Who I Am
Hi. I’m Jake. I’ve been practicing architecture for a decade. I’ve worked on residential, institutional, and interior projects across the country. I’m excited to now be focusing on residential renovation and interior design projects. I love living in Los Angeles, which features some of the most exciting residential architecture in the world - the homes from the turn-of-the-century Arts and Crafts movement, the Hollywood-inspired storybook houses of the 1920s, the homes of the mid-century modernist boom, and the great contemporary architecture that is being designed and built today. What exists here is extraordinary, so I’ve combined my expertise in architectural and interior design to help you uncover the potential in your property and create an extraordinary home for you and your family.
A few additional credentials about me, as you consider working together:
I earned my Master of Architecture from the Tulane School of Architecture, where I graduated with the award for Design Excellence and currently sit on the alumni council.
I’m a nationally recognized expert in inclusive design by the American Institute of Architects, where I hold an Associate membership.
I have worked with residential clients across Los Angeles. Past institutional clients include Princeton University, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, and the advertising agency 72andSunny. See here for highlighted projects.
In a previous chapter, I spent four years working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where I developed a knowledge of art history that informs my furniture and object selection work today.
How I Think
A Home Shouldn’t Just Look Good, but Feel Good
Let’s face it – we live in an Instagram world. Social media is a wonderful platform for designers to share their work and inspiration, but what looks good virtually isn’t always what feels good IRL. Not all furniture is designed to support function and comfort for human use. Not every room considers how light enters or how you congregate with your family and friends. Not every house considers how its openings are connected to nature and views, how you flow through its rooms, or how continuous its construction and craftsmanship are throughout its premises. A home shouldn’t just look good in that one photo, but provide these comforts and delights throughout.
Less is Usually More, but Let’s Not Be a Bore
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously declared what has become a tenant of modern design, “Less is More.” I interpret this to mean that great design comes from a strong idea and that design’s development should reinforce that idea, instead of complicating it. I don’t believe this dictum means that every space should be a minimalist one, but I do believe that spaces should have a clear design intent, unite with their surroundings, and feel uncomplicated but never boring.
Authentic = Distinctive
I believe in the concept of heterogeneity – it means that no property is the same as another. The combination of a home’s geographic location, solar orientation, and socio-historical context make it unique. Whether you’re renovating, adding onto, or furnishing your home, your property has inherent qualities that reflect these conditions. Figuring out what makes your property special and allowing that to inform the architectural and interior design leads to authentic design decisions. Since these decisions are unique to your property, you’re already on the path to a distinctive design.