From banking to interior mastery: Joelle Smith’s creative turn
FOR Jamaican interior designer Joelle Smith, every space begins with a story. As the founder of If Walls Could Talk, an interior design company, she has left her mark on homes and commercial spaces throughout Jamaica and internationally. With a design style rooted in tropical modernism and inspired by her island upbringing, she blends natural elements with modern sophistication to create spaces that feel both stylish and lived in.
Her path to design was anything but conventional. From a childhood surrounded by creativity to 12 years in investment banking, Smith’s journey to interior designing is as layered as the spaces she designs.
“My father was a contractor, and my mother was both an accountant and a creative,” she shares. “She made everything from scratch from our school bags to uniforms, and she was always decorating our home.”
It was in that environment that Smith’s love for design quietly took root.
Even as a child, she wasn’t just tidying her room, she was reinventing it by moving furniture and refreshing the layout, curating her space long before she knew what interior design was. Still, she followed a more traditional route, earning a degree in linguistics at The University of the West Indies and later launched a successful career in investment banking, but her creative side never stayed quiet for long.
“I’ve always been passionate about interior design,” she says, “and I’m also a natural problem solver.”
That problem solving mindset ultimately gave her the courage to leap into design full-time.
Whether she’s transforming a private residence or managing The Hub Coworking, a modern shared workspace in Kingston; Smith is always in her element when she’s creating with purpose. Though she finds plenty of inspiration in her travels and global design trends, her Jamaican roots are always front and centre.
“The natural beauty of our island is still my biggest influence,” she says.
Her signature style has earthy textures, clean lines, warm wood and thoughtful layering that feels effortless and intentional.
“Inspiration is everywhere,” she adds. “From the different tones in beach sand to the way nature blends colour and texture so perfectly. If you slow down and really look, the magic is all around us.”
One of her most recent projects brought that magic to life in a big way when she designed Suite 2 for Kohler by Tile City with one goal in mind — to spark imagination the moment someone walks through the doors.
“I wanted customers to think outside the box,” she explains. “I mixed bold black fixtures with wood-look tiles, added mirrored wall tiles for a sleek finish, and used textured wallpaper to create depth.”
The display features pieces from Kohler’s Purist and Enivo lines, all styled in a way that reflects Smith’s approach; inviting, organic and full of subtle drama.
While aesthetics is important, Smith never sacrifices function. “People usually fall in love with the end result, but great design always starts with the layout, you need that solid foundation before layering in the beauty,” she says.
And if she had to say goodbye to one trend? “The idea that you have to follow trends at all,” she says with a smile. “Your space should feel like you. Whether that’s through artwork, heirlooms or just colours you love, that’s what makes it special.”
