Back to the 2014 AD100 List

Old-world traditions may guide Michael S. Smith, but the nimble designer draws inspiration from a multitude of arenas. “I’m always obsessed with something new,” says the California native, who divides his time between Los Angeles, Palm Springs, New York, and Madrid. “It’s important to be a perpetual student.” Smith is a master of graceful historically informed residences like the Malibu villa in his latest book, Building Beauty: The Alchemy of Design (Rizzoli, 2013). “I’m interested in creating a specific culture for a space, whether it’s a child’s room or the Oval Office,” says Smith, referencing his highest-profile commission, the Obama White House. “It’s my job to make interiors that reflect the people who use them.” The designer also channels ideas into his Jasper furnishings collection as well as product lines for companies such as Ann Sacks and Baker. michaelsmithincom

Meet the other architects and designers on the 2014 AD100 list.