Making small spaces beautiful

Earlier this year at the National Kitchen & Bath Association Awards in Las Vegas, San Diegos Sol Quintana Wagoner took home the prize for the countrys Best Bath.

Wagoner, an interior designer at Kearny Mesas Jackson Design and Remodeling, turned a tiny, 37-square foot space into a luxurious, Asian-inspired powder room.

The Argentine-born architect and designer moved to San Diego in 2002, and for the last eight years shes been transforming kitchens, bathrooms and other spaces.

Wagoner, 43, who lives in Santee with her two young daughters, explains her inspiration.

Q: When did you first become interested in architecture?

A: In Argentina I was always surrounded by architecture and design. Walking down the street you feel like youre going back in time with the different styles, cultures and periods. I went to the same architecture school in Argentina as the renowned architect Csar Pelli. I was inspired by his design of the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, which were the worlds tallest buildings at one time. When I was very young, my mom used to say that I was more interested in making the doll house than I was with the dolls themselves. I was always interested in my visual surroundings and how I could make them more interesting and colorful.

Q: What was the first thing you ever designed?

A: At architectural school I designed a quincho, which is a type of outdoor kitchen thats very popular in Argentina because of our love of good meats and barbecue. It is an eating and socializing space, typically separated from the main house kind of a man cave built around a barbecue outside.

Q: What types of projects do you do here in San Diego?

A: I work as a member of a team that includes other designers and architects. Ive designed bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor spaces and whole home remodels. We work in every style from historical to transitional to contemporary and modern. I am able to explore many aspects of my creativity.

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Making small spaces beautiful