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

My fiancee and I met with Jill to explore building an ADU in our backyard from the ground up along…read morewith 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.

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.

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 had discussed a major remodeling of our outdated original master bathroom for a few years but…read morefelt overwhelmed with a project of this size. We just did not know where to begin. A thorough search LED us to Shawn and Create Interior Design. He came and met with us several times to explain his process and guide us through the entire project step by step. He drafted several design concepts based on our input and refined them until we were happy. After the basics had been locked down, it was much easier for us to choose specific tiles, colors and fixtures. The lifelike 3D renderings provided a clear vision of what the finished bathroom would look like, and removed all the guesswork and stress from this project. Shawn provided us with an extremely detailed list of every item and exact cost for the project including scheduling, permits, demo, construction, inspections and every material and fixture. It was clear that we were in experienced and competent hands. We chose to have Shawn and his team handle the project and complete all of the work period his crew was incredible. Each craftsman who worked on different parts of the remodeling was clearly a skilled professional with attention to detail and pride in their workmanship. They accommodated small changes and dealt with unforeseen issues as they occurred. Despite the scale and duration of this total remodel, they kept the work area much cleaner and more organized than we had expected. The finshed result is truly amazing. We now have a totally new bathroom which is the highlight of the entire house. We would highly recommend Create Interior Design and Shawn's thorough approach to designing, documenting, organizing and implementing your home remodeling dream project.

We used Raskop and Lu for a large remodel/rebuild project (over $1 Million) in Oakland. We…read moreselected Ryan after interviewing 10 architects, all of which we found online. A project of this scale is always stressful and has high uncertainty, particularly with respect to details, cost and schedule; our case was complicated further because we were living out of state and our design had some unique details that created constructibility challenges. From the beginning, we were extremely satisfied and comforted with the level of communication, the patience to educate us on the full project cycle requirements, the high level of pro-activity and engagement, and the ability to find creative solutions when we needed them. The work is high quality and they work very efficiently and patiently with the builders and engineers. We have been very impressed at how calm and supportive they are no matter what the stress level. We would have no hesitation in strongly recommending Raskop and Lu for large or small projects. David and Peggy McKay

From the owner: Established in 2017, Raskop and Lu is an architecture, engineering, and development company that…read morehelps homeowners, real estate investors, and builders navigate the design, permitting, and construction process successfully. With a combined 30+ years of industry experience, we provide our clients and community with informative, considerate, and attentive services with the aim of being a trusted steward of our built environment. We believe in the possibility of developing real estate more harmoniously with the people and places involved. Economically integrating today's ideals and values for the built world requires not only deep knowledge, but also a commitment to solve these complex challenges. Achieving this mission means we show up every day ready to serve our community.

They were responsive and provided a very fair price for their service, it's unfortunate that I…read morecould not use them because my client went in a different direction. However, I will certainly call them on a future when I have another project. I need Engineering and Design. I appreciate when you're working with someone in the trades and they're responsive and helpful.

So I'm seeing cracks on my ceiling and they are starting to worry me…read more I checked Yelp and Nextdoor for some structural engineer recommendations. When I contacted them to get more information they responded timely. Made an appointment with them about a week and a half later. Arash came to the house and looked everywhere garage, outside, all the rooms. And thankfully he said there is no foundation concern. Took him I want to say about 40min to look everywhere. They are not cheap. My eyes almost popped out of my socket when I heard about their rate. But I want someone with experience to look at the house. Anyways, there is a little hiccup with the invoice but they reached back to me quickly to resolve it. The inspection cost is separate to the report fee. Just fyi. Nice people, happy to have found them.

I have hired this team twice now and have been impressed twice! Very prompt and professional…read morecommunication, detail oriented, perfect design and great with problem solving. I have run into issues with the City but Romain was quick to create a solution, and I have heard other accolades from fellow business owners that have used this firm. Definitely recommend and will work with them again.

Overall, we've found Romain to be very reliable--not only in the quality of his work but also in…read morehis professional attitude. We've had his architectural designs reviewed by friends who majored in architecture as well as several interior and landscape designers. Everyone gave very positive feedback and encouraged me to move forward with finalizing the plan. If there is any "downside," it's simply that Romain moves quickly. You'll want to share your thoughts and feedback promptly, otherwise he may be a step ahead of you. Personally, I really appreciate his energy, fast turnaround, and thoughtful consideration of details. We highly recommend Romain.

I was looking for help renovating a somewhat datecd mid century modern home and was fortunate to…read morefind Peter who was able to come up with a plan that while remaining true to the original design gave the home a more contemporary feel and took better advantage of the spectacular views. As architect and contractor he was intimately involved in every phase of the project and was able to adapt the plans to changing circumstances. He gave generously of his time in helping to choose appliances, fixtrures and finishes, and was always looking for ways to save money. I am very pleased with the result and would definitely hire him again!

From the owner: Bay Area Architecture is a family own business. We are licensed architects with more than than 25…read moreyears professional experience. Our work is distinguished by well thought out concept, attention to detail, crisp aesthetics, and rational approach to legal, technical, schedule, and cost aspects. We provide full scope of services from initial meeting to project completion wile regarding every client as our only client. We work closely with our clients at every step of the design and construction to ensure that the results meet the expectations.

Mali is such an expert at her craft! She helped us with our bathroom layout (tricky sf space…read morelimits) to give us a dream master bath that not only was tastefully sourced but also honored all the requirements eg maximized light, easy to clean etc. I was so in love with Mali's work that I also asked her to design our downstairs space-- she made brilliant use of our spaces and helped us maximize usage for the space (again so beautifully rendered)! Highly recommend esp for first time home buyers who don't know much about construction. She's so patient and a great teacher!

Our permits have never been approved so fast. CA Permits and Design manages all the permit…read moreapplications and designs for my home Remodeling business. The plans are always on point, the service always professional, and my clients are always happy with the designs. P.S. ask for Mail, she's the best.

After our modular home manufacturer unexpectedly canceled our order, we felt lost and unsure of how…read moreto move forward with building a new second unit on our property. That's when we met Doug -- and everything changed. Our project wasn't simple. The permit required us not only to build a brand-new house but also to renovate and legalize the existing old house. Doug stepped in, redesigned the new unit beautifully, and reimagined the old house so the two complemented each other perfectly. The construction of the new home went incredibly smoothly. Doug's professionalism, craftsmanship, and attention to detail were evident every step of the way. The quality of his work truly exceeded our expectations. The renovation of the old house turned out to be much more complex than expected, but Doug handled every challenge with steady leadership and creativity. He brought the right people together, found thoughtful solutions, and kept the project moving forward steadily through each difficulty. His dedication and calm problem-solving turned a demanding process into a truly rewarding experience. The whole process took nearly five years -- but in the end, we have two beautiful homes that feel cohesive, warm, and full of life. Doug's commitment, honesty, and heart carried us through. We're deeply grateful for his expertise and friendship throughout this journey. If you're looking for someone who truly cares about your home as much as you do, Doug and his team are the ones to call. We can't recommend them enough. Please feel free to contact me if you want the reference. My phone: 408-800-6698. Michael

Douglas Fernandez of Fernandez Design and Builders in San Jose remodeled my entire home in 2007 and…read moredid such an excellent job; my home now is so beautiful and unique & a great fit for my way of life. The good news is that he was so fair and honest; he really watched costs which is so unusual, and in the end, I could be so much more innovative and creative and do so much more than I could have been with any another contracting firm; even more importantly, we had such a good time working together (even the demolition which I dreaded was a piece of cake because of Doug). I left throughout the remodel on many business trips, & there was so much progress and usually a surprising new touch Doug added every time I returned home. Since then, Doug has been there for me on many other occasions. The good news is that Doug is happy with and enjoys smaller remodeling jobs as well. Last year my outside deck came away from its stucco wall & needed a complete retrofit, including adding more structural columns to further support the deck. He loves a good challenge and coming up with great creative and exciting solutions that are brilliant, yet not expensive. Doug's cell is 510-377-9711. Do not hesitate to contact me for further information; my cell is 650-804-8894. Best wishes, Kaaren Powers

Kathy Bate is a gifted designer. She was able to help us make the best decisions for our home…read morerenovation including the most important details for the kitchen and bath. She was able to work quickly and followed up with digital plans showing our options. The project is off to a great start with our budget in tact. Kathy Bate knows how to help you get the best quality working with the funds available. Already we have saved money on the project by having Kathy 's helpful guidance. She is a warm hearted person who knows when to take charge. My husband and I enjoyed working with Kathy Bate Designs.

Kathy is an amazing and talented designer; smart, savvy, and experienced, very much in tune with…read morethe clients needs. She did a great job designing our kitchen.