Episode 330: Marianne Cusato

Million Dollar Decorating

Marianne Cusato is an Associate Professor of the Practice at the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture and special housing advisor to HomeAdvisor on topics relating to architecture, design, and home building trends. Recently selected by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the Top Women in Real Estate, Cusato is the author of two books: The Just Right Home: Buying, Renting, Moving...or Just Dreaming--Finding Your Perfect Match! (April 2013, Workman Publishing) and Get Your House Right, Architectural Elements to Use and Avoid, with Ben Pentreath, Richard Sammons and Leon Krier, foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales (January 2008, Sterling Publishing). Well-known for her work on the Katrina Cottages, in 2006, her 308 s.f. cottage design won the Smithsonian Institute’s Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum’s “People’s Design Award.” That same year, Congress appropriated $400 million for an alternative emergency housing program based on Cusato’s designs. She has been ranked the No. 4 most influential person in the home building industry by Builder Magazine and in 2012, Cusato was voted one of the 30 Most Influential Women in the Housing Economy by HousingWire Magazine. Cusato and her work are featured often in the media including The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, Associated Press, Reuters, Forbes, Timemagazine, The Week, InStyle Home, Fitness Magazine, Builder magazine, Architectural Record, ABC News, CNN, CNBC and NPR. Explore Marianne's Website here Add Marianne's book recommendation, New Aging, to your home library by clicking here.