Chloe Tozer
Physically, where are you right now? Are you at home, on holiday, in the office or elsewhere?
Today I’m in our design Atelier
How does your current environment inform your creative process and what is inspiring you right now?
Days spent in the CLO Atelier are all about collaboration. The space is filled with our favourite things, with lots of natural light and breeze. Our desks are covered in samples, books and art.
It’s hard not to be inspired living in Noosa. We have beauty all around us, and we are lucky to have the ocean at our door stop and lots of sunshine!
For every good idea there are many more we reject. Do you ever salvage ideas that didn’t come to fruition at a later stage or do you just move on?
I always follow my instinct with decision making, so if something isn’t working or I don’t feel it wholeheartedly I’m quick to move on.
Trusting the journey is important, and I feel timing is everything for opportunities.
The Arte Mirror in one of Chloe's interior projects
What have been some personal milestones that you have achieved outside the expectation or perceived expectation of others?
Starting a business at 21 is something I’m proud of. I look back and can’t believe how naive I was about it all. In your early 20’s you really have no fear, I have tried to maintain that young spirit in our culture as the business has grown, & I have aged!! Being spontaneous, working hard but not forgetting to celebrate success.
What have been some of your most profound personal challenges and have they ever informed your creative process or interrupted it?
I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the current economic state is a challenge. Our industry experienced a massive high over the last few years and coming off the back of that has provided new challenges. For us, we are using this time to explore new initiatives, embrace new waves of creativity to think into the future.
If you analysed the most important factors in your success, what would say these have been?
Building a great Team, CLO wouldn’t be anything without our incredible team. I really believe the key to success is having great people surrounding you, working with strengths and learning from one another.
What are your personal and creative rituals, if any?
Collaboration time with my team is extremely important but balancing this with time to myself is as important. Spending time, normally at night to be in my own headspace. Music is always present, combined with my sketch pad, books and there is always a nice scent in the air. A candle or incense depending how I feel. Setting the mood for my creative mind to run free without any constraints.
Where do you go to find creative refuge?
At the moment, I’m finding refuge at home. We have just finished renovating our home in Peregian Beach, Villa des fleurs. I dream of weekends spent at home, getting lost in a book, working in the garden and cooking. During the week I run on such a tight schedule, finding creative refuge is as simple as having no plans and being as far away from my phone and laptop as possible!
If you could go back in time and begin again without knowing what you do now, would you?
I live with no regrets and truly believe that the only way to learn is from your mistakes. I wouldn’t change a thing.
What piece of wisdom currently resonates with you and how does it inform your approach to life right now?
Hard work pays off is something my parents always role modelled. I think their work ethic has always inspired me. As well as being focused on my lane, I’m a dreamer and goal setter.
