Kati Smith is an interior designer focused on historic preservation and sustainability. She is skilled in historical research, design, adaptive reuse strategies, computer-aided drawing, construction administration, and project management.

Kati has over a decade of historic preservation experience in advocacy and design roles. While studying Interior Design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, she developed her graduation thesis around the theoretical architectural and community rehabilitation of the historic steel milling neighborhood of Hazelwood, Pennsylvania, following urban renewal and affordable housing guidelines. Following graduation, she entered preservation education and advocacy roles within Corning’s Gaffer District, Historic Ithaca, and the Preservation League of New York State, establishing her knowledge of local and state-wide preservation laws and practices. She then returned to interior design in 2017 leading to her position with Bero Architecture as Lead Interior Designer, initiating her career in Historic Preservation Architecture.

Kati’s design approach merges classic methods, materials, and finishes with contemporary design standards to create spaces that aim to enhance the experience of current and future users. Her design objective for each project is to adapt interiors into high-functioning spaces while maintaining and highlighting existing historic integrity.