Rooms designed by Chloe Warner, the principal behind Redmond Aldrich Design, have a signature moxie that is almost unmistakable. Having been exposed to the work of legends like Sister Parish and Albert Hadley from an early age thanks to a stylish mother and grandmothers, her choices reflect a reverence for the principles of classic design. Her approach to color and playfulness with pattern, however, layer on a modern edge that’s all Chloe, whether that’s reupholstering a classic Knoll dining chair with an electric blue velvet, or adding a bright pop with a pink cord to a traditional pendant lamp.
The Harvard School of Design grad seems to relish making those bold choices the rest of us only dream about, without losing her footing in the real-life needs of individuals and families, thanks in part to her own two kiddos. We caught up with Chloe, who is one of the stars of this year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase, to discover her favorite sources of inspiration, go-to paint color, and more!
Shop Chloe’s collection HERE to steal her look!
Favorite thing about designing with vintage pieces?
“Vintage pieces are essential, without them projects have a slick retail vibe that I can’t stand.”
Favorite source for design inspiration right now?
“I’m very into Ilse Crawford, Rose Uniacke, and Dorothee Meilichzon right now. European ladies, for some reason, are getting to me!”
Favorite space you’ve spotted recently?
“The Roman & Williams designed Josephine Estelle in New Orleans. Unexpected colors, great architecture, thoughtful touches everywhere. I loved it.”
Current obsession?
“I’m obsessed with these horsehair tassels by Fredericks & Mae. I’m planning on being a real decorator and dangling one from a cabinet knob.”
Favorite dream project to fantasize about?
“I’ve always wanted to work in hospitality. To do hotels and restaurants where we are involved holistically with the graphic designers would be a dream. I’m a real font lover.”
No room is complete without…?
“Art. It’s absolutely essential, and even the best rooms fall flat without it.”
Favorite go-to paint color?
C2’s “Vellum” is the best white, and Farrow & Ball’s “Studio Green” is the most magical, inky dark shade.”
Tell us about your design inspiration for the SF Decorator Showcase!
“We were really inspired by the brief for the house – the family who owns it has quite a few kids and everyone is an artist, an inventor, or an engineer – a very creative bunch. We wanted to create a modern dining room for them, one that would be useful for more than just dinner parties, but building sessions, art salons, plant cultivation, and of course, dining together. We found an amazing Gio Ponti dining table on Chairish that had seen better days, and worked with Revitaliste to bring it back to life. Our chairs were also vintage Baker that we recovered in Yves Klein blue velvet, and we found an amazing pair of pencil bamboo consoles to anchor the bay window.”
SHOP CHLOE’S CHAIRISH FAVORITES >>
Featured image by Laure Joliet. All photos courtesy of Chloe Warner.
