Susanne Lee, owner and decorator at Susanne Lee Interiors, Inc., is a veteran of the design world, with 15 years of experience in Austin. The former Californian was reintroduced to the industry when her family relocated to Texas. "Our realtor loved how I decorated the home she sold us, and asked me to decorate her own house," said Lee. "Soon I was in the trenches, decorating several of the relocation homes for new Dell employees. That's when things really took off."

In 2005, Lee became a storeowner when Austin lacked a market for unique home accessories, such as lamps, wall art, silk floral and accent furnishings. "It was a natural fit in because my favorite part of the design process is finding perfect accessories as well as the finish-out stage," said Lee. "I also love the selection process on new construction.

Lee believes that communication is paramount to ensure a project's success. "Clients often already have the ‘bones' for the room, such as a sofa or chairs," she said. "We provide expertise that ultimately creates cohesion. Our job is to understand the customer's tastes and provide accessories that reflect those concepts. Although design is an important aspect of the process, it all starts with listening to our customers.

Susanne's Top 10

1. Biggest supporter - My boys - My husband Bob, sons Robert and Ricky and our Australian Shepherd, Rusty.
2. Musician (s) - Frank Sinatra and John Tesh. I enjoy the classics, as well as music for praise and worship.
3. Visual Artist - Leonard Wren creates beautiful flower-filled landscapes.
4. Fragrance - Hermes, 24 Faubourg for the soft smells of orange blossoms, jasmine and vanilla.
5. Design Style and Store - The Antique Swan on West 6th Street and of course, Susanne Lee Interiors, Inc. I enjoy classic style with a twist.
6. Spa and Treatment - Lake Austin Spa offers awesome deep body massages.
7. Fashion Designer - I admire the costume designer, Edith Head, whose classic ideas were used in the movie industry from the late 1930s until the 1960s. She knew how to use color and texture, and everything that she touched was elegant and fun.
8. Fabric Collection - I like the S. Harris collection from Isaac Mizrahi for the beautiful colors, patterns and textures.
9. Getaways - I love the Grand Cayman Islands and our Hill Country cabin.
10. Movie - A very romantic love story, "The Way We Were."