Great design does more than transform a space. It shapes the way we live, gather, work and experience the world around us. In our annual Masters of Design portfolio, Southern California Life celebrates the architects, interior designers, builders and creative visionaries defining design throughout the region. From inspired residences to remarkable commercial spaces, these are the people bringing thoughtful ideas to life and helping shape Southern California’s landscape.
SHANNON GGEM
Based in Agoura Hills, Shannon Ggem creates highly personal interiors rooted in authenticity, craftsmanship and a strong sense of place. Through Ggem Design Co, she approaches each home as a reflection of the people who inhabit it, favoring thoughtful choices, enduring materials and collected character over a prescribed aesthetic. A member of the Thermador Design Council, Ggem brings her distinctive perspective and expertise to
conversations shaping the future of residential design.
THE APPROACH
Shannon Ggem sees creating a home as one of life’s great creative endeavors; she believes clients should enjoy the process. Their dreams, histories and even their bravery become the raw materials. Ggem Design translates those into spaces informed by architecture, landscape and a sense of place, filtered through quality, authenticity and restraint. The goal is a home that feels deeply personal and, ultimately, inevitable.
THE AESTHETIC
There is no prescribed “Ggem look.” Instead, rooms feel collected rather than decorated, grounded in materials that improve with age and punctuated by something wonderful, odd, old or unexpected. Current obsessions include handmade tile, textured limestone, leather, murals, dimensional surfaces and rich reds alongside camel, tan and beige. Every choice answers the same question: Why does this belong in this house, for these people?
THE GO-TO’S
Mohair velvet, linen drapery, embroidered textiles, vintage books, midcentury works on paper and “weird old frames” are perennial favorites. But Ggem believes the smartest investment comes before the purchases: clarity. Thoughtful interior design can eliminate costly mistakes and reveal better solutions. Once the foundation is right, she encourages individuality; keep the funny painting, embrace the color you’ve loved since childhood and reupholster Grandma’s weird chair.
THE MANTRA
“Bravery is rewarded.” For Ggem, memorable interiors require confidence: the courage to move beyond sameness, trust personal instincts and make choices with meaning. The result isn’t simply a beautiful home, but a stronger, more authentic expression of the people who live there.
Ggem Design Co
28914 Roadside Drive #203 Agoura Hills, CA 91201
shannonggem.com • Phone: (213) 999-9907 • IG: GgemDesign
KEVIN TOUKOUMIDIS, AIA
Kevin Toukoumidis leads dSPACE Studio Architecture with a human-centered approach to modern residential design. Based in Santa Monica, his work explores the relationship between architecture, nature and well-being, creating highly personal homes that elevate the experience of everyday life.
THE APPROACH
At dSPACE Studio, every home begins with one question: How do you want to live? Rather than imposing a predetermined style, Kevin Toukoumidis and his team study each client’s routines, priorities and aspirations, allowing lifestyle and site to shape the architecture. The result is deeply personal — spaces designed not simply to look beautiful, but to make everyday life better.
THE AESTHETIC
Warm modernism defines dSPACE’s point of view. Clean lines and rigorous geometries are softened with curves, organic forms and an intentional connection to nature. Drawing from neuroarchitecture and biophilic design, Toukoumidis considers how everything from coastal light and framed views to natural rhythms can influence mood, focus and even sleep, which creates homes that engage the senses and feel inherently restorative.
THE GO-TO’S
Natural materials with character, including wood, stone, plaster and metals, develop a rich patina, bringing warmth and depth to dSPACE projects. Sculptural forms turn functional architecture into art, while high-performance windows are a worthy investment for the way they shape light, frame views and connect interiors with Southern California’s outdoors. Furniture and art, meanwhile, offer opportunities for playfulness and evolution.
THE MANTRA
Toukoumidis believes architecture has the power to improve health, well-being and quality of life. From circadian lighting to meaningful connections with nature, every detail is considered through the lens of how it makes people feel and live. The ultimate goal: homes that are both inspiring and restorative.
dSPACE Studio Architecture
2450 Colorado Ave., Suite 100E Santa Monica, CA 90404
dspacestudio.com • (213) 588-3392 • IG: dspace_studio
ERIK B. PETERSON
As President of PHX ARCHITECTURE, Erik B.
Peterson leads the award-winning firm from its Scottsdale headquarters and Beverly Hills office, specializing in bespoke residential, luxury hospitality, private clubs and distinctive dining environments. A Chicago native, Peterson began his Southwest career with Taliesin Architects, Frank Lloyd Wright’s firm in Arizona, where he developed an appreciation for organic architecture and design rooted in place. Today, his work can be found throughout the U.S. and internationally.
THE APPROACH
Great architecture begins with listening. Rather than imposing a signature style, Peterson and his team begin by understanding how clients live, what inspires them and what they ultimately want to experience within a space. PHX’s concierge approach extends beyond architecture, coordinating interiors, landscape, consultants and contractors to deliver a highly personalized, white-glove experience from concept through completion.
THE AESTHETIC
Timeless, contextual and intentionally refined. Peterson gravitates toward natural and organic materials, expansive glass, innovative lighting and strong indoor-outdoor connections. Steel, copper and board-formed concrete frequently appear in PHX projects, softened and integrated to create warmth rather than a hard contemporary edge.
THE GO-TO’S
Invest first in the elements that are hardest to change and foundational to the project: thoughtful space planning, proportion, natural light, quality materials and exceptional craftsmanship. Personality can then emerge through unexpected moments, from a dramatic wine room or wellness retreat to statement lighting and custom entertainment spaces.
THE MANTRA
“Design with purpose. Serve with intention. Create lasting value.” For Peterson, great architecture begins with great relationships. Clients are entrusting the firm with something deeply personal, making listening, collaboration and service as important as the design itself. The goal is not only to create extraordinary spaces, but to make the journey equally rewarding, creating places that endure and relationships that continue long after a project is complete.
PHX ARCHITECTURE
9696 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 205, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
phxarch.com • Phone: (310) 626-4111 • IG: phxarch
