Born in Southern California, Elizabeth Vallino traces her aesthetic formation to ballet class, where an eccentric Russian émigré taught a group of small girls the importance of following strict, traditional rules to achieve the precision of form and balance that is classical ballet. All movement was described in precise French terms. This introduction to form, language and culture was the beginning of a lifelong fascination with classical, old-world elegance.
​
While at Pepperdine University, Elizabeth joined an Italian friend on a trip to Europe and decided to return to Rome after graduation to complete a degree in Interior Architecture from the Istituto Pantheon. Living in Rome, she experienced spaces that had been inhabited for centuries and witnessed how the passage of time affects material things. She gained deep familiarity with classical art and architecture, and with the singular beauty of Roman light.
​
​Elizabeth began her career in New York City working for the Italian Trade Commission, traveling regularly to Rome and Milan to attend runway collections and fabric fairs. During this time, she became immersed in the city’s vibrant culture of modern design, art, and architecture—an influence that continues to shape her work today.
​
After returning to the West Coast, Elizabeth settled in Santa Barbara and worked as a fashion and prop stylist. There she met her husband, Gianni Vallino, an Italian artist known for creating distinctive lighting from recycled industrial materials. A wonderful chef, avid Francophile, and devoted reader of Proust, Gianni shares Elizabeth’s appreciation for craft, culture, and beauty.
​
In 1999, Elizabeth founded her own design firm, bringing together her international perspective and creative background to create interiors that are thoughtful, layered, and timeless. Her work includes historically significant residences designed by architects George Washington Smith, Reginald Johnson, Lutah Maria Riggs, and Carleton Winslow, as well as contemporary homes by Anacapa Architecture and Zele Manné.