I want to express our gratitude for Zenith Engineers Inc. prompt, professional, and outstanding…read moreservice throughout our remodeling project. From the very beginning, we were impressed with Senthil, Ryan and other members of Zenith team's level of professionalism, prompt response, architectural knowledge and effective communication.This level of service was seamless through our entire engagement with Zenith Engineers Inc., from obtaining the building permit to successfully passing all necessary inspections by the SF Building Department. No one questions their architectural work because they are so good at what they do. We had some initial concerns after reading negative reviews, but as the project progressed, it became clear that those comments were based on personal grievances, rather than valid concerns. The team at Zenith Engineers Inc. has a high level of professional ethics and integrity. Zenith's management team had explained to us early on in the project, the strict adherence to code and compliance was paramount throughout the project. If Zenith compromises to satisfy unsatisfied clients, the building will end up being non-compliant and more importantly unsafe. We truly appreciate Zenith's commitment to quality and integrity, even if it means earning a few negative reviews along the way, which seem rather unfair to them as they are simply doing their job. I am extremely satisfied with the professional and excellent work the team at Zenith Engineers Inc. provided us and will hire them in a heartbeat for all our future structural and/or seismic engineering needs. Thank you Senthil, Ryan and the Zenith engineering team for your professionalism and support. It was our best decision to work with you and experience such high standard of professionalism, work ethic, and integrity.

After having used Zenith for multiple projects in the last few years, looks like it's finally time…read moreto look for someone else for the next one. We started using Zenith because of its responsiveness and effectiveness when it came to structural design. With them as part of our team, we were able to keep up with the City submittal and response timelines we had set. Fast forward to today, and we can't get a hold of anyone. When we do, it's always an excuse for why they didn't respond, without a resolution. We sent them the last City comments 30 days ago and have yet to get anything viable to re-submit back to the city. Given that this is a 30-unit hotel project, going with a different firm now will mean a complete re-design of the project; an absolutely painful exercise that will set us back months. Zenith knows that. So it's absolutely shameful for them to act in a way that would even suggest that our only choice is to get the entire project re-designed by another firm just to have it keep moving forward. So much for "we respond to emails within 30 minutes and always answer phone calls" as outlined on one of their online profile. Knowing how we were treated on this round of City comments and the fact that the entire company seems complacent about what they try to embody in their rhetoric, I would stay away for any future project.

We had the pleasure of working with Jill Finn of TANGERINEdesign LLC when our longtime designer was…read moreunavailable -- so she walked into a situation where we were already feeling a bit off balance. But from day one, Jill exceeded our expectations. The project involved tearing down an old, dilapidated screened-in porch that had never really worked for us -- too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer -- and transforming it into a usable interior room. We wanted to keep the light and airy feel of a porch while gaining insulation, comfort, and year-round usability. We also wanted ideas for built-ins: maybe a window seat, maybe bookshelves -- we weren't quite sure. Other contractors over the years had taken one look at the porch and declined to get involved due to its age and condition. Not Jill. She had ideas right away. Jill brings so much energy, creativity, and practical knowledge to the table. Even while juggling big personal commitments (like her son's graduation across the country), she delivered several strong design ideas within a few weeks -- and they were fresh, inspiring, and budget-conscious. She collaborated easily with our civil engineer, adjusting her drawings quickly to meet his needs. She also understands our local codes and regulations really well, and met directly with our contractors to make sure her designs were realistic and executable before we got too far into the process. On top of all that, Jill has a fantastic personality. She made the experience fun and engaging, and she brought a sense of momentum and confidence that really helped us move forward. I can't recommend Jill highly enough -- her creativity, responsiveness, and enthusiasm make her a true gem. If you're considering working with TANGERINEdesign LLC, you're in excellent hands. Karen & Greg Marriner 6/22/25

I recently called on TANGERINEdesign LLC to help me with some retro permit work needed prior to…read moreselling my home. I wasn't sure what the City needed, or how to complete it, but Jill knew what to do, how to get it done correctly, and guided me through the process. As for the process, it was quick!... from on-site measurements, to drafting the necessary documents, to submittal and approval, it could not have gone smoother! I'm so thankful to have found TANGERINEdesign LLC and appreciate Jill's genuine work ethic by sticking to the timeline & price she quoted me.

We found our way to Winder Gibson through our realtor and could not be more grateful. We worked…read moreclosely with Geoff and Daniel to design our dream home. They were an absolute pleasure to work with and took on all details at every stage, including handling a difficult neighbor. At the same time, they were efficient and budget conscious, helping us stay on track both financially and time-line wise. They made what could be an overwhelming process move smoothly and enjoyably. We unreservedly recommend Winder Gibson.

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Geoff and his team on a full demolition and new…read moreconstruction of a single family home with ADU in San Francisco. We loved our experience and wholeheartedly endorse Winder Gibson to anyone looking for a full service architecture firm. From the outset, Geoff and his team demonstrated an exceptional understanding of our family's needs, which they transformed into a beautiful house design that resonates with our aspirations and lifestyle. We are currently transitioning to the construction phase, and are excited to raise our family in such a thoughtfully designed space. Also, Geoff and team are true experts at navigating the San Francisco permitting process. They efficiently moved us through permitting, both reacting to feedback from the city and helping us manage our neighbors. Honestly, we could not have permitted the house without their guidance. In a city where building homes can be difficult, the one two punch of beautiful design + the knowledge and skill to get it across the line was invaluable. We are so appreciative of Geoff and team.

Hired Jen to complete the design and plans for our kitchen remodel and home extension. Jen was a…read morepleasure to work with from the start. Extremely professional, easy to work with and best of all, she is ON IT. She was nice enough to go to the City of San Ramon to drop of our revised plans after the city had some changes that needed to be made. She also worked closely with the current contractor we hired. Side note: I'm currently 6 months pregnant and Jen (being a mother herself), understood the level of urgency behind the work and how quickly I needed to get things done. It doesn't hurt that she also bought me a small gift for my baby :) I would hire Jen again in a heartbeat! Oh and if you're looking for an engineer she can refer you to Julio who was also great.

We have been extremely pleased with the work of JB Drafting and Design. We added about 320 sf to…read moreour home for a master bath, walk-in closet, and in-suite bath in another bedroom. I found the work of JB Drafting and Design to be exceptional. They also went above and beyond by helping me choose finishes for the bathrooms, and the bathrooms have turned out beautifully! We couldn't be more pleased! Would highly recommend JB Drafting and Design.

Mabel is friendly, thorough, communicative & professional. Highly recommended. She did her due…read morediligence on our job request before submitting a very detailed & price-competitive estimate.

Mabel was amazing! Super responsive and her plans were fantastic. She took the time to meet with me…read moreand my husband several times and had fantastic input to our "vision" for our remodel. She's extremely knowledgeable and was able to answer all our questions no problem. Overall she is a pleasure to work with and I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for an architect.

Contacted Shawn after reading reviews here on Yelp and after seeing photos of his work on Houzz. I…read morewanted to update my kitchen to make it brighter and fit in with the style of the rest of the house but needed help with what to do. Shawn took a look around, listened to what I had in mind, and thankfully told me what would or wouldn't work. He picked a beautiful quartz counter top, gave me options to choose from for the paint, faucet and hardware. He has a great team working for him. They were respectful and trustworthy. The refinished cabinets look like new. They do high quality work. He made his best effort to get things done within the time frame discussed but, as with any renovation, there were some unexpected issues that led to minor delays and affected cost. I really appreciated how his main concern was that I was happy with the end result. Before and in process photos attached (forgot to take a picture of the final product and don't want to clean the kitchen right now).

We lucked out big time in finding Shawn and his team. After interviewing 7 options last Spring for…read moreour kitchen/interior living space remodel, we knew Shawn was our guy. We've now been in our finished kitchen and house for a few months and love it more every day. We still can't believe the transformation and beyond the beautiful upgrade across the board, his design and recommendations made it SO much more functional. From the design process to communication and his project manager/workers, everyone was a true professional. No kitchen horror stories and they finished exactly on time. There of course are small things that came up in communication between what we decided with Shawn (keeping our dishwasher) and what the workers on site knew about (tried to give it away 2x), but that is common in any project, and most important to us is every small thing we noticed/flagged was fixed without question. We've already referred Shawn to anyone who asks. He took our space from a very dated 1960s vibe to modern but with character, and a design that matches our ranch style home. Thank you Shawn for making our house feel like us!

I hired DG Design (Dino Garcia is the owner) to provide design consultations and architectural…read moreplans for the renovation of my house, which included a MAJOR face lift to the front (s.f. addition, outdoor living area, etc.). What I liked about Dino is that he was - very down to earth (unlike many of the architects/designers out there), - very patient (I'm sure we drove him nuts with all the changes and questions we had :)), Dino came up with many ideas, which is what I'd expect from my designer. Dino provided a 3D version of the design, which really helped us visualize the house. Dino provided not just design services, but also provided structural engineering plans, and even went to the county office and had the plans signed and approved. Dino continued supporting us, free of charge, throughout the project in a very timely manner for any questions we had (working with contractor to clarify how to implement plans, confirming whether we can slightly deviate from plans, supervising contractor's work when being asked, etc.). On top of all of this, Dino is very price competitive (you'd be amazed with the price delta we've received for our project). I truly recommend you contact Dino (dinofg@sbcglobal.net) if you're looking for a designer / structural eng. (please note that for many projects all you need is a designer, and you don't really need an Architect, which is much more expensive!!!)

Dino is a very talented designer who did a beautiful job designing our new home in Palo Alto…read more After he finished the plans, we interviewed six contractors to build the house, and I think virtually all of them commented on how detailed and professional the plans were. This is very important so that the builder knows exactly what you want and does not take "artistic license" where the plans don't specify what is called-for. Dino understands this and works with you to understand what you want and how best to implement your preferences into the design / plans. He is also reasonably priced for the final product that he delivers, and I would recommend his services.

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

Douglas Fernandez of Fernandez Design and Builders in San Jose remodeled my entire home in 2007 and…read moredid such an excellent job; my home now is so beautiful and unique & a great fit for my way of life. The good news is that he was so fair and honest; he really watched costs which is so unusual, and in the end, I could be so much more innovative and creative and do so much more than I could have been with any another contracting firm; even more importantly, we had such a good time working together (even the demolition which I dreaded was a piece of cake because of Doug). I left throughout the remodel on many business trips, & there was so much progress and usually a surprising new touch Doug added every time I returned home. Since then, Doug has been there for me on many other occasions. The good news is that Doug is happy with and enjoys smaller remodeling jobs as well. Last year my outside deck came away from its stucco wall & needed a complete retrofit, including adding more structural columns to further support the deck. He loves a good challenge and coming up with great creative and exciting solutions that are brilliant, yet not expensive. Doug's cell is 510-377-9711. Do not hesitate to contact me for further information; my cell is 650-804-8894. Best wishes, Kaaren Powers

Daniel and his team are top notch professionals and offer clear, consistent, transparent, and…read morehonest results. I was in the complete dark on an ADU project. Daniel was able to navigate me through the process and offer great advice. He is attentive and his team provided the work superbly and in a timely manner. I would recommend this company 100%.

Our contractor recommended Bay Area Design to help with our plans for the remodel. The whole team…read morewas great and took care of the process from start to finish. This is our first ever project for our remodel and Bay Area Design made it easy to apply/submit for our permit.

Great friendly place for Architectural Design (Customs, Remodels, Additions, Accessory Dwelling…read moreUnits, 3D Renderings, Animation) and Building Permit drawings! Also a great place for quality prints (The Blueprint Shop)!

Our project was a major remodel practically the entire house was rebuilt (with 2-3 walls left) due…read moreto fire. Michael S at MHD was assigned to our project and performed exceptionally. He has a knack for taking what we envision and creating plans spot on to our design intent. He helped us pick various design elements that are consistent with a modern farm house home. The turn around town for his work was days not weeks and his personal and professional demeanor is a welcome surprise. We would love to work with Michael and MHD again in the future.