I'm honored to be published in CanvasRebel Magazine!! ARTICLE BLURB: "I’m an interior designer. And I have Barbie to thank for getting me here. As a kid, I designed her home with a marble staircase straight out of the 1980’s TV drama called Dynasty. I even built her a mid-century covered parking structure for her pink convertible Corvette. Vroom vroom! Full disclosure. I started as a fashion merchandising major in college. Then I realized... ENTIRE ARTICLE: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-susie-st-john ..read more

A message from your ugly fireplace... ? "I want to break free. I've fallen in love with a tile. This time I know it's for real..." Re-make of "I want to Break Free" by Queen ..read more

This is my "Money Shot"! The windows + sliders you see in this photo alone cost as much as a basic model TESLA ?! The window spans almost 40 feet wide x 16 feet high. ? Mistake? Or Worth it? Worth it!! It makes the house look impressive. It adds natural light, a view + a strong design impact. When designing, pick early on what's most important (i.e.: big kitchen, big windows). Spend on what's important to you. Do not cave ..read more

Hi friend! embrio DESIGN STUDIO was selected by Redfin as a top San Diego, CA, interior designer. See the Redfin article we were featured in: Small Home, No Problem! Here’s the 14 Best Bungalow Interior Design Ideas | Redfin When in doubt “kiss”! “Kiss” – keep it simple stupid. A practical philosophy for small homes and messy homes. One flooring throughout – it makes the home feel bigger. All white walls and ceilings – it makes light reflect, making homes look bigger. Poof – your small home just doubled in size or there about. Susie St. John | studio owner | leed ap id+c | interior designer ..read more

Kitchens with open shelving rock, BUT are they right for me? PROS: ○ Quick easy access to your dishes. ○ Cheaper than upper cabinets with doors. ○ You can install yourself! CONS: ○ You lose one shelf. ○ You need to have good-looking complimentary dishes so it doesn't look cluttered ..read more

Houzz Pro is an awesome tool for clients and designers to connect. It tracks project stages which is super helpful when you have a few projects at different stages. It tracks project completion which is dynamite for clients to know where they are at in the project. It has a place to gather images to hone in on design, create mood boards. This is just to name a few of my favorite things it can do! It can even create 3D images which is wonderful to help clients visualize a design concept. It even created a video showcasing my projects with quoted client reviews... this was fantastic for me the ..read more

Why the FUNNY NAME "embrio design studio”? It’s all about starting from the "beginning". I ask what you do when you wake up, when you 1st get back from work/ grocery shopping/ sports, what is your mister/ kids/ dog doing during all this. Then I look for the golden nuggets that makes you one-of-a-kind. I take the answers you gave me + your golden nuggets + "spawn" that into your REMARKABLE home that works EFFICIENTLY for you to make you the most SUCCESSFUL you. My goal is to. … design affordable remarkable spaces that will make life easier! … design homes that are made to last rather than be re ..read more

A bit about susie st john + embrio DESIGN STUDIO. Hi, my name is Susie St John. I was raised by ambitious loving German immigrants in Encinitas, California, a small beach town. I’m not much of a beach person. I’m more of a forest person. This led me to a lot of travel. That + traveling back and forth to my family in Germany + abroad shaped me. I say my soul is in California; my heart is in Germany. I’m a wife + a mamma. My son + mister are two peas-in-a-pod. Both logical, non-stop, bulls in my china shop. My son Otto (b.2009) was a game changer on how I design homes. A home needs to be hardy ..read more

Tips + tricks to make a bathroom reach it’s fullest potential! Bathrooms are one of the most used, most grossest, most storage demanding rooms in your house! Check out this quick video to see how you get it all: O Hidden storage… found in the walls with this recessed medicine cabinet with sliding doors which keeps all toiletries off the counter including the electric tooth brush!! ? O Save a lot of $… by using chrome instead of brushed nickel!!? O A library at the toilet… is designed on the side of this vanity with a hidden magazine rack on the end!! ? O Easy to clean… I'm a neat freak so I ..read more

IT'S HERE!!! Embrio DESIGN STUDIO is published in Dwell Magazine July/August 2021 issue!! Our private home. Our living time capsule. Our legacy. ❤ Blurb... "Someone snidely asked if we were building a rec center. I thought, This is what architecture should be about, asking what is a home, what could it be?" ? Read the rest of the Dwell article + celebrate that the small fish in the big pond can make it too!! ? ? Much gratitude to: ○ @dwellmagazine + Colleen Clark for your wondrous talent! ? ○ Cabinetry - Andy Hahn ○ Concrete foundation + finish carpentry + window & door installer - @st ..read more