Jeffrey Smalley Architect

My wife and I decided to double our existing home and created a modern looking home with modern Japanese influences. Jeff (Sensitive Information Hidden) asked us some unexpected questions. He asked us what were our early memories of the house we grew up in, and our favorite room or area of the house. As a professor of Psychology, I was impressed by his introspective questions. Our answers helped him understand our values and needs in the design of our future home. Our descriptions reflected appreciation of nature and open space. Jeff’s ability to know our needs was amazing. When we looked at his final renderings, we knew he would be our architect. After the final blueprints were agreed upon and shown to three contractors, they all commented that they had never seen such detail and how it would speed construction. A modern Japanese influenced home was created. Many years later, we still appreciate and love. We can’t recommend Jeff (Sensitive Information Hidden) enough for his creativity, his sensitivity to his clients’ needs, and his help during the construction process.

Mr. Jeffrey Smalley of Jeffrey Smalley Architects was the architect of record for the full-scale renovation and transformation of our 1960s California ranch home in Encino, CA. The project was no ordinary remodel—it was a thoughtful reimagining of how we wanted to live, move, and gather within our space. Mr. Smalley was a consummate professional throughout the process, and it was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with him. He brought not only deep architectural expertise but also sensitivity to design, functionality, and the emotional resonance of a home. His work was creative, efficient, and grounded in a clear understanding of our goals. Not only is it important in our Asian culture to build spaces for family and friends to gather, but it is also deeply profound to gather in a space that invites calm, warmth, and a sense of "welcome." Perched in the hills of Encino, CA, our home was your typical suburban home: roughly 2700 square feet, modest-sized lot, neighbors to the left and right of us. Being east-coast transplants, this home was our first experience in west-coast home ownership and all the things that come with that—cost, environment, and zoning and building rules unfamiliar to us. The key challenges entailed bringing in natural light (for a Los Angeles home, it was remarkably and surprisingly architected to be dark and den-like), opening up tight spaces, reorganizing the floor plan to invite organic movement and flow, and optimizing gathering spaces in the public areas of the home which were once disconnected. It wasn't simply a slapdash exercise in vaulting ceilings and tearing down walls; that would have been a soulless execution. Rather, it was about creating moments that would have something to say. Borrowing from best practices of the mid-century greats, Jeff designed these "moments" with compression and expansion to draw the eye as well as invite the inhabitant from space to space, understanding each room's purpose. He introduced warmth with thoughtfully placed sliders, clerestory windows, skylights, and narrow slotted windows which allow you to take a peep outside while also letting in gorgeous slivers of light to paint the floors and walls at varying times of the day. He was a wonderful collaborator and listener, respecting our vision and ultimate goal, while gently nudging us to consider shapes and architectural nuances we had not imagined ourselves. He walked us through it all, in the height of the pandemic, guiding us through the intricacies of renovating in Los Angeles with a shuddered building office and materials shortages. In the end, we are living inside of our dream. He architected not just a home but a life for us in Los Angeles.

Testimonial for Jeffrey By Scott Kelsey, FAIA As an architect who has known Jeffrey for many years, I can say with absolute confidence that he is deeply devoted to design, craft, and execution. A highly experienced practitioner in residential architecture, Jeffrey blends clarity of vision with thoughtful client collaboration. Each project becomes a careful exploration—a search to bring the client’s vision to life through an architectural response that is both bespoke to its context and aligned with the client’s aspirations. Jeffrey employs a range of tools to guide his clients through a creative journey, fostering conversations about possibilities that ultimately yield a project truly reflective of their vision. While many architects lead with personality and determination, Jeffrey possesses the rare ability to listen intently—a skill rooted in his deep experience and situational knowledge. He treats every client’s budget with the utmost seriousness, ensuring responsible, trustworthy results. It is with deep respect and admiration that I commend his work. Scott Kelsey, FAIA

The first architect I ever engaged was Jeffrey Smalley…and what an amazingly positive experience it was, so much so that I have now hired him three separate time over the past 25 years! My family and I moved into a historic home, built in 1906, complete with a working stable and hayloft which at some point had doubled as a garage. For a number of years we lived with it for storage and office space until we decided to turn it into a guest house, with full kitchen and bath. We hired Jeffrey without having any idea that he would be able to turn this VERY rustic, rundown space into a charming, but contemporary large bedroom/living room/dining room with cathedral ceilings, gleaming wooden beams overhead giving the illusion of a massive space, and a cozy bathroom with jacuzzi. When we began listing it on Airbnb, we never received less than 5 star ratings, largely because of the unique and comfortable space which everyone commented was even better in person. Years later, we finally decided to renovate the kitchen which showed its 100 years with a non-working fireplace, brick walls, and 50’s era appliances. I was initially terrified of to many changes, loving the unique charm that for me, helped compensate for the disfunction of the room. Jeffrey very patiently convinced me he could retain the charm necessary to the integrity of a historic home, while providing me with a kitchen with ample storage and counter space, new appliances, and the fun bells and whistles inside my drawers and cupboards. We had many, many conversations as Jeffrey encourages collaboration and really listened to my ideas and concerns. The result was a kitchen that is draw-dropping to everyone who comes in….charming, peaceful, light and airy and a total joy to cook, work and hang out in…it is truly now the heart of our home. And most amazing, he configured weird adjoining spaces into a dream come true…an adorable desk space with chalk/magnet board and stool tucked into an unusable space under the staircase and a huge, very weird bathroom into a fabulous walk-in pantry, beautiful laundry area with sink, ample space for supplies and a wine fridge. I was in heaven! So when it came time to upgrade my main bedroom bathroom and upstairs hallway last year, Jeffrey was my first call. I couldn’t be happier…he turned a dark, uninteresting hallway into a place that makes me smile, with wallpaper surrounded by photo galleries and library. He suggested cosmetic changes in the bedroom that made it a place I wanted to hang out in even when not sleeping. And the bathroom is so lovely with gorgeous handmade tiles, a conversion of tub/shower into large shower, and extra space turned (finally for the first time in my life!) into a walk-in closet and built in shelves and cupboards. Do I recommend Jeffrey Smalley Architects? Absolutely!

We were very fortunate for the referral to a very talented architect, Jeffrey Smalley. We knew the home we had bought required a major renovation. He listened carefully and added tremendous value with his insights, valuable recommendations, and design for the changes which transformed it dramatically. These included an attractive entrance, raising the height of the living room and dining room for floor to ceiling windows/sliding doors, and increasing floorspace to bedrooms and master bathroom. He is meticulous and has amazing attention to detail. He also had great suggestions for beautifying our outdoor areas for dining, a fire-pit lounge, the pool area, and a secluded area for guest bedrooms. Jeffrey was always very responsive and was always open to incorporate our thoughts and suggestions. During the construction process, he continued to be involved and was always available to meet with contractors. Since moving in, we have been amazed by the number of neighbors who have commented so positively on the beauty of our new home and its enhancing the value of the neighborhood. It was a real pleasure working with Jeffrey, and we are very happy to recommend him highly.

Jeffrey Smalley Architect is simply one of Los Angeles’ best architecture firms. The principle architect, Jeffrey Smalley, is a deeply talented professional experienced in architecture and interior design, as demonstrated by his exceptional design ability and conscientiousness toward his client’s needs. Jeffrey Smalley Architect brings value to their client’s projects delivering them with a firm affable hand in a timely financially responsible manner. Through equal versatility in both the aesthetics and the functional/technical aspect of architecture, Jeffrey Smalley Architects projects are wholistic/complete – well reasoned and well designed. With a keen eye for attention to detail, this firm provides full architectural services - schematic design, construction documentation, plan-check/permitting and construction observation. Like an artist, Jeffrey Smalley Architect’s work enriches the lives of their clients. Hire Jeffrey Smalley Architect and live well!

We recently worked with architect Jeffrey Smalley on a complete renovation of our backyard, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. Jeffrey is an exceptional communicator. Right from the beginning, he initiated thoughtful conversations that helped him fully understand our goals, preferences, and vision for the space. He encouraged us to explore what we liked and didn’t like, which led to the creation of a set of broad concepts, presented as graphic overviews, that helped us further refine and articulate our ideas. Those early design conversations evolved into a beautifully crafted concept—one that not only honored the mid-century character of our home but also elevated the functionality and visual appeal of the outdoor space. Throughout the process, Jeffrey remained open-minded and collaborative, always asking insightful questions that helped us zero in on both the aesthetics and the practical aspects of the project, including materials, usability, and long-term maintenance. Once the design was finalized, Jeffrey efficiently translated it into a comprehensive set of working drawings. He also connected us with experienced collaborators, including engineers and landscape professionals, and provided valuable guidance as we evaluated bids and selected a general contractor. His involvement didn’t stop there. During construction, Jeffrey stayed engaged and attentive, ensuring the work was executed to the highest standard. On more than one occasion, he identified potential shortcuts the contractor was about to take—details that might have easily been overlooked but were crucial to the integrity and uniqueness of the design. His attention to detail made a tangible difference in the final outcome. Now that the project is complete, we couldn't be happier. The backyard not only looks incredible but also "plays" beautifully—it’s a space we truly enjoy. Family and friends have all commented on how stunning and well-thought-out it is. What stands out most is that this never felt like it was about Jeffrey's personal vision—it was always about bringing our vision to life, guided by his expertise and thoughtful process.

Jeffrey Smalley is an outstanding architect and designer. He created a room addition on an above ground foundation which included more than 900 square feet added to our original home. It consisted of a living room, master bedroom and bathroom suite and a covered patio. He was completely attentive to our vision while at the same time noteworthy in terms of creating a well integrated addition that ties in seemlesly to the original house. He provided his professional opinion each step of the way as far as design, understanding clearly our desired style as well as function. His attention to detail was exemplary; as if he was building a house for himself. He operated in a timely and financially responsible manner, staying true to his promises He fulfilled each requirement of the city with ease, making the process of permitting a snap. . We are well underway in terms of building the project now and many of the trades that have viewed his plans have commented that they have never seen such well executed plans for a building project. We cannot wait to post the outcome pictures of our dream.

Mr. Jeffrey Smalley of Jeffrey Smalley Architects was the Architect of note for our project of a 1,000 square foot addition and some interior remodeling . The project involved the addition of a new master bedroom, sun room and patio in addition to the remodeling of an existing family and living room. Mr. Smalley was the consummate professional and it was a distinct pleasure indeed to work with him on this project. Mr. Smalley is an exceptionally outstanding, conscientious, caring, efficient and most capable Architect, and his work and recommendations during the planning process were stellar and of great importance and value to us and to our project. I incidentally received a comment that Mr. Smalley and his work are some of the best they had ever seen and worked with in the past. My wife and I would very highly recommend Mr. Smalley, and will most definitely solicit his services again in the future should the need arise. Very sincerely, Jack and Renee Goldin