Joseph E. Kowalski
(b. 1925 - d. 2005)

Joseph Kowalski was born in St. Louis where he lived until age 10, when the Kowalski family moved to San Diego. Joe told his mother at age 14 he wanted to design houses and was selling his ceramic work by age 20. Joe graduated from Point Loma High School and took classes in Cal Berkeley's architecture program. Upon returning to San Diego, Joe continued with additional coursework at San Diego State College where he met Caroline. Following their graduation in 1946, the two were married.

Joe worked in partnership with his father in the lumber business (1946-48) to earn enough money and knowledge of building materials before striking out on his own. In 1948, Joe and Caroline attended the Chouinard Institute in Los Angeles.

The Kowalski family moved to Del Mar in 1950. Starting his career as a building designer, Kowalski used the extra office space at his PCH location to open up the Interior Exterior shop in June, 1953. In 1953, he built his first residence, "Serpents Wing" (on Serpentine) for his family. In 1956, Kowalski #2 was completed and the family moved to Rancho Santa Fe where Joe lived until his passing in 2005.

According to Joe's widow, Caroline, Mr. Kowalski built approximately fifty homes in the San Diego and Del Mar areas and another 50-60 in Rancho Santa Fe.

Joe Kowalski was the subject of a profile "Kowalski" in the July 1953 issue of San Diego & Point Magazine. In the same issue is a full page ad for his retail furnishings and design outlet J.E. Kowalski Interior-Exterior-Shop (1140 Highway 101). His tag line was "Coordinated Residence Design and Interior Decoration".

Partial List of San Diego Projects

Hughes, Howard Residence
Rancho Santa Fe

Jack, Bill Residence (1953)
Rancho Santa Fe

Kowalski Interior Exterior Shop (1950)
1140 Highway 101

Kowalski, Joseph Residence #1 "Serpent's Wing" (1953)
355 Serpentine, Del Mar

Kowalski, Joseph Residence #2 (1956)
Rancho Santa Fe

La Fleur, Harold Residence
Point Loma

Lush, Harry Residence
Rancho Santa Fe

MacConnell, J. Walton Residence
La Jolla

Nowlins, U.D. Residence
Solana Beach

Parry, Bill & Brooks Residence (1953)
340 Ocean View, Del Mar

Smalls, Elmer Residence (1953)
Point Loma

Taylor, Howard F. Residence (1954)
457 Pine Needles, Del Mar