New Instructor for Home Color Workshop

Meet our new Instructor,  Susan Quinn!

She will be teaching SXH 300 Color Workshop for the Home Fashion Market, starting March 18, 2015!

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Susan K Quinn


So, tell us a little about yourself…

My background in the home furnishings market started in 1990 when I was hired to launch a home textile/bed linen collection called “Nancy Koltes”. I had been working in fashion for ten years and wanted a change. After a four-five year successful career with Nancy, I moved on to launch an Italian Collection from Milan called “Bellora”. I set up the US showroom, designed a collection for the US market and sold it. We had great success with the collections. In 2000 I started my own company importing bed linens and designing bed linens for US Wholesalers and department stores manufactured in Italy. At the same time I was working for Italian textile mills as an agent to the US market and designing prints and yard dyed fabrics for companies such as Ralph Lauren, Peacock Alley, and others. In 1992 I was asked by a friend to design custom wall covering fabrics for an apartment on Park Avenue. Although I was not an interior designer the client insisted on hiring me as their designer. The job was a success and I learned quite a bit.

Inspired by the work I had done on Park Avenue, I attended evening classes at FIT to study design and learn how to draw plans, create 3-D Renderings and the like. I applied for my General Contracting License and started managing construction as well as designing. I have used the skills to complete 20 plus interior design projects, design and build (draw full plans for) two house one in Fairfield, CT and one currently being built in the Catskills, as well as several construction projects. I have maintained my relations with my Italian vendors and continue to work importing bed linens from Italy.

My focus is high end residential interiors, my web site (under construction-with a loop of photos) features some of my projects and will be updated soon. quinnfinehome.com I have traveled extensively over my career working with Italy, France, China and India. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge with my new students.

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Susan K Quinn


Was there a project or accomplishment that you consider to be significant in your career?

I just finished a huge apartment, gut renovation off of 5th Avenue, 17 Rooms which was a huge challenge, that was completed over the past two years (February of 2013 until February 2015).  I designed the layout, and working with the architect pulled all of the mechanicals and rooms together, I oversaw construction, selected every hinge, doorknob screw, toilet, faucet, wallpaper, fabric paint color, tile, stone, light, bed, curtain rod, floor covering, molding and designed all of the millwork including the kitchen and built in units, dressing rooms, closets in every room. Magnificent broad project with a large budget.

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Susan K Quinn


What’s exciting right now in the Home Fashion market?

Right now in home furnishings there are all kinds of different options for finishes. Technological advances in wallpaper finishes, wood flooring options, stone, tile, paint types and finishes. Porcelain tiles that look like wood, wonderful eco-friendly options that are beautiful and affordable. Textiles always excite me but all of the new materials for construction and finishes are fantastic.

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Susan K Quinn
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Susan K Quinn


What will the students learn from your class?

The most important thing I believe is to have a plan of what is going into a project or how to add to an existing space and be sure to end up with a cohesive look. I will give out a floor plan with furniture drawn into it and work with the students to build schedules for paint colors, textile selections, lighting, floor coverings and stone and tile products that coordinate in color and finish to create a cohesive space.

The students will learn the process of making selections, pairing and keeping track of the selections. I will supply references for them to research on their own and in class to do some small research and then prepare a floor plan with a color coordinated cohesive schedule.

I will give them a short list of sources that I use, the knowledge of pairing products, textures and color so that they walk away with real information about how to get it done.

Thank you and we look forward to your class!
To register for this class, please visit fitnyc.edu/noncreditregister