happen.” — Sarah Weichel, Founder, Swike
Jake’s Cheat Sheet
Go-To White Paint
A controversial pick because Dimity is barely white — there’s a pink in it that does the warm-late-afternoon thing rather than the institutional-hallway thing. Jake’s defense (”people may not think it’s that white, but I think it’s the perfect white”) is exactly the kind of confident specification that makes you stop second-guessing your own paint chips. (Cross-reference David Lucido — also a Dimity guy!)
Favorite Moody Paint
Between Oliver by Portola Paints and Broccoli Brown by Farrow & Ball
Yes, it’s actually called Broccoli Brown. Yes, Jake is putting it in his own bedroom.
Favorite Painter
Jake names Emika as his go to for plaster, lime wash, AND antiquing finishes.
Best Stone Yards
Stoneland (LA) + BAS Stone (NYC)
If you’re in need of ‘Countertop Inspo’ start here. These two stoneyards are coast-to-coast staples. Stoneland is the LA workhorse — depth of inventory, fabricator relationships, the kind of place where the guy at the counter remembers your project. BAS in NYC shows up in basically every New York rolodex (Dani Arps last week, Athena Calderone next, David Lucido after that). When five different designers all name the same yard unprompted, that’s the actual recommendation.
Current Stone Obsession
Levanto Rosso
Not new — Levanto Rosso is one of the great Italian reds — but the kind of stone that quietly cycles in and out of fashion every fifteen years. Jake’s calling it again and he’s not the only fan of red stone hues (see: Andre Herrero’s Alicante Red and Athena’s red porphyry).
Carpenter (LA)
Based in La Verne, California but will serve Southern California. If you are looking for custom kitchen cabinets, this is the recommendation for you. Per Jake, he’s called them for a recent Santa Barbara project, now doing his Beverly Hills project. Mentioned by name with full faith — which, in this industry, is a HUGE recommendation.
Designer to Look Out For
A perfect cross-disciplinary pull. Max Rollitt is a British dealer/designer/furniture-maker best known for restoring antiques and producing custom one-offs — slightly bonkers in scale, always specific.
Favorite General Contractor
Dear Reader, be warned. “They’re really expensive, I don’t care, they are the best.”
That said, a great GC is a person you don’t argue with about price; you argue with them about the schedule. (Cross-reference: Brigette Romanek also names Valle Reinis)
Trend Prediction
Elaborate faucets — Sherle Wagner and the old swan-neck shape
Think Sherle Wagner like this vintage find on Etsy. Or if you prefer not to argue with your GC on potentially missing parts, here’s the current production at full price. Swan faucets are doing what unlacquered brass shower fittings did three years ago. If your feeling bold in your powder bathroom, now is the moment.
Watch him renovate his own Hollywood Hills house in real time on Get It Together — every Wednesday on @swike. Start with EP01 →
Want to see Jake’s Rolodex in action? Watch the full video on Instagram — he walks through every pick and drops a few bonus recommendations that didn’t make the cheat sheet.
Oh, and for those wondering, he did the tequila shot.
Know a designer who deserves the Rolodex treatment? Reply to this email. I’m always building the list.
See you Tuesday for The Brief.
xx
Sarah Weichel
Founder, Swike
Loved the raw behind the scenes. Helps me feel we’re not alone in this crazy design reno world!
do you have any recommendations for interior designers / architects to feature in an upcoming Rolodex episode? please share!!! im always building the list. (yes it can be yourself put yourself out there!)