Screenwriter Chloe King Pivots to Launch the Bespoke Home Furnishing, Décor & Collectibles Service Chloe Collects

One of Chloe’s finds is this maquette—a study for a bronze sculpture from the late 1940s.

There was a time in Chloe King’s life when she defined herself as Chloe the screenwriter. “Truth be told, I still am that and always will be, should I be so lucky. But as anyone in Hollywood will tell you, consistent work is hard to come by—not to mention the impact of the current writers strike—and I felt that creating another means of income was paramount.” 

That’s why after 30 years in showbiz, she kicked off Chloe Collects, a virtual marketplace for vintage art, home decor objects, collectibles and furniture. The items featured on the site (chloecollects.com) are all discoveries from her travels, along with objects unearthed from estate sales and flea markets. You might say it is in her blood. She is the daughter of the late director Zalman King and screenwriter/sculptor Patricia Knop.  The showbiz couple were prolific art collectors who bought pieces from galleries and discovered others by dumpster diving. Like them, Chloe enjoys the hunt.

“I’ve been sourcing treasures for friends, family and designers for decades. I figured, if you love to do it and you’re doing it anyway, why not make a second career of it?”

As far back as she can remember, Chloe has loved “creating something compelling from nothing.” That could mean writing and being able to “stare at a blank piece of paper and conceive a story” or treasure hunting to “discover the discarded or forgotten creations of others, whether it be art or object, vintage or antique, beautiful or simply misunderstood.”

Her favorite weekend activity has always been hitting estate and garage sales and flea markets. “Some people enjoy brunch on a Sunday. Me? I’d rather be sifting through junk hoping to unearth something dazzling.”   

Chloe seems to delight in each find. Two recent examples: One, discovering a treasure trove of works from well-regarded Valley artist Edgar O. Kiechle that hadn’t seen the light of day in 60 years (as featured in the Jan.-Feb. 2023 issue of VB) Another, a unique vintage lamp. “It was purchased from the estate of an A-list director, now deceased, and it depicts a 1950s film set in miniature. There are klieg lights, a convertible, a cheerleader, a waitress, a man and two dogs. The best part—you turn one of the dogs to turn on the light.”

“I’ve been sourcing treasures for friends, family and designers for decades. I figured, if you love to do it and you’re doing it anyway, why not make a second career of it?”

Chloe, who is a mom of two and lives in Sherman Oaks, describes her new business as a “bespoke sourcing service.” If customers don’t see what they are looking for on her website, she adds, they can hire her to find it.   

While reinventing yourself in midlife comes with challenges, Chloe says there is also delight. “When you open an old shoebox and find a photograph of a young James Dean on a 1950s film set with Ronald Reagan that hasn’t seen the light of day since it was printed, it brings a thrill—a joyous feeling. Ultimately, though, when I see the happiness etched on the faces of my clients after I match them with something beautiful that is perfect for their home, that’s about as good as it gets.”