Rebecca Pantuso and Andrew Reynolds helped us design our new detached garage. It's been a fantastic experience, and I recommend them without hesitation.
This was my husband's and my first time working with an architect. We wanted someone who would help us design with functionality, aesthetics, sustainability, and budget in mind. We found Rebecca Pantuso through the U.S. Green Building Council directory. Then we discovered our neighbor had worked with Becky on her renovation and had a very positive recommendation.
We met with Becky and Andrew many times in-person and through Zoom to discuss our ideas, questions, and give feedback on iterations of the architectural plans. They referred us to a surveyor to confirm the property boundaries. They submitted plans to our local Architectural Review Board for approval, and Becky attended the ARB meetings to answer questions of the review board. They also solicited quotes from three contractors. Becky and Andrew facilitated several meetings with the contractor and us. We found it invaluable to have all these different perspectives coming together to discuss the pros and cons of different building decisions or cost and availability issues such as whether to use roof trusses or frame the roof on-site. These conversations were all the more important because it was difficult to get certain materials due to shortages during the pandemic. Throughout the building process, Becky and Andrew were still involved as questions arose. Plus they'd stop by regularly to confirm everything was as expected.
Overall, our experience with Becky and Andrew has been fantastic. They are professional and respectful. They've been mindful of balancing our needs and wants, while keeping the budget in mind. They've gracefully answered all our questions, kindly made adjustments when we changed our mind on something, and thoroughly explained the pros and cons of different decisions.
We think the garage turned out beautifully. We love the door full of windows, the fiberboard siding, and the two back windows giving a view of the wooded backyard. We have plenty of wall and ceiling storage. Plus the garage's juxtaposition with our house and the neighbor's house is perfect read more