Anna and Erik Schweiss have built a life defined by intention, creativity and shared pursuits—one that balances demanding professional paths with a deep commitment to family. Together with their children, Ellis (10) and Celine (8), both born at Hoag Newport Beach, the Schweiss family brings together design, athletics, heritage and community in a way that feels both dynamic and grounded.

Anna was born at Laguna Beach Hospital and raised in San Juan Capistrano. She attended St. Margaret’s Episcopal School from preschool through high school before earning a Bachelor of Science in Business from Chapman University in Orange. Her education continued at the Interior Design Institute in Newport Beach, where she spent two years earning an associate degree in interior design; formal training that built upon a creative foundation shaped early on through her family’s furniture business.

Erik’s upbringing began in the Pacific Northwest. Born in Burien, Washington, he grew up in the Puget Sound area and attended Anacortes High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health from Concordia University in Portland, along with a teaching credential. Athletics played a central role throughout his early years, setting the stage for a lifelong connection to sports, leadership and coaching.

The two met in a modern but meaningful way—online. After connecting through a dating site, they met in person just days later. Their relationship quickly deepened, leading to a June 2016 wedding at Shady Canyon Golf Club. Designed by Anna herself, the wedding reflected a natural aesthetic with white florals and succulents, shared among close friends and family in a setting already familiar to her family.

Anna’s professional journey blends family legacy with international experience. She grew up immersed in her family’s furniture business, working summers and spending time in the office even as a child. While studying business, she gained hands-on experience supporting small, family-owned companies. After completing design school, she was hired by mentor Joan Marcus-Colvin to work for Emaar Properties, the world’s largest developer, following its acquisition of John Laing Homes.

Through this role, Anna managed interior design firms working on large-scale residential projects within the master-planned community of New Cairo. The position took her to Cairo, Egypt, where she oversaw design execution and collaborated with international teams—an experience that proved both formative and far-reaching.

Following the 2008 housing market downturn, Anna returned to the family business, where she remains today as Vice Principal of Design for Essentials For Living, the furniture brand founded in the late 1970s. She describes the brand as a direct reflection of her own design sensibility and values. Among her most recent accomplishments is the completion of a 23,000-square-foot flagship showroom for Essentials For Living in High Point, North Carolina.

Erik’s career path has been equally entrepreneurial. He has spent much of his professional life involved in small business ventures as well as corporate sales and sales management. A lifelong basketball player, he went on to coach at the collegiate level and continues to bring that passion into family life, often found courtside coaching their son Ellis’s team.

The Schweiss family moved from Irvine to Newport Beach in 2021 after discovering a home they loved in the Port Streets. What began as a search for more space quickly felt serendipitous. The home was a pocket listing designed in partnership with Grace Blu Designs, owned by Anna’s close friend and former design school classmate, Rona Graf. Anna also recognized furniture from Essentials For Living, professionally photographed throughout the home. With a layout ideal for a family of four and convenient access for her commute to Foothill Ranch, the move felt undeniably right.

Outside of work, Anna has rekindled a lifelong passion for hunter-jumper horseback riding. She began riding at age eight in San Juan Capistrano and competed throughout her youth, college years and into adulthood before stepping away while raising her children. In December 2025, after an eight-year pause, she returned to the sport with a new horse, Banks, an 11-year-old Oldenburg warmblood. Sharing this passion with her daughter Celine, who now rides several days a week with Anna’s longtime trainer Mary Morrison of Ivy Gate Farm, has become especially meaningful.

Erik’s connection to sports remains strong as well. After playing college basketball and coaching at the collegiate level, he now spends much of his time coaching youth teams, particularly Ellis’s basketball team. He is also a devoted fan of the Washington Huskies and the Seattle Seahawks, a nod to his Washington roots.

Ellis and Celine both attend Saint Joachim Catholic School in Costa Mesa, where Ellis is in fourth grade and Celine is in third. Their interests reflect a wide range of activities. Celine rides horses several days a week and plays flag football with the Females in Flags league in Costa Mesa. She has also explored dance and gymnastics and enjoys incorporating acrobatics into her movement. Ellis plays baseball with Newport Beach Baseball, basketball through the Boys & Girls Club, and golf at Shady Canyon Golf Club. He is also highly creative and enjoys designing and building projects using his 3D printer. During the summer months, both children participate in the Newport Hills Swim Team.

Family heritage plays a meaningful role in their story. Anna’s parents are immigrants—her father from Sweden and her mother from Quebec, Canada—who came to Southern California with a dream and built a successful business through hard work and perseverance. Anna grew up in a bilingual household, with French spoken at home, and she remains fluent today. Erik’s parents are first-generation Americans with strong Norwegian roots and entrepreneurial backgrounds, having built a handcrafted boat-making business in Anacortes, Washington, where they still reside.

Locally, the family enjoys spending time together in simple ways. Anna and Erik frequent Tommy Bahama for happy hour, especially for the frozen Mai Tais, and often dine at Gulfstream. Fashion Island is a family favorite, with Barnes & Noble topping the children’s list for books, games and unexpected finds. Community events in the Port Streets are highlights throughout the year, from elaborate Halloween decorations to festive holiday lights and neighborhood pop-ups. Anna especially looks forward to the annual Corona del Mar Home Tour, often spotting Essentials For Living pieces along the way.

Weekends may include bike rides around the neighborhood, beach days in Corona del Mar, open-house tours, or cheering Ellis on during Sunday baseball games at Bonita Canyon. The family also spends much of their vacation time at their La Quinta home and recently welcomed an energetic addition to the household—JoJo, their two-year-old French bulldog.

When asked what message they would like to share with the community, Anna references a quote by Nate Berkus:“Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.” She believes the same is true of community. Newport Beach, she notes, offers a rare blend of natural beauty, outdoor living and a small-town feel known far beyond its borders—a place the Schweiss family feels fortunate to call home.