October 24, 2025 • 10 mins
If you’ve ever walked into a home store and thought, “Beautiful, but not for my budget,” meet Susan Bott—the NYC-actor-turned-designer behind Room Tonic in Marblehead—who proves that great design can be both distinctive and affordable. From staging in New York to launching her own shop, Susan shares how craft, courage, and community built a brand with a clear point of view and accessible pricing. Her approach to high–low design teaches where to invest for impact and where to save without sacrificing style. Even when COVID hit just five months after opening, she pivoted with grit—turning Instagram into a storefront, offering doorstep delivery, and building a loyal clientele through personal service.
What makes Room Tonic special is its blend of Marblehead charm and a global eye. Susan curates chinoiserie and vintage pieces that create homes with soul—collected, not copied. Drawing on her stage background, she helps clients tell their stories through their spaces while keeping the design approachable and personal. Her honesty about small business challenges and community support makes her story both inspiring and relatable. Explore Room Tonic for design that balances beauty, meaning, and budget—and discover how storytelling can transform the spaces we call home.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Yuan Godfrey.
SPEAKER_01 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today we have the distinctpleasure of introducing to us to
our listeners Suzanne Bott.
She is the owner and founder ofthe Room Tonic located in
Marblehead.
Susan, how are you doing today?
I'm great.
Thanks for having me.
Oh, wonderful to have youindeed.
(00:32):
Can you please tell ourlisteners about your company?
SPEAKER_03 (00:36):
Room Tonic in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
It's a very unique shop.
Home decor, antique, vintage,funky, fun, colorful um things.
And um I also do interior designas well when time allows.
And um, we're just in Marbleheadhaving fun.
SPEAKER_01 (00:56):
Ah, fun is always fun.
What's the backstory?
How did you get into thisbusiness?
SPEAKER_03 (01:03):
Um by chance, really.
Um I moved here after 25 yearsin New York City.
Um I was a classically trainedactor and I was working as an
actor.
I started doing very early in mycareer was doing set design and
then acting as well.
And then acting um fortunatelytook off.
And then I met my now husbandwho's in Marblehead.
(01:25):
Um I had um in New York City, Ihad a uh staging business, bot
to sell.
And um I got recognized by theNew York Times and for some of
the properties that I staged,and then it turned into interior
design.
And then I said, well, I can'thave the business be called bot
to sell if I'm doing interiordesign, excuse me.
(01:46):
And um then I am also a uh uhcertified elemental space
clearing practitioner, it's amouthful, which is working with
the energy of a room, and Istarted doing more and more um
clearings and design andstaging, and I was like, well, I
need a new name.
And then I came up with roomtonic because it's like the
(02:07):
elixir.
I'm I'm fixing the energy or I'mfixing the look or I'm fixing
the you know interiors, and um,and then it turned into a shop
here.
Literally fell in my lap, um,where I was uh walking down the
street and saw that there was aa uh place for rent, and uh we
(02:30):
just went in just to see, andthey said, Oh, there's five
other people looking at this.
And I was like, Oh no, no, no,no, I wasted your time.
And then they called me and theysaid, We want you as a tenant,
and that is how it happened.
I didn't have a business plan, Ididn't have anything.
We we signed the contract andand painted the walls and moved
(02:50):
in within a month, and um, thatwas five months before COVID
lockdown.
So we were open for five monthsand then we had to close for
almost two years, but we've beenwinning awards and uh we just
won uh Best of the North Shorefrom uh North Shore magazine.
Um, and we're still here, sothat's the story.
SPEAKER_01 (03:11):
Wow, that sounds like a whirlwind of a story with
a little bit of hurricane, yes,but it but it all funneled in
nicely.
That sounds great.
SPEAKER_03 (03:23):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (03:25):
Sounds really nice.
So um, so tell us, what are somemyths or misconceptions
surrounding room tonic?
SPEAKER_03 (03:34):
Um I would probably say price point.
Um and and for my interiordesign stuff too.
Um I have people will go like,oh no, everything's expensive in
there.
I was like, no, it's not.
Yeah, sure, we have someinvestment pieces, but for the
most part, I want people to beable to afford, you know, uh
stuff that they like.
Um and the same with um interiordesign.
(03:56):
Yes, for the most part, youknow, uh it's a luxury business
to be able to afford an interiordesigner, but my specialty, um,
I feel is doing it affordably.
We can do it all at home goodsif you want, you know, and and I
know where to invest and whereto save.
And I want um everyone to lovetheir home.
(04:17):
And I think them thinking it'sgoing to cost too much, that's
that's a bummer.
So I I try to tell people like,no, we can do this exactly how
however much you want to spend,or you know, not the a budget is
a budget, doesn't matter.
We can need it anyway.
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
So I love it.
You don't have to be too highend, you don't need to be too
low end, you could be right inthe middle.
I love it.
SPEAKER_03 (04:40):
I've done stuff with Costco with clients, like let's
just go find that's that's mythat's my jam of let's make it
look really high end, but let'snot spend the money.
SPEAKER_01 (04:49):
So yeah, yeah, I love it.
Um it sounds comfortable as wellfor those who don't have those
deep, deep pockets, but theyreally want something nice.
SPEAKER_02 (04:59):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (05:00):
Yeah, nice.
So how outside of work, what doyou do for fun, Susan, when
you're out there helping peopleand designing and creating?
What do you do for fun?
SPEAKER_03 (05:10):
Um, I'm very lucky that I have uh a group of
friends here that make plans forme because uh as the saying
goes, when you own a business,the business can own you.
Um there's always something todo.
But uh I'm lucky enough ifthey're like, okay, tomorrow
night we're going for a boatride.
I'm like, okay, you know, so I'mlucky that I have uh my little
(05:32):
schedule schedulers that will ummake plans for me because I'm
not very good at taking timeoff.
So I'm lucky enough that I I'mup for anything, I just can't
plan it.
But when they say, you know,we're going out, I'm okay.
So that's how that's how my fungoes.
SPEAKER_01 (05:50):
It's nice to have um understanding people around you
who are able to understand yeah,yeah, your schedule like that
and still work around it oryeah, find a way to get you from
being so focused to doingsomething fun for you.
SPEAKER_03 (06:06):
That's nice, or they'll show up with sandwiches
at the shop and I get to have asomething like that.
So I'm lucky.
SPEAKER_01 (06:11):
I'm lucky.
Yeah, oh yeah, definitelyblessed, wonderful.
So changing gears, Susan, canyou describe one hardship or one
of life's challenges that youhave rose above and can now say
that because of it, you arebetter and you're stronger.
What comes to your mind?
SPEAKER_03 (06:29):
Um, well, personally, there's way too
many, but professionally wasabsolutely um putting my life
savings into opening a shop andonly to have it close because of
COVID lockdown.
Um, that was such a financialnightmare.
Um, we're still struggling toget back, but we'll get there.
(06:49):
Um but during that time too, Ihad to get creative and I won
another award during COVIDlockdown for um from Home
Accents Today magazine.
And just that how I had to getcreative with how I can still
try to keep the shop open or dopersonal shopping or you know,
(07:09):
uh Instagram posts and I'llleave it on your doorstep or
just try to hustle and and seehow you can, you know, not be
forced to close because I saw somany other businesses that were
forced to close.
So um I think that's that's apretty big hurdle that I got
over.
So and we're still here.
SPEAKER_01 (07:28):
So yeah, it's a testament also to your
fortitude.
SPEAKER_03 (07:33):
Well, I wasn't I wasn't about to give up, you
know, because when I moved here,I was an actor, and there I was
I had to find something else todo because there aren't any
union jobs up here.
So I I was I had to make itwork.
I you know, failure was not anoption, so and you had the
support.
Yeah, yeah, been very lucky.
SPEAKER_01 (07:53):
Which goes a long way.
Yeah, Susan, can you please tellour listeners one thing they
should remember about roomtonic?
SPEAKER_03 (08:04):
One thing they should remember about room
tonic.
Um, if you want to come and seesomething that you you've never
seen before, come to room tonic.
That's I love hearing peoplecome in.
First of all, I love that I amnot for everyone, I will just
say that.
With because I moved here andall I saw were starfish and
seashells and anchors, and my myshop is very chinoisery, um,
(08:27):
which is what the all of thefish um the sea captains would
bring back, um, the Chineseexports.
So it's very marblehead, very,you know, Asian eclectic and
stuff.
So I like it when people come inand say they want, oh, they love
everything in the shop, and ohmy gosh, I've never seen
anything like this.
So that's that's what I love.
I love finding things thatpeople have never seen before
(08:47):
that are unique and that no oneelse has.
A lot of I have a lot ofone-of-a-kind things in the shop
too.
So that's um what we're gettingknown for too.
So that's fun.
SPEAKER_01 (08:57):
That is fun.
That is fun.
So, how can our listeners learnmore about room tonic?
Do you have a website?
SPEAKER_03 (09:04):
Oh, yeah, I got uh roomtonic.com.
We're at room tonic decor on umInstagram, and uh we're on
Facebook as Roomtonic, and um Idon't do TikTok, I haven't been
to TikTok yet.
I'm I'm a dinosaur, you know.
There's too many platforms ofsocial.
I'm like, I'll get there at somepoint, you know.
(09:25):
When I have a full day off,maybe I'll get on TikTok.
But for right now, Instagram atroom tonic decor.
SPEAKER_01 (09:32):
Sound like you have your hands full, but that's
that's the case with um uh mostsmall business owners, you know,
trying to make sure that theyhandle it and hold it down.
SPEAKER_02 (09:44):
So yeah, I need a staff.
Unfortunately, I don't have astaff.
I'm I'm wearing all the hats, soI hear you.
SPEAKER_01 (09:53):
You're handling it though.
That's wonderful.
So, Susan, we really appreciateyou being on the show with us
today.
We certainly wish go ahead.
My pleasure.
We wish you and uh Room Tonicall the very best moving
forward.
Thank you again.
SPEAKER_03 (10:11):
Thank you.
Take care.
SPEAKER_00 (10:14):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to gnpnorthore.com.
That's gnpnorthore.com.
Or call 857 703 9406.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Yuan Godfrey.
SPEAKER_01 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today we have the distinctpleasure of introducing to us to
our listeners Suzanne Bott.
She is the owner and founder ofthe Room Tonic located in
Marblehead.
Susan, how are you doing today?
I'm great.
Thanks for having me.
Oh, wonderful to have youindeed.
(00:32):
Can you please tell ourlisteners about your company?
SPEAKER_03 (00:36):
Room Tonic in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
It's a very unique shop.
Home decor, antique, vintage,funky, fun, colorful um things.
And um I also do interior designas well when time allows.
And um, we're just in Marbleheadhaving fun.
SPEAKER_01 (00:56):
Ah, fun is always fun.
What's the backstory?
How did you get into thisbusiness?
SPEAKER_03 (01:03):
Um by chance, really.
Um I moved here after 25 yearsin New York City.
Um I was a classically trainedactor and I was working as an
actor.
I started doing very early in mycareer was doing set design and
then acting as well.
And then acting um fortunatelytook off.
And then I met my now husbandwho's in Marblehead.
(01:25):
Um I had um in New York City, Ihad a uh staging business, bot
to sell.
And um I got recognized by theNew York Times and for some of
the properties that I staged,and then it turned into interior
design.
And then I said, well, I can'thave the business be called bot
to sell if I'm doing interiordesign, excuse me.
(01:46):
And um then I am also a uh uhcertified elemental space
clearing practitioner, it's amouthful, which is working with
the energy of a room, and Istarted doing more and more um
clearings and design andstaging, and I was like, well, I
need a new name.
And then I came up with roomtonic because it's like the
(02:07):
elixir.
I'm I'm fixing the energy or I'mfixing the look or I'm fixing
the you know interiors, and um,and then it turned into a shop
here.
Literally fell in my lap, um,where I was uh walking down the
street and saw that there was aa uh place for rent, and uh we
(02:30):
just went in just to see, andthey said, Oh, there's five
other people looking at this.
And I was like, Oh no, no, no,no, I wasted your time.
And then they called me and theysaid, We want you as a tenant,
and that is how it happened.
I didn't have a business plan, Ididn't have anything.
We we signed the contract andand painted the walls and moved
(02:50):
in within a month, and um, thatwas five months before COVID
lockdown.
So we were open for five monthsand then we had to close for
almost two years, but we've beenwinning awards and uh we just
won uh Best of the North Shorefrom uh North Shore magazine.
Um, and we're still here, sothat's the story.
SPEAKER_01 (03:11):
Wow, that sounds like a whirlwind of a story with
a little bit of hurricane, yes,but it but it all funneled in
nicely.
That sounds great.
SPEAKER_03 (03:23):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (03:25):
Sounds really nice.
So um, so tell us, what are somemyths or misconceptions
surrounding room tonic?
SPEAKER_03 (03:34):
Um I would probably say price point.
Um and and for my interiordesign stuff too.
Um I have people will go like,oh no, everything's expensive in
there.
I was like, no, it's not.
Yeah, sure, we have someinvestment pieces, but for the
most part, I want people to beable to afford, you know, uh
stuff that they like.
Um and the same with um interiordesign.
(03:56):
Yes, for the most part, youknow, uh it's a luxury business
to be able to afford an interiordesigner, but my specialty, um,
I feel is doing it affordably.
We can do it all at home goodsif you want, you know, and and I
know where to invest and whereto save.
And I want um everyone to lovetheir home.
(04:17):
And I think them thinking it'sgoing to cost too much, that's
that's a bummer.
So I I try to tell people like,no, we can do this exactly how
however much you want to spend,or you know, not the a budget is
a budget, doesn't matter.
We can need it anyway.
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
So I love it.
You don't have to be too highend, you don't need to be too
low end, you could be right inthe middle.
I love it.
SPEAKER_03 (04:40):
I've done stuff with Costco with clients, like let's
just go find that's that's mythat's my jam of let's make it
look really high end, but let'snot spend the money.
SPEAKER_01 (04:49):
So yeah, yeah, I love it.
Um it sounds comfortable as wellfor those who don't have those
deep, deep pockets, but theyreally want something nice.
SPEAKER_02 (04:59):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (05:00):
Yeah, nice.
So how outside of work, what doyou do for fun, Susan, when
you're out there helping peopleand designing and creating?
What do you do for fun?
SPEAKER_03 (05:10):
Um, I'm very lucky that I have uh a group of
friends here that make plans forme because uh as the saying
goes, when you own a business,the business can own you.
Um there's always something todo.
But uh I'm lucky enough ifthey're like, okay, tomorrow
night we're going for a boatride.
I'm like, okay, you know, so I'mlucky that I have uh my little
(05:32):
schedule schedulers that will ummake plans for me because I'm
not very good at taking timeoff.
So I'm lucky enough that I I'mup for anything, I just can't
plan it.
But when they say, you know,we're going out, I'm okay.
So that's how that's how my fungoes.
SPEAKER_01 (05:50):
It's nice to have um understanding people around you
who are able to understand yeah,yeah, your schedule like that
and still work around it oryeah, find a way to get you from
being so focused to doingsomething fun for you.
SPEAKER_03 (06:06):
That's nice, or they'll show up with sandwiches
at the shop and I get to have asomething like that.
So I'm lucky.
SPEAKER_01 (06:11):
I'm lucky.
Yeah, oh yeah, definitelyblessed, wonderful.
So changing gears, Susan, canyou describe one hardship or one
of life's challenges that youhave rose above and can now say
that because of it, you arebetter and you're stronger.
What comes to your mind?
SPEAKER_03 (06:29):
Um, well, personally, there's way too
many, but professionally wasabsolutely um putting my life
savings into opening a shop andonly to have it close because of
COVID lockdown.
Um, that was such a financialnightmare.
Um, we're still struggling toget back, but we'll get there.
(06:49):
Um but during that time too, Ihad to get creative and I won
another award during COVIDlockdown for um from Home
Accents Today magazine.
And just that how I had to getcreative with how I can still
try to keep the shop open or dopersonal shopping or you know,
(07:09):
uh Instagram posts and I'llleave it on your doorstep or
just try to hustle and and seehow you can, you know, not be
forced to close because I saw somany other businesses that were
forced to close.
So um I think that's that's apretty big hurdle that I got
over.
So and we're still here.
SPEAKER_01 (07:28):
So yeah, it's a testament also to your
fortitude.
SPEAKER_03 (07:33):
Well, I wasn't I wasn't about to give up, you
know, because when I moved here,I was an actor, and there I was
I had to find something else todo because there aren't any
union jobs up here.
So I I was I had to make itwork.
I you know, failure was not anoption, so and you had the
support.
Yeah, yeah, been very lucky.
SPEAKER_01 (07:53):
Which goes a long way.
Yeah, Susan, can you please tellour listeners one thing they
should remember about roomtonic?
SPEAKER_03 (08:04):
One thing they should remember about room
tonic.
Um, if you want to come and seesomething that you you've never
seen before, come to room tonic.
That's I love hearing peoplecome in.
First of all, I love that I amnot for everyone, I will just
say that.
With because I moved here andall I saw were starfish and
seashells and anchors, and my myshop is very chinoisery, um,
(08:27):
which is what the all of thefish um the sea captains would
bring back, um, the Chineseexports.
So it's very marblehead, very,you know, Asian eclectic and
stuff.
So I like it when people come inand say they want, oh, they love
everything in the shop, and ohmy gosh, I've never seen
anything like this.
So that's that's what I love.
I love finding things thatpeople have never seen before
(08:47):
that are unique and that no oneelse has.
A lot of I have a lot ofone-of-a-kind things in the shop
too.
So that's um what we're gettingknown for too.
So that's fun.
SPEAKER_01 (08:57):
That is fun.
That is fun.
So, how can our listeners learnmore about room tonic?
Do you have a website?
SPEAKER_03 (09:04):
Oh, yeah, I got uh roomtonic.com.
We're at room tonic decor on umInstagram, and uh we're on
Facebook as Roomtonic, and um Idon't do TikTok, I haven't been
to TikTok yet.
I'm I'm a dinosaur, you know.
There's too many platforms ofsocial.
I'm like, I'll get there at somepoint, you know.
(09:25):
When I have a full day off,maybe I'll get on TikTok.
But for right now, Instagram atroom tonic decor.
SPEAKER_01 (09:32):
Sound like you have your hands full, but that's
that's the case with um uh mostsmall business owners, you know,
trying to make sure that theyhandle it and hold it down.
SPEAKER_02 (09:44):
So yeah, I need a staff.
Unfortunately, I don't have astaff.
I'm I'm wearing all the hats, soI hear you.
SPEAKER_01 (09:53):
You're handling it though.
That's wonderful.
So, Susan, we really appreciateyou being on the show with us
today.
We certainly wish go ahead.
My pleasure.
We wish you and uh Room Tonicall the very best moving
forward.
Thank you again.
SPEAKER_03 (10:11):
Thank you.
Take care.
SPEAKER_00 (10:14):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to gnpnorthore.com.
That's gnpnorthore.com.
Or call 857 703 9406.
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