Design Framework

Beyond floor plans and design decisions, all projects require style definition and alignment, scope determination, sourcing focus, vendor coordination, item expediting, budget tracking, and more.

Courtney B. Smith Design breaks every project into manageable steps, providing clients with visibility on what’s next and structuring their creative work to deliver spaces that surpass expectations—on time and within budget. Clients consistently praise Courtney’s team for their creative lens, collaborative approach, and attention to detail.

A simple green floral silhouette featuring blooming flowers and leaves on a transparent background.

Preliminary:

1) Style Articulation

2) Onsite Assessment

3) Budget Ranges & Phasing

Design Development:

4) Floor Plans

5) Sourcing

6) Presentation & Selection

Implementation:

7) Procuring & Tracking

8) Installation

FAQs

  • Beyond style alignment, personality and temperament match are key. Clients should feel inspired and confident throughout a project. Courtney B. Smith Design seeks color-loving clients who value the firm’s creative vision, solutions-oriented approach, established systems, and straightforward communication (bonus points for a sense of humor!).

  • Many CBSD projects involve construction. Courtney and her team are delighted to introduce their trusted trade partners and to leverage their network for recommendations. Early planning and extensive collaboration between a client, designer, architect, and contractor(s) always drive the best outcomes.

  • CBSD is co-located in California and Massachusetts, and executes projects coast to coast. Courtney partners with clients who are aligned stylistically and philosophically, and she and her team happily travel to meet them wherever they reside.

  • Courtney and her team perform a comprehensive whole-site evaluation during the Preliminary Phase. Even for clients who approach CBSD with specific goals, this broader perspective uncovers valuable opportunities, including ways to optimize space utilization, improve flow, and identify efficiencies that might otherwise be overlooked. These insights help direct resources to where they will have the most significant impact, and allow the team to effectively phase projects for clients when budget and/or time are constrained.

  • Courtney B. Smith Design charges a flat design fee (based on scope) for the Preliminary and Design Development Phases, and an hourly fee for Implementation.

  • CBSD charges a minimum project design fee of $25,000. That said, total client investment typically ranges from $125,000 to $500,000+ (depending on scope), including design fees, goods, and services (plus remodeling or construction, when applicable).

  • The magic is always in the mix! Courtney’s team utilizes a variety of sources, including to-the-trade vendors (sold exclusively through designers), vintage and antique dealers, custom fabricators, and specific retail lines. CBSD nurtures and maintains established relationships with vendors who stand behind their offerings, even (and especially) when the unexpected happens.

  • Courtney’s team manages all aspects of ordering, tracking, delivery, and installation of items as part of their service. This comprehensive approach ensures operational efficiency and enables the team to deliver their best work consistently.

  • Most projects run between 6 and 24 months, depending on their scope and scale (excluding remodeling or construction, when applicable).

  • “Best of all, it was fun!

    Any design project in my future will definitely involve her studio.”

    –Susan A.

  • “Having worked with other designers, I so appreciate the unique mix of creative talent and business professionalism that Courtney offers.

    She has a great eye and created spaces far better than what I could have imagined, all while respecting our budget and timeline.”

    –Dina S.

  • “We’re thrilled with the transformation!

    Courtney and sarah incorporated our style with their own and maximized our apartment’s limited square footage beyond belief.”

    –Julie K.

  • “Creating spaces that reflect her clients is core to Courtney's design.

    She gets to know and understand you, listens to your ideas, and designs a more beautiful and functional version of what you imagined.”

    -Anna Y.

  • “Although I initially hesitated given our distance, modern technology eliminated 2400 miles.

    I needed a designer with convictions who could keep me on track, but also knew how to capture my ideas and translate them to work with my home and my dream.”

    -Michelle K.