"All of my life, as far back as I can recall I have been enamored with designing and building residences.
For instance, at 8 years of age I single-handedly constructed a 5 room playhouse in our backyard. It stood
for 2 decades and the neighborhood kids enjoyed it long after I had moved away. I knew then, I wanted
to be a designer & builder.
I graduated Arlington High, Texas in 1990. My 20s were an interesting mix of part-time school and world
travel. Then at 30, through shear will and a mountain of student loans, I received a Master's Degree from
Illinois Institute of Technology, School of Architecture - (Chicago, 2001.) This is the internationally
renowned school started by Mies van der Rohe in the late 40s and based on the Bauhaus School from
1930s Germany. I minored in philosophy, construction management and computer graphics.
I feel blessed to have experienced so many amazing places and things, Chicago in the late 90's was a
magical place to live and learn. After school I moved back to Dallas where I worked for several big firms
while looking for my groove.
Then, In May 2007 I visited LA for the first time. I interviewed with CJ Bonura for the position of project
architect & site supervisor. He hired me on the spot and I relocated the very next week. I fell in love with
Los Angeles, it felt like home. The Santa Monica lifestyle is fantastic and LA's mid-century modern
architecture is unmatched. In 2023, I decided to get my General Contractor's licence in California and
after 16 years with Bonura Building, I started Funkhaus Design."
-Tony