--- title: "Kaplan Architects, AIA — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/kaplan-architects-aia-pfvwus-pf~251752948 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~251752948.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Kaplan Architects, AIA" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/4423256409661d99_9807-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "49 Zoe Street, Suite 10, San Francisco, California 94107, United States" latitude: 37.7621 longitude: -122.3971 phone: "(415) 974-6794" website: http://www.kaplanarchitects.com rating: 4.9 review_count: 23 best_of_houzz_awards: 5 followers: 347 last_updated: 2026-08-31 --- # Kaplan Architects, AIA Original Houzz profile: [Kaplan Architects, AIA](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/kaplan-architects-aia-pfvwus-pf~251752948) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Redwood City, Napa, Walnut Creek, Palo Alto, Danville, Los Altos, Burlingame, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Mill Valley, Alamo, Emeryville, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Hillsborough, Piedmont, Sonoma, Tiburon, Los Altos Hills, Sausalito, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Belvedere, Kenwood, Belvedere Tiburon, Marin County, Napa County, Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, Sea Cliff, Sonoma County - **Houzz rating:** 4.9 out of 5 (23 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2014–2020), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Industry Research - Barometer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 25,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - References available - 35 years in business Kaplan Architects has over 3 and a half decades experience in new home design and custom home remodels throughout San Francisco, the East Bay, the Peninsula and other San Francisco Bay Area communities. At Kaplan Architects we believe in pursuing design excellence. We do this through thoughtful iteration of ideas, challenging our own preconceptions, and rethinking the solutions we develop. We strive for the results of our work to be functional, timeless, and beautiful. We create spaces with our clients’ needs and desires foremost in mind and we strive to create spaces that are warm and inviting. Our approach involves listening to the clients’ needs and designing custom solutions to meet their specific requirements. We promote designs that are functional and have a clean, timeless character, not solely based on the fashion of the day. We have done work in many of the jurisdictions of this region and have developed a process to navigate the complex approvals required to build and remodel. The firm has been published in Home Magazine, Custom Home, Northern California Home and Garden, Sunset Magazine, Trends and various other periodicals. The firm has received several awards for its residential projects and has been featured in various exhibitions featuring Bay Area architects. Home and Garden Television (HGTV) has featured many of our projects on their national television network. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - House Plans - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - 3D Rendering - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Pool House Design & Construction - Home Restoration - Historic Building Conservation - Basement Remodeling - Attic Conversion - Basement Design - Tiny House Construction - Garage Design - Architect - Construction Drawings - Custom Home - Custom home design - Full service architect - Home design services - Interior design services - New home design - Whole house remodel design ### Areas Served - San Francisco - Oakland - Berkeley - Redwood City - Napa - Walnut Creek - Palo Alto - Danville - Los Altos - Burlingame - Lafayette - Orinda - Moraga - Mill Valley - Alamo - Emeryville - Tamalpais-Homestead Valley - Hillsborough - Piedmont - Sonoma - Tiburon - Los Altos Hills - Sausalito - Atherton - Woodside - Portola Valley - Belvedere - Kenwood - Belvedere Tiburon - Marin County - Napa County - Noe Valley - Pacific Heights - Sea Cliff - Sonoma County ### Typical Job Cost $250,000 - 5 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Kaplan Architects, AIA | | Address | 49 Zoe Street, Suite 10, San Francisco, California 94107, United States | | Phone | (415) 974-6794 | | Website | http://www.kaplanarchitects.com | | License Number | c12668 | | Followers on Houzz | 347 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/kaplanarchitects - LinkedIn — http://www.linkedin.com/in/kaplanarchitects - Blog — https://www.kaplanarchitects.com/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Kaplan Architects, AIA](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/kaplan-architects-aia-pfvwus-pf~251752948) - **Website:** http://www.kaplanarchitects.com - **Phone:** (415) 974-6794 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Licensed Architect in California, C12668 - NCARB Certified, Trends top 50 American Kitchens - Trends top 50 American Kitchens 2013-2014 - National and local ASID awards - **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2014–2020), for Service. **Affiliations** - [American Institute of Architects, San Francisco](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/american-institute-of-architects-san-francisco-pfvwus-pf~788533068) - [AIA Custom Residential Architects Network](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/aia-custom-residential-architects-network-pfvwus-pf~629398549) - [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471) - [NCARB](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/ncarb-pfvwus-pf~1477640315) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 — 23 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Sharon Scharff, July 2019** > We found Kaplan Architects on Houzz! We had major design flaws in our existing house and needed to do our remodel right, so first priority was to find the right Architect! In researching on line, I knew we really liked their work and after meeting with 3 or so candidates, choosing Ed Kaplan and David Seltzer was easy. Their designs, their knowledge, their professionalism, their personalities exceeded my expectations. As the plans became reality, the project looked even better than I expected and their incredible ability to foresee how different materials and colors would come together was really amazing to watch. There were never any surprises or misunderstandings with them in any of our dealings. The communication was excellent. However, the best decision we made in the scope of things was requesting they be a part of the whole job and really do the hands on project oversight in directing and helping the builder follow the plan. Even though the plans were very specific and precise, things on site can change or availability of materials can alter and having Dave and Ed involved kept the project true to design. Even though the contractors may offer suggestions, they don't grasp the significance of what changing even small details can do to the whole vision, and what a difference that will make. I realized very early on when given a choice by the contractor on anything, I deferred to and chose whatever Ed and Dave suggested. I knew if I could convey what I was looking for, they knew how to get there far, far better than I and my trust in them was absolute and well founded! From ideas, to plans, to bidding, to building I know having them involved from start to finish brought that vision together and we are so thrilled with our "new" home! And in spite of the stress of construction remodeling it was a wonderful opportunity getting to work with them over the course of the project-which was a couple of years. They are amazing and we feel very fortunate that we were able to find them and made the right choice involving them throughout the entire process of seeing the plans come to life. There is no doubt we never would have come close to the home we achieved without their talent and guidance and patience throughout the job in its entirety. They're knowledgeable and incredibly reasonable and did so much keeping everything in perspective. We are grateful for the opportunity to know them and work with them. **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Thank you so much Sharon for helping us create a project we will proudly show off for many years to come. Working with you has been a real pleasure for us. You clearly understood the value of our continued involvement throughout the entire design and construction process and hence we are able to achieve optimum results. Also kudos to the the landscape architect, Kikuchi + Kankel and also the general contractor Forrest Bodily. **★★★★★ — brady30, March 2019** > We have worked with Kaplan Architects in the past and hired them in 2018 to assist us with drawings, elevations and to get us through the permitting process of a complete redesign and remodel of an 1800 square foot flat in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco. Kaplan Architects kept us on schedule and always came up with creative solutions. I would highly recommend them and use them again! **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > It is always a pleasure to work with you and we very much value our on-going working relationship. Thank you very much for the review! > Best wishes, > Ed **★★★★★ — Steven Saylor, Dec. 2018** > I highly recommend Ed Kaplan for architectural work. Back in 2004 we almost doubled the size of our 2/1 Berkeley bungalow by adding a large downstairs office, large upstairs master bedroom with bath, and above that (with exterior spiral staircase) a roof terrace (with elastomeric to walk on). This totally transformed our home. 14 years later we are still loving these spaces, every day. Ed helped us work out our plans with highly detailed feedback, helped us find a great contractor (not easy), and stayed with us until completion (only 6 months from construction start to finish). Having worked out all details in advance really helped keep down construction cost (we incurred only a couple of "change-orders", both cosmetic, not structural). Very satisfied with the whole process. **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Thank you Steven for your very kind review. We enjoyed working with you very much! **★★★★★ — J Feng, Sept. 2018** > It has been a pleasure to work with Ed in remodeling our property in Los Altos Hills, which included the architecture design of our house to completion of the projects. Ed also assisted in managing and overlooking the overall construction details. We really enjoyed working with Ed. He is highly skilled professional with great attitude and pleasant personality. We are very pleased with Ed’s work and we would highly recommend him! **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Thank you Judy. Working with you and Jeff was a pleasure. We are very proud of your project! **★★★★★ — HU-211057712, Sept. 2018** > Ed Kaplan, and associate David Seltzer, designed and oversaw a beautiful 600 square foot addition to our 1920’s cape cod home. The 2 story addition included a bedroom with kitchenette, a guest bath, and grand master bath, large closet and bonus room. > > Their attention to detail and skill in execution is evident their work. They worked tirelessly in balancing our needs with the traditional aesthetic of our home and neighborhood. From guiding us through the permitting process, negotiating with the city building department, interviewing general contractors, and providing us advice and guidance throughout the entire process, Ed was instrumental in this project. Having performed a major remodel on his own home in our neighborhood, Ed is well versed on the requirements of our Hoa aswell as changing city codes. > > Ed and David went above and beyond regularly. Even addressing concerns of our neighbors directly, in in-person sit downs and performing extensive daylight studies at their request. Ed was continually overseeing the work of our gc, frequently contacting him and ensuring the slightest details were not being overlooked (details my wife and I certainly would not have noticed). > > Ed and David also worked very closely with my wife, who is a designer, to consider material/color/texture options carefully. I was the tie breaker when it came to price ;) > > All in all, I couldn’t imagine having to go through this project without the level of personalization, care and direction afforded us by Ed and David. **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Thank you Naveen and Nancy for giving us the opportunity to work with you both and to carry through the essential aspects of your project. We get great satisfaction seeing projects get executed in the way they were intended and making sure the value is realized from our design and planning process. We thoroughly enjoyed working with you and wish you many happy moments in your addition. **★★★★★ — John Weir, Jan. 2018** > We chose Kaplan Architects to design the remodel of our 90 year old Richmond District single family home. The remodel included redoing the garage and adding rooms on the ground floor, a new and larger kitchen, adding a large deck and stairs to the back of the house, and significant seismic upgrades throughout. > We have never done a project like this before and Kaplan Architects did a great job helping us with the design and the permit approval process. Their transparency and explanation of the remodel process, including cost, providing a template for the contractor bids, and of getting permit approvals in San Francisco was a major factor in our selection of them. > Ed and his team were a pleasure to work with. They were very patient, respectful and very responsive to our questions and our inputs on the design, and changes we made to the project design. They gave us good guidance on working with the contractor and helped us in dealing with unanticipated problems. > We highly recommend Kaplan Architects and would use them again. **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Dear John and Catherine, > We enjoyed working with you both very much and we were so glad we could help you with your project. Thank you so much! **★★★★★ — Andrea/Marci Bowers, Dec. 2017** > Ed is a consumate professional, calm, confident, attentive, engaging. A pleasure to work with as is his team including Wendy and David. All very helpful. They were very good at listening to our concerns and desires. The process worked smoothly and they always gave us ample time to meet the contractor's needs and timeline. **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Hi Andrea and Marci, > Thank you so much for your review. You were both such a pleasure to work with on this project and we are very proud of the results! Kudos to Rasmussen Construction for their fine execution of the project as well! **★★★★★ — Shiv M, Jan. 2017** > Ed was a pleasure to work with. Not only was he incredibly nice (seriously), but also was extremely communicative and easy to work with. We had a pretty tight turn around for our work (which granted, was not major, but still), and had quite a few constraints to work around, but Ed and David pulled through amazingly with some creative workarounds! I don't write reviews often, but these guys were amazing. **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Thank you so much Shiv. It was a pleasure working with you as well. Best of luck to you! **★★★★★ — Terry Wilkens, Nov. 2016** > I loved working with Ed and David in his firm. We threw them a big curve ball by trying to do our project without an architect, and brought him in only after things were already a bit messed up. They were great in jumping on board and helping us with a total remodel (maybe $400,000) of a 1926 cottage in the El Cerrito Hills. We think their design of the front porch and entry is a magnificent addition, and they created a total redesign of the interior. Responsive to our ideas, creative, and on-the-spot in dealing with problems that arose during construction . . . can't say enough good things about these guys. And finally, we thought their fees and charges were reasonable, and they were always pleasant to work with. **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Thank you Terry so much for the kind review. You and Donelda were a pleasure to work with on this project. We truly enjoyed it. **★★★★★ — Boris Reznikov, June 2016** > My fiancé and I are the type of people that over-research everything. We bought a house in San Francisco that required major remodeling and set out to find a phenomenal architect. In fact, between phone consultations and in-person meetings we interviewed over 20 architects. Ed Kaplan was literally the best of all of the high quality architects we spoke with. He did a great job of both listening to what my fiancé and I needed as well as providing new and refreshing ideas. He was incredibly articulate and was able to express how he works in an extremely organized fashion. Before he started explaining concepts he would even ask how much detail we wanted and would then tailor his response accordingly. He had great attainable ideas for our home, showed up on-time, and well prepared with examples of previous work. He showed us examples of the different types of drawings he would provide to us if we hired him. We both felt like Ed just "got it". He was willing to leave as much of the house intact as we could to help save us money. He understood we had priorities based on a tight budget and truly wanted to work to get as much accomplished within our budget as possible. He had great ideas about how to maximize our budget too! Other architects had grandiose ideas of remodel features we could never afford (some we didn't even want and would have never prioritized) and were awful at setting expectations for their timeline, budget, and work. Ed seemed genuinely excited to learn about our desires and styles. Ed really stood out to us as the best possible option and I can imagine we will either hire him for future projects or recommend him to friends and family. (We didn't end up hiring Ed because we had a friend who is an architect who agreed to pretty much do the architectural work for us for free. Absent that extreme gift from a friend, we would have hired Ed and may end up doing so if our friend drops the ball). Thanks Ed! **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Thank you very much for your kind review! > Best of luck to you on your project. **★★★★★ — plaut, Oct. 2015** > Thank you Kaplan Architects! My husband and I had the privilege to work with Ed and mostly David with the remodel of 2 bathrooms and the addition of a powder room. We had never done this kind of construction before and so we were a little anxious about it in the beginning. > We found them to be highly professional, accessible, responsible, personable, efficient and easy to talk too in discussing our project. They really listened to our needs and provided excellent guidance and support. I think David and Ed are very talented at what they do. > David seemed as excited as we were each step of the way. The contractors we hired told us that their elevations made it so much easier for them to do their job, I wish there were more stars to give them! **Comment from Kaplan Architects, AIA:** > Thank you very much for your review of our project. We enjoyed working with you both very much. We appreciate the way you interacted with us during the entire process as it facilitated the thoughtful design result we where able to achieve with your project. The photos of the project are proudly displayed on this site under Mill Valley Bathroom Remodel! **★★★★★ — Brandon House, Sept. 2015** > Ed was terrific! He offered excellent design ideas while also making me aware of San Francisco building codes. Although it was a small project, he gave me a lot of his time, listened carefully to my needs and made the entire experience truly an enjoyable one. I highly recommend him! ## Selected projects - [East Bay Ranch Makeover](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/east-bay-ranch-makeover-pj-vj~6017507) - Location: Fremont, CA - Photos: 15 - Description: We were asked to do a complete remodel of the main public areas of this existing ranch style home. Walls were taken down to open up the space. The kitchen was relocated and a great room was created. In the great room we captured attic space to raise the ceiling. A large amount of storage space was created with custom cabinets. A formerly outdoor courtyard space was covered with a very large custom skylight and integrated into the house as a library space. - [East Bay Trestle Glen Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/east-bay-trestle-glen-addition-pj-vj~2099348) - Location: Oakland, CA - Photos: 17 - Description: This is our latest addition and remodel to this 1925 era residence in the Crocker Highlands neighborhood on the Oakland Piedmont border. The goal was to consolidate three of the rear rooms into one great room which contains a kitchen and family room. An addition to the rear yard provided some extra needed space. A new full bath was added adjacent to the family room at the ground level. This was part of a future thinking and aging in place strategy. The idea was that having a full bath at the low… - [New Peninsula Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-peninsula-residence-pj-vj~1126) - Location: Emerald Hills, CA - Photos: 41 - Description: This property is located on a beautiful, wooded, hillside in the Emerald Hills area of Redwood City. The owner originally contacted us to explore an extensive remodel her existing residence. The house was literally sliding down the hillside and our initial evaluation indicated that attempting to remodel the house was impractical because of its poor structural condition. We advised that she should consider building a new house on the site. After we thoroughly discussed the options with her, she d… - [San Francisco Master Bath Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-master-bath-remodel-pj-vj~3554281) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 4 - Description: Kaplan Architects, AIA Location: San Francisco, CA, USA This project was the third remodel for this client which involved a complete reorganization and renovation of their existing master bathroom. We were hired evaluate the existing layout of the space, take measures in the redesign to mitigate a persistent leak in the space below the bathroom, and develop a complete and detailed interior design of the remodeled bathroom. The client was also interested in develop any aging in place measures we… - [San Francisco Pacific Heights flat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-pacific-heights-flat-pj-vj~6861978) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 14 - [New Oakland Hills Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-oakland-hills-residence-pj-vj~727) - Location: Oakland, CA - Photos: 9 - Description: The original house on this property was burned to the ground during the Oakland Hills fire. We designed this new custom house to respond to the very steep hillside and to take advantage of the extensive five bridge bay views. The existing lot was very small in size. Our very compact, yet spacious 2,000 square foot house, was designed to minimize corridors to keep the house to a smaller footprint. We organized the layout of the new house so that each room had access to the bay views. The main liv… - [Crocker Highlands Trestle Glen Restoration and Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/crocker-highlands-trestle-glen-restoration-and-remodel-pj-vj~91031) - Location: Oakland, CA - Photos: 31 - Description: This project involved a major restoration and remodel of existing 1930's Tudor Style Storybook house in the Crocker Highlands neighborhood on the Oakland/Piedmont border. The first phase of the project involved fixing the major systems of the house; foundation, heating, electrical and plumbing. The house was extensively out of level so the foundations were replaced completely. Many of the wonderful details found in a house from this era were present but needed to be restored or replaced. Future… - [Trestle Glen Two Story Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/trestle-glen-two-story-addition-pj-vj~5548643) - Location: Oakland, CA - Photos: 16 - Description: Kaplan Architects, AIA Location: Oakland, CA, USA We were asked by the client to design an addition to their existing two story Cape Cod style house. The existing house had two bedrooms with one bath on the second level. They wanted to create an in-law type space for aging parents that would be easily accessible from the main level of the house. We looked at various ways to develop the extra space they wanted, including a separate detached in-law unit. They went with a scheme that has the new sp… - [Pacific Heights High Rise](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pacific-heights-high-rise-pj-vj~453943) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 17 - Description: We remodeled this two bedroom two bathroom condo apartment in a San Francisco high-rise building. The entire interior was completely remodeled and transformed including the kitchen and bathrooms. We opened up the kitchen to the existing living/dining room. We custom designed many built ins for bookshelves, storage, and the entertainment center. The high rise setting presented many logistical and design challenges. The client had moved from a craftsman style house and wanted to incorporate some o… - [Lafayette Whole House Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lafayette-whole-house-remodel-pj-vj~32773) - Location: Lafayette, CA - Photos: 7 - Description: Interior whole house remodel on an existing house in Lafayette. The existing house was completely transformed with mostly all interior remodeling. The house suffered from numerous poorly executed additions over a period of many years. The goal was to reconfigure and improve the flow and to unify the interiors. We were asked to develop a master plan for the whole house. The first phase we executed involved the main living areas of the house. - [Los Altos Hills Whole House Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/los-altos-hills-whole-house-remodel-pj-vj~1127) - Location: Los Altos Hills, CA - Photos: 13 - Description: The initial project for this house was to do a remodel and addition to the existing small master bathroom. There was a narrow exterior space between the existing detached garage and the house. We were able to capture that space for the remodeled master bath. The integration of this outdoor space with the existing interior bathroom was a structural and architectural challenge. We needed to tie the two roof systems together to make sure proper roof drainage was preserved. In the end we were able t… - [San Francisco Whole House Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-whole-house-remodel-pj-vj~33266) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 12 - Description: The owner of this San Francisco Marina Style home wished to extensively remodel and open up this historic multi level home. The whole back end of the house needed to be reconstructed. A variance approval from the San Francisco Planning Department was required to rebuild certain aspects of the rear of the existing house. An all new, reconfigured kitchen was designed along with all newly remodeled and reconfigured bathrooms. Emphasis was placed on preserving the existing design character of the ho… - [San Francisco Contemporary Bathroom Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-contemporary-bathroom-remodel-pj-vj~37357) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 4 - Description: The owner of this house wanted to modernize all of their existing bathrooms within the house. The master bath was located in a basement location. It was a very poorly configured space and made with poor construction. The other bathrooms were to be remodeled with new finishes. This was our third project for this client. Previous projects included a rear yard addition and a kitchen remodel. - [San Francisco Victorian Restoration](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-victorian-restoration-pj-vj~91045) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 4 - Description: The owner of this Victorian asked us to develop the design and construction details for a new front entry stair structure and fence structure. The existing stairs were in very bad condition. Besides being a complicated structure from a design and waterproofing point of view, we also were required to come up with a design that satisfied the San Francisco Historic Planning Staff. - [San Francisco Richmond District Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/san-francisco-richmond-district-residence-pj-vj~85015) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 14 - Description: San Francisco Edwardian Remodel and major addition in the Richmond District of San Francisco. The entire house was remodeled and a 20 foot three story rear yard addition was added. Extensive work was completed throughout the house. The kitchen and all of the bathrooms were remodeled. Equal attention was paid to the exterior and interior design features. - [Restored East Bay Hills Cabin](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/restored-east-bay-hills-cabin-pj-vj~1001006) - Location: El Cerrito, CA - Photos: 12 - Description: Complete restoration of an existing 1 bedroom/1 bath cabin/cottage in the El Cerrito Hills. The owners wanted to completely modernize the charming, old structure without loosing its character. The main living spaces were opened to create a more spacious interior. The house was raised to capture a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and a new entry porch was added to the front entry. All of the exterior siding was removed and replaced. The interior was gutted and walls removed to create the main great… - [New Alamo Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-alamo-residence-pj-vj~732) - Location: Alamo, CA - Photos: 6 - Description: This new 5,000 square foot house was custom designed for this especially unique site on a steep hillside overlooking Mount Diablo in the East Bay. The extensive amount of outdoor terraces incorporate a raised swimming pool and creates a easy connection between the inside and outside areas of the house. Extensive areas of glass open up to the beautiful surrounding natural landscape. The second floor hangs out over the first floor terraces providing shade and relief from the hot sun. - [Major Peninsula Remodel and Additions](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/major-peninsula-remodel-and-additions-pj-vj~91072) - Location: Belmont, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: This project involved a major whole house remodel and a number of additions for an extended family. The character of the house was completely transformed. A major variance application with a public hearing was required. Much effort was applied toward designing the house for the present and the future as much as possible. A private bedroom suite was created for aging parents and aging in place measures were considered in the design of this area of the house. The house was designed to accommodate… - [Mill Valley Bathroom Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mill-valley-bathroom-remodel-pj-vj~1438610) - Location: Mill Valley, CA - Photos: 8 - Description: The owners of this house in Mill Valley wished to remodel two existing bathrooms and add a new bathroom to their existing house. They wanted to maintain as much natural light in the master bathroom as possible and create a light filled and spacious bathroom. They wanted us to take a clean, modern approach to the design. We created a more spacious feeling in the master bath by floating the cabinets above the floor. Their was a desire to create and maintain as much storage as possible. Added custo… - [Piedmont Addition and Reconfiguration](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/piedmont-addition-and-reconfiguration-pj-vj~695141) - Location: Piedmont, CA - Photos: 7 - Description: This project entailed a remodel and expansion of an existing house in Piedmont to accommodate two households, a young family and an aging parent. The father was becoming frail after living on his own for many years. His son asked us if we could help him find a way we could alter his house to accommodate his father and his son's family living in the house together. The son thought that we might look at building a basement living space for the father as a way to create more livable space. We point… [See all 33 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/kaplan-architects-aia-pfvwus-pf~251752948) ## Ideabooks - [Jones](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/167341359/list/jones) — 12 ideas - [Powell Klugman](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/167358852/list/powell-klugman) — 27 ideas - [Jackie](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/146816464/list/jackie) — 1 idea - [Villareal](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/53756612/list/villareal) — 6 ideas [See all 4 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/ekaplan) ## Community Q&A **Q: What's the flooring being used here?** *(in Photo Questions)* I'm curious as to whether it's hardwood and if so, what thickness and wood type. A: Hi Shirley, Thanks for your interest in this project. I'm sorry that I am unable to tell you the thickness or species of this hardwood flooring as the owner's selected it. **Q: I love the floor tile and cabinets.** *(in Photo Questions)* Would you please share the tile brand and color? And the cabinet wood and color please? Thank you! A: Hi Kristy, My records on this are somewhat sketchy, I show the source for the tile as Daltile, but I think that is wrong. The cabinets are custom designed by us and made to suit the space. The cabinet maker matched a sample we gave them for the color and finish. **Q: Would you please share which toilet is that?** *(in Photo Questions)* And would you also share the countertop material and thickness? I love them both! A: Hi Kristy, This is a Toto wall mounted toilet. It was from the Aquia line, but I don't see it on the Toto site anymore. They do have another wall hung on their site that looks the same if you go to their site. The sink is a single wall hung unit - I believe it is vitreous china: model 53710 / WS Bath Collections Quarelo. **Q: Ceiling Lights** *(in Photo Questions)* Where did you get the flush mount ceiling lights? And what is the diameter? A: Hi Carol, Here is a link to those lights. https://www.cooperlighting.com/global/brands/shaper/fabrique-122-s-led-ceiling-mount.html **Q: Love the backsplash. Where is it from?** *(in Photo Questions)* Love the backsplash. Where is it from? A: Hi Ani, Thanks very much. The tile in this backsplash comes from Heath Ceramics. https://www.heathceramics.com/ **Q: How are the baseboards done?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi water211, This painted wood baseboard is set into the wall so that the face of the finish of the wood aligns with the face of the painted sheet rock wall. We also have included an extruded aluminum channel between the wood baseboard and the sheet rock to create a clean reveal between the two materials for a contemporary clean appearance. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-31.*