About Us
Our Clients Come First
At Sterling Design Group, our clients are at the center of all we do. When you work with us, we believe you deserve…
- To have a seasoned, knowledgeable, and capable designer you can trust with you home and your project
- To enjoy a fun, seamless design process that doesn’t require too many decisions from you while still feeling you’re being listened to and understood
- To work with a designer who is open to whatever it is you’re dreaming of for your home–not someone who’s pushing their own agenda on you
- To be given a design that’s going to work best for you, your home, and your lifestyle regardless of what’s trendy
- To be as involved in your project as you want to be–we’ll work collaboratively with you if you have ideas and time to dedicate to it or we can take it all off your hands.
About Suzy
As one of the lucky few who knew at an early age exactly what they want to do for a living, I’ve always pursued excellence in my design career with single-minded devotion.
As a teen, one of my prized possessions was a set of paint decks given to me by a builder friend. My parents built a house when I was in high school and I selected many of the finishes and design details of that home and even drafted the plans for the builder. Once I took my first interior design class at the University of Delaware, there was no looking back–I was hooked!
As a student at FIT in New York City, I met countless famous designers while working part-time at the Scalamandre showroom in the sample room. I still remember those who were kind to me–and those who weren’t–and I prioritize showing kindness to all.
My design career has provided me with so many amazing experiences: A behind-the-scenes tour of the Oval Office under President Obama; riding in a golf cart around the famous Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters; hearing industry greats such as Mario Buata speak in person (I’ll never forget he said, “Dust is a protective coating for fine furniture.”).
In 2022, I earned my real estate license because I wanted to be able to help clients find their dream home or property, setting the direction for their vision right from the start, and carrying it all the way through to a move-in ready dream-come-true home. I can’t imagine anything more rewarding!
I’ve always been and always will be dedicated to education and learning. I passed the NCIDQ exam on my first try in 1988 when the pass rate was a nearly impossible 4%. I passed my real estate exam on the first try, as well, though with admittedly better odds. As a professional member of ASID since 1989, I am dedicated to mentoring and guiding students and designers who come to the industry as a second career.
In addition to designing for clients, I’m currently writing a course aimed at residential designers who want to break into commercial design. Some of the most talented designers I know don’t have a formal education but when it comes to commercial design, there are aspects that require attention to all the details. I see it as a way of sharing the important knowledge and expertise I’ve collected over my years of working on multi-family buildings and other commercial projects in regard to durability, flammability, and other key safety and livability requirements in those contexts.
CREDENTIALS
- University of Delaware, Bachelor of Sciences, Interior Design, Summa cum laude
- Studied at the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum
- Parsons School of Design, New York
- Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
- Twelve years of experience in commercial and hospitality design at Reynolds, Smith and Hills Architects and Catlin Design, Juliana Catlin, FASID Principal, www.catlindesign.com in Jacksonville, Florida and Ferry, Hayes and Allen, Walter R. Allen, ASID President, fhadesigners.com in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Commercial projects include the Lake Manassas Sales Office in Gainesville, Virginia, the clubhouse for Stonewall Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, key team member in the process for the Law Office Building of the Calloway Companies in Atlanta, Georgia, Two golf cottages at Robert Trent Jones Club, Keel Point Investment Advisors in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.
- Residential projects include homes in McLean, Rixeyville, Vienna, Great Falls, Fairfax, Gainesville, Haymarket and Fauquier County, Virginia.
MORGAN FURLONG
Associate Designer
A firm believer that interior spaces affect our mood, productivity, happiness, and well-being, Morgan enjoys supporting our clients with designs that allow them to be and feel their best. Morgan joined the Sterling Design Team after earning her Bachelor’s in Interior Design from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Along with her focus on creating beautiful, functional spaces, she also loves bringing an inviting feel, layers of texture, natural elements, and signature luxury appointments to our clients’ designs. Outside of work, Morgan enjoys spending time with family and friends, swimming, and playing golf.
ANDREA BRUBAKER
Office Administrator
With over twenty years of professional experience delivering exceptional client services, Andrea is dedicated to making the design process as easy as possible for our clients.By leading with empathy and a listening ear, she anticipates the needs of each client, making the process smooth and preserving a fun-loving approach to the design process. Her organizational skills help us keep projects on track while her eye for administrative detail ensures nothing falls through the cracks.In her free time, Andrea loves to travel with her family and friends and enjoys horseback riding.
TRACY CASE
Project Coordinator
Because she has been with Sterling Design Group for over a decade, Tracy has had the benefit of working closely with Suzy to gain a deep understanding of the design industry.From creating solid relationships with showrooms to listening closely to each client, Tracy instills confidence in our clients that their needs are well taken care of. They feel an added assurance knowing she is truly an expert in her field. In addition, Tracy is very organized and always looking for ways to be more efficient. When not working, Tracy loves to spend time with her family, friends, and pets at the beach.