We chat to Hortons client, Chloe Morris, an Artist, Graphic Designer & founder of Clo Collection, about the importance of art in the home, why she doesn’t follow trends and some of her favourite places in Leicestershire for inspiration.
Chloe comes from a creative background, having studied fine art at university. Her past roles include a fashion make up artist and working for an interior design school, before she retrained as a Graphic Designer at London College of Communication. She has continued to work as a Graphic Designer ever since, alongside running her business, Clo Collection.
“Clo Collection was launched in January 2020 and began whilst I was on maternity leave. It was a creative outlet for me. I love painting, design & interiors, and for me, being creative is a way of life and the Clo Collection encapsulates that creativity.”
“Chloe creates beautiful, original pieces for the home, all of which are made by hand using a mix of paint, inks, pencil and chalk. They are all designed and created in her home studio in Rothley. Her pieces capture beauty in its simplest form, focusing on lines and texture which give the collection an understated, feminine feel.”
After growing up in the Leicestershire town of Syston, Chloe moved to Sheffield for her degree and then lived in London. After moving back home to Leicestershire, she met her partner and moved into Wellsic Lane in Rothley, where she has lived for the past five years.
“When my partner bought the house he completely gutted it, putting in a new kitchen, bathroom and fitting solid oak flooring throughout. He has a really good eye for detail and craftsmanship and a lot of the finishing touches were sourced from Broughtons in Loughborough. He really took his time making sure everything was just right.”
“He painted the house in ‘Limestone’ by Little Greene which is a very light off white / grey colour and had very minimal furniture, essentially it was a blank canvas so I took over the decor decisions from there. Luckily we’re drawn to a similar aesthetic and tend to agree on design choices and ideas. We are both passionate about interiors.”
Interior style
The home has a mix of styles that compliment each other to create a beautifully cohesive, cosy environment. It’s clear that a lot of time and thought has gone into curating a house that feels lived in.
“Everything we bring into the house we have to love, otherwise it doesn’t belong there. I don’t follow trends or change the whole look of a room on a regular basis. It’s not about one ‘look’ but instead collecting pieces I’m drawn to that work together with everything else. We have quite a bit of abandoned furniture that we’ve picked up or charity shop buys that we have up-cycled.”
Art plays a huge part in Chloe’s home, and there’s a mix of both her own pieces and those by other artists.
“I try to be creative when it comes to finding art for the home. Art doesn’t need to be expensive; magazines often have stunning photos which look great on a wall, and you can get really creative with luxurious wallpaper samples. My advice would be to stay true to what you love when picking art – it can bring a lot of personality to a home and transform your space.”
Favourite rooms
“I have two favourite rooms” says Chloe, “our bathroom with the rolltop bath is gorgeous – I designed it to feel like a hotel so it feels really special. All my friends want to come round for a bath!
I also love my studio/study space as it’s where I escape to. Here I can really switch off, draw, paint and escape.
Interior inspiration
So where does Chloe get her interior inspiration from?
“Magazines, fashion, art. Restaurants and cafes we visit! Whenever we go on holiday I pick up ideas…I love Paris, Seville and New York and each city has influenced me in some way.”
Two local places which are great are Harriman & Co (www.harrimanandco.com) and Cotes Mill (www.devolkitchens.co.uk).
“Cotes Mill sells antique furniture downstairs and is generally amazing for inspiration. It’s designed like a house so you can see ideas for the whole home as you walk around. The wicker chair in our bathroom is from Cotes Mill.”
You can explore & buy Chloe’s work at www.clocollection.co.uk, and follow her on instagram @clocollectionuk.
Her home is now sold STC by Hortons Partner, Rebecca Holders.