--- title: "Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/lynn-gaffney-architect-pllc-pfvwus-pf~973142034 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~973142034.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/a3a3ddb90f96b8cc_3400-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Brooklyn, New York 11215, United States" phone: "(917) 797-4039" website: https://lynngaffney.com/ rating: 4.9 review_count: 17 best_of_houzz_awards: 11 followers: 591 last_updated: 2026-08-31 --- # Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC Original Houzz profile: [Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/lynn-gaffney-architect-pllc-pfvwus-pf~973142034) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Brooklyn, NY - **Serves:** New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Flushing, Bayside, Ridgewood, Coney Island, Far Rockaway, Whitestone, Westfield, Yorkville, Belleville, Arverne, Battery Park, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Boerum Hill, Breezy Point, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Forest Hills, Glen Rock, Harlem, Hoboken, Holmdel, Howard Beach, Jamaica Estates, Jersey City, Kew Gardens, Lakeville CT, Lenox Hill, Livingston NJ, Millstone, Montclair, Montclair NJ, Murray Hill, NoHo, Norwalk CT, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Salisbury CT, Sea Gate, Sharon CT, SoHo, Tenafly, Tribeca, Upper East Side, Upper West Side - **Houzz rating:** 4.9 out of 5 (17 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 11 awards (2014–2025), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 100,000 Ideabook Saves Based in Brooklyn and founded in 1997, Lynn Gaffney Architect (lga) is a nationally recognized, full-service architecture firm. We are distinguished by the range of our work, which is diverse in scale, spatial qualities, and style. We are passionate about collaboration and surround each of our clients with a specialized team of architects, contractors, and craftspeople to create personalized spaces that succeed both aesthetically and functionally, while keeping sustainability in mind. Lynn Gaffney RA, LEED AP, is a nationally recognized architect (Dwell, Metropolitan Home, New York Times) whose firm, Lynn Gaffney Architect (lga) founded in 1997, has produced a range of work diverse in scale, program, spatial qualities, and aesthetic styles. Take a look at this enticing advertisement for an upstate vacation rental company, starring our BK House https://vimeo.com/193741041 ### 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 - 3D Rendering - Bathroom Design - Green Building - Universal Design - Home Restoration - Historic Building Conservation - Handicap-Accessible Design - Barn Design & Construction - Attic Conversion - Basement Design - Staircase Design - Deck Design - Landscape Plans - Rooftop Deck Installation - Cohousing ### Areas Served - New York City - Brooklyn - Queens - Manhattan - Bronx - Flushing - Bayside - Ridgewood - Coney Island - Far Rockaway - Whitestone - Westfield - Yorkville - Belleville - Arverne - Battery Park - Bedford-Stuyvesant - Boerum Hill - Breezy Point - Carroll Gardens - Cobble Hill - Forest Hills - Glen Rock - Harlem - Hoboken - Holmdel - Howard Beach - Jamaica Estates - Jersey City - Kew Gardens - Lakeville CT - Lenox Hill - Livingston NJ - Millstone - Montclair - Montclair NJ - Murray Hill - NoHo - Norwalk CT - Park Slope - Prospect Heights - Salisbury CT - Sea Gate - Sharon CT - SoHo - Tenafly - Tribeca - Upper East Side - Upper West Side ### Typical Job Cost $300,000 - $2,000,000 Costs noted are the range for Construction Costs. Lynn Gaffney Architect's fees fall within the range of 15% to 25% of Construction Cost depending on scope of architectural services as well as size of project. ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC | | Address | Brooklyn, New York 11215, United States | | Phone | (917) 797-4039 | | Website | https://lynngaffney.com/ | | Followers on Houzz | 591 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — http://www.facebook.com/lgarch - Blog — https://lynngaffney.com/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/lynn-gaffney-architect-pllc-pfvwus-pf~973142034) - **Website:** https://lynngaffney.com/ - **Phone:** (917) 797-4039 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Licensed Architect in NY, NJ and CT - LEED AP - Certified Passive House Designer - American Institute of Architects - Please also view our work on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lgarch - **Best of Houzz:** 11 awards (2014–2025), for Design, Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 — 17 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — HU-449029009, March 2024** > Lynn helped us transform our Brooklyn apartment. The job involved a complete rehab of the space, including changes to the floor plan and a total remodel of bathroom and kitchen areas. She helped us think through what we wanted, listened hard, and her design translated our ideas into a plan we loved from the start. She is supremely well organized, flexible, and a complete pleasure to work with. She navigated the NYC permitting process and necessary Co-op Board approvals flawlessly, helped guide us through the selection of a contractor, and served as our on-site project manager since we were on the west coast during the construction. > Lynn built a great working relationship with our contractor and handled challenges big and small with efficiency and aplomb. Whenever we needed her on site, she was there. > The project was delivered on budget. Her documentation was clear and complete. We love our stylish, comfortable new home (and our friends are in love with it as well)! We cannot recommend Lynn highly enough! **Comment from Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC:** > Thank you, Stephen and Karen! It was such a pleasure working with you both on your apartment. Your recommendation means a lot! **★★★★★ — Nat, July 2022** > If you are looking for a seasoned professional with a designer's eye, hire Lynn. She was an absolute pleasure to work with and immediately understood our vision for the full-scale renovation of a log home in upstate New York. Not only does she have one of the best-looking portfolios of all the architects we interviewed, but she also has a calm professionalism that speaks to her decades of experience. > > We bought a cabin in the woods that hadn't been renovated since it was built in the 1980s. It was all wood everywhere and needed light, as well as a few changes to the layout to maximize its potential. We knew it needed a proper entryway and that we wanted to remove a wall that separated the kitchen from the living area. We also thought that the wood and stone elements on our property lent themselves to borrowing design ideas from Japan, a country we had lived in for several years. Lynn took our brief and turned it into a home we absolutely adore. She had a small addition built to create a Japanese entryway (called a "genkan"), moved the wood burning fireplace into a better spot in the living room, enlarged all the main windows, turned the main bedroom into a master suite, and reclaimed wasted space in the laundry room for the addition of a powder room -- all ideas we never would have come up with without her. > > We have a bit of interior design experience ourselves, but not enough to renovate a whole house on our own. However, joining our ideas with Lynn's design eye, we didn't even need to hire an interior designer and the end result is stunning. **★★★★★ — Zontee Hou, Jan. 2022** > I was already familiar with Lynn's work when I approached her about working with us (we both work at the same coworking space), even as my husband and I apartment-hunted in NYC. We were looking for an apartment with potential to renovate, and she helped us assess our two final contenders. Having an architect look at an apartment layout with your goals and lifestyle in mind is immensely helpful. She was able to tell us what might or might not be possible in each building. > > In the apartment we ended up buying and renovating (a duplex that had been combined in the early 1990s), Lynn was able to see ways to make the tiny, dated kitchen much more functional. She also helped us to get the most out of the living/dining space. She brought a ton of storage into the space, while also thinking about light and cohesion throughout the apartment. > > Our goals were to make our home both functional for entertaining, as well as a showcase for our art collection. Lynn's insights in redesigning the staircase, reconfiguring a set of closets to open up the entry hall, creating a glass/metal wall to bring light in from the front of the building, as well as reorienting the living/dining/kitchen space have made a huge difference. We truly get use out of every space, and we get a ton of compliments on the aesthetic of the space as well. **★★★★★ — James Blanco, April 2020** > We hired Lynn to renovate our 700 square foot apartment in Manhattan. We’ve lived in our apartment for close to 17 years before deciding to remodel, and still another 2 years before we finally pulled the trigger to start the official process. At the onset, through ideation, we thought we were open and flexible about possibilities, but looking back we definitely had more “must haves” and “can’t live without” requirements than we thought we would. > > What I appreciated most about Lynn was how she not only understood our aesthetic requirements, but as well her ability to translate our functional needs to fit within the overall design. Through multiple iterations of layouts and endless surprises that came along with opening up 90 year old walls, Lynn was able to keep proportions and design elements consistent, and most importantly, prioritize how we live as a family above all else. > > And there were also the countless moments our impatience and shortsightedness may have given way to concessions. Lynn was always on top of the most minute details and seemingly minor transactions with subcontractors and material vendors to ensure the overall cohesiveness of the project. Lynn was accessible, patient, reasonable, and focused in the middle of a process that lends itself to feeling chaotic and out of control – and Lynn’s attitude was apparent both through the renovation and beyond. Having our place renovated prior to the stay-at-home orders for NYC, we’ve had a lot of time to spend in our place, and we couldn’t be happier with how everything has turned out. We’re still discovering details and perspectives 5 months later that make us smile. > > Lynn surpassed our expectations on so many levels, from managing expectations, to budget constraints, and ensuring deadlines were met. Whether it’s a 700 square foot renovation or 2,800 build from scratch, we couldn’t imagine doing it without Lynn. **Comment from Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC:** > Thank you James! It was a complete pleasure to work with you and Stephanie. Your commitment to your home and the project was so helpful. > Best - > Lynn **★★★★★ — Ronald Borod, Aug. 2018** > Ours was a very challenging project, in which we combined two adjoining coop units into a single unified apartment on the Upper West Side of NY City. We have a modern aesthetic and wanted a clean and sleek and uncluttered design which at the same time is livable and practical. Lynn created a design that meets all of our aesthetic and living needs, assisted us in the selection of the contractor and supervised the work and gave us periodic reports since we were only in the city at sporadic intervals. The finished product meets all of our requirements, with great spatial flow, lovely design details and a totally satisfying encapsulation of our aesthetic and practical requirements. **Comment from Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC:** > Thanks so much, Ron. It was such a great project and a pleasure to collaborate with you and Doris. I look forward to the photos! > Best - > Lynn **★★★★★ — Arin Rusch, Dec. 2016** > We hired LGA to redesign our kitchen and living space, and convert our one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom. Lynn and her associates made sure to stay attuned to our practical needs, as well as our aesthetic and design preferences and hopes. Her team consistently fused our ideas with their expertise and vision, resulting in a plan that is sensible and practical, increases our ease and comfort at home, and is great to look at! Working around the quirks of a pre-war building, LGA’s plans allowed us to enlarge and open our kitchen, while maintaining gracious bedroom and storage space. She included modern, elegant features, such as clever open shelving and a beautiful wood box shelf that drops from the ceiling over the open counter, bridging the living/dining and kitchen space while maintaining a sense of distinct rooms. Her thoughtful designs envisioned a modern kitchen that complements the less contemporary architecture of the apartment. At each juncture of the project, Lynn was communicative, friendly, smart, and good-humored, and was willing to problem solve as needed. She consulted with us and our contractor about all aspects of the building process, including permitting. She directed us to a range of vendors as we chose finishes, and helped us make those decisions. It was a pleasure working with Lynn’s firm from start to finish. We are thrilled with the outcome, and would absolutely hire LGA again, and refer her to friends. **★★★★ — Jordan Young, Dec. 2016** > We hired Lynn based on a stay in her weekend home, which she designed from the ground up, having been attracted to her use of materials, minimalism, and as-green-as-possible approach. Lynn was excellent to work with, shepherding a near gut renovation of a three bedroom apartment on a very short timeline. Lynn had very practical ideas for maximizing space and storage (highly important in NYC) and added style and polish to our ideas. She was a strong advocate for us when needed and a voice of reason when the situation required it. Lynn filled any role we requested, from recommending lighting fixtures, to adjusting designs on the fly, to ordering finishes, to negotiating through disputes with suppliers. Lynn's attention to detail on the extensive millwork on our project is appreciated every time we sit down for dinner. We would recommend her without reservation. **Comment from Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC:** > Jordan - Thank you for your great review. Your words mean a lot. It was a pleasure to collaborate with you both on your new home. Enjoy. Best - Lynn > https://www.houzz.com/projects/2277072/duplex **★★★★★ — Corinne Catalano, Dec. 2016** > We wanted to expand our almost 150 year old small home in upstate NY into a place where we could better accommodate overnight guests and do more entertaining. The open space solution we wanted involved adding a new master bedroom suite and a new family room connected to a kitchen that needed to be reconfigured and remodeled. We had worked with Lynn once before so we were excited to get her involved. We were not disappointed! Lynn's design seamlessly integrated the two floor addition with the exiting structure. She did a great job of maximizing the space, paid attention to all the details and offered lots of advice along the way. She is a great listener, very easy to work with and always professional. I highly recommend her. **Comment from Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC:** > Corinne - What a wonderful project. We loved figuring out the roof lines and your easy interior flow for entertaining. Thanks so much for the opportunity and for your thoughtful review. Best - Lynn **★★★★★ — lydiahernandez1949, Dec. 2016** > Lynn Gaffney is the Architect you really want to hire. She modified my apartment into a wheelchair accessible apartment for my disabled son. She listened to all of my son's needs. She is so professional, approachable, detailed-oriented, just such a nice person. We are very pleased with the job done in my kitchen, bathroom and living room. > My son is now able to move around the apartment with ease. Thank you Lynn! **Comment from Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC:** > Thank you so much, Lydia for the wonderful review. It was a pleasure to work with you on improving your family's home for your son. **★★★★★ — wendy moore, Nov. 2016** > Lynn Gaffney transformed our old bathroom into a gorgeous, functional, comfortable space. She was responsive and sensitive to all of our ideas, applying a creative eye toward the constraints of our space to fit everything in comfortably and efficiently. She worked with my existing design preferences by having several options that fit within my aesthetic for the details where I didn't yet have anything picked out or was undecided, with very successful results that married modern with traditional looks. She was extremely efficient with regards to our time constraints and worked with the contractor (whom she found and worked with) to ensure a perfectly on-time date of completion. **Comment from Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC:** > Wendy - Yours was a gem of a project and a challenging puzzle. Thank you for coming to us with your big ideas for a seemingly small bathroom. And thank you for your great review. Best - Lynn > www.houzz.com/projects/1995149/sterling-bathroom **★★★★★ — tonycat16, Feb. 2014** > The 5 stars say it all, but in other words: creative, professional, knowledgeable, punctual, attentive, candid, personable, detail-oriented, approachable and enjoyable and are just some of the words that come to mind when thinking about our experience with Lynn and her role in transforming our kitchen and bath. **★★★★★ — Jonathan Mishkin, July 2013** > My wife and I hired Lynn to design the renovation of two UES co-op apartments that we were merging into one. She listened carefully to our ideas and showed us several concepts. When we selected the one we liked, she proceeded to execute the plans to a very high level of competence. She worked well with our building manager to ensure that the design conformed to the building rules. She assisted us is selecting the contractor, including interviewing several candidates and helped us in negotiate the contract. > > During construction, she supervised the contractor and the job generally. Both quite closely. Lynn developed quite a good rapport with all the parties to the renovation the contractor. She adhered to our schedule deadlines and made certain that all others did as well. Lynn was also quite good at providing us many options for the various decisions that we had to make along the way, including lighting, finishes, bathroom and kitchen hardware, window treatments and closets. > > What struck us most about Lynn was an extraordinary attention to detail. > > We have already recommended Lynn to friends who are considering their own renovations. **Comment from Lynn Gaffney Architect, PLLC:** > Thanks for such a wonderful review. It was a pleasure working with you both and I look forward to our next opportunity. Best - Lynn > www.houzz.com/projects/314219/mhjm-residence ## Selected projects - [TANK ROOFTOP](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tank-rooftop-pj-vj~48950) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 33 - Description: This project had a true collaborative spirit from the start as our clients are both visual and creative – a theatrical lighting designer and a costume designer / artist. Some of their unique criteria for this rooftop environment included acoustical barriers from nearby commercial warehouse fans and an enclosure that allowed their cats’ usage and safety. The archetypal New York water tanks offered the generative force for the unraveling wood boards. The spacing between boards varies depending upo… - [Carnegie Hill Brownstone](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/carnegie-hill-brownstone-pj-vj~221272) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 10 - Description: These beautiful photos were just received . I was very lucky to meet this ideal client through a friend and struck up a long working relationship with multiple projects (1999 apartment combination/gut renovation (not showm), 2003 brownstone gut renovation, 2006 brownstone façade renovation). All were traditional with a whimsical twist and the client was well informed on design, confident in her taste and quick acting. lga team: Lynn Gaffney, Jarrett Boor, Michael Lehner, Matthew Radune - [Duplex](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/duplex-pj-vj~2277072) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 7 - [Esopus](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/esopus-pj-vj~7282989) - Location: New Paltz, NY - Photos: 23 - Description: Client Objective: Clients Natale and Sebastien were part of the rush for a place in the Hudson Valley during the pandemic. They settled on a beautiful rural property with a private pond and an 80’s kit log house and garage. They would respect the log cabin while integrating their happily modern aesthetics and making it their own. The project’s main objectives were a gracious entry, an open kitchen, expanded common areas, streamlined stairs and railing, new guest bathroom, expanded primary bath,… - [BK Cabin](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bk-cabin-pj-vj~7282981) - Location: Andes, NY - Photos: 25 - Description: Client Objective: BK cabin is an accessory to BK House on a beautiful wooded site overlooking a meadow. Pre-covid my clients and I discussed building a separate screened-in-porch set into the woods which would offer a private getaway and an optimal view of the meadow and hills beyond. During the pandemic lockdown however, my clients found they needed more rooms for working from home and looked forward to expanded space for entertaining guests. As with BK House, we focused on the environmental im… - [BK House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bk-house-pj-vj~47025) - Location: Catskills Region, NY - Photos: 16 - Description: BK House is Lynn Gaffney Architect's modern interpretation of an Adirondack styled home. Sustainability is integral throughout house and site. Some (not all) examples are extensive natural lighting, tight envelope (icynene insulation), natural ventilation only (no air conditioning), large overhangs to reduce heat in summer, solar thermal for radiant heating and domestic hot water, photovoltaic solar panels for electric power, reclaimed wood siding, metal roofing (recycled content, long life-cycl… - [Miami Beach House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/miami-beach-house-pj-vj~52203) - Location: Miami, FL - Photos: 3 - [Loft-like Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/loft-like-residence-pj-vj~51704) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 22 - Description: The clients’ intention in this apartment combination/renovation was to create a loft within their post-war co-op building on the Upper East Side. LGA completely opened the space and used the raw concrete ceiling and refurbished wood plank floor as a blank slate. Millwork installations enhanced areas of the ceiling to define the domestic uses of the spaces. Sliding wood and translucent wall panels strengthen the open plan. The result is a simple and elegant space. As with most of our residential… - [Sharon House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sharon-house-pj-vj~50634) - Location: Sharon, CT - Photos: 21 - Description: Lynn Gaffney and her family enjoy weekends in this bright modern home – her interpretation of agricultural structures. The layout, finishes and systems show LGA’s commitment to sustainable design such as SIPs prefab construction (Structural Insulated Panels), radiant heating, abundant windows and natural light, polished concrete floors, bamboo floors, non-painted plaster walls, standing seam metal panels. Contractor: David Jones of Revival Homes in New Hartford, CT - 860-379-3175 - david@revival… - [Sterling Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sterling-bathroom-pj-vj~1995149) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 8 - [Lenape Entry](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lenape-entry-pj-vj~793656) - Location: Montville, NJ - Photos: 5 - [Bank Street](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bank-street-pj-vj~6178779) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 18 - [Harlem Striver's Row](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/harlem-striver-s-row-pj-vj~5759368) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 11 - Description: The space within this formerly derelict row house on Harlem’s Strivers Row was impressive and had much potential even if it had been stripped of all its ornate detailing. Our clients’ program included a main residence (three bedrooms, three and a half bath) and a renters unit at the windowed basement level (two bedrooms, one bath). They wanted to take advantage of the Strivers Row alley and add a carport and a new deck adjacent to the Kitchen. We planned the main residence for open, comfortable… - [Lincoln](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lincoln-pj-vj~4830481) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 [See all 14 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/lynn-gaffney-architect-pllc-pfvwus-pf~973142034) ## Community Q&A **Q: Love the kitchen backsplash tiles! What are they please?** *(in Photo Questions)* Love the kitchen backsplash tiles! What are they please? A: thanks. the tile is Heath 2x4 set in that pattern- very time consuming for the tilw installer. they have a plait pattern mosaic on mesh that uses 1x3 tiles. i’ve used that too with success . **Q: Love this backsplash. The source please.** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hi - thanks for your interest in our work. The backsplash is Heath Ceramics – 2x4 Mid Century White tiles in a Tapestry - Weave pattern. Best - Lynn **Q: L/r d/r L shape direction of hardwood floors** *(in Photo Questions)* Living room dining room L shape hardwood floors direction of wood A: I'm not certain I understand correctly. YOU can see the direction of the wood planks in photo - they run parallel to the length of the building (perpendicular to the street). Good luck. **Q: What is that orange tree called? Will in grow in Scottsdale Arizona?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: There is a Japanese maple which has a red hue. No orange. I'm not sure how it would grow in Scottsdale. Good luck with your project. **Q: floor tile** *(in Photo Questions)* Hello - I love this floor tile. Could you please tell me about it/ Is it cement of ceramic? And where did you purchase it? A: Thank you for your comments. The tiles outside the shower are cement - ordered from Mosaic House - http://mosaichse.com/details.php?id=209\#  The tiles inside the shower are simple hex tiles from Dal Tile. Good luck with your project. **Q: about plants** *(in Photo Questions)* name of red leaf tree A: Larry, the Japanese maple. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-31.*