Jeff Shelton

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Jeff Shelton
Born1958 (age 66–67)
Santa Barbara, CA
Alma materUniversity of Arizona, Tucson
Website jeffsheltonarchitect.com

Jeff Shelton is an architect from Santa Barbara, California, with a "whimsical unique" architectural style. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Shelton and his three brothers grew up on a section of the Oakleigh property [2] in Montecito, CA. The land was in the wooded surroundings of Westmont College, where his father was the Alumni Director. [3] The estate was previously used as a prep school and the family occupied the old classrooms, library, and infirmary. Shelton did not live in a conventional home until college. [4] Oakleigh was near the bohemian enclave of Mountain Drive, where many homes were designed by architect Frank Robinson, Shelton's mentor. [5]

Shelton graduated from the University of Arizona, Tuscon, with a B. Arch in 1983. [6]

Career

Shelton designs everything, including the light fixtures, furniture, textiles, tiles, and iron work. [7] His buildings conform to the distinctive Santa Barbara style, yet are also unquestioningly his own. [8]

Shelton surrounds himself with, what he calls his "merry band of artisans", [9] contractors, craftspeople, engineers, artists, plumbers, sculptors, stone masons, electricians, woodworkers, glassblowers, and welders. [10] Without them, and his clients, his pencil drawings would stay on the paper. [11] Shelton has collaborated with his team on over 60 residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. [12]

Shelton and his projects have been featured in various magazines, websites, and journals, including Dwell , Architectural Digest , the Los Angeles Times , and others. [13] [14] [15] [16]

Shelton's first public works project was as architectural consultant on the 2024 redesign of the 101 freeway underpass in downtown Santa Barbara. [17]

Shelton is the author of the 2021 book titled "The Fig District". [18]

Awards

YearAwardCitation
2024North Street Book Prize [19]
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019Santa Barbara Independent Best Of Award [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
2013Santa Barbara Beautiful Award [26]
2003George Washington Smith Award [27]
2002Sunset Magazine Western Home Award [28] [29]

Personal life

Jeff, and his wife Karin, raised their two daughters in Santa Barbara, CA. [30] Shelton's brother is film director and screenwriter Ron Shelton.

References

  1. ↑ "Jeff Shelton". ArtRKL. September 20, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  2. ↑ Staff, Indy (June 25, 2009). "Jeff Shelton, Santa Barbara's Architectural Wizard". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ Staff, Indy (January 7, 2016). "Community Arts Workshop Gets Gates". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  4. ↑ Agency, Wend (January 9, 2023). "Rendering: Creativity and Craft". Western Art & Architecture. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Dream Weaver". Phoenix Home & Garden. April 8, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Ablitt Tower: Jeff Shelton '83 B.Arch, Jeff Shelton Architect | College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture". capla.arizona.edu. November 12, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ Beach, Charlotte (August 25, 2022). "Architect Jeff Shelton Brings His Wildest Dreams to Life on the Streets of Santa Barbara". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  8. ↑ Zeiba, Drew (December 3, 2021). "The Architect Remaking Santa Barbara, One Outrageously Fun House At a Time". Sight Unseen. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Shelton Style". Santa Barbara Magazine. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ "RIV_18_3". Issuu. September 23, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Meet Jeff Shelton | ARCHITECT – SHOUTOUT LA". shoutoutla.com. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Santa Barbara Architect (and Tour Guide) Jeff Shelton | Luxury Realtor Cristal Clarke". www.montecito-estate.com. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  13. ↑ Jackson, Hannah (April 20, 2023). "The World's 8 Most Mind-Bending Homes". Architectural Digest. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  14. ↑ Alexus, Paige (June 30, 2016). "The Everyday Carry of an Architect: Jeff Shelton". Dwell. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  15. ↑ Leitereg, Neal J. (November 17, 2015). "Home of the Day: A Dr. Seuss-like space in Santa Barbara". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  16. ↑ Kelly, Kerrie (January 22, 2013). "Contemporary Hints in Santa Barbara". Dwell. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  17. ↑ Hayden, Tyler (April 24, 2025). "Overjoyed About the New Undercrossing". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  18. ↑ Fitch, Caitlin (September 27, 2021). "Jeff Shelton Gets Big on Fig with New Design Book". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  19. ↑ "The Fig District - Winning Writers". winningwriters.com. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  20. ↑ Hayden, Tyler (October 17, 2024). "Best of Santa Barbara® 2024 Housing". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  21. ↑ Hayden, Tyler (October 19, 2023). "Best of Santa Barbara® 2023 Housing". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Dinaberg, Leslie (October 20, 2022). "Best of Santa Barbara® 2022 Housing". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  23. ↑ Donelan, Charles (October 21, 2021). "Best of Santa Barbara® 2021 Housing". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  24. ↑ Dinaberg, Leslie (October 15, 2020). "Best of Santa Barbara® 2020 Housing". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  25. ↑ Dinaberg, Leslie (October 17, 2019). "Best of Santa Barbara® 2019 Housing". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  26. ↑ "CASA Magazine: October 18, 2013". Issuu. October 18, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  27. ↑ "407 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | MLS #21-4200 | Compass". www.compass.com. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Wall of Fame Bios". SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  29. ↑ "2001-2002 Western Home Awards. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Jeff Shelton Architect — Bio". Jeff Shelton Architect. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
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