Interior Designer Susie Novak
Tell us what you do, and what you’re excited to be working on right now.
I am the Principal Designer/Owner of Susie Novak Interiors, a boutique interior design firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. We specialize in creating liveable yet luxurious spaces, often pairing bold statement pieces with soothing color palettes. We’re currently working on a fabulous house in Palo Alto, where the goal, as always, is to create a space that feels uniquely personal to the homeowner. To that end, we’ve custom-sourced several pieces, including a gorgeous table crafted from a slab of DaVinci marble with a bronze base made by a local artisan.
How has your business evolved over the years? What insights have you gained and used to level up?
I’ve always treated clients as partners in the process. Early on, I leaned more heavily on them for direction, but over time, our relationships have evolved. Today, clients trust my team and me as the experts, and as the studio has grown, they’re more willing to take risks with us, allowing us to pursue larger, more creative, and bespoke projects.
One way I’ve leveled up is by deepening my ties to the community and building relationships with others who work in design and architecture. Whether through attending local events or sponsoring local charities that create affordable housing, I’ve found that getting out and getting involved leads to meaningful opportunities with new clients and projects. Being part of the Brick & Wonder community, in particular, and participating in roundtables has opened my eyes to what’s out there, what’s exciting in our field, and the power of wonder.
What’s a favorite project you’ve worked on? Tell us about the role you played in it.
My team and I recently designed the interiors of a beautiful home in Piedmont. We created a French atelier–inspired atmosphere by pairing form-forward midcentury furniture with the home’s historic architecture.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Travel inspires me, and I love to visit Paris, London, Mexico City, and San Miguel de Allende. In Mexico, I’m excited by the colors of the buildings, the cobblestone streets, and the detailed tile work. I also love digging around flea markets for old finds that inspire new ideas. Recently, at a Paris flea market, I found some striking sculptures of cloaked beheaded figures — one artist’s interpretation of France’s turbulent break from religious power and the cultural upheaval that shaped its secular identity.
To what extent is collaboration in your work?
I approach all my design work as a collaboration. Although my company bears my name, I couldn’t work at the level I do without my team. I lean on them for everything from scheduling to detail-oriented creative work, and over the years, I’ve discovered that giving them space to do their work independently only makes our studio stronger.
I also take pride in owning a small business and being part of my city’s landscape. I love that the work we do makes our city more beautiful.
Beyond the studio, collaborating with artisans near and far is one of the best parts of the job! Recently, I’ve loved working with Dunes Design and Daniel Orozco in Mexico on furniture and collaborating with Oakland-based metal artisan Splady Art Studios.
Do you have a mantra, a guiding piece of wisdom, or a question that you come back to again and again in your working life?
We want our clients to feel seen and heard throughout the process, while presenting new ideas and crafting a design beyond what they could have asked for. Bringing that vision to life is the core of what we do.
