I worked with Eunice at Butler Armsden as a cabinetry subcontractor on one of their large remodel…read moreprojects in the Pacific Heights District in San Francisco in early 2010. The firm was very professional, Eunice was very organized and the blueprints were complete and concise , I would highly recommend them. Patrick Miller - Project Manager Michael Meyer Fine Woodworking

Jeffrey Eade is uniquely bad architect from every interaction I have had with him. Work with him…read moreat your own risk.

I had the great good fortune to be referred to Jeff by our contractor when we decided to add a…read morebathroom to our third floor flat. He helped me through every phase of the project. After trying to get through the city planning department by myself (unsuccessfully), he accompanied me back to get the plans approved and answer any questions that the engineer (hard ass) might have. I have a pretty strong design aesthetic and he worked with me and made suggestions that fit right into that aesthetic. Also, we live in a Victorian, and he made suggestions in keeping with the style and period of our home. He helped match our existing trim that we have throughout the house so that the addition looks like it has always been here. The bathroom was created in a portion of a formerly odd shaped bedroom. The bedroom was divided into bathroom and bedroom space and he helped us figure out how to keep the bedroom spacious and usable while also creating a generous bathroom that feels large and luxurious. He came up with clever and creative solutions to maximize our storage issues. He made sure that the new closet in the bedroom was as large as possible and we could utilize all the vertical space. We also have floor to ceiling storage in the bathroom. So far, I haven't been able to fill it all up. But give me some time and I will have that baby full! We like Jeff so much, he is coming back to help us work on a master plan for our home. We have future projects and I know he will have great ideas on how to best use our space and how to do it over a period of time since we can't afford to do everything at once. Jeff was a pleasure to work with! He is calm and thoughtful and he really listens. He has wonderful ideas and makes great suggestions without being pushy. I really appreciate that since that type of personality doesn't mesh well with the Hub and besides, I have pretty strong opinions myself. He understands how to work with people! I would not hesitate to recommend Jeff Eade. He is a talented architect and would be an asset to any project. As an added bonus, he is a thoughtful and kind human being. He gets my highest review!

We have been working with Tobeler Design for over three years. John took our home from zero to…read moresixty in a very short time and in a very efficient manner. Unlike some designers, he is open to your input and won't try to stifle your ideas. He will work with you in any way that fits your style. I really appreciated that he did not require that I adhere to his suggestions at every turn. Like all interior designers, he charges the normal mark up when ordering furniture and fabrics and an hourly fee for consultation that is quite reasonable by bay area standards. I never felt that my invoices were out of the norm for anything we did together. Our home turned into a masterpiece, largely due to our combined efforts. Thank you, John!

Do not do business with Tobeler Design. We ended up paying over twenty thousand dollars for 2…read morecouches, a few pillows, and a sofa table. The couches were made of a very poor quality fabric by a local upholsterer that did inferior work. The first time we received the furniture noone could even sit on them. The upholstery was so hard that if felt like you were sitting on plywood. The top made for the table did not fit and Tobeler would not take it back. Tobeler charges 20% mark up plus 200.00 per hour for his time. Wait until the bills start coming in. You will be startled. He is like an attorney with his billing practices. The charges just keep piling up with very little to support them. Be aware of what you are getting yourself into with this firm. He puts on a good show but when the job is finished you will need a second mortgage on your house to pay for it. Update: We were served by a process server yesterday. John Tobeler is taking us to small claims court for 595.00 he says we owe for shipping charges on a table. Talk about adding insult to injury.

I am a general contractor in the city and have had a chance to work with Apparatus on several…read moreprojects. All the projects turned out great and in no small thanks to their skillful efforts. As a contractor I am a big proponent of necessary preconstruction work being done well and in great detail. All the Apparatus's drawings have been very detailed and helped me produce detailed estimates and also minimized the amount of change orders during the construction. Remodeling projects in San Francisco, and most of residential and light commercial ones are, have a higher need for a very intimate understanding of construction techniques. Merging of old and new in a lasting and ecstatically pleasing way is a challenge. The Apparatus team always stepped in and found the right construction detail for the right situation. As a builder I highly recommend them.

We worked with Stuart at Apparatus on a project and he was a dream…read more He was funny and professional and gets the job done. He has a great way of mixing modern elements that are timeless and classical at the same time. Apparatus has a great office as well in Hayes Valley. There is always parking out front and the bonus is that they are just a few doors down from Citizen Cake and you can pick up a cupcake on the way to or from your meeting with them!

Lee is a terrific partner to have for a building project. He is timely, responsible,…read moreknowledgeable, and willing to do whatever research is required to get it right. Even more noteworthy, Lee took the time to understand what I really needed, helping me set the right priorities. In sum, he's simply a great guy I highly recommend.

I honestly feel describing the interaction I've had so far with Lee would only set up unrealistic…read moreexpectations that cannot be met. Let me say he is insanely sincere and perceptive and committed and offered tons of help even before we really got started. I'm trying to find enough work for him to justify the stuff he offered as a free consult. Thank you yelp.

OXB Studio is an excellent up-and-coming architectural firm. I am a general contractor and met Ted…read moreand Chad collaborating on a project in the East Bay in 2011. They came up with a smart design that transformed the home while working within the existing building envelope. Ted was sensitive to the clients' tastes and desires while still encouraging them to trust his experience and direction. Ted was flexible and responsive to our requests for information and was open to nuts-and-bolts input from me as the contractor, which I appreciated. In the end, the final result was a beautiful remodel, though my lasting memories of the work was the fun time we all had working together. I also think that Ted and Chad charged the clients at a very fair rate. In fact, there were a few times Ted helped us work out some added items even though he told me he wasn't going to charge for the time. It was clear to me that he wanted to see the project turn out as well as possible. I highly recommend OXB Studio to homeowners seeking a skilled architect who is creative, responsive and a joy to work with.

My interiors firm, Northbrook Design, worked with OXB Studio on a large residential project in the…read morewine country. The principals, Ted and Chad, are great collaborators and together we were a great design team for our client. OXB Studio introduced many thoughtful ideas - their expertise in balancing function with aesthetics was tremendously helpful. Ted and Chad are professional, approachable and listen carefully. Their attention to detail was impressive and the end result was a beautiful home and happy clients. We appreciate that they value interior design as a practice. I would not hesitate to work with OXB Studio again.

Kevin helped us draft plans for our attic expansion in Alameda. He helped work through some tricky…read moreissues with the city and found a way to move forward! There is so much problem solving the architect has to do between working with the oddities of each home, understanding your personal style and needs and keeping everything at or above code to make sure your inspections run smoothly. Kevin was detail-oriented, efficient and not quick to say "no" but instead would consider creative ways to make things work. We would definitely work with Kevin again.

My wife and I learned about Kevin through several friends who were working with him on various…read moreremodel / planning efforts. After several months of working with him with our new house purchase, we both are brilliantly happy with his recommendations, his keen (super-keen) detailed planning efforts, and his impeccable design ideas / guidance. We couldn't recommend him more highly -- he's a truly fantastic talent. We bought a fixer with plenty of challenges, and after helping us sort out a detailed set of drawings of our home and a 'master plan' of phased renovations, we are about 1/2 way through our first major effort: a kitchen remodel. Again, Kevin's attention to detail is truly excellent -- and his patience answering questions or validating various scenarios with potential options is next to saint-like (and we ask lots of questions.) Finally, his ability to creatively 'see' solutions to space / access / design challenges always surprises and is usually spot on. He has surprised everyone we've talked to who's worked with him with layout options that are unique and innovative. While Kevin's passions may be on the modern side, our older 1920's house posed some old-school challenges which he effortlessly surveyed with us. And though our end kitchen may be a bit more on the traditional style, he's provided some great fundamentals (maximization of natural light) and design suggestions to keep our kitchen up-to-date and current. Looking back on our decision of which architect to choose for our project(s) -- I can't imagine working better with anyone else. He's a adviser with our complete trust -- and we really look forward to working with Kevin for many future projects to come.

Castor Architecture has been a remarkable partner -- they have impeccable taste and judgement. For…read morethose looking for a firm to create a new design project, Danny and his team are outstanding. And for those looking for a firm to partner with for their existing design, they are quite flexible and adaptable. Danny first helped us with an extensive remodel, and is now creating an entirely new additional structure for our home. What's unique about Danny and his team is their range: they excel at a wide variety of styles and approaches. Danny understood our needs, and also paid attention to the topography of the land and how to best place a new structure and pool so that they complement the existing home and surroundings. It's also worth highlighting how practical Castor is: he partners extremely well with contractors and various designers, and navigates City rules and regulations with ease. We trust his guidance and have found him to be a great resource in this area. Danny and his team are a pleasure to work with -- they're able to work with great speed and efficiency, and with reasonable rates. We can't recommend them highly enough. For our projects' needs, we've found them to be the finest architectural firm in the Bay Area.

Daniel Castor of Castor Architecture was the perfect person to guide the remodel of our unique…read morehome, a former church in Mill Valley. Our project included the full remodel of the kitchen/sanctuary space and three bathrooms, a reconfigured entry, and the addition of a new guest bath. He understood our desire to capture the history and character of the space and brought creative ideas, unique solutions and a steady, thoughtful presence to the process. Daniel collaborated beautifully with our contractor, interior and landscape teams, and engineering consultant and managed the permitting process with skill and grace. His design advice and attention to detail and quality were exceptional and his excellent listening and communication skills made the experience efficient and enjoyable. We are delighted with the result and grateful for the magic Daniel brought to the process.