What does it mean to come home... not only to a place, but to a way of living? After years spent abroad, Chloé returned to the small Swiss town where she grew up. Today, she is slowly creating a home of her own. One rooted in nature, creativity and the quiet rituals of everyday life.
04 - A Sense of Home
Meet Chloé. Born and raised in Switzerland, Chloé spent much of her years abroad before returning home four years ago. She now lives back in Switzerland with her partner and their dog, while slowly creating a home of their own.
Her world is shaped by nature, creativity and a deep appreciation for the everyday — from sourdough on the kitchen counter and long walks with her dog to old furniture, linen, and the changing light outside her windows.
In this conversation, Chloé shares her thoughts on coming home, living well, finding alignment and creating a life that feels grounded and inspiring.
The Conversation
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey?
I was born and raised in Switzerland, close to nature. Most of my 20s were spent abroad and four years ago I decided to come back and settle here. Last year we bought our first home and are slowly renovating it.
Art and health have always been strong pillars in my life. Growing up with an active family that spent weekends in the alps and grew a vegetable garden, we also always had a camera around to capture our travels, adventures and our most cherished moments together.
It came naturally to pick one myself and start capturing my life and the things that inspire me. Although my parents followed a more traditional career path, I chose to go to film school and pursued telling stories on the internet.
Now I live in the same small Swiss town I grew up in, with my partner and our dog, Olja.
What do you think you’re trying to capture when you take a photograph?
A sense of peace & harmony.
After spending so much time abroad, what does coming home mean to you now?
I think it’s got a deeper meaning now. I appreciate what I have and use to grew up with more than I did at a time I hadn’t experienced something else.
What does a slower, more rooted life give you that living abroad didn’t?
Closeness to my family. And perspective. Witnessing a place evolve over decades really deepens how I think and feel about it.
What does it feel like to return to a place you once knew as a child?
It feels like a full circle moment. Thinking of growing a family in the same town I myself grew up in feels really special.
What do you think Switzerland does particularly well when it comes to living well?
I think people here love the outdoors and spend a lot of their free time outside. The country is overall very safe and clean and just genuinely pleasant to live in.
You’re slowly renovating your first home. What do you want the space to make you feel?
Inspired & calm.
How do you decide what deserves a place in your home?
It’s intuitive. I believe things carry energy too. It’s a sense that it’s aligned with what I want the home to feel like and what need it fulfills in it.
What does home mean to you?
Feeling safe enough to be yourself and grounded enough to venture out into new territory.
What is always on your kitchen counter?
Homemade sourdough bread, fresh eggs and vegetables from the farm nearby.
Do you have a favorite piece of art at home?
The antique equestrian art passed down from my partner’s grandfather.
Do you think the spaces we create around ourselves reflect who we are becoming?
100%, I think they are a roadmap of where we’ve been and where we’re headed.
What part of MOCHA feels most aligned with who you are?
The purity and simplicity of MOCHA really speaks to me. The dresses feel like a blank slate letting one's beauty shine through and with it. It ties timeless elegance and everyday comfort in a way that’s very aligned with how I want to feel on a day-to-day.
What is something you have recently changed your mind about?
I used to think all I wanted was a calm and peaceful life. Now I realize I also need to feel inspired in order to feel truly alive. My true happiness depends on my ability to take creative action in the direction I wish to go and find purpose in the journey itself.
What inspires you most in your life?
Nature, especially the change of seasons. I am lucky to see nature through our home windows and never cease to get amazed at the colors and shades of light.
And beautiful things, natural textures, delicate scents, and what they translate into the sensory experience.
Passed down antique furniture, a silk dress, soft linen bedsheets, the patinated wood on vintage chairs, an oversized wool blanket, the smell of sourdough bread baking.
What values are most important to you?
Alignment & honesty. How can I be more honest with myself and others? Is it aligned with what I want and need right now and moving forward? Those are the questions I ask myself a lot before making decisions and choosing direction.
What does success mean to you?
Living a life that energizes and replenishes you.
What has become less important?
Success in the material term and being liked by everyone.
What challenge has taught you the most?
Experiencing anxiety and depression. It’s taught me empathy and the realization that every one, at some point will encounter a difficult time. Like my mom always said “where nothing is going on, there is no one”.
"I used to think all I wanted was a calm and peaceful life. Now I realize I also need to feel inspired in order to feel truly alive."
What does living well mean to you?
Giving things the time they need. Being both determined and patient. Being caring & honest. And taking time to do the things that nourish you on a mind, body and soul level.
What small things bring you the most joy?
Seeing my dog having a great time. The moment my partner opens the door after a long day at work. Catching up over a call with my best friend across the world.
What are you most grateful for?
Health. The people in my life, the work I get to do and the house I get to live in.
What is your favorite thing about getting older?
Having the confidence and trust in myself to do what is best for me and my family.
What everyday ritual makes you feel most grounded?
Taking a long walk with my dog.
How do you recognize when something is no longer aligned with you?
I feel a contraction in my body when I think or engage with it.
What are the little rituals that make a relationship feel like home?
Greeting each other with a smile every time we meet again. Sharing at least one undistracted meal a day together. And tending to the home and garden as a team, I love when we do this on weekends, we’re so efficient together.
What is your ultimate beauty tip?
Focus on your joy, it will shine through.
THE LOOK
