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.

We had a great experience working with zHeight on our ADU project. Vidushi and her team were…read moreprofessional, detail-oriented, and very responsive throughout the entire design and permitting process. The drawings were prepared quickly and professionally. Even though our plans went through many changes and revisions along the way, Vidushi was always patient and carefully handled each update and the City's comments. Their pricing was also very reasonable for the quality of work and support they provided. We really appreciate their help getting our plans through the approval process. I would highly recommend zHeight to anyone looking for ADU design and permitting services, and I would definitely recommend them to friends and family.

We worked directly with Vidushi…read more We came to her with a previously botched project -- existing architectural plans that needed to be rescued and refined. She took it on with minimal back-and-forth, and the plans moved through city review with very few comments. That alone speaks volumes. What stood out most was her attention to detail and her understanding of what city reviewers actually need. She was communicative, proactive, and clearly knew the local codes and requirements inside and out. If you have a complicated or previously derailed project, she is exactly who you want. Highly recommend.

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!

I have personally seen the great work Bahi, the owner of 360 has designed and managed to completion…read morewith her plethera of highly skilled contractors. Here work is such, that could easily be shown in Architectural Digest. Her creative design integrated with functional spaces would please any home owner. Just last week, I got to experience a property she designed in Los Altos that wowed me. I was in "ahh" by how she transformed a space that was cluttered and not very useful to one that had this openess to it but also a warmth you don't always get with contemporary spaces with functionality that surpassed what the owner was originally looking for. She is the reason homeowners should carefully choose their architects. Her work and end result are exemplary!

I was very impressed with the level of professionalism, and technical knowledge of the 360 design…read morestudio team. The team was responsive and honest. I knew at every step of the way what the plan is and really enjoyed working with Bahi, the founder of the 360 design studio as she explained the pros and cons of the design options and helped me through the selection process. Bahi is incredibly caring, knowledgeable, honest and excellent in communication. I am so happy with the quality and service that I received from 360 design studio.

I've had the pleasure of collaborating with GKW Architects and they are truly exceptional. Gordon…read moreand Jenny are incredibly easy to work with, highly knowledgeable, and their leadership is clearly reflected throughout the entire team. Communication is always seamless, organized, and proactive, making coordination effortless. As a Porcelanosa Representative, what consistently stands out is their attention to detail. Every design is thoughtfully developed with a strong balance of aesthetics, functionality, and constructability. Whether they're providing architectural design, general contracting, project management, or guiding clients through the entire building process, GKW approaches every project with the highest level of professionalism and care. It's clear that their clients are at the center of everything they do. They take the time to understand each client's vision, communicate throughout the process, and deliver results that exceed expectations. Their collaborative approach, commitment to quality, and genuine passion for their work make them an outstanding partner. Based on my experience collaborating with their team, I highly recommend GKW to anyone looking for a firm that can expertly guide a project from concept to completion.

GKW Architects has a wonderful team ready to help and serve you. I have worked closely with them…read morefor the last year designing and developing my project. I have had nothing but a positive experience. Everyone is professional, helpful, and easy to communicate with. The commitment to seeing the project through with a strong background in working with the City of Los Gatos was extremely helpful . Homeowner

I can't say enough good things about working with DKIM Architect. I've used their services multiple…read moretimes to produce plans for my project, and each time Daniel worked hard to get it done. Their attention to detail and experience working with many different cities makes them well worth it. Not to mention, they are a pleasure to work with - always open to my ideas and offering great suggestions. DKIM Architect has definitely become my go-to architect, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for top-notch design services! Their prices are reasonable after comparing a few different Architects in the Bay Area.

I highly recommend Daniel on house remodeling project. He is very experienced and kind. In my…read morebathroom remodeling, Daniel was able to come up with three design options and the permit was approved very quickly. The price was very good too. I will definitely ask Daniel for help if I have more remodeling projects in the future.

When we move to the house, we new it will need some remodeling. The house has L-shaped floor plan…read more The L-wing was a separate studio, with no direct connection to the main house. On top of that, the main part of the house was divided into number of smaller rooms/spaces. The wished was to have more open space type of the floorplan, with center of a living oriented to backyard, which has nice view. After some time self planning and sketching variations of modified floorplan, decided it is time for a real architect's help. We talk to several architects and after awhile narrowed down to two. Eventually we selected Studio S Squared Architecture, with Eugene Sakai as a lead architect. The main requirement for the remodeling was to do the open space type floorplan, with seamless connection to then L-wing separate studio. The solution should look as if the house was build from the beginning that way, not having visible artifacts of remodeling. The Studio S^2 Architecture delivered the ideal floorplan, as this house was meant to be built. The house got the great room, with almost whole glass wall toward the backyard, perfect connection to the L-wing and additional bathroom and an easy-flow floorplan flow. The L-wing became the main master bedroom, and old master bedroom became an additional mini-master bedroom. Perfect floorplan, without changing external walls foot print! Eugene presented us with sketches of three different floor plans. We did not spend more than 5 minutes to select the "ideal" one. Almost as he saw how the house should have been designed and built in the first place. Eugene has vision of the new space, producing perfect solution. If one wants to get maximum from a given space, Eugene and Studio S^2 Architecture is the right place to go. We highly recommend him. J & D

We have hired Eugene (president of Studio S Squared Architecture) to help with a home remodel in…read moreLos Gatos, CA. Our realtor convinced us to purchase a fixer upper that would require some remodeling work to address some of the functional deficiencies of the home. While we were in contract, we interviewed about 5 designers/contractors to get their recommendations and possible budget before we actually purchased the home. Eugene was the only architect who came and brought one of his builders, C.W. Wright Construction to discuss options as well as to verify the costs of each one. During our discussion, he was mindful to listen to the functional problems which we wanted to address and he agreed to come up with a proposal. The next day, we received a very detailed spreadsheet outlining the costs of everything and it all seemed to fall into our budget. Based on their recommendations, we decided to proceed with the purchase the home. The design process was a very fun and enjoyable experience. Both Eugene and his junior associate, Catherine listened to our "wish list" and presented a final design that we absolutely loved. We appreciated their "vision" to see the possible options that lay before us that were not so readily seen by us or other architects. Studio S Squared Architecture's flat fee system also encouraged a lot of back and forth dialogue with the revisions. We never had to worry about costs or expenses as it was all included. He has a rapid response time via phone and email and because everything is done in CAD, we had design revisions waiting in our email inboxes almost with a same day turn-around. We are currently in the middle of building our home, but we could not speak any more highly of the professionalism, attention to detail and breadth of knowledge of Studio S. Squared Architecture during the design process. Because of this, we trust wholeheartedly that he will deliver a wonderful home for us.

Working with Samah has been amazing. We sought her expertise for our 570 sq.ft. tiny home (ADU)…read moresince we required a custom plan because the available area to build in our backyard isn't rectangular. Samah met with us, surveyed the site, and drafted a plan based on our wants and also gave recommendations from her experience. We went with her experience! The architectural plans and structural calculations (we used her referral) were delivered to our city and county in such detail, everyone was surprised. This detail is what we want to highlight. It makes the build much easier, almost like lego, and the inspection process smooth. We had to go through various inspections: - Underground plumbing - Rebar - Foundation - Exterior shear wall - Exterior lath - Rough framing - Roof - Wall insulation - Window flashing - Drywall - Shower and backing - Exterior slats - Electrical meter - Planning final - Solar - Final Absolutely wonderful.

Working with Samah Nasser was an outstanding experience from start to finish. This is our second…read moreproject with her, and once again, she exceeded our expectations by combining creativity with practicality in a way that made the entire process feel seamless and inspiring. From the initial concept discussions, she took the time to truly understand our vision, lifestyle, and priorities. Her ability to translate our ideas into a design that was both beautiful and highly functional made every detail feel intentional, bringing together aesthetics, efficiency, and comfort perfectly. Communication was clear and consistent throughout the project. She was responsive, patient with our questions, and proactive in offering thoughtful solutions when challenges arose. Her professionalism and attention to detail gave us complete confidence at every stage. What stood out most was her ability to balance big-picture thinking with meticulous execution. The final result is a space that not only looks incredible but also feels tailored specifically to us. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, reliable architect who is genuinely invested in delivering exceptional work. It was an absolute pleasure working with Samah.