Kessler Studio

Architecture & Interior Design

Spaces designed to be lived in, slowly.

Kessler Studio designs homes, workplaces, and public spaces defined by light, material, and restraint.

120+

Projects Completed

18

Years in Practice

14

Design Awards

6

Countries

The Studio

Material honesty, quiet detail.

Founded in 2008, Kessler Studio works across residential, hospitality, and cultural projects — always beginning with site, light, and how a space will actually be used.

We keep project teams small and hands-on, from first sketch through the final punch list.

Services

What we offer.

Architecture

Ground-up residential and commercial design, from concept to construction.

Interior Design

Considered interiors, furnishing, and material selection.

Master Planning

Site strategy and phased planning for larger developments.

Renovation & Restoration

Sensitive updates to existing and historic structures.

Sustainability Consulting

Passive design and material strategy for lower-impact buildings.

Furniture & Product

Bespoke fittings and furniture designed alongside the space.

Selected Work

Projects.

Residential — Ojai, CA

Casa Linda

Hospitality — Big Sur, CA

Cliffside Retreat

Cultural — Portland, OR

Willow Arts Pavilion

Residential — Austin, TX

Courtyard House

Hospitality — Charleston, SC

The Ambrose Hotel

Cultural — Denver, CO

Meridian Library Annex

Client Words

"Kessler Studio listened more than any architect we'd met — the house feels entirely like us, not a portfolio piece."

The Renner Family, Casa Linda

Team

The people behind the studio.

Mara Kessler

Founding Principal

Theo Nakamura

Design Director

Ines Duarte

Principal, Interiors

Sam Whitcombe

Project Architect

Working With Us

Three ways to begin.

Stage One

Concept Study

A focused study to test feasibility, massing, and budget before committing further.

From $8,500

Stage Two

Full Design Service

End-to-end design, documentation, and construction administration.

Custom Fee

Stage Three

Design & Build

Design paired with our trusted builder network for a single point of accountability.

Custom Fee

Discuss Your Project

Journal

Notes on design.

Read the journal →

Materials · Jun 2026

Choosing stone that ages well

Process · May 2026

What a concept study actually answers

Light · Apr 2026

Designing rooms around the way light moves

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