--- title: "Worthington Architecture + Design — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/worthington-architecture-design-pfvwus-pf~1451324380 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1451324380.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Worthington Architecture + Design" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/5b63632b0b05aa84_7818-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "4040 Harlan St, Emeryville, California 94608, United States" latitude: 37.8365 longitude: -122.2804 phone: "(510) 593-8950" website: http://www.worthingtondesign.com rating: 5 review_count: 6 followers: 99 last_updated: 2026-08-25 --- # Worthington Architecture + Design Original Houzz profile: [Worthington Architecture + Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/worthington-architecture-design-pfvwus-pf~1451324380) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Emeryville, CA - **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Rafael, San Carlos, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Albany, Orinda, Moraga, Stanford, Mill Valley, Emeryville, El Sobrante, Healdsburg, Piedmont, Tiburon - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (6 reviews) ## About ### Houzz Badges - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves Worthington Architecture + Design was established in 2003 by Kurt Worthington. It is a multi-disciplinary firm with experience in a broad range of building types including residential, retail, commercial, entertainment and urban design. Our projects have been built and/or implemented in California, Colorado, Washington, Iowa, New Mexico and Rwanda. W/A+D is dedicated to fulfilling our clients’ design dreams and aspirations while providing a unique and modern vision for the projects we undertake. We are also committed to providing sustainable design as a way of being responsible to the environment we live in and we pride ourselves in doing this in a way that does not sacrifice but rather enriches the architecture. Our aesthetic is modern and we feel that this balanced approach provides our clients with an efficient and healthy design that feels good, looks good, works well, and enhances our clients’ design intent. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Floor Plans - 3D Rendering - Green Building - Space Planning - Custom Homes - Design-Build - Kitchen & Bath Design ### Areas Served - San Francisco - Oakland - Berkeley - Alameda - Palo Alto - Santa Cruz - San Rafael - San Carlos - El Cerrito - Lafayette - Albany - Orinda - Moraga - Stanford - Mill Valley - Emeryville - El Sobrante - Healdsburg - Piedmont - Tiburon ### Typical Job Cost $300,000 - 1.5 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Worthington Architecture + Design | | Address | 4040 Harlan St, Emeryville, California 94608, United States | | Phone | (510) 593-8950 | | Website | http://www.worthingtondesign.com | | License Number | C-31481 | | Followers on Houzz | 99 | ## Offers Designing Beautiful, Sustainable Homes ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Worthington Architecture + Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/worthington-architecture-design-pfvwus-pf~1451324380) - **Website:** http://www.worthingtondesign.com - **Phone:** (510) 593-8950 ## Credentials **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) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 6 reviews** ### All 6 reviews **★★★★★ — Ron & Natalie McCulloch, Sept. 2017** > We built our new house up in Salt Spring Island and worked with both Lundberg Design and Worthington Architecture + Design. Kurt at Worthington A + D acted as the Project Architect for Lundberg by way of taking the design started by Lundberg and then developed that design in more detail as well as produced the working drawings for the project. Kurt also worked with us during the Construction Administration process of the project which was no small feat since the project was located up in Canada. > > We would like to give our full approval of how the process went and the valuable assistance Kurt gave to us during this process. Kurt was thorough and easy to work with and feel his participation and his attention to detail contributed to making our project such a success. We would fully recommend Kurt for his design eye and his knowledge of the building process to anyone else looking to embark on an architectural project of their own-be it residential or commercial. **★★★★★ — Marina Shiferman, June 2017** > Working with Kurt was great and very necessary. > He took all of my ideas and everything I wanted into account and drew plans that fit what I wanted. He was very professional and collaborated with me for the final drawings. He also anticipated my need for an interior decorator before I knew I needed one.” > > Kurt made sure the project was completed to his standard, even when it meant the contractor had to re-do things or even when extra work was added, Kurt made sure everything was perfect. > > Thank you Kurt!! **★★★★★ — willrich, Nov. 2016** > Kurt did a wonderful job with a complex project. My business has occupied the bottom floor of a century old Victorian for over 10 years. When the building came up for sale, we decided to purchase. This led to a massive renovation both of the downstairs commercial space, as well the upstairs residential unit. > Kurt came up with multiple options for both levels. His ideas were very creative, aesthetically gorgeous, yet practical. He worked collaboratively with us as the owners, as well as our contractor. > He was a delight to work with & I highly recommend his work. **★★★★★ — gherarj, Oct. 2014** > Kurt helped us renovate a 95 year old home that was in complete disrepair when my wife and I purchased it. Kurt worked together to bring the house back to life, with modern amenities, using details that are historically respectful. > > Kurt is an architect who is talented at space planning, creating details, daylighting, and brainstorming. He understands the nuts and bolts of construction and is constantly thinking about the final built product, especially during pre-planning. He's also conscientious, timely, honest, and reliable. > > As a commercial contractor (and fellow architect), I'd recommend Kurt for many new projects- everything from a single family residence, to a variety of super high-end retail shops, to a large commercial building. You won't go wrong. **★★★★★ — blrm1950, Sept. 2014** > Kurt Worthington designed and project managed a kitchen renovation for me. This was a very extensive renovation on a small and basically dysfunctional kitchen dating back to the early 1920's. He was able to take the original kitchen, two other fairly useless rooms and two wasted closet spaces/areas and turn them into a magnificent kitchen and family den/lounging area. This also included a new, very attractive and convenient powder room. The design was intentionally more "modern" than the reset of the house - a graceful, Georgian colonial, on Kurt's recommendation and I have been thrilled with the results. He opened up many new windows which now provide the kitchen with wonderful Bay views that we enjoyed in other parts of the house but not in the old kitchen. He also designed an elegant new kitchen entrance from the outside including a deck with a barbeque feature...one I have thoroughly enjoyed. This piece of the project required meticulous copying of trellis work, including intricate columns, which exist throughout the property. Through his working directly with our contractor and subs, he also provided us with valuable advice on cabinet, flooring, countertops and tiles, lighting and appliance selection. I would, and do frequently, recommend Kurt for his architectural expertise. In addition, he is a delight to work with and I consider he and his lovely family as dear friends. **★★★★★ — sbarchers, Sept. 2014** > Kurt planned and managed improvements to a condo (2004-2005) that I purchased in Oakland upon first moving to the Bay area. Several years later I happily hired him again to manage the renovation of my new husband's Stanford home (2008). This involved significant changes to a five-bedroom home, ranging from changing the footprint to adding clerestory windows and a new roof line to planning all new bathrooms, kitchen, seismic upgrades, etc. Essentially the house was gutted. Kurt was creative, thoughtful, and professional. Thanks to his work and a fine contractor, my husband and I continue to enjoy our home every day. And visitors, even those who have been here repeatedly, comment on the wonderful ambiance. ## Selected projects - [Salt Spring Island Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/salt-spring-island-residence-pj-vj~603316) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - Description: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada This was a project designed in collaboration with Lundberg Design. Lundberg Design worked out the schematic design and Worthington A + D was asked to develop that design and bring it to fruition. The clients already had a cabin on the site but it was run-down, poorly sited and did not take advantage of the incredible view of the water adjacent to the site. Therefore the new design was a unapologetically modern, three story building that aimed at captu… - [Calfee/Barchers Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/calfee-barchers-residence-pj-vj~2386) - Location: Palo Alto, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: Palo Alto, CA This was a remodel of a 1960s Eichler style house that was in need of updating. The existing low, dark ceilings made the rooms feel compressed and claustrophobic. There were great views of the surrounding hills that were missed by these low ceilings. By popping up a portion of the roof in the family room and bedroom, the residence was allowed to breathe and take in light like never before. The bathroom was remodeled with the key feature being a two-person tub with a view out the wi… - [Mahoney Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mahoney-residence-pj-vj~2384) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: San Francisco, CA This is a remodel of an existing house located in the foggy area of San Francisco. Due to fog, light was a premium and one that we tried to embrace by way of enlarging windows and introducing an oversized skylight. The light colored concrete countertop also helps to reflect the light as well as provides a nice contrast to the dark cabinets. Heath tile on the walls and the fireplace give it a truly modern feel. - [McAuley Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mcauley-residence-pj-vj~142456) - Location: Piedmont, CA - Photos: 8 - Description: Piedmont, California The mission for this project was to perform a badly needed renovation of their small and dark kitchen and powder room. The solution was to remove walls to combine three rooms and a hallway to create one open, airy and sun basked kitchen and breakfast room that also connected to the outdoors in a way that did not exist before. The idea was to have a large island that would act not only as the heart of kitchen but the whole house as well. We re-used a large piece of re-purpose… - [Shiferman, San Francisco](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/shiferman-san-francisco-pj-vj~6458705) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 20 - Description: This was a lower Level, basement like remodel where there was an existing lower floor that was not very well light and did not connect well to the outdoors, something that at Worthington A + D we strive to do. There was an existing garage with 1 very dark and dreary bedroom and a sad and even more dark bathroom. We therefore created in that same space a master bedroom, a home office, a master bathroom with a separate WC, a walk-in closet, another 3/4 guest bathroom and a family room. We also cre… - [Nielsen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nielsen-pj-vj~6458748) - Location: Evergreen, CO - Photos: 20 - Description: This was contemporary remodel of a prefab contractor built house in Evergreen, Colorado. The site was fantastic, in that it had a beautiful creek running in the backyard and there was an equally beautiful rock hillside that served as the backdrop to this creek. The original house had a poor connection to the outside that totally missed taking advantage of the uniqueness of the site. The original interior was a flat roof with a small living room window looking out to this magnificent backyard. We… [See all 6 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/worthington-architecture-design-pfvwus-pf~1451324380) ## Ideabooks - [Jekobsen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/183946368/list/jekobsen) — 6 ideas - [Utzinger](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/183571301/list/utzinger) — 1 idea - [Srinivasan](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/170057452/list/srinivasan) — 39 ideas - [Schapiro Sakashita 2](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/142927447/list/schapiro-sakashita-2) — 12 ideas - [Dad](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/143779537/list/dad) — 7 ideas - [Georgi](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/140974033/list/georgi) — 8 ideas - [Nielsen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/34301655/list/nielsen) — 34 ideas - [Shiferman](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/73106469/list/shiferman) — 12 ideas - [Pozzan Imagebook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/54964835/list/pozzan-imagebook) — 31 ideas - [kurt's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/12680/list/kurt-s-ideas) — 2 ideas - [Weinstein](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/350671/list/weinstein) — 14 ideas [See all 11 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/kurt) ## Community Q&A **Q: Great paneling! Can you tell me the wood species?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The wood paneling species is Northern Pine **Q: would love to know the manufacteror of the windows, thanks!** *(in Photo Questions)* would love to know the manufacteror of the windows, thanks! A: The lower windows are Marvin and the uppers were Milgard. I was actually disappointed that they went with 2 different manufacturers. I would have rather had them the same. I hope that helps. Kurt --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-25.*