Elizabeth Mollen is the founder and creative director of Stone Textile Studio and co-founder of The Vault Creative, a Chicago North Shore design destination known for its curated mix of vintage and contemporary pieces. A member of the Women’s Board of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Mollen has long believed in the power of art to shape how we live. Her art-driven approach results in layered interiors that feel deeply personal, collected, and emotionally resonant.
Estelle.: How do you define your design philosophy, and how has it evolved over time?
Elizabeth: My design philosophy has always centered around creating spaces that feel collected rather than decorated — interiors that tell a story and reflect a life well lived.
The most successful spaces are the ones that feel authentic — where vintage pieces coexist effortlessly with contemporary design and art brings depth, tension, and personality.
As both a designer and a shop owner, sourcing has continually refined my eye. I’ve learned that the magic often lies in the unexpected piece — the artwork or object that quietly becomes the soul of a room.
What role does art play in your design process? Is it something you plan around or allow to emerge naturally?
EM: Art is often the starting point for me. I frequently tell clients that art isn’t the finishing touch — it’s the decision that makes every other decision easier.
A strong piece can guide the palette, influence material choices, and establish the emotional tone of an interior before anything else is placed.
Even when art enters later in the process, it inevitably becomes the anchor of the space — the element that gives the room gravity and personality.
What drew you to curating this collection with Estelle., and how did you approach selecting the works?
EM: What immediately resonated with me was the distinct point of view behind the collection — the work feels expressive without being overwhelming, sophisticated yet highly livable.
I approached the curation the same way I design a home, looking for balance. Pieces that create quiet moments alongside those that naturally command attention.
Tangled was one of the first works that truly stopped me. The layered pinks, ochres, and smoky neutrals feel both energetic and refined. As a designer, I could instantly envision an entire living room unfolding from this painting. It has the rare ability to guide a space without overpowering it — you could pull subtle color into upholstery, echo its movement through sculptural lighting, or allow it to become the tension point within a more restrained interior.
Is there a common thread, emotional, visual, or conceptual, that connects the pieces you chose?
EM: There is a sense of restrained warmth running through the collection. Each piece carries a presence without needing to shout, which is something I consistently gravitate toward.
I was also drawn to works that blur the line between art and function, like Sisters, the sculptural wall mirror. It reads as an object before it reads as a mirror — introducing shape, movement, and a slightly surreal quality that makes people pause.
Reflective pieces naturally expand a room, but this one does more — it creates intrigue. To me, the strongest interiors balance practicality with moments of unexpected beauty, and Sisters captures that effortlessly.
Is there one piece in the collection that feels especially personal to you? Why?
EM: It’s difficult to choose just one, but I often find myself returning to Tangled. I always believe the best works continue to reveal themselves over time, and this is one I know I would design around without hesitation. Those are the pieces people tend to live with the longest — the ones that grow with you.
Can you describe a moment when a piece of art completely changed how a space felt?
EM: When we relocated, I wanted to bring a piece of that chapter with us. The artwork now lives in a central space in our home, and it does more than anchor the room — it carries memory, history, and a sense of continuity.
Every time I pass it, I’m reminded of the galleries I used to wander and the creative energy that defined that period of my life. That is the power of art at its best — it doesn’t just transform a space visually, it connects you to where you’ve been while becoming part of where you are.
What advice would you give someone who is buying their first serious piece of art?
EM: Buy what moves you — not what matches. The most compelling homes are layered with pieces that hold meaning rather than those chosen purely for coordination. And don’t be afraid of scale or presence. Often, the piece that feels slightly intimidating is the one that ultimately defines the room.
How do you hope someone feels when they encounter this collection in their own space?
EM: I hope it creates a sense of quiet luxury — not in an obvious way, but in the way a space feels deeply considered.
More than anything, I want the collection to bring emotion into the home. The right artwork has the power to ground us, inspire us, and elevate everyday moments.
When art resonates personally, a home stops being just a place you live — it becomes a reflection of who you are.
