Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Chavez.
Sarah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Chimera Interiors started about 20 years ago. Marina Mizruh and I met while studying at the UCLA Interior design program. After our studies at UCLA then we reconnected as she became my client at the Los Angeles B&B Italia flagship showroom. I fondly recall thinking we are so different, yet we come together when it comes to interior space. A million years and projects later, we are still the best of friends and we are design soulmates. Andrea Russo joined our team from Milan, we like to think of him as the 3rd head of our Chimera. The name Chimera comes from Marina she is smarty and reads a lot. A Chimera is from Greek mythology a 3-headed beast, for us it represents something made up of parts of things that are very different from each other. We all come from all different parts of the world and yet we speak the same language when it comes to design, Team Chimera has created spectacular projects for our clients. We are a boutique full-service design firm we are equipped take projects of all shapes and sizes.
Has it been a smooth road?
Great question… We have had to endure many obstacles and challenges. The great thing about it is that having a synergy with your partners is the ability to weather through it all… Priceless! The Great Recession of 2007 – 2008 was crazy and unbelievably difficult to witness with so many showrooms and manufacturers shutting their doors, many did not come back from that. We were insulated from that disaster as our projects were our clients were from Europe, moving United States, we did not plan it that way just happened.
One of our biggest challenges was when one of our dearest clients was diagnosed with cancer while we were in the end of renovation, yup! It got real. I can happily report that after a very close call she is a survivor! The experience was a very intense time for all of us emotionally, from business point of view we were all stressed, we were able weather the storm together. So, aside from the current social climate and Global pandemic, all things considered the struggles have been minimal, we are fortunate!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Chimera Interiors story. Tell us more about the business.
Our goal when working with clients is to take all the ingredients and flavors provided by the clients, architects, and builders to create a 3-dimensional feast that is both well-curated and livable. We are mostly known for our well-edited, simple yet unrestrained environments. We are mostly known for our high-end residential interiors. We have strong background in vintage modern furnishings as well as luxury brand European collections. We all agree that as a company, we are most proud of our reputation with our client’s integrity is very important to our team. The idea that we are set apart from other designers is not easy to answer, there is so much talent in Los Angeles, the whole West Coast is bursting with creatives! But to answer the question what sets us apart? We deliver a chic, curated livable home, while it reflects the character of its inhabitants it also endures the test of time.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
We have just gone through a huge shift as we are learning to navigate a Global Pandemic in society. The idea of working remotely is not new for us as we have adopted this approach for past couple of years. The biggest change we see seems obvious, in that our homes and how we live in them. First and foremost planning interiors that are environmentally efficient and healthy is a huge shift. We imagine properly ventilated open, simple, smart spaces that can morph into many functions, Live, Work, Play. We see outdoor spaces at home evolving to be more important than ever! The trends seem to be “Staycation” or buy an Airstream!
Contact Info:
- Address: 8811 Alden drive, Suite 11
West Hollywood, CA 90048 - Website: www.chimera-interiors.com
- Phone: 310 488-5254
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @chimerainteriors
Image Credit:
Andrea Russo, Sam Frost, Holger Obenaus, Ed Addeo, Sarah Chavez
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
