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

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.

We purchased an older, fixer upper on a hillside in Portola Valley with the hopes of rebuilding it…read moreinto our dream home. We aimed to generate income by converting the former primary bedroom into a rentable, attached JADU. This mean building a new primary BR on the back, downhill side of the house, along with creating a new family room, and office. The front of the house was definitely old style, and did not, in any way, match our vision of a contemporary, hi-tech, look. I had interviewed other architects who had suggested we add a new front foyer, but I wasn't thrilled about the look presented, which was basically to add a gable roof addition ("A" frame shape add-on) at at the front, that would be harmonious with the rest of the house. In my first meeting with Davide, he suggested something that changed the whole dynamic of the house. He suggested that rather than be constrained by trying to harmonize the new entry with the old architecture, we could add a new layer to the front of the house, and change the look completely. This also creates a new corridor at the front that greatly improves the flow/circulation from the front to the back. It was a genius idea! This new layer at the front of the house gives us a spectacular new front entrance, plus a new corridor with tall ceilings. He also very skillfully raised the ceiling heights in many parts of the house so it feels like the rooms were expanded (when only the height changed). I am attaching a photo of the original house and Davide's concept for the new design. I want to add that we are not demolishing any part of the old house so we are not losing any existing square footage. We are just adding and "splicing the old with the new". For the new room additions at the back, he integrated the complex siting of the hillside PBR & family room to flow seamlessly into the same level of the existing house on. I have very strong ideas of what I want in terms of design, and Davide has been very patient in working through my ideas. He uses his critical eye and design experience to guide me so I don't get off track, and we can get to where it is I want to end up. We are now in the building permit process, and I can't wait for construction to start. I will be updating this post when the house is finished with more photos, because I want to show off the dramatic transformation between the "before" and "after". If you are looking for a miracle transformation, Davide Gianella is the architect who can make this dream come true for you! I can recommend him 100%

I reached out to Davide about two or three months ago to see if I could hire him to help design my…read moreremodel. He was really polite and so friendly and VERYYYY transparent that he was inundated with some work at the moment and that he gives his all to 1-2 projects at a time, so that they get the best out of him. He then gave me a suggested timeline, which unfortunately didn't match with what we had in mind - but no worries! I enjoyed the interaction and his work is beautiful, and I truly appreciate the communication and friendliness that transpired in our conversations.

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!

Working with Prestin Ravid Architects on our home addition and renovation has been amazing…read more Navigating the City of Palo Alto's complex permit process could have been stressful, but Eyal and his team made it smooth and enjoyable. With Eyal's extensive experience, his strategic, efficient approach and clear communication helped us get our permit in about half the expected time. His designs are thoughtful, detail-oriented, and perfectly balance aesthetics and practicality. Highly recommend!

It was a pleasure working with David. He actively listened to understand our preferences and…read moreinspirations. He took the time to truly grasp our desired architectural style, spatial requirements, and intended use of the space. Throughout the design and construction process, David maintained open communication, soliciting feedback to ensure the final product exceeded our expectations.

We just finished a bathroom and laundry renovation and David is our architect. David is very…read moreresponsive to ours and the inspector's questions. Our inspection wouldn't be so smooth if it wasn't for David's attention to details and timely guidance. We would love to work with David again in the future.

Recently we did home extension with Milano and associates. We added master bedroom suite and…read morerebuild the garage. Lili and her team did a wonderful job with the design. She responded very quickly and her design was ready within couple of weeks. Her design and plan approved from the city of San Jose was done within 4.5 months, which is very fast. Can't thank her enough for helping us on the project! We will definitely work with her in future if we need help from any architect farm. Thank you very much Lili!

Working with Lili was a seamless experience. We needed architectural and structural plans for a…read morehome renovation project under a strict deadline. Lili was efficient, thorough, and very responsive. She managed to get everything finalized faster than we expected, allowing us to stay on track with our contractors. If you need a talented architect who respects your timeline, Lili is the one to call!

We hired DreamHome Remodeling & Builders for a home addition plus a full remodel of our kitchen in…read moreMountain View. The team was professional, reliable and friendly. Quality craftsmanship, no games and a beautiful final result. Very happy we chose them!!

After seeing a friend's beautifully updated home, I decided to reach out for help with remodeling…read moremy own place in San Jose. From the first consultation, the team was professional, experienced, and easy to work with. They guided me through ideas for a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home and helped create a layout that felt more open, functional, and stylish. The manager was especially helpful during the design process, showing me smart ways to make a small space feel bigger and work better for everyday living. The crew shared useful remodeling advice, listened to what I wanted, and helped turn my vision into a finished space that looks clean, modern, and well planned. I'm very happy with how the renovation turned out, and my home now feels refreshed, comfortable, and beautifully updated.

We are very happy with the architectural plan Open Remodel came up with for our kitchen project…read more Open Remodel is a branch of a realty company. (They also offer realty and construction services.) We interviewed another firm before finding Open Remodel on Yelp. The other company's price estimate for architectural plans kept going up and up. It was like they were feeling us out for how much we could pay. It was a huge red flag. We are willing to pay a fair price but we don't want to be taken advantage of. The quote we received from Ashish (one of the owners of Open Remodel) was fair and in line with what we'd budgeted.  The Open Remodel architect Ashish assigned us to, Ron, was also very pleasant to work with. He not only listened to our vision but also had great suggestions, including putting a window into the kitchen.  I will be a great way to break up what would otherwise be a full wall of cabinets. We'll be able to make that area into a bar (or coffee bar)--exciting. Our project was unusual because Open Remodel finished our plans just as the pandemic was starting. We put our project on hold during shelter-in-place and for a few months after that. When we finally submitted the plans to the city, Ashish was true to his word, not charging us to revise the drawings for changes the city asked for. In fact the planning department didn't have any changes other than wanting a clause added to the plans. You are in good hands when you work with Open Remodel.

Ashish and his team have been great with our remodeling needs and overall management of the…read moreproject. We have done 2 designs with him, and both have been very smooth and at the right pace. The team is easy to reach out to and has been very responsive with communication and updates. The design team is very accommodating to the needs and very knowledgeable about the latest trends in design and material options. Highly recommend them as they are providing high-quality services at a reasonable price.