If Susan Winterstein asks for a meal plan in the middle of a kitchen redesign consultation, don't worry. Wintersteen, her CEO and creative director at Solana Beach-based Savvy Interiors, says that with each new project, she can go from having kids and pets running around the house to “the number of leftovers in the fridge.” She says she takes everything into consideration, from the very beginning.
Her focus on practicality stems from her background as a mother of five children, who researched flooring and fabrics that would withstand the onslaught of unruly young children. She “fell in love with the feeling of marrying something that looks good with something that is highly functional,” she recalls. Initially designing as a hobby, she used her self-taught skills to launch her business in 2002. Seven years later, her husband John joined Savvy and the two became general contractors and were able to transform the space through both extensive construction and an aesthetic overhaul.
Clients aren't the only ones who benefit from Wintersteen's thoughtful approach. In 2014, Wintersteen began renovating rooms for children facing medical crises and eventually founded Savvy Giving by Design, a donor-funded nonprofit. The organization currently has 11 chapters across the country and is affiliated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The non-profit organization aims to create a safe and comfortable space for children in need of medical care, for example by introducing automatic beds and window coverings to take into account mobility restrictions. But Wintersteen also wants the room to be a fun place, filling it with color, making it a cozy place to hang out, and decorating it according to each child's interests (superheroes, horses, etc.) To do.
“[It] It provides tools to promote healing,” says Wintersteen. “And when you see the effect it has on that child, it's really hard not to want to continue doing that.”
We asked Wintersteen to share three of her favorite kitchen remodeling ideas.
Kitchen Renovation Project by Savvy Interiors
Parisian Lakes Kitchen
“For this kitchen renovation, we transformed this space into a chic Parisian haven with a powder blue palette, blending timeless elegance with contemporary charm,” says Wintersteen.
Flight: four hands
tile: Anne Sax Whitecap's Segmented Hex Mosaic
countertop: Cambria Winterbourne Light: Artteriors Heloise Pendant Paint Color: Benjamin Moore 1593 Adagio
range: La Cornue
La Jolla Vacation Home
“We took this coastal retreat to the next level with a modern kitchen renovation, seamlessly blending sophisticated design elements with beachfront charm to create the ultimate vacation home sanctuary.” Wintersteen he explains.
countertop: Caesarstone ready-mixed concrete 4004
Range backsplash and island: Bedrosians Manhattan Polished Quartzite
Range wall tiles: Clé 4 Inch Zellige Tile Series: Miele
refrigerator: less than zero
green olivenhain kitchen
“We wanted to create a space that would be usable for a busy family and not feel cramped,” Wintersteen says. “When choosing the design, we kept functionality in mind and wanted materials that would be suitable for families with young children.”
Hood color: Benjamin Moore Jojoba AF-460
range: Bertazzoni 48″ Heritage Series Backsplash
Slab: Tutto Marmo Marble Statue Corchia Island Countertop: Cambria Everleigh
Surrounding countertop: MSI Soapstone Metropolis Concrete Quartz Stool: CB2 Avont White Upholstered Counter Stool, Dorel Fabric Restoration, Avocado-Colored Elliott Pattern
