Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Fitler.
Hi Susie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t begin my design career until 41. I met my husband at 38, got married at 39, and our first daughter arrived at 41! A lot of life in a short amount of time! After I had Bella my eldest girl, home took on a whole new level of meaning and function. Not only was it a sanctuary for my husband and I in the throws of late night feedings and new parent learning curves, it was a place that was continuously needing to be reimagined for the transitions and phases that came with parenting and growing a family.
I am British and I need cozy comfort and beauty around me. It’s in my blood! But I also am a little OCD and need order and function to survive. So when my first daughter was one and we had reimagined and fixed up our own home, I longed to keep going and do that for others. I went ahead and took the plunge— Susie Fitler Homes was born!
As a child, my mum allowed me to decorate and experiment in our home and whether it was Barbie’s DreamHouse or her living room, I was always looking to improve on what was there.
“Love the home you have” is something I say often to friends, family, and clients. We disillusion ourselves by thinking “life” and “beauty” are something to achieve in some far off, distant dream. No, the truth is, you can love the home you have, right where you’re at, with a little love and intention.
One of my favorite services we offer is the Refresh package. Working together, we craft a new vision for the clients space that enhance’s both its look and/or functionality. We start with the best of what they have and pull in some fresh new pieces as needed or as the budget allows. What’s left is the heart of what they had but the new enhancements make it so much better and more you!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I now have two daughters and three grandsons. As I mentioned my husband and I met later in life, which gave me the blessing of my step-son, Eric. Raising our kids together has been the most unexpected and wonderful grace in our lives! I am fifty-one years old with an eight year old and eleven year old. My husband is sixty-one. But being older and starting this business has had its unexpected challenges and setbacks.
A few years ago my health really began to decline physically and mentally. I now know it was perimenopause, but at the time it was so scary and really paid a toll on my design business. I didn’t have the mental capacity and creative fluidity I once experienced. I took a deep dive into understanding hormones, mental health, and the sad state of affairs in women’s health in our world. I wondered if this was just going to be my life now and maybe it was time to close Susie Fitler Homes.
However, that was not the case. Instead, I have a new appreciation for home and the safe haven it should be. My people, my faith, and my home sheltered me and upheld me when my interior world felt so wobbly. I’m grateful my hormones are balanced with HRT and I can now advocate and help educate others.
It also helped me revamp my business model and priorities with a new freedom and imagination for the next ten years!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I consider myself an artist in the home and someone who sees the creative artistry of people and how special and distinct each person truly is. In my world, that must be reflected in the home.
Finding out the stories of my clients, the things that bring joy and meaning to their lives, helps me navigate the creative process with them and truly make their house a home. After all, home is not a home without the people and things that make it personal and unique.
The spaces I help create are stylish, functional, have a little bit of quirk and whimsy, and ultimately make my clients feel safe and happy!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My dear friend Lisa Leonard, of Well Crafted Home and Lisa Leonard Designs, has been an advocate and cheerleader from the beginning. Having started her own jewelry business when her boys were little, she helped me see everyone needs to start somewhere and you have the freedom to learn as you go. She is also a bad-ass businesswoman. That part does not come natural for me and has been a big learning curve. She has challenged me and cheered me on!
Women struggle with a core belief we are not enough. I think part of our reformation and healing comes from stepping into uncomfortable spaces and believing we have beauty and strength to bring. Design has been that for me, trusting in the way I’m made and the gifts I can give to others through my artistry.
Pricing:
- My website susiefitlerhomes.com does a great job unpacking what I do and a general price range.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SusieFitlerHomes.com
- Instagram: Susiefitlerhomes
