Jim oversaw the completion of a complex gut renovation/remodel of our home. We were so thrilled…read morewith his work that we have hired him twice more-- to oversee the remodel of my husband's WFH office/guest room and to design a new WFH separate office for me on our deck (from where I am able to peacefully write this review!).  From initial conversations, thinking through ideas and creative problem-solving, to intricate up-to-date knowledge of Marin County rules/regulations/permitting issues to seeing jobs through to the very end, Jim has been a true pleasure to work with and to get to know over the past 6 years.  As he worked with me and my family on our plans and remodeling, I appreciated his attention to form/aesthetics, function/practicality, and potential future buyers (home value).  It is rare to find a hardworking, dedicated, affordable, experienced expert who has integrity and openness to difficult/unconventional projects. We are so lucky and grateful that we found Jim to help us realize the potential of our home and make our dreams for it a reality.  It is also worth mentioning that he collaborates with a superb contractor, Brian Dolan (also lives in Marin), who is extraordinarily skilled in overseeing all aspects of execution. With Jim and Brian working with us on our remodel, I felt that my family and I were in "good hands" with an architect and contractor whom I now consider family friends. I completely trust them and have been able to communicate with them both through every aspect of several projects to improve our home.

Design Phase Jim provided conceptual, intermediate and final…read moredrawing sets for our review and approval. His design recommendations maximized our existing house footprint (i.e. repurposed our linen closet and old bathroom into two bathrooms; and designed our new Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU). Permitting Jim's experience and relationship with the Town of Corte Madera planning, building and fire departments were invaluable in securing permitted drawings. He responded to all Town comments in a timely manner. Only one drawing set revision was required. His in-depth knowledge of the California Building/WUI codes saved us a substantial amount of money by providing a design that didn't require a fire sprinkler system. His attention to the details in the CBC allowed us to maximize the square footage of our new ADU. Construction Phase Jim provided services during construction to help our Contractor interpret/address the Town's inspection comments/requirements. His input helped us stay on schedule. Jim's professionalism, transparency and responsiveness surpassed our expectations, which resulted in great remodel/ ADU conversion project. I highly recommend Jim as a licensed architect.

As a former carpenter, I really appreciate the attention to detail and craftsmanship of the PDB…read moreteam. They are close to finished with the remodel of the older home my wife grew up in and I have been very pleased with how it's shaping up. They've transformed a badly dated and dim old house into a bright, open, inviting place that will be great for family gatherings. They have gone above and beyond in helping us find ways to stretch our limited funds and have been very good at listening to suggestions as well as giving them. They obviously know what they're doing and are very knowledgeable with regard to finishes, fixtures, lighting, and style. All while being sticklers that the various codes are being complied with. I Highly recommend them.

We were so lucky to work with Peters Design-Build for the renovation of our home. We were looking…read morefor a design-build firm that had the highest standards for quality and design, and a team that we would enjoy working with for several years. Andrew, Ben, Michael, James, John and the entire PDB team were an outstanding team. With their expertise as our guide, we were able to achieve our goal of transforming our 1930s home into a space that could accommodate our growing family, while retaining its historic charm and details. Our renovation included redoing our kitchen, upstairs bathroom, bedrooms, and converting our garage into a 3rd bedroom, 2nd bathroom, a new family room, and full landscaping of our backyard. We are thrilled with the outcome and recommend PDB with the utmost enthusiasm!

OXB Studio is an excellent up-and-coming architectural firm. I am a general contractor and met Ted…read moreand Chad collaborating on a project in the East Bay in 2011. They came up with a smart design that transformed the home while working within the existing building envelope. Ted was sensitive to the clients' tastes and desires while still encouraging them to trust his experience and direction. Ted was flexible and responsive to our requests for information and was open to nuts-and-bolts input from me as the contractor, which I appreciated. In the end, the final result was a beautiful remodel, though my lasting memories of the work was the fun time we all had working together. I also think that Ted and Chad charged the clients at a very fair rate. In fact, there were a few times Ted helped us work out some added items even though he told me he wasn't going to charge for the time. It was clear to me that he wanted to see the project turn out as well as possible. I highly recommend OXB Studio to homeowners seeking a skilled architect who is creative, responsive and a joy to work with.

My interiors firm, Northbrook Design, worked with OXB Studio on a large residential project in the…read morewine country. The principals, Ted and Chad, are great collaborators and together we were a great design team for our client. OXB Studio introduced many thoughtful ideas - their expertise in balancing function with aesthetics was tremendously helpful. Ted and Chad are professional, approachable and listen carefully. Their attention to detail was impressive and the end result was a beautiful home and happy clients. We appreciate that they value interior design as a practice. I would not hesitate to work with OXB Studio again.

Keith is an exceptional architect with an incredible eye. I've partnered with Keith on a number of…read moreprojects and am continually impressed by his professionalism and depth of knowledge. His attention to detail is paramount. I cannot recommend Kirley+ Architecture highly enough.

I recently renovated my home in Sonoma. And Kirley Plus Architecture did an amazing job planning…read moreand producing our drawings! They were fast and easy to communicate with. They had a lot of great design ideas. I'd highly recommend this team to anyone looking for a reliable architect.

Bill designed a complete renovation of our 1914 home and his designs were impeccable. Throughout…read morethe process, Bill was readily available, conscious of our budget, and involved with the contractor to ensure the design plans were being properly followed. He is kind, cares deeply about his work, and has a great attention to detail. I would to hire Bill again.

We worked with Bill Engelhardt on a new house design in an environmentally sensitive area in San…read moreRafael. Bill is a thoughtful and detail-oriented architect. These qualities were very helpful in the long and contentious approval process we had to deal with over nearly 2 years. We always found him very responsive and a pleasure to work with. While we ultimately decided not to proceed with the project for various reasons, we have no doubt that he would have applied the same attention to detail during the construction process. We are happy to recommend him.

We worked with Steve on our retirement home in Petaluma. From the first meeting with Steve we knew…read morewe had selected the architect that was perfect for us. Before our first meeting he had already visited our house site and had some great ideas. Steve really listened to us regarding our wants/needs for our new home. Beyond designing the house, Steve worked with us on landscape design and paid particular attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. He not only was our architect but also our project manager, working with several different engineers and vendors to get us to the permit process. Once the plans were submitted to the city of Petaluma, Steve handled all interaction with them through to getting our permits. In addition, to all of this - Steve worked hard to help us find the right builder for our project. Building a home from the ground up is not an easy task and our project was complex because the lot is on a slope. Steve had so many good ideas and was always available for questions. If we ever built again, we would definitely use Steve as our architect.

I called Steve to talk about a project and we met at his studio. He started drawing design sketches…read moreon the spot with his magic marker! I knew right away that I was going to hire him to provide Architectural and design drawings/plans for my tenant improvement project in Petaluma. He was very professional and listened to my needs. I love the designs and the plans passed through the City planning and building dept. smoothly, which can sometimes be a hassle but Steve gracefully navigated the red tape. I highly recommend Steve Charlip Architecture!

We hired Kitchen King for a major kitchen remodel. Sam from Kitchen King was extremely responsive…read moreand professional from day one until the completion of the project. His communication skills are superior and the quality was superb. There were several teams involved and Sam was able to bring it all together and execute perfectly. What we especially appreciated was his ability to get hands on and drive to completion when a subcontractor was unexpectedly unavailable. We're delighted with the end result and highly recommend Kitchen King!

I had three criteria when searching for a contractor: Quality, Honesty, and Communication. Sam…read morepasses all three tests with flying colors. I've already recommended Sam to friends and family, and wouldn't hesititate to do it again. After my father passed, we needed someone to renovate my parents' former rental. The last tenant did a number on the place and it was already showing its age. Sam was aware of the significance of this project to my family and was very conscientious about keeping within the budget. He rebuilt the inside of the entire house including all new plumbing, electrical, and insulation. Mom was so happy with Sam's work that she had him remodel her own kitchen and bathroom. It's very difficult to find a contractor with a balance of craftmanship, honesty, and effective communication. Don't hesitate to give Sam a call!

Heather (and Megan) do an amazing job. They put together complete plans that are rock solid,…read morethey're super responsive and they are a great value. They have great advice and sense of what will look right and work best. I have developed a lot of properties and they are one of the very best groups I have ever worked with.

Great experience working with both Heather and Megan on a major remodel. Wonderful to have an…read moreintegrated team on our side who gave us exactly what we asked for, plus all their help, suggestions and gentle nudges in the right direction on everything from interior design to structural reinforcement of existing structure. Will work with them again on future projects.