I have had the pleasure of working and collaborating with Acadia Architecture on several projects,…read moreand every experience has been exceptional. Davide is a true visionary. His creativity, ability to see the bigger picture, and talent for turning ideas into thoughtfully designed spaces truly set him apart. He brings an incredible level of passion, innovation, and expertise to every project. What I appreciate most about working with Acadia is their professionalism, attention to detail, communication, and willingness to collaborate. They don't simply approach a project from an architectural perspective--they take the time to understand the vision and find creative ways to bring it to life. After working together on several projects, I can confidently say that Acadia Architecture is a team I would be happy to collaborate with again and again. Davide's vision, creativity, and commitment to excellence make Acadia Architecture truly stand out. I highly recommend Acadia Architecture to anyone looking for an architectural team that brings vision, creativity, professionalism, and genuine passion to their work.

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%

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 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!

David is one of a kind. He has a very strong sense of style. His design is phenomenal and his…read moreprofessional advice throughout the building process helped us to move forward on construction even through COVID challenges. Most importantly, he is patient and easy to talk to. He will never dismiss my ideas no matter how crazy they might be. He will work with me until there is a practical solution that meets my requirements while does not compromise his creative vision. I highly recommend David - he is fantastic! I would be glad to act as a reference, so please feel free to ask David for our contact information. AND now I have approved plans to build my home, thanks to David.

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.

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

My wife and I met with Brian Milford through a common friend. The referral was so strong that his…read morefirm was the only one we consulted with. We engaged with MMA as soon as we closed on the house. Our project was to increase the footprint of our San Francisco home by about 47% & modernize the front and back elevations of this ordinary, mid-century building. While we are in the starting stage of the process with MMA, we are so happy with the milestones that we feel compelled to write a review. Dealing with professional services firms is a crap-shoot. But not MMA. Our interactions and the work product were a revelation. Our definition of a good architectural firm starts with communication, education on process, expectation setting, and more communication. Layer all of that with superior design aesthetic, a keen ear for client needs, quality deliverables, on-time delivery, professional management and more communication. At the very top of the ideal 'professional cake' - the icing, if you will, is good leadership, compassionate client-management skills, and even more communication. The cherry on top, is that we ended up becoming good friends through this process. The MMA team is as solid as they come. Their work, their portfolio, and their clients (past and present) should be testament enough. That's pretty much what got us to sign up with them in the first place. But for those who want to hear directly from present clients, let me say this: Our expectations were exceeded most times, were met at others, and the few times we disagreed their process kicked in, and we were set. From a creative standpoint their work is exemplary. While it should be noted that creative firms reflect your tastes as a client, a good firm will help you move out of your zone and deliver something you would relish not just in the present but also in the ensuing years, if not decades. I am confident that our engagement is going to be very similar with MMA. And I am looking forward to seeing this relationship grow with the firm and all the people we have come in contact with. Thank you, Brian!

My husband and I highly recommend Martinkovic Milford Architects! Blake, Amanda, and Amelia were…read moreour brilliant team of architects overseen by Brian Milford. They designed our dream home and also monitored the construction/renovation process in addition to recommending a great contractor to build our home.

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 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.

I wanted to share what a lovely experience we had with Marta and team. We hired Cal Designs to…read moreassist us with designing our remodel (new addition and removal of walls inside). Throughout our entire engagement, and with many iterations to our original plan, Marta was kind, courteous, responsive and most of all patient. She is very detailed oriented, gave feedback on pros and cons and was knowledgeable about the do's and don'ts as it relates to city requirements. Overall we were very pleased with the outcome of our design and there ability to deliver on time with engineering plans and city permits. We strongly recommend Cal Designs for any of your design needs. We've also engaged them as a PM for our construction build which is underway and am happy to report that everything is running smoothly.

Marta is the best! She's very fast to communicate and has great ideas. She helped us with our large…read moreaddition and came up with some amazing ideas to make the most of our space for our busy family. She worked tirelessly with the city to get our permit approved, and I'm so glad we had her by our side during this process. I've been recommending her to everyone! Can't wait to see the vision we created come to life.

Extremely knowledgeable and experienced. Creative…read moreknows how to work with governmental officials