First time house remodel to add a master suite and to expand the living room. Luckily, we had Kyle…read moreas our architect and he made the usually painful and complicated process very easy and not worrisome at all. After learning our main goal of the remodeling (adding a new bedroom), he provided us a very practical proposal and patiently explain what we should consider doing and what we should not. For example, while we had a thought of opening up a wall to re do the kitchen, he suggested we might not want to do it as that will significantly increase the scope and the cost of the project due to the percentage of the remodeling area (to the existing SqF). Another case is the skylight window and sun tunnel windows suggested by him. When he had put those items in his design, we had some reservations as we did not see they were necessary. However, he strongly recommended those items and we eventually agreed. It turns out he was totally right. These low-cost items really took the indoor space to a different level. In addition to the design part, he also followed through the project during the whole process. First, he referred many good professionals (land surveyor, structural engineer, green energy expert, general contractor, etc.) that we can trust. This saved us a lot of time and trouble. Also, there were many inspections and related questions we had during the construction. He always answered our questions promptly and professionally. When it was about the time to file documents for the project completion, he also reminded us and checked back with us later. For a house remodel, an architect is definitely a key contractor you need for the first step. We highly recommend Kyle.

Kyle designed my new house from a SB9 subdivision in San Jose. He is very patient and courteous,…read morevery knowledgeable about the city codes, and always responds in time. His design is elegant and efficient, he oversaw the project and answered all the questions promptly even after the project is well into the late stage. Highly recommend!

We are so grateful for Jessica's help in getting a permit for our addition. It's been a long…read moreprocess which she forewarned us about. We've never worked with an architect before so we didn't know what to expect. Jessica is a great listener. She actually listens to her clients and makes recommendations based on that. We highly recommend Jessica! We look forward to the completion of our project. Thank you Jessica and your team!

Jessica has been an amazing partner during our remodel journey. She worked with us through the…read morestarts and stops of the process and helped us realize the vision for our remodel. She was incredibly informative and communicative during the permit review process, turning what we had heard could be a nightmare into a fairly smooth process. Jessica and her team were always responsive and ready with answers to our many questions. We would not hesitate to recommend Jessica and the JSD Architecture team to anyone looking to remodel their house.

I worked with Jim on an extensive Palo Alto interior home remodel for a +100 year old craftsman…read morehome. Layout change, 2 bathrooms/bedrooms, new hallway orientation, closets, whole house electrical, laundry, kitchen, etc. Jim had great ideas, was patient, funny and a joy to work with. I was pretty hands on with my preferences and he was good at pointing out some dumb ideas I had in a kind and tolerant way that allowed me to see why what I proposed didn't make sense from various points of view, like home resale value, attractiveness to the average person, etc. Things I hadn't considered. Will gladly seek him for future work.

Jim has been the architect now on two of my extensive home projects…read more He has provided a calm and patient platform during the development of the design, guiding me smoothly to the finish line. His demeaner and experience in his craft was enjoyable and provided me with confidence in his ability to deliver what I was wanting. Also, with his knowing his way around my cities planning department, made the paperwork go smoothly.

As a realtor I have amassed quite a list of contacts, but Lynn Fisher of Ogawa Fisher is truly a…read moregem and one I find myself referring to clients constantly. She has done three projects for clients of mine (all in Palo Alto) ranging from a Craftsman style bungalow to an ultra-contemporary residence, and the results have been equally incredible. For an architect she is unparalleled in terms of personal service...she is a phenomenal listener and is truly a collaborative worker. One thing she's been particularly good at is working with clients who have found a property with "good bones" but want to renovate it into a home that feels custom built for their taste and needs. I cannot recommend her highly enough. Her collaborative working style, attention to detail and her flexibility with regard to budget are unmatched in the business.

Ogawa Fisher took our sad little kitchen and designed us a new, beautiful, open space where…read moreeveryone wants to hang out. They were professional and creative every step of the way, from initial discussions to final punchlist. Highly recommended!

We were delighted with the work Topos did for us. Peter is a great listener and presented us with…read moredifferent options, made revisions to the initial mock ups per our requests and helped execute on the option we selected. He helped us find an excellent contractor and his team managed our build. We are very happy with the results and the level of service.

I'm happy to strongly endorse Peter Baltay and his crew at Topos Architects as both a design firm…read moreand as a project management service. When my wife I are were contemplating building a home, we approached Topos as we had seen a previous spec project they had done and loved it. Design elements include maximizing space utilization, minimizing hallways, lots of light and windows, beautiful wood accents, high quality trim and attention to detail all appealed to us. During our first meeting when I complained about not finding any good lots for sale, Peter pointed out a few, including one particular lot that was not yet on MLS. The location was perfect for us and I ended up buying it 7 days later. The take home is that Peter has contacts in the area that give his clients access to info not always publicly available. We interviewed many architects and came back to Topos. I didn't like how some wanted to deliver a set of plans and walk away, leaving the builder to struggle with implementation. I also didn't like how some were 'out-dated' - I wanted computer-based models so I could visualize my home before it was built. As an engineer type, Peter and Topos were a great fit. I also wanted a firm who would help oversee the process from start to end and not and not pass the potato as soon as things went wrong (without paying through the nose for a personal assistant). I knew from previous contractor experience that building a home wasn't a cake walk and I wanted someone with integrity who I would work with through the entire process - Peter gave me that impression. Perhaps most of all, I wanted to know I was paying a fair price. I hated the standard fixed bid way of building houses where you're always combatting the general contractor over quality and price. I wanted complete transparency. Topos was prepared to offer this and had multiple previous projects to illustrate how this could be done and what I should expect. I want to address some of the negative comments in one review on this site directly. Building a house is not like Extreme Makeover where you go on vacation, return home and say 'Move that Bus' and have the house of your dreams. It is a process with literally thousands of decisions and over a dozen sub contractors. Mistakes are going to happen. Some people are going to do poor work some days. The city is probably going to say you can't do something essential to your design. Some tiles look great in the store but don't work in your house. Bad things happen. If you don't like a design element, it isn't Peter's fault, it is your fault. What you want on your team is someone that will work with you to effectively manage these things, prevent them when possible and deal with them when unavoidable. I can't imagine Peter and Topos doing a much better on this front. I'm willing to bet the negative reviewer never gave Topos a chance to fix what bothered her. In our case Peter and Topos were very up-front about what services they offer and where we might consider augmenting with our own consultants. Many people hire a lighting designer, interior designer, landscape design, etc.. We only hired a landscape guy and did the rest with Topos to save money. It is up to you. Look at previous homes and see what meets your standards and what doesn't. Oh, the comment about not working hard is absurd. Peter is there 8-7 most days. And, when things do go wrong, Topos stands behind the job. In our case a tile sub messed up the master bath. Peter made them tear out thousands in tile and redo it from scratch. While the sub provided the labor, Peter paid for all the tile out of pocket claiming they should have caught it earlier. This is someone who admits a mistake and takes responsibility for fixing it. For a bonus-factor, Peter is an amazing diplomat. He worked with some frustrated neighbors to make them advocates for our project, he worked with the city to find a way top get our gutters and design approved, and most of all he worked with me (which is no easy task) for 18 months to build a beautiful home. One other thing I'll add - in retrospect I undervalued the importance of working with subs that are beholden to the general contractor for their next job. While Topos let me select which contractor to use, there is an advantage to going with ones that they have used in the past and will use again. Because Topos builds a number of projects each year, many of the best subs work from one project to the next (provided you elect to go with them). Because of this dependence, they are incentivized to finish through 110% on your project. There were a few cases where a sub has had to come back many times (often fixing someone else's problems) and they have done so without complaint and without additional 'change orders'. They do it because it is right and they want to stay on Topos' good side.

Meet Doug at the Home Shows, and as a Landscape Architect with Landscape Locators / SCVDesign4U, I…read morehave coordinated with and recommended his firm to many of my clients. The feedback I received from my clients and working with them personally was outstanding! Always nice to be able to recommend another professional who believes in the customer first! Susan Vogel Landscape Locators

After our modular home manufacturer unexpectedly canceled our order, we felt lost and unsure of how…read moreto move forward with building a new second unit on our property. That's when we met Doug -- and everything changed. Our project wasn't simple. The permit required us not only to build a brand-new house but also to renovate and legalize the existing old house. Doug stepped in, redesigned the new unit beautifully, and reimagined the old house so the two complemented each other perfectly. The construction of the new home went incredibly smoothly. Doug's professionalism, craftsmanship, and attention to detail were evident every step of the way. The quality of his work truly exceeded our expectations. The renovation of the old house turned out to be much more complex than expected, but Doug handled every challenge with steady leadership and creativity. He brought the right people together, found thoughtful solutions, and kept the project moving forward steadily through each difficulty. His dedication and calm problem-solving turned a demanding process into a truly rewarding experience. The whole process took nearly five years -- but in the end, we have two beautiful homes that feel cohesive, warm, and full of life. Doug's commitment, honesty, and heart carried us through. We're deeply grateful for his expertise and friendship throughout this journey. If you're looking for someone who truly cares about your home as much as you do, Doug and his team are the ones to call. We can't recommend them enough. Please feel free to contact me if you want the reference. My phone: 408-800-6698. Michael

We had an absolutely great experience working with Prestin Ravid Architects. We hired Eyal for a…read morefull interior remodel and addition to our house, and he consistently exceeded our expectations. We are first-time home buyers embarking on a substantial project with structural changes, and he made the process as simple and straightforward as possible. We tried to work with another well-known architectural firm in the Bay Area but after six months of painfully slow communication and frustration with the lead architect not understanding our preferences or project vision, we decided it was time to look elsewhere. We were referred to Eyal by another homeowner who worked with them and promptly made the switch after hearing the terrific reviews. Eyal understood our vision for the project very quickly and always delivered on time -- often ahead of the milestones outlined in the contract. He took the time to understand our preferences, goals, and budget quickly, and tailored his designs to suit our requirements. Their pricing was also very competitive, offering excellent value for the high-quality service provided. What stood out the most was Eyal's personality and communication. Eyal is a very genuine, empathetic human being and we really appreciated his care, excitement, and attention to detail. He was always available to answer questions and responded to emails within hours, which is rare and invaluable when working with architects. He brought in trusted colleagues to make fast progress with surveying, structural engineering, and energy needs. He is very efficient with knowledge of city permitting process and regulations and our permitting process was smooth and went much faster than expected. If you're looking for a reliable, high-quality architect who gets it right the first time, we highly recommend Prestin Ravid Architects. Thank you Eyal for the fantastic job on the plans and great vision with our house! We are excited for construction to begin and to see our dream home take shape soon.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Eyal. He demonstrated incredible skill and expertise…read moreand went above and beyond to deliver an outstanding result which got me access to an over the counter permit with SF's building department - which saved a lot of headache! His attention to detail and ability to understand and translate my vision into reality was truly remarkable. He took the time to listen to my ideas and requirements, and then used their expertise to create a design that got though the approval process without any delay. Throughout the entire process, he maintained a high level of professionalism and communication and kept me informed every step of the way Eyal's work truly speaks for itself, and I loved working with such a skilled, talented and reliable architect!

Just moved into my house and am just floored by the incredible work done by the team at Greenberg!…read moreI was originally skeptical of such a major remodel - every friend had horror stories of contactors doing sub par work, disappearing, completely, etc. I was really glad to work with Ohad, our project manager for the project. He'd worked with one of our friends previously, and so we knew he'd do a great job for our project. We also loved Greenberg's integrated approach. The architect, constructions, design and management was all done by Greenberg. This meant that the project from top to bottom was aligned with the team actually doing the construction work. My top priorities were 1) a modern home design 2) a job done with high quality 3) low stress. Ohad / Greenberg helped deliver on all of these aspects in spades. The last thing I wanted to do was have to coordinate with flaky contractors, have to re-do low quality work after a long day at work. Ohad kept the project on track and handled all the hassle of dealing with subcontractors & inspectors. Greenberg probably won't be the cheapest contractor you'll talk to, but as the saying goes - you get what you pay for. Quality work, up to code, and no drama is well worth the cost. Ohad worked with us throughout the project to consider different budget options, and gave candid advice about where he thought the budget would be best spent. Overall, highly recommend. I was referred by a friend and have put multiple friends in touch with Greenberg for their projects as well. Everyone is floored by house nice our remodel turned out and will 100% be in touch in the future for any future projects we have.

We'd been planning to renovate our 100yo house for 20 years, but with its corner location and tiny…read moresize, it was near impossible to get permitted by the City of Palo Alto. We went with Greenberg because they knew how to do modern houses and how to deal with the City. We went from horrible hideous uninsulated shack to a gorgeous gem where we can Age in Place! Every single person who has walked in says, "WOW! It's beautiful! It's incredible what you guys have done!" We have friends & professionals who have built/renovated many houses all exclaim what a high-end luxe job this was! We could not have done this without Greenberg. In particular, we worked with the wonderful Ohad Sherion throughout the process who managed all the subs, city departments involved, neighbors, vendors, etc. Our attention was elsewhere as we were very busy with our work, caring for our elders, so it was invaluable that Ohad kept us up-to-date throughout the process. Ohad was able to make our wishes come true, including bathrooms with custom tiles that were no longer available--so he found us an artisan who recreated them by hand. To make the small space look and feel spacious, we went with an open concept which left few walls to hang art. From the beginning, we worked with Ohad to create a design to showcase our art collection. Ohad is persistent and works to get projects not only functional but beautiful. For example, we have a unique front door which needed to be tweaked and he patiently worked with subs to make it happen. My husband was thrilled that we ended up with a house with superb insulation (including sound), up-to-date plumbing, electrical, and lighting systems. He feels great about the new roof and solar panels. But I am in love with the amazing personal details that make this place a home (finally). We are so grateful to Ohad. Go with Greenberg to make your dream come true!

Malika is an incredibly talented and experienced architect with an exceptional eye for design. Her…read morework feels open, bright, and thoughtfully proportioned. On top of that, her team is professional, highly responsive, and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend.

M Designs has a very professional and hardworking team. They have a strong work ethic and are…read moreincredibly creative and thoughtful when it comes to their work. The team is also very responsive, organized, and professional in their communication. You can really see the care and attention they put into their designs and projects. I highly recommend working with this firm!

Long overdue - but I would give Allen and team a complete 5 star…read more Our home was a remodel (new purchase) with limited structural changes but involved permits etc. Allen and team helped us expedite the design, selection and coordination process in 8 weeks. In addition, his detailed drawings and attention to detail is commendable. This helped us get more precision in our contractor quotes and the outcome was exactly as we envisioned in the rendering. His calm, personable, and professional working team is an ABSOLUTE pleasure to work with. We suffered when we did not listen to him (e.g. going with another kitchen cabinet contractor) and would strongly suggest working with him on any future project.

As a first-time homebuyer in the US with zero prior experience in single-family home renovations --…read moreand honestly, not even knowing most of the construction terminology in English -- I am so lucky to have found Allen as our designer here in the Bay Area. We first met at my new place -- an old house built in 1957. While it's in a great location, the house itself, both inside and out, was extremely outdated and needed a full overhaul. Allen arrived right on time, warm and professional, immediately putting me at ease. At the time, I didn't have a clear and complete vision and could only give a vague description of the feel I wanted. Allen listened to me with tremendous patience, answered all my questions in detail, and proactively brought up many potential issues and risks I hadn't even thought of. Within just two days, I received his initial design sketches. Over the next month or so, Allen guided me through the selection process step-by-step -- much like helping a kid build with LEGO blocks. He frequently traveled with me to various building material and decor showrooms across the Bay Area, helping me pick out everything from custom cabinets and tiles to tub, vanities, kitchen island marble countertops, and hardwood flooring for the bedrooms and living areas. What I appreciated most was that Allen never forced or pressured me into making any decisions. Instead, he quietly safeguarded the entire project, helping me steer clear of all kinds of unexpected pitfalls. Thanks to his thoughtful design and full support throughout, the entire renovation process went remarkably smoothly. The transformed home exudes a sense of quiet, livable beauty while still feeling modern and refined. Every friend and guest who has visited since has been full of praise. I couldn't be happier with the final result, and I wholeheartedly recommend Sofiov, especially Allen and his team to anyone planning a home renovation!