Resident Collaborator, Paul Valentine of Small Office

Paul Valentine of Small Office runs a Los Angeles based design resource and consultancy representing contemporary design. In addition to working with architects, interior designers and the commercial trade, Small Office also organises exhibitions and produces custom design projects, including INTRO/LA of which Resident has been a regular participant at.  

We sat down with Paul to reflect on his experiences and learn more about his practice.

How long have you been working in the design industry for?

I’ve been working in the industry for 25 years now, but it really all started back at Oxford Brookes University where a freshly RCA graduated Jay Osgerby was teaching the design section of my Art Foundation course. 
 

That sounds like an inspirational departure point, where did you go from there? 

After graduating from Ravensbourne College I got job with twentytwentyone in Islington where I was immersed in really amazing vintage 20th century design alongside leading contemporary designers and companies. I was part of the regular design shows they put on and I got to study prominent furniture and I lighting designs I had only seen in books in real life, and benefit from the deep design knowledge of the owners . From there I went to work at SCP as a buyer, which added another richening experience to my design education. 

And when did you make your way to the U.S?

In 2005 I decided to move the US and thought it would be a great idea to start a company that made some of the good design I was aware of available in the US. I wanted to try something really different to London so San Francisco was the first stop, before moving on to New York, then Austin, and finally settling in Los Angeles in 2014.

Tell us about your company

I call Small Office a Design Office. We develop the US market for international design brands, work with interior designers on commercial and residential projects, host and organise design shows, and sometimes do custom design projects of our own. It’s the culmination of my design education and experience.  

The folio of design companies we have put together is quite unique. Their size and setup makes them particularly agile when it comes to commercial projects. Some are designer owned and we have a great flexibility when it comes to our project capabilities. We provide our clients access to leading furniture collections as well as a skilled design studios and manufacturing resources.

And you have just opened a new trade showroom, can you tell us about that?

Yes, we have a new office that is open to the public and trade by appointment. I wanted a space that we could do regular design shows and events in, preview the collections we work with, and generally be more visible and accessible. We’ve worked behind the scenes for a long time and it feels good to be more open sharing our passion for design. 

And how long have you been working with Resident for?

I’ve been working with Resident for 12 years now. It has been very satisfying to see the brand grow and evolve. I’ve enjoyed being part of Scott and Simon’s journey with their company from the start. We’ve worked very hard to understand the industry here together, collaborating to create a dealer network and engage design studios. Resident is a trusted supplier to many companies and interior designers in the US as a result. 

What is the LA design scene like and how does it differ to the NY scene?

It’s rich and growing all the time. The LA Design scene is close and intimate, but the way Los Angeles is spread out makes the way you move about it a little different, it’s harder to connect with people compared to a city like New York or London. That’s why I have always enjoyed doing the design shows, it’s important to me to help bring the community together and give a snap shot of what’s happening in our industry. 

What are your plans and goals for 2023?

Connect with more people in the Los Angeles design community and have fun exploring show concepts in our new office. I feel like I’m still getting to know Los Angeles even though I have been here for nearly nine years. 

What is the most satisfying part of your job? 

I’m still really passionate about design and feel like we have so much more to achieve. I’ve really enjoyed meeting a lot of friends and creative people along the way and sharing in their passion and vision. I feel like there's a lot more to come from us and the designers and companies we work with.