Susan Manrao Design

Susan completely transformed our 6,800 sq. ft home into a comfortably elegant showpiece! It was a pleasure to work with Susan and her team over a period of several years. She has an amazing sense of style and attention to detail. She confidently guided us through the design process and implemented the design in a timely fashion and on budget. I can not say enough good things about our experience working together. I highly recommend Susan Manrao Design...you will be blown away by what she can do!

We loved working with Susan and her team! They were creative, customer-focused, and our house now feels like a home. We never want to leave! Thank you for everything!

Susan is so refreshing to work with. She has a deep passion for design and is also extremely professional and intelligent. When we were looking at renovating/redesigning our home she came over to look at the plans and provided priceless insight into the whole process of doing a big renovation (a relief for first time renovators). Her conversation with me ultimately shaped our choice of architect, and our whole approach to the project. All this before we even talked about her part of the project! I would and have recommended Susan in a heartbeat.

OMG, where do I start?! One mid-summer , I found myself moving into a fairly trashed beach garage apartment in beautiful Santa Monica. I actually had second thoughts about even moving in - but luckily I had met Susan previously and she had agreed to do a quick walk-thru/look-see with me and offer her thoughts. After spending some time in advance, learning my preferences, tastes and budget, Susan actually walked the very small oddly shaped place without us even having signed an agreement! The verdict? Susan pronounced it was worth it and that I needed to take it! She patiently talked me through what needed to change, colors, pieces and art. (I'm a bachelor, so I even got the only-as-Susan-can-so-gently-put-it "discussion" on neatness playing a more important role in smaller spaces - particularly to those of the female persuasion :) ) Fast forward, she worked with me not once, not twice but on an ongoing basis to find unique touches that really brings out the charm of the place. And yes, women today do always seem to compliment me on the place. "I try" is usually my canned answer! ;) KIDDING! Even my mom was impressed -- as she put it, I am a far better bachelor/person living in an apt that exceeded my thoughts/dreams for my budget. All this I owe to Susan. THANK YOU SUSAN for everything you did - continue to do for me! :)

Susan Manrao and her team are creative, professional and fun to work with. They have an incredible eye for design. Their contact list of up and coming artisans is to die for and their ability to pick out the most unique touches for your home is a gift. Hire them! You won't be disappointed!

Susan Manrao's genius, creativity, & hard work is the real thing. She can create synergy (which is one of the overused buzz-words but applicable in this case). Her style is not common, nor inexpensive, but she has the ability to analyze the value and come out for her clients on-top. It can feel like a leap-of-faith sometimes, but over 2 years on multiple projects totaling over $750m, she has proven it to me. Through her design, presentation, and logistics/materials, she was able to jump-start a $150MM project which had stalled due to owner-change. In the worst SoCal market, in a volatile part of L.A., she helped keep price erosion within 18% (June 2009-December 2012). Here's the difference: Cool, Sleek, Modern/Minimal, Expensive is relatively easy given a high decor/FF&E budget. But it takes vision & creativity to introduce elements/colors/concepts that are not the typcial "luxury sedan" styles. If someone talks to me about a crimson duvet and cream leather headboard within a hyper-modern Richard Meier-ish setting, I may feel insulted. But Susan Manrao can make a room feel like money alone is not enough. There are some who do not need this level of creativity, which is all fine & good. But in a highly competative saturated buyers' market creative synergy can create momentum uniquely. Thank you, Susan Manrao Design & Team.