With over 30 years of professional design experience in graphics, packaging, and environmental design, DesignSmith is finally branching out into residential design. Over the years, I’ve worked with numerous corporate clients, helping them to craft both brand messaging and retail spaces. Now, I’m bringing all that experience home. Whether you are looking for modern or traditional home design, I’d love to help bring your vision to life.
L E T ’ S H A V E S O M E F U N !
My story so far…
I started my dream career at Nike after graduating from Art Center, College of Design. Over the next 10 years, I was fortunate to work across multiple disciplines ranging from graphic design to environmental and retail design. In 1999, DesignSmith was born catering to clients like Nordstrom, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, Portland Monthly, Neil Kelly, Umpqua Bank, Cincoro Tequila and numerous others. As a part-time professor at two Universities, I’ve been fortunate to inspire and learn from the next generation of designers. All the while, having a ball raising a family and working on remodels of our various homes over the years. Soon, I was helping friends with their home remodels and my client list started to grow.
To me, home is a haven that we create, carefully crafting the details into an integrated whole. It’s a personal journey over time—you and your home, each taking care of the other.
Valerie Taylor-Smith | DesignSmith Interiors | Owner & Creative Director
THE DESIGN PROCESS
Meet.
Schedule an appointment for an initial in-home consultation to discuss your project expectations, wants, and needs.
Estimate.
Outline the design process into phases based on your needs and budget. Estimate will include general time frame and associated fees per phase.
Survey.
Revisit the site to take photos and rough measurements of the space to inform the design process and document the space.
Plan.
Draw up floor plans for initial review. Once approved, elevation drawings will follow. Revise, refine, and tweak as we go.
Collaborate.
Dedicate time (both designer and client) to choose needed appliances, hardware, materials, finishes, etc.
Create.
Work with your builder and vendors to ensure their understanding of the design direction for great results.