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Celebrating three decades of custom homes

For thirty years, David Small Designs has approached every project with a commitment to timeless architecture, thoughtful space planning, and a deep respect for place.

Thirty Years of Home

David Small Designs — 1996–2026+

David Small founded David Small Designs as a one-person operation with a clear purpose: to create highly personal custom homes shaped around the people who would live in them. That commitment to listening, individuality and thoughtful design became the foundation of the firm.

One of DSD’s first clients would go on to commission three personal residences over the following 30 years. Each home expressed a completely different architectural style—Vertically Challenged, French Classic, and The Glass Room—demonstrating the firm’s versatility and the enduring relationships that would become central to its story.

1996

The First Urban Design Award

Just two years after DSD was founded, Vertically Challenged received an Award of Merit for Site Integration from the City of Mississauga Urban Design Awards. The recognition affirmed an approach that would continue to shape the firm’s work: designing homes in thoughtful response to their sites, neighbourhoods and the aspirations of their owners.

1998

Enduring Technical Leadership

Peter Giordano joined DSD as Lead Technical Associate, bringing technical rigour and a commitment to carrying design intent successfully through approvals and construction.

More than two decades later, Peter continues to lead the technical team, representing the continuity of knowledge and experience behind every DSD home.

2002

Growing Recognition and a Home of Our Own

In 2007, The Coffee House received the Canadian Home Builders’ Association National Award for Best Custom Home, marking DSD’s growing recognition beyond its local market. The following year, the firm’s own office earned a City of Mississauga Urban Design Award, reflecting the same warmth, character and considered design DSD brings to its residential work.

2008

Recognized for Design and Service

By 2012, DSD had become recognized not only for the quality of its homes, but also for the experience it provided its clients. That year, Old Oakville received an OHBA Award for Most Outstanding Custom Home, while DSD was named BILD Service Professional of the Year, reflecting two equally important parts of the firm’s identity: thoughtful design and trusted relationships.

2012

1,000 Homes and the Emergence of Natural Modern

DSD celebrated its 1,000th custom home design in 2013. That same year, David’s House brought wider attention to a design philosophy the firm would come to call Natural Modern, combining modern sensibility with natural materials, warmth and careful site integration. The award-winning home connected with homeowners well beyond Canada and became an important influence on the work that followed.

2013

Multidisciplinary Team Takes Shape

In 2016, Valerie O’Reilly joined DSD as Lead Architectural Designer and Cristina Monaco as Lead Interior Designer, expanding the studio into a fully integrated architectural and interiors practice. Rebecca Muise also grew into a leadership role in project management and client experience, today serving as Vice President. Approximately half of DSD’s architectural clients now also engage the interiors team.

The Glass Room, designed for one of DSD’s original clients, received the BILD Award for Best Custom Home.

2016

The Last House Reaches an International Stage

David’s next personal home, The Last House, further evolved DSD’s Natural Modern philosophy and attracted international attention. It was named Best Luxury Residence Canada at the 2019 International Design & Architecture Awards in London, followed by three BILD awards in 2020, including Best Overall Custom Home. The project balanced bold design and natural materials with the realities of everyday family life.

2020

2,000 Custom Homes Designed

Nine years after reaching its 1,000-home milestone, DSD celebrated the design of its 2,000th custom home. Behind that number were thousands of individual ideas carried through zoning, approvals, engineering, technical coordination and construction while preserving what made each home personal to its owners.

Various home designs over the years by David Small Designs

2022

Relationships Across Generations

Some of DSD’s most meaningful recent projects have grown from relationships established decades earlier. Former clients have returned for new homes, introduced siblings and children, and in some cases brought a new generation of their family to DSD.

At the same time, the work has expanded into increasingly complex estate properties across Canada and the United States, bringing multiple buildings together within a cohesive architectural vision.

2023

A New Generation of Recognized Homes

Three decades into its practice, DSD continued to earn recognition across a range of architectural styles. The Chalet received the 2024 OHBA award for Best Custom Home. In 2025, The Urban Treehouse received the BILD award for Best Custom Home over $2 million, while The Storybook Home was recognized by the Niagara Home Builders’ Association for its distinctive turret.

2025

Thirty Years. Still Building Forward.

David Small Designs celebrates 30 years and more than 2,200 custom homes designed for families across Canada, the United States and beyond.

What began as a one-person studio has grown into a multidisciplinary team of residential designers, technical specialists and interior designers, built on lasting relationships, creative exploration and a shared commitment to creating highly personal places to live.

Collage of a transitional home, modern design and construction in progress

2026

Rooted, not imposed.

Explore the work that got us here.

Explore our work

Celebrating 30 Years of Custom Home Design

Contact

+1 905 271 9100
Toll Free +1 833 271 9100
4-1405 Cornwall Rd
Oakville, ON, L6J 7T5