Susan Rains Design

Before anything is ordered, before window treatments are installed, before the room starts to fully come together, we create the vision.

For this primary bedroom, my client wanted something calm, elevated, and reflective of how she wants to feel at the end and beginning of each day. With thoughtful ties to the bathroom renovation, I designed in 2025, but she couldn’t quite see it yet.

That’s where renderings become so powerful. They bridge the gap between ideas and reality, giving us a clear direction so every decision moving forward feels aligned.

This is how we avoid overwhelm. This is how we make confident choices. And most importantly, this is how we create spaces that truly support the life you live.

Now we’re turning our attention to the foyer. The first impression, the moment you walk in, the space that quietly sets the tone for everything that follows.

This is one of my favorite parts of the process. When a home starts to come together not as individual rooms, but as a cohesive experience.

Design isn’t just about making one room look good. It’s about creating flow, intention, and a sense of arrival.

There are standard spacing guidelines I use when planning rooms, and they matter. But real homes don’t always fit perfectly into a textbook layout.

Sometimes I push a chair a little closer.
Sometimes I fit one more seat at the table.
Sometimes a walkway is a few inches tighter than the “rule.”

Good design isn’t just about following rules perfectly. It’s about making a home work for the people who live there.

photo by

Not everything in a room has to match perfectly.

In fact, when every wood tone and metal is the same, a room can fall flat. The rooms that are the most interesting usually have a mix of materials, maybe a dominant wood tone with a darker accent, or mostly black metal with a touch of brass. The key is that it looks intentional and balanced, not accidental.

Photography by Kristina Kroot Photography

Wallpaper doesn’t have to be limited to an accent wall or a hallway.
Some of the most memorable rooms I’ve worked on have wallpaper in the dining room, living room, or primary bedroom. It adds depth, personality, and a feeling that the room was really considered.

Good News! Wallpaper is not the commitment it used to be. It’s easy to hang and remove, with thousands of options in every style and color you can imagine.

photo by Kristina Kroot Photography

Don’t be afraid of dark colors in small rooms.

A small room painted white doesn’t automatically feel bigger. Sometimes a deeper color makes the room feel intentional, cozy, and complete.

I often tell clients to think of small rooms as jewel boxes. Powder rooms, offices, and dens are great places to do something a little bolder than you might in a large open space.

Instead of trying to make the room feel bigger, focus on the outcome that feels the way you desire.