--- title: "Ashley Hopwood Farrar — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/ashley-hopwood-farrar-pfvwus-pf~1292945181 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1292945181.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Ashley Hopwood Farrar" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/1a83a6050581c037_2269-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "San Diego, California 92103, United States" latitude: 32.7466 longitude: -117.1636 phone: "(760) 822-6417" website: http://meldrumdesign.com rating: 5 review_count: 9 best_of_houzz_awards: 2 followers: 39 last_updated: 2026-08-31 --- # Ashley Hopwood Farrar Original Houzz profile: [Ashley Hopwood Farrar](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/ashley-hopwood-farrar-pfvwus-pf~1292945181) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** San Diego, CA - **Serves:** San Diego, University City, La Mesa, La Jolla, Spring Valley, Ocean Beach San Diego, Lemon Grove, Bonita, Hill Crest San Diego, Logan Heights San Diego, Mission Hills San Diego, Mission Valley San Diego, Tierrasanta San Diego - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (9 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2025–2026), for Service, Design. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves Meldrum Design is an architecture and design firm located in Kingfield, Maine and San Diego, CA. We help people create beautiful, relaxing homes that are customized for their lifestyle and priorities. We design and remodel homes, apartment buildings, individual apartments, condos, cottages, accessory dwelling units, and Airbnb units. Our architectural services include as-built drawings, schematic design, design development, construction documents, permit documents, permit processing, floor plan consultations, drafting services, property feasibility studies, and interior design services. Specialties include compact and tiny spaces, energy efficient design and sustainable green design. ### Services Provided - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Sustainable Design - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - Green Building - Universal Design - Multigenerational Homes - Pool House Design & Construction - Drafting - Handicap-Accessible Design - Barn Design & Construction - Passive Solar Heating & Cooling - Log Home Construction - Construction Drawings - Site Planning ### Areas Served - San Diego - University City - La Mesa - La Jolla - Spring Valley - Ocean Beach San Diego - Lemon Grove - Bonita - Hill Crest San Diego - Logan Heights San Diego - Mission Hills San Diego - Mission Valley San Diego - Tierrasanta San Diego ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Ashley Hopwood Farrar | | Address | San Diego, California 92103, United States | | Phone | (760) 822-6417 | | Website | http://meldrumdesign.com | | Followers on Houzz | 39 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Ashley Hopwood Farrar](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/ashley-hopwood-farrar-pfvwus-pf~1292945181) - **Website:** http://meldrumdesign.com - **Phone:** (760) 822-6417 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2025–2026), for Service, Design. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 9 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 46.0 ### All 9 reviews **★★★★★ — HU-914093135, Feb. 2026** > We worked with Ashley for a review of a prefab/modular plan and it was incredible - I'm positive it already saved us thousands, and having another professional opinion to back up our hunches about certain decisions gave us so much peace of mind! In particular, I loved that we could bring her in for 1 piece of the project since budget, timeline, and builder capacity is super tight - so the fact that she could weigh in on the design while respecting those parameters was so critical. **★★★★★ — Michelle Navarre, Feb. 2025** > Working with Ashley was a delight. She brought enthusiasm, expertise, common sense, and excellent communication skills to our project. We had to scale back our project as material prices soared, and she creative problem-solved along with us. Now, we have a new space that is more awesome than what we had initially imagined. One of Ashley’s superpowers is as a liaison between clients and contractors. She coached us through the process of picking a contractor, asked questions we would not have thought of, interpreted options for us, facilitated timely communication, and went out of her way to help us move our project forward when delays threatened to derail it. Construction projects can be an ordeal, but working with Ashley was always a pleasure. **★★★★★ — Darryl Wood, Feb. 2023** > I was looking to design a training center for my organization that was both efficient and stylistic. While I had a basic concept in mind, after just one meeting Ashley created a concept that was pretty darn close to the design we chose. I found her easy to work with, with very little wasted effort and excellent collaboration with just the right people along the way. While she was definitely in charge of the design, she was very receptive to suggestions and design changes that either saved money or improved the original plan via the feedback loop. My experience with Meldrum design was a 10 out of 10, and I believe all the contractors felt the same way. Highly recommend! **Comment from Ashley Hopwood Farrar:** > Thanks for the glowing review, Darryl. It was such a pleasure working with you and the construction team. **★★★★★ — Karli Tomlinson, July 2021** > We contracted with Ashley for our custom, ground up build in inland North County. Working with Ashley was by far the easiest part of the entire project. She listened to all of our needs and desires and was able to provide a design that fit our vision and our lifestyle perfectly! In addition to her design skills, I was blown away by her knowledge and professionalism. Ashley does her homework and her attention to detail made getting our plans approved by the county a breeze. She also has a well-built network of engineers and contractors she was able to recommend, collect bids from, and coordinate with on our behalf in order to complete the plans. She was fast, efficient, very clear with communication and upfront about what we could expect. We have no regrets and are so thankful for Ashley and the experience we had with Meldrum Design! **★★★★★ — Priority 1 Project Management, July 2018** > Ashley Hopwood Farrar of Meldrum Design is a talented architect and designer who is also an excellent communicator and extremely well organized, which makes her a joy to work with in my role as an Owners Rep. > > Over the last 20 years, I have worked with many interior designers and architects in my role of managing residential construction projects. Typically designers and architects can be the most challenging because most creatives are not well organized or good communicators. > > Ashley shatters that model as she is an extremely good communicator (check our her blog for a prime example), very responsive and exceptionally organized. I am working with Ashley on a very challenging project with several people dropping the balls while Ashley is helping me to keep everything running smoothly. > > Her finish selection sheet is so well organized and detailed that I give it to my homeowner clients as an example of what they should expect from their interior designer. > > If you are looking for a designer that is creative yet detailed, thorough yet efficient, impactful yet cost effective, Ashley should be your top choice. **★★★★★ — Sara, April 2017** > Couldn't be happier with everything! Ashley designed and helped us navigate a whole- house renovation to include vaulting a ceiling and moving a couple walls. Her knowledge and professionalism are top notch. Plus she's one of the nicest most genuine people you'll ever meet. **Comment from Ashley Hopwood Farrar:** > What a wonderful review. So happy you enjoyed our working relationship as much as I did. Thank you Sara! **★★★★★ — Lisa Prior, Feb. 2017** > We hired Ashley to help us open up some wasted space to become a fabulous living room. She was so easy to work with, professional and came up with wonderful ideas and solutions to every problem we encountered. We ended up with a stunning living room with a disappearing wall that has become the focal point of our home. She also helped us gut and redo a very small cramped bathroom (still small) but now fully functioning, modern and not cramped. I would highly recommend Ashley for any project. **★★★★★ — Richard Walker, Feb. 2017** > Ashley served as my draftsperson for a very complicated multi-family ground-up residential construction project in a historically designated district of San Diego. There was an existing structure in place and Ashley provided accurate as-is drawings and demo plans. She also conceived several proposals for the future layout with her conceptual knowledge of small-space living. Although the client’s original concept of the small-space configuration was ultimately used, her ideas helped assure us that we were moving ahead in the best direction. There was also a missing aspect as to exact furniture configuration and TV placement in the client’s ideal floorplan – Ashley was integral in closing this critical gap. Ashley’s to-be drawings were well assembled. She coordinated with other design professionals and subcontractors (engineering, plumbing, electrical, mechanical) to create a full set of design documents. Ashely also worked with a licensed architect to obtain the necessary formal stamps on the plans to ensure we were Design Development Services (DSD) ready. The client did 100% of the permit running at DSD. Ashley provided guidance when she was available. All draft work was completed remotely and live meetings were limited to approximately every 6 weeks or so. Even with this limitation, a great product resulted. I would highly recommend Ashley as a draftsperson for small-space design and drafting. **★★★★★ — TaylorPro Design and Remodeling, Inc., Jan. 2017** > Ashley and I were brought together by our common client to architect/design (Ashley) and remodel (TaylorPro Design and Remodeling) a kitchen/dining/living room in University City. > > Often a combination of this type breeds a power struggle that is hard to manage as differences in design/construction/management styles clash. In this case, Ashely and I started working together like we have be successful partners for years. Finding a designer that puts the customer first and works as a team with all parties is, in my opinion, hard to find. > > Experience and a style beyond their vision are what clients pay for. Ashley has this in spades along with the practical part of construction that makes her invaluable to the contractor. I typically have to spend a lot of time changing a designer's design so that it can be built. Ashley was always a step ahead of me and she made my job easy. > > Ashley is a diamond in the rough find of a designer. I look forward to our next project. > > Kerry Taylor, TaylorPro Design and Remodeling ## Selected projects - [Maine Mountain Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/maine-mountain-home-pj-vj~6433684) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 39 - Description: These clients built this house 20 years ago and it holds many fond memories. They wanted to make sure those memories could be passed on to their grandkids. We worked hard to retain the character of the house while giving it a serious facelift. They agreed that the house should be high performance and sustainable. We fit a lot of function into a relatively small space by keeping the bedrooms and bathrooms compact. The kitchen and dining area is one big open space allowing for lots of countertop,… - [Cozy Modern San Diego Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cozy-modern-san-diego-home-pj-vj~6166272) - Location: San Diego, CA - Photos: 31 - Description: As with most properties in coastal San Diego this parcel of land was expensive and the client wanted to maximize their return on investment. We did this by filling every little corner of the allowable building area (width, depth, AND height). We designed a new two-story home that includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, one office/ bedroom, an open concept kitchen/ dining/ living area, and my favorite part, a huge outdoor covered deck. This house has upside down living with the Garage and bedro… - [Open & Eclectic Encinitas Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/open-and-eclectic-encinitas-remodel-pj-vj~2295708) - Location: Encinitas, CA - Photos: 8 - [San Diego Modern Coastal Apartments](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-diego-modern-coastal-apartments-pj-vj~2189389) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: My client bought this four unit apartment building in rough shape. We designed and permitted a total renovation. The client chose interior finishes and Meldrum Design produced the exterior design, floor plans, and permits. We gutted the interior, added a balcony to each unit, and kept it all in the traditional style of this historic neighborhood. The apartments are small at 550 square feet but they feel incredibly spacious. - [Funky Fresh RV Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/funky-fresh-rv-remodel-pj-vj~1827029) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: RV renovation. Entire project was DIY on a strict budget. Work done: wall paint, new floors, new curtains, trim paint, new fridge/freezer, new kitchen sink and faucet, move tv, new office/desk, demo annoying cabinets in bedroom. Photo credit: GreytoBlue.com - [Cozy & Bright Portland Apartment](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cozy-and-bright-portland-apartment-pj-vj~2189248) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: I traveled to Portland, Oregon to decorate a client's apartment. We started with zero furniture and a big mess. I shopped and organized and by the end of my week-long visit, the place was beautiful! This client was on a budget and the apartment is tiny so we face a few challenges along the way. [See all 6 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/ashley-hopwood-farrar-pfvwus-pf~1292945181) ## Ideabooks - [Kitchen/ Dining](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/40342333/list/kitchen-dining) — 86 ideas - [Stairs](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/46735209/list/stairs) — 7 ideas - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/93726189/list/wish-list) — 3 ideas - [Sun Room/ Screened Porch](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/171981330/list/sun-room-screened-porch) — 2 ideas - [Annis](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/127344404/list/annis) — 2 ideas - [Lighting](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/147448361/list/lighting) — 1 idea - [Articles](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/147154887/list/articles) — 1 idea - [Forest Lane](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/146922210/list/forest-lane) — 1 idea - [Vienna Ground Up](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/137626469/list/vienna-ground-up) — 1 idea - [Wayne Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/134512607/list/wayne-renovation) — 7 ideas - [Oakland Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/129238242/list/oakland-remodel) — 1 idea - [UTC Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/60145477/list/utc-remodel) — 45 ideas - [Our House](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118505661/list/our-house) — 9 ideas - [Designs for DIY](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/63960840/list/designs-for-diy) — 2 ideas - [Tiny Living](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/45305898/list/tiny-living) — 51 ideas - [CV remodel](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/111080995/list/cv-remodel) — 1 idea - [Freeman Ground Up](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/111079976/list/freeman-ground-up) — 1 idea - [Del Mar Triple Decker](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/59780921/list/del-mar-triple-decker) — 9 ideas - [BIRCHWOOD](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/87798065/list/birchwood) — 2 ideas - [Rhode Island Tiny House](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/80218345/list/rhode-island-tiny-house) — 1 idea [See all 39 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/meldrumdesign) ## Community Q&A **Q: Love the tile!** *(in Photo Questions)* What color is it and where is it from? A: This is the Island Stone Palms series in azure. Such a great pop of color. **Q: What is the width of the upper cabinet doors?** *(in Photo Questions)* Any chance you could tell me what is the width of the upper cabinet doors? A: I believe that corner door is 24" wide. The one next to it looks 21" wide. **Q: Flooring, please?** *(in Photo Questions)* Can you tell me the details of the flooring? Thanks A: The client ordered that themselves so I'm not sure what it is. Sorry I can't be more helpful! **Q: blue tile?** *(in Photo Questions)* What is the beautiful blue tile here? Thanks A: Hello! I have that spec. :) It's Island Stone- Palms- in color Spring. **Q: What is the color of the tile?** *(in Photo Questions)* Can you please provide the details for your tile? Very nice looking! A: Glad you like it! The tile is Island Stone's "Palms". Color is Spring. **Q: Paint colour** *(in Photo Questions)* What is the colour of the cabinets.Such a relief from all the greys. A: Yes! It very closely matches Sherwin Williams Rare Gray 6199. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-31.*