Kathrin & Brian Smirke
Design/Build
Living
in our
element.
A glimpse into our life and creative process — through the spaces we remodel and design, and the thoughts, people, and places that inspire them.
Scroll
"We've always shared a deep-seated desire to create — and diverging from our original path led us, in time, into the worlds of design and development."
Kathrin & Brian
N° About the studio
Two creative paths, one practice.
We both found our way to Los Angeles through different creative pursuits. Kathrin came with a background in theatre arts and musical voice before moving into film production, while Brian headed west after college to pursue music and songwriting. Music became part of our story together as well. Over the years, we wrote and made music both together and independently, alongside creative lives that continued to evolve in other directions.
We created this site as a place to bring those different threads together. It's a glimpse into the things we make and the way we see the world: our design projects, photography, spaces, music, works in progress, and the people, places, objects, and ideas that continue to influence us.
Where we are today.
Kathrin's work today centers around design and photography, with a particular interest in interiors, visual storytelling, and creating a strong sense of identity around a place or project. Her background spans theatre and music, motion picture production, social media, and brand development, as well as founding and running the bohemian clothing label Gypsan.
Brian works full-time in real estate development and design, with music and songwriting remaining a longstanding part of his creative life. With a B.S. in Business Administration, a California Real Estate License, and a California General Contractor's License, his work brings together creative design and the practical process of building, developing, and bringing an idea into the physical world.
Our work has taken many forms over the years, and we imagine it always will. This is where we share what we're making, what we're drawn to, and whatever comes next.
The people behind it.
01 — Creative Direction
Kathrin
Designer & Photographer
Kathrin moved to Los Angeles to formally study acting and film production before her path eventually led into design. She founded and operated the bohemian clothing line Gypsan and today carries a filmmaker's eye into photography, interiors, branding, and visual storytelling.
@kathrinsmirke02 — Development & Design
Brian
Developer, Designer & Musician
Brian relocated west after college to pursue songwriting and music before his path evolved into design and development. Today, he works full-time as a real estate developer and designer and is a licensed California General Contractor. Music remains part of his creative life through his solo piano project, Temple Rising.
@briansmirkeReimagined, inside and out.
Renovations, ground-up builds, and full redevelopments across Joshua Tree, California — some kept as vacation rentals, others designed for resale.
Remodeled & renting
Full interior remodels, now running as Airbnb vacation rentals-
0101Dome in the Desert
-
0202Cabin Cabin Cabin
-
0303The Shack Attack
Ground-up builds
Designed and constructed from bare lots-
0404Easterly Drive
-
0505Border Avenue
Full redevelopment
Gutted and rebuilt from the studs out-
0606Terrace Drive
N° As seen in
N° Just to say hi
Feel free to write —
we love a hello.
Although we primarily design and build our own projects, we're always glad to connect, swap ideas, and hear from people. We're also open to consulting and contract work when a project feels like a good fit.
Want updates on our latest happenings? Sign up for our mailing list to hear from us when we finish a build, publish a new piece, or have something worth sharing.