We had the pleasure of working with Jill Finn of TANGERINEdesign LLC when our longtime designer was unavailable -- 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 read more

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I recently called on TANGERINEdesign LLC to help me with some retro permit work needed prior to selling 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. read more

My fiancee and I met with Jill to explore building an ADU in our backyard from the ground up along with a home expansion. We were glad that we chose Jill; she brings with her a wealth of knowledge in all facets of the construction phase, and she was very friendly and easy to talk to also! Most of the time we would ask her a question, then just let her talk, as she was very detailed with all of her answers and did a great job teaching. We also appreciated that Jill also has no problem telling you if your idea is a bad idea, but will provide the context and reasoning why. Lastly, we loved tapping her creative mind; she has the ability to look at a space and give you plenty of ideas for it that you might not have even thought of! We would definitely recommend her and would work with her again. read more

I am a Real Estate agent and I learned about Jill and Tangerine Design through a presentation that she did at our office last year. Jill came and met with me and my buyers who were considering making an offer on a property in Lafayette, Ca. Jill is a pro and really conveys to people what their options are and what will be involved if they are to do an addition etc. Even though my clients did not make an offer on that particular property, the information my clients received was worth the fee she charges. Knowledge is power. I would definitely use Jill again and I highly recommend her and her services. Alyse P. read more

Jill is amazing. She has decades of experience in design and has a brain that just thrives in modular settings, making her the Swiss Army Knife of any home reno. Working with her will not only expand your options of what to do in your space and HOW to use it best, but it will also afford you designer discounts that basically make Jill's fees cover themselves. I can't recommend her more! read more

TL;DR - I did not pay for/receive any services from Jill, but she took care of me better than most paid contractors do! Amazing! Thorough version: I have been in the process of getting my own permit for a detached garage on my residential property. Comments (to-do list) from the city can definitely be confusing, especially for a homeowner like myself that is new to the building permit process. Though Jill wasn't able to provide the specific services I needed to satisfy the city, she did provide several contacts that could. Upon consulting with one of the contacts (who was also very responsive and helpful), they said that they would need some work done by Jill first before they could do their part. I then spoke to Jill again, and she said that while she could do what is asked for her, she gave me the confidence to go talk to the city in person for more specifics, and see if I could do the work myself. Jill was so sincere and genuine, and didn't want me to pay for services that I may not require. Low and behold, the city (as usual) threw the entire book at us initially, but after meeting with them in person, I was easily able to satisfy their requirements on my own (at least for this round of comments), not needing any additional services from any contractor. This was unbelievable to me - a business owner (Jill) that would rather have me NOT pay for services from her that may not be necessary. She really believes in doing the right thing, not just making a quick buck. On top of that, she also went WAY above and beyond to discuss other parts of my project that I didn't think about, possible issues if the previous homeowner did something without permit, what I could do about it, etc. Never before have I ever felt that a contactor that i DID NOT PAY care about me so much as a human being and just do the right thing. I will definitely keep Jill in mind for any future projects that would need her services, and recommend her to ANYONE that needs an architect. This is the way to run a business and build a reputation. Fantastic! read more

I called Jill for advice regarding a project. She was attentive, respectful, and quite well informed. In a short amount of time she was able to provide me with a ton of information and steer me in the right direction. I'll be sure to contact her in the future for my planning needs. Thanks Jill! read more

I been very frustrated with my "architect" who I already paid $9300 to and most of the time husband and I are doing the design layout. Got to a point that we are very frustrated and had to fire him. Contacted Jill, she spent over an hour talking to us for free and found out for us that the person we hire was actually not a license architect!!!!! She deeply feel sorry for us and volunteer contact the board of architect for us. She called the board of architect daily and finally got to the person who provide the documentation about only architect can use the term "architectural design" End up we get some money back, otherwise, I have enough evidence to go via small claim court. She is truly compassionate and full of justice! Jill does not pull permit from the city, otherwise, we would not hesitate to hire her. read more

We partnered with Jill to generate or at least understand our options for renovating the primary suite and hall bathroom in our 100 year old home. Jill was prompt and responsive and our onsite assessment was HUGELY helpful for us to consider new possibilities and eliminate impractical ideas. She blends real expertise with quick thinking and grounded pragmatism. We were very glad we partnered with Jill - the cost was worth every penny and then some. read more

Jill Finn of Tangerine Designs is a creative professional. She develops designs for her clients to make the space work significantly better. She brings positive energy to all her clients and it is always a pleasure collaborating with her. Her clients love her as expected. We collaborated recently on a high-end Danville remodel and everything went flawlessly. The finished product matched her initial design well and the clients were very pleased with the results. I highly recommend Jill Finn of Tangerine Designs if you want a fun creative designer to work with. You will be very pleased with the result. read more

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My husband and I met with Jill for a consultation to go through some potential renovations to our home. Jill provided excellent guidance and recommendations. Her insight about code requirements was what set her apart from others we spoke with. Her process is very clear and organized. Thank you Jill! read more

You can't go wrong with the expertise of Jill Finn, the owner of Tangerine Design! Before you call any contractor for your remodel or even a house flip, you may want to get the expert opinion of a skilled design specialist! Jill has high and positive work ethics! She is smart, incredibly organized and has unbelievably innovative ideas! Her skills and knowledge of job structures is unsurpassed. She diligently does her very best to make your home remodel beautiful and functional! I can't recommend her enough! Give her a try and call her for an appointment to get her opinion and a free estimate for your remodel! Connie Espinosa, CMT read more

Jill came and spent 2 hours clearing explaining our remodeling/new build options. She is very professional and customer oriented, a real pleasure to work with. Her ideas and advice provide a much clearer idea of what we want to do and the entire process to get there. Thank you Jill and Tangerine Design! read more

Jill was really helpful and brought to us many ideas that we would have never had ourselves and our home is the better for it. She was flexible with her schedule, timely, and had quick turnarounds. Rates are very reasonable, too. Thanks, Jill! read more

We bought a fixer upper and sought advice from several professionals before remodeling. We hired Jill to help with design and color, but we quickly realized during the consultation that her background as an architect gave her the ability to discuss structural issues we might face. For instance, I thought skylights were simple, but she explained that with a roof like ours, the cost can be more than usual. Jill is personable, knowledgeable, intelligent and creative. She gave us many, many good ideas, and we plan to bring her back for follow-up. Honestly, I wish we had known about Jill when we were house hunting! We totally underestimated the cost of remodeling. She gave us ballpark estimates on various parts of the remodel that turned out to be totally spot-on. Had we realized creating our dream home would cost that much, we might have bought a different house. Jill gave us a reality check we needed - albeit a little late. Live and learn. read more

Let me clarify as to the reason why I did not rate my experience Great (5 stars) vs Good (4 stars) If there were a 4.5 stars, I will give to Jill immediately. If I were to evaluate her on our first phone consultation and conversation, the experience that my wife & I received was great and wonderful. Jill gave us quite valuable insights on how one view and treat a home renovation and/or upgrade project(s). She gave us the short/medium vs the long term view, the disadvantages, the benefits for the project that you want to do. After a long conversation, she made us think, and plan on what we want to do with a view of a medium vs long term benefits. Once we firm up our plan, she will be the first person to draw up the design. Thank you, Lenny read more

I would give Jill more than 5 stars if that were possible. We hired Jill for a 2 hour consultation since we were seeking more information regarding the possibility of building a small granny flat or ADU behind our house since we have a lot that is not currently being used. Her rate for this consultation was $195 and it was money well spent. We came into this consultation with little knowledge of the restrictions and codes that we would need to abide by if we were to build a detached or attached living space to rent out in the future or whether we could afford to do this. Our first mistake was that we had a free meeting with a contractor prior to this meeting that wanted to up sell us on many things, told us that we needed to dream up what our perfect detached home in the backyard would look like, and had few answers to questions regarding what were allowed or not allowed do with the property. Basically, we knew there were restrictions and codes we had to adhere to, we just didn't know what they were. I think there are a lot of sales people in the real estate/contractor world that want to sell you things that you don't need or on ideas that are not even possible for you to do by law. For this reason, it's hard to know who to look to for help and accurate information. For that reason, we were both really grateful and happy that we found Jill. Jill is extremely knowledgeable and informative about codes and restrictions in different areas. I found out so much through this process and she was able to answer all of the questions that I had. She was able to let us know what we were allowed to do with the property and what we were not allowed to do. That was extremely beneficial to us! She is very organized and provided us with verbal and written information about the design process, information about the cost of projects/additions, provided us with a list of contractors in the area and their contact information, as well as provided us with other important information. She has a passion for educating and informing people of codes and the process so they can make better decisions and decisions that are right for themselves and/or their family. She also made a lot of good points and had tips for saving money along the way. While we realize that we are still very far away from knowing whether this process would make sense for us at this time, we walked away with a wealth of knowledge that we didn't have before. We now have a clearer plan for next steps in this process to determine if this makes sense for us. She is really down to earth, responds quickly to email, has a wealth of knowledge, and is very helpful. If you are in a similar situation where you are wondering if it is possible to build a small ADU or granny flat in your backyard, I would highly recommend contacting Jill for a consultation! read more

Jill with Tangerine Design is very knowledgeable, and organized (which we love.) She provides you with a great consultation that helps put your remodeling ideas into plan, and gives you information that helps move you forward. She is an essential part of our design team. We have worked with Tangerine Design on several projects, and we appreciate Jill's attention to detail, and organizational skills which are key to a good outcome. read more

It is our first time considering a home remodel. We have spoken to quite a few people to get help with designs for our home. Jill has been by far the most practical and useful. She has a clear process in her head and she speaks in terms we can understand. She was able to give us much needed insight into the process so we could begin to wrap our heads around it all. I have also appreciated her transparency with how she charges, how she approaches design, and how she prioritizes our interests first. After speaking with Jill for 30 minutes on an introductory call, we decided to do a two hour paid consultation with her. The cost was very reasonable and she was flexible with her time. She has provided a ton of documentation and she actually ended up spending almost 3 hours with us which was very helpful. read more

Jill is extremely knowledgeable and professional, and helped me think about my remodeling project in a different way that really opened up new possibilities. She really makes the time and effort to help you understand the design, planning, and permitting process and is passionate about what she does. I highly recommend her! read more

My wife and I met with Jill regarding our home on the lake. Jill was referred to us by a friend. We were both thoroughly impressed with her knowledge and ideas. It was very entertaining watching her think her way through the process. It is very unusual to find someone with her intelligence and energy. She had some great ideas and we felt very comfortable working with her. You will be very pleased with your project if you choose this professional. read more

Had a lengthy consult at no charge to get started with my house rebuild project after the recent fire in mix canyon. Jill went above and beyond detailing essential steps in the ardorous process to rebuild. I will likely hire her to prepare the plans I need. read more

I needed help in learning about what would be involved in planning and sorting up an interior remodel. Jill Finn did the perfect job. She gave me a complete run-down on what I would be looking at in terms of scope and pricing. She explained how she can help me going forward, if I choose to do so. There were helpful handouts that covered everything we talked about and even many areas that I hadn't thought about. She is a complete professional. She was doing everything to inform me; she was not there to sell me. What I contracted for was a two hour consultation. She communicated ahead of time with me about what to expect and was on time for our consult. The printed material were a bonus that I wasn't expecting, and they will be very helpful. read more

Jill helped me remodel my 1920 house in Alameda in 2015. This was a year long project and required many back and forth with many parties. Jill was an essential part of the remodel- from the initial design and in handling changes as dictated by the city. It's 2017 now, and the remodeled house fits all my requirements well. It has been remodeled from a 1920s house to a modern standard, while still preserving the historical looks that the city wanted to preserve. read more

We had Jill come out to give us some guidance and inspiration about how to build an addition. The first 45 mins was her describing her contract. Cost me $100 for describing contract ? Then we walked around our home and yard. She had some estimate sheets that describe the cost of various options for building. We wanted to spend about $150k on our addition. She said it is not possible . At the end of the two hours her suggestion was that we should move. it is possible, later we spend 50k build a addition fit our need . Basically we paid $200 for her telling me to move !!!! read more

Jill was a lifesaver for our kitchen remodel. I was 4 days away from placing the cabinet order and realized I still had several decisions to make that I needed help with. Jill was recommended by a friend and with very little notice, she made time to come over and offer her input. Her recommendations and suggestions were incredibly helpful as she is a pro with a wealth of knowledge. I'm much happier with our plan and the changes & improvements she offered up. read more

As a fellow designer, I've had the opportunity to work with Tangerine Designs on several occasions. What I'm most grateful about their services is the way Jill sets realistic expectations with clients right from the start. Although designing, redesigning, remodeling often begins with inspiration, designing, permitting, and construction all take considerable amounts of time, energy, and financial commitment. Jill recognizes the importance of educating her clients so that they can make good aesthetic, functional, and financial decisions, including asking such questions as, "have you budgeted for having to rent another place during the remodel." When realistic expectations as set, both the designer and client can move forward confidently, knowing what to expect and how much things are going to cost. Thank you Jill for your high level of service and integrity! read more

I loved Jill. She came in to help us with a project we were really stuck in, and went above and beyond to "brainstorm" solutions for the issues, not in just a business sense, but also as a caring human being. It was so refreshing, after so many "it can't be done's" and "oh it's gonna be pricey". My consultation was half design, half brainstorming, with an extra dash of life coaching thrown in :D Wish we had brought her into the project a year ago. read more

Very smart, up front design review. A very proactive approach to ensure you have everything you need for a successful project. Highly recommend! read more

Jill helped us with a new kitchen design for our home. She was very easy to work with and her expertise was evident from the start. The different design suggestions were well thought out and easy to compare. The improved counter space and storage were exactly what my wife and I were looking for. We are so happy with our new kitchen and Jill had a lot to do with the end result! read more

We had Jill consult with us when we were evaluating remodel/addition options for our home. It was money very well spent! Jill came prepared to the consult with pre-research she had done on our area's zoning restrictions, building codes, etc. She clearly has a lot of experience because just in a 2-hour consult, she offered us a ton of solid perspective and advice on what was possible and what may be difficult/expensive about our ideas based on our lot and existing home style, roof style, etc. I would highly recommend meeting with Jill when you are considering projects and definitely before evaluating architects. You'll get a lot of solid advice that will save you time and $$ later. read more

Jill helped us design a studio in our backyard last year. She was easy to work with, very intelligent and came up with good suggestions and options. The structure was finally completed 2 weeks ago and we couldn't be happier with the design. Thank you Jill! read more

Jill has been an absolutely essential part of our loft remodel - from initial brainstorming on design to information on codes and permits through to production of the floor plans used in our design review with the city. She really goes the extra mile for her clients, has been there to answer the (many!) questions we've had, and has been an invaluable part of this entire process for us. read more

Jill is creative , and puts a lot of her experience behind her design. With limited space she came up with a unique solution that turned our bathroom remodel into someting we are very happy with, read more

Jill is amazing!! I found her on Yelp and the 5 star reviews are right on--she's totally responsive, she's easy to work with, and most importantly, she produced a fabulous design for an addition to our home. She listened to our ideas and produced a design that was even better than what we could have imagined! She's a wonderful person to work with, and her rates are extremely reasonable. I could not be happier! read more

Fantastic! This was a VERY tricky design project where we needed to get very creative with how to make 2 undersized and poorly planned bathrooms not only big enough and functional enough, but also do so while optimizing the other spaces they touched. Jill was exactly the right person for this job - we ultimately saved a ton, and she did what no other desing-build folks would do, which was COME to the house and look at the space, then actually put some options down on paper before we went forward with thousands on architectural drawings. Which was KEY given we couldn't even ENVISION how it would work. She came up with EXCELLENT options, listened to our feedback and suggestions, and was super responsive. The project is on hold for now due to other conflicts, but we would definitely use Jill again! read more

I hired Jill to help upgrade our outdated apartments in San Francisco. She supplied COST EFFECTIVE layout options, material choices, contractors & store resources that were perfectly suited for "higher end" markets. Her ability to design with an eye towards "functionality" resulted in "practical" recommendations that my tenants "Paid For Dearly". She has an excellent interior design sense to compliment her functional layouts. She also takes your project to heart and is concerned that the result are as promised. There's no "fall off" in focus. She not only offers advise but project management services for those in need of Design and Build options. I highly recommend her services. read more

I have an unusual project for a garage in Berkeley that I was struggling to figure out, and I was referred to Jill by a friend in the Bay Area (I live in Los Angeles). Jill was such a great help and blessing to find. She took the time to research my property and situation and promptly called me. Jill ended up advising me with a solution that took the customers needs first. She also recommended general contractors in the area (these days those are really hard to find). I would recommend Jill to anyone; she is experienced, knowledgeable, sharp and customer-focused! read more

As a fellow professional, I really appreciate Jill's well thought out designs, her clever layouts and use of space. She is wonderful to work with, generous with her time, an enthusiastic problem solver, and very knowledgeable. read more

We met with Jill to discuss opportunities to update our 1960s home. Our ideas were all over the map, and Jill was able to easily distill what we wanted, what we needed, and what the options could look like. She provided some ballpark estimates on cost, which helped to identify what was realistic with our budget (and piece of mind). As our home is older, and located on a steep hill, she highlighted some potential issues with the building code in our city, provided us with printouts and explained the concerns that she could foresee with our projects. The information was incredibly valuable, and helped to highlight that perhaps our ideas were a bit grandiose for our budget (and risk tolerance). She also took the time to review a number of materials that she provided - from tip sheets of "When to do XYZ" as well as her recommendations for our specific project from her list of licensed contractors with whom she's worked. We will start working with Jill shortly on a design to update the facade of the house, along with our decking and hardscape - I'm so excited to see what should be an incredible transformation! read more