Susan Spath of Kern & Co: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Scale is key. It’s better to have artwork the right size and shape on a wall to compliment the space and, likewise, furnishings that fit the space instead of making do with furniture from the last home.

As part of my series on the “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Susan Spath.

As President of Kern & Company and Principal Designer of Susan Spath Interior Design, Susan Spath prevails as one of San Diego’s flagship design and lifestyle professionals. Susan approaches each project with the goal of creating the ideal home for a client, customizing every minor detail to mirror the client’s lifestyle. Her approach is fully customized, keeping the home value in mind by guiding design choices in a direction that builds value into the property for the future. Along with her design firm, Susan helms luxury furnishings showroom Kern & Company. With a showroom in the Solana Beach Design District, Kern & Company has long been a resource for high-end furnishings, providing Southern California with a curated range of leading brands, custom furniture, bespoke window treatments, distinctive lighting, elegant rugs, and accessories for over 25 years.

Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Adear friend of mine could no longer run their boutique shop of home goods and furniture, so I stepped in and bought the business transforming it over time to a full-service interior design firm that continues to evolve with not only in-house CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drafting, but complete 3D modeling.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

Having my two daughters now sharing my passion for interior design and working with me side by side. This business is a passion of mine and I have met the most interesting families along the way. When you are dealing with people this closely and intimately you are making lifelong friends.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Having a background in business economics, I had a lot to learn. The biggest scare was when I decided to tear a wall out of a client’s home. It turned out all good, but I did have a few sleepless nights.

What are some of the most interesting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

Interior design is a visual medium, so presenting CAD drawings, elevations and 3D modeling capabilities really help the client visualize what a room or an entire home will look like.

What are some of the most exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

I find joy in all the projects I take on as I treat them as if they were my own, I recently created a design showcase home from the ground up. It is a luxurious California Modern with a European twist and I selected all of the elements with the emphasis on luxury and California modern styling. It was recently completed and set the record for highest price per square foot for a new construction in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

A good reputation is most valuable. Always offer to help others and you will be successful.

Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I am grateful for Brent Kern for finding me and seeking me out to run his business. It is from there where it all started and led me to buy the business and grow it into what it is today.

What are your “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

Consider updating drapery/ window treatments and selecting new rugs, both of these can transform a room and make a big impact.

Recovering existing upholstery and adding new pillows can also revamp a room.

Less is more. Consider decluttering your space and truly look at each of your pieces to determine what you cannot live without.

Scale is key. It’s better to have artwork the right size and shape on a wall to compliment the space and, likewise, furnishings that fit the space instead of making do with furniture from the last home.

Having too many antiques should be avoided.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

In life, I think if we can continually strive to inspire one individual or many when the opportunity presents itself, we can influence lives in a positive way and therefore make a lasting impact in this world. Paying good deeds forward and valuing those around us.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?

Coco Chanel, I would love to have lunch with the design icon who is no longer with us.

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!

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