Stay away if you respect your finances and don't enjoy lighting money on fire. Cari will not…read morerespect your investment. She quoted us $19k for a project we've paid more than $52,000 for, including for an egregious error on her part that cost us $10,000 and a 6 month delay. Cari originally quoted us $19k a 600sf kitchen/bath/bedroom addition. She let us talk ourselves into a 1200sf 2 story remodel, which we submitted to the city, only to have our neighbors object. Ok, not her fault, but by this point we'd already spent $25k, well over budget for the original project and still no approved plans. We then brought her exactly what we wanted on a napkin, based on the original 600sf footprint. She had designed a custom butterfly roof over the addition. Here is the unforgivable error: Cari's recommended contractor suggested we do some "value engineering" to make a simpler roof. Cari and the cotnractor said we should replace the entire roof (old house and new) with a redesigned new roof, and that this would be cheaper construction than the butterfly roof (trusses vs hand cut beams) and save us money. This was all "value engineering" after all, and they were the experts! Turns out when you remove and change the roof design over a structure, that structure has to be to code, meaning our entire foundation would need to be updated. Something Cari and her team absolutely should know. Instead, we paid Cari and the engineer for new plans and waited 6 MONTHS while they went back and forth with the city, before admiting to their mistake. $10,000 later, we'd scrapped the "value engineering" idea and went back to the butterfly. Did we have struggles that weren't her fault yes. But over a nearly 2 year process working with her I can tell you that a) she was ALWAYS happy to charge us for work rather than talk us out of bad ideas and b) she is not willing to take ownership of for the value engineering catastrophe. So, we have paid for the 1st design we couldn't use, and the 2nd design we literally handed to her on a napkin, and for a design that was never feasable. A total of $52k to this point. Even though she the original plans were with the city and we'd done all the work twice with them now, Cari still found another $4k worth of charges I'm now being forced to pay an under threat of a mechanics lien. Do not make my mistake and STAY AWAY!

We just finished a smallish remodel project where we worked with Cari and her team and are really…read morehappy with the results. We already had a contractor to work with and since our project was on the small side, we didn't know if this would be worth her while. However, we had a few good rounds of communication and were able to hone in on a solution that delivered the impact we wanted without it turning into a cost suck. With her guidance, we were able to skirt the expensive structural issues that would have blown costs out of the water, and raise a portion of our ceiling and add a new skylight that dramatically altered the feeling of our low-ceiling living area. Past experiences with architects have led us to feel unlistened to and bullied by their opinion; with Cari we felt she took the time to understand our taste and needs and find an elegant and affordable solution,

We found our way to Winder Gibson through our realtor and could not be more grateful. We worked…read moreclosely with Geoff and Daniel to design our dream home. They were an absolute pleasure to work with and took on all details at every stage, including handling a difficult neighbor. At the same time, they were efficient and budget conscious, helping us stay on track both financially and time-line wise. They made what could be an overwhelming process move smoothly and enjoyably. We unreservedly recommend Winder Gibson.

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Geoff and his team on a full demolition and new…read moreconstruction of a single family home with ADU in San Francisco. We loved our experience and wholeheartedly endorse Winder Gibson to anyone looking for a full service architecture firm. From the outset, Geoff and his team demonstrated an exceptional understanding of our family's needs, which they transformed into a beautiful house design that resonates with our aspirations and lifestyle. We are currently transitioning to the construction phase, and are excited to raise our family in such a thoughtfully designed space. Also, Geoff and team are true experts at navigating the San Francisco permitting process. They efficiently moved us through permitting, both reacting to feedback from the city and helping us manage our neighbors. Honestly, we could not have permitted the house without their guidance. In a city where building homes can be difficult, the one two punch of beautiful design + the knowledge and skill to get it across the line was invaluable. We are so appreciative of Geoff and team.

Tim drew plans for our deck and railings replacement project. He was thorough and fun to meet…read morewith. He filed information to get the building permit, and met with the contractor. He was available if needed when the work was inspected. The inspector told us the work was done "beyond code." Tim's design guaranteed our deck would be safe as well as lovely. His fee was reasonable for someone with so much experience. We are thrilled with the results.

Timothy was great to work with. We remodeled our bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible and…read moreTimothy quickly understood the issues then provided excellent drawings. He also took the lead in securing the building permit which made all the difference! We very enthusiastically recommend Home & Temple Design!

Wafa was very responsive to my call inquiry about a new property I acquired in Sonoma County. She…read morewas generous in giving me her time on a zoom call to go over the scope of the project. Though I elected to forgo my plan to redesign the roofline, if I had decided to go through with it, I would absolutely have gone with Wafa. Her knowledge and experience is strong and she was very easy and pleasant to talk with. We elected to keep the house roof line as it is, and focus on interior upgrades and improvements. Thank you Wafa, for being so kind and amazing. We will definitely choose to use her services in the future when a new architectural need arises. Recommend.

I converted a study room in my three cars garage without a building permit years ago. It was…read morealways been my goal to legalize it but didn't have time and energy to do it until my retirement now. I didn't have any idea as where to start the project. I joined a Facebook ADU Group and started learning about the permit and construction process. It was suggested that I should start finding an architect to draw up a design plan and submit it to the City for approval. I read through many Yelp reviews and found Wafaa at waArchitecture + Design for she had great reviews and the professionalism I was searching for. Wafaa helped me designed and received building permit for converting my existing garage room and laundry space into a 270 square foot JADU of one bedroom. Waffaa was responsive, patient, and flexible during the design phase. What impressed me the most was that her and her team's speed of correspondence. There were no revision requested from the City and my JADU design plan was submitted the first week of February and was approved by the City of Fremont at the end of April. If you are looking for a responsible, highly skilled professional Architect, look no further, I highly recommend Waffaa of waArchitecture + Design.

We've been working with Andy for the last several months on our 3rd and 4th story addition project…read morein upper Noe Valley. Communication: Andy is organized, efficient, and clear in his communications with us. He was also upfront with us from the beginning about the potential challenges our project would face, from city building regulations to neighbor considerations, but always presented solutions to the issues. Design: Andy has been able to take our high level requirements and turn them into an elegant and practical design that is above and beyond what we originally imagined. His in-depth knowledge of the city codes has also been reassuring - we really appreciate his focus on the goal of making this a smooth, low drama process. Process and Cost: Finally, Andy's wealth of vetted and reliable industry contacts has helped us determine a working budget early in the process - this has been invaluable for ensuring we're comfortable with the major changes to come. Andy and his contacts have all provided reasonable pricing, considering the scale of the project we are undertaking. We're really happy working with Andy, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for any projects in SF!

We've just completed our 2nd Major Remodel with Andy after having the pleasure of working with him…read moreseveral years ago on our 2nd story addition. Our 2nd project with Andy included the main level Kitchen, Family area, Mudroom and Powder Room. We were so impressed with Andy's design talent the first time, that we were certain we wanted to work with Andy to tackle the design challenges for the second go round. Andy again was integral to the success of the project. After receiving an initial estimate from a contractor we had worked with in the past that was higher than expected, Andy was able to offer another contractor more in line with our budget. After listening to our thoughts and concerns, Andy offered several design options, and again we were really excited with the finalized approach. Andy was able to incorporate some specific design details we wanted, and then build upon them and make them a unique feature for our project. When we were facing technical challenges with the millwork detail we incorporated into the project, Andy suggested a solution that the millworker went with to solve the problem. Andy again was great to work with through the design, both listening and offering design options we hadn't thought of. His attention to design detail really made the project. His knowledge of construction and cost were such a great asset to making our project a success. He followed through with the project from beginning to end. We Hired Andy 2x as our Architect, we highly recommend him for your project!

Our company recently built a large addition designed by Scott McGlashan to a home here in the Bay…read moreArea. The project was a great success from conception to completion - due to Scott's design expertise and his professionalism. Speaking as a builder with over 30 years of experience, I've built a lot of projects that were bigger, more expensive, fancier etc. This one will stand in my memory because the finished house works in every way. It looks terrific from both outside and inside. The proportions of the addition complement the original home as do the details. It's not too big or too small, not too detailed or overly plain, in short, it's just right! Before we broke ground, Scott listened to the clients and designed a structure that gave them everything they asked for, and he kept costs within their budget. Then he won the neighbor's confidence and shepherded the plans through the complicated city approvals with only minor comments and alterations. During this process, he saved the clients $15,000 in construction costs by negotiating with the building officials. During the construction phase Scott collaborated with the clients and the builder, fostering a team approach. He brokered sensible compromises, but never lost sight of the original design goal. This steady, firm guidance reassured the clients, and helped us complete the project on schedule and within budget! I would conclude by saying that Scott is smart about energy efficiency. "Green Building" is the rage these days. Many claim to be "green", but few are. If you work with Scott and a good builder, the result will be an elegant structure you will love to live in. It will be energy efficient and it will have a timeless quality that you'll appreciate more every year you are there.

Before choosing an architect, we took our time to research, which included interviewing six…read morearchitects in person. We could not have been happier with our choice: Scott McGlashan. For starters, Scott is an incredible listener who took to heart all of our expectations and desires -- not an easy feat when a husband's ideas are vastly different than this wife's. Every time we asked Scott to sketch out another idea because we weren't sure, we generously and patiently came through. Whenever we had a question or concern, he was responsive and called back. Along the way, Scott was very considerate of our budget. He offered ideas about how to save money. Moreover, he always had creative ideas about how to re-use materials, such as the Douglas fir wood that became our window sills. We'd heard horror stories about architects having strained relationships with contractors. Hands down, Scott was cooperative and open to compromise -- with us and our contractors. Thanks to his team spirit, our addition was built in five months (!). We love our new home!

We had the pleasure of working with Jill Finn of TANGERINEdesign LLC when our longtime designer was…read moreunavailable -- so she walked into a situation where we were already feeling a bit off balance. But from day one, Jill exceeded our expectations. The project involved tearing down an old, dilapidated screened-in porch that had never really worked for us -- too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer -- and transforming it into a usable interior room. We wanted to keep the light and airy feel of a porch while gaining insulation, comfort, and year-round usability. We also wanted ideas for built-ins: maybe a window seat, maybe bookshelves -- we weren't quite sure. Other contractors over the years had taken one look at the porch and declined to get involved due to its age and condition. Not Jill. She had ideas right away. Jill brings so much energy, creativity, and practical knowledge to the table. Even while juggling big personal commitments (like her son's graduation across the country), she delivered several strong design ideas within a few weeks -- and they were fresh, inspiring, and budget-conscious. She collaborated easily with our civil engineer, adjusting her drawings quickly to meet his needs. She also understands our local codes and regulations really well, and met directly with our contractors to make sure her designs were realistic and executable before we got too far into the process. On top of all that, Jill has a fantastic personality. She made the experience fun and engaging, and she brought a sense of momentum and confidence that really helped us move forward. I can't recommend Jill highly enough -- her creativity, responsiveness, and enthusiasm make her a true gem. If you're considering working with TANGERINEdesign LLC, you're in excellent hands. Karen & Greg Marriner 6/22/25

I recently called on TANGERINEdesign LLC to help me with some retro permit work needed prior to…read moreselling my home. I wasn't sure what the City needed, or how to complete it, but Jill knew what to do, how to get it done correctly, and guided me through the process. As for the process, it was quick!... from on-site measurements, to drafting the necessary documents, to submittal and approval, it could not have gone smoother! I'm so thankful to have found TANGERINEdesign LLC and appreciate Jill's genuine work ethic by sticking to the timeline & price she quoted me.

Contacted Shawn after reading reviews here on Yelp and after seeing photos of his work on Houzz. I…read morewanted to update my kitchen to make it brighter and fit in with the style of the rest of the house but needed help with what to do. Shawn took a look around, listened to what I had in mind, and thankfully told me what would or wouldn't work. He picked a beautiful quartz counter top, gave me options to choose from for the paint, faucet and hardware. He has a great team working for him. They were respectful and trustworthy. The refinished cabinets look like new. They do high quality work. He made his best effort to get things done within the time frame discussed but, as with any renovation, there were some unexpected issues that led to minor delays and affected cost. I really appreciated how his main concern was that I was happy with the end result. Before and in process photos attached (forgot to take a picture of the final product and don't want to clean the kitchen right now).

We lucked out big time in finding Shawn and his team. After interviewing 7 options last Spring for…read moreour kitchen/interior living space remodel, we knew Shawn was our guy. We've now been in our finished kitchen and house for a few months and love it more every day. We still can't believe the transformation and beyond the beautiful upgrade across the board, his design and recommendations made it SO much more functional. From the design process to communication and his project manager/workers, everyone was a true professional. No kitchen horror stories and they finished exactly on time. There of course are small things that came up in communication between what we decided with Shawn (keeping our dishwasher) and what the workers on site knew about (tried to give it away 2x), but that is common in any project, and most important to us is every small thing we noticed/flagged was fixed without question. We've already referred Shawn to anyone who asks. He took our space from a very dated 1960s vibe to modern but with character, and a design that matches our ranch style home. Thank you Shawn for making our house feel like us!

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!

After several successful collaborations, with Jill Loman near the end of my 40 year career as a…read moregeneral contractor, I couldn't have hit a better note to end on. Pure joy to work with. Intelligent, perceptive, conscientious and grounded. That's Jill Loman.

We worked with Kathy on a two-phase renovation on our North Berkeley home. Kathy and co were…read moreresponsive, professional, and did a good job balancing our uneducated ideas with their experience to get a cohesive plan that aligned with our vision. We've now completed construction for phase one and planning for both and we're so glad we chose to work with Kathy and Sogno!

We love Sogno and recommend them without hesitation. We worked with Kathy Rogers and her mix of…read morepractical (Ikea cabinets) and more expensive finishes helped create our amazing kitchen that two years later we love and use. We entertain so much more and now if we don't it's because we have two children instead of just one, and not because we're embarrassed by our kitchen. We used their services to update and open up our kitchen which was walled off, horribly outdated and inefficient. Now we can move from kitchen to living space super easily and everyone can participate in conversation, drink at the counter, or help cook. We get lots of compliments and can't ever imagine leaving.