One of the most prolific and sought-after designers in the Coachella Valley, with hundreds of design projects to his credit, architect, artist and interior designer DONALD LLOYD SMITH defines contemporary Palm Springs style. Graduating from Woodbury University in 1972 with a Bachelor’s degree in interior design, Donald interned with Mark, Interior Designer in Downey, CA, providing project renderings for a number of Los Angeles-based architectural and interior design firms. His work garnered him first-place awards at the prestigious Pacific Design Show in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Home Renderings Competition, and a featured designer spread in the Los Angeles Times’ Sunday Home Section for his work on the Sears Design Showroom. In 1987, Donald opened his own studio, Donald Lloyd Smith Interiors, quickly establishing himself as one of Southern California’s leading interior designers. Donald’s success can be attributed to his uncanny ability to blend sound architectural concepts and artistic creativity with seemingly effortless ease. The results are designs with uncommon appeal, created to suit his clients’ unique needs. An accomplished artist, Donald’s work in the field began with an auspicious start, under the tutelage of renowned watercolorist Robert Wood. His paintings encompass a wide range of subjects, from the whimsical charms of a 1950’s trailer park to the ethereal allure of a Tahitian beauty; eye-catching abstracts or serene landscapes. Working in both acrylic and watercolor, each piece is custom created for his clients to enhance the designs he develops for them with signature style. One of Donald’s most remarkable successes to date is the renovation of the Movie Colony Hotel, designed in 1935 by celebrated architect Albert Frey. Donald’s design plan enhanced the hotel’s modernist appeal while preserving the integrity of Frey’s original design. Along with renovations to the hotel’s exterior, each of the sixteen rooms were also redone, with furnishings and décor selected to celebrate opulent, minimalist style. Donald’s signature paintings—eloquent in their bold simplicity—adorn the walls, making intriguing focal points and giving each room a luxurious personality all its own. The hotel has been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles, and Architectural Digest, and is a frequent backdrop for high-fashion and celebrity photo shoots.