--- title: "William Duff Architects, Inc. — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/william-duff-architects-inc-pfvwus-pf~788623792 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~788623792.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "William Duff Architects, Inc." category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/4d13e19308d328b6_8023-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "1275 Folsom Street, San Francisco, California 94103, United States" latitude: 37.7725 longitude: -122.4147 phone: "(415) 371-0900" website: http://www.wdarch.com rating: 5 review_count: 4 followers: 378 last_updated: 2026-11-07 --- # William Duff Architects, Inc. Original Houzz profile: [William Duff Architects, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/william-duff-architects-inc-pfvwus-pf~788623792) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Serves:** San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, Napa, Alameda, El Cerrito, Albany, Mill Valley, Piedmont, Sonoma, Tiburon, Sausalito, Brisbane, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Marin City, Belvedere, Muir Beach, Belvedere Tiburon, Carmel - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (4 reviews) ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - 50,000 Ideabook Saves William Duff Architects (WDA) is an award-winning architecture firm based in San Francisco, known for its thoughtful, tailored approach to design. For over 28 years, our residential studio has specialized in creating refined, custom homes that honor both the context and the client’s lifestyle. The 20-person firm is led by founder and AIA Fellow William S. Duff, Jr and residential studio principal Jim Westover. Our work is rooted in Northern California sensitivities and informed by an artist’s sensibility, knowing when restraint strengthens the design and when expression brings it to life. We also believe the client journey is as important as the destination, and how we get there sets us apart. Through careful listening, shared vision and a disciplined craft, we quietly navigate complexity so our clients can focus on what is important. Guided by this philosophy, we collaborate with top contractors, interior designers, consultants and craftspeople to design homes that balance artful design, effortless livability and timeless quality. We accept inquiries from anywhere in the US or wherever our clients take us. Architecture that lives well is our hallmark. ### Services Provided - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Custom Homes - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Floor Plans - Energy-Efficient Homes - Bathroom Design - Green Building - Space Planning - Drafting - Historic Building Conservation - Basement Remodeling - Construction Drawings ### Areas Served - San Francisco - Oakland - Berkeley - Daly City - Napa - Alameda - El Cerrito - Albany - Mill Valley - Piedmont - Sonoma - Tiburon - Sausalito - Brisbane - Carmel-by-the-Sea - Marin City - Belvedere - Muir Beach - Belvedere Tiburon - Carmel ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | William Duff Architects, Inc. | | Address | 1275 Folsom Street, San Francisco, California 94103, United States | | Phone | (415) 371-0900 | | Website | http://www.wdarch.com | | Followers on Houzz | 378 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/williamduffarchitects - X (Twitter) — https://twitter.com/wdarch - LinkedIn — http://www.linkedin.com/company/william-duff-architects-inc- - Blog — http://wdarch.com/news/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [William Duff Architects, Inc.](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/william-duff-architects-inc-pfvwus-pf~788623792) - **Website:** http://www.wdarch.com - **Phone:** (415) 371-0900 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Certifications: NCARB, LEED - Awards: USGBC, AIA San Francisco, Luxe RED, SF Design Week, IPI, IDA, ENR ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 4 reviews** ### All 4 reviews **★★★★★ — Coddington Design, Dec. 2016** > As an interior designer, I found working with WDA on a residential remodel to be an efficient and collaborative experience. Sometimes the role of the interior designer and the architect overlap, and WDA are skilled at maintaining their vision while remaining open to ideas and developing the design to fulfill the client's needs. They are wonderful team players with a knowledgeable, experienced, and professional staff. Most importantly, our client felt confident during the process and is extremely happy with the results. I would highly recommend them to my clients in need of an architect in the future. **Comment from William Duff Architects, Inc.:** > Thank you so much! It was great working with you too! **★★★★★ — Kendall Wilkinson Design, Feb. 2014** > I have truly enjoyed working with William Duff. He is an incredible partner and team player with a keen design aesthetic. Through his close, personal interaction with the clients, he creates a great degree of confidence around the entire building process. > > Working with talented, responsive and knowledgeable architects such as William Duff makes my job easier and enjoyable. I was so impressed by his demeanor and work ethic that I foresee many more joint projects with him the future! **★★★★★ — NanaWall, July 2013** > Warmly integrated into the surrounding landscape, the Wheeler Residence personifies this William Duff Architects design as a true “indoor / outdoor” lifestyle experience. At NanaWall, we are extremely pleased that the architects chose a NanaWall Wood Framed Folding System WD66 to help bring their design concept to life. The door panels open wide to expose the outside in the kitchen / living room area, the master bathroom, and in the pool house. Years later, we still use this home as a beautiful example of how our product helps showcase timeless architectural design. **★★★★★ — Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co., July 2013** > Having admired modern spaces featuring indoor-outdoor lifestyles in the San Francisco Chronicle by William Duff Architects, we were delighted to be the selected contractor for an artist studio. It is always a joy to build beautiful buildings, and this remains one of our favorites. > > on Houzz: > http://www.houzz.com/projects/98903/San-Francisco-Bay-Area-Artist-Studio > on YouTube: > http://youtu.be/\_AhmkMuh4hY > on Bill Fry Construction: > http://www.billfryconstruction.com/portfolio/nana-folding-glass-doors/index.html ## Selected projects - [Butterfly House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/butterfly-house-pj-vj~5750683) - Location: Menlo Park, CA - Photos: 11 - Description: Blurring the line between indoors and outdoors to meet our client’s wishes, the H-shape plan of the house was designed to maximize opportunities for fusing the two. Full-height glass doors, which envelope the deck, slide open to extend the interior living spaces out into the surrounding, nested outdoor spaces. The efficiently planned 2-story home with partial basement includes five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, formal living and dining rooms, a casual living room adjacent to the kitchen, as w… - [Pacific Heights Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pacific-heights-residence-pj-vj~1204130) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 21 - Description: While restoring the historic front façade, the remodel of this Pacific Heights residence modernizes its layout and takes advantage of expansive views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. The project blends the historic character of the original façade with improved functionality and modern, yet warm, materials. Photographer: ©Joe Fletcher - [Golden Oak Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/golden-oak-residence-pj-vj~634279) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 14 - Description: This functional and spacious hilltop home takes full advantage of its bucolic site by introducing a butterfly roof to bring natural light, ventilation and views into the main gathering spaces. Distance between the private and public zones is created by a shift in geometry where those two meet in plan, creating a calming and rejuvenating private retreat for the occupants. The structured juxtaposition of materials brings order and warmth to the home’s overall experience, complementing the textures… - [Big Ranch Road](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/big-ranch-road-pj-vj~1523583) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - [Atherton Expansion - Private Home Gym](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/atherton-expansion-private-home-gym-pj-vj~6657398) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - Description: A thoughtfully-designed private home gym can provide flexibility, privacy, less distraction and, most importantly, the opportunity for personal customization. We designed a custom home gym and pool house for a triathlete in Atherton. Tucked discreetly into the landscape, the structure shares the same metal seam roof as the garage, rendering it invisible from the street and tying it to the existing traditional language of the main house. Two walls of lift-and-slide glass doors overlooking the poo… - [Wheeler Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wheeler-residence-pj-vj~7252999) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - [House of Light and Shadow](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/house-of-light-and-shadow-pj-vj~7681557) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 18 - Description: The House of Light & Shadow is a residential remodel that pairs traditional Victorian details with modern design. The main living spaces boast high, vaulted ceilings and large sliding doors that open up to city views, while period details like Victorian trim and ceiling medallions enrich the entryway, linking to its historical facade. A modern staircase, framed in blackened steel and glass, creates a visual link across floors. The redesigned rear facade, featuring Western Red Cedar siding and la… - [Dolores Charmer](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/dolores-charmer-pj-vj~7246032) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: We updated this Victorian-era home, turning a traditional choppy layout into a modern, yet timeless floor plan. The new design applies a transitional palette that blends traditional details with bold colors and raw, natural materials, creating a strong, cohesive design. Marble countertops, rich blue millwork and patterned tiles make a bold statement in the kitchen. Oak flooring throughout and polished concrete on the bottom floor balance modern and traditional elements. A new roof deck over the… [See all 8 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/william-duff-architects-inc-pfvwus-pf~788623792) ## Community Q&A **Q: where can i get these lights?** *(in Photo Questions)* Love the rectangular size of these lights. My mirror is 18 inches and I love "everything" about this bathroom. A: Thanks for your question! Unfortunately this project has been archived. Please let us know if we can help with anything else. **Q: Brand name of French Doors are in the Master Bed Room?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Thanks for your question! Most of the doors in this house were created by NanaWall. I'm not sure if they supplied the French Doors, but it looks like they offer a similar product on their website. **Q: Window treatments** *(in Photo Questions)* Lovely room! What are the window treatments? A: Hi There! Thanks for the compliments! Our firm didn't order the shades, however, we believe they are custom Roman Shades. **Q: Where can I get the info to the penny round tile? Thank you.** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi there! Thanks for your question. We believe the penny tiles in this bathroom are Lime Light Glossy 824, distributed by Galleria. **Q: Wall,paint** *(in Photo Questions)* What color and brand is the wall,paint? So refreshing! Thank you A: Thanks for your question! The paint is Restoration Hardware "Pumice." **Q: Chairs** *(in Photo Questions)* Beautiful home. Where did you get those leather chairs? Love them!! Thx A: Thanks for the kudos, Carolyn! The Interior Designer on this project was Kendall Wilkinson Design. I'm sure they will be able to help you with this. Thanks again and best of luck! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-11-07.*