--- title: "Boehm Architecture — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/boehm-architecture-pfvwus-pf~377607932 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~377607932.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Boehm Architecture" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/8ca3581c0f01e3aa_3882-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "561 Windsor Street, #A402, Somerville, Massachusetts 02143, United States" latitude: 42.3829 longitude: -71.1028 phone: "(617) 521-9082" website: http://boehmarchitecture.com rating: 5 review_count: 9 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 177 last_updated: 2026-09-26 --- # Boehm Architecture Original Houzz profile: [Boehm Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/boehm-architecture-pfvwus-pf~377607932) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Somerville, MA - **Serves:** Boston, Cambridge, Newton, Somerville, Brookline, Medford, West Roxbury, Everett, Chelsea, Watertown, Wellesley, Charlestown, East Boston - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (9 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2013), for Design. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 10,000 Ideabook Saves We are known for working collaboratively with our clients, consultants and builders to produce inventive, efficient and beautiful homes. As a small firm we are able to provide our full attention, experience and creative skills to each project. We begin every project with meetings with our clients to understand their needs and goals. We then proceed through series of design phases, gradually adding more detail while attending to cost, permitting and scheduling issues. Environmental sustainability – green design and building – has always been a primary consideration in our practice. We have long-standing relationships with excellent builders that we can recommend to our clients. We stay very involved with the project during construction to ensure that the quality of construction matches our design and our clients goals. We have diverse backgrounds – in construction, the arts, and fabrication, which allow us to create unique and creative solutions for each project. Bill Boehm has vast experience in residential architecture, ranging from his work in New Mexico and California, as a Peace Corps architect in Africa, to affordable housing in the Boston metro area. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Sustainable Design - Energy-Efficient Homes - Space Planning - Universal Design ### Areas Served - Boston - Cambridge - Newton - Somerville - Brookline - Medford - West Roxbury - Everett - Chelsea - Watertown - Wellesley - Charlestown - East Boston ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Boehm Architecture | | Address | 561 Windsor Street, \#A402, Somerville, Massachusetts 02143, United States | | Phone | (617) 521-9082 | | Website | http://boehmarchitecture.com | | License Number | MA 9371 | | Followers on Houzz | 177 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Boehm Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/boehm-architecture-pfvwus-pf~377607932) - **Website:** http://boehmarchitecture.com - **Phone:** (617) 521-9082 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Licensed architect (Massachusetts)Certified Deep Energy Retrofit designerGlobal Green Sustainable Design Competition finalistInternational Small House Design Competition winnerPro-Arts Service in the Arts awardBoston Visions Competition, second place award - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2013), for Design. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 9 reviews** ### All 9 reviews **★★★★★ — HighMark Land Design, April 2018** > When is comes to creating more functional sunlit spaces and energy efficient homes- this firm is creative and innovative. Bill and his crew are very responsive and responsible. Love their work. **★★★★★ — janemcba, July 2015** > Bill Boehm of Boehm Architects designed and managed a top-to-bottom renovation of my house in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood a while ago. I noticed recently that every week or more often I think about and talk about how well his work serves me. Sometimes I think about the amazing design solution, whereby he raised the roof in the living room, giving a feeling of grand space to that room and the adjoining dining room, kitchen, TV room and hallways as well. Sometimes I notice when I come in out of the rain or snow how comfortable the entrance is under the overhang at the front door. Sometimes the details catch my eye – the elegant heaters, the amazing “diva bathroom” tiles. The way he incorporated accessibility so that the house is comfortable for family wheelchair users is subtle, effective and beautiful. > > > > The renovation was very well managed. I particularly appreciated how Bill presented design choices to me: I felt fully able to incorporate my own style, but not overwhelmed with confusion. **★★★★★ — nirarick, Jan. 2015** > We retained Boehm Architecture to fully renovate our 1920 home in Brookline, MA. Bill and his colleagues managed the project from conception through plans and construction administration. We were extremely pleased with the design, accessibility, and attention to detail. Now after 6 years, we find that many of the features accentuated by the firm are those that please us most about our home. These include consideration of light (giant rear facing window through which the sun and moon shine), energy efficiency (use of LED and fluorescent fixtures, efficient windows), and contemporary design features that fit in with the early 20th century wood elements of the home. Through Boehm Architecture we found an outstanding contractor, with whom he had worked previously, Communication between contractor and architect was clear and seamless. Every aspect to the job was straightforward. We are now considering an addition to the home and have already contacted Boehm Architecture for the design and feasibility. Needless to say, we highly recommend this firm. **★★★★★ — rosikessel, April 2014** > Bill Boehm has been helping me with our renovations since 2006. We own a 1865 Mansard which has a number of bad renovations that we have had to rip out and redo. We have had a number of phased projects, most recently a National Grid Deep Energy retrofit. Bill was amazing at dealing with National Grid and the builder in helping to move things along. Overall, we have been very happy with Bills services and his assistants. It has been difficult for everyone to have keep a long term vision going, but Bill has been there to inspire us to keep going! **★★★★★ — kkcodd, Oct. 2013** > Working with Boehm Architecture definitely exceeded our expectations. We have an 150 year old house and needed to do some major work to it. In addition we wanted to transform parts of it to make it work better for our family and reflect our more modern tastes without losing the historic qualities of the house. To summarize: We were very happy with both the process and the results! > > Bill's plans and work were always on time. Yet he was patient with our changes of mind and plans. What made Bill stand out was his willingness to really listen to us and consider how we live as well as our design preferences. I think Bill is remarkable at transforming client's ideas into reality. When there were differences of opinion, he clearly gave us advice, but we never felt pressured to spend more money, or do something that did not suit. And in the end we generally realized that he was right, e.g. on the width of the window mullions - so happy we listened to him on that point. > > In particular, Boehm Architecture has a strong technical background in energy and we certainly have enjoyed having a warm house for the first time! His suggested improvements have really transformed life in our home during the cooler months. > > His office worked extremely smoothly with the contractors. We all got together for weekly meetings and the work seemed to move fairly smoothly. They also seemed very happy working with Boehm Architecture. > > It's been almost a year since we completed the renovation and we could not be happier with the work. Bill and his office helped us transform our house into a home that really works for our family. I would highly recommend Boehm Architecture both for their abilities to work well with clients as well as for their superior technical and design skills. **★★★★★ — Olajuwon Wakeem, Oct. 2013** > Boehm Architecture worked on our Andover, MA, Cape style home (Royal Barry Wills, built in the 1950s) and helped us to transform our charming, but small home, into a 'sneaky-big' house with a beautiful ground-level in-law suite that feels nothing like the basement it used to be. From the curb, little has changed - and that was what we wanted. Bill and team paid attention to the details that made us fall in love with the house and guided us through a process of modernizing and expanding in a way that incorporated and highlighted those details (antique bricks, wide pine floors, plank doors, hammered-iron hinges, eaves window, etc.). They also magically incorporated windows, skylights and transoms in ALL the right places. Though the ceilings remain low due to the characteristic "cape" style of the house and we still have a windowless roof facing the street, the house glows with light, giving the illusion of height and space. Bill and team took into consideration the orientation of the house and the gradations in our yard, creating a connection with the outside across the entire back of the house, spanning two levels. Finally, Bill and team worked to incorporate energy-efficieny into the design, since being green (within our budget) was important to us. Bill helped us to understand our choices and educated us on different factors that go into green design. We loved working with Bill Bhoeme and team and we love the one-of-a-kind home they created for us. **★★★★★ — jenl1, April 2013** > Boehm Architecture provided the design and plans for the renovation of my condo which included a complete re-design of the space including the removal of a carrying wall, relocation of kitchen, bathroom and bedroom as well as relocation of front door. > > Bill Boehm impressed me from his first visit to my condo. I had several architects come by as well as numerous contractors through the years, yet Bill was the first to understand the space in such a way where he was able to visualize a new design that highlighted the city views, took into account the natural light improved the flow of the living space and also incorporated great storage for a city space. Bill was instrumental in taking my early 1900's layout (small square rooms) and turning it into an open floor plan that works for the modern lifestyle. Of equal importance, Bill's design makes my small 700 sq ft condo feel much larger. > Bill was extremely responsive, knowledgeable and helpful throughout the project that lasted for about one year. He is quick to respond to phone calls and emails. Through the planning stage of the project, he was extremely patient with my numerous design changes and was helpful in offering advice as far as the pros and cons of one option vs. another. Bill was also helpful in recommending other professionals who I needed throughout the project (contractor, structural engineer, ect.). He was cognizant of my budget and was always able to offer options that ranged from least expensive to more expensive. > I would highly recommend Boehm Architecture for any project. Bill is extremely professional, accommodating and easy to work with, but more importantly he has a keen eye for design and space. **★★★★★ — David Buckley, April 2013** > We asked Mr. Boehm to help us remodel my family home, built in the 1960's. We were impressed with his attention to detail and flexibility working within our budget. He was able to respect the tradition of the existing architecture, while updating important elements for the way we live today. The result was a beautiful contemporary house with the soul of the home my parents designed. > Thank you, Bill! **★★★★★ — bettinamcg, April 2013** > We hired Boehm Architecture to help us renovate a nearly 100-year-old house, bringing it from approximately 1300 square feet to 1700 square feet. The primary goal of the project was to update and enlarge the house in a sustainable way. We wanted to salvage as much of the house as we could, maintaining the overall exterior style; increase energy efficiency; stay within the existing footprint while adding two new bathrooms and a bedroom; increase the amount of storage space; improve the traffic flow; and add more light throughout. > > Bill Boehm and his associate Jen West both have a keen sense of design and expertise in green renovations; they were able to translate our thoughts into a plan that went beyond what we had hoped. The end result was a house that retained the original style on the exterior with a completely modernized interior. The kitchen and dining room were moved to a more strategic location, two new bathrooms and a new bedroom were added to the second floor, and the rest of the house was taken to the studs and rebuilt utilizing as many materials as could be retained. The house was insulated, the heating and cooling systems updated, and energy efficient windows installed, resulting in a tight, comfortable space. Strategically placed windows and skylights added much needed light. Wherever possible, walls were opened and doors and windows placed to extend the view and decrease compartmentalization, making the house appear much larger than it actually is. > > In terms of working with the team at Boehm Architecture, they were knowledgeable, attentive, and engaged. They were willing to work within our timeline and budget, advising us where it was worth spending and where we could save. They were open to our taking on aspects of the project that we were interested in working on – sourcing materials and appliances, developing initial plans for the bath and kitchen, etc. – while providing expert advice and oversight. And, not only are they a superb architectural team, they are a lot of fun to work with. We cannot recommend them highly enough – great company! ## Selected projects - [Somerville House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/somerville-house-pj-vj~223577) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - [Cape Update](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cape-update-pj-vj~26326) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - [Suburban Addtion](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/suburban-addtion-pj-vj~27141) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - [Cambridgeport Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cambridgeport-renovation-pj-vj~223638) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - [South End Townhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/south-end-townhouse-pj-vj~853325) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: This is a Boston South End rowhouse, dating to the late 19th century. Our partial renovation opened up the first level to combine the living, dining and kitchen functions while concealing a new powder room behind a set of salvaged historic doors. Original hardwood trim and plaster mouldings were meticulously restored, or re-created where necessary. Modern lighting, built-in shelving and furniture creates a dialogue with the historic quality. On the upper floor, a new steel staircase with glass g… - [Back Bay townhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/back-bay-townhouse-pj-vj~223531) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - [Cape Cod House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cape-cod-house-pj-vj~27148) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - [Holworthy Place](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/holworthy-place-pj-vj~26415) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 [See all 8 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/boehm-architecture-pfvwus-pf~377607932) ## Ideabooks - [our favorite staircases](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1643891/list/our-favorite-staircases) — 10 ideas [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/billboehm) ## Community Q&A **Q: Is there a rain screen?** *(in Photo Questions)* Did you install a rain-screen on this ? A: Hi Greg. Yes, we did install a rain-screen. For those of you who don't know, a rain-screen is an air gap between the siding (the hardie board, in this case) and the sheathing behind it. It allows moisture trapped behind the siding to dissipate, which is important in energy-efficient, durable construction. In this case we used pressure-treated 1x2's to create the rain-screen. **Q: Neutral wall color?** *(in Photo Questions)* What is the wall color in this design? It is such a great fit with the warm wood and the light quality! A: Thanks - that would be either Farrow and Ball "Bone". **Q: Fiber Cement Panel Cost** *(in Photo Questions)* Approximately how much should I plan on spending to use these cement panels versus other materials (i.e. stone \| brick \| stucco) ? I love the look of them but I'm afraid they'll cost more than the other materials. A: Thanks - we are happy with the result as well. I can't give you an installed square foot price - I don't have the general contractor's numbers. I can tell you that the material cost is low - lower than wood, stone or brick. The installation requires some finesse - to detail the joints properly. **Q: Looks good. Are the nail or screw heads visible on the surface?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Thanks! The nail heads are small and painted over - you don't notice them. **Q: Classic and cozy** *(in Photo Questions)* Great design! I love the elements you chose, particularly the sofa and coffee table. Great combo! Can you share the makers? A: Thanks! The Angle Chaise is by Henry Calvin. From Furn and Co in the Boston Design Center. The table was already owned by our client. **Q: Coffee table?** *(in Photo Questions)* Where can I get the coffee table? A: Sorry, I don't know - it was already owned by our client. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-26.*