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By Lori Currie
When interior decorator Susan Flynt set out to design her own home in Ketchum, she wasn’t looking to replicate the rustic grandeur that defines so many mountain retreats. Having left behind a more traditional Gimlet home—famously featured on MTV’s Teen Cribs—Flynt envisioned something lighter, brighter, and unmistakably modern. The result is a residence that feels both like a gallery and a sanctuary: a deeply personal space layered with art, stories, and small surprises that reflect her belief that “a home should tell the story of who you are.”
Inside Susan Flynt ’S Personal Canvas In Ketchum
Flynt, owner of Embellish, an interior decor studio in Sun Valley, is known for her ability to translate a homeowner’s individuality into interiors that are expressive, functional, and inviting. Her own home serves as her best portfolio piece, a testament to how design can be joyful and alive without losing its sense of harmony.
The home originally featured soaring cathedral ceilings clad in knotty pine and triangular windows that framed the surrounding landscape. With the help of Gretchen Wagner with scape design studio and Lee Gilman Builders, Flynt saw potential for transformation. They replaced the original structure with an updated floor plan, stripped away heavy wood tones, introduced a crisp white palette, and flooded the interiors with light. “I wanted it to feel contemporary and open,” Flynt says.
“I’m a maximalist at heart. I’m very drawn to faces, to figures, to anything that reflects the human experience.”
–Susan Flynt, Founder, Embellish
The home’s first impression is both serene and playful. In the entryway, visitors are greeted by a recessed photo box embedded into the floor—an idea inspired by the home of Salvador Dalí outside Barcelona. Inside it rests a photograph of Flynt’s son, Travis, taken during a theater production. Flynt has another home in New York City that she’s designed with more opulent interiors.
Standing guard in the entry is a striking wood sculpture—Flynt’s self-proclaimed “woman warrior”—called “Figure” by Seattle artist Steve Jensen, known for burning his wood pieces with a torch to achieve their patina. The dramatic piece, approximately six to seven feet tall, is carved from a single piece of richly grained cedar. “He doesn’t make work like this anymore,” she says. “It’s too labor-intensive.”
Throughout the entry, illuminated wall niches display treasures from Flynt’s travels: African clay masks from Tanzania and a Buddha head sculpture from Myanmar, each telling its own story of discovery. Flynt’s vast art collection—gathered from local galleries as well as from global travels to places like Spain, Peru, and Italy—fills every room with energy and meaning. “I love collecting art,” she says. “This house has incredible light, so I wanted walls that would celebrate it.”
Color dances through the house in curated bursts. On a white contemporary canvas, Flynt punctuates spaces with bright, jewel-like accents: a flutter of glass birds by Luke Jacomb, sourced from a gallery in Asheville, North Carolina, appear to take flight up one wall; in another room, a vibrant art sculpture, called “Teddy’s Bear Installation” by artist Judith Kindler, captures a sense of narrative motion, with a cozy Eames lounge chair nearby. “I’m a maximalist at heart,” she admits. “I’m very drawn to faces, to figures, to anything that reflects the human experience.”
“This house has incredible light, so I wanted walls that would celebrate it.”
–Susan Flynt, Founder, Embellish
The main living room is a study in dramatic contemporary design. The double-height space showcases floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the room with natural light and frame expansive outdoor views. Over the fireplace hangs a Robert Motherwell piece titled “Mask; a tribute to Ingmar Bergman” from Ochi Gallery, set above a sculpted raked-travertine surround. Two Barcelona lounge chairs in curule white leather designed by Mies van der Rohe by Knoll add a classic modernist counterpoint. A Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen from Knoll occupies the corner. Sculptural pendant lights featuring layered wooden veneer shades create dramatic organic forms that appear to float overhead, a collaboration with Ketchum Lighting, who assisted with much of the custom lighting throughout.
Designing these types of scenes is part of Greg Matthews Studio’s architectural process. Brent Holzer, an architect at GMS, says, “Many of the homes we design have large moments of glass. We think of windows as picture frames. Before even entering this house, one experiences a beautifully crafted setting and upon entry, that setting continues into the interiors.”
An ornately carved antique wooden door from Santa Fe with baroque-style floral and shield motifs—one of several architectural elements Flynt has incorporated—guards the powder room. The powder room itself continues this sense of artistic discovery, featuring an ornate silver-leafed baroque-style mirror frame that commands attention. The vessel sink is fashioned from natural marble, while framed artwork depicting lips (which is also the logo for Embellish) adds a touch of contemporary edge, and overhead, a wavy mirrored tile on the ceiling casts light downward.
The primary bedroom is anchored by a lush burgundy velvet tufted headboard with a curved, romantic silhouette, custom-made by local furniture store, Tribes. Modern wall sconces flank the bed, while a textured beaded chandelier pendant adds a layer of glamour. A two-part artwork by Judith Kindler, “Voyeur” and “Waiting by the Window,” rests on a side table and hangs above the headboard, respectively. Nearby, a Jim Dine print, “Sitting With Me,” adds another layer of narrative richness.
“Architectural elements add instant character. Plus, they come with stories about where they were found, and that’s what makes them special.”
–Susan Flynt, Founder, Embellish
The dining area showcases Flynt’s love of bold contemporary art and iconic furniture choices. She designed the dining table and it was crafted by local wood artist Kevin Werbinski from Modern Design, featuring curved, tribal-inspired legs that lend an organic rhythm to the space. The dining chairs are upholstered in a striking shibori pattern, adding texture and visual interest.
Flynt’s professional ethos centers on the belief that design doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive to be transformative. “Small changes can create beautiful spaces,” she says—a motto she’s made into a business mantra. “A lot of people get scared off by the idea of hiring a designer because they think it’s going to mean redoing everything. But sometimes it’s about reimagining what you already have.”
“A home should make you feel something. It should make you smile, calm you down, and remind you of what you love.”
–Susan Flynt, Founder, Embellish
Through Embellish, Flynt offers consultations for clients who simply want to refresh a room or edit their furnishings. “Sometimes just moving things around gives a space a whole new feel,” she says. One of her firm’s more distinctive offerings is procuring architectural elements—from carved doors and arches to ironwork and antique headers—that infuse spaces with texture and soul. “Architectural elements add instant character,” Flynt explains. “Plus, they come with stories about where they were found—and that’s what makes them special.”
Ultimately, Flynt’s Ketchum home is an embodiment of her creative philosophy: that living beautifully is as much about meaning as it is about aesthetics. Every piece—every tile, sculpture, and color choice—reflects her belief that homes should resonate with the rhythms of daily life. Flynt’s interiors invite curiosity and comfort in equal measure. “A home should make you feel something,” she reflects. “It should make you smile, calm you down, and remind you of what you love.”
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