Located in southern Orange County, Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city best known for its scenic coves and its thriving arts community. The city hosts numerous annual events and is well-known for its tourist facilities. It is often regarded as one of the best places to live in California and offers homeowners a stable, welcoming community: most of its residents own their homes rather than renting.
This list showcases ten of the best residential architects behind some of the area’s most beautiful homes. Clients looking to move into Laguna Beach can get a strong grasp of its popular home styles and architecture by sifting through this list. These companies were chosen based on their experience, individual portfolios, and the numerous distinctions they have received over the years.
Anders Lasater Architects
384 Forest Avenue, #12 Laguna Beach, CA 92651
With numerous press features in magazines such as Design OC, Luxe Interiors + Design, and Professional Builder, Anders Lasater Architects is regarded as one of the area’s premier residential architecture companies. The firm’s designs embrace the most timeless themes, yet the firm employs the most innovative techniques. The multi-award-winning firm has collaborated with clients throughout California and abroad, from Hawaii to Chicago to Greece to Bermuda. The firm’s impressive buildings and transformative living spaces are tailored and designed to fit a client’s lifestyle and needs. The firm has secured a solid reputation for itself for its excellent command of a project’s space and light, as well as its use of only the finest materials.
Anders Lasater Architects has been committing itself to quality craftsmanship since 2005 and is led by its founder and namesake Anders Lasater. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cal Poly Pomona. He is licensed in California, Texas, and Hawaii. His background includes a decade of experience as a managing associate before establishing his own firm. He has demonstrated expertise when it comes to residential projects as well as restaurant, retail, and hotel projects.
Showcased above is one of the firm’s most luxurious Palm Springs getaways. This home was designed to be elevated above the desert floor to capture the San Jacinto Mountains’ breathtaking views and the Coachella Valley below and spans roughly 7,000 square feet. The firm was tasked with its transformation from an awkward Tuscan style into a crisp, modern and sustainable environment. The home had the honor of being featured on Luxe Magazine’s cover in the summer of 2011 and being awarded the 2009 Gold Nugget for Outstanding Design.
Forest Studio
332 Forest Ave. Suite 4, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Established in 2003, Forest Studio offers its clients a complete and comprehensive range of services. It operates out of its office in downtown Laguna Beach and is a collaborative residential design studio specializing in private homes, estates, and ranch properties. Bob White, its founder, personally leads and oversees its operations and every project that the firm takes on. He believes in hand drawing the firm’s designs to keep its methods highly personal. Under his leadership, the firm has completed projects in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Illinois, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Utah, North Carolina, Wyoming, and Hawaii. Its portfolio also showcases a handful of projects in Mexico and the Cayman Islands. Given this extensive service area, the firm has become an expert in various rich and challenging architectural themes. White also has experience working in an advisory role with Quiksilver Hotels and Resorts, Tejon Ranch, the DuPont Estate in Pennsylvania, and The Pinehills in Massachusetts. Additionally, he is an active member of the Leaders of Design Council and the Institute of Classical Architecture.
The firm has been the recipient of a multitude of awards since its establishment. That includes numerous national awards and accolades, such as distinctions from Gold Nugget and Builder’s Choice. Its work has also been featured in multiple books, as well as magazines like Veranda, House Beautiful, Luxe, and Elle Decor.
Foubister Architects
1100 South Coast Hwy, Suite 300A Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Foubister Architects is a full-service award-winning architecture firm. It is well-known for its thoughtful and meticulous processes. The firm’s team assists throughout the entire process, from concept sketching to construction detailing, and ensures that its homeowners’ visions and lifestyles are met through a highly collaborative approach. It primarily focuses on residential design and emphasizes honest communication with its clients during the process. The firm also has a reputation for excellent budget analyses and planning.
Rory Foubister, the firm’s namesake, leads its team. He studied Architecture at Edinburgh University and also holds a post-graduate degree from Lund University in Sweden. He first gained experience working in Edinburgh, London, and Berlin. He then moved back to America, and his rich experience reflects itself in the firm’s expertise for numerous architectural themes. He has also had the honor of working with several other award-winning architecture firms. He recognizes that each company he has collaborated with has contributed to his knowledge in the field.
Some of the firm’s most recent and noteworthy projects include a Merit Award and a Citation Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2019. The project above depicts one of the firm’s best. It features a modern take on the craftsman theme and showcases large windows, beams, and a neutral color palette.
Graham Architecture
1278 Glenneyre Street # 107, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Operating out of its office in Laguna Beach, Graham Architecture provides full-service architecture, interior design, and construction management services. It collaborates with its clients throughout the entire process and is best known for its elegant restraint and an overall feeling of serenity in its designs. The firm’s work has been noted for its large windows and sliding doors that frame views and visually blend the indoors and outdoors. These airy spaces are often complemented by muted colors like beige, brown, and grey. The firm is no stranger to complex spaces, including pools, water features, courtyards, and gardens. Graham strives to work and design timeless homes that are often infused and rendered with wood and stone elements.
At the firm’s helm is Carlton Graham. He holds a degree in architecture from the University of Texas at Austin. Carlton first gained experience working for several award-winning firms like Frank Israel and Mark Mack. He draws inspiration from nearly three decades of experience in design and architecture. Under his supervision and leadership, the firm has been featured in publications like Luxe and Design OC.
Horst Architects
247a Forest Avenue Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Founded in 1990, Horst Architects is based in Laguna Beach and is known for its multidisciplinary approach. The firm is led by Horst Noppenberger, who holds a degree in architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. His leadership has helped evolve the firm into the dynamic company it is today. Horst Architects infuses various sustainability techniques into its projects and is very much culturally and environmentally aware. It comes up with innovative design solutions and caters to each of its clients’ needs, ideas, and any challenges that may come up throughout the project’s duration. The firm’s extensive experience guides every phase of the process.
The firm is primarily known for its modern and contemporary spaces: elegant rooms noted for their interplay of light, material, and form. The firm’s excellent work has been featured in various publications such as World Architecture, Ville Giardini, Vogue, and Luxe and Interiors. Some of its most recent features include the Art and Architecture Home Tour, co-sponsored by the Orange County Museum of Art and the AIA.
Located in Southern California, the pictured project above is the perfect encapsulation of the firm’s expertise and skills. It sits along the edge of a rocky promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It features an open floor plan inside and large living areas that flow seamlessly into one another, perfectly merging the indoors and outdoors.
McGraw Architects
920 Glenneyre St. Unit D Laguna Beach, CA 92651
McGraw Architects specializes in both residential and commercial projects. The firm is the by-product of the vision of Robert A. McGraw, a graduate of the Pratt Institute in New York, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. He first gained experience working for various architectural firms in Manhattan before establishing his own firm. He has worked on multiple projects in multiple locations, from California to Colorado, which has allowed him to become an expert in various architectural vernaculars. Most notably, he has completed custom homes in Aspen, including for Prince Bandar Faisal of Saudi Arabia and a Victorian restoration for George Hamilton. Under his leadership, McGraw Architects also provides home improvements, historic restorations, and original designs. Robert served on the Design Review Board of Laguna Beach and as the Architecture Advisory Consultant for Three Arch Bay, a private community in South Laguna, as well as on the Heritage Committee for Laguna Beach.
Some of the firm’s most noteworthy distinctions include a Merit Award from the Fifth Annual Laguna Beach Architectural Guild Design Competition for a private residence. The project above is an excellent example of the firm’s work. It is located in the heart of Laguna Beach and features beautiful views of the nearby ocean. The home showcases three stories and provides its homeowners with clean, spacious, and homey entertainment spaces.
Rost Architects
16530 Bake Pkwy Suite 104 Irvine, CA 92618
Regarded as one of the area’s best and leading firms, Rost Architects provides a complete range of architecture, interior design, and landscape services. It also offers excellent accessory dwelling units and showcases skills and the latest state-of-the-art designs. The firm is licensed and insured and is a member of the AIA. It has been featured on CBS’s “This is L.A.” in addition to several excellent publications. The firm’s team specializes in high-end custom residential and boutique commercial spaces. Its service packages encompass consultation, planning, and material selection. The firm’s team walks its clients throughout the entire process and employs realistic rendering and modeling software to show what the built space will be like when it is completed. The firm has also been noted for its exceptional landscaping: wonderful gardens and gracious pools perfectly blend in with the homes the firm provides.
In the project above, the firm’s team opted for slate exteriors coupled with wood-paneled flat roofs. They also deployed various large windows and entrances, allowing the home’s interiors to appear larger. Inside, a minimalist theme unites the project into an aesthetic whole.
Teale Architecture
2900 Bristol Street Bldg A, Suite 203 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Led by its namesake, Teale Architecture specializes in various architectural themes—from a variety of contemporary and modern styles to select traditional and Mediterranean architecture. The firm’s excellent command of some of the most intricate and demanding designs stands out. It has been recognized by a variety of organizations and publications, including Architectural Digest and Home Bunch. The firm also employs the latest industry technology and techniques. Teale makes use of 3D imagery to better assist homeowners in visualizing their future homes. The firm does this with both its exteriors and interiors, allowing clients to walk through their blueprints with 3D goggles for a better experience.
The project above was completed in Corona Del Mar. It spans 5,800 square feet and was designed and crafted in collaboration with the Nicholson Companies. It features a single-story floor plan and a modern design. Contemporary touches and the use of wood complete the effect of this striking home.
