Susan Smith Designs
Susan Smith
Interior Designer
Twenty-five years of considered design. Collaborative, precise, and genuinely invested in how you live.
Susan Smith has spent twenty-five years learning that the best design conversations start with curiosity. Rather than arriving at a project with a predetermined aesthetic, she and her team at Susan Smith Designs begin by truly listening. Soft contemporary serves as a gentle starting point, but the real work happens in those early discussions where a family's actual life becomes the blueprint for everything that follows.
What sets Smith apart is her commitment to collaboration scaled to each client's comfort level. Some homeowners want to be deeply involved in every palette choice and purchase decision. Others prefer to trust the process and step back. Smith adapts to both dynamics seamlessly, understanding that the strongest design partnerships are built on clear communication and genuine respect for how people want to live. This flexibility, paired with her meticulous attention to both decorative and lifestyle details, means that projects exceed expectations across timing, budget, and aesthetics simultaneously.
Why Susan Smith Designs is on our list
Her work speaks to homes that are stunning without being precious. A recent modern renovation showcases this philosophy beautifully: Italian furnishings, custom bedding, textured wallpapers, and carefully placed art created something timelessly elegant, yet the home remained exquisitely liveable. The firepit and fountain extended that sensibility into outdoor spaces, proving that luxury and real life are not opposing forces.
Smith describes her practice as fun and kind, which matters more than it might sound. Design is inherently personal, and the professionals who guide that process shape not just a home but the experience of creating one. For Dallas homeowners seeking a designer who stays curious, communicates clearly, and never ignores the way a family actually lives, Susan Smith Designs offers exactly that combination of expertise and warmth.
Q
Tell us who you are and what you stand for in your work.
A
I have twenty-five years of experience in all aspects of design, and I believe the best work starts with curiosity and respect. Soft contemporary is always a starting point for us, however we love being open to conversations and concepts. Our practice is as collaborative as makes the client comfortable. We stay curious, informed, and excited about making each project unique, economic, and beautiful.
“We stay curious, informed, and excited about making each project unique, economic, and beautiful.”
Q
Tell us about a working relationship that felt exactly right. What made it work?
A
We worked with a client who had a second home in a Dallas high rise, and they allowed us to create a dynamic of independent design decisions. Yet, communicating palettes and purchases was always key. We were able to exceed all timing, budget, and aesthetic goals because of this dynamic. It was the perfect balance between trust and transparency.
“We were able to exceed all timing, budget, and aesthetic goals because of this dynamic.”
Q
How do you design for the way a family actually lives, not just the way a home looks in photos?
A
Communication. The project interview sets up the dynamic where the family's life is either respected or improved, never ignored. This conversation shapes everything that follows. We do not miss one detail, be it decorative or lifestyle. Every choice we make serves the people who live in the space.
“The family's life is either respected or improved, never ignored.”
Q
Tell us about one of your projects that really stuck with you.
A
A modern renovation we completed was transformative, both interior and exterior spaces. We procured modern Italian furnishings, unique lighting, textured wallpapers, and beautiful custom bedding. We placed art, a fountain, and a firepit throughout. The project is stunning and timeless, yet it remains an exquisite and liveable home. That balance between beauty and function is exactly what I am after in every project.
“The project is stunning and timeless, yet it remains an exquisite and liveable home.”
Watch the feature
Portfolio
Photography: Michael Hunter