Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design: From Childhood Dream to Design Destination

For as long as Laura Yeager Smith can remember, interior design has been her passion. As a young girl, she told her parents she would one day have her own design studio and furniture store in a charming town. Today, she has brought that dream to life in historic downtown Hudson, Ohio, where her design firm, Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design, and her shop, Smiths Curated, sit side by side.

Laura’s natural balance of creativity and business acumen gave her a strong foundation. While at The Ohio State University, she enjoyed design classes as much as accounting and marketing. Early jobs at design firms helped her learn all aspects of the field. And a position at a major West Coast firm gave her a range of residential experience, from a San Francisco row house to a generational Lake Tahoe home.

After starting a family, Laura launched her own firm in 2014. “At first it was just me,” she recalls. “Then my sister came on board, and she’s still with me today.” The team now numbers 13 employees.

Opening Smiths Curated in 2022 felt like a natural progression. “I always had a retail itch,” says Laura. “The store helps us meet product minimums, showcase the upholstery line I design, and create a space where clients can see furnishings in real life.” Styled in vignettes, it also hosts community events, including ASID trade gatherings—one of which recently featured Cambria as the CEU presenter.

Why Cambria?

Laura first began specifying Cambria more than a decade ago, initially for shower benches and countertops. “I was a natural stone proponent at the time, but we had a great Cambria rep who educated us on the benefits, and clients were increasingly asking for quartz,” she says. Knowing Cambria is made from the purest natural quartz, one of the hardest minerals on the planet, has been a much-appreciated benefit for clients concerned about wear and tear, Laura notes. “We suggest Cambria quartz surfaces as a smart choice without compromising beauty.”

She adds, “Aesthetically, Cambria offers the most beautiful visuals. The patterns are larger and more natural, with crystalline and metallic elements that you don’t see elsewhere.” Clients also love the nonporous antimicrobial surface and American-made quality. “And the warranty is seamless—we had a few clients use it years after installation, and Cambria handled it without hesitation.”

A Dream Home: The Luxe Lower Level & Zen Den Projects

One of the firm’s most creative residential renovations features an expansive lower level that fulfilled its clients’ extensive—and inspiring—wish list. The project displays Cambria in dramatic and functional ways, including a seven-seat kitchen island with a waterfall edge in glamorous Annicca, with gray veining infused with subtle gold and purple sparkle. The same design tops the bar and forms an elegant frame around the bottle shelves, cleverly creating a cohesive look within an entertaining space that also includes a wine cellar, walk-in refrigerator, dining nook, game room, and media center.

Also unforgettable: the Bunk Room, with velvet-draped, arched sleeping nooks with brass ladders—and a fully outfitted hair salon with a spa bath featuring Whitney® quartz design on the shower bench, curbs, and wall caps.

Currently in progress: the Greenhouse, where Annicca will bring beauty and functionality to the planting island, wall-mounted sink, floating shelf, knee wall, and tabletops. Blackpool™, a deep ebony quartz design, will clad the curbs, wall caps, and header.

In addition, the team turned a bonus room over the garage into an imaginative retreat called the Zen Den, with custom upholstered reading pods and a quartz-topped table designed by Laura, perfect for crafts and games. Cambria also serves as the counter at the LEGO® creation station and display wall.

Design Favorites and Emerging Trends

Among Laura’s top choices are Ella, which she’s currently using in a kitchen with twin islands for a classic contemporary look. She’s also excited about Cambria’s innovations, like fluted quartz: “We do a lot of fluted marble, and we’re now specifying fluted quartz for a powder room sink.”

Remington Brass™ is another standout. “Why shouldn’t a laundry room be a beautiful place?” she says. “We’re using it in a current project—it brings character and warmth to utilitarian spaces.”

Looking Ahead

In 2025, Laura’s mantra is “simplify and elevate.” She’s focused on refining the business, exploring generative AI for rendering, and continuing to grow with intention. A longtime dream of hers? Writing a book on design. Based on her journey, we can’t wait to read it.