Biography
Suzanne, or Suzy, began her career after graduating from the New York School of Interior Design in the late 70's. After a first job at Greeff, the well-known fabric house, she assisted Mal O'Connor in his one-man design firm. Mal had a thriving practice and a great location on East 60th Street, next door to everyone's favorite dessert restaurant Serendipity. Suzy also took great advantage of her three years in New York by representing a West Coast art gallery at Sotheby's auctions, an unforgettable experience.
When Suzy's husband Brad graduated from business school, they relocated to San Francisco, and Suzy took a job in the interior design department at venerable W&J Sloane on Post Street. She soon moved on to work for Robert Herring Interiors. Bob ran his successful Pacific Heights design business out of a charming antique shop on Sacramento Street. Suzy was exposed to some of the finest homes in Pacific Heights.
A few years later, Brad & Suzy moved to the Peninsula, getting back to Suzy's Palo Alto roots. Suzy began her own practice in 1980. Her family background in art, (her Mother is a painter, her sister is a successful artist) and her years as a fine arts major before settling on interior design, are reflected in her work today. Mixing contempory art with an eclectic mix of new and antique furniture is her signature style. Every job is special, reflecting the lives and interests of the home owner. Suzy's work has been shown in House Beautiful and Sunset magazine. She has also participated in the San Francisco Decorator Showcase.
Brad worked on Wall Street for 25 years, all out of the San Francisco office for Morgan Stanley, Dillon Read and UBS. While he continues to consult in private equity and investment management, he joined Suzy in 2006 to help her with the business scheduling, bookkeeping, and anything else that allows her to stay focused on the creative work of each client's project.
In 2003 Suzy and her friend Rebecca Vitale-Mandich opened "Thistle" a fashion, home accessories, jewelry, art, and gift store. Located in a 1902 Craftsmen style bungalow at 640 Waverley in downtown Palo Alto, it has developed a dedicated and loyal following for its eclectic collection of goods sourced from around the world.
