Tim drew plans for our deck and railings replacement project. He was thorough and fun to meet…read morewith. He filed information to get the building permit, and met with the contractor. He was available if needed when the work was inspected. The inspector told us the work was done "beyond code." Tim's design guaranteed our deck would be safe as well as lovely. His fee was reasonable for someone with so much experience. We are thrilled with the results.

Timothy was great to work with. We remodeled our bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible and…read moreTimothy quickly understood the issues then provided excellent drawings. He also took the lead in securing the building permit which made all the difference! We very enthusiastically recommend Home & Temple Design!

I had a project that was stopped by the city and many people wouldnt even touch it because of the…read morecomplexity of joining a project mid construction. Sam came in and saved the day for me. He also stayed with me and answered a lot of questions throughout the process. The experience was not perfect, and there were times I was frustrated with our communication and speed. But considering the predicament I had placed myself and Sam in, I think he did a pretty good job and I really appreciate that he continued to respond and support my project even after being fully paid. (something a lot of contractors just dont do).

*** I AM STILL RATING ALTUS AT A BIG FAT ZERO ***…read more UPDATE: I had reached out to Sam so that we could come to some sort of agreement and he told me that he would "think about things" over the weekend and get back to me (this was over the 4th of July holiday weekend). He has been MIA and non responsive since. This is now going to court because he clearly doesn't want to work things out and refuses to respond to my calls, texts, and emails.

Ethan and his team at Drafting Cafe have a great design sense and deep knowledge of construction…read moreand permitting. They helped me convert my basement into my home office and to build a deck from my side yard in Alameda. Ethan coordinated with a construction crew he works with regularly to be sure I got a quality build in the end and at a fair price. Communication was great throughout the process, and they were fast! I'd definitely recommend them.

The folks at Drafting Cafe have been incredibly helpful as we've been considering a small addition…read moreon our home. Ethan, Lindsey, Michael, and Lauren have been incredibly responsive and on top of things. Whenever we've spoken with anyone on the team, it's clear that they've reviewed our file/request and know exactly what we're hoping to build. The team has been very engaged and answered our many questions even while we were not yet 100% committed to the project. We ended up needing to take a pause before proceeding as we figure out budget on our end. But if we decide to move forward, we would feel great about working with DCA.

Working with Sunny - studio G+S Architects was a fantastic experience. I like to highlight their…read morecreativity, professionalism, communication and their ability to meet budget/ needs. Looking forward to collaborating with you for my next project .

I interviewed six architects or building designers for conversion of a studio to an accessory…read moredwelling unit. Ed Soos, architect, was tied with one other architect at the top ranking. He made good suggestions during a preliminary tour of the property. I appreciated his kindness and creativity.

We had such a great experience working with Austin and his partner, Joaquin, on a home addition…read moreproject in the Bay Area. We were looking to add about 300 square feet to our old (early 1940s) 2/1 house in the form of a small bedroom, bathroom and family room... ideally, we wanted to go out (not up) and still retain some of our backyard, which isn't huge. Quite the feat, but Austin and Joaquin worked diligently with us to come up with designs that 1) would pass code, 2) made sense for our family, and 3) would likely be within budget, once we hired a contractor. The initial interview process was lengthy, enlightening and quite honestly, as close to therapy as my husband and I had each ever come. Talking through the "why" of such an extensive project helped us think about our long-term goals for the project and for our family in general. My husband has worked in construction in the past and deeply cares about the details (and the measurements!). Austin and Joaquin went back and forth with him on many details for months. Solving problems with them was totally doable because they both communicate often and well. Austin is very amiable and I imagine he communicates well with most people, regardless of personality type... a great skill to have as an architect, where people are spending a lot of money and stakes are high. We chose a design that we loved, found our contractor and will be starting the actual construction in a month. We had big goals for a relatively small space, an older house, and an area of the country with strict legal codes (don't get me started on city building departments!); and we are so satisfied with what we came up with. I'll upload pictures when the project is over, but I have no doubt that Austin will stay with us if/when any issues arise with the construction component of the project. 10/10 recommend Austin, his partners and 3 Lights Design for any project you may have. They are truly wonderful and we are so happy with their work!

Austin and his team are like family. We approached Austin when we purchased our home, and were…read moreimmediately struck by his warmth, his sincerity, and his exceedingly thoughtful and mindful approach to our renovation journey. Our goal was to convert our 1750 square home into 3500 square feet, lifting the home 4 ft, converting the basement into living space, and vaulting the ceilings upstairs. It was a massive project. Over the course of several years, we switched designs, changed thoughts, changed scope, changed budget, and through it all, Austin was calm, level-headed and supportive, always providing revised drawings and offering new ideas and approaches. We finally finalized our plans right before the pandemic and construction was suspended for a year. But once we began construction, Austin worked with our contractor to triage a number of issues that arose. Our contractor was quite prickly, and Austin managed to build a strong relationship with them, and even helped to resolve issues and conflicts between us and the contractor--no small feat given our contractor's temper! And now our home is complete. It is truly magnificent, and we get compliments constantly on the design, the flow, and, most importantly for us, the movement of light through the home. Austin and his team took our vision and breathed so much life and light into it--in ways we could never have envisioned. And when he visited with us recently, I was brought to tears--I am so eternally grateful to him for being such a steadfast supporter, friend and advisor through what was (as are all renos of this scale) a incredibly stressful, draining, and emotional process. We are, in fact, so thrilled with the outcome and enjoyed working with Austin so much that we're looking to him to help us now convert our detached garage into an ADU for my mother. If at all you're considering Austin and 3 Lights Design, know that you cannot go wrong, and more likely than not, you'll be left with the results of your dreams and a friend for life in Austin.

I worked with Mark Brand and his firm on a recent home remodel and had a great experience from…read morestart to finish. I had an awkwardly shaped addition that I had been struggling to figure out, and Mark came up with several creative layout options that I never would have considered on my own. He walked me through each one, clearly explaining his thinking along with the pros and cons, which made the process feel collaborative and low stress. We ended up transforming the space into both an additional bathroom and a highly functional utility room. I was especially impressed by how he turned such a challenging footprint into something so practical and beautiful. He also handled the San Francisco permitting process, which was a huge relief and allowed our contractors to get started right away. The finished rooms look amazing, and the entire process felt smooth and well managed. I would absolutely work with Mark again and highly recommend him to anyone looking for a thoughtful, solutions-oriented architect.

We hired Mark Brand Architecture to address several problems with our 1939 big-five home in San…read moreFrancisco. We contemplated redesign of the lower floor, an update of the façade, and the entire re-envisioning of the terraced backyard, it's connection to the house, and flow between the living spaces inside and out. Mark and his team were a joy to work with. His knowledge of and experience with San Francisco's Building and Planning codes and the department made him a perfect partner for our project. He provided us with several novel solutions, and he walked us through each one -- carefully validating his designs with our desires and our budget. For the lower floor, he 'found' space we didn't think we had. For the façade, he created a look that was fresh yet integrated beautifully with the neighborhood. The topography of the backyard was particularly challenging. It was a hassle to move from the main floor to the backyard, frustrating our joy of outdoor living. Mark's solution resolved conflicting elevations between the building and the backyard elegantly, making egress to the backyard a pleasure. For this, he was instrumental in selecting and working with a structural engineer to figure out challenges of incorporating some very high retaining walls. We loved his solution. We would hire Mark again in a flash. He is a pleasure to know and a pleasure to work with.

Scott and Sheeba are amazing architects and even better people. We have really enjoyed working with…read morethem on a remodeling project for our home. A few things stand out: 1) They are creative and pragmatic - Scott/Sheeba have taken our feedback and goals and provided with creative solutions that are both pragmatic and beautiful. Scott told me early on that he was not an Architect with a "capital A" and his approach in balancing pragmatism and beauty shows through in his work. 2) They are experienced - they have completed countless projects in the inner Easty Bay area and are very familiar with the planning and permitting processes - they know where the pitfalls are. Scott has been so helpful answering our various questions and helping us navigate this long and complex process. 3) They are communicative and incredibly helpful with high EQs - they have been incredibly helpful in helping us navigate the various stakeholders involved in the project - the general contractor, soils engineer, structural engineer, and city planning. We deeply appreciate their advice and help that is always unbiased and helpful

Scott was an outstanding architect, who worked closely with us to achieve a vision of a major…read morerenovation that was extensive: roof, rafters, solar,new electrical, finished attic, foundation, finished basement, new exterior,deck, and kitchen remodel. All of which are incredibly beautiful. "Wow" is about all people can say about our remodel. Scott framed a glorious vista from every angle of our kitchen. After the plans were drawn Scott was able to make quick changes and always be supportive and flexible. We feel very fortunate to have had Scott as our visionary. The true sign of a good design is that it feels right. Every aspect of Scott's design works for our house, for us as a family and is visually stunning. Scott filled our house with light and beauty. We are deeply grateful for his services.

We've been working with Andy for the last several months on our 3rd and 4th story addition project…read morein upper Noe Valley. Communication: Andy is organized, efficient, and clear in his communications with us. He was also upfront with us from the beginning about the potential challenges our project would face, from city building regulations to neighbor considerations, but always presented solutions to the issues. Design: Andy has been able to take our high level requirements and turn them into an elegant and practical design that is above and beyond what we originally imagined. His in-depth knowledge of the city codes has also been reassuring - we really appreciate his focus on the goal of making this a smooth, low drama process. Process and Cost: Finally, Andy's wealth of vetted and reliable industry contacts has helped us determine a working budget early in the process - this has been invaluable for ensuring we're comfortable with the major changes to come. Andy and his contacts have all provided reasonable pricing, considering the scale of the project we are undertaking. We're really happy working with Andy, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for any projects in SF!

We've just completed our 2nd Major Remodel with Andy after having the pleasure of working with him…read moreseveral years ago on our 2nd story addition. Our 2nd project with Andy included the main level Kitchen, Family area, Mudroom and Powder Room. We were so impressed with Andy's design talent the first time, that we were certain we wanted to work with Andy to tackle the design challenges for the second go round. Andy again was integral to the success of the project. After receiving an initial estimate from a contractor we had worked with in the past that was higher than expected, Andy was able to offer another contractor more in line with our budget. After listening to our thoughts and concerns, Andy offered several design options, and again we were really excited with the finalized approach. Andy was able to incorporate some specific design details we wanted, and then build upon them and make them a unique feature for our project. When we were facing technical challenges with the millwork detail we incorporated into the project, Andy suggested a solution that the millworker went with to solve the problem. Andy again was great to work with through the design, both listening and offering design options we hadn't thought of. His attention to design detail really made the project. His knowledge of construction and cost were such a great asset to making our project a success. He followed through with the project from beginning to end. We Hired Andy 2x as our Architect, we highly recommend him for your project!