John Gilmer Architects
Most people know what they want to do for a living upon graduating college. Palm Springs architect and interior designer John Gilmer knew before the age of five, after witnessing the building of his childhood home in Tennessee. Since starting his own firm in 2003, John Gilmer Architects, he has worked from coast to coast, designing high-end homes, apartments and retail spaces for luxury clothing brands Bobby Jones and Hickey Freeman.

To inspire his incredibly versatile designs, which range from clean-lined, contemporary abodes to shingle-and-stone mountain dwellings, Gilmer says he gains insight and ideas from the past. “I have a very strong interest in historic styles and architecture,” he says. “I sit on the board of the Palm Springs Historic Sites Preservation board. I just [returned] from two weeks in Ireland doing a palladium house tour. I look to classical precedence—how, through history, people have responded to similar conditions.” With his exceptional work scattered across the continent (including Hawaii, Vancouver and Nevada), we’re confident future generations of architects will be using Gilmer as their example of excellence. 760.327.7017, www.johngilmer.com. —M.L.

Home Base: Palm Springs, Calif.

What’s Next: Finishing up a three-and-a-half year
residential project in North Carolina; converting a 7,000-sq.-ft.
home into a reception building at a new Palm Springs resort.

Design Strengths: “We offer full-service architect and
interior design services. My strength is that I approach each
new project from the point of view from both the architect
and interior designer, so I constantly [look at] how a room
will be used, how rooms are furnished, what makes them livable.”