2020 Women in Construction: Sawsan Khloudi, Interior Designer at Antinozzi Associates

What are you doing differently in 2020 that has had a positive impact on your career? After graduating interior design school in 2013, I worked in the residential design field for about five years. Working with designers and clients from different backgrounds, boosted my design skills and helped me to better understand how to deliver design solutions that meet users’ needs and enhance their life quality. However, the passion to explore more in the design world and to push my limits, encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone and start a new journey in the commercial design aspect. Last year, I joined Antinozzi Associates where I’m surrounded with professionals that have been in the design industry for years. The learning process is never ending and I believe the more we invest in knowledge the more efficient we become.

What was your greatest professional achievement or most notable project in the last 12 months? In 2019, I collaborated with Connie Cooper (the owner of Connie Cooper Designs) to complete an updated town house in New Canaan, CT. The project was recognized in HOB 2019 to win the Best Residential Interior Design. While working on the project, we aimed to create a space that is cozy, welcoming and appealing to our client and her visitors without tearing out walls. We worked closely with our client to select all furniture pieces that accommodate her family size and customized it in the fabric color and material of her favor. Although the paint colors on the walls were almost in the same tone and to avoid the feeling of similarity, we added a pop of color by adding some throw pillows on the sofa and chairs to bring life into the rooms. Small touches by adding modern table lamps and art pieces made a big difference and delivered a sophisticated interior that went beyond our client’s expectations.

When I’m not working I am…I’m a wife and mother of two beautiful children who always remind me of the purpose of what I’m doing and inspire me to become the person I want to be. On my free time, I enjoy staying with my family and taking care of their needs. When opportunities allow me to invest some time in (Me time), I like to throw myself in the arms of nature and capture its beauty.