I was one of the Contractors working on Thacher school projects with Blackbird Architects. This is…read morea company of liars and cheats. The drawings they provided had so many elementary mistakes due to total lack of coordination, understanding of simple building & construction assembly. One of the worst Architects I had to work with in the region.

I am a part owner in several properties in Santa Barbara County. I have been placed in charge of…read morehaving a new house designed and built on one of the properties after the pre-existing building is torn down. I had narrowed my pool of qualified architects to 3, of which Blackbird Architects was one. How they great potential clients is appalling! They were rude and would not even give me basic contact information. Regardless of the supposed 'quality' if their work, their manners alone have removed the possibility from their ever getting work or positive reviews from me. Very poor character on their part. Customer service is very important to me, and they don't have it. One star (only because reviews won't post without at least one star, Zero stars is more fitting)

We've been impressed by Banyan Architects' elegant, creative and unique designs that gracefully…read moreincorporate the special needs of the site and users. Kirk Gradin seems to be especially able to incorporate environmentally friendly materials and user functionality, while maintaining the highest aesthetic standard.

From the owner: Architectural Design for custom residential, commercial and institutional projects of all sizes. We…read morespecialize also in hillside design for homes or businesses with over 300 projects completed since 1995.

I met David by chance in late 2016 and hired him to help us map out a complete remodel of our…read morehistoric home that needed a complete overhaul. David was really patient with us as we didn't have the biggest budget and helped us with not only a well laid out floor plan for our changing needs (it was very funky before) but also helped with our project management which I found incredibly helpful. Most important, we didn't have to hire a separate designer. He suggested very thoughtful period centric elements to build in and materials, tiles, and color schemes to ensure our home had the right feel. He introduced me to some really beautiful and unique materials I'd have never found. In the end we finished everything (including the landscaping) in 2019 before the pandemic to enjoy full time home living. My last comment is that David also works fairly quickly. Our street is older had many architects remodeling our neighbors and it seemed we had the fastest process with getting our plans completed. Highly recommend David.

Attempting any new project whether a home remodel or commercial build-out is overwhelming for…read moreanyone but hiring the right architect with experience and approach can make all the difference. That's why I hired David Watkins Design, to help guide me through the process. David has a proven track record that you can see in his well organized attention to detail, while making sure he communicates through every step of the way. His good relations and many years of working with The City of Santa Barbara has made what could be a frustrating and overwhelming task for the average person, a breeze. David always makes himself available to discuss and update me on my project. I would recommend David Watkins Design to anyone who wants to get the job done right, while having a personalized experience throughout the process.

Work with both the LA office and the SB office. Great team, answered all my questions and solved…read moresome challenges we had with the construction of our family home in Santa Barbara. We have approved plans in hand and excited to start construction soon. Thank you all for your help and patience, highly recommend this firm to anyone taking on any construction work.

I hired this company for architectural plans and structure engineering for a room addition in my…read moreexisting home and right away felt comfortable with their experience and knowledge very friendly staff & received weekly progress updates along the way. I highly recommend CCS and will hire them in the future. Thanks a lot!

My wife was a caterer in the early days. Kamran was, and still is, the standard bearer…read more He's expanded and still provides great service over a diversified business.

Kamran & Co. just did the new W Hotel in LA and it looks amazing!read more

I have hired them for a mixed use project in Santa Barbara. Kirkhart and Shields are excellent…read more Also, Dave Watkins is great to work with. The plans are great and they know how to get the project through the city.

From the owner: DesignARC is an innovative design firm comprised of progressive, like-minded thinkers who share a…read moregenuine desire to research, learn and apply newfound knowledge to the project at hand. Specializing in custom residential, commercial, hospitality and institutional design, DesignARC has thriving studios in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. On the search for creative architectural solutions for its clients, the company culture stresses collaboration among colleagues.

David did an amazing job with our junior ADU plans. He was very detailed and great to work with…read moreevery step of the process.

I used DC Foote & Associates to design an add on master bedroom and bath. Dave was very…read moreprofessional, receptive and easy to work with throughout the whole design process. My wife and I couldn't have been happier with the quick completion of the plans and the end result. I definitely would recommend his services!

We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Madison Nicole Design and her entire team. They…read moretransformed our kitchen into a space that is not only stunning but incredibly organized and easy to use--it has truly changed how we live in our home. Everything feels intentional, functional, and beautiful, and we constantly have fun receiving compliments and questions from friends who can't stop admiring it. Madison also designed our lighting, which is nothing short of breathtaking, and helped us select furniture for our living room, dining room, and bedroom. Every piece is top quality, thoughtfully chosen, and as practical as it is beautiful. Our home feels cohesive, elevated, and perfectly suited to us. We have so much affection and admiration for Madison and her team--they are incredibly talented, professional, and a genuine joy to work with, and we think the absolute world of them.

We bought a home in Santa Barbara in January 2022. Realizing we would make major decor changes we…read morediscovered Madison Nicole Design on Yelp. We knew from our first interview with Madison that she was the designer for us. She understood our style and helped us complete the job within our budget and time frame. Her use of technology allowed her to assist our contractor with floor plans and elevations. It was a six month process and with Madison and her assistant Tia's help we now have the home of our dreams.

Zilles Architecture Group is the worst company I have dealt with. Marsha Zilles was routinely drunk…read moreon the job and has major mental issues. Her drinking problem extends into her work and it quickly became apparent that she was not the professional she claims to be. On certain occasions she would attack my employees with slander and verbally assault them. I will not ever work with this company again, as the work was not completed correctly nor on time and Marsha was extremely belligerent with excuses. If you are considering working with Zilles Architecture Group don't do it!

In response to Zilles response to my initial review. I stand by my review. The truth is not…read moreslander. She lies when she said she did 3 projects for me. She was fired before completion of the one and only project she was hired for. To continually refer to 3 projects is symbolic of her bizarre and irrational behavior. I did in fact "start out" as a painting contractor. I had a successful painting business that paid my way through college and law school at Boston University. My development experience includes 18 years of developing property on Martha's Vineyard which is far more complicated than Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara process is straight forward. What wasn't straight forward was her not even knowing how to do the simplest tracking of the permit process. For a person involved in the building business to suggest that a painting contractor - a tradesman's - opinions should not be taken seriously again demonstrates her mean spirited bizarre and unprofessional conduct. If her statement about the garage which she mis-measured by ten feet is not part of the project, then how could she present existing conditions and why did she design a gym in the garage (without our permission)? I clearly have a building permit yet all along she said I didn't. She now calls it a fee receipt. Hire her at your own peril.