The recipient of a bachelor's degree in advertising and communications from the University of Illinois, Susan Brunstrum subsequently earned a master's degree from Northwestern University and began her career as a marketing communications manager with Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Susan Brunstrum later held similar roles with Leica, Hamilton Carver and Lee, and Waln Communications Group before establishing her own marketing company, XYZ Marketing Communications, in 1995.

After five years of managing the Vernon Hills, Illinois-based marketing firm, Susan Brunstrum began pursuing a career in interior design and, in 2003, founded Sweet Peas Design. Employing a design philosophy that blends classic with unique and unexpected styles, she has steadily grown the company over the past 15 years to cater to a wide variety of residential and commercial clients. Moreover, her company has been featured in publications, such as Elle' Decor, Men's Book, Forbes, Sophisticated Living, Modern Luxury Interiors, Professional Builder Magazine, and Bathroom Trends Magazine. In 2017, the company relocated from Libertyville to Chicago and in June 2018 re-branded the company to Studio Brunstrum.