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Allison Smith - Owner & Designer

Allison Smith founded Gem and Clay Interiors, a full-service interior design studio in Northeast Ohio, after a lifetime of making art and studying history, plus a decade of designing interiors alongside her other career. She studied fashion design, merchandising and photo illustration at Kent State University and draws from her corporate background as the VP Online Marketing for a successful web development & marketing agency. Allison’s holistic perspective on design and her distinctive ability to balance creativity and analytical problem solving, makes her invaluable to her clients. She believes in creating stylish environments that truly inspire, nurture and serve. Equally important is the journey to achieving these spaces. Her experience managing complex teams and projects is evident in her processes. This structure allows her the freedom to create and her clients the freedom to have fun along the way.

Through an artistic eye and a curious spirit, Allison 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 her unique compendium of skills.

Allison lives in Ohio with her husband and two daughters. She is a maker who loves to study history, fashion, art, architecture, well-being and anything that informs or inspires what she is currently designing.

Read on to find out a little more about Gem and Clay.

Interior Design in Cleveland & Akron

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.

Interior design clients in Akron 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 design capabilities include:

  • Full-service interior design: design to completion
  • Custom millwork design
  • Color consultation
  • Space planning and floor plans
  • Cabinet layouts
  • Custom Cabinetry Design
  • Kitchen and bath design
  • 3D Modeling and Rendering
  • Room/Space styling
  • Interior & prop styling
  • Consulting & design for new construction

Follow the links to learn more about our residential interior design services and commercial design services.