For most of us, the opportunity to build your own custom home would exemplify the culmination of a…read morelifelong dream. For my wife and I, whom both came over to this country as immigrants many years back, it represented the chance to bring to fruition one of our life goals and aspirations. Back in 2015, we had the opportunity to purchase a plot of land along the California coastline. When it came time to look for the right architect to help us realize our dream home, my wife and I spared no time and effort to look for the right firm to take on this important task. We interviewed over six architectural firms specializing coastal home design up and down the coastline from Long Beach, to Newport Beach, to Laguna Beach, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano. Most architectural firms have extensive portfolios to review; however, our reason for choosing FoxLin Architects is beyond their ability to express a design language that meets their client's needs and desires. It is their commitment to meet and exceed their clients' expectations and personalities that sets them apart. I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Juintow Lin, principle architect, in the creation of my custom home since hiring their firm in 2017. The architectural process from design, to getting plans passed through Coastal Commission, then City Building and Planning can be a confusing and laborious process; especially for someone who has never built a home before. However, Foxlin Architects made the entire process easy. They absolutely took care of everything, and detailed the steps taken throughout project in ways that were clear and easily understandable. They have the capability of being a full service firm; whereas some firms stop at providing design and plans. This method would leave the client to separately hire a designer to help with the fit and finish materials for the custom home. However, these guys can do it all from start to finish. They left no detail unturned when it came to the design and build of my home. Melissa, the project manager assigned our case, has been great to work with. She and Juintow directed us to the exact store locations that would carry the items and materials that was needed for our build. Their level or care and personalization when it came to finished design exceeded our expectations. FoxLin Architectural Firm can also assist their clients through the building phase of their home. If needed, they will also assist their clients in finding the right contractors that will meet their needs and budjet. Also, they will perform site visits as needed to check on the realization of their design and plans. Any adjustments to the plans to meet building codes will be done through their firm. They coordinate services with civil, structural, and soils engineers that are needed to provide reports to the city building engineers and inspectors. This service has been extremely helpful since many issues tend to come up throughout the construction process that can be address by a full service firm. Overall, I cannot highly recommend them enough. They have been fantastic to work with. Their prices are quite fair; their work is excellent; they have been easy to work with; and they absolutely care about meeting and exceeding the expectations of their clients. Lastly, if an architect's credentials are a concern for a client, then this firm has it in spades. Both principle architects, Michael Fox and Juintow Lin, are professors of architecture at Cal Poly University, and graduated from MIT. A quick visit to their website will make it pellucid the quality and scope of their work. If you are looking for an architectural firm to meet your every need and discerning taste, FoxLin Architects is the right choice.

You need to hire FoxLin right now for their expertise and here's why:…read more1. They're the real deal. Michael, Juintow and their team work well together, which is so important when working on construction projects for long periods of time. Staying focused is their top priority! 2. The team is a pleasure to work with. They work on your plan and explain it so you know exactly what to expect, (who does that anymore?) 3. FoxLin finds solutions to your biggest architectural challenges, (We've had some, and that's why we choose FoxLin). 4. While they seem laid back, don't let that fool you. They're serious about their work and executing your vision from the very beginning. 5. Their attention to every detail is something any OCD person would be thrilled about, (I know because I am one). 6. FoxLin co-ordinates every single thing going on in your project, period. They take control so you don't have to. 7. They're easy to work with and have built years of solid working relationships with a plethora of contractors and subs, (very important). 8. FoxLin pricing is so reasonable, you'll want to pay their invoices. I'm happy to pay them and so grateful for their exceptional work. 9. They're available on holidays and weekends and respond to my emails. (the lines of communication stay open no matter what time or day it is). 10. Peace of Mind is what you get with this firm. Working on projects can be stressful, but this is why we love working with them. We can actually sleep at night knowing we are in good hands and they are doing all the work, thank goodness! Read less

I want to add to an already outstanding list of reviews of Plan and Permit to write a review about…read moreRon and his colleagues. We hired Ron to do the architectural plans for the remodel of a fourplex. He came in with a fancy camera scanner to measure everything, a very efficient process. He was very much on time with the delivery of the initial draft. We discussed minor changes and submitted to the city, and they had just had a few minor corrections before approval, which is better than other architectural teams I have worked with. After we began work on the project, we discovered a beam in the ceiling was not pointing in the right direction, leading to the need for a revision to the plans. The engineer Margarito went on site and approved changes, which allowed us to quickly adapt. Overall this was a very streamlined process, I would be happy to use his services in the future and can very much recommend him.

We used Plan and Permit for a small home addition and had a great experience. Ron was really easy…read moreto work with and did a great job explaining the whole process upfront, especially since we were new to permits and planning. The timeline was totally reasonable (honestly, my slow email responses probably added more time than anything on their end), and the plans were approved by the city on the first try, which was a huge relief. It was also hard to find someone willing to take on a smaller project at a fair price, and they were very thorough. Even months later, they've still been responsive with follow-up questions from our contractor. Would definitely recommend, especially for smaller renovations or additions.

Worked with Sterling for a big renovation at my home, after a negative experience with other…read morecontractors. They did a great job overall. Bashar, Fanan, and Raed were very responsive. There was continuous and steady progress, and I usually was invited over each week to check on the progress of work. The project was well timed. The initial estimate was for around 5 months. It ended up taking 5 months and 3 weeks. The small delay was due to city permitting back-and-forth and weather, which all seemed understandable. The cost estimate was also quite accurate. We only went less-than-10% over, and generally due to things that we decided to upgrade partway through, or issues we discovered only after tearing open the walls. They also had a one year warranty on issues with the work, which they have honored with no hassle. Ultimately the company acts with integrity, and in this industry that's saying a lot.

Bashar and his team are awesome. He built an ADU unit for us in Lake Forest. Very professional…read moreand knowledgeable. He went above and beyond with his services. He was always available to answers our questions and concerns. We are highly satisfied with our ADU. We will continue using him on future projects.

I've had the pleasure of working with Jeannice, Kevin, and their team on multiple projects, and…read morethey have been incredible every time. They are responsive, easy to work with, and truly understand how to design practical and well-thought-out floor plans. Their experience working with the city and navigating approvals brings a lot of peace of mind during the process. I really value our working relationship and appreciate the consistency and care they bring to every project. Thank you all.

This is the second time Jean-Prescott Studio has helped me with architectural plans and they were…read morejust as amazing this time as the last time. I don't know what more I can say about Jeannice and Kevin's Professionalism, Quality of Work and Integrity than I said in my last review. The bottom line is they are both Extraordinary Human Beings and it's been an honor to work with a team that does what they say they will do and are impeccable with Details and Timelines!

We hired BN Design Build for a total remodel that had major sentimental value -- the kind of…read moreproject where you don't just want a good result... you need the right partner. We started with an ~1,600 sq ft home and Ben helped us completely reimagine it into a 3,600+ sq ft dream home that our family plans to keep for generations. What stood out throughout the process was Ben's rare combo of deep technical capability and a genuinely easy, approachable working style. Ben brought significant in-house strength to the table: full architectural design (including our California room / covered patio), plus engineering coordination around soil/civil and drainage planning. That integrated approach made the process far more seamless -- fewer handoffs, fewer gaps, and fewer "who owns this?" moments. And his pricing was fair and attractive for the level of rigor and service. As the build progressed, Ben stayed close and collaborative -- not just sending plans and disappearing. He worked with us and our contractors, answered questions, and helped keep things moving. He was also extremely responsive; he typically replied within a few hours, which makes a huge difference when you're trying to keep a project on track. Ben handled submissions and permitting with the City of Fullerton and worked through City-requested changes efficiently, saving us countless hours and headaches. He also has a sharp eye for detail -- his plans were thorough, complete, and clear -- and he brought creative solutions to get the design we wanted while respecting the budget. Our taste is traditional / Cape Cod, and he did an outstanding job translating inspiration photos into a finished design that feels classic, intentional, and timeless. We went through more than four rounds of revisions, and Ben was patient and constructive the entire time -- he worked with us until we were genuinely happy. Bottom line: Ben translated our dreams into reality, and did it with professionalism, responsiveness, and real care. We recommend him and are happy to discuss our experience with anyone considering BN Design Build. We're almost done with the build and will post pictures once finished!

I highly recommend BN Architect & Associates for attentive and accurate site planning. Benjamin…read moremade our experience so easy, even as our city passed ADU ordinance changes mid-plan. Response times are fast, they're great at drafting exactly what you want within the scope of compliance to regulations. I was very pleased with the professionalism and ability.

I had the pleasure of working with an exceptional engineer Hamid who drafted the plans to convert…read moreour kitchen into an open-concept layout, which required removing a previously load-bearing wall. From start to finish, the level of professionalism, expertise, and attention to detail was truly outstanding. The engineer demonstrated a deep understanding of structural integrity while also respecting the design vision for the space. He carefully evaluated the existing structure and developed precise plans to safely support the load while allowing us to achieve the open, modern kitchen we wanted. His calculations and documentation were thorough and well-organized, which made the permitting and construction process much smoother. What impressed me most was his ability to balance technical precision with practical solutions. He communicated clearly, answered all questions patiently, and ensured the plans were easy for the contractor to follow. The result was a seamless transformation--our kitchen now feels bright, spacious, and beautifully integrated with the rest of the home. If you need an engineer for structural modifications, especially for projects involving load-bearing walls, I highly recommend his services. His expertise, reliability, and commitment to quality truly set him apart.

I had a roofer tell me that my entire roof support structure was in danger of failing and they had…read moretheir structural engineer come out. The estimate was astronomical and would take months to complete. I brought in Distinguished Structural Engineers to give me a second opinion. They give me a written analysis with lots of pictures pointing out some issues, but they gave us peace of mind that the structure was fundamentally sound and only needed attention in a few areas. We used one of their recommended roofers and spent a tiny fraction of the first roofer's estimate to correct the issues. I highly recommend Distinguished Structural Engineers for any work you're considering.

Kristine was just awesome to work with. She took our ideas and expanded them into a working plan…read more My 421 sq ft ADU seems so much bigger because of her thoughtful design. Her drawings ailed through plan check and we were able to start construction because of her attention to detail and knowledge of the workings of the planning department of our city. I couldn't be happier!

Kristine is the ultimate professional. She listens carefully to your project's desired outcome and…read moreresearches every detail to ensure those parameters are met. She returns every call, meets deadlines, and is easy to work with. I will not hesitate to work with her in the future.

EZ Plans is a highly toxic environment. Mark and Raymond Joelson scream and berate clients and…read morestaff alike. There has been a huge shake up there with one of the main partners leaving under very atrocious and shocking circumstances with the other partners We got stuck in the middle because not knowing this individual no longer worked there, we emailed him at his EZ Plans email address. That's when the yelling and threats began from Mark at EZ Plans. After being yelled at and screamed at, we decided the client relationship had been irreparably damaged and that we could no longer work together. We reviewed the contract and deliverables and determined that only 2 of the 5 had been delivered. That means 60% was not delivered. In an effort to part amicably, we asked only for a 50% refund of the money as we will need to spend it with another firm but were told the money was non-refundable. Next they formally terminated the relationship (which we had already done) but kept my 80 year old mother's money. My 80 year old mother has now filed a small claims suit asking for a full refund along with punitive damages.

It was a pleasure to work with Ez Plans team for the design of our custom home. Michael Song and…read morehis team are very professional, patient and highly skilled at what they do. Starting from our wish list for the architectural design which eventually ended up much more beautiful than what we had imagined, their willingness to accommodate our requests , sometimes even last minute changes, has stood out. They were very diligent in working with the HOA and also with and the city to get all relevant permits approved.

Jackson is a really knowledgeable architect. He is someone I have used multiple times across…read moredifferent projects. I had a very seamless experience recently with getting a multi-family plan approved in the city of Loma Linda. I definitely would recommend and refer him.

Jackson's work was excellent, and completed in a timely fashion. I highly recommend him.read more