Known for his big idea

"For 22 years, we built a lot of houses together. They built in Nichols Canyon, an area in the Hollywood Hills, and she lived in a number of the houses they constructed together. Building became, for her, an avocation that she learned from Smathers."

"He designed big kitchens and family rooms. He was putting great rooms into houses before people knew what great rooms are. That was his trademark."

"Realtors remember Smathers as a pioneer who reinterpreted the Mediterranean style of '20s and '30s homes in houses he built or remodeled during the '80s and '90s."

Fred Smathers was a prominent designer-builder who gained recognition for his work with celebrities in the Hollywood Hills, particularly in Nichols Canyon. He collaborated extensively with TV anchorwoman Kelly Lange for 22 years, building and remodeling numerous properties. Smathers became known as a pioneer who reinterpreted Mediterranean architecture from the 1920s-1930s, introducing innovative features like expansive kitchens and great rooms before they became standard. His clientele included notable figures such as Hayley Mills, Richard Dreyfuss, Kevin Costner, and Quentin Tarantino. He transformed a 1937 cottage into a French Country-style compound for himself, featuring wood-beamed ceilings and modern amenities. Smathers died in 1998, leaving a significant legacy in residential design.

Read at Los Angeles Times