Chlo Interiors, founded in 2011 by Jason Lo and Susie Sollof, took on a project that had already become overwhelming for its clients. The firm, known for luxury residential and boutique commercial work, stepped in after the original design did not work out and the clients found themselves managing the project themselves. Their journey with this home began nearly two years before construction started, as the clients had initially chosen a different, more well-known design firm before ultimately reaching out to Chlo Interiors again two years later. By the time the firm came on board, construction was already underway, with contractors actively working on-site every day, requiring the designers to create a new plan while adhering to the existing schedule.
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“The biggest challenge was that we essentially had to start the design process from scratch while simultaneously playing catch-up with an active construction schedule,” Jason Lo said. This required fast decisions and close coordination. The duo needed to make rapid choices while maintaining constant communication between their team, the clients, and the contractors to ensure the project stayed on track despite the late start.
The clients are a young couple with three children, and their primary goal was to create a home that felt deeply livable—functional, comfortable, and truly reflective of how they experience daily life. “They wanted each space to have its own distinct mood and purpose, rather than the home feeling uniformly ‘designed’ or just visually polished,” Susie shares. “A big focus was on creating different atmospheres throughout the day. They achieved this through a thoughtfully integrated Lutron system, which allows for layered lighting scenes, along with built-in speakers that enhance the overall ambiance in each room.”
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Wellness was also a major priority for the family, informing many of the material and systems choices throughout the home. “One of their more unique requests was to minimize electromagnetic fields (EMF) wherever possible,” Jason notes. “To support this, they opted for a hydronic radiant heating system—circulating heated water beneath the wood floors instead of using a conventional electric system. They also selected sheep’s wool insulation, one of the most natural and non-toxic options available, reinforcing their desire to create a healthier indoor environment.”
Despite the late start, the project unfolded relatively smoothly, largely because Jason and Susie’s design sensibility was closely aligned with the clients’. “It allowed us to build trust quickly and move at a very fast pace together,” Susie shares. “In the end, that strong alignment and collaboration became one of the project’s greatest strengths.” The project took just over a year.
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“The clients were very involved throughout the entire design process, so seeing everything come together was especially meaningful for them,” Jason adds. “They loved experiencing how all the materials, finishes, and fixtures we selected together translated into a cohesive, lived-in space—it really felt like their vision fully realized.”