Tomorrow, for Design Chicago at @themartshowrooms, Ill have the honor of moderating a conversation with @alfredoparedesstudio the 34-year creative director of Ralph Lauren, now author of Alfredo Paredes: At Home, and the visionary behind a new collection with @kravet1918.To say Im humbled doesnt come close.Im admittedly (not even remotely) an interior designer just someone endlessly inspired by the worlds that real designers create especially Alfredos.For 35 years, his work at Ralph Lauren helped define an entire language of American design that Ive been obsessed with: cinematic, soulful, timeless.Since founding his own studio in 2019, hes continued to create some of the most beautiful, inspiring restaurants, homes, and stores in the world.So how does an eighth-of-a-star place like Camp end up sitting across from someone like that?Maybe because Alfredo is also deeply human.He finds beauty in the unloved things from homes to objects found in far-flung flea markets and transforms them into something extraordinary.That makes him so relatable.What I find most inspiring is that his work gives permission to people like me those who arent designers and work with thrift-store budgets to believe we too can create spaces full of character.He reminds us to embrace patina over perfection, and story over pedigree. A few pics here of some of my favorite spaces hes created and a few from our Camp world, where story and imperfection still guide everything we try to make.Over the years, our little Camp has somehow found its way into pages and places we never could have imagined.Each of those moments reminds me that design doesnt have to be perfect it just has to tell a story.Sometimes the most inspiring spaces are simply the ones layered with the stories we weave into them through the objects we find and love.Tomorrow, I get to sit across from one of the greats to talk about his book, his journey, and his way of seeing the world.Grateful, honored, and honestly a little in awe.

October 8, 2025 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram