--- title: "SDL Residential Design — Building Designers and Drafters | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/building-designers-and-drafters/sdl-residential-design-pfvwus-pf~1544146837 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1544146837.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "SDL Residential Design" category: ["Building Designers and Drafters"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/5e432e0d0983d077_4407-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "470 1st St E, Sonoma, California 95476, United States" latitude: 38.2849 longitude: -122.4696 phone: "(707) 508-8828" website: http://www.SDLresidential.com rating: 5 review_count: 15 best_of_houzz_awards: 5 followers: 31 last_updated: 2026-08-25 --- # SDL Residential Design Original Houzz profile: [SDL Residential Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/building-designers-and-drafters/sdl-residential-design-pfvwus-pf~1544146837) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Building Designers and Drafters - **Location:** Sonoma, CA - **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Napa, Alameda, Petaluma, Novato, San Pablo, Hercules, El Cerrito, Albany, Orinda, Emeryville, El Sobrante, Piedmont, Sonoma, Tiburon, Boyes Hot Springs, East Richmond Heights, El Verano, Belvedere, Penngrove, Temelec, Glen Ellen, Eldridge, Kenwood, Alameda County, Belvedere Tiburon, Canyon, Contra Costa County, Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Calie, Marin County, Napa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Solano County, Sonoma County - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (15 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2018–2025), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Recommended on Houzz - 500 Ideabook Saves We’re Sam & Sam and we own SDL Residential Design. A married couple brought together through a shared love of design, we have unique perspectives & backgrounds that bring broad knowledge to the table, creating a considered and cohesive design vision. We specialize in residential new-builds (such as new homes, ADUs and guest houses), renovations, remodels, space planning and client-contractor liaison. We pride ourselves on working closely with our clients from start to finish, providing as much knowledge, opinion, and coordination as needed throughout the lifetime of a project. Behind us is a large network of trusted professionals & contractors who are ready to support our clients. Specialties: New Build Custom Homes, Remodel, Renovation, Space planning, Materials & Finish selection, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Guest houses & Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU's), Contractor Liaison, Permit research, Drafting (CAD), Permitting. ### Services Provided - 3D Rendering - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Architectural Design - Architectural Drawings - Barn Design & Construction - Building Design - Custom Home - Custom Homes - Design Consultation - Drafting - Floor Plans - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Home Gym Design & Construction - Home Remodeling - House Plans - Modular Home Additions - Pool House Design & Construction - Site Planning - Staircase Design - Tiny House Design - Virtual Reality (VR) ### Areas Served - San Francisco - Oakland - Berkeley - Richmond - Napa - Alameda - Petaluma - Novato - San Pablo - Hercules - El Cerrito - Albany - Orinda - Emeryville - El Sobrante - Piedmont - Sonoma - Tiburon - Boyes Hot Springs - East Richmond Heights - El Verano - Belvedere - Penngrove - Temelec - Glen Ellen - Eldridge - Kenwood - Alameda County - Belvedere Tiburon - Canyon - Contra Costa County - Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Calie - Marin County - Napa County - San Francisco County - San Mateo County - Santa Clara County - Solano County - Sonoma County ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | SDL Residential Design | | Address | 470 1st St E, Sonoma, California 95476, United States | | Phone | (707) 508-8828 | | Website | http://www.SDLresidential.com | | Followers on Houzz | 31 | **Social profiles:** - X (Twitter) — @samueldavidlowe - Blog — www.SDLresidential.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [SDL Residential Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/building-designers-and-drafters/sdl-residential-design-pfvwus-pf~1544146837) - **Website:** http://www.SDLresidential.com - **Phone:** (707) 508-8828 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2018–2025), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 15 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — mkoenigsberg, June 2024** > It has been a pleasure working with Sam and SDL Residential Design! Our goal was to remodel three small bathrooms in our 1916 house. We wanted an affordable update that was interesting and colorful but stayed true to the time period. We also did not want to discourage future buyers. After months of trying to figure this out on our own, we called SDL. > Sam started with three creative and unique vision boards for inspiration. His choices of tile, paint, fixtures, etc were on point. He was bold and balanced. I liked that he pushed us a little out of our comfort zone but was open to suggestions and honest with feedback. Working together was easy and enjoyable! > Sam also worked well with our contractor. After finalizing details, specs were entered into an organized database that was accessible to our contractor and ready for me to purchase items. If problems arose or changes were made, Sam was responsive and helpful. The results were beautiful, and the project was completed on time and on budget. > We are very confident about using SDL for our future remodel, which will require both architecture and design skills. They are organized, responsive, patient, and tech savvy. Big or small projects, I would highly recommend this creative, professional team! **★★★★★ — Emily Walling, Jan. 2023** > We just completed our second project with SDL and were thrilled with the results, once again. Sam is great at listening and bringing your vision to life. He suggests additional elements graciously (take it or leave it) that really make things shine The 3D renderings his firm now does are super helpful for envisioning the final look and feel. And he was super helpful when we were down to the final details like paint colors, hardware finishes and placements, where we are not experts but needed someone with a design eye to help. We are so pleased with our home renovation and the new look and feel of our living space. Sam is a great creative partner and very responsive and client-focused - we recommend his services. **★★★★★ — bethsberliner, July 2022** > SDL Residential was a crucial part of our home renovation. After a thorough survey of our home and property Sam was well equipped to move our project forward. We converted the garage into a master suite, added an additional bathroom to the house and put in an outdoor kitchen, large deck and pool. Without Sam’s guidance around permitting and Sonoma’s rules and regulations we would have been lost! Sam is very savvy about the permitting process and a master at getting everything necessary in order so your project can move along smoothly. He is efficient, communicative and a super nice person. He is responsive to calls, emails and texts. > > We wanted the new addition of the house to feel seamless in relation to what already existed and Sam listened and produced just that! People who come to the house can not believe our new bedroom was not originally part of the house. We went through many iterations in the design phase and all along the way Sam was able to produce what we had envisioned. SDL helped me choose tiles for both my new bathrooms and I am very happy with them. Thanks Sam! **★★★★★ — HU-99240270, Oct. 2021** > Sam Lowe, SDL Residential, is the ultimate professional. We engaged him to do an update to a 1910 vintage home along with converting a garage into a Master Bedroom Ensuite. He quickly assessed our recently purchased home, even crawling under the house to evaluate the existing infrastructure. Throughout the project Sam was always available for questions. He quickly developed plans and deftly guided the project through the City of Sonoma approval process. He is quite conversant in the various code requirements. > > Sam has a great vision on how spaces can be enhanced along with thoughtful ideas regarding colors and accessories. He intently listens to your ideas and offers his suggestions, but is respectful of your final decision. In the end we had a great outcome and look forward to many enjoyable days in our reimagined home. > > Needless to say, we would strongly recommend anyone contracting with Sam Lowe, SDL Residential. > > Margie and Ed **★★★★★ — Mika B, Oct. 2020** > We absolutely loved working with Sam. We had unique projects (Japanese style entrance and bathroom). He did some research and came up with great ideas right away. He communicates well, not only with us but also our contractor. He even arranged the permits required for the project. That made our remodel go very smoothly. He is easy to reach out to, and responds in a timely manner. His price was extremely reasonable considering all he did for us. We enjoy living in our new home. Thank you SDL! **★★★★★ — HU-432337990, Oct. 2020** > Sam was very flexible and accommodating to my schedule and frequent changes in design concept. He was very detail oriented and saw the project all the way through permitting and made the process seem easy and seemless. I would recommend Sam for future projects! **★★★★★ — Linda, Sept. 2020** > We just finished the design/permit phase of our exterior remodel project with Samuel Lowe Residential Design. Our experience was great. Samuel is responsive, efficient, reliable, and a pleasure to work with. Our permit was approved in a week!!! **★★★★★ — Randy Cox, Sept. 2020** > As residential designers for our kitchen and bath remodel, Samuel and his team have skills that cover several disciplines that would otherwise require hiring a separate architect and interior designer. Samuel took stock of the current style of our house and blended designs for a new state-of-the-art kitchen and bath. He listened well through several iterations and was very responsive to questions and inevitable issues that came up with our contractor during construction. Once the designs were settled on, they were able to produce the drawing sets for the contractor, cabinet maker, and Sonoma County permits with very little oversight from us. Most of this phase of the project was done while we were living in Colorado and we had no trouble working remotely with them. We are very pleased with the results and would highly recommend SDL Residential Design. **★★★★★ — HU-843678868, Sept. 2020** > As a general contractor, we’ve been working with Sam at SDL Residential Design on many projects over the past 5 years. He is communicative, professional, and has a keen eye for design. He quickly addresses project questions and helps solve “in the field” issues as they arise. This helps us stay on schedule and plays a huge part in the success of our projects. He walks through each project, with both the clients and our team, from start to finish to ensure his plans and the client’s vision are properly executed. - Whitfield Construction **★★★★★ — Kelly Stober, Feb. 2020** > I am a real estate agent in Sonoma and have used Sam Lowe’s design services both personally and professionally. My husband and I are doing a project that involves the design of a second unit that will have a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom. Sam has been excellent to work with, he has a great eye, good design sense, listens to what you want, responds quickly and has made the whole process much easier. He has also worked with my clients and they rave about how wonderful he is to work with. **★★★★★ — Emily Walling, Oct. 2017** > We have been working with Sam for several months on plans for a major renovation of a home we recently purchased in Sonoma. Sam quickly understood our vision for the renovation (modern farmhouse style) and incorporated this design aesthetic throughout the detailed plans he drafted. He was very receptive to our feedback and we love that while his own design preferences skew modern, he is extremely flexible and was great at suggesting options that work for the design vision we have chosen (and that are within our budget). He has been great at recommending finishes, best materials to use, and providing vendor recommendations for checking out fixtures. We consider him a trusted partner. When we have questions, Sam also excels at providing clear, confident direction, with no waffling. He offers a few clear options to choose from, provides constructive feedback, and respects our opinions. There are so many options when remodeling and he makes the process so much less daunting. He is very responsive via text and email. We are currently working on the renovation of our master bathroom and Sam has worked seamlessly with our general contractor throughout the project, making sure that every detail is taken care of. An added bonus are that his rates are quite competitive and he makes good use of the hours he bills. We're extremely pleased with the partnership and would definitely recommend Sam to others venturing into home remodeling. **★★★★★ — T U, Sept. 2017** > Samuel has been great to work with. His attention to detail and overall knowledge of residential design has been fundamental to a lot of the decisions that we have made during the initial planning of a large home remodel. We look forward to working with him further and would highly recommend his services to anyone. > > -Tony & Celene ## Selected projects - [Crane Canyon Manor](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/crane-canyon-manor-pj-vj~7754203) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - [Napa Contemporary](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/napa-contemporary-pj-vj~7591960) - Location: Napa, CA - Photos: 22 - [Pool House Retreat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pool-house-retreat-pj-vj~7572610) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - Description: This garage conversion transformed a voluminous space into a serene poolside retreat using textured materials and a calming color palette. Designed for special occasions and social gatherings, the pool house can also function as a guesthouse with its dedicated bedroom and full bath. A private gym in the back provides access to storage lofts above. - [Forest Hill Powder Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/forest-hill-powder-room-pj-vj~7447498) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 3 - [Sistina Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sistina-kitchen-pj-vj~7434368) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - [Hillcrest House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hillcrest-house-pj-vj~7305008) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - [Atherton Estate](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/atherton-estate-pj-vj~7136285) - Location: Atherton, CA - Photos: 11 - [Noe Valley Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/noe-valley-kitchen-pj-vj~5409353) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 4 - Description: Located in Noe Valley, San Francisco, this Victorian home contains contemporary interiors with architectural features and finishes that hint at the property's history. This twelve foot tall kitchen was the last room of the house to receive the same treatment. A marble-effect stone was the ideal choice for the light space, we chose a quartz for stain resistance with characterful veining. We brought the stone up behind the range and as a 8” backsplash which was suitable for the height of the space… - [Poolside Suite](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/poolside-suite-pj-vj~7089004) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 14 - Description: On the outskirts of Sonoma, backing onto rows upon rows of vineyard this completely reimagined back yard creates optimal views. A remodeled garage-turned-primary bedroom suite opens out onto an appointed xeriscape garden, pool with spa and outdoor kitchen. An outdoor dining area and lounge shaded by an attached pergola take advantage of sought-after wine country outdoor living. The new primary bedroom suite is oriented towards the pool and a vista of vineyards. Neutral whites let the bold colors… - [Midcentury Modern Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/midcentury-modern-kitchen-pj-vj~2634060) - Location: Sonoma, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: In the hills overlooking Sonoma Valley this 1950’s home needed an aesthetically sensitive kitchen remodel to bring it up to date with 21st century sensibilities. Extensive structural and finish details were required to create an end product that looks consistent with the rest of the home. For a strong midcentury focus we concentrated on the straight lines and horizontal planar appearance of the space; using flat panel cabinets with a horizontal, quarter-sawn cherry cabinetry and horizontal pulls… - [Cape Cod Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cape-cod-kitchen-pj-vj~3883455) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: This whole-home remodel included reconfiguring the downstairs floor plan to appeal to contemporary sensibilities; making open-plan the kitchen/ dining area and raising the floor of the sunken living room. We used a consistent palette of muted pale blue walls, white oak floors and white trim to retain as much natural light in the home as possible. New carpentry details were used throughout including chair rails, paneled wainscoting and fluted trim around door openings. We brought the fluting deta… - [Contemporary Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-farmhouse-pj-vj~5256089) - Location: Glen Ellen, CA - Photos: 4 - Description: This whole-home remodel included new exterior siding, finishes, window and doors, as well as an extensive interior reconfiguration. A large entertaining kitchen was made possible by removing two smaller rooms at the rear of the house so that we could utilize the view of the extensive back yard. We used black framed Milgard windows to contrast with the white interior and exterior, the divided-light design tying in the traditional farmhouse language. By sheetrocking the interior faces of the windo… - [Vernal Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/vernal-kitchen-pj-vj~5376668) - Location: Sonoma, CA - Photos: 1 - Description: This small, downtown Sonoma kitchen remodel connects the interior with the lush foliage of the client’s garden using a sensitive palette of muted greens in the form of glass subway tile and Taj Mahal Quartzite. We also specified updated hardware, fixtures, finishes and appliances, including a relocated range placed in front of the window so that our culinary clients could make the most of the view. - [The Wedding Barn](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/the-wedding-barn-pj-vj~5836706) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: This project is located on a large rural/ agricultural property in Sonoma and is designed to be used for large family gatherings such as weddings and Thanksgiving. The main hall is a cathedral-like space, with the different layered materials amplifying the volumetric effect. The space is designed to seat 40 people at a single table, centered on the view out to the vineyard at one end, and on an oversized bar behind barn doors on the other. The facades are unassuming; stained to look like a long-… - [Opaline Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/opaline-bathroom-pj-vj~5836708) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: This small bathroom remodel transformed a dark, cavernous space with compartmentalized rooms into a spacious and balanced primary bathroom. We leaned heavily on our material choices and paint colors to retain as much light as possible to create a spa-type experience. Calcutta marble provided the correct balance of white and visual interest and this was used in the curbless shower stall and on the heated bathroom floor in a herringbone pattern. The two sink custom vanity has a Carrara marble coun… - [Treetop Pied-à-terre](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/treetop-pied-a-terre-pj-vj~2634033) - Location: Glen Ellen, CA - Photos: 3 - Description: This small treetop apartment is situated in Sonoma county and overlooks a seasonal creek, a laundry room, gym and single car garage comprise the floor bellow. For the exterior we designed a veranda that projects you further over the creek creating a perfect morning coffee moment. We chose a board and batt siding to compliment the farmhouse aesthetic of other buildings on the property, and also to contrast with the contemporary interior. Designed as a weekend retreat from San Francisco this studi… - [Monoline Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/monoline-kitchen-pj-vj~6121027) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: For this project we aimed to maximize and accentuate counter space. The plane of the countertop is underlined with the black monoline detail rail that defines the useable space. A microwave drawer within the island leaves the counters clear for platters and food preparation, pendant lighting illuminates an oversized peninsula for presentation and hanging shelves suspend the regular-use dish ware. The bespoke cabinetry we designed uses a black detail rail which ties together the shelves, pendant… [See all 17 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/building-designers-and-drafters/sdl-residential-design-pfvwus-pf~1544146837) ## Ideabooks - [samueldavidlowe's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16532434/list/samueldavidlowe-s-ideas) — 48 ideas [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/samueldavidlowe) ## Community Q&A **Q: Lovely** *(in Photo Questions)* Can you share the name/type of countertop in the photo? Thank you. A: This is Vedara’s Statuario Venato, 2cm with a mitered edge, it’s a great choice for kitchens. **Q: Is this 3 colors of leather or another material for the narrow stripes?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Can you tell me where you sourced this from? I am very interested in using this or a similar product for a current project! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-25.*