The winner in our Best Small Bathroom category was Michelle Strausbaugh, CKBD, principal designer at InteriorEcho.  Read a bit more about Michelle below.

michelle@interiorecho.com

Photo Credit: Gail Owens

My dream to change the lives of homeowners through design began in 2002. I quit my job, packed my car and drove 2,461 miles from Pittsburgh to San Diego to follow my passion. As soon as I arrived on the West Coast, I dove into a rigorous Bachelor of Fine Arts Interior Design program at the CIDA-Accredited Design Institute of San Diego and soon began employment as a kitchen and bath designer for a local design center. In addition, I also became a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer with the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Although I knew I wanted to own my launch an interior design business, at first, it began on the side while attending college, in order to gain more experience and knowledge of the city and its network. I was honored to become a juror for the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s annual awards, as well as the American Society of Interior Designer South Central Chapter’s Annual Design Excellence Award. In addition, by becoming a mentor for the American Society of Interior Design’s Mentorship Program I had the opportunity to help new designers realize their potential. By 2012, we were becoming a recognizable name in the industry. From 2012 to 2014, I was the recipient of San Diego Home & Garden’s “Bath of the Year” Design Award. In 2016, we were awarded our first national award - “Best Small Bath Award” by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Before I knew it, my business grew by leaps and bounds, becoming a true, full-time job—and my life’s passion became a reality! Now, my day consists of meeting the most interesting people, listening intently to their stories, and spinning an interior design tale reflecting their life travels.