Life & Work with Chloe Van Vegten of Colorado Springs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Van Vegten.

Hi Chloe, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Vancouver BC, Canada until I was 12. My mom and step dad were in the film industry which made for a lot of creative inspiration and experiences few people get to have- but it was chaotic nonetheless. My home was plagued with severe mental health and addiction and by the time I was 12, my step father had passed away suddenly and my little sister and I found ourselves migrating across the border into Washington state to live with our biological dad and step mom. Although this gave my nervous system the time to heal and step into the role of a “child” for the first time, I still struggled with integrating into a “normal” life. I was 16 when I had ran away from home and started working to support myself because my whole life I had been chasing freedom- and it felt so good to finally get to be my own person without adults trying to tell me who I could and should be. I’d be lying if I said I made all the right choices and my life took off into my dreams coming true from there. But the truth is I struggled to find my way for a few years. I was hanging out with the wrong crowd and let’s just say learning a lot from my new found freedom. By the time I was 20, I found myself back in Vancouver, pregnant with a baby girl, whom would be born on December 14, 2012 and her name would be Harlow. Being a mother changed me inside and out. I finally got to experience what unconditional love really meant. I had purpose, and drive to be the best version of myself for this little human. I started valuing myself because it was important for Harlow to have someone to look up to. I started making art again (something that always came naturally to me and I loved doing as a child). I was practicing my creativity through healthy cooking for me and my little growing girl. And life was good. Except for the fact that I was living in a very expensive city as a single mom and the weight of the world literally made my back ache. When Harlow was almost 3, my dad invited me to move back in with him in Washington state where I could get on my feet and that’s where my life really started to take off. Fast forward to getting married to my best friend (we just celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary), having three more babies, moving to Colorado and running a family owned interior design and construction company. There are so many details and twists and turns in between but life has been my greatest teacher in getting me to where I am today and I stay in gratitude for that. Because even the darkest days have a lesson and an opportunity to rise up from.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. Destruction is a part of creation. I believe that when we aren’t on our highest path, life will start hinting that something needs to be changed. If we don’t get that hint, the message gets louder and louder until it hits us in the face with unbearable shaking force. I’ve had many of these experiences. But the one that shook me to my core happened on May 1st, 2019. I now had a 6 year old daughter and two sons (Asher who was 2 and Journey who was just 5 months old). At this point my life was really good- my husband had a great job in the union as a carpenter, we owned a home, we had a great community of friends and family. And then out of nowhere my daughter was backed over by a car while she was skateboarding in front of our house and was instantly killed. Everything I knew to be true- shattered. An experience in life that completely and utterly changed me. I could write a novel on the years that unfolded after for my family and I, but I will just explain the gifts that have come out of such a transformative experience. I believe in life we have two options. Sink or swim. I’ve always been a strong swimmer. Harlow’s death catapulted me into letting go of my crippling anxiety and fears, it allowed me to truly get to know myself, to practice more kindness and compassion towards myself and others, to be a better mother and wife. This experience taught me that life matters a lot and to not take it so seriously at the same time. It taught me that anything is possible. And it taught me to slow down and to savor the little things in each present moment. Harlow taught me how to fearlessly stand in my light, how to dance like no one is watching and to not settle for anything less than what I deserve. She taught me what a loving home looks like with all of its imperfections. She taught me what being a grown up looked like while still being connected to that child within. She taught me that just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Harlow taught me and still continues to teach me many things.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an artist, in many forms. I work with canvases of many sorts it really just depends on the day. The path I’m going down currently (and have been on now for a few years) is Interior Design. I think it’s just such a symbolic experience to transform a home. I believe our home is a representation of our inner world and that we all hold so much unique beauty and I love getting to walk with clients down that path and helping them express themselves and feel good through and in their homes. My husband Jared owns a construction company so we work together a lot, and I think our own personal experiences through inner and outer transformation really allows us to understand and work well with our clientele. I also create custom artwork (usually oil on canvas) and just love getting to capture the essence of others through this medium. It’s such a beautiful way to remember a loved one through a personal keepsake like a painting. I know that for me having paintings of my daughter Harlow brings me such a chromatic range of emotion and allows me to connect with her in my own way.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I went to French immersion school from kindergarten through 5th grade. A lot of my teachers were actually from France- we frequently studied the great French artists and there was a huge emphasis on art which really lit me up as a child. It’s something that came very naturally to me. I remember just always being super creative whether it be doodling, painting, crafting, sewing, rearranging my room. I loved it. And distinctly remember being imbedded with such a strong trust in myself to be able to create the thing that I pictured in my mind. I would say I have always been an introverted extrovert. I had no problem making friends but also enjoyed my alone time. I matured very quickly and learned to take care of myself and others at a young age which I think has fed my ambition and self esteem. I was very open minded I loved learning and loved beauty and esthetics. I was tall and wanted to play basketball but my school had no female basketball team so I joined the boys without thinking twice about it. That’s the kind of personality I had.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chloevanvegteninteriors.com
• Instagram: @chloevanvegten

Image Credits
Hope Black