Born with the soul of an artist and raised in the effortless beauty and graciousness of Southern style, Susan’s designs are infused with warmth and imagination. With over 30 years of design experience, Susan is widely sought for her ability to create comfortably elegant and thoughtfully layered spaces that capture the essence of each client’s unique personality and lifestyle. Her stylistically diverse interiors share a beautiful balance of color, finishes, materials, and textures — always with impeccable attention to scale and architectural detail. Holding degrees in both Art History and Interior Design, she is skilled in a broad spectrum of periods and styles, with projects ranging from historic Southern restorations to contemporary Mexican retreats.

Susan's designs, collections, and expertise have been featured in publications including ELLE Décor, House Beautiful, LUXE Interior+Design, Southern Living, and Traditional Home. Her store was named among Architectural Digest’s “Home Decor Stores to Shop Now and Always.” Bridget and Beari were Susan’s rescue pups, and a portion of all Colors and Papers proceeds benefit animal rescue organizations. Her much anticipated first book, BRIDGET BEARI COLOR RULES: A Guide to Choosing and Using Color at Home, will be released in Spring 2026. Susan lives in Richmond, VA with her husband and their menagerie of rescues.