Real Spaces With Jacinto Caetano- A Life Curated With MultiDrawers
30/06/2025
Step into the world of Jacinto Caetano, a multidisciplinary creative whose home is as thoughtfully curated as his amazing work. In celebration of Pride and to end the month of colour with a big bang, this edition of real spaces explores his incredible collection of MultiDrawers (he’s got over 20!), fitting seamlessly into his busy lifestyle, supporting both creativity and calm in every corner.
How did you first come across the MultiDrawers and what drew you to them?
I first came across a Bisley MultiDrawer in 1992, when my sister Ana brought one home. We were redecorating the house after a difficult few years following the loss of our father, and my mother had taken us to El Corte Inglés to give the place a fresh start. I got really involved in planning my room — I even had a custom-built desk that wrapped around two walls.
When my sister’s drawer unit arrived, I was instantly jealous. Those bold, almost Art Deco lines, the compact form, the proportions of the drawers — it had presence. But my room was already packed, no space left to add one. I felt it was the kind of object I would have really made the most of.
One of the things that captivated me most was the deep hum the drawers made as they slid open — confident, elegant, sophisticated… unmistakably iconic.
What inspired you to start your Bisley collection? How has it evolved over time?
In 2020, I was made redundant from my job at an advertising agency in London after working there for seven amazing years. With more time (and uncertainty) on my hands, I decided to take a leap and start something on my own. I began gathering pieces for a future home office setup, and that’s when I bought my first two MultiDrawers: a 5-drawer Orange and a 5-drawer Green. That moment marked the start of something bigger.
Living with ADHD, I rely heavily on visual memory. Colour-coding and compartmentalising everything helped me stay focused, calm, and productive. What began as a practical solution slowly turned into a bit of an obsession — one drawer led to another, and before I knew it, the collection had taken on a life of its own. Today, I’ve got a proper skyline of MultiDrawers around me — small ones, large ones, different depths, a few office cabinets too. If I keep going this way, I might have to move house! — Or at least give them (the drawers) their own lease!
Is there a story behind a specific piece that brings a special meaning to you?
Of course: the units that carried me through the 2020 lockdown hold a unique place in my heart. During that time of chaos, uncertainty, and plenty of free hours, sorting through things and organising drawers gave me a sense of calm — and a lot of entertainment.
But maybe the best story begins with a 5-drawer unit I bought one afternoon not too long ago, without really knowing what it would set in motion. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about one new piece — it was dividers, another unit, and then another… it sparked a full transformation. New drawers arrived, old habits shifted, the space got busier — but better. Somehow, this quiet colour set off a quiet revolution.
Today, I can proudly say that it brought me all the way here — to discovering the amazing Bisley family, who quickly welcomed me with open arms and big smiles. Frankly, I’d love nothing more than to collaborate with them soon. Who knew one Coral drawer could open so many doors?
Do you use the MultiDrawers purely for storage? Do they influence your creative process too?
Definitely not just storage — they’re more like memory maps for my ADHD brain and the way I remember everything visually. Over time, each drawer has taken on a very specific purpose: black is for tools and things that rattle, red is my pharmacy (the first-aid colour), grey holds all my cables (none of which are ever the right one), pink is the fun drawer — wigs, sunglasses, party bits… yes, really 🤣 etcetera.
There’s a whole drawer dedicated to cositas — that’s Spanish for “bits and bobs,” the kind of odd things you don’t want to throw away, even if you’ve forgotten why you kept them in the first place.
I even have a full 5-drawer unit just for cutting and sticking: one for scissors and blades, another for glues, one for elastic bands, then tape — single-sided, double-sided, masking — like a little stationery tower of Babel. Some of them — like my A3 unit, half dedicated to blank paper and prints — function almost like staging trays. I often lay out compositions on trays that I place inside them to plan shoots or mix materials, so they act like physical moodboards, each with its own mini story in the making. When I have some time I open the drawer or the project and then I close it afterwards.
It may sound chaotic, but trust me, it’s my zen space. I know exactly where everything is. I don’t use labels — they clash the colour harmony, I’m too indecisive and would ruin half of them before I settle, and besides… guests don’t need to know where I keep my… white markers. 😏
How do you stay on track with tasks and avoid getting distracted?
To begin with, I’m the kind of person who needs everything under control before I can truly start working. If I start missing tools or resources halfway through, I risk spiralling into distractions — and we all know where that leads: the dangerous land of procrastination.
That’s how ADHD works: one distraction and suddenly I’m deep-cleaning the fridge or reorganising my clothes — and I wasn’t even planning to leave the flat!
But in my case, I think it goes a bit further. While I’m still planning the first steps of a task, my brain is already running with the idea. So being able to find what I need instantly, without losing that momentum, is crucial. That’s why having everything clearly sorted and accessible — like a tool in the right drawer — helps me avoid those killer distractions and stay in flow.
How does your collection reflect your personality or creative style?
My work tends to grab attention for one obvious reason: it’s unapologetically colourful. If you look at my designs for the Athletes’ Village at the Tokyo Olympics, the two Pride in London campaigns, or even the posters I created for Soho’s stories at Tottenham Court Road station, one thing is clear — I never settle on a single colour. I try to use them all. It’s not just a preference, it’s more like an obsession with the full spectrum. Rainbow influence? Possibly. But truthfully, I’d never even seen a Pride flag until 1996 — I’ve been obsessed with rainbows for as long as I can remember.
And it’s not just in my design work — it spills into everything I do. The dock on my Mac is organised by colour. My bookshelf (well, when it’s not a mess) is arranged by spine shade. My markers, my Apple Wallet cards, even my iPhone cases — all colour-coded. It’s not just an obsession, it’s an obsesspectrum.
As you have just read, Jacinto’s space is a true reflection of his creative spirit- intentional, expressive, yet beautifully functional. We have chosen to champion his story to show to our amazing Bisley community that the real spaces is not just about the products, it’s about the people who bring them to life. And Jacinto story reminds us all that when thoughtful design meets expressive colour, it creates a space that’s truly inspiring to everyone.
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