--- title: "Renzo J Nakata Architects — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/renzo-j-nakata-architects-pfvwus-pf~562262287 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~562262287.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Renzo J Nakata Architects" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/3c33c49e0feb3ef3_7139-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "3 Bluebird, Irvine, California 92604, United States" latitude: 33.6899 longitude: -117.7868 phone: "(206) 390-4334" website: https://www.RJNarchitects.com rating: 5 review_count: 14 best_of_houzz_awards: 10 followers: 260 last_updated: 2026-08-28 --- # Renzo J Nakata Architects Original Houzz profile: [Renzo J Nakata Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/renzo-j-nakata-architects-pfvwus-pf~562262287) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Irvine, CA - **Serves:** Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Orange, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Tustin, Fountain Valley, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, North Tustin, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Corona del Mar, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Villa Park, San Joaquin Hills, Silverado, East Irvine, El Toro, Newport Coast - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (14 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 10 awards (2013–2019), for Service, Design. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 10,000 Ideabook Saves Our goal is clean functional design with an emphasis on space, proportion and natural light with a timelessness that transcends fashion through honesty and integrity. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design ### Areas Served - Anaheim - Santa Ana - Irvine - Garden Grove - Fullerton - Orange - Costa Mesa - Mission Viejo - Newport Beach - Lake Forest - Tustin - Fountain Valley - Aliso Viejo - Laguna Hills - North Tustin - Ladera Ranch - Laguna Beach - Laguna Woods - Corona del Mar - Foothill Ranch - Portola Hills - Villa Park - San Joaquin Hills - Silverado - East Irvine - El Toro - Newport Coast ### Typical Job Cost $100,000 - 2 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Renzo J Nakata Architects | | Address | 3 Bluebird, Irvine, California 92604, United States | | Phone | (206) 390-4334 | | Website | https://www.RJNarchitects.com | | License Number | C23025 | | Followers on Houzz | 260 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/\#!/pages/renzo-j-nakata-architects/10150150296715305 ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Renzo J Nakata Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/renzo-j-nakata-architects-pfvwus-pf~562262287) - **Website:** https://www.RJNarchitects.com - **Phone:** (206) 390-4334 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Best of Houzz - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 - **Best of Houzz:** 10 awards (2013–2019), for Service, Design. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 14 reviews** ### Reviews **★★★★★ — P Lee, Jan. 2020** > Renzo was the architect on the six month remodel of our twenty year old home, providing valuable design and project management assistance and acting as a virtual partner for the remodel. > > Renzo's role began with several meetings to determine the scope of the project, continued through the provision of architectural drawings, selection of the contractor, assistance with project scheduling, and permitting. > > For the remainder of the project, Renzo served as an valued intermediary between us and the contractor. Renzo was there at all of the milestones, inspecting the work on his own to ensure quality, joining us for the many progress meetings with the contractor, coming up with last minute design changes to solve problems encountered along the way, and following up on his accumulated list of punch items all the way through final inspection and last minute touch ups. > > This assistance was invaluable. > > We are certain that Renzo's understanding of the remodel process headed off problems both major and minor. And most importantly, Renzo's calm, measured demeanor and positive outlook helped to make what is always a difficult undertaking as stress-free as possible under trying circumstances. We are grateful for his assistance and highly recommend his services to anyone looking to make their remodel go as smoothly as possible. **★★★★★ — Darryl Chan, Sept. 2018** > So I needed to do the third (and hopefully last!) phase of my renovation. Renzo was, once again, invaluable in helping me to steer me towards optimal cost-saving solutions that I hadn't even considered. Renzo took the time to understand not just our needs, but to get to know us as individuals and our family, to craft and design the finishing touches to our home. He helped to steer us away from costly and unnecessary products and suggest ways in which we could optimize our space. He also helped us communicate our needs and the design requirements to our structural engineers and contractors to ensure that the fidelity of the design was carried out flawlessly. I would give Renzo my highest and unconditional recommendation! **★★★★★ — Elise Rushovich, Sept. 2016** > I met Renzo Nekata about a year ago when we decided,finally, to remodel our home. I met him first and then did my due diligence and interviewed two other architect/builder companies. I knew, however, from my very first five minutes with Renzo that we were going to use him. Firstly, we'd heard rave reviews about him, but secondly I could just sense his honesty, sincerity and integrity. Those qualities were carried through from the first rudimentary drawings until the project was finished. Not only did he create for us a home that looks like Architectural Digest, but he steered us and represented us through all the trials and tribulations we experienced with our HOA. We trusted him completely and we gave him free reign to create his vision and we are absolutely in love with our house that he created. Not only does he represent his clients as the architect, but he also spearheads the project from beginning to end. He made sure all numbers were correct before we gave any checks to the builder. And if we were unhappy with anything we went to him and he took care of it and the builder always responded to him immediately. He works with a wonderful designer who we also loved and recommended a builder who did a wonderful job. The builder told is the project would take six months. We moved out of our house for six months and exactly six months later we were back in our house! > > I cannot recommend Renzo enough. His vision of what he creates is exceptional. His plans were so detailed that everything was spelled out down to the tiniest detail. And most of all he never left us on our own. He was there for us thoughout the entire project. He is a fine, knowledgable architect and we feel honored to have let him design our house. **★★★★★ — gregcandcyndif, May 2016** > Renzo is wonderful to work with. The level of service is beyond compare. He is a man of integrity, professionalism, and detail. We recommend him totally and without reservation. Our completed renovation is a dream come true. **★★★★★ — Richard McDonough, March 2016** > Renzo's sense of proportions in his architecture is extraordinary and his spare, zen-like designs are pleasing. > For our project, the maximization of space was essential, and he achieved that with aesthetic elan. An ordinary lavatory became a smashing full bathroom, which gets great reviews from visitors. **★★★★★ — Stephen Kane, March 2015** > Renzo helped us design our dream kitchen, pantry, dining room, and living room remodel and walked us through the gauntlet of two home owner association approvals. > > We did a lot of research before selecting Renzo J Nakata as our architect. His stated goal is "timeless design that transcends fashion and expresses honesty and integrity". That rang true to us and that's exactly what he delivered. We share his respect for "the process" and as it usually does, this process helped us avoid a lot of risk and bad decisions. > > Good luck with your project. > Stephen Kane **★★★★★ — Shang Tsai, March 2015** > In 2013, my wife and I began our search for an architect to help us prepare the full renovations of our home. After meeting with half a dozen of architects we decided to hire Renzo Nakata and it was probably one of the best decision we made for our project. > Our initial meeting Renzo gave us an excellent impression, he was organized, on time, and very easy to communicate. During the whole process he was ALWAYS on time, all of his work was well explained and plans were very detailed. In fact our contractor was impressed with his plans and according to our contractor Renzo's plans were detailed with little issues. We were able to get our permit with the city in one try with no issues at all! He was able to provide a smooth and seamless service that was crucial in our remodeling. > In addition the ease of working with him, his dedication to the project, speed of response was also very impressive. He was also involved throughout the project on-site regularly to insure that our plans were executed precisely. During the whole process before and after not only were we extremely pleased with Renzo our neighbors were also impressed with what he has put together. As matter of fact one of our friend also hired him for their own project while he was still working on our home. > To sum things up, Renzo is: > 1\. Great to work with > 2\. Always on time > 3\. His billing was always clear and precise > 4\. Always available to consult or help > 5\. Very detailed > 6\. Good problem solver > We highly recommend Renzo for his attitude, workmanship, and communication skills. It was probably one of the best expenditures that we had in the whole project. Money well spent! **★★★★★ — bellanishi, Oct. 2013** > We did a major first floor remodel, which included opening up walls creating a Great Room, moving and expanding a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and guest room. We are very happy with the results, and felt Renzo was our greatest asset throughout this whole project. > We interviewed several architects and chose to work with Renzo because we felt the most confidence in his abilities, work ethic, and dedication to us as the clients. Another important factor in our decision was that he provides a detailed proposal with a confirmed total fee for services, because we did not want to enter into an open-ended "charge-by-the-hour" contract, which some others proposed. He also explained to us that he provides full-service architectural services. We soon realized what this meant, and saw the great value he adds as he guided us and managed the ENTIRE project from first meeting to final completion of the remodel. Renzo accurately interpreted our ideas into solid plans, interviewed and helped negotiate with contractor candidates, took care of all the city permits process and documentation for HOA submissions, held weekly construction update meetings to keep things on track, communicated with our contractor regularly, was always accessible, and acted as our representative and as liaison between us and our contractor. If unforeseen construction issues or problems arose, all we had to do was talk with Renzo, and he took care of it. This alleviated a lot of stress in what is usually an incredibly stress-filled process. He also has a very calming demeanor. One of the best things about working with him was that he proved that he was looking out for our best interest as his client. This is rare to find in the remodel/construction related field. We would highly recommend Renzo to others, and will definitely use him for future projects. **★★★★★ — markoshima7, June 2013** > We worked with Renzo on a downstairs and upstairs addition to our home. > > For the downstairs addition, we expanded our family room by extending into our backyard. For the upstairs addition, we converted a balcony into a small office. > > Renzo was extremely valuable to our project. He met with us and drew up very detailed plans and specifications. He also did all the legwork with the city and HOA to get the plans approved. He then helped us pick our contractor from a qualified group. As the project progressed, he kept tabs on our progress, meeting with the contractor and us regularly to keep things on track. > > We found Renzo's advice and service extremely valuable. He was a trusted advisor throughout the entire project. **★★★★★ — jdwifi, May 2013** > Renzo designed a home addition for us in which an unused balcony was converted into a home office; he also did our patio redesign into a California room. We are so pleased with the results - the office design feels spacious and light-filled even though its footprint is small. > Renzo also oversaw the entire process - he helped us find a great contractor and helped us navigate through HOA and city approval. He was on site all the time and held frequent meetings to keep us up to date. Though we weren't his only client, he made us feel that way - and he was always so responsive to texts, phone calls and emails. > We really enjoyed collaborating with such a thoughtful, hard working individual and highly recommend him! > ---David and Julie H. **★★★★★ — alicecpoo, May 2013** > I must say Renzo has been a pleasure to work with. When I was narrowing down the candidates for my remodel, I had 3 things in mind - simplicity of design, project manager to handle the construction, and someone that was prompt in response. Renzo fit the profile. I hired him and we started in November. > > He handled everything in a timely manner and was realistic with me on my expectations. > > End product - house remodel was on time, matched what I had envisioned, and met the budget. > > I would definitely recommend Renzo as a qualified and genuine candidate for your house remodel. **★★★★★ — J K Construction, Aug. 2012** > A great home starts with, is built with, and ends with thoughtful design. Like any great artist, Renzo puts the time and effort into his work from the beginning and continues to refine it with more detail to clearly visualize the final product. His dedication to his profession has gained the respect of everyone involved in our project, he has gone above the call of duty by responding to emails in the middle of the night and producing 40+ supplemental details to make building his vision both clear and simple. From clearly communicating his ideas to following through with his promises, Renzo has all the bases covered as an excepitonal architect. ## Selected projects - [Hillside residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hillside-residence-pj-vj~58969) - Location: Bellevue, WA - Photos: 13 - Description: A new house clings to the edge of a steep grade to capture mountain and lake views. - [Modern restoration](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-restoration-pj-vj~59112) - Location: Bellevue, WA - Photos: 10 - Description: A careful restoration and modernization of a mid century modern home. - [Contemporary residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/contemporary-residence-pj-vj~59094) - Location: Seattle, WA - Photos: 14 [See all 3 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/renzo-j-nakata-architects-pfvwus-pf~562262287) ## Ideabooks - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/105221449/list/wish-list) — 11 ideas - [renzojnakata's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4495691/list/renzojnakata-s-ideas) — 4 ideas [See all 2 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/renzojnakata) ## Community Q&A **Q: Kitchen** *(in Photo Questions)* Really wonderful restoration! A: Thank you, this is definitely one of my favorites! **Q: Hinged shutters on upstairs openings** *(in Photo Questions)* Can you tell me about the hinged wooden window treatments on the upstairs opening? Are they custom made? I have a similar loft/atrium setting and seeking a similar solution. Thank you! A: The shutters are cut-down bifold doors, with standard bifold hardware! **Q: Did you drywall around a stock bookcase?** *(in Photo Questions)* It looks great. Could you tell me more about how you did it? A: The bookcase is a custom, but it could be done with a stock bookcase. The case has to be set in a rough drywall opening then mudded in. It makes for a nice clean look. thanks for asking. **Q: What is the stain on the cedar shakes?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: This is a custom color from the Northwest local stain store: Daly's Paint and Stain. **Q: Details on the windows and exterior doors?** *(in Photo Questions)* Brand? A: Marlin Windows out of Spokane, WA **Q: Who makes those storefront windows?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Marlin Windows out of Spokane, WA --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-28.*