--- title: "FAME Architecture and Design — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/fame-architecture-and-design-pfvwus-pf~506821900 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~506821900.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "FAME Architecture and Design" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/8653cac20eb9c57c_0488-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "San Francisco, California 94122, United States" phone: "(415) 798-2298" website: http://fwww.famearchitects.com rating: 5 review_count: 8 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 2 last_updated: 2026-08-17 --- # FAME Architecture and Design Original Houzz profile: [FAME Architecture and Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/fame-architecture-and-design-pfvwus-pf~506821900) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Serves:** Bel Air, San Francisco, Oakland, Venice, Berkeley, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, Napa, Alameda, Palo Alto, Laguna Niguel, Cupertino, San Luis Obispo, San Bruno, Menlo Park, Beverly Hills, Burlingame, Monterey, Lafayette, Pacific Palisades, Millbrae, Tahoe, Orinda, Moraga, Mill Valley, Alamo, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Healdsburg, Hillsborough, Pebble Beach, Malibu, Sonoma, Tiburon, Los Altos Hills, Kentfield, Sausalito, Atherton, Saint Helena, Woodside, Brisbane, Portola Valley, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Ross, Belvedere, Sea Ranch, Muir Beach, Belvedere Tiburon, Carmel, Hombly, Trousdale - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (8 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2023–2026), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - Family owned - Online consultation We create high-end modern homes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and greater California. FAME is a luxury residential architecture and interior design office founded by French Architect and Interior Designer Marina Bourderonnet and American Architect David Bruce Lee. The office is distinguished by its unique designs, diverse experience, and fierce passion for beauty. We design all aspects of the home for a better living experience and a more efficient and enjoyable process. Architecture, interior design, and furnishing are often sold today as individual services by different professionals. While appropriate at times, this method can have its disadvantages because it is not reflective of how a home is actually experienced. The living experience in a home is the cumulation of its many different elements working together. We see walls, windows, chairs, pendants, and fabrics as ingredients in a larger design recipe. This approach also makes the process easier for our clients. Of course, not all projects require the full scope of services and we love collaborating with fellow designers! Our services: • New Homes / Ground-Up Builds • Remodels • Property Analyses • Site Planning • Architecture & Interior Design • 3D Modeling • Building Permitting • Construction Drawings • Consultant Coordination • Contractor Selection • Construction Administration • Furniture Selection and Purchasing • Turnkey Services • Client Representation ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Floor Plans - Energy-Efficient Homes - 3D Rendering - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Bathroom Design - Green Building - Space Planning - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Multigenerational Homes - Pool House Design & Construction - Drafting - Project Management - Outdoor Kitchen Design - Mudroom Design - Tiny House Construction - Staircase Design - Laundry Room Design - Home Gym Design & Construction - Bedroom Design - Closet Design - Custom Bathroom Vanities - Custom Beds - Custom Bookcases - Custom Built-ins - Custom Cabinets - Custom Fireplace Mantels - Custom Home Bars - Custom Kitchen Cabinets - Design Consultation - Dining Room Design - Entry Design - Furniture Selection - Home Theater Design - Interior Design - Kids Bedroom Design - Living Room Design - Nursery Design - Playroom Design ### Areas Served - Bel Air - San Francisco - Oakland - Venice - Berkeley - Santa Monica - Santa Barbara - Newport Beach - Napa - Alameda - Palo Alto - Laguna Niguel - Cupertino - San Luis Obispo - San Bruno - Menlo Park - Beverly Hills - Burlingame - Monterey - Lafayette - Pacific Palisades - Millbrae - Tahoe - Orinda - Moraga - Mill Valley - Alamo - Tamalpais-Homestead Valley - Healdsburg - Hillsborough - Pebble Beach - Malibu - Sonoma - Tiburon - Los Altos Hills - Kentfield - Sausalito - Atherton - Saint Helena - Woodside - Brisbane - Portola Valley - Carmel-by-the-Sea - Ross - Belvedere - Sea Ranch - Muir Beach - Belvedere Tiburon - Carmel - Hombly - Trousdale ### Typical Job Cost $20,000 - 4 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | FAME Architecture and Design | | Address | San Francisco, California 94122, United States | | Phone | (415) 798-2298 | | Website | http://fwww.famearchitects.com | | License Number | C38066 | | Followers on Houzz | 2 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/famearchitects/ - Blog — https://www.famearchitects.com/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [FAME Architecture and Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/fame-architecture-and-design-pfvwus-pf~506821900) - **Website:** http://fwww.famearchitects.com - **Phone:** (415) 798-2298 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Registered Architects in California and New York - LEED GA Certified - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2023–2026), for Design, Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 8 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### All 8 reviews **★★★★★ — Zachary Taylor, April 2025** > I had spent significant time searching for an architecture team. I was looking for a skilled team at a reasonable price. I had a unique set of circumstances and David and Marina stood out from the rest. They excelled at their capability and work product while being something that I could actually afford. > > This is one part of many where working with FAME really stood out: I had experienced other architects seeing me as just a dollar sign whereas David and Marina saw me as a person & understood the vision. We were able to co-create something beautiful. They were with me from the beginning to completion. I am forever grateful. > > Their team from the beginning was engaged and efficient. I enjoyed meeting with them, they visited the site, I shared my preferences and style, and then not long after designs were presented. Their designs were forward-thinking, to my aesthetic (modern), unique & inspiring. > > I was working through getting approvals for a fire rebuild. This is no easy task came with many unexpected challenges working with LA County. David and Marina delivered every time. Working with county planners the requests could be frequent and the turnaround time limited. David and Marina were able to adapt quickly to an ever-changing landscape and turn things around exceeding the timeline expectations every time with me and LA County. > > Working with them was fun, efficient, and reasonably priced, with excellent work product from start to finish. Their communication is some of the best I have ever experienced. I felt like they were my partners the entire way from the beginning to completion. They were always thorough, efficient, and reasonable. > > Their creativity really impressed me, they came up with beautiful designs I had not seen before. The final design exceeded my hopes and expectations. They are incredible designers. Truly pioneers in the industry. > > FAME exudes professionalism through and through. They are wonderful people who love what they do, and it shows! They were excellent partners to have on this project. Their services exceeded my expectations for the value of my investment. > > FAME is providing, in my humble opinion, the best product & service out there. They deliver exceptional quality that rivals all LA architects while being reasonably priced and willing to navigate unique circumstances. I would absolutely recommend them to others. > > If you’re hiring FAME, you are making a wonderful choice. FAME is 2nd to none. **★★★★★ — Kiki Monsour, March 2024** > David and Marina are incredibly talented. We worked with them to renovate our kitchen and a bathroom and their work brought our whole house back to life. They were able to seamlessly combine the original character of the home with fresh and modern touches to not only improve the functionality of the space, but also revive the original intent of the design. Not an easy task! > > From the very beginning, David and Marina were incredibly detailed and thoughtful in their process to understand our home and our vision for the renovation. They provided numerous presentations with renderings of our home and material options that helped us feel confident in their plan for our space and helped us make hard design decisions as the process went on. In the end, their attention to detail and communication gave us our dream home and we couldn't be happier. > > Not only do David and Marina have incredible taste and design ability, they are also amazing people. They turned what is normally a stressful process into a very enjoyable one, which wasn't easy considering I was a new mom during both projects! We will be forever grateful for David and Marina and couldn’t recommend them more! **★★★★★ — jgomer1961, March 2024** > I was referred to FAME by a well-known realty agency, The Shelhammer Group! Although FAME Architecture and Design is advertised as specializing in high-end modern homes, Marina and Dave took on my smaller project (townhouse remodel) with the same time and effort used on bigger and more expensive homes. Unfortunately, the first floor of my condo was flooded due to piping issues, and I needed quite a bit of guidance. Since I was covered by insurance, Marina and David were sensitive that I needed to stick within a budget; however, their wonderful ideas as to how I could improve the aesthetic of my home led to my happily spending additional funds to reach my goals! > > Marina, who worked primarily with me through the project, had a terrific design sense, was extremely timely in returning emails, offered a variety of price points for suggested items, took into consideration my particular taste with her opinions, and was funny, calming (when dealing with occasional contractor issues!), and was the consummate professional. > > One design idea that took me by surprise was using wallpaper for my powder room! When it came down to choosing between two wallpaper ideas, Marina suggested a print that I felt was “out of my comfort zone”. Since I trusted her wonderful design sense, I decided to go for it, and I am so glad I did. The gorgeous subtle peony design is absolutely stunning! The powder room is now my favorite room in the house! > > I was especially impressed by their initial design presentation which offered different ways I could change my home, starting with the least amount of construction and design to more substantial changes. Taking in consideration that my place lacked sufficient light, they suggested brightening up the first floor with lighter walls and floors, a result that definitely leaves an impression! > > I would definitely recommend Marina and David to my friends and family, as they listen to your preferences, offer great suggestions, and make the whole experience worthwhile! **★★★★★ — HU-484803945, Aug. 2022** > We had not remodeled our home in Venice for over 20 years. Being confined in our home during Covid, we saw daily the aging that had taken place over the years. We decided it was finally time to update the house with a new modern look, while still maintaining its warmth. > > We were referred to Fame through a well known architect in Venice, Steven Ehrlich. We knew the moment we met David and Marina they were the perfect architects/designers for our remodel. They are a top notch team, and extremely enjoyable to work with. They are always available to answer questions, advise and provide their expertise, and troubleshoot, if needed. > > David and Marina created a new vision for the house, and a game plan for how to transform it to a more modern and spacious look. They are a full service team. They take all of the hard work out of the remodel by referring companies with whom they have experience to perform the work, including contractors, cabinet makers, and other essential workers. Additionally, as designers, they perform all of the research and advise on design elements throughout, typically presenting three choices with a star to indicate their first choice. > > They were involved and advised on every step of the project, including: replacing the wooden floors, new and brighter kitchen counters and cabinets, recessed lighting, painting and refinishing of all the walls, new window coverings throughout, replacement of all the interior doors with upgraded hardware, and transformation of the primary bathroom with a sleek new vanity and marble countertop. > > Importantly, they also provided design choices for new updated furniture and rugs throughout the house (while retaining the pieces we couldn’t part with) and lighting fixtures which transformed both the kitchen (a mobile-like chandelier in the kitchen which frames the high ceiling of the room) and a dramatic hanging pendant light in the primary bathroom. > > We cannot express how happy we are with the finished product. It exceeds all of our expectations. We highly recommend David and Marina, and will miss working with them! **★★★★★ — Tom, Aug. 2022** > When my wife and I decided to renovate our Venice home instead of moving, we knew we needed help. We were fortunate to receive a referral from friend and renowned architect Steven Ehrlich of EYRC Architects to David and Marina of Fame Architects. From the first meeting we knew we were in good hands and felt a great confidence in their expertise. > > They are very easy to work with and yet are able to integrate their knowledge and expertise with the clients desires and particular needs. I know that this requires tact, diplomacy and a strong grounding in their own artistic values. The four of us were always able to work out any problems and made adjustments along the way, including the difficult issues of availability of products and supply chain problems > > Our remodel was extensive including new interior paint, all new lighting (replacing old track lighting and fixtures with recessed lighting), new kitchen countertops, new cabinetry, a custom made vanity in the primary bathroom with a beautiful marble top, many pieces of new furniture and several light fixtures. The beautiful hanging chandelier in the kitchen is what everyone first comments on when entering our home now. > > One piece that is especially important to me now is the hanging pendant in the bathroom. It was one of the last pieces that was chosen and by that time I had learn to trust their sense of design. At first I was hesitant about the piece but it has become my favorite, especially in the early evening when the soft glow of light with the dimmer switch gives the bathroom a felling of beauty and luxury. > > David and Marina are efficient, capable, trustworthy, and easy to work with. They always did what they said they were going to do and were scrupulously honest in their pricing and billing. > > I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them (and have) as their technical understanding combined with their artistic and design concepts and their knowledge of materials and furniture allow them to work well in many different environments. **★★★★★ — J Der, July 2022** > We are so thankful for FAME Architects starting us on this remodel journey. As this > was our first remodel ever, we had no idea what we wanted and were a bit apprehensive > of what we were getting ourselves into. A friend had referred us to David and > Marina, but after checking out their website, we thought our humble remodel was > not the type of project they would take on based on the luxury homes in their > portfolio. We couldn’t have been more wrong. > > David and Marina created a vision plan for us after getting to know what our > lifestyles were like and the things we like to do together with the family. They > addressed all our questions and concerns and were honest in their feedback, letting > us know if they did not recommend a particular change and their reasoning behind > it. The whole process was definitely a huge learning experience for us and we felt we > were definitely in good hands the entire time. > > We appreciated their guidance, encouragement, patience, and advice in creating the > vision plan for us and helping us imagine all that our home could be. David and > Marina are so gifted at what they do and we enjoyed getting to know them and > know you will too. We have recommended FAME Architects to our neighbors! **★★★★★ — Diana Freeman-Baer, July 2022** > We thoroughly enjoyed working with FAME. They are responsive, thoughtful, and have a good sense of humor. They felt like trusted partners. Every step of the way, they’ve been there to answer questions and provide considered guidance. > > We were blown away by the designs they proposed. The vision package was a great way to see how they synthesized our needs, desires and the conditions of our property to form three different solutions. We could see directly how what we’d shared around budget, style, and functional needs came to life in their designs. An example of this was the inclusion of the sun studies which helped us see that the designs they provided were derived from real data, not just cool ideas. > > One of the biggest challenges we gave FAME was the request to integrate the house more into our sloped property and garden. We were thrilled to see how they met that challenge - something the previous architects had completely ignored. **★★★★★ — angelli77, Aug. 2021** > We wanted something much more special and different than what we had seen done before locally. David and Marina were the perfect duo to do exactly that. Our home feels like it is special to us. > > FAME wasn’t the first architect and design firm we worked with for our project. There were other designers that were plenty talented but didn’t have the vision that they brought. Our experiences with other designers were always a bit underwhelming because they didn’t really try to get to know us before designing something they thought would suit us. David and Marina began our project by asking thoughtful questions about how we currently live, how we would like to live, and the big desires we had for our new family home. With them, it felt they were fully invested in our happiness beyond just designing something “nice”. We knew what kind of aesthetic we liked, but couldn’t articulate exactly why we liked it. FAME took our inspiration and improved on it, making it way better than we could have imagined. We are so impressed with their smart and thoughtful designs. > > David and Marina are so unique as a team and individually, and it really shows in their craft. Our finished home is better than we could have ever envisioned. We are very grateful and happy clients, and anyone else lucky enough to have the opportunity to hire them will feel the same.” > We were always eager to see what innovative ideas they had coming our way and it was a joy to discuss design possibilities with them. The duality of their styles always came through in the multiple designs options they provided us. It was always an exciting time for us to see what they came up with. > > They never pushed ideas on us and were very good at understanding our thoughts and deciphering our wants and needs. There were always a lot of smiles and “Oooh’ing “and “Aah’ing” on design discussions days. We always looked forward to design discussion days because FAME never disappointed. > > The thing that surprised us the most in working with them was how stress-free we were as clients. We felt safe, understood, and confident that we were going to get a fantastic product with them leading the way. > > During construction, there are always a million decisions that need to be made and we were always confident in the ones we were making because we always felt like a team. We were always informed every step of the way in the design process and beyond. As issues would inevitably come up, we never felt lost or confused because FAME would always have either the issues solved already or a solid well thought out plan B or even plan C. Even at the most frustrating times during our build, we would still describe the process as stress-free because they were always with us 100% and carried us all the way through to the finish line. > > FAME was a dream team to work with and honestly I look forward to the day we can do another project together. ## Selected projects - [Nabi House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nabi-house-pj-vj~7615431) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 21 - [Malibu Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/malibu-modern-pj-vj~7615436) - Location: Malibu, CA - Photos: 3 - [Forest House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/forest-house-pj-vj~7615437) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - [Venice Loft Renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/venice-loft-renovation-pj-vj~7216465) - Location: Los Angeles, CA - Photos: 15 - Description: For this modestly-scaled yet architecturally-significant house in Venice, California, we sought to breathe entirely new life into this longstanding property owned by a retired couple with a passion for collecting photography. The scope included replacing the once-dark cabinetry in the kitchen with rift white oak panels; swapping the existing black granite countertop for a reflective white Caesarstone that drew infinitely more light into the double-height kitchen; introducing a glowing Bocci pend… - [Pacific Penthouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pacific-penthouse-pj-vj~7314995) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - [Hill House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hill-house-pj-vj~7154592) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - Description: For a couple of designers with a passion for mid-century design, this home maximizes the site’s extraordinary qualities—views, sunlight, and the abundant natural landscape—and addresses some challenges with the previous structure—undersized program; disconnected indoor/outdoor relationship; and underutilizing the tremendous landscape possibilities. The Hill House is made of two slim perpendicular bars. Each contains a single row of program, a design move that invites light, air, and views to per… - [Reflection (Ma) House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/reflection-ma-house-pj-vj~7154589) - Location: Palo Alto, CA - Photos: 2 - Description: Inspired by the Japanese concept of “ma”—the space between things—Ma House is designed in service of its occupants’ desire for moments of pause, reset, and meditation throughout the day, as well as to create strong separation between public and private spaces. Two wings, each clad in cedar, comprise our intervention - separating public programs like bedrooms and bathrooms from public space which holds the great room, kitchen, and dining room. Where the two wings connect becomes that space betwee… [See all 7 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/fame-architecture-and-design-pfvwus-pf~506821900) ## Community Q&A **Q: Gas Fireplace Brands** *(in Heating & Air Conditioning)* Hi - as part of our reno we are looking at a Kozy brand gas fireplace and a Mendota brand fireplace. Price different is substantial. Does anyone have experience with either? Watch outs? Thanks! A: Take a look at HeatnGlo. https://www.heatnglo.com/fireplaces/gas **Q: Help me choose a tile for the fireplace** *(in Polls)* I’ve narrowed the tile choices for my fireplace to two options. My husband’s top choice is the flower mosaic. Besides aesthetics, is there any downside to either choice? We would use a matching white grout for the flower mosaic and I think we would do the same for the arabesque. Below are a couple pics of the space and the flooring that is being installed. A: Your room is fairly simple, briging some details to the fireplace would help make it a statement piece I think. I think the arabesque might be too basic. White on white won't look too busy. **Q: Rented an Apartment and in need of editing** *(in Home Decorating)* i'm just a simple wife wanting to provide homey place for our starting family A: Hi there, are you planning to do some remodeling or just fixing this up lightly? **Q: NEED HELP PLEASE!** *(in Home Decorating)* I’ve purchased 4 of these chairs to have a sitting area around fireplace. My question is, what style coffee table do I need to go with? Preferably round. Before I ordered chairs I was wanting to go with a round gold base with glass top but with these chairs I didn’t think that would go now. A: Hi Christy, it really depends on the overall mood you are going for. What does the rest of your space look like? **Q: Upstairs Master Bedroom** *(in Lighting)* I would like to turn this awkward, upstairs room into a lovely Master suite, but I have no idea where to start. Can the florescent lights on the ceiling be changed? Any other ideas? A: Hi Chelsea, Here are a couple of ideas to refresh the room with just some furnishing and decorating elements: 1\. repaint the wall white or cream (will make the space feel bigger and taller). 2\. replace the window shade with something a bit cosier/ nicer like roman shades for example. 3\. the ceiling fluorescents are really not great, you would have to remove them and put some downlights instead to really make the room feel nicer. If you don't want to spend money changing the ceiling layout you could change the tube to something warmer could help. I would try and avoid using them and rather play with some free-standing floor lamp in the tall corner (opposite to the bed wall) and some nice nightstand or sconces at the bed. 4\. replace the doors. Flat panels are rarely flattering unless used in a very modern/ minimal interior, shakers are the easy fix and you can find some affordable ones at home depot. 5\. change the doorknobs to something more fun/ special 6\. a bed frame or even just a headboard would help your bed feel like the main piece of furniture in the room. If you don't want a footboard, you could end with a bench at the end of the bed. 7\. get a comfortable upholstered lounge chair to be next to the floor lamp on the right of the drawer chest 8\. add some plants if you are into it Do you have a picture of the wall opposite to the window? I am wondering if there is a way the bed could face them instead of being tucked in the corner and facing the bathroom door. Hope this helps ;) Marina- **Q: Laundry Room Cabinet sizes** *(in Laundry Room)* is there such a thing as cabinets to match to the height and depth of front loader laundry machines? I see all these great pictures of built in laundry rooms with sinks and cabinets all what look like the same levels of height and depth. thanks! A: If you are looking at the "nice" laundry rooms these base cabinets are typically custom made. Typical base cabinets for kitchen and bath are usually around 36" in height, where a washer dryer height is usually around 40", but you might be able to find some 30" tall ones. Hope this helps. Marina- --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-17.*