Roxanna was great to work with. She took our general ideas and…read more wish-list and thoughtfully designed a kitchen that is exactly what we needed. Her thorough Plans and knowledge of building department requirements made the permit approval process go smoothly. She was available and responsive throughout the construction process, which was a great help. The result is a great kitchen that works very well for us. I would happily work with Roxanna again.

Roxanna Rivera helped us to realize our dream home, twice! We have a small one bedroom home where…read morespace is at a premium. Roxanna's architectural plans maximized our bathroom by removing an unwieldy closet in the bedroom next door to add space for a gorgeous large walk-in shower and she designed a wall of built-in cabinetry in the bedroom to replace the closet. A few years later we returned to her firm to update our tiny kitchen with a streamlined cabinet layout that is not only easier to work in, it feels larger despite no additional square footage. For both projects she was able to refer us to reasonably priced contractors and suppliers which really helped. Roxanna's input on products was especially valuable as these are not items we shop for normally. We happily recommend Rivera Architecture Studio based on her great work with us. Plus she's really nice.

The architect of the community nearby. She's very active in…read morelocal zoning laws and is a very good choice for complying with the development of Western San Francisco, and minimizing the damage that the government is doing to the charm of a San Francisco which has created a new Disneyland convention target, and gentrification

While reading other people's comments on Yelp; I have to wonder if we are talking about the same…read moreperson or if friends and families provided some of these reviews. My experience with Cassandra was at the extreme opposite of all those 5 stars. In October, I hired Cassandra to create plans of my house and help with schematics for some very straight forward changes. With a limited budget and neighborhood rules, we were fairly limited in what could be achieved. I had actually sent some schematics to Cassandra in an email to show what I was looking for - and was primarily looking for her to put it to scale. Her feedback was that the concept was straight forward and easy, and she agreed that everything was doable. I'll bypass some changes of heart from my side since Cassandra's feedback was that it made things even easier. This job, which would have very reasonably taken 3 to 4 weeks became a 3 months waiting game where I found myself chasing my architect. After measuring the house (this was done promptly), she was out for several weeks - apparently sick. I'm not sure the last time I remember a small business owner being out for two weeks and unable to send an email, a text message or a phone call to warn its customers but that was only a preview of what was to come next. I believe the plans of the house were actually delivered within 2 to 3 weeks but my interest was really in the schematics of the future plans (apparently, I had to get plans of the house in order to get the schematics). Once I finally saw the schematics, that was highly debatable, but cost me $1,200 anyways. After that payment (which was sent via a single line invoice and no details as to the work that was done) , I didn't hear from Cassandra for 6 weeks. Something always came up, a project was coming back, etc... I finally sent an email, letting her know that my job was perhaps not the most interesting and if that was the case, we could professionally part ways. I immediately got an answer (we're now in mid-december) explaining that she hasn't started yet but we should talk the next day. Magically, the very next day, she explains that she has already spent a few hours on the design (and she'll e ready to show us by late december. I reiterate our requirements one more time: no changes to the kitchen, etc... express some concerns over the time passed and perhaps another meeting is required but she states that she's fine and wants to try a few things. On December 27th, Cassandra presented three very basic designs, one of which was somewhat close to what we were looking for and the rest was clearly outside of the scope of the project. She had spent 3 designs creating a walk-in closet (in a 1,200 square feet craftsman home, mind you), changed the kitchen (our only requirement was to NOT changed the kitchen) in two designs. Two of the ideas that she had mentioned - and that we responded to favorably - were not in the design. All in all, it was pretty clear that she had forgotten our requirements (she never took notes), but insured me that I shouldn't worry about the budget and that she wanted to make sure we were happy. On December 30th, I had to resend an entire email, with my own schematics, which took me 90 mn to draw. A day later, I received an invoice (again, one line with no explanation) asking for 90% of the total cost of the proposal. So here are Cassandra's traits that I got to experience: - Extreme tardiness in developing plans. - Poor communications and project management skills. communications: No summary of points, no timeline established, no list of to-dos... - Inconsistency. One minute, we are well below her hours and I shouldn't worry about the fees, the next, I'm getting a bill for 90% of the overall project. One minute, we're well below the construction budget, then we're well above it, then she just doesn't know. - Lack of attention to details: Simply did not pay attention to our requirements, did not remember her own statements or ideas. Her schematics had design flaws that she admitted to immediately. At this stage, we have obviously parted ways and Cassandra has refused to take any responsibilities in this mess. I have not paid for the schematics that were completely off the wall and she has refused to provide the work that I had already paid for. I would not recommend her to anyone.

We got a variance because Serina knew it was possible. We did not expect this project to be that…read moreexpensive but it was not in her control. I had a good experience and Serina has been always understanding.

We worked withed Syncopated on a full-home renovation and a vertical addition, and they were…read moreindispensable throughout the entire process. Serina had actually worked with the home's previous owners on the plans, so we first met when we were considering purchasing the house. She was very generous to talk us through the plans before we were officially clients, and we continued working with her throughout the course of the remodel, which all in all took about 3 years. It was a long and complicated process, with Covid, SF DBI delays, supply chain issues, even a flood - basically the most challenging time ever to do a major renovation - and we couldn't have done it without Serina and team. We were thrilled with the end result and love our home. We especially valued Serina's knowledge of San Francisco codes and processes, the flexibility with which she incorporated our ideas and needs into the previous owner's plans, and her project management of the engineers and contractors during certain key points of the project. I think I've had enough remodels for life, but if I did it again, Syncopated would be my first call!

Jill is friendly, clear, a great communicator, and a problem solver. She helped me out on a small…read moreproject and I greatly appreciated her time!

While the Loman McNamara firm is newer, the two Principals - Jill & Rich have decades of commercial…read moreand residential experience, and we were lucky enough to have some time with them. When we bought our first home they offered a great initial consultation with already some ideas that resonated with us. Then they came for a visit where they helped us with measurements and gave us valuable input as they dreamt up possibilities to serve our current and future needs. Together they offer different perspectives which felt like getting 1st and 2nd opinions from one firm which helped us understand the opportunities and feel more confident about our decisions. Once we agreed on the renovation ideas, they quickly turned around with sketches to help us work with contractors to better estimate construction costs and phasing of the project. We're excited to continue working with them!

We used Outerlands to do a full renovation of the interior and exterior of our house and loved the…read moreresults! They were professional, timely, and thorough. I would recommend them highly for any project, big or small.

I wish Yelp gave every user account a one-time greater-than-5-star rating to use, because this…read morewould be mine. Outerlands converted our lower-level unfinished garage into 500 sq ft of living space + finished garage + outdoor patio in a job that involved significant excavation work. I can confidently say Outerlands was a cut above the competition because the other bids (we talked to over 20 contractors) had significantly longer timelines, told us certain aspects of the project would not be possible (or within budget), and told us there was no way we could stay in the house during construction. Outerlands kept us in the house with minimal disturbance, finished on time / on budget, and made the whole process rather enjoyable. It was clear throughout that Outerlands has a very experienced and cohesive team. From design, to engineering, to permitting, to foundation work, to all the other subs, everything was seamless. In the 5 months of work, there were virtually zero non-productive days. Kelly ran the project with a real sense of ownership, keeping things moving, suggesting improvements, and problem solving through the unexpected (we found a massive muni pipe while digging). He's a true craftsman (take a look at his cabinets or stairs) with an eye for overall aesthetic. Sara turned our vague interior style preferences into a coherent plan, developing all kinds of options we hadn't considered, sourcing the finishings, and ultimately creating a space that we love. Taking on this kind of project to our residence was a major financial and lifestyle decision, but we couldn't be happier with the look and feel of the finished product, and we are so grateful to Outerlands being such a wonderful partner to work with.

I have known Bob and Christine Boles for many years and they have drawn up plans for multiple…read moreresidential remodeling projects for our home. You can read further if you must, but let me just say that I have absolutely no hesitancy in recommending them for any architectural project. Period. But, okay, if you must know why, here you go . . . CREATIVITY - The best part about meeting with Bob and Christine is that they think of creative space use like no one else. With each project my wife and I thought, "Damn, that is an awesome idea, we would have NEVER thought about doing that." Bob and Christine make a great team, able to both dream about the possibilities as well as think through the realistic nature of those dreams. SUSTAINABILITY - I can't wait until the next project that will utilize their deep commitment to and expertise in green technology. If you are in search of architects who can help you to think through ways to preserve energy, conserve natural resources and basically help save the planet, Bob and Christine are your people! INTEGRITY - Being one who knows absolutely nothing about the technicalities of the architecture process, I have found working with Bob and Christine to be one of great attention and integrity. They are patient with the questions, thorough in their answers and never did we simply feel like clients who were paying for services. On more than one occasion we needed to scale down a project or get multiple estimates and we always felt like were given a wide breadth from which to choose. Bob and Christine not only care about the project and but they also care about the people involved. Seriously folks . . . if you are looking for someone to help you think through the entire process of a remodel, dare I say that you would be foolish NOT to give them a call and explore the possibilities. Seriously. Go. Now. Call them . . .

I highly recommend Beausoleil Architects. As a custom home builder in Silicon Valley, I work with a…read morelot of architects. I hired Bob and Christine to design the remodel of my own home. They are that good! I have worked on a half dozen projects with them over the years, and they have always come through for us with creative ideas and solutions. I have brought them in to rescue design projects several times when the project architect did not provide enough details. I have worked with them on whole house, extremely energy efficient remodels. Every time they have come thru and given us both great design, and great details from which to build. If you want great design you can be proud of, and plans your builder can actually build from, hire them. They will take care of you and deliver what they promise.

We're thrilled to write this glowing review for the incredible team of architects at Klopf…read moreArchitecture, who transformed our mid-century modern home into a work of art. From the very beginning, working with John Klopf, Angela Todorova, and the team at Klopf Architecture was an absolute pleasure, and the results have exceeded our wildest expectations. Klopf Architecture is a true visionary, and their deep appreciation for mid-century modern design is evident in every aspect of their work. They masterfully blended the classic elements of the era with a fresh, contemporary twist, creating a living space that's both timeless and uniquely tailored to my family's needs. What struck us most about Klopf Architecture and John's team was their ability to listen and understand our vision for the project. They took the time to get to know our tastes and preferences, and then skillfully translated those ideas into a design that was nothing short of breathtaking. Their attention to detail and commitment to preserving the integrity of the original mid-century modern architecture while introducing innovative and sustainable elements truly sets them apart. Throughout the entire project, communication was seamless and transparent. John, Angela, and the team at Klopf Architecture were always available to address any questions or concerns, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. Their professionalism and dedication to staying within the project's budget were truly commendable. I'd also like to mention that our builder, Augie, from Coast to Coast Development, was equally skilled and also a critical element to realizing the vision that John, Angela and the team at Klopf Architecture had dreamt up. The combination of Klopf Architecture and Coast to Coast Development was without a doubt, the best of the best, and we feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with each of them. The end result is a mid-century modern home that not only pays homage to the past but also celebrates the future of design and sustainability. We can't recommend Klopf Architecture highly enough. If you are looking for an architect who is not only passionate about their craft, but also genuinely invested in bringing your dream home to life, look no further. With Klopf, you won't only find a skilled professional but a true partner in your journey to creating the home of your dreams. Thank you, John, for your outstanding work, trustworthiness, and unwavering dedication to making our mid-century modern home a masterpiece. You have truly exceeded all our expectations, and we're grateful for the beauty and functionality you've brought into our lives

We met John 4 years ago when we were thinking of remodeling. Life happened and we ended up moving…read morearound a lot, but always kept in touch with John. We'd ask him about potential properties and opinions on eichler renovations, and he was always responsive and helpful. We recently spoke with John about our newest project, and he remembers all the details of our needs and preferences, which speaks to the level of customer service! I really appreciate his ability to immediately envision the possibilities the moment he steps into a space. He cares about the details, both obvious and subtle, that make a home feel right. Unfortunately our project does not fit the kind of homes he specializes in (which we had a hunch about), but he spent a lot of time going through all the considerations with us anyway. If we ever build a modern home, John will be at the top of our list.

Quick and to the Point: I engaged with EA in 2024/2025. The project at hand was an Accessory…read moreDwelling Unit (ADU) off of our garage. EA was tasked to deliver a budget-sensitive design. But the ink hadn't even dried on the plans when the wobbles started. I ended up terminating the construction phase of our contract because I simply didn't see the value-add in continuing on with their high price tag, misses, and hubris. Our Experience: three independent contractors came in with bids showing EA's plan to be wildly off the mark vis-à-vis our budget. This triggered an additional change fee we paid to scale back unviable plans. Other costly EA wobbles included a surprising unfamiliarity with codes and regulations around ADUs in California; our project manager moving back to France by which there was a 9-hour time difference between him and the actual project; a careless miss on the architectural drawing, hiccups with billing, and a couple of wild goose chases with me trying to source things EA had recommended but which were either non-standard or not allowed under California's ADU's guidelines. Their misses cost us a lot of money. Further, none of these costs was related to post-demo discoveries which are to be expected on a project like this (and which we also incurred). In the positive column, we were connected to an awesome contractor without whom we would have been quite frankly lost. He caught some misses and stepped up for us in ways a 9-hour time difference to our project manager in France could not. Summary: EA's lead architect and principal, Stacy, is a rock start and deserves a team and infrastructure worthy of her talents. But I think EA is going through some growing pains. My advice to them would be to take a step back to better secure the foundation of their own house before taking on more new projects. Some anti-hubris pills couldn't hurt either. Addendum Note: Looks like Eisenmann Architecture solicited reviews from previous clients recently i.e. the projects they talk about were from "a few years ago".

5 Stars for Nickey!…read more I am giving this company a second chance after meeting with Nickey...their new business manager. Nickey is kind, enthusiastic, and very professional. She artfully broke down the process in a way that was informative, compassionate, and is a great listener. I now feel better about the experience and am looking forward to seeing what is possible in terms of optimizing space and beautifying my home. [I predict this will be a 5 start experience once the project gets started...admiting I am still working on recovering from the previous experience, and reserving that 5th star for now]