Meet Chiara Santini

founder + creative director
AIA, NCIDQ

Chiara lends an international perspective and unique point of view to the design of interior spaces. As a trained architect, she has an intimate knowledge of residential and hospitality design and construction. With over 20 years of experience driving artistic interior designs for high-end new construction and renovations, she loves working alongside her clients, finding creative solutions that reveal the uniqueness of each project.

Prior to moving to the United States, Chiara managed teams designing high-end hotels, restaurants, residential homes, and condos. Her projects can be found across the globe: Tokyo, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Milan, and Lake Como, to name a few.

Born in the Italian Alps to a family of architects and builders just a few miles south of Switzerland, Chiara has a deep passion for Alpine architecture, design, and lifestyle. After graduating with a degree in architecture from Polytechnic of Milan and attaining her architectural license in Italy, Chiara worked with renowned architect and designer Piero Lissoni for over 5 years. Under Piero’s supervision, she developed a true love for interiors along with honing her unmatched attention to detail.

Following her loving husband, Chiara left Northern Italy and moved to Chicago. There, she landed at Solomon Cordwell Buenz, one of the most notable architectural firms in the United States. As their Interior Design Director of hospitality and residential projects, Chiara supervised large teams working on numerous multi-family and hospitality projects across the country: Country Club Towers II and III in Denver; Hanover Montrose in Houston; Northshore in Austin; A’Alii Design Concept in Honolulu; 505 in Nashville, Hub50House in Boston, and Moment, 465 N Park; Marquee at B37; Elevate and 1001 South State in Chicago.

Chiara is also the founder of thehautestudio, a Chicago-based interior design firm that focuses on high-end residential and hospitality projects. thehautestudio’s projects span some of the most exclusive addresses of Chicago, from the Magnificent Mile to Winnetka, all the way to the Miami Design District.

The first time Chiara was in Aspen in 2008, she dreamed of having the opportunity to work and serve clients in the Roaring Fork Valley. When Chiara and her husband met Pam Duke and Greg Wisener, they immediately jumped at the opportunity to join their established team. Working in a location that is reminiscent of their beloved Alps, Chiara brings her international flair and distinctive style to Mountain Resort Interiors and Construction.

Beyond her architecture portfolio, Chiara is also a licensed general contractor. Combining her architecture and construction background with her detail-oriented design, Chiara’s value proposition to her clients is to be a one-stop-shop for all their real estate needs.

  • Life. I believe there are inspirations all around us if you are able to take the time to look for them. From a scarf at the market to stones on the sand expressions of design are everywhere. Fashion, architecture, and nature are some of the main sources of inspiration for me. Meeting new people and seeing new places is also really important. These help me be open the new ideas and possibilities in all I do.

  • I love to cook, travel and read a great book. Along with my husband Dario, I am always looking for new places to discover. With my camera in hand, I am ready to capture textures, patterns, forms and volumes that inspire me. My job is part of the fabric of who I am. It doesn’t leave me when I’m outside of the office.

  • We have a lot on the books over the next couple of years and there is exciting upcoming news for our office that I can’t wait to share. But, for now, just enjoy our design and company!