In the world of interior design, finding high-quality, one-of-a-kind pieces is essential for curating a space that is both remarkable and memorable. However, where rare furniture exists, so do high price points and challenging searches to track down these exceptional pieces; as a result, designers often opt for mass-produced interior decor instead. Barbara Neto saw this challenge in the design industry and founded Curiouz, an online website devoted to the mission of “Curating the past. Preserving the future.” through selling vintage pieces.
Neto’s journey in interiors began a decade ago when she started working for a luxury furniture brand in Portugal. Eventually, she branched out and opened her own interior design studio, at which point she began to notice the lack of sustainable development in the field of interior design.
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“I was having a lot of fun, and I was busy, but I was feeling some frustration towards everything I’ve been seeing in my industry for the past 10 years,” Neto explains. “I cannot overlook the fact that there are many big issues in the interior industry. One of them, of course, is sustainability.”
She challenged herself to find a way to educate people about buying sustainable furniture pieces and being mindful of their interior design.
“It’s not that I’m trying to make vintage become mainstream; that would be too big of a challenge. But indeed, what we are trying to do is make acquiring unique pieces easier for everyone and try to prove that there’s nothing more sustainable than vintage because vintage items are already there,” Neto says.
Curiouz launched in November 2024 to a select audience, and the official website was launched in March 2025. Using the power of artificial intelligence, Neto and her team have streamlined the authentication process of the pieces they sell. By June, Neto says their artificial intelligence program will be able to detect if the item being authenticated is in good enough condition to be sold in the market. If not, it will suggest restorers near the seller where the item can be refurbished, and then the item will be eligible to be sold on Curiouz’s website.
By programming the artificial intelligence with knowledge from experts in the interior design industry, the Curiouz team is able to devote its time to speaking with sellers, dealers and clients.
“Creative industries are usually scared of technology, and more specifically artificial intelligence, because we think that they will replace us. But that’s not possible in my perspective because we work with it, and we still need a human side of the business,” she notes.
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Curiouz ships their pieces globally, and Neto says that 80 percent of their business has come from the U.S. She attributes Curiouz’s success to the younger generations’ appreciation and value of vintage items, especially in regard to how they furnish their homes.
“It’s nice to see that nowadays Millennials and Gen Z give value to vintage fashion items, vintage bags, vintage watches, and they are doing the same thing with furniture,” Neto explains.
Curiouz prompts buyers to consider how shopping vintage, rather than mass-produced pieces of furniture and decor, can add a profound amount of character to their living space.
“Vintage furniture adds these values, specifically because they have a story,” Neto remarks. “You know who designed that item, what’s behind that creative process, and you have so much more information behind the reason why the item is ICONIC.”
Beyond the story behind each one-of-a-kind item, Curiouz encourages each consumer to consider how buying vintage is a contribution to curating a space that is memorable, meaningful and mindful.
“It’s a matter of investment; investment in yourself, in your space and the space that surrounds you,” Neto says.
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