Philosophy
We believe a great interior is not simply beautiful. It is art: deeply considered, purposeful, and one of a kind.
Our work begins by understanding what a space could be, not simply what it currently is. We look for missed opportunities, flawed proportions, overlooked details, uncomfortable conditions, and the qualities that make a property worth preserving. Every element should contribute to the experience of the whole, from the architecture and natural light to the smallest fixture and the way a room functions at different times of day.
To us, luxury is not measured by price or recognizable names. It is the feeling that nothing has been overlooked. It is craftsmanship you can see and feel, function that quietly improves your life, materials chosen because they are right rather than because they are fashionable, and details so thoroughly considered that changing anything would diminish the result.
We value restraint as much as creativity. A truly distinctive space does not announce every decision. Its character emerges through layers of proportion, materiality, texture, light, craftsmanship, and subtle surprises. We resist formulas and trends in favor of solutions developed specifically for the property and the people who inhabit it.
We also believe design does not end at decoration. Architecture, interiors, construction, landscape, and maintenance are interconnected. The client should not have to become a project manager simply to achieve a great result. We serve not only as designers, but as advisors, advocates, and stewards of the project, anticipating risks, scrutinizing decisions, and protecting the client's interests while working collaboratively with the people responsible for bringing the vision to life.
The goal is simple: to create something so complete, so personal, and so thoughtfully resolved that it could not have been made any other way.
Our Story
Ratio Design began long before it had a name.
Our approach to design grew from years spent caring for, improving, and making decisions about our own family's properties across the Southwest and California. From offices and rental properties to historic buildings and luxury residences, we learned firsthand what it means to own a property through every stage of its life: acquisition, renovation, construction, maintenance, landscaping, leasing, and deciding when to hold, sell, or transform.
For our founder, Cody Fordyce, architecture was an interest from childhood. Growing up in humble Farmington, New Mexico, he was often drawing elaborate “blueprints” of skyscrapers, airports, houses, and landscapes in class, and getting in trouble for it. Constant traveling throughout the United States and abroad his whole life exposed him to things that simply did not exist in his small hometown: towering skylines, monuments, infrastructure, historic architecture, unfamiliar materials, large-scale projects, and rich cultures. Cody became fascinated by understanding and analyzing why some places felt exceptional and others did not, developing an instinct to study the proportions, materials, details, and the qualities that made them inspirational.
That curiosity eventually led to formal, master's-level architectural study, including a month-long intensive study of London's architecture with a PhD architect and historian at Queen Mary University of London. The experience deepened his understanding of the secret ingredients of beauty and how architecture endures across generations, while continued travels through London, Edinburgh, Paris, and beyond broadened his perspective further.
The turning point came while renovating his family's oceanfront Long Beach home. At only eighteen, Cody had designed, drawn, specified, and managed the high-value project himself when the contractor recognized that the work exceeded what he had seen from many professionally-designed projects. Within a year, that same connection led to our first independent commission: helping another homeowner correct and complete a project that had gone off course.
One project became another. Thus, Ratio Design was formally established in 2022 to create a design practice built around the same exceptionally high standards applied to our own properties. Since then, the practice has grown through relationships and referrals into residential renovations, luxury coastal properties, commercial and medical interiors, construction management, and property acquisition advising.
Today, the firm draws on a rare combination of design, architecture, construction, property ownership, legal training, and real-world experience. Having made many of these decisions with our own family's capital at stake, we understand the responsibility that comes with entrusting someone with your home, your resources, and your vision.
That perspective continues to shape everything we do.
Nice to Meet You
My name is Cody Fordyce (Koh-Dee For-Dice)
Cody is an interior designer and Master of Architecture candidate based in Los Angeles. His work is defined by an elevated, highly individual approach to design, with a focus on exceptional materials, craftsmanship, and thoughtful execution. Drawing from his background in business, psychology, law, and architecture, he brings both creative vision and a meticulous eye to every project. Known for creating sophisticated, unexpected spaces that feel distinctly personal, he places equal importance on quality, integrity, and trust, serving as a steadfast advocate for his clients and their homes throughout every stage of the process.
Our Clients Say
From Yelp:
"Cody is an awesome designer! He has such amazing ideas. I had an old designer who wanted to do everything grey. Grey walls, grey floors, grey vanity! Cody came in and gave me recommendations for a wonderful color scheme that was more along my palate. He also came up with a BEAUTIFUL fireplace design for my loft. He also came up with fantastic ideas for the entry stairs where there are LED lights under the treads and mirrors as risers, so you get this floating effect! I highly recommend Cody. For sure."
Dr. Nader Sobh - Returning Client
