Suzan Horne is a Boston University graduate who offers more than 23 years of experience in the design field, including commercial and residential projects from coast to coast. Suzan started her career in design with Knoll International (the award-winning furniture manufacturer). Later, she worked for Santa Monica based Ellerbe Becket in the mid-1980s which was among the three largest design firms in the United States. Suzan opened her own design house, Give Me Shelter Design, Incorporated in the autumn 2001.
Suzan was raised in the architecture and design rich environment of Tuxedo Park, New York. She was exposed to the most exquisite craftsmanship of all types in the magnificent one-of-a-kind homes of this exclusive community. These were the homes of the industrial and financial tycoons of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. No expense was spared to create these elaborate residences designed by a stellar roster of America’s greatest architects from the Age of Elegance which were executed by the skilled artisans immigrating to America from Europe. Tuxedo Park is listed on the National Register of Historical Places in recognition of its distinctive architecture and it is where the Tuxedo was created. It is also where Dorothy Draper grew up.
Suzan is also influenced by the entertainment industry. When she was four years old her mother met and later married Robert Duvall who raised her in Tuxedo Park. Through his work she has been exposed to the magic of set design and movie production, as well as to some of the all time greatest talents in all areas of the entertainment industry.
Clients praise her for achieving their specifications for style, ambience, and comfort, while strictly adhering to budgets and schedules. Balancing aesthetic goals with required traffic and information flow is of paramount concern, especially for commercial projects. Suzan develops an exacting design plan to ensure exceptional service and the desired results. She is meticulous in her approach to projects.
Suzan's residential restorations and remodeling are comprised of apartments and homes in Los Angeles, New York, and Boston, as well as luxury properties in Beverly Hills, Malibu, Palm Springs, Key West and Manhattan's Park Avenue, and Prescott, Arizona.
Whether working on a Spanish-style Duplex, a secluded Pennsylvania Dutch farm house, or a lavish Park Avenue Co-op; Suzan is gifted with a superb sense for style, color, and form, as well as a broad knowledge of the materials needed to do such a diverse range of projects.
Give Me Shelter Design, Inc. is committed to providing interior and exterior design services that create soothing, stress reducing spaces in which to live and work. We believe in the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of conscientious design and provide an array of services to enhance the quality of life of our clients.
Give Me Shelter Design has primarily focused on the residential client, but we also have experience with commercial clients. We believe that every project requires the designer to reinvent herself; because every client and project has individualized and unique needs, preferences and characteristics which drive the design process toward its culmination and implementation. We always bring our understanding of light and color to bear on every project because we know color and material choices can impact your state of mind in ways that can effect you positively. Harnessing these positive qualities when choosing colors and materials ensures that we deliver the ideal environment for each client.
• Restyling: We can re-arrange a client's furniture, choose a new color scheme for a room or the entire home, re-hang the art to simply freshen up the environment on a low budget.
• Restoration: We have extensive experience in this area, as well as the resources to help our clients obtain a result that reflects an understanding of the impact the details have in any restoration project.
• Renovation: We believe that this is an opportunity to solve the various problems our client may be having with their current living space. We ask questions which enable us to provide our clients with the best design solutions possible for their particular problems and needs.
• Space Planning: This enables the designer and the client to agree on a plan and determine the correct scale and scope for the furnishings in each room. Through this process we create a design scheme which shapes the shopping list and helps us make choices that will keep us within the budget of the project.
• Project Coordination: With this service, Give Me Shelter Design helps the client monitor all aspects of their project. We help the client coordinate the various trades and services needed to keep any project moving along as free of delays as possible. This service helps the client stay within the project budget.
• Staging: We provide this service to assist our clients in the effective rental or selling of any property. We have the resources and knowledge to appoint a room or an entire house or office space no matter what the scale of the project. We can help you sell or rent faster and get a better price too by making your property more desirable.
Design projects will vary one from another in the scope of services which is required based on the desired goals of the client. The following is an extensive explanation of what the scope of services would include if fully redesigning a room or an entire house.
Programming Phase:
Meet with Client to determine all project requirements.
Inventory existing furniture and art to be used... Read More
Design Development
Prepare scaled floor plans of project spaces.
Prepare preliminary space utilization plans...
Design Finalization
Complete space plans and prepare final working drawings as required. Complete furniture floor plans...
Contract Documents
Prepare working drawings, and schedules for the construction of the space. This would include dimensioned floor...
Construction/Installation Phase
The designer will assist the client with scheduling for construction, delivery and installation during all phases of the project...
Project Completion
Upon completion of the work of each supplier, contractor, or vendor, the designer will inspect the work to review...
Meet with Client to determine all project requirements.
Inventory existing furniture and art to be used in the new project.
Obtain scaled floor plans of the project space from client (the landlord or architect).
Measure job site to obtain necessary dimensions of site.
Meet with landlord concerning building standards and regulations.
Ascertain building code, life safety code, and barrier-free regulations as might affect the project.
Determine feasibility of meeting the client’s requirements; determine and inform the client of any restraints that will affect the feasibility of the project.
Prepare scaled floor plans of project spaces.
Prepare preliminary space utilization plans.
Prepare preliminary space plans of project spaces.
Prepare preliminary furniture plans of project spaces.
Make preliminary selections of interior architectural finishes as applies to project
Make preliminary furniture selection as applies to the project.
Make preliminary color selections.
Prepare preliminary budgets
Prepare preliminary design construction elevations for any custom furniture, cabinets, or architectural treatments.
Prepare relationship diagrams or charts from the information provided by individual interviews.
Meet with architect, contractors, or others as required.
Review all materials prepared in the design-development stage with the client.
After approval of these conceptual design elements the designer will proceed with Design Finalization phase.
Complete space plans and prepare final working drawings as required.
Complete furniture floor plans.
Complete working drawings concerning custom furniture, cabinets, or architectural treatments.
Make final recommendations of architectural finishes.
Make final recommendations of furniture and furnishings.
Prepare final color boards showing finishes, fabric samples, and photo representations of products specified.
Prepare renderings or other representational graphics (perspectives, isometrics, axonometric, elevations) as might be appropriate.
Prepare a budget of expected costs for all construction, and furnishings as specified.
Review materials prepared in the Design Finalization Phase with the client. After approval of the documents, the designer will proceed with the Contract Documents Phase.
Prepare working drawings, and schedules for the construction of the space. This would include dimensioned floor plans, electrical location plans, reflected ceiling plans, shop drawings, and non-structural design details and schedules.
Prepare written specifications to accompany working drawings and schedules.
Prepare furniture and equipment scaled drawings needed to accompany bid specifications.
Prepare written specifications to accompany furniture and equipment drawings.
Provide information for the preparation of bid specifications for architectural finishes, furniture, and furnishings (specifications written by others).
Assist client in obtaining competitive bids for all phases of the project.
Provide counsel and guidance in the selection of necessary contractors to perform the required work.
Construction/Installation Phase
The designer will assist the client with scheduling for construction, delivery and installation during all phases of the project.
Assist in the procurement of furniture and furnishings by submitting purchase orders to suppliers and installers.
Assist in the procurement of furniture and furnishings by administering purchase orders to suppliers submitted by vendors.
Make periodic visits to the job site as determined by the designer to ensure the work is being done in accordance with the specifications and bid documents.
Supervise installation of furniture and furnishings as described in the bid documents.
The designer can be authorized to be responsible for receiving, inspecting, and acceptance in the name of the client of furniture, furnishings, or other materials required for the project.
The designer can be authorized, in the name of the client, to reject nonconforming work, approve of change orders, or stop the work or terminate the contract of suppliers or contractors.
Upon completion of the work of each supplier, contractor, or vendor, the designer will inspect the work to review that the work has been done according to the specifications, bid documents and reasonable work of its kind.
When the project is constructed, delivered and installed, the designer and the client will walk through the project and prepare a punch list of any needed repairs, omissions or other details needing attention. This punch list will represent the final obligations of the designer and or vendors to the client in regards to the work as described in the contract. The client and the designer must both sign this punch list.
Any work in addition to that covered in the contract or work requested at the time of final walk through is in addition to the original contract and will be billed separately.
Testimonials
Here are some testimonials from recent clients:
Give Me Shelter Designs
Our experience with Suzan was remarkable. After being out of our home for more than 6 months, she helped us with a huge remodel job that started because of severe water damage. What started as a nightmare became a dream to come home to.
Suzan is very personable, professional and gifted with her talents. She knew all the right steps to take and the knowledge to find us the best contractors for the various jobs of putting our home back together. She was very easy to work with while being very clear and precise on how things were to be done.
After the repairs her real talent came out in decorating our home. Listening to our basic ideas and needs and taking into consideration our already existing taste in art, furniture and decor she came up with beautiful ideas of color, paint, carpets, countertops, hardwood flooring and numerous fixtures to compliment our home in such a lovely way. Even using some of our existing pieces in different areas of our home she brought new life and a whole new look to the rooms.
She kept us very informed along the way and was mindful in keeping within our cost range. She even found us some great deals!
After our ordeal, having a professional come in to expedite and move things along in a timely manner, with her ideas, sample boards and color scheme choices, it made it a pleasure that relieved our minds. We couldn't have done it without her.
Suzan was an absolute joy. We would and will be using her services again.
Roberta and Gary Benjamin
Prescott, Arizona
Conact: Suzan L. Horne - Give Me Shelter Design Ph: 323.938.9933 Los Angeles, CA