Gabbi Sun on Why Architecture and Interiors Should Never Be Separate Conversations
Gabbi Sun, architect and founder of Venn Studio, in the firm’s West Adams studio
Gabbi Sun co-founded Venn Studio in 2017 with Tyler Thomas, building a Los Angeles design practice around a simple but unusual premise: architecture and interior design shouldn’t be treated as two separate conversations. As Design Principal, Sun brings an AIA license and a B.Arch from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to a five-person studio known for projects like the Keogh Residence, Stanley Hills Residence, and the Dezeen-featured Noto Botanics in Highland Park.
From custom single-family homes to multi-family housing and retail spaces, Sun’s integrated approach shows up in the details — how a window placement informs furniture layout, or how lighting decisions relate to ceiling conditions. We spoke with her about that philosophy, what makes a strong architect-contractor partnership, the challenges of designing for difficult sites, and what she wishes more homeowners understood before they start.
Why Architecture and Interiors Start as One Conversation
Venn Studio’s Ramos Residence (left), stone fireplace and floating wood shelves; sunlit great room with picture windows; James Residence in Manhattan Beach (right)
In a custom home, Sun explains, every decision has a design ripple effect. “The placement of a window and door influences furniture, lighting relates to ceiling conditions, and material choices can shape how spaces connect and flow,” she says. Thinking across those scales simultaneously allows Venn Studio to create homes that feel cohesive rather than assembled from a series of separate decisions. “Our clients don’t experience architecture and interiors as two disciplines; they simply experience their home, and we want that experience to feel intentional, personal, and intertwined.”
That same philosophy carries into how Sun thinks about the people she builds with.
What Makes a Strong Design-Build Partnership
Sun appreciates a contractor who understands the design intent and cares about the details, while bringing their own construction knowledge and perspective to the table.
“For me, a strong architect-contractor relationship comes down to communication, trust between owner-architect-contractor, and feeling like we’re working toward the same goal,” she says. She especially values builders who raise questions or challenges early, since unexpected conditions always surface during construction. “I’d much rather work through them together than react after a decision has already been made.”
Designing Across Scale: From Custom Homes to Multi-Family and Retail
“With the Keogh Residence, one of the biggest challenges was creating a large, open family home on a relatively compact, public-facing hillside site. I wanted the house to feel bright and connected to its surroundings without sacrificing privacy, so we stepped the architectural massing and carefully positioned the glazing and natural light to balance those competing needs. The architecture and interiors were designed around how the family would actually live and entertain, with flexible gathering spaces and durable, low-maintenance materials throughout. The result feels contemporary and refined, but still relaxed and livable — a balance Sun looks for in every project.
That same instinct carries across very different project types. On multi-family work, Sun’s starting point is always understanding how people will actually use and experience the space — “multi-family housing is an exercise in efficiency, making every inch work harder. For KOTN’s retail store, the challenge was different: translating an established brand’s values around craftsmanship, sustainability, and community into a physical retail experience. The scale and program change from project to project, but Sun is always thinking about how design can respond thoughtfully to the people using the space.
Venn Studio’s James Residence (top left), Ramos Residence (top right), Stanley Hills Residence (bottom left), and Keogh Residence (bottom right)
Advice for Homeowners Starting a Project
Venn Studio’s Keogh Residence in Manhattan Beach (left); Ramos Residence in Manhattan Beach (right)
One of the biggest misconceptions Sun sees is how much goes into a project beyond construction itself. Homeowners often focus on finding the least expensive design or construction team without realizing that investing in the right people upfront can save significantly more in mistakes, changes, and compromises later. Choosing a strong design team and general contractor, Sun says, is one of the most consequential decisions a client can make.
For anyone starting a remodel, rebuild, or new build, Sun’s advice is simple: expect the process to evolve. You don’t need to have your dream home figured out before calling an architect — that’s part of what you’re hiring them to help determine. There are a lot of moving pieces along the way, and the architect’s role is to help you navigate those decisions, understand what’s possible, and guide you through the process from beginning to end.
Key Takeaways for Homeowners
Architecture and interiors work best as one integrated conversation, not two separate decisions.
A strong architect-contractor relationship is built on early communication and shared goals, not just construction knowledge.
Difficult sites call for creative massing and glazing decisions that balance privacy, light, and views.
Investing in the right design and construction team upfront saves money and stress later in the project.
Venn Studio’s Stanley Hills Residence (left), and Keogh Residence in Manhattan Beach (right)
Final Thoughts
For Gabbi Sun, the throughline across every Venn Studio project — from a hillside family home to a multi-family building to a retail store — is the same: start with how people will actually live in and experience a space, then let architecture and interiors answer that question together, not separately.
That integrated mindset is also what she wants homeowners to carry into their own projects. The right team, brought in early and trusted to collaborate, makes the difference between a home that feels assembled and one that feels truly intentional.
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