Chloé Nègre Shares Tips for Emotionally Resonant Homes
Designer Chloé Nègre has built a reputation for creating interiors that act as “vessels of emotion and connection,” a philosophy that guides her work across hotels, shops and private homes.
From apprenticeship to independent brand
Before opening her Paris studio in 2015, she spent time with India Mahdavi, an experience that left a subtle imprint of colourful daring on later projects. Growing up in Orléans and later studying at the Ecole Camondo, Nègre learned both furniture making and interior composition, a skill set that still informs every commission.
In 2024 she launched the brand Laclaux with François‑Xavier Fonbonnat. The label’s goal is “to restore excellence to furniture,” emphasizing sustainability and craftsmanship. Pieces are produced in limited runs from certified oak and rattan, with attention to the full life cycle of each object. The collection is displayed in her showroom‑apartment near the Palais‑Royal, described as a “lived‑in space brought to life with joyful sophistication and colour.”
Recent projects illustrate a layered approach
One of the latest completions is Highstay Vintimille, a block of eleven apartments in Montmartre. Commissioned by hospitality firm Highstay, the development blends luxury hotel aesthetics with residential comfort. Nègre explains that the aim was to let guests “experience a certain idea of Paris… in a way that feels intimate, almost personal.” The design balances restraint with character, avoiding an overly polished look in favor of layered, alive spaces.
She is also designing a Paris apartment for an American collector that straddles the line between gallery and intimate art club. By preserving the classic Haussmannian volumes while injecting a “New York sensibility through materiality,” the project juxtaposes noble stone with darker finishes, creating a subtle tension between tradition and contemporary urban energy.
Current work includes a rooftop residence for a Parisian diamond dealer that functions as a hybrid of reception area, workspace and discreet retreat. In addition, she is developing a hotel in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where shared spaces, local materials and regional artisans take centre stage. The intention is to “tell a story shaped by Abidjan’s cultural richness, drawing on African references in a way that feels contemporary and respectful.”
Across these varied typologies, each project informs the next, encouraging a natural enrichment of ideas rather than a forced signature style.
Her design advice leans heavily on intention rather than excess. Colour should arise intuitively; for example, the kitchen in her Paris showroom‑apartment, described as “tall and tiny,” was enlivened with lacquer cabinets in raspberry pink and burgundy, complemented by a large linen curtain from Manuel Canovas. She stresses restraint, using a limited palette and controlled contrasts to keep a space calm yet atmospheric.
Pattern functions like punctuation—used sparingly to add rhythm and tension. Texture, light and materiality shape how a space feels; natural elements such as plaster, linen and wood bring warmth and depth. Art offers a narrative dimension, often requiring only a single well‑placed piece to anchor a room and create a quiet emotional connection. Vintage furniture sourced at auction adds history and unpredictability.
Compared to broader interior trends, the approach resembles the early‑2000s shift toward “quiet luxury,” where designers moved away from overt opulence in favor of measured, tactile environments. While many contemporaries still rely on bold statements, Nègre’s focus on layered authenticity and material honesty aligns with that earlier movement, suggesting continuity rather than a radical departure.
She remains focused on revealing existing qualities in a space and refining them with precision and sensitivity.
