Architecture distinguished by attention to detail, timeless design, and enduring quality.
Our approach to every client project is grounded in listening, mutual understanding, and respect. We create homes that reflect our clients’ vision while fulfilling their goals for program, style, and budget.
At JNS Architecture, we are dedicated to providing the service, information, and exceptional architecture needed to bring your project to life. Through responsive communication, a commitment to integrity, and premium professionalism, we aim to champion respect for our clients, our team, and the built environment.
As a result, our firm has various repeat Clients, great Contractor working relationships, and receive many positive referrals. Our main goal is simple: to enjoy the process of creating fine architecture that will prove to suit your needs for many years to come.
Superior client experience marked by precision, service, and lasting satisfaction.
Meet The Architect
JAMES N. SMITH
Drawn to the unmatched beauty of the Monterey Peninsula, James has designed distinguished homes and select commercial projects throughout Pebble Beach, Carmel, Carmel Valley, and surrounding communities. His work is known for its refined detailing, thoughtful spatial planning, and sensitivity to each site’s natural character—from oceanfront estates to secluded hillside retreats.
Original artwork by James N. Smith
James Smith is recognized for his collaborative design process and the longstanding relationships he has built with clients, builders, and partners across the region. With valuable expertise — ranging from traditional and historic homes to elegant contemporaries and ultra modern aesthetics — each project is shaped by careful listening, clear communication, and a commitment to architectural excellence.
His work reflects decades of experience, a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, and a lifelong connection to California’s landscapes. His education has its architectural roots in Southern California, Colorado, Berkeley, Copenhagen, as well as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he received his five-year professional degree in Architecture. His versatile background, in both the U.S. and abroad, has established the technical rigor and premium service that define his practice today.
Since founding JAMES NEWHALL SMITH Architect, Inc. in 2004, James has dedicated his career to designing high-end residential and commercial architecture in one of the world’s most extraordinary coastal settings
and beyond.
Away from the drafting table, James finds inspiration in tennis, golf, sailing, woodworking, and travel—pursuits that reflect the same curiosity, precision, and appreciation for quality that guide his work.
