Raised along the Georgia coast in Brunswick, Claire Smith developed an early appreciation for the enduring beauty, scale, and timeless charm of traditional coastal architecture. As Principal of DesignSmiths, she translates that passion into custom traditional residences, crafting homes that honor classical proportion, local context, and enduring craftsmanship.
Claire holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame, she studied Classical Architecture and Urban Design in Italy and Belgium. She was also honored with the Neel Reid Prize from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, which allowed her to conduct field research on Spanish plazas and civic buildings.
Prior to founding the firm, she refined her craft at the nationally recognized design firms of Historical Concepts and D. Stanley Dixon Architect, where her work has been honored with the prestigious Philip Trammell Shutze Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) and featured in leading national publications, including Architectural Digest, Homes & Gardens, and Veranda.