Exploring Life & Business with Craig Schabel of Schabel Architects Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Schabel.

Hi Craig, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Toledo, Ohio, in a blended family as the oldest of five. Creativity was always part of our environment, my dad is an artist, and my mom was a teacher who encouraged all of us to think independently and be fully ourselves. There wasn’t a single path laid out for us, which gave each of us the freedom to carve out lives that are pretty distinct, but all rooted in creativity in some way.
When I was in my second year of high school, I came out as gay. At the time, I found myself looking for something that felt grounding. That’s when I really turned toward art and design. It became both an outlet and a kind of escape, something fully immerse myself in. It had a lasting impact on how I think about architecture. I don’t just see it as form or aesthetics, I see it as art that can hold people, support them, and give them a sense of identity. That idea still sits at the core of how I approach the work today.

A lot of my childhood was spent outdoors, camping, backpacking, and going on long canoe trips across the country with my dad and brother. There was always this awareness of landscape, light, and environment. Turning inward through art and outward through nature, became the foundation for how I think about space.

I studied architecture at Bowling Green State University and later moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to attend USC for graduate school. LA immediately resonated with me, the architecture here feels experimental, optimistic, and deeply connected to lifestyle and climate.

After grad school, I quickly worked my way into a leadership role at a well-known residential firm, where I led high-end custom homes across Los Angeles. That experience taught me how to carry an idea all the way through construction, and how much precision, coordination, and care it takes to execute architecture at a very high level.

Eventually, I stepped out to start my own studio, focusing on high-end residential work for clients looking for something more intentional and forward-thinking. Each project is a journey, shaped by its environment, its constraints, and the people involved. The studio is built around collaboration and inclusivity. At the core of it, I’m interested in creating architecture that supports people in a real way, spaces that don’t just look good, but actually resonate with how someone lives, evolves, and experiences their environment over time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like a lot of people starting out in architecture, one of the biggest challenges was financial. I supported myself through both undergrad and graduate school, and by the time I was working as a junior architect in Los Angeles, I was carrying a significant amount of student loan and credit card debt.

Confidence was probably the other major piece. Architecture is a field where you’re constantly being evaluated by clients, consultants, contractors, peers and early on, it takes time to trust your own voice and perspective. That only really came through experience, and through pushing myself into situations that required me to step up and lead.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Schabel Architects Studio?
Schabel Studio is a Los Angeles architectural studio specializing in custom residential design. The homes we craft are beautiful, functional, and thoughtfully aligned with how our clients want to live. Homes that reflect individuality, dreams, and bold self-expression.

Each project is a journey shaped by diverse styles and a deep respect for its environment. We believe great design harmonizes a home with its setting, seamlessly integrating architecture, interiors, and landscape. Through careful consideration of circulation, light, materials, and landscaping, we blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, creating tranquil spaces deeply rooted in nature.

At our core, we are partners in bringing unique visions to life. Through close collaboration with homeowners, builders, engineers, and consultants, we ensure every detail is intentional, original, and meaningful.

Today, the studio focuses on custom residential projects across Los Angeles, often in the $3M–$10M+ range. Each one is an opportunity to push the work further.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I would say intentionality and persistence.

I’ve always been very deliberate about the work I take on and how I approach it. In architecture, it’s easy for projects to become reactive or diluted over time, especially with the number of voices involved. I’ve found that staying clear on the core idea of a project, and making sure every decision supports that core idea, creates work that feels meaningful.

At the same time, persistence has been just as important. You have to stay committed and be willing to keep pushing things forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://schabelstudio.com
• Instagram: @schabel.studio