Luxury Bedroom designed by House of Brinson

Refined Living: The Signature Style of Interior Designer Susan Brinson

By inside + out | January 25, 2025

Susan Brinson has crafted a life and career in the Hudson Valley dedicated to the art of making spaces feel luxurious and special. As the creative force behind House of Brinson, she brings a unique use of storytelling and design to every project, transforming homes into places that feel like sanctuaries that honor the past and present all at once.

As the founder of House of Brinson, Susan brings a deeply personal touch to every project, merging her background in graphic design, photography, and art history with her passion for interior design. After years of building her career in New York City, Susan and her husband, Will, relocated upstate where they began restoring a historic mansion – a journey that would ignite her transition into full-time design work.

Drawing inspiration from her love of travel, art, and culture, Susan creates environments that feel uniquely personal. At House of Brinson, each project begins with a deep understanding of the people and the stories behind the space, weaving those elements into a living design that is as functional as it is beautiful. Whether curating a client’s art collection or embracing the textures of the Hudson Valley’s antique shops, Susan’s designs prioritize craftsmanship, originality, and a connection to history. As she grows her business, she dreams of expanding her retail presence into a destination—a space where visitors can experience her designs in person, gaining inspiration and a deeper understanding of what it means to truly feel at home.

And with no further ado, meet Susan Brinson…

couch in living room designed by House of Brinson in the Hudson Valley NY

INSIDE+OUT: Where are you from, and how did you wind up in the Hudson Valley?

Susan Brinson: My dad was in the military, so we moved a lot! I’ve lived in six different states – America is vast, and I’ve enjoyed learning about the local culture in each state. My mom is Canadian, and I would visit my relatives there each summer. After attending college in Savannah, I moved to New York City to begin my career, and after 13 years in the city, we started looking for a house in the Hudson Valley. We love the scenic, natural landscape of the Hudson Valley and, of course, the old home we ended up purchasing.

Tell us about your career as an interior designer. What was your journey to the House of Brinson?

I’ve arrived at interior design after having a few other careers – interior design was always a passion of mine while working professionally in another industry. I went to Savannah College of Art and Design for graphic design and started my career in the advertising and design industry in NYC after school. I really loved it: visual storytelling, problem-solving, working with clients, and design. After 10 years, I was mainly in a management role as a Design Director, with a team of 10 people and Fortune 100 clients. I craved something more creative. Blogs were a thing, so I started a blog with my husband, a photographer focusing on interiors, food, and products. We were a dynamic duo! Blogging was so creative – we could do whatever we wanted with no rules: recipes, interiors, products. It was fantastic. I was quickly recognized for the interior design for our Manhattan loft on national TV, in magazines, in books, and in other blogs.

When we purchased our house upstate, I had been planning an exit from the advertising industry for about a year and started working with my husband as a photographer. My background in art direction added to our studio point of view. We worked with clients like Target, Martini and Rossi, Ellen Degeneres, etc. We mainly traveled for work, so we had to quickly recalibrate our careers when the pandemic arrived. While working as a photographer, I was also designing our house upstate, enjoying the process of renovating a falling-down mansion. During the pandemic, a client I knew from a decade earlier in the advertising world asked me to work on a project. From there, I officially started working as an interior designer, making the full-time switch. Looking back, I realize that understanding visual storytelling, the creative process, and photography have all influenced my point of view regarding interior design.

Was creativity something you were surrounded with growing up?

Absolutely! There was always a craft. I did decoupage my Ikea dresser in high school. I was always a creative kid, painting, crafting, whatever I could get my hands on. My dad was very into history and took us to lots of museums. My love for art history started very early.

Who is your ideal client?

Someone who is curious about the world loves being at home and is willing to take a few risks. I work in a very conceptual way, connecting the dots to form a greater whole. I love clients who enjoy refined details and want to upgrade their lives. Design really does touch every aspect of life. I love an old home or making a new build feel old. I’m also interested in designing a hotel or restaurant–the experiential part of design– and exploring that through the lens of a guest is very exciting. Plus, I could bring my knowledge of marketing to the table.

“First, I will write a story about the space we are working on, the people who occupy it, the history, and the future of the space. While design by nature is based on visuals, my visuals have meaning.”

When working with a client, what is your creative process?

First, I will write a story about the space we are working on, the people who occupy it, the history, and the future of the space. While design by nature is based on visuals, my visuals have meaning. After the creative presentation of the storyline, we start looking at more specifics on how visuals translate into design and lifestyle aspects. This is where we get into sourcing and are very specific with finishes with the origin story in mind. Then, we install and style the space, bringing the story to life.

Do you have a definitive style?

Yes, I would say eclectic with a lean into historic design elements. I also think I’m known for certain aspects of my style, like working with darker colors and art collections. When working with clients, I like to hit pause on my personal style while crafting their visual story. It’s very important to me to be objective – look at the architecture, the clients, and where they want to go while crafting the story. Of course, clients will come to me with my style in mind, which often ends up being included in the end product. While I have a personal, definitive style, I always want to make sure I’m thinking beyond that. For instance, if a client came to me asking for a modern and minimalist space, I would welcome that shift because I enjoy working in a conceptual way, and good design is good design.

You not only run an interior design business, you have an expansive online shop, and you’re renovating your house. How do you do it all, and do you have a favorite passion among all that you do?

Everything is so intertwined for me – each aspect supporting the next. I’m very fortunate to work with my husband, Will, on some of these ventures. While we each have our own clients, we do collaborate so our businesses are seamless. Our home renovations ebb and flow with what’s on in our personal schedule.

record player and candles designed by House of Brinson in the Hudson Valley NY

As a designer, what inspires you?

Travel, art, and history are my main inspirations. I love to see how people live, the objects they live with, and how culture influences daily life. I recently went to Egypt and Istanbul. The textiles alone were beyond inspiring – each contributing to local culture. I love art, and a museum day is always full of inspiration. If I see a house museum, I cannot be contained.

You partner with your husband on many things. How do you make living and renovating together work for you both?

Excellent communication. Renovating is very difficult – this requires excellent communication about goals, expectations, timelines, our emotional state, etc. This applies to any area of life where you work with your romantic partner. We try to be honest with each other and show each other grace. I’ve learned a lot about communication and renovating while working with Will. This has translated to my work in interior design. I tell clients that when we start opening up walls, we might not know what’s behind them, but we’ll problem-solve together and create a good outcome.

What is your most sacred space, favorite room, or room you consider a sanctuary in your home and why?

Our bedroom. The bedroom has a lot of functions and energies it has to encompass. Our bedroom has a nook, which I wallpapered with Brunschwig and Fils. I then used a strong paint color on the ceiling and the walls. I think the two areas both contrast and complement each other. It’s the place I retreat to when I need a moment of quiet in a busy house.

bed designed by House of Brinson in the Hudson Valley NY

What do you love about living + working in the Hudson Valley?

Nature and space. We also have an incredible art scene – we live close to Storm King and enjoy walking there on a summer morning. All of the nature and walking paths are really wonderful too!

What impact does your business have on your community?

I shop as locally as I can for many of my projects, even though my projects take me beyond the Hudson Valley. Especially antiques – we have some of the best antique shops and auctions, period. I also keep track of the artisans creating handmade items. Anything handmade will always have human inflection, which I love adding to the spaces I design. Handmade is luxury.

What local businesses do you rely on to be successful?

I rely heavily on the antique businesses – we have the best in the Hudson Valley. I know who has the best in each category and where to shop like the back of my hand. I love Newburgh Warehouse and Emporium (see Patrick Bradbury’s area), Hudson Antique Warehouse, and Milne in Kingston.

fixtures in the bathroom sink designed by House of Brinson in the Hudson Valley NY

What is missing in the area that you wish we had?

More experiential retail! The act of seeing and touching a product translates in person.

Where do you see taking House of Brinson in the future?

I’d love to grow our retail business. With a large enough space, I can see setting up rooms and staging more conceptual spaces. I dream of creating a destination space where people can come and stay for a while to shop. They get ideas and see products in a new light. This concept would also help my interior design business, where I could stage client projects before the final installation.

Tell us something about yourself people would be surprised to know.

People are always surprised when I blurt out some random design history fact. I’m deeply interested in design and cultural history, so I’ll often reference that knowledge when working on a project. One of my favorite TV shows to watch is people in England digging things out of the ground – shout out to Time Team.