Visual Thinker: Beth Diana Smith
Beth Diana Smith ’15 (AAS), CEO and principal of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, came to NYSID after a decade-long career in corporate finance. She brings the organizational skills she learned as an executive into her creative practice. She has appeared on NBC and HGTV, and her work has been featured by many publications including House Beautiful, ELLE Decor, Real Simple, The Washington Post, Business of Home, and The Wall Street Journal. She’s a founding member of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, a member of the Design Leadership Council, and an associate member of the American Society of Interior Designers.
A Functional Space That Soothes the Soul
Part of the renovation of a Victorian home in Montclair, New Jersey, this kitchen is so calming and lovely that it’s easy to overlook the fact that it was designed to be an efficient workspace. One of the clients is an accomplished baker and cook who spends hours every day working in the kitchen, so Smith did an inventory of everything she might need to store, from root vegetables to mixing bowls. Smith needed to maximize prep and storage space, so she knocked down and shifted back the original interior wall, taking space from the dining room, and rotating the layout to make room for custom cabinetry and an island. She layered color and pattern, honoring the history of the house while referencing modern styles. This project won an ASID Design Excellence Award.
This custom pantry, in a serene Dockside Blue, from Sherwin-Williams, has drawers at the height of the countertop, so the cook need not bend down or reach up to get essentials. Inside the doors are drawers that provide organization and easy access.
The surface of the island is a butcher block from Grothouse. Its warm hues contrast with the white slab countertops and backsplash. Butcher block provides additional prep space.
The custom Roman shade is made with "Wildflowers" fabric in dusky rose from Stroheim. Smith regards the textile as a modern interpretation of Victorian florals.
Smith specified the Calabasas porcelain tiles on the floor (from the Tile Shop) and Claybourne bin pulls (from Rejuvenation) because they work in traditional and contemporary rooms and help make this a transitional interior.
Photo: Kelly Marshall