Allison Smith – Interior Designer, Owner & Cleveland Native

Allison Smith founded Gem and Clay Interiors, a full-service interior design firm based outside of Cleveland, Ohio, after a lifetime of making art and studying history, plus a decade of designing interiors alongside her other career. She believes in creating stylish and meaningful environments that truly inspire, nurture and serve. Equally important is the journey to achieving these spaces. Our team works with some of the most skilled architects, builders, contractors, artisans, makers and service partners across many states, collaborating in beautiful ways to bring new environments into being. We also search near and far to collect, curate and design the best products to fill the interiors we design.

Through artistic eyes and curious spirits, Allison and her team designs spaces of all kinds…from corporate environments and photography sets to the most intimate of spaces – the home. All are crafted with a holistic perspective of design and the team’s unique compendium of skills.

Featured Cleveland Interior Design Projects

CONCORD HOLLOW REFRESH

Interior design, decoration and styling for a holiday home of a busy family of five.

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GLEN HIGHLAND REFRESH

Interior design, decoration and styling for a modern, French chateau-style new build overlooking the Chagrin River Valley.

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GRAM CREEK NEW BUILD

New build residence on nearly eight acres of land adjacent a winding creek, custom-designed to evolve with a young family while they enjoy life surrounded by nature.

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Interior Design in Akron & Cleveland, OH

Gem and Clay Interiors works with clients in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio (and beyond) to transform their homes and businesses into places that inspire, nurture and serve all who enter. The weather may be crazy, and we sure do have a love/hate relationship with our sports teams, but there is so much beauty (and good food!) in this area and we love to polish up those gems and create amazing environments to live and work within.

Cleveland interior design clients are special to us because we are located in Bath, so we live and work alongside our neighbors in Hudson, Cuyahoga Falls, Richfield, Kent, and Silver Lake. We are inspired by Akron’s beauty and diversity, with Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Stan Hywet Hall, and so many little pockets of the city filled with stories and personality.

Our roots are in Cleveland so we, of course, love CLE as well, working on projects downtown and servicing the east and west side, such as Chagrin Falls, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Avon Lake, Westlake and Bay Village. The city is a treasure trove, brimming with culture, history, amazing architecture and new life popping up in all directions, so there is no shortage of inspiration here. From historical renovations in Shaker Heights to new home builds in Chagrin Falls, we are able and excited to help you with your new project. Give us a call today to see how we can help you transform your environment or read on to find out a little more about our work

The meaning behind Gem and Clay

The name “Gem and Clay” represents how we define meaningful design, which is about identifying the true potential (gem) within a space, and forming the new vessel (clay) around that treasure to contain and enhance it. Each project has a collective gem, composed of existing elements that have beauty, significance and story. We then form the surrounding space to enhance and enrich the lives of the people who spend time there. This is meaningful design.

Our custom interior design capabilities include: