---
title: "Cary Bernstein Architect — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/cary-bernstein-architect-pfvwus-pf~1451323820
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1451323820.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Cary Bernstein Architect"
category: ["Architects"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/adb30f3b08d328bb_5527-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "2325 Third Street, Studio 341, San Francisco 94107, United States"
latitude: 37.7621
longitude: -122.3971
phone: "(415) 522-1907"
website: http://www.cbstudio.com
rating: 5
review_count: 6
best_of_houzz_awards: 3
followers: 852
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Cary Bernstein Architect

Original Houzz profile: [Cary Bernstein Architect](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/cary-bernstein-architect-pfvwus-pf~1451323820)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Architects
- **Location:** San Francisco
- **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Mill Valley, Piedmont, Tiburon, Sausalito, Muir Beach
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (6 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2014–2022), for Design.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Houzz Influencer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 100,000 Ideabook Saves

Award-winning multi-disciplinary firm committed to modern architectural and interior design with an emphasis on innovative problem-solving, sustainability, formal clarity,  excellent craftsmanship and connections to daylight and nature. We offer complete project services from conception through construction administration.

### Services Provided

- Architectural Design
- Building Design
- Home Remodeling
- Architectural Drawings
- Custom Homes
- House Plans
- New Home Construction
- Home Additions
- Home Extensions
- Sustainable Design
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Energy-Efficient Homes
- Floor Plans
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
- Green Building
- Guesthouse Design & Construction
- Universal Design
- Multigenerational Homes
- Pool House Design & Construction
- Drafting
- Historic Building Conservation
- Handicap-Accessible Design
- Barn Design & Construction
- Tiny House Construction
- Home Gym Design & Construction
- Earthquake Retrofitting

### Areas Served

- San Francisco
- Oakland
- Berkeley
- Mill Valley
- Piedmont
- Tiburon
- Sausalito
- Muir Beach

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Cary Bernstein Architect |
| Address | 2325 Third Street, Studio 341, San Francisco 94107, United States |
| Phone | (415) 522-1907 |
| Website | http://www.cbstudio.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 852 |

## Offers

(DEMO) OFFERS _(DEMO) DISCLAIMER_

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Cary Bernstein Architect](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/cary-bernstein-architect-pfvwus-pf~1451323820)
- **Website:** http://www.cbstudio.com
- **Phone:** (415) 522-1907

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- Licensed in California and New York State.
- AIA, LEED AP

- **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2014–2022), for Design.

**Affiliations**
- [American Institute of Architects, San Francisco](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/american-institute-of-architects-san-francisco-pfvwus-pf~788533068)
- [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471)
- [Public Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/public-architecture-pfvwus-pf~1703615405)
- [AIACC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/aiacc-pfvwus-pf~1863350404)
- [NCARB](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/ncarb-pfvwus-pf~1477640315)
- [LEED AP](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/professionals/schools-and-organizations/leed-ap-pfvwus-pf~1386238498)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 6 reviews**

### All 6 reviews

**★★★★★ — Catherine Bradford, Nov. 2017**

> We cannot recommend Cary Bernstein highly enough -- she has an impeccable eye, and painstaking attention to detail, combined with an extraordinary creative vision that was inspiring to witness and work with.  In addition to a full-scale remodel of our condo, Cary designed a kitchen for us that was unique and absolutely beautiful -- and when it was time to sell our place, we're convinced that her design is what helped us sell our house in two days flat, before it officially went on the market.  Cary was a professional throughout and efficiently and seamlessly managed the entire construction process from beginning to end so that we were on time and at budget, and took most of the burden off of us. She truly is the best, and we're looking forward to working with her on another project at some point in the future.

**★★★★★ — Scott Croyle, Oct. 2017**

> We purchased a run-down house with the idea of making it our dream home.  After interviewing several architects, we chose Cary's firm because her clean-lined, minimal aesthetic matched ours. Around the same time, my company was planning to expand and we hired Cary to design the new office too. In both projects, Cary created incredible spaces that all expectations and managed the projects with professionalism and care. As someone who runs a design consultancy, I appreciate Cary's process, always working to remove the extraneous and find great beauty with visual economy.

**★★★★★ — Marisa Lin, Oct. 2017**

> Cary helped us remodel a modestly designed house from the 70's. She transformed it into a beautiful modern home that we still love as much today as the day we moved in. It has been a little over 10 years since we moved into our home and I still feel that it is timeless.
>
> We enjoyed our meetings with Cary. She could easily interpret all my tear sheets from the design magazines and incorporate what we loved about them. Cary is super reliable and highly efficient.  We sensed that about her when we interviewed many architects and we were not disappointed.

**★★★★★ — Mark Selcow, Oct. 2017**

> I've been a client of Cary's three times, all substantial remodels. She's amazing and I had a positive experience working with her each time. The two things I'd say that stand out are her design sensibility, which combines beauty and practicality, and her attention to detail. She was very close to the work and the quality standards, and was quite hands on. It has been great working with Cary and her firm.

**★★★★★ — Bonnee Waldstein, Oct. 2017**

> Cary Bernstein Architect designed our complete exterior model.  She transformed the frontage and facade of our undistinguished home into a modern marvel that we appreciate everyday.  Passersby continually comment on the terrific makeover.  Cary has a great talent for marrying clean modern design details with interesting natural materials.  She collaborated with us at each stage to make sure that the design and details were in line with our preferences.

**★★★★★ — Boxleaf Design, Inc., Sept. 2013**

> It has been a pleasure working with CBA.  Cary and her team provide the upmost professional service mixed with a scrutinizing design eye, and a unique ability to marry both modern and historic architectural styles.  Cary and her team carefully consider every detail of their designs, resulting in a perfectly cohesive finished product.

## Selected projects

- [Hill House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hill-house-pj-vj~290393)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 13
- [Ridge House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ridge-house-pj-vj~2464)
  - Location: Healdsburg, CA
  - Photos: 16
- [Noe House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/noe-house-pj-vj~2913026)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 8
- [Potrero Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/potrero-residence-pj-vj~8237)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 16
- [Choy 1 Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/choy-1-residence-pj-vj~2482)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 19
- [Chenery Street Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chenery-street-residence-pj-vj~2757463)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 8
  - Description: The owners asked to replace an undistinguished stucco facade and concrete setback with a warm, bright and artful entry. The existing front door is now accessed by a stone bridge that was created by lowering the ground plane on each side. A sunken patio houses the owner's artwork on one side while a reconstructed stair defines the other. Voluminous planting flanks the bridge with soft forms and bright color. Large windows bring light to the interior while textured materials such as wood, tile and…
- [Eureka Valley Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/eureka-valley-residence-pj-vj~2481)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 24
- [Willard Street Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/willard-street-residence-pj-vj~2472)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 6
- [Liberty Street Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/liberty-street-residence-pj-vj~2476)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 12
- [Choy 2 Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/choy-2-residence-pj-vj~2477)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 10
- [Cow Hollow Flat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cow-hollow-flat-pj-vj~8246)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 2
- [Eyres Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/eyres-residence-pj-vj~8247)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 2
- [Pacific Street Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pacific-street-residence-pj-vj~2491)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 1
- [Broadway Live-Work Studio](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/broadway-live-work-studio-pj-vj~2479)
  - Location: San Francisco, CA
  - Photos: 8
- [Zajac Residence 2](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/zajac-residence-2-pj-vj~8245)
  - Location: New York, NY
  - Photos: 5
- [Teaberry](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/teaberry-pj-vj~5548695)
  - Location: Tiburon, CA
  - Photos: 11

[See all 16 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/cary-bernstein-architect-pfvwus-pf~1451323820)

## Ideabooks

- [Good Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/94750843/list/good-ideas) — 2 ideas

[See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/cbstudio)

## Community Q&A

**Q: where to get the living room sofa set?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Live to buy living room furniture

A: The furniture was the client's own before we started work on the project. We simply had it recovered.

**Q: What material on outside of house including yellow part.** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: The siding is stained Western Red Cedar.  The trim and panels are painted "MDO"  (medium density overlay) panels and boards.  MDO is an exterior, paint-grade wood product.

**Q: What kind of wood was used for this wall...** *(in Photo Questions)*

What kind of wood was used for this wall and how tall is it?

A: The wall has Ipe siding.  It’s about 10ft tall.

**Q: Cabinets Manufacturer** *(in Photo Questions)*

Hello! I love these cabinets -- would you mind sharing the name of the contractor that build it? Thank you so much!

A: Hello Franceso - thank you for your inquiry.  The cabinet shop that built these cabinets is no longer available - we really enjoyed working with them. We work very closely with our subs to get the right result for our projects.  I wish you good luck with your pursuits.

**Q: Circular sconce lights in vanity area** *(in Photo Questions)*

Where did you get the inset circular scones lights? Who makes them?

A: The lights are recessed wall lights by Bega.  If using them in a bath, make sure to get lights for wet or damp locations, depending on how close they are to the water.

**Q: Do you call the dimensions of the railing?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Looks like 1/2"X1 1/2?

A: That seems about right - good luck with your work!

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-20.*