--- title: "Lorin Hill, Architect — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/lorin-hill-architect-pfvwus-pf~1384236958 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1384236958.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Lorin Hill, Architect" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/6ce3a3e60f14713f_1390-w400-h400-b1-p10--.jpg address: "6573 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, California 94609, United States" latitude: 37.8361 longitude: -122.2637 phone: "(510) 301-6911" website: http://hillarch.com rating: 5 review_count: 13 best_of_houzz_awards: 12 followers: 591 last_updated: 2026-09-05 --- # Lorin Hill, Architect Original Houzz profile: [Lorin Hill, Architect](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/lorin-hill-architect-pfvwus-pf~1384236958) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Oakland, CA - **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Los Altos, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Albany, Orinda, Moraga, Emeryville, Piedmont, Portola Valley - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (13 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 12 awards (2013–2025), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 100,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - High-end - Speaks Spanish, French Architect Lorin Hill and associates emphasize pragmatic and creative design solutions to variety of design opportunities throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Every project presents its own unique challenges, and we find something compelling in every project, no matter what size. Excellent design only reaches its full potential if it can be effectively translated into a completed construction project that meets scheduling and budget goals. We promote a pro-active approach aimed at achieving and maintaining good "chemistry" among all players in the process: the client, the design team, and the contractor. Our particular strengths include responsiveness, thoroughness, communication and flexibility. We provide a continuum of services that take a project from the broad overview (a master plan) to the specifics of construction detailing and specifications, with active involvement in the construction process. We are committed to environmentally sustainable practices in our work and often incorporate the Build-it-Green GreenPoints Rating System into our projects. First and foremost, the renovation of existing structures minimizes the waste of resources. We promote the use of locally-sourced, renewable and recycled building materials as well as building systems and site design that favor water and energy conservation. Improved indoor air quality and the reduction of contaminants contribute to healthier living environments. Our primary focus is residential projects, with an emphasis on high-quality design and creative, pragmatic solutions. Much of our work involves the comprehensive renovation and expansion of existing homes. We draw upon the inherent strengths of a building to produce improved living spaces, healthier environments, and added real estate value. Other project types include commercial tenant improvements and mixed-use developments. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Energy-Efficient Homes - Space Planning - Home Restoration - Custom Homes ### Areas Served - San Francisco - Oakland - Berkeley - Palo Alto - Los Altos - El Cerrito - Lafayette - Albany - Orinda - Moraga - Emeryville - Piedmont - Portola Valley ### Typical Job Cost $300,000 - 5 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Lorin Hill, Architect | | Address | 6573 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, California 94609, United States | | Phone | (510) 301-6911 | | Website | http://hillarch.com | | Followers on Houzz | 591 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — http://www.facebook.com/lorinhillarchitect - Blog — https://www.instagram.com/lorinhillarch/ ## Offers Give Us A Call! ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Lorin Hill, Architect](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/lorin-hill-architect-pfvwus-pf~1384236958) - **Website:** http://hillarch.com - **Phone:** (510) 301-6911 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association Preservation Award, 2012 - Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association Preservation Award, 2002 - **Best of Houzz:** 12 awards (2013–2025), for Design, Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 13 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Julie Gustin, May 2019** > We worked with Lorin and his team for a custom home in Los Altos. We were very happy with the experience and would happily work with them again. A few callouts: 1) outstanding communication 2) very easy going / low drama personalities 3) high quality of work and documentation - our GC repeatedly said Lorin's team makes his job much easier with the quality and detail of the elevations, sheets, plans, etc. Beth in particular is an incredible resource as she's an architect but also has experience in interior design. We did all of our finishes (tiles etc) shopping with Beth and it made the entire process so much faster, easier, and created an attractive, cohesive result. The same thing would have easily taken me months to do by myself. She will even help with furniture shopping, etc. This is a fantastic team, cannot recommend them enough. **★★★★★ — Priya Hartlin, Feb. 2019** > We had the pleasure of working with Lorin Hill Architects last year to design our dream home in Los Altos. From the first meeting to our final walk-through, our architects, Beth Harrington and Lorin Hill, were always thoughtful, knowledgeable and helpful. They understand the ins and outs of the permitting process and the design restrictions of Los Altos. Beth took care of the permitting process for us with extreme efficiency and knowledge. She took the time to listen to what we wanted and to understand our style, and to suggest new and exciting things we never would have considered. She presented us with a truly wonderful design that captured our vision of a”French-Modern Design for California Living.” She was always mindful of our budget, extremely responsive to our calls and emails and acted as a liaison and buffer between us and our contractors and suppliers. Lorin Hill Architects made a process that most people approach with trepidation, one that was truly enjoyable and fun! They took the stress out of what can be an extremely stressful time. I truly miss Beth and the experience of building our home together! > > Our experience with Beth and Lorin Hill Architects was stellar. We love our house and receive compliments daily. We highly recommend them and hope to do more projects with them in the future. **★★★★★ — Maya Herstein, Dec. 2017** > I had the pleasure of working with Lorin and Beth on our house remodel from start to finish. It was a big project and they delivered on outside the box ideas, attention to detail and forward-thinking design. Beth accompanied us through the entire process and was an absolute joy to interact with. She kept everyone in check (including the contractor) and was always up for the challenge when there were logistical hiccups. She is extremely knowledgable and was a huge resources on anything from construction to interior design. I would whole heartedly recommend working with Lorin Hill and associates. We love how our house turned out. **★★★★★ — gayelyn1211, June 2016** > Lorin Hill Architects are excellent. Professional, great ideas, and thorough. > > We received right advice that saved time and money. And, the outcome of the our remodeled home came out perfectly. We are very pleased. **★★★★★ — caro3, May 2015** > We've had 2 major projects done by Lorin Hill and his team: a kitchen and a bathroom. We were extremely pleased with the results. In both cases we ended up with more spacious rooms because of optimal use of the existing space. We very much enjoyed working with Lorin and his team, and we feel that we got excellent advice every step of the way (e.g., choice of tiles and other material). We definitely recommend Lorin Hill and his team very highly. The project described below is the most recent one (bathroom) **★★★★★ — jl12345jl, April 2015** > I worked with Lorin and Armando to completely remodel my place a few years ago and am still happy with the process and results. Their knowledge and design was solid. I had a very specific vision and they were able to help me bring it into reality. They patiently listened to what I wanted and refined the design to best suit my style. When issues came up, they responded quickly and worked hard to find solutions. They also helped me find the right contractor to execute the project, monitored progress to ensure everything was done according to plan. **★★★★★ — jeffminick, April 2015** > Lorin and his team have been great to work with. We have a relatively complex project that the team has been committed to delivering on. The responsiveness and guidance through the process have been superb. His calm demeanor has been truly appreciated. **Comment from Lorin Hill, Architect:** > Jeff, thank you very much for your review. It's been such a pleasure to work with you! **★★★★★ — tzipor, April 2015** > Lorin listened to what we wanted and gave us designs that met those desires and even exceeded them. He and his staff were a pleasure to work with. **Comment from Lorin Hill, Architect:** > Tzipor, it has been a pleasure working with you! Thank your kind words. **★★★★★ — Suzette Clarke, April 2015** > We have used Lorin Hill Architects for over 15 years on various projects, from designing our Napa Valley estate to as small a project as remodeling a bathroom. What differentiates the firm is that they truly listen and collaborate and make the process pleasurable for the owners. They are extremely practical as well as being creative. With architects you often get one of the other. They have found the balance of both. They communicate exceptionally well on design features and economics. In short, they are a pleasure to work with and we will continue to use them on any future projects. **Comment from Lorin Hill, Architect:** > Suzette, thank you so much for your kind review. It has been a pleasure working with you on your many projects. **★★★★★ — Barbara Tien, March 2015** > I do indeed give Lorin and his HillArch team my highest recommendation for their work on our remodel project in Berkeley a few years ago. I found Lorin after scouring pictures, driving around the neighborhood, and talking to home owners for whom he'd designed remodels. > > His thoughtful design for adding a bedroom bathroom on the ground floor of our 1920's Berkeley home addressed all of our core requirements while considering factors like neighborhood fit, light and air flow. We had an unusual challenge because the only available land for expansion stretched into in the footprint of a 100+ year old incense cedar tree. > > His design turned an outside deck into a large interior sunroom that rose two stories. He added operable sky lights, floor to ceiling shelving and a library ladder to turn the space into a centerpiece for the home. Ten years later we've added a pond to the small rose garden and the sound of water now flows through the house. > > To be sure, designers aren't all about beauty. It turned out that to make the vision work, our project involved some complex structural work to guard against earthquakes and an amazing roofline solution to join the old space with the new. Lorin was there from project inception to the nitty gritty details during build. > > I can't recommend him enough. **★★★★★ — ilanfrank, March 2015** > I can't say enough good things about Lorin Hill. We've worked with him twice now and look forward to working with him again. He has a great eye for space and natural light and is friendly and a pleasure to work with. **★★★★★ — Robyn Reiss, March 2015** > Lorin and his crew, especially Beth Harrington, whom I've worked with closely, have been awesome on my very large house build -- very responsive, follow-up on details that are important, respectful, and reasonably priced. Every bill I pay, I pay knowing that I have more than recouped that value. Highly recommend. ## Selected projects - [Ranch House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ranch-house-pj-vj~7162993) - Location: Santa Rosa, CA - Photos: 12 - Description: In the foothills of northeast Santa Rosa a beloved family home was lost in the Tubbs fire in 2017. From the ashes rises a new extended family home, building on and continuing the tradition of cherished family memories. The new 3,400 sf dwelling with separate bedroom wings is anchored by a central great room with kitchen and dining focusing on the ridge top views and beyond, emphasizing a relaxed California indoor/outdoor family lifestyle. A new detached 850 sf Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) nearb… - [Los Altos](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/los-altos-pj-vj~7163010) - Location: Los Altos, CA - Photos: 16 - [Warm Modern Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/warm-modern-farmhouse-pj-vj~5664056) - Location: Palo Alto, CA - Photos: 18 - Description: Sited on a quiet street in Palo Alto, this new home is a warmer take on the popular modern farmhouse style. Rather than high contrast and white clapboard, earthy stucco and warm stained cedar set the scene of a forever home for an active and growing young family. The heart of the home is the large kitchen and living spaces opening the entire rear of the house to a lush, private backyard. Downstairs is a full basement, designed to be kid-centric with endless spaces for entertaining. A private mas… - [Traditional](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/traditional-pj-vj~7163008) - Location: Piedmont, CA - Photos: 25 - [Palo Alto Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/palo-alto-farmhouse-pj-vj~32479) - Location: Palo Alto, CA - Photos: 14 - [Modern Ranch Kitchen, Living + Bath](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-ranch-kitchen-living-bath-pj-vj~2306003) - Location: Portola Valley, CA - Photos: 10 - Description: An extensive remodel of a ranch house allowed the owners of this home to open up the interiors to create an open space with plenty of room to live and entertain. The layout was reconfigured with the kitchen moved to a more usable location. The design is influenced by European design with flat faced cabinetry, sintered stone surfaces and glass tile accents. The family room was designed for maximum comfort with a custom sectional sofa, while the living room pulled in accents of purple and yellow a… - [Los Altos Full Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/los-altos-full-remodel-pj-vj~6471078) - Location: Los Altos, CA - Photos: 37 - [Wine Country Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wine-country-modern-pj-vj~28106) - Location: Calistoga, CA - Photos: 19 - [San Francisco Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-renovation-pj-vj~1669513) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 13 - Description: A newly purchased single family home on a quiet street in Noe Valley undergoes a significant transformation to enlarge, reconfigure and renovate it to suit the needs of the new owners. This includes a rear yard addition on three levels, to effectivly double the size of the existing home. The renovation respected the understated Victorian / Edwardian detailing, while incorporating a more modern aesthetic focused on natural light and indoor-outdoor living into the new spaces. - [High-Rise Condo](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/high-rise-condo-pj-vj~1000832) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 10 - Description: A high-rise condo renovation on Knob Hill that reflects the client's unique taste in modern design and colorful art, all set off by dramatic panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay. - [San Francisco Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-modern-pj-vj~28141) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 8 - [San Francisco Mediterranean](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-mediterranean-pj-vj~517808) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 15 - Description: This essentially new Marina home is the result of a complete renovation with addition to a plain 2-story dwelling. The result is a 4-story Mediterranean home that creates a dialogue with, but does not mimic, the adjacent historic home in a similar style. The transformation of the home included a complete seismic upgrade, the addition of a third floor bedroom level and a fourth floor penthouse, rooftop observation deck, and solar panels, all more than doubling the original square footage of the h… - [Kitchens by Lorin Hill, Architect](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchens-by-lorin-hill-architect-pj-vj~517853) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 18 - [Refreshed Traditional home in the Berkeley Hills](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/refreshed-traditional-home-in-the-berkeley-hills-pj-vj~5550095) - Location: Palo Alto, CA - Photos: 6 - Description: A traditional home in the Claremont Hills of Berkeley is enlarged and fully renovated to fit the lives of a young couple and their growing family. The existing partial upper floor was fully expanded to create three additional bedrooms, a hall bath, laundry room and updated master suite, with the intention that the expanded house volume harmoniously integrates with the architectural character of the existing home. A new central staircase brings in a tremendous amount of daylight to the heart of t… - [Oakland Traditional Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/oakland-traditional-kitchen-pj-vj~28181) - Location: Oakland, CA - Photos: 4 - [Berkeley Traditional Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkeley-traditional-kitchen-pj-vj~28183) - Location: Berkeley, CA - Photos: 4 - [Contemporary Family Space](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-family-space-pj-vj~517784) - Location: Menlo Park, CA - Photos: 7 - [Updated Ranch in Menlo Park](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/updated-ranch-in-menlo-park-pj-vj~535641) - Location: Menlo Park, CA - Photos: 11 - [Modern Ranch - Portola Valley](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-ranch-portola-valley-pj-vj~2962223) - Location: Portola Valley, CA - Photos: 14 - [Piedmont Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/piedmont-residence-pj-vj~7018278) - Location: Oakland, CA - Photos: 20 [See all 26 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/lorin-hill-architect-pfvwus-pf~1384236958) ## Ideabooks - [DH Driveway](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/150887345/list/dh-driveway) — 3 ideas - [Bathrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118981729/list/bathrooms) — 4 ideas - [Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118981793/list/kitchen) — 1 idea - [Stairs, Railings](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118981556/list/stairs-railings) — 2 ideas - [Powder Rooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118981548/list/powder-rooms) — 2 ideas - [Mitrovich-Missing Office Built In Storage](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/79173604/list/mitrovich-missing-office-built-in-storage) — 64 ideas - [Mitrovich-Missing Bathroom Photos](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/79173432/list/mitrovich-missing-bathroom-photos) — 71 ideas - [elevated deck](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29630119/list/elevated-deck) — 4 ideas - [Exteriors](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/46114644/list/exteriors) — 1 idea - [landscape - terraced downslope](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29629953/list/landscape-terraced-downslope) — 10 ideas - [steps](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29630010/list/steps) — 1 idea - [terraced steps](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/29629990/list/terraced-steps) — 1 idea [See all 12 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/lorinhill) ## Community Q&A **Q: Love the siding, what is it?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi, Glad you like it - it's stained cedar with a custom milled channel (rectangular recess) profile. **Q: Wall manufacturer** *(in Photo Questions)* Also, is this custom wood? I only find random lengths and would love full width at 10 feet. A: I don't recall how it was sourced, but they are full lengths. Custom milled in all likelihood. **Q: Wood wall** *(in Photo Questions)* Is it maple? I love everything about it... can you please help with how it was installed? We are eyeing maple tongue and groove solid wood 3/4" x 2-1/4" random lengths and since ours was an afterthought it's going on a sheetrocked wall which is metal studs. Our plan is to screw it and glue it. Thanks. A: Hi, yes it is maple. Nominal 1x material - blind nailed as I recall. Good luck with your project! **Q: Love this kitchen! Can you tell me the material for the countertops?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Thanks - that's honed Carrera marble as I recall. **Q: Doors** *(in Photo Questions)* Have you seen these stackable doors in fiber glass anywhere? A: Hi, not that we are aware of. You're probably limited to aluminum clad wood like these Loewen products, all wood (custom?) , or all metal (Fleetwood, Western Window Systems, etc. ). Perhaps some European mfrs. make all fiberglass units. Good luck! **Q: Bugs out.** *(in Photo Questions)* Getting same type of doors. Any advice on how to keep bugs out? A: Hi - for large openings like this a horizontal rolling screen works best. They are usually third party "after-market" products (check Phantom and Centor), but many mfrs. are starting to integrate them into the door product. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-05.*