If you are thinking of going with Vanguard...don't hesitate. Just do it! Oleksii and his team did a…read morefantastic job with our long and complicated project. The quality of his work is tremendous, he has a great eye for design and is extremely hardworking! He is also able to work with you on your budget. I highly recommend him for all of your design and architectural needs!

what can I say about Vanguard development? I went in the process of buying a home that was in need…read moreof complete renovation. I personally know virtually nothing about renovating or decorating. As you can imagine, this can be a rather stressful situation to be in when you consider that you will be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. It is my unequivocal opinion that hiring oleksii and vanguard is the best single investment you can make throughout this process. Vanguard creates extremely detailed 3-dimensional representations of all of your spaces. I consider myself to be a person of pretty good taste, but having reviewed the images I realized I would have made many costly and disheartening mistakes if left to my own devices. As it goes now, I rely on Vanguard to create beautiful, functional, and unique designs and concepts for each area of the house. as I begin the construction phase, I know exactly what I will be getting and I couldn't be more excited. To add to all this Vanguard displays an exemplary level of professionalism, courtesy, and are just plain wonderful to deal with. I would recommend them to all my friends and family without the slightest hesitation.

Steve helped me to get a 19-year old outstanding DOB permit approved for an apartment in a landmark…read morebuilding. This wasn't a creative project for an architect. Actually I am sure it was very painful to deal with all the red tapes. During those 4 months, he even contacted me in the after hours to give me the progress. Thank you.

My answer to your response is - I guess you never worked with an expeditor. I never asked you to…read morepull permits yourself. ---------- Where do I begin? This architect is disgustingly unprofessional and more importantly, a bad person. He was 15 minutes late to our meeting, walked in while I was speaking to his co workers, Jasmine and Dong, and was completely dismissive about the entire meeting. When I started to ask him about the next steps to move forward, like how to pull permits and the pricing for the design, he completely FLIPPED out telling me why would he pull permits when that's the contractor's job? I was a bit taken aback since my previous architect pulled permits alongside my contractor. He then started to allege that I use unlicensed contractors. I started to wonder what he was getting at and why he was being such a rude jerk. He then had the nerve to pull out the BIS gov website and ask me about the contractor I used and the address. When I tried to tell him the architect firm, he got very angry and said why would I care about the architect? HELLO! You asked who pulled the permits! He found my previous project and everything was up to code. This guy is disgusting. There is NP way he's a legit architect because he doesn't have any skills on how to speak to clients. Stay away. You can find architects who pull permits alongside the contractors. This means he has very bad relationships with the DOB.

My kitchen was over 50 years old in a Co-op in Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY. There are strict rules…read morethat ANY work has to follow when dealing with an old building. Pipes, electricity, and plumbing, these three components were so important to deal with and you need LICENSED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE EXPERTS, for an old kitchen like mine. When I signed the contract I left it up to the experts and it was in excellent hands. 1. The team was always on time and even though I was not used to giving my keys out, I learned it was customary so they could come and go with ease. 2. For me this was a BIG expenditure, but after doing a reasonable amount of research MRTA Design was fair and extended themselves on some of the project. 3. Communication was good for all. Although there were things shipped later than liked, MRTA was ready for everything. Martin worked well with Keita Turner the designer of the kitchen. 4. The team worked clean, efficient, professional, attention to detail, and they all were eager for the result to be an extraordinary kitchen for me. Also they cleaned the hallway making sure to not annoy neighbors and even though I had a remolding permission, they kept to the time and even ending each work day earlier than expected. 5. These were not just workers, the team was made up of craftsmen who were professional in cabinetry fabrication (wood and lacquered 2 radiator covers), painter (scraped and evened out an uneven wall). 6. All this is great but see the video for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaeKTQ8CKZ4&t=185s

Martin and his crew are highly professional! He worked personally with me on every aspect of the…read morejob which was a bathroom renovation. We picked out the materials together and worked on the design! He pays attention to every detail and when the job is finished you never have to call him back with any punch list! What was important to me is the prep work and the clean up! Martin had his own people come in and prep my apartment and his own clean up crew at the end of the job! There was very little dust or damage to any of my furniture. He was there himself directing his crew every day and worked very well with the management in my building! I would highly recommend him for any renovations! He is a pleasure to work with and just wants to do an outstanding job for his clients!

Mr. Gati and his team are highly effective as well as efficient! They move quickly and keep costs…read morein line in order to meet budget requirements. They provide a detailed set of plans and drawings for all projects that take place, and I personally wouldn't recommend anyone else for your architectural needs. Mr. Gati is an expert in this field with tons of experience, so if you have a project that requires an architectural firm, I would look no further. Highly recommend! And I thank Mr. Gati for all his help with now what has been multiple renovations and projects that I have retained him and his team for.

Catherine C. 4/30/25…read more Working with William Gati exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the field of architecture. With a deep-rooted passion for historic preservation an urban design, William brings an extraordinary blend of technical expertise, artistic sensibility and genuine care to every project he undertakes. As a registered tour guide for New York City, William's love for the city- particularly the borough of Queens and its diverse homes- is evident in his work. His comprehensive knowledge of architectural history enriches his practice, purpose, and respect for the past. Clients consistently benefit from William's rare combination of hands on experience and strategic business understanding. From meticulous foundation work to full-scale renovations, he demonstrates exceptional workmanship and a commitment to quality that sets his studio apart. HIs ability to balance aesthetic excellence with practical functionality ensures that each project not only meets but exceeds client expectations. Most notably, William brings compassion and clarity to the architectural process. He takes the time to truly understand each client's needs, offer thoughtful solutions that are as beautiful as they are enduring. His work reflects a deep integrity -grounded in design, history, and human connection. In short, William Gati is a trusted architect and preservationist whose contributions to the built environment are both meaningful and masterfully executed. I've known Bill for almost a decade and creating this home with Bill has been more than just a project -it's become a sanctuary. Every space radiates peace, gratitude, and the kind of energy that makes you feel truly at home. I'm so thankful for this journey with Bill and everything we've brought to life as a team. Highly recommend working with Bill great guy!

Randomly called looking for a woodworker and was very unsure if they would be able to assist me…read morewith the project, as I needed it done. I was able to speak with someone who asked me to come in with the work I needed done. He was able to take a look at it told me exactly what needed to be done and was open to assisting me. He was very welcoming, humble, and even gave us a short tour of the facility.

It was a great process end to end with Doron getting our shelves installed and a custom office…read morebuilt in. He was personable and I got to be part of the design process at every step.

Jim consulted with me several times on my gut renovation project and provided expert advice. He…read morebrings expertise from two decades of experience to the table, and also his work is of impeccable quality. I saw a passive house he was gut renovating in Park Slope, and it was absolutely stunning! Jim knows how to preserve historic details while bringing the design into the modern era in a tasteful, classic way. He exudes calmness and wisdom and is a pleasure to be around. Full disclosure in that I ultimately had to choose a less experienced architect because Jim's fee, although completely reasonable given his level of skill and expertise, was a bit out of our price range.

Jim was great to work with. We did a semi-gut renovation in 3 bedroom/2 bathroom apt. The quality…read moreof his work and suggestions were exactly what we wanted based on my husband and my feedback. Jim is very detailed and each week during renovation, we had him manage the project with the contractor to ensure the final output was done properly. Most Manhattan apartments are not symmetrical, so the early stage on doing things a certain way goes a long way on the final look. He understands plumbing, and electrical well to communicate to our contractors. He referred us to a HVAC engineer. When it came to interior design, we had Sarah who provided feedback and suppliers information. She was also very helpful. Jim knows the DOB process well and helped us resolved many issues even during covid and DOB rule changed in 2020 and 2021. We also had him manage the project with the contractors. The contractors don't have the same design eyes and were a bit sloppy and forgetful so it was imperative to have Jim help us. Urban charges by the hour and provided an accurate estimate of the cost. Make sure what projects he's working on so he can allocate time properly. In the beginning with the design drawing schematic, it took a while cause he was on a couple of brownstone projects but overall still have a very positive experience with Jim. He was responsive.

Urban Homecraft completely transformed our family's living room with floor-to-ceiling custom…read morecabinetry -- I cannot recommend them highly enough. George and his team were responsive from our first outreach inquiring about their services, right up until after the project was completed, when they checked in to answer any lingering questions and get our feedback. They were highly professional, responded to emails promptly, and offered excellent design ideas and suggestions while taking our desires and feedback onboard. We felt like collaborators on this project, while also feeling like we had experts guiding us through the process. The end result far exceeded even my wildest hopes. It looks beautiful, is highly functional, and was great value for our investment. We will definitely work with Urban Homecraft again on future projects, and are thrilled with the end result of this one!

George and team did custom floating shelves and a pegboard for our kitchen, a complete custom built…read morein for our bedroom closet and some additional storage in two utility closets. I cannot stress how happy we are. The quality of the product, design aesthetic and attention to detail is superior. We really appreciated that his team took the time to listen to our needs. The onsite consultation was a breeze. Our kitchen shelf mounts touched both drywall and uneven brick. The corners are seamless. The bedroom custom closet was able to completely utilize our awkwardly sized space. We have never been so organized and could not be happier!

I've known Buddy since his Cranberry Hole Road days (early '90s, I stumbled in there by accident,…read moreand...). He has guided me through two apartment restylings (not renovations) 30 years apart in two NYC boroughs. As others have said, he is a different kind of designer--and so full of ideas that at first it's overwheming, and you might wish you had 10 other homes to fill with his concepts. He sees possibilities that aren't immediately evident, and is a genius at furntiure and picture placement. I had a genuine midcentury table (not a West Elm copy) that I'd had for decades and it was just sitting forlornly in a corner in the new place because I didn't know what to do with it (It didn't seem to fit anywhere). I was also grousing about needing a coffee table and in less than a second Buddy picks up the table with one hand and plops it down in front of my couch (purchased with his guidance), saying, "Here's your coffee table." The table, although not ostensibly a coffee table, works perfectly there, even though I never saw that possibility and was getting ready to dump it on one of those marketplaces. It's a small example, but I think it capsulizes Buddy's approach. He was also spot on when it came to selecting lighting fixtures, and saved me from choosing rugs that would have made my place look like a Miami hotel lobby (I think that's what he said--I know his scathing critique of my choices referenced Florida or the Bahamas), steering me to much more stylish picks. Buddy's also an artist (he constructed and painted a screen for me decades ago--in the Cranberry Hole Road days--that I still use and that visitors still comment on) and a cognitive psychologist, which can come in handy when you're in the emotional throes of a move, a renovation or restyling. Give him a try, even if your place just needs a refresh, a new look. He'll help you choose what you need. Now I'm thinking of seeking his help for a closet renovation.

Everytime I walk into my newly renovated apartment, which was so perfectly executed, I feel like…read moreI'm the main character in a home makeover show. The 'before' shots would feature a cute home, but with signs of aging. Fraying wooden cabinets, and little to no natural light in my bedroom. Now this is all modernized, updated, and thoughtfully designed. Connecting with Buddy via Yelp's Request a Quote feature was lucky, because I got no replies from other businesses I contacted first or was told they couldn't take on my project. I'm thankful because Buddy was actually the right person with the right vision for my space. I had been living with a not optimized closet space and the aforementioned fraying wooden cabinets, as well as my bedroom lacking natural light for years. I had heard one too many contractor nightmare stories that caused me to be ultra cautious so I hesitated to contact anyone. I once hired a virtual interior designer which was a total waste of time/money. Enter Buddy, who is not only a creative visionary with a solid contractor team he's worked with for over a decade, but he's also a licensed therapist, and says that contributes to how he handles spaces, which totally makes sense. In the first consultation with Buddy, he paced around my space and rattled off so many wild ideas, some of which sounded fantastical and unrealistic but he made into reality. The initial consultation fee initially made me wince but now sounds like such a deal when in hindsight I realize he gave me the blueprint to my beautiful new reality. I would not have thought to float my couch in the middle of the living room instead of against the wall, facing the best feature of my apartment-- the view. When I was concerned about where to put the TV, he came up with a customized solution. A mechanized wooden box where the TV rises and falls with the push of a button. It sounds so futuristic but now it's part of my life. His contractor team is so awesome too. They handled all my things with care, and not only did they not disturb my plants, which we kept in the apartment during the renovation, they took care of them too! So sweet. It's been several months now and living in my transformed space has really changed my relationship with my home. My living situation used to feel compromised, but now it really feels like a thoughtful expression of who I am. I've already hosted several parties and get togethers in my home, because the new space is way more amenable to hosting, something Buddy picked up about me after meeting. Buddy's organization (we worked out of a spreadsheet which was a dream for my Type A self), and responsiveness throughout the process really eased my nerves about the project. He and his team took genuine care of my possessions and space that it made the renovation process almost enjoyable. Thank you Buddy, for transforming the daily experience of being in my space. You really delivered something exceptional.