Courtney B. Smith: 5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy
Every space feels better if it’s a mix of high and low, vintage and new, off-the-shelf and custom. In addition to creating more interesting spaces, mixing it up is a sneaky way to balance budgets. Pieces that are heavily used, like sofas and chairs in living spaces, are usually worth an investment. More decorative items, like little drinks tables, can often be sourced inexpensively. Rugs serve well as investment pieces, but it’s also not hard to find good options that won’t break the bank (shop vintage and auction sites for antiques, or choose a natural fiber, which are relatively inexpensive).
As part of my series on the “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Courtney B. Smith.
Courtney Smith is on a mission to help families create vibrant homes that support better living. Over the course of a decade working on Wall Street, Courtney learned that excellent service and transparency build trust, effective systems save sanity, and clients who become friends make work more rewarding. These lessons formed the bedrock of Courtney B. Smith Design. Over the past fifteen years, Courtney has earned a reputation for fearlessly combining pattern and color, and designing spaces that deliver joy.
Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
We moved a lot growing up, and I watched my mom establish many homes using family heirlooms, pieces collected on travels, and new additions along the way. Many different addresses became “home,” but her ability to create a familiar and beautiful place for her family over and over sparked my obsession with decorating.
That said, my path was not a straight line. I came to residential interior design after a decade-long career in equity derivatives on Wall Street, where I went to work after graduating from Georgetown University. In 2005, my husband and I completed a renovation in NYC, creating a large loft by combining three studio apartments. We sold that property in 2008 and received multiple offers, including one for a fully-furnished sale. We hadn’t anticipated selling our apartment furnished, but when we did, my husband encouraged me to consider turning my passion into something more official. I launched my firm the next year, and my first clients were former Wall Street colleagues who took a chance on me.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?
One of my clients owned a fabulous historic estate property in Marin County, and hired me to design the grand entry hall, formal dining room, living room, and primary bedroom. We were well on our way, with my wallpaper installer scheduled for a few weeks out, when a TV show approached them to rent their space for a season as a set. The show needed it to look dark and staid (the way it was, pretty much), posing as the home of a wealthy uncle. We halted everything … screech! Covid hit soon after, and my client sold the property and subsequently moved out of state. I still feel a bit sad about the missed opportunity on this one — we had an amazing plan.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
There’s no such thing as a funny mistake in design, because they’re all so expensive. I suppose in hindsight they fade, though not quite to the level of “funny.” On the positive side, once they’re corrected, they just become (expensive) learning experiences.
Mistakes are inevitable, though, and I do my best to make them happen on personal projects rather than client ones. For instance, I recently wrapped up my biggest project yet — a multi-year renovation of our family’s home from the studs up. When we started planning for our build in 2016, I convinced myself that we needed an attached garage. We’d lived through some apocalyptically rainy years at our prior home, schlepping kids and gear across soggy areas from our driveway to our back door. I was sort of done with that mentally, but lost sight of the big picture.
I initially oriented the renovation of our new home entirely around an attached garage, and the first plan we landed on was perfect in only that way. As I absorbed our plans and began envisioning our life in that home, I realized that we’d gone down the wrong rabbit hole. We revamped, presented (again) to our town for approval, and the home we ultimately built serves us beautifully … even without an attached garage.
Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
First, spend time considering and discussing a project’s priorities and tradeoffs. Nothing is perfect — even the most luxurious properties have warts. The key is understanding how a family will use their home, and what’s important to them. Do they need an attached garage, when really a covered path and a fabulous mudroom might work just as well while allowing for a better overall layout? Every choice we make has ripple effects. It’s my job to anticipate those, to tease out a client’s key pain points and dreams for their home, and to design spaces that meet their needs and exceed their expectations.
Second, stay humble. The dynamics in this business are complicated — there are so many variables and potholes. I’m going to keep making mistakes, but thankfully, I’ve never made the same one twice. My success is built on repeat business and referrals. It’s crucial to be honest and open with clients, and never take advantage of their trust. And remember to breathe, because everything in design is fixable.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I typically take on a couple of “Full Service” projects (full-house design, often involving construction), a handful of “Design Collaboration” projects (projects where I work with clients up to the point of ordering and installing and they manage things from there), and many “Power Hour” sessions (two hour blocks of time for me to consult with clients on any number of things, including helping with pattern-mixing, advising on layouts, weighing in on window treatments, paint selections, and more).
Right now, I’m working on a beautiful shingle in Sausalito, a stunning modern in Mill Valley, a family apartment in downtown NYC, and a midcentury ranch in the hills above Marin. Very different architectural aesthetics, but with common threads. My clients appreciate color and pattern, aren’t afraid of wallpaper, and are ready to invest to make their spaces work harder, smarter, and more beautifully.
How do you think that might help people?
Full Service Design is a long-term partnership and a big investment, and not every client wants that level of commitment. With Design Collaboration and Power Hours, I can also work with clients who need help on single spaces or with specific challenges. This approach has been a game-changer. Instead of turning clients away, I can offer them a service that really suits their needs.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?
“Eat the cake, use the good stuff, pour another!” Thank you, Grandma Jackie.
Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My Grandma Jackie always opened her home, and she always said yes to another round, whether it was tennis, cocktails, dominos, or visits on her lanai. She hosted many weddings (including ours) at the family home she and my grandfather built on their almond ranch in Northern California. Every space there offers something curious or special: color and pattern, treasures from travels, artwork by grandchildren and great-grandchildren, work boots, fur jackets, family portraits, inherited sterling flatware, and mismatched china. I loved her joie de vivre and her “more is more” approach to living memorably.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?
More than one!
My mother and grandmother instilled a love of good design and beautiful spaces. My mother-in-law also created a gorgeous home, which I’ve been visiting and admiring for 25 years now. Their influence on me is indelible, for sure.
My dad encouraged me to take a job in finance out of college, and without those roots, I wouldn’t have had the courage or foundation to launch my own firm.
My husband is always my biggest cheerleader and is game for almost all of my design escapades. His confidence helped set me in motion, and his continual support, and blind eye to pink and florals, keeps me going.
Finally, working on a Wall Street trading floor for over a decade played an unexpected role. I learned to embrace chaos, grew a thick skin, and honed my radar for authenticity. A handful of mentors and managers took me under their wings, and taught me about providing great client service, establishing effective systems, and managing complex projects.
Can you share a story about that?
In a way, the most unusual part of my Wall Street story is that I left. After a decade in the seat and several promotions, I had a dream job on a dream team at a dream firm. As much as I loved my team and my clients, I found myself craving a creative outlet and a chance to feed my passion.
In a full-circle moment, one of my junior teammates from all those years ago at Goldman Sachs, who has since earned a position as one of the firm’s senior leaders, is currently my design client for her NYC apartment. Had you told the 32 year old Courtney, who was managing her team of younger Wall Street rockstars, that she’d be decorating her favorite Associate’s family apartment in 15 years, she would have laughed out loud. Lucky me. You just never know!
Thank you for that. Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
I believe that a home feeds a family, and sets the stage for the memories we create. We remember the way rooms make us feel. I encourage my clients to establish spaces that allow them to live memorably.
When working with clients, I follow a process that includes several distinct steps. This is part of the roadmap I use for designing spaces that spark joy.
1. Create a style lens to use as a filter.
My first step is to consider a home’s intrinsic form together with a client’s personal style. I start by evaluating the site’s architectural bones — traditional, modern, transition, or something else? I then consider the client’s personality and tastes — are they casual or formal? Conservative, edgy, artistic, athletic? What clues do their wardrobe, favorite hotels, restaurants, movie sets, and art provide? I take all of this input to produce a project style lens. After presenting this to my client, and making any necessary tweaks, we use it throughout our project. Making specific choices becomes easier as we can use our filter to evaluate how well each item we’re considering works for the space.
2. Consider how you plan to use your space, not just how you want it to look.
For instance, when working on dining rooms, I ask questions like: is this a space just for special occasions, or will the family use it daily? Are there other functions that this space should support — a homework zone, a place for games and puzzles, a quiet space for a visit? Would a bar area be a good addition? In our house, for example, the formal dining room doubles as a billiard room, with a custom pool table that converts to a dining table for dinner parties and holidays several times a year. Once we’ve identified a list of functions a space should serve, our next step flows naturally.
3. Spend time getting your furniture plan and layout right.
Compile a list of pieces that support your desired functions, and generate a floor plan. I focus on developing plans that maximize function while prioritizing scale and flow. Tips: your rugs need to be big enough for at least all furniture in your plan to place front legs on, and blue tape is your friend — use it to envision the scale of different items you’re considering in a space. Play with things before you settle!
4. Use pattern and color.
This is where it gets really fun. I’m a believer in surrounding yourself with things you love. For me, this means a mix of pattern, color, texture, and personal collections. I start projects by identifying a couple of key patterns we’ll use in a space, usually in the form of a client’s favorite fabric or wallpaper, or sometimes an existing rug or piece of art. From there, we build a scheme by incorporating additional layers. Beyond adding joy, pattern and color help hide sins. It’s much harder to spot inevitable spills and stains in spaces where there’s a lot going on. Treasures make every space unique, and help tell a story. Do you have a collection of guitars, seashells, or silver napkin rings? Put them out to spark joy, and give your guests something to talk about.
5. Mix it up.
Every space feels better if it’s a mix of high and low, vintage and new, off-the-shelf and custom. In addition to creating more interesting spaces, mixing it up is a sneaky way to balance budgets. Pieces that are heavily used, like sofas and chairs in living spaces, are usually worth an investment. More decorative items, like little drinks tables, can often be sourced inexpensively. Rugs serve well as investment pieces, but it’s also not hard to find good options that won’t break the bank (shop vintage and auction sites for antiques, or choose a natural fiber, which are relatively inexpensive).
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
The amount of need in the world is almost overwhelming. I’m inspired by experts dedicated to medical breakthroughs, environmental solutions, and education, and if I were to come back in another life I might want to pursue a career in genetics.
That said, my special gift is knowing how to create a home that feeds the soul. My clients are entrepreneurs, community leaders, medical professionals, teachers, engineers, lawyers, artists, investors, and scientists. They are at the forefront of impressive initiatives, and are mostly families raising children. I help design homes that support them in every way, while instilling a sense of belonging that provides a strong foundation.
Our spaces are imprinted on those we love, and form the backdrop for the memories we make with the people we cherish most. The world would be a better place if everyone had a home that sparked pride and joy. So it’s a movement of sorts, just one space at a time!
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them :-)
Nancy Meyers, the American filmmaker who wrote, produced and/or directed Father of the Bride, The Parent Trap, Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday, It’s Complicated, Home Again, The Intern and more. Beyond giving the world some of my favorite movies, Meyers knows how to craft beautiful sets with elevated but comfortable spaces. Several of her kitchens have sparked design movements, and I could happily live in any one of her sets for eternity.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
IG: @courtneybsmith
Pinterest: @courtneybsmith
Linked In: Courtney B. Smith
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!
