Ken Smith was raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, spent summers at the Jersey Shore, and joined his parents during extended overseas assignments in Australia, Japan and England. Educated in history, philosophy, architecture and design at Franklin & Marshall College, University of Michigan, and Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Ken began his design career post-graduate school with the founding of Arkitektura—an esteemed furniture design and manufacturing business based in SoHo, NYC. After 13 years of daily turnpike commutes in a Saab convertible from Princeton, NJ and seeking a lifestyle change Ken accepted a teaching (architecture and woodworking) and XC coaching position at Princeton Day School. During this time Ken was co-owner and general manager of the local Princeton newspaper Town Topics and also served two terms as a Board member at The Arts Council Princeton. In 2006, eager to step back into the design/manufacturing trade Ken acquired Gardensheds, Inc.—an ideal opportunity to combine his passionate interests in architecture, history and craft.
Apart from business Ken has spent recent 20 years renovating, restoring and re-imagining his historic country residence (c.1723) in Lambertville, NJ he shares with his physician radiologist wife who specializes in breast procedures. The home, he notes, is blessed with “good bones and good karma” that once served as safe passage on The Underground Railroad. Ken has been a resident of New Jersey for 40 years, happily returning to his ancestral NJ family roots that date to 1682.
A former competitive long-distance runner Ken has recently transitioned to brisk long walks along the Delaware River. Ken is quick to admit that what he values most is being a devoted dog dad to his current family of six rescues and generously supporting numerous animal welfare organizations.