Creative Ways of Living: Sophie Strobele

A model, art director, and founder of Casa Carlotta, a space dedicated to inspiration, reflection, and community, where creativity can flourish without the pressures of productivity

Welcome to this week’s edition of Creative Ways of Living, where we’re widening your aperture around more creative (and gratifying!) ways of working and living, ways that allow us to build our identities around all of the vibrant — and varied — different parts of ourselves.

Sophie Strobele is a model, art director, and the founder of Casa Carlotta, a non-productive residency space in the North of Italy (which happens to be where we hosted our first Out of Office Residency earlier this fall). In our conversation with Sophie, we talk about how non-productive spaces give us permission to find clarity, embracing life’s seasons, following her artist grandmother’s path toward a more free-spirited, community-oriented existence, and what it means to truly “make a living.”

It’s a long one, full of beautiful reflections. We hope you’ll enjoy. 

---

What does life look like for you these days? How do you fill your days?

At this point in my life, I’ve adopted a seasonal approach to how I live, rather than deciding exactly what every day or month should look like. I’ve learned to accept the ebb and flow, recognizing when I feel more introverted or tired, when I want to tap into creativity or focus on more resourcing and healing activities, rather than being overly social or collaborative.

I don’t judge these phases; I try to honor them. I listen to my body and mind to understand what feels right and where I can dive deepest. I don’t want to call it “efficiency,” but more about being fully immersed in what feels good at the time. I have to admit, though: I’m terrible at routines. I think it's different for everyone, and my career in fashion, with all the travel, has made it hard for me to stick to one. Every day is different, and I’ve learned to appreciate the freedom that brings.

I do have a loose framework of things I enjoy doing. I have a small catalog of interests and activities that I focus on, but I pick and choose depending on the day. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with starting my mornings with movement — like Gaga dance, which is all about finding joy in movement without rigid technique. It’s been energizing. Or sometimes, it’s as simple as taking a walk outdoors. I’ve found that whenever I’m stuck, being in nature really helps to clear my mind.

My life is hard to pin down, but that’s part of its beauty. Some days, I’ll have 11 meetings and I’m fully energized, thriving on connection and interaction. Other days, I take my time, not starting anything before midday, and I might work late into the night. This flexibility — tuning into my natural rhythm — has been really beneficial.

And I do have a family, so a big part of my day is also devoted to family. I try to give that the space it deserves. One of the things our society often demands is having kids and a family… but also being overly productive at the same time. And not really being there for kids, our partners or ourselves. For me, nurturing my daughter, my partner, and the home we’ve created is so important. I’ve found joy in being offline and fully in the moment, something my daughter has really helped me remember. She’s a constant reminder that life happens now, not later. She sometimes says, “Mom, be in the now, it’s now.”

Tell us about the path that has led you to the life you live today?

Looking back on how my life has unfolded to where I am today, I realize that a lot of it stems from my professional life. As a model, I spent much of my time on other people's schedules, always having to be available and ready to go wherever I was needed. Maybe not by choice, but I was quickly thrown into this very improvised lifestyle, where plans were always shifting. This experience has built a lot of resilience in me. I learned to adapt to new situations, people, and cultures quickly. I think I’ve developed a flow that helps me navigate different emotional states and environments. While I may have learned these lessons the hard way, I now see them as a strength, something that has allowed me to move through life with more flexibility.

In my 30s, I’ve come to realize how lucky I am for those experiences. I was always dedicated and disciplined in my work — I never canceled on anyone, I always showed up. But through that, I also learned my own self-worth, which I always took very seriously, and as a result, I’ve become good at setting boundaries and protecting my lifestyle when necessary. A huge part of setting those boundaries has been thanks to my daughter. Her arrival has helped me clarify my priorities, giving me the strength to take care of both her and myself. I’m incredibly grateful for that.

I’ve also always been a curious person. For instance, I remember working in San Francisco, and someone introduced me to permaculture. The way they talked about it fascinated me, so I took a year-long course online, which completely pivoted my perspective. Now, my daughter attends a school that operates by the principles of permaculture. There are so many examples like this — moments where I was curious about something that led me down paths I hadn’t anticipated.

I believe that having open ears and eyes, staying curious, and having a catalogue of interests helps you connect with people all over the world. It’s an expansive way of living that makes you feel at home wherever you go.

What does living a creative (non-traditional, or non-work-centered) life mean to you?

To me, creativity means that you can create something from anything, and you don’t have to obey any rules or be bound by rules or restrictions that others imposed. The systems we live and work in today are human-made; they were created by people. So, why not create something different? That’s the beauty of creativity — it has the power to overcome established rules and even the language we use daily.

Sometimes, my daughter and I will create our own language, making up words that hold no preconceived meaning for us. And we just chit-chat. It’s incredibly liberating because it turns everything around us into potential material or an inspiration that keeps your mind going. It invites you to respond to things in your own way or not at all, allowing you to keep moving forward without feeling confined to any set expectations or calculations. I really love that unpredictability. When I know exactly how my week is going to play out, I often feel the urge to shake things up and do something completely different. Which can sometimes be very chaotic for others :) 

A creative life is one where you realize that you are the master of your own way of living. Something creative is also very collaborative and social. We, as humans, need each other to create. This hyper-individualism that’s been dominant for the past few centuries can be really harmful — not just for personal happiness, but for collective happiness, too. Creativity thrives when we engage with others… and it doesn't have to be people, it can be nature, or any other external force. That to me is a truly creative life, moving beyond this narrow focus on the self.

When we put ourselves above everything and everyone, it can become quite self-destructive. Real creativity encourages us to step out of that mindset and see the broader possibilities that exist when we connect with others.

You live in Arles with your family… wonder if you could tell us about that choice?

I change my living arrangements almost every year. Now that my daughter is five and starting school, I had to decide and settle on a place that would be a comfortable living situation for the next few years. But normally, I could never decide where to live and commit to a place because I believe that the place you live is always inspiring you. Every time you change your surroundings, you encounter new energies and ideas.

Settling down has been a unique and beautiful journey. My decision to move to a city like Arles, where many people have also chosen to leave their “normal” lives, is part of that... Arles has a dreamy, cinematic landscape, attracting passionate individuals who have left traditional careers to pursue passion-driven work, whether it's ceramics, physical therapy, or yoga teaching.

Our personal decision to move here came very quickly. Our whole family was at a point where we were feeling unhappy living in a big city and we learned about an amazing school set in nature that embraces an alternative approach to education. Almost overnight, we decided to make the change and move here. Our priority was to ensure our daughter grew up in an environment close to nature that would support her creative way of life, rather than one that emphasizes competition and success or non-success from an early age.

Coming to a new place without preconceived notions or expectations also allows us to appreciate the beauty around us even more. I initially moved here solely for the school, so had no expectations, and with that everything else that happens here extra my life feels like an unexpected gift. I think this approach — having low expectations — can really lead to greater joy..

Would I have wanted to be here ten years ago? Probably not. And will I still be here in ten years? I don’t know. As humans, we change and go through different phases in life; our seasonality isn’t confined to just a year but spans our entire lives. 

Out of Office at Casa Carlotta. photos by Giulia Ferraris

We just spent a week at Casa Carlotta leading an Out of Office residency. Could you tell us about the project, how it has come to life?

Casa Carlotta is a place of connection, a thinking hub for like-minded people and projects across all disciplines and forms. For me, personally, the experience of being with people in a shared space, having a shared creative collective doing, is incredibly enriching. Casa Carlotta offers that kind of environment, a tranquil and simple life where we can reconnect with ourselves and others, and slow down.

Casa Carlotta is a place without many tools of conveniences or distractions, where time seems to stand still. This is what makes it so valuable. Artist residencies often provide this gift — they allow us to slow down, there’s no pressure to act or be a certain way, there is so much space and no real setting. You can start new, and be creative and kind of start from zero, kept in the comfort of a house, nurtured by the house’s warm atmosphere, and explore ideas that might not have space to breathe elsewhere.

This space becomes a sanctuary where people can “rebirth” and imagine all the things they want, where ideas can be tested in conversations with others, where you might learn how to stand up for your ideas or reassess them. I think this space is so valuable for constructive discussions and interactions that go beyond surface-level exchanges, that we often have in our everyday lives, where we often just have half an hour or a quick lunch, which often just scratches the surface of things. 

Casa Carlotta, for me, is a tribute to my grandmother, who lived a very creative and free-spirited life. She believed deeply in the strength of the environment, education, art, and feminine energy. She created a place where strangers felt at home and nurtured, that allows for a reviewing of habits and thoughts. And that’s the ultimate intention. I was lucky enough to experience that as a child, and now it's rewarding to share it with others. 

I believe in the concept of giving and taking, and Casa Carlotta thrives on that exchange. When you’re generous and open, you receive so much more in return, often in ways you can't predict. There's something uncalculated, unexpected, and beautiful about that. If Casa Carlotta can continue to host free-thinking spirits, nurture creative energies, and spark meaningful conversations, I feel that’s what I strive for.

What in your life / about the way you want to work and live motivated you to run Casa Carlotta?  What are you hoping to cultivate both for yourself and for those who cross its thresholds?

The motivation behind running Casa Carlotta stems from a deep desire of myself for community, collective being, and meaningful social interactions. Growing up in a small family, I’ve always found the feeling of a house filled with laughter, music, and shared moments really beautiful. My grandmother lived that way for a long time, and she deeply inspired me to create something similar — a space where people can come together, play, and simply be.

Beyond family history, running Casa Carlotta is also a personal occupation where I can invest my time, care, and attention, yet still embrace the unknown. I love the constant sense of possibility that comes from welcoming new people, projects, and stories into the space, and how each new arrival brings fresh energy and vision. That unpredictability keeps the experience alive and exciting.

Another driving factor is my struggle with past professional experiences — especially in modeling, where I often found myself working with brands whose ethics I didn’t align with. While I formed strong connections with the creative teams, I still felt uneasy giving my energy to projects that didn’t feel aligned with my values. That tension pushed me to fully dedicate myself to something that serves a greater common good, rather than just someone’s personal profit.

That’s why Casa Carlotta is structured as a nonprofit. It’s a space where the act of doing, of collaborating with other nonprofits and like-minded individuals, drives the project forward. It’s about creating a meaningful, shared experience that transcends personal gain, and that vision is what keeps me motivated every day.

I’m incredibly grateful to the people who have been part of this project and continue to be. I didn’t plan for the community aspect to evolve in the way it has, but I’ve learned that by opening up the project to others and letting them in, asking them how they imagine it, rather than “possessing” it, the project has taken on its own dynamic. I’ve invited people to experience the house and make it their own, and that has created a sense of return — a place where people can come back to and create with. This long-term perspective is also something I’ve learned from permaculture: things grow and develop over time, not according to rigid timelines, but through consistency and care becomes something itself.

Casa Carlotta is a self-described “non-productive residency” — can you tell us more about your perspectives on productivity vs. non-productivity, what they have to do with creativity, fulfillment, etc.?

By defining Casa Carlotta as a "non-productive" residency, I was kind of playing with the expectations we usually have for residencies and wanted to break away from the typical categories of an artist residency. The more I researched, the more I realized that I wanted it to be a space for anyone — any discipline, any profession, any personal situation. I wanted it to be inclusive. I think of “artist” as the word that we use today for people who design their life and work hours in their own way. You need to have a certain willingness to take time for yourself and come to a place like this, and I personally struggle with that too — to take a week and say, "Okay, I'm going to reconsider everything I do on a daily basis." It’s definitely a challenge.

But the idea of "non-productivity" is really about finding, or refinding, creativity, fulfillment, and motivation. It’s about believing in your ideas and in yourself again. It doesn’t have to be, "I’m taking a week to write a book" or "I’m going to create something." That’s great if you do, and it probably means you’re already in charge of your own work-life mode. But I wanted this space to also be for people who need time to sit with themselves, or with others, to come to certain realizations.

I’ve also seen a lot of residency formats where the space gains something in return, like an artwork left behind. I don’t really love that exchange — it feels too materialistic. For me, the real gain is in long-term relationships, in feedback, in the words and thoughts people leave behind. We have a guestbook, and to me, that’s the most precious thing about the house. It’s filled with poems, drawings, sketches, reflections… moments where people have gained a new perspective in the house. That, to me, is productivity in itself. It doesn’t have to be in a materialistic way. It’s about finding a productivity that feels good for you.

Anything else you want to share?

Some people, when you ask them what they do for a living, I’ve noticed how they jump straight to their job titles. But I’ve come to see that “making a living” means giving the attention and care to the people and things that truly matter — whether that’s your family, your passions, or your environment. Basically, make your life a living, not just earning a paycheck. 

---

Thank you to Sophie for sharing your story with us, and Dana for shaping this interview ✨
For more stories, check out our Creative Ways of Living Series.