--- title: "First Bay Architecture — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/first-bay-architecture-pfvwus-pf~663371772 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~663371772.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "First Bay Architecture" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/24c33b3004009957_1056-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Berkeley, California 94705, United States" phone: "(510) 843-1212" website: http://www.firstbay.com rating: 5 review_count: 6 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 85 last_updated: 2026-09-11 --- # First Bay Architecture Original Houzz profile: [First Bay Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/first-bay-architecture-pfvwus-pf~663371772) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Berkeley, CA - **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Albany, Orinda, Moraga, Emeryville, Piedmont - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (6 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2018), for Design. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 10,000 Ideabook Saves Principal Caitlin Lempres Brostrom, along with her staff, strives to meet the needs and desires of each client by encouraging the client's close involvement throughout all phases of a project. Caitlin's goal is to take your dreams and make them into a beautiful, well crafted and practical reality. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Sustainable Design - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - 3D Rendering - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Green Building - Bathroom Design - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Home Restoration - Historic Building Conservation - Handicap-Accessible Design - Outdoor Kitchen Design - Mudroom Design - Basement Design - Tiny House Construction - Staircase Design - Garage Design - Laundry Room Design - Home Gym Design & Construction ### Areas Served - San Francisco - Oakland - Berkeley - Alameda - El Cerrito - Lafayette - Albany - Orinda - Moraga - Emeryville - Piedmont ### Typical Job Cost $150,000 - 4,000,000 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | First Bay Architecture | | Address | Berkeley, California 94705, United States | | Phone | (510) 843-1212 | | Website | http://www.firstbay.com | | License Number | c25770 | | Followers on Houzz | 85 | **Social profiles:** - Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/firstbayarchitecture/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [First Bay Architecture](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/first-bay-architecture-pfvwus-pf~663371772) - **Website:** http://www.firstbay.com - **Phone:** (510) 843-1212 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2018), for Design. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 6 reviews** ### All 6 reviews **★★★★★ — Read Ferguson, Aug. 2015** > I am a fellow architect, and have collaborated with First Bay Architecture for the past 7 or 8 years. My experience of working with Caitlin has been and continues to be pure enjoyment. As a fellow professional, I admire and enjoy her solutions to architectural problems that confront her clients. She is very much a renaissance architect in the range of her abilities. She is both author, consummate designer, politician, and construction adviser. She knows her hammer and nails as well as how to negotiate with contractors, and she seems to be right at home explaining things to public officials and has the ability to find code solutions that ultimately meet her clients needs with beautiful finished products. > I have worked with her on many of her projects over the past 6 or 7 years, and she is at home with a flair pen in her hand devising beautiful solutions on paper as she is savvy in using the latest in 3d computer technology to be able to assess and document her work. It is through these means that she employs her talents as a professional and that is bringing together many tradesman to produce built shelters that she has devised for her clients. Finally, having helped her for years put together these communication documents, I have become aware of her greatest talent and that is to communicate and create consensus quite often with multiple client individuals- a feat in itself- as well as getting agreement with code and financial officials to create outstanding improvements to peoples lives. **★★★★★ — mimiousman, Aug. 2015** > This is the second home project that Caitlin Lempres Brostrom/First Bay Architecture, has done for us. The first, was a very extensive remodel and addition on a house in Moraga, California. We worked very well together, loved the home that we created, (as did everyone in the whole town), and we became friends through the course of the project. It was obvious she was our first call, when we needed an architect to design a home for property we purchased in the Napa Valley. This was our first time building completely from the ground up. Caitlin helped us pick our contractor, and she worked well with him, to guide us through the whole building process. She was extremely patient with all our questions and changes. She always tried hard to do her work in a timely manner and be respectful of our budget concerns. Caitlin really listened to all the features and the look we wanted in our new white farmhouse. i.e square footage of rooms, reclaimed wood trim, screened porch, antique doors and fireplace... And when needed she found resources for us, and made sure to incorporate all our desires into her drawings. > Our new home is everything we wanted and more. Caitlin's knowledge, and attention to detail really makes everyone of her homes stand out. She loves what she does and it shows in her finished product. We have had non stop guests and everyone loves our Napa farmhouse! I have not attached photos, but beautiful photos of our home have already been posted on Houzz, and can be found under First Bay Architecture/ Silverado Trail, Napa. > Mimi Ousman **★★★★★ — summitgs, Aug. 2015** > First Bay Architecture was the company I selected for my remodeled bathroom, which was gutted and completely transformed into an elegant bathroom with wonderful cabinets, affording plenty of storage. Every detail was discussed and I felt she really listened to what I wanted, and gave me the bathroom I dreamed of, at a cost I could afford. She was always available, either by phone or in person. She worked well with the construction crew, giving concise instructions which made life easier for everyone. I also had a linen closet made into a laundry area, with cabinets, a washer and dryer. > I highly recommend First Bay Architecture without reservation. **★★★★★ — benlaw33, Aug. 2015** > We hired Caitlin and Frist Bay Architecture to help us do a complete remodel of our Hailey Idaho home. The home needed to be completely updated and integrated with the beautiful river front property. Caitlin's creativity, professionalism and strong attention to detail was key ingredients into the creation of a wonderful home. We started with a vision and worked very closely throughout the project with Caitlin. She was responsive, open to ideas, always available ( we live in Australia and her firm is in Berkeley California) and went beyond what we would have expected from the architect. Her research on all facets including detail interior design was a major help to us. , We would use Caitlin again for any future projects. **★★★★★ — Annadel Builders, Aug. 2015** > We have completed two houses with First Bay Architecture. Both experiences were successful and rewarding. We worked with Caitlin from the start on each project developing budgets and timelines. Caitlin was very respectful of the clients needs and was able to design within their budgets and tastes. During the projects she was always available and answered any construction and design questions promptly. Caitlin is very organized and helped keep us and the project on track. Most importantly she has been a joy to be around and always comes up with great solutions. We are very pleased with the work we have done with her. The relationship between Architect, Client, and Owner has proven to be a lasting one with Caitlin involved. The whole experience from looking at an empty site and a set of plans to the final light bulb has been great. I can't wait to do another project with Caitlin. **★★★★★ — prettyisas, July 2014** > Bought a meh bungalow with a HUGE and BEAUTIFUL 3 bridge, view of SF Bay and Mt. Tamalpais as a small, second home. Sat six months looking at "what to do". Decided professional help was in order and hired Caitlin Lempres Brostrom with First Bay Architecture. Nine months later we had a beautiful remodel she developed for us, the likes of which we could never have imagined. Floor to ceiling windows and an artful and carefully thought out additional 65 sf gave us a small home that lives big with her reconfigurations. > > After five years of enjoyment, we have engaged Caitlin to design a way to make this our only home and she has given us plans for a beautiful second story addition. We can't wait to get started! She is a master and a consummate professional. We have worked with other architects in the past on other homes with good results. But Caitlin designs a home for YOU, not the home she wants you to have and that is all the difference in the world. Cannot recommend her highly enough. ## Selected projects - [Elmwood Kitchen +](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/elmwood-kitchen-pj-vj~1410669) - Location: Berkeley, CA - Photos: 30 - Description: We linked the kitchen and dining room and reoriented a main floor bathroom in a way that opened up and completely refreshed this Elmwood Craftsman house. We used Heath tile on the walls, sustainable harvested hardwood cabinets in combination with muted painted cabinets. There are spaces for everyone and everything in this compact and comfortable design. - [Sonoma County Farm](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sonoma-county-farm-pj-vj~7694403) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 22 - [Marin County Ranch](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/marin-county-ranch-pj-vj~1148061) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 12 - Description: Nestled in the pastoral setting of Marin County, Lake Nicasio is framed by gently rolling green hills and grazing longhorn cattle, with little evidence of human habitation. The design guidelines for this home required that it be discreetly integrated into the landscape, hidden from public view. Positioned to capture sweeping views of the lake, its abundant wildlife, and the dramatic surrounding terrain, the home embraces its natural context. Though modest in actual floor area, the house is gener… - [Sun Valley Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sun-valley-remodel-pj-vj~1633810) - Location: Hailey, ID - Photos: 22 - Description: Situated along the East Fork River, near Ketchum, Idaho, the original home, built in the early 1980s, on this site was a post-and-beam kit house. While its roofline was designed as a gambrel form, it unfortunately obscured views of the river, valley, and surrounding mountain ridges. Internally, the spatial organization was complicated and inefficient—largely a result of the exposed structural system. Zoning restrictions within the floodplain zone prevented any expansion or major modification of… - [Sycamore Remodel & Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sycamore-remodel-and-addition-pj-vj~7694410) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 14 - Description: Nestled in a sheltered valley near San Francisco, this home sits within a region characterized by modest, single-story ranch houses set on generous parcels of land. In contrast to the track architecture common to the area, this property featured thoughtfully designed gardens which included a new swimming pool, gazebo, and mature plantings. A key constraint to the redesign of the structure was the preservation of the integrity of this recently completed landscape. Initially, the scope of work cen… - [William Wurster Restoration and Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/william-wurster-restoration-and-addition-pj-vj~7694400) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 18 - Description: In 1950, Theodor Bernardi, working under architect William Wurster, first designed this home. Nestled atop a ridge among a grove of oak trees, the house offers sweeping northern views toward Mount Diablo. Designed and built as a modest structure, the main body of the home included a small kitchen, a combined living and dining area, an outdoor living porch, a bathroom, and a bedroom. A side wing, connected by a shaded walkway, was framed but left unfinished, intended for future use as additional… - [St. Helena Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/st-helena-farmhouse-pj-vj~7694457) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 17 - [Bathrooms](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bathrooms-pj-vj~1396529) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 35 - [Assorted Remodels and Additions](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/assorted-remodels-and-additions-pj-vj~1273666) - Location: Berkeley, CA - Photos: 9 - Description: Remodel of 1906 home in Berkeley. This was originally 4 small rooms which separated the kitchen from the garden. A large finch slider spans the exterior wall and the original windows were retained. The goal was to connect the kitchen to the garden, and the family "hang out" space became the bridge between the kitchen and the garden. - [Silverado Trail Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/silverado-trail-farmhouse-pj-vj~1148031) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 26 - Description: This four bedroom new home in Napa's Stag's Leap Region was completed in September 2015. The home uses many green principles in it's design and finishing and is an example of a very successful collaboration between architect, client and builder and landscape architect. - [Alta House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/alta-house-pj-vj~1273618) - Location: Oakland, CA - Photos: 10 - Description: New House in Piedmont, California built on top of existing three level structure (terrace, mermaid room and pool and garage below accessed from hillside entry 25 feet lower). Exterior finishes are all designed to wear gracefully (integral color stucco, clay tile roof, copper gutters and downspouts, stained reclaimed roof structure, powder coated metal sash windows, cast concrete sills and railing caps). - [Berkeley Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berkeley-remodel-pj-vj~1273641) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - [Piedmont Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/piedmont-remodel-pj-vj~1273639) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 [See all 13 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/first-bay-architecture-pfvwus-pf~663371772) ## Community Q&A **Q: Beautiful house. What is the exterior paint used?** *(in Photo Questions)* Beautiful house. What is the exterior color on the house? A: Thank you for your inquiry. The main house color is Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee... some details are other colors. **Q: Further deatails on window Color/Material** *(in Photo Questions)* I see your answer that these are Marvin windows. Are they wood, painted a soft gray? Or vinyl in gray? Just making sure my eyes aren't deceiving me that they are gray, and not white. I'm choosing colors for our Lake Chelan wine country home. Have been thinking off white with gray. Your beautiful home here is exactly what I envision. Thank you for your time. A: the entry windows are actually wood and painted and gray. The rest of the Marvin windows are metal clad in a white, they look a little gray because of the screens **Q: Beautiful work! Could you share the mfg. of the glass pocket doors?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Fleetwood **Q: Wood trim** *(in Photo Questions)* What type of wood did you use around doors? Love the mix of natural wood and white trim. A: Thanks for your question. The wood is fir, salvaged from a grape juice factory floor's joists...therefore the they are fairly thick...2 x 12's...there was a lot of effort to make them not too rough on to the touch without milling them smooth. **Q: Love the house! And especially the Windows Trim!** *(in Photo Questions)* Would you please share the details of the trim. Is it one piece, or is there a small trim on the outside edge. Also, what is the width. Thanks for your time, trying to choose my window trim now. Love this look! A: Thank you for your question. I am so glad that you like the windows and details that we chose. The interior trim is flat stock 1 x 8, picture framed. We did not add any additional trim on the outside edge. **Q: hello, what brand and size is the stove hood?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hello. Thank you for your question. The hood is a Vent-a-hood, 48". A larger size is recommended for the range size however, we wanted more wall areas for the open shelves. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-11.*