Originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle
Illustrator and paper artist Chloe Fleury remembers making paper boxes, origami and handmade cards as a child growing up in Lyon, France. Her parents appreciated good design, and their modern, colorful home served as her first lesson on embracing hue, something she’s known for among a loyal following.
“I am not shy with color,” she says, “mostly because colors make me happy.” In art school, she would create little worlds out of cardboard and decorate them with paper and fabric, using stop-motion video to bring them to life. Later, San Francisco’s brightly colored Victorians inspired her paper sculpture. Today, she designs whimsical paper illustrations and set decorations for brands like Gap and Target as well as national and indie magazines.
Chloe and her husband, Mehdi, who is also French, moved into their two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco’s Mission District five years ago. Since then, their family has grown to four with daughters Lula (almost 3) and Anouk (7 months). To many with kids, Chloe seems to have achieved the impossible: centering her home around her children while still keeping it modern, full of style and free of clutter and unsightly toys. Good taste and a sprinkling of treasures from their travels to Morocco, France and Mexico keep the place fun for adults, too. The kilim pillow and graphic throw on their West Elm leather sofa, as well as the shag rug at the foot of it, all come from Morocco. Baskets from Mexico and Los Angeles artist Eliza Gran serve as storage throughout the apartment. The hanging hammock chair from Cobble Mountain is a family favorite, appealing to all ages. “I bought it when I was pregnant with Anouk,” Chloe says as she takes in its 15th Street view. “It was so good for my back, then for nursing and now to rock her. Lula thinks it’s a swing and she is always in it.”
Chloe’s French bohemian style — set on a San Francisco stage — is coveted by creative types here and abroad. It’s a mix of midcentury modern and French flea-market style. Lula’s play table is a perfect example, set with mini orange Bertoia chairs and a vintage blue chair from France. Chloe loved a vintage rattan crib so much that she had it shipped from France for Anouk, while the mobile above it comes from Greece. Chloe’s paper taxidermy (bunnies, flamingos and other carefully crafted animals), which have become a staple in modern nurseries, can be spotted around her home, too.
The girls share the second bedroom that once served as Chloe’s workspace. “I wouldn’t say no to a three-bedroom,” Chloe says from their cozy space, “but to move in San Francisco right now would be insane. We would have to pay at least three times what we pay now,” echoing a sentiment heard ’round the city in recent years.
Chloe recently moved her workshop from a local studio that suffered a rent hike to a corner of their bedroom. The master bedroom, draped with a Moroccan wedding blanket, headboard style, and a vintage Indian quilt, feels bigger than it is, thanks to a yard that extends from it. Outdoors, the family enjoys barbecues, baby pool parties and swinging in a hammock they scored on a trip to Mexico.
The yard was a big plus when choosing the apartment, as was the neighborhood. “We love living in the Mission,” says Chloe, who has a series of Instagram shots of the city’s vibrant facades — “being able to walk everywhere is so convenient.” Some local favorites include Lolo for tacos, Bi-Rite for ice cream and Boba Guys for tea with tapioca.
Has San Francisco influenced her design sense since leaving France eight years ago? “San Francisco has made my love for color even stronger,” says Chloe. “I dare more.”
Design with color and kids
Embrace color: Chloe brightens up her rental-white walls with colorful accents, such as a pink wall hanging by Janelle Gramling. “I think I am obsessed with pink more than I’ve ever been lately. Coral pink, blush pink.”
Embrace neutrals: Still, white walls are good for balance, and the West Elm leather sofa makes a good neutral canvas for the colorful decor. Using brights in moderation with neutrals in the mix makes Chloe’s home playful yet calming.
Match your kids’ style to your own: Modern toys can give parents a visual break. The children’s decor in Chloe’s home blends in elegantly with her own decor, so if toys are strewn about it doesn’t look so much like a kid takeover as traditional toys would.
Choose storage with style: “Baskets are the best for storage,” says Chloe. “They’re an easy and pretty way to hide all the toys!” Pom-pom baskets by Eliza Gran are her favorite and can be seen on the floor as well as hanging on the walls.
Jewelry can be art, too: Think outside the frame box. Hang things that you think are beautiful but not necessarily in a frame. Chloe has necklaces and hats from her travels hung with care. In the girls’ room, cute little bags and Bright Lab lights are hung on the wall. Adorable Megan Wood moccasins are also displayed on a shelf.