--- title: "Nilus Designs — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/nilus-designs-pfvwus-pf~1669428874 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1669428874.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Nilus Designs" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/b263125f022ff978_5818-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "757a Pennsylvania, San Francisco, California 94107, United States" latitude: 37.7621 longitude: -122.3971 phone: "(415) 826-3434" website: http://nilusdesigns.com rating: 5 review_count: 6 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 102 last_updated: 2026-08-20 --- # Nilus Designs Original Houzz profile: [Nilus Designs](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/nilus-designs-pfvwus-pf~1669428874) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Serves:** San Francisco, California, Healdsburg, Palo Alto, Mill Valley, Marin, Peninsula, Los Altos, Larkspur, Napa, San Ramon, Menlo Park, Mountain View, San Mateo, Redwood Shores, Redwood City, Portola Valley, Burlingame, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Tiburon, Orinda, Sausalito, Kentfield, Sonoma - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (6 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2014), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves Nilus De Matran is the principal of nilus designs and has a design lineage that is without a doubt avant-garde and modern. He counts Zaha Hadid as both a mentor and friend, attending at her request, her receipt of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in St. Petersburg in 2004. He also draws from other contemporary architects with whom he has studied, including Peter Wilson, while receiving his diploma in architecture from the Architectural Association in London. Influenced by Oscar Niemeyer, Luis Barragan, Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and John Lautner, Nilus brings an exciting and refined sense of minimalism to his own modern design style. ### Services Provided - Architecture and Interior Design ### Areas Served - San Francisco - California - Healdsburg - Palo Alto - Mill Valley - Marin - Peninsula - Los Altos - Larkspur - Napa - San Ramon - Menlo Park - Mountain View - San Mateo - Redwood Shores - Redwood City - Portola Valley - Burlingame - Cupertino - Los Gatos - Tiburon - Orinda - Sausalito - Kentfield - Sonoma ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Nilus Designs | | Address | 757a Pennsylvania, San Francisco, California 94107, United States | | Phone | (415) 826-3434 | | Website | http://nilusdesigns.com | | Followers on Houzz | 102 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Nilus Designs](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/nilus-designs-pfvwus-pf~1669428874) - **Website:** http://nilusdesigns.com - **Phone:** (415) 826-3434 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2014), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 6 reviews** ### All 6 reviews **★★★★★ — Tim Smith, April 2016** > My wife and I have hired Nilus Designs for two major house renovations - so far! I'm sure Nilus will be our first choice for our next project. First house, in Glen Park, San Francisco was an extensive renovation on a very unusual 1/4 acre lot which included doubling an existing house, adding a bespoke standalone studio and gym, and close coordination with the landscapers to pull it all together. Most recent home is in Marin (San Anselmo) where Nilus directed a major interior renovation including moving and redesigning the kitchen and interior spaces, replacing an entire wall with glass sliders, the design and construction of two large decks with a custom pool, spa and outdoor shower, and a separate outbuilding for a pool table, on two acres with a great view. Nilus is a joy to work with, a true creative thinker, and delivers wonderfully livable, light-filled spaces. Highly recommended. **★★★★★ — Jochen Backs, Dec. 2013** > We had hired Nilus Designs for an extensive residential remodel in San Francisco, Noe Valley. Nilus Designs not only provided plans and renderings, but also guided us through the entire design and construction process, from finding contractors, dealing with neighbor and neighborhood issues to getting plans approved by the city. We learned that building and remodeling in san francisco can be a challenging process involving neighbors and the planning department, but Nilus Designs successfully eased us through the entire process. I would describe the strength of Nilus Designs is in providing great space planning, including indoor and outdoor spaces, internal flow of rooms, highly modern/contemporary detailing, great use of glass and light, and generally a great partner and listener to do a project with. **★★★★★ — tfwhitesf125, Sept. 2013** > We've worked with Nilus to design two very different houses and been extremely happy with both the process and results each time. The first was a 4 bedroom 1918 Edwardian home in SF and the most recent was a 6 bedroom mid century modern home in SF. A few reasons why we strongly recommend working with Nilus include: > > -- The architectural style of each house was important to us. We wanted to work within that style. His design recommendations fit perfectly for our vision of the home we wanted to create and at the same time complimented each house's architecture. > -- He provided straight forward design solutions to solve complex architectural problems...and we had several. > -- He is so thorough in is work that when he makes a design or architectural recommendation, we trust him. > -- He continually communicates...with his clients, contractors and suppliers...to make sure everyone is on the same page. That made a big difference in both the design and construction phases for us. > -- And finally, he worked within our budgets and timelines for each house. > > We're looking forward to the next time we can work with Nilus. **★★★★★ — Priti Choksi, Sept. 2013** > Nilus is a true partner for home renovation! He immediately understood our needs and budget requirements and developed a design language that was consistent with his style (which we love) but suited to fit the practicality of our lives with 2 small children. He and his team moved fast per our request, got the planning done, and helped us in the contractor selection process. Nilus also managed the project hands on, especially when we were traveling out of the country for 6 weeks during a critical phase. Most importantly, Nilus was always looking for ways to save us time and money, and kept us focused on the project, without any scope creep. Nilus is also connected to a great network of cabinet makers and other professionals that he brought to bear. He is humble and a real pleasure to work with. **★★★★★ — annevosler, Sept. 2013** > Not only is Nilus brilliant, but he is also a lovely person to work with. I have now worked with him on two extensive house renovations/additions. Both finished projects are beautiful (modern, warm, comfortable). And I still think the world of him and his work at the end of it all. **★★★★★ — Deborah Jones, Sept. 2013** > Nilus transferred my well functioning 3000 sq ft photo studio into an equally functioning, but higher style, 900 sq ft live/work space. And all within my limited budget. > > I would trust him with any project. ## Selected projects - [Healdsburg Weekend Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/healdsburg-weekend-home-pj-vj~1582532) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - [Buchanan](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/buchanan-pj-vj~891849) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - [Pacific Heights](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pacific-heights-pj-vj~1253674) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - [Glen Ellen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/glen-ellen-pj-vj~4339) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - Description: A small “building within a building” was the concept behind this remodel of an existing mid-century modern house. The existing kitchen, dining, living, and loggia were fused into one large space, and a new kitchen was placed in the center of this space. Large sliding glass doors were added to the living space to blur the boundary between interior and exterior space. Also included in the scope of work was a rehab of two existing bathrooms. Given the pleasant weather conditions in Glen Ellen, the… - [Upper Terrace](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/upper-terrace-pj-vj~4345) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - Description: The makeover of a rickety 70’s house on steep lot in Ashbury Heights resulted in a modern light-filled aerie with wide-open expanses of glass capturing views and bringing in natural light. White walls and white terrazo floors allow one to clearly register the changing patterns of the light throughout the day. Balconies on every level connect the spaces to the outdoors, enabling a full immersion into the elements – sun, wind, and fog. Feature elements like the fireplace and kitchen casework were… - [30th Street](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/30th-street-pj-vj~4334) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: This renovation of this house in Glen Park included the redesign of an existing facade as well as a new garage and design studio. The existing Victorian facade was clad in horizontal cedar siding, which acts as a foil for the new poured-in place concrete garage. The placement of the garage at an angle to the main house allowed for a private entry to both the design studio and the house. The south facing roof deck of the garage became the main outdoor space of the house, bringing the outside in a… - [DWR Kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/dwr-kitchens-pj-vj~4338) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - Description: This is a system that caters to you: your movements when cooking, your habits when reaching for things, your ideas about what should be stored where. Even your height and whether you’re left-handed or right-handed are considered when configuring your kitchen and making the best use of space. Made in the U.S., this modular system of cabinets and islands aligns the qualities of fine furniture with the functionality demanded by today’s cook. Through a system of modules and interior components, DWR:… - [Jones Studio](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/jones-studio-pj-vj~4340) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - [Hill Street](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hill-street-pj-vj~395833) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 34 - Description: The challenge with remodels is understanding the existing architectural story, before rewriting a new one. In this case, the house had a diagonal stair cutting through the main floor and blocking the kitchen from the living space. The strategy was to fuse the spaces together and make the stair handrails as transparent as possible to gave the floor an open feel, punctuated by the diagonal stair and monolithic marble island. - [Pennsylvania](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pennsylvania-pj-vj~4344) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - [Presidio](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/presidio-pj-vj~888145) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 111 - [Chenery](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chenery-pj-vj~4336) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: An existing cottage in Glen Park was transformed into a garden compound, linked via a stone path which marks the entrance and leads one through the main house, garden, and design studio garden pavillion. The bedrooms were placed in the existing structure, and a new building – which contains the living room, dining room, and kitchen – was built adjacent to the cottage, connected via a breezeway. The new addition was treated as a separate volume in order to break down the massing and be consistent… - [Mill Valley](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mill-valley-pj-vj~891855) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - [1924](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/1924-pj-vj~4335) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: An existing two bedroom, 1906 structure on Potrero Hill was renovated to provide a private oasis for its architect/artist owners and their family. The house is located on a double lot, but sits on a small footprint on one side of the property, dissolving into a large lush garden at the rear of the property. Each room in the house has a unique corresponding outdoor space: the master bedroom is connected to a private terrace with a spa, the children’s room and living room each opens onto a private… - [Liberty](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/liberty-pj-vj~4343) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - Description: An 1878 Victorian with an eclectic history and beautiful bones is transformed into a series of light filled, expansive spaces. Care was taken to retain the traditional Victorian detailing while adding a modern casework and furnishings to update the space. The house had been through many incarnations – including housing for naval officers, home to a dental school, crash pad for rock stars – all of which left their mark on the architecture. Before any design decisions could be made, the house was… - [Ntropic](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ntropic-pj-vj~1322916) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - [In Progress](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/in-progress-pj-vj~1638822) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 [See all 17 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/nilus-designs-pfvwus-pf~1669428874) ## Ideabooks - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/140058180/list/wish-list) — 1 idea - [22 Clyde](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/66827572/list/22-clyde) — 28 ideas - [75 View Landscape](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/54660849/list/75-view-landscape) — 4 ideas - [75 View](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/52351721/list/75-view) — 18 ideas - [Concepts](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/42980644/list/concepts) — 3 ideas [See all 5 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/nilusdesigns) ## Community Q&A **Q: Lovely kitchen. What make are the ovens?** *(in Photo Questions)* It seems like it's an oven trio. What make are they and what type is each? A: Bosch oven, micro oven and plate warmer. If I remember right. **Q: Vanity** *(in Photo Questions)* Is this a custom made vanity or can it be purchased? If so, where and what is it called? A: This was a custom cabinet. **Q: What is covering the window and how is it attached? Thanks!** *(in Photo Questions)* A: etched glass, its attached with bolts going into the window frame. **Q: Would you kindly tell me what species of wood was used on the cabinets and the stain color? thanks much!** *(in Photo Questions)* Would you kindly tell me what species of wood was used on the cabinets and the stain color? thanks much! A: Walnut **Q: Which wood species is the cabinet?** *(in Photo Questions)* Which wood species is the cabinet? A: Walnut --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-20.*