Biography

• Ms. Sewell has been president of Marsha Sewell & Associates, an interior design firm, since 1977.  She has been honored with design awards by community groups such as the Downtown Partnership, Historical Resources Board, American Institute of Architects, Gaslamp Quarter Association, Orchids and Onions, and ASID.

She currently chairs the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation’s Land Use and Planning Committee, and serves on Mainly Mozart’s Board of Directors. In the past, she served on San Diego’s Historical Resources Board, CCDCs PAC committee; and was chair of the UCSD Extensions Center’s Board of Directors for their Interior Design Program.

AFFILIATIONS & LICENSES
• Member, NCIDQ 1980-2022
• Professional member ASID 1980 – 2019
• California Interior Design Certificate #0607, since 1993

AWARDS
• “Gaslamp Gala 2019 Visionary Award”
• ” Trailblazer Award, 2014″, Gaslamp Quarter Association’s Lamplighter Award
• “Annual Design Award, 2011”, Gaslamp Quarter Association’s Lamplighter Award
• “Bath of the Year, 2009, Best Retro Powder Room” San Diego Home/Garden (see March issue)
• “Design Excellence Award; Residential-Kitchen Space”, 2007, ASID (see SDHG April issue)
• “Bath of the Year, 2005-Best Detail”, San Diego Home/Garden (see March Issue)
• “Award of Excellence for Historic Preservation” for Outstanding Preservation of the Ginty House, Category – Architecture, 2004, San Diego Historical Resources Board
• “Interiors of the Year”, 2000, Best Dining Room
– Honorable Mention, San Diego Home/Garden (see January Issue)
• “Urban Garden of the Year”, 1998, San Diego Home/Garden (see September Issue)
• “Kitchen of the Year”, 1996, San Diego Home/Garden (see September Issue)
• “Alonzo Horton Award for Downtown Improvement”, October 1994, Downtown Partnership
• “Design Excellence Award for Historic Preservation”, 1993, ASID
(see SDHG July & SD Magazine May Issues)
• “Historical Preservation Award for Best Residential Interior”, 1993,
Gaslamp Quarter Foundation (see SD Magazine May Issue)
• “Illumination Design Award”, 1991, San Diego Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (see SD Magazine May Issue)
• “Home of the Year Award”, 1990, San Diego Home/Garden (see SD Magazine May & SDHG February Issues)
• “Merit Award – Forecast 80’s”, 1982, AIA (see SDHG May Issue)
• “Design for Better Living Award – forecast 80’s”, 1982, American Wood Council (see SDHG May Issue)
• “Orchid Award – Interior Design, San Diego Civic Theater”, 1980, San Diego AIA/ASID (see Designer’s West November 1991 Issue)

PUBLIC SERVICE
• Gaslamp Quarter Design Alliance, Vice-President, 2016
• Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, Land Use & Planning Chair, since 2014
• Mainly Mozart Festival, Board of Directors since 2010, Advisory Board Member 1997-2010, (see SDHG May 1997 & SD Magazine April 1998)
• Gaslamp Quarter Association, Land Use & Planning Committee Member,          1995-2014, Co-Chair 2005-2006, Chair 2007 – 2014
• Archtoberfest – Great Downtown San Diego Places & Spaces tour, San Diego Architecture and Design Month, 2014
• Historic Resources Relocation Feasibility Study; Public Engagement – Focus Group, Participant, 2010
• Victorious Victorians! The Revival Tour; Save Our Heritage Organization; Historic Ginty House, Participant, 2009
• Judge, SDHG/Lifestyles 2008 Kitchen of the Year Contest
• Marketing Committee, Gaslamp Quarter Association, 2007
• Judge, SDHG/Lifestyles 2007 Bath of the Year Contest
• Historic Building Interiors Ad Hoc Subcommittee, City of San Diego Historical Resources Board, 2007
• Ballpark District Preservation Advisory Group, 2002-2006
• San Diego Historical Resource Board, 1998-2006; Chair – Design Assistance Subcommittee, 2002-2006
• Modernism CLG Grant Committee, City of San Diego Planning and Development Dept., 2006
• Center City Development Corporation Advisory Board, Elected Member of Project Area Committee, 1995 – 1996
• Gaslamp Quarter Foundation, Member of Board of Directors, 1993 – 1995 (see SD Magazine July 1993)
• University of California, San Diego Extension for Interior Design Program,
Chairman of Advisory Board, 1991 – 1994
• American Society of Interior Design, Member of Board of Directors 1979 – 1980

PUBLICATIONS LOCAL:
San Diego Magazine
San Diego Home/Garden
San Diego Premier Properties & Lifestyles
Coastal San Diego Homes
Interior Design Guide
ASID ICON
Homeowners’ Resource Guide
sdhome, Night and Day – San Diego Union Tribune
San Diego Decor & Style
D-TOWN
San Diego Decorating
San Diego Metropolitan Magazine
Ranch & Coast
La Jolla Light
San Diego Daily Transcript

REGIONAL:
California Homes
Interior Expressions
Designers West
Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine
Maui, Inc.
Hawaiian Island Home
LA Times – Home Magazine

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL:
Wall Street Journal, Mansion Section
Better Homes and Gardens
Decorating (Better Homes and Gardens)
Kitchen and Bath Ideas
Kitchen Planning Guide
Bedroom and Bath Ideas
Remodeling Ideas
Remodeling Planning Guide
Country Kitchen Ideas
Home Plan Ideas
Window and Wall Ideas
Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living
Interiors & Sources
Custom Home
Family Circle
The Designer
Money Magazine
Affordable Home
House Beautiful
Hawaiian Island Home
Woman’s World
Home
Audio Video Interiors
Unique Home
1,001 Home Ideas
Design Times

BOOKS
San Diego Then and Now, Nancy Hendrickson, 2003
Images of America: San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, Gaslamp Quarter Association, Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation and San Diego Historical Society, 2003
San Diego Architecture, Dirk Sutro, 2002
San Diego: Views of Past and Present, Roger Showley and George Jezek, 2000
Big Ideas for Small Spaces, Cristine Brun, 1999
Better Homes & Gardens – New Decorating Book, 1990
Better Homes & Gardens – Decorating with Personal Style, 1989
Who’s Who of Interior Designers, 1988 – 1989
Who’s Who of American Women, 1987 – 1988
Who’s Who in the West, 1980 – 1981

TELEVISION
2006 – May “Rod Luck Live at Showcase House”, KUSI, San Diego
1999 – October “Lynette Jennings, Design”; Discovery Channel
1998 – January “Kitty Bartholomew: You’re Home”; HGTV
1995 – October “The Willard Scott Show”
1993 – Febraury “Ross Report”; KNSD, San Diego
1980 – May “Good Morning America” ABC NEWS