Aardvark Architecture

It's been awesome working with Sean this past year for our new home construction project. Sean brought an amazing vision for a unique Spanish / Mission styled home. He cared deeply for our own design needs and thoughts, and I think a really spectacular addition he had was an awesome looking formal dining room which I truly appreciate having grown up in the east coast. I'm continually amazed at just how much he deeply knows about architecture, design, all the rules, the sheer quality of his technical skills, not to mention he's licensed as well. The YouTube videos were very helpful walkthroughs for both the 2D floor plan as well as the 3D model. We were able to listen to these multiple times and share them with friends/family to follow along for our project. Dealing with so many different consultants was also quite a bit of work and Sean did the heavy lifting and took the burden off of us aside from just a simple contract or payment that was required. I've had little to no interaction with the city as well besides paying permit fees, because Sean was so on top of things and getting us to approvals both for the design and building permits. We had literally no hiccups in approvals, pretty much every estimate Sean set for us in terms of timelines was met at every phase. There were no issues during our neighborhood notice periods or any sort of public hearing issues, we literally sailed past all this, probably because the house is just so well designed. Lastly, I just want to say that Sean is extremely professional but also just fun to work with. I've genuinely enjoyed some of our conversations and jokes aside from just the house project. Totally recommend Sean for your next home project!

I’ve worked with Aardvark Architecture on multiple projects, and each experience has been excellent. They consistently deliver thoughtful, well-planned home layouts that are both functional and visually appealing. Just as important, they remain engaged and supportive throughout the construction phase, helping address questions and challenges as they arise. Their professionalism, reliability, and attention to detail make them a great firm to work with, and I would confidently recommend them for residential projects.

We’ve had a fantastic experience working with Sean. He brings a real passion for designing homes that are both highly functional and genuinely beautiful. He thinks deeply about the details that matter, from natural light and spatial flow to a nuanced understanding of materials and current building standards. Sean is exacting in his plan deliverables and runs a very tight, professional process. He also has strong relationships with high-quality consultants and builders, which shows in the clarity and coordination of the work. We especially appreciated that he doesn’t nickel-and-dime. His payment structure is refreshingly milestone- and outcome-based rather than charging for every minute or minor tweak, which made the collaboration feel fair and aligned. Overall, he’s a joy to work with and someone we would hire again in a heartbeat for future projects. Highly recommend.

We had an excellent experience working with Sean. They were thoughtful, responsive, and truly listened to our goals while also guiding us through the technical and regulatory aspects of the project. Their designs were well-considered, buildable, and balanced creativity with practicality — which made a big difference once we moved into construction. Communication was clear throughout the process, timelines were respected, and any questions or revisions were handled promptly. We appreciated their attention to detail and their ability to collaborate smoothly with engineers and the builder, which helped keep everything moving efficiently. We would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a professional, knowledgeable architect who delivers high-quality work.

I would highly recommend Sean Rinde at Aardvark Architecture. Sean has (so far) guided us through the planning submittal phase. From the start, Sean was incredibly conscientious and exceedingly prompt in all his communications and deliverables. It is clear that he put great thought and care into our project. Beyond his professionalism, Sean has a truly great eye for beautiful design. The result is a space that is not only functional but aesthetically stunning. Furthermore, he is cost conscious, ensuring that we achieved our vision without compromising our budget. If you are looking for an architect who is talented, reliable, and respectful of your finances, Sean Rinde is an excellent choice. I look forward to continuing to work with Sean through the bidding and construction phase.

Best Decision We Made! Visionary, Technical, and a Great Communicator Working with Sean Rinde was, without a doubt, the single best decision we made for our complex, down-to-the-guts home remodel and new ADU project. We are beyond thrilled with the final design and the entire experience. Sean is a rare combination of creative visionary, technical expert, and world-class communicator, and we cannot recommend him highly enough. From our very first call, we knew Sean was different. Our biggest priority was finding an architect who could translate our (often ambiguous) emotions and lifestyle preferences into a concrete design. Sean’s unique process of using detailed YouTube videos for design updates initially caught our eye, but it was his clear, thoughtful, and constant communication that truly sealed the deal. This process was a game-changer, especially when we had to make mid-project adjustments to our budget and scope. What could have been an incredibly stressful process was made pleasant and manageable, all thanks to him. His expertise with San Jose's building codes is not just a selling point; it was critical to our project's success. We were struggling to fit both a garage and a comfortably-sized bedroom within the city's setback rules. Sean’s deep understanding of the regulations, including specific exceptions, allowed us to design a solution that incorporated both. This was a huge win for us and a feature that will bring us happiness every single time we use those spaces. The design phase was incredibly collaborative and, honestly, fun. Sean's creativity is amazing. When he presented the first 3D visualizations, they truly took our breath away—they were beyond our wildest dreams. But Sean isn't just a "yes-man." He listened carefully to all our needs, both spoken and unspoken, and was always ready with thoughtful counterpoints. He guided us through countless decisions, as a project of such scope obviously needs (type of patio doors, size of bedroom, moving gas meter,...), and ensured we made the best compromises. Looking back, we have zero regrets. Finally, his 2D and 3D YouTube videos were a massive hit with our extended family and friends. It allowed them to follow along on our journey and helped us feel confident in every single decision, as we could "live in" the 3D model before a single wall was built. If you are looking for an architect who will listen, bring incredible creativity, master the technical challenges, and ensure your home is a true reflection of your lifestyle, hire Sean Rinde. He helped make our vision real. — Priya & Vikram

Sean is a fantastic architect, and I recommend him without reservation. His expertise and thoughtful approach exceeded our expectations at every turn. I hired Sean to do a 2nd floor addition to our single story ranch house. Unlike others I interviewed, he didn’t enter with a preconceived conclusion of which direction we should go (teardown/rebuild vs. addition). He took time to understand our functional requirements and priorities before making a recommendation. The difference (cost, customizability) was closer than I expected and I really appreciate Sean’s diligence here to make sure we chose the best direction. I’m thrilled with the final design. The outside is attractive and unique without being obtrusive in the neighborhood. It emphasizes unique elements about our property while enhancing others. The inside is well suited for our needs, both now and the future as our family grows and changes. Sean is a good listener and made plenty of insightful suggestions while deferring to our vision. He was patient while we walked through a huge number of floorpan layout permutations and helped us avoid pitfalls. He is very knowledgeable about code requirements and making the design usable. One example of the latter, I had initially wanted a larger open shower but he pointed out that the larger volume of air wouldn’t heat up and I’d always be cold! Sean really helped us avoid a lot of mistakes that a less skilled architect may not have. One of Sean's greatest strengths is his masterful handling of the bureaucratic aspects of our project. He shouldered the majority of design review and permitting processes, maintaining constant communication with various departments to prevent delays. His proactive approach paid off – the city officials specifically commented on how quickly our project moved through approval compared to similar projects. Sean has a good network of professionals - e.g. contractors, structural engineers, geotechnical reports and surveyors. I was happy with all, especially his contractors. He put us in touch with several capable builders early in the process and ensured we interviewed each and contacted references. Thanks to his insistence, we had selected a builder (one of his recommendations) ahead of permit issuance. Without Sean’s guidance, this process would have been delayed and I’d have less confidence in the choice. Throughout the entire process, Sean demonstrated unwavering professionalism while making the experience enjoyable and educational. His combination of technical expertise, practical knowledge, and client-focused approach makes him an exceptional architect. Working with Sean was a pleasure, and I wouldn't hesitate to hire him again for future projects.

We couldn’t be happier with the incredible work Sean did on our home renovation! From the very beginning, he made the process seamless, walking us through multiple floor plan options with ease. What truly set Sean apart was his unwavering commitment to our vision. He skillfully pushed back against subjective Design Review comments to maintain the design elements we were most excited about, ensuring that our home turned out exactly as we had imagined. The 3D design he created was nothing short of stunning, taking direct inspiration from our ideas and translating them into a home that feels uniquely ours. And let’s talk about that second story—it’s absolutely killer! We loved the new pergola Sean designed, it perfectly complementing our round pool and adding an incredible outdoor element to our home. Not only did he design it beautifully, but he also went to bat for us, making sure the engineering consultants honored their agreed-upon fee rather than tacking on unnecessary costs—something we deeply appreciated. Throughout the process, Sean was incredibly responsive, adapting the design quickly to accommodate our requests while also offering honest, expert advice when he felt a change wasn’t in our best interest. He was always available to meet, ensuring we felt comfortable every step of the way. He even introduced us to several builders, helping us find the perfect fit for our project. Despite the sometimes slow City review process, Sean’s plans were so well-executed that they required only one round of comments—an impressive feat! He handled revision requests swiftly, always working to move things forward as efficiently as possible. If you’re looking for an architect who is talented, efficient, professional, and genuinely enjoyable to work with, look no further than Sean. We are beyond thrilled with his design and can’t thank him enough for bringing our vision to life!

Sean from Aardvark Architecture is an amazing architect and I couldn't be happier to recommend him. In a nutshell he is very professional, knowledgeable, prompt, and energetic. My husband and I interviewed numerous architects and “all-in-one” design firms. Our first hired architect was from an "all-in-one" design firm and we regretted our choice. After multiple moments of terrible miscommunication, head scratching moments, failed expectations and a lot of wasted time, we fired that original firm and hired Sean. Sean has a wealth of knowledge and you can tell he is experienced with various aesthetics, calculations, city codes, city permitting processes, and contractor interactions. He is very timely and once we hired him, he jumped into his process and got the ball rolling. Our project was a little unique in that we are in a flood zone. Even with that, Sean was able to navigate the tricky flood zone issue and provide a great experience for our family. We wanted to keep as much of our existing home to not trigger our project as a “new build” and Sean was very cognizant of that - while also sharing that demolishing the whole house and starting fresh would probably be easier on the demo crew and quicker. In the end, he heard our concerns and delivered what we asked. Sean wanted to understand us as a family, what our needs were for the new space, and kept this at the forefront of his design. Sean was quick to come up with a floorplan, and make iterations after we voiced our comments. Our favorite part was seeing the 3D model YouTube videos (which is included in Sean’s scope). Once we got to the 3D rendering phase, Sean also shared his opinions when we asked for changes which were sometimes not perspectives we considered. At the end of the day Sean will do what you as the client ask, but he also shares valuable perspectives and alternate ideas which is also helpful feedback. Working with Sean was a great experience and I would recommend him in a heartbeat or use him for our future projects. He is VERY upbeat and energetic as well as passionate about architecture and providing a great home for his clients.

We first got to know Sean when he was working at another firm. We liked him right away. We loved his designs, his speed, his responsiveness, his personality. When we found out he was starting his own firm, we couldn't wait to work with him again. Until then, we recommended him to whomever we could. Recently we were able to work with Sean again on a new home build. We wanted a home to suit our tastes and needs but also take into account future resale potential, and he was able to walk that fine line effortlessly, such as creating a flex room that we could use for band performance but also easily be used as an office or gym. Sean suggested an attached JADU instead of the detached ADU we were thinking for aging parents in order to provide convenience and accessibility with less disruption to the yard. And, he designed it in a way that was not only great for aging parents (e.g., curbless shower) but could efficiently work as a rental with its exterior entry and design. In fact, Sean incorporated all our wish-list items into an impressive, amazing design that was also practical and livable without overdesigning and still remaining cost-conscious. Sean has probably designed the first basement that won't feel like a basement with the amount of natural light and ventilation he planned. Actually, he made sure to incorporate lots of natural light and ventilation throughout the home. Further, Sean designed a home that feels timeless, inside and out, with modern comforts (e.g., a mudroom, appliance garage, basement bar, w/d in primary bedroom, skylights, etc.). He was able to pivot seamlessly when the City of Palo Alto made a change to the guidelines mid-project that eliminated 400 sf from the basement. The new design still feels spacious, complete, and intentional, like how it was always meant to be. And, he reached out to a handful of builders on our behalf when we were confused and unsure about the dewatering process for a basement. Most of all, Sean is great to work with. He listens and is super responsive, flexible, and fast. And don't be surprised if he gets the design near perfect on the first pass. You'll be searching for things to nitpick. Besides 2D plans, Sean provides a guided 3D video tour, which makes reviewing plans super fun and exciting and gives a more real-world view of the design.

I am a licensed architect and a fellow construciton professional. I have worked with Sean for 10+ years. I appreciate his impeccable professionalism and work ethic in deliverable high level design while meeting the owner's stringent expectations. We have completed several projects together and the clients are always pleased with the transparent process and the end result. Sean's attention to the detailed aesthetic is what stands out the most. It is always a pleasure working with Sean and I will continue this working relationship through the rest of my career.

I have known and worked with Sean (Sensitive Information Hidden) for many years and appreciate his skill and talent on every project we've worked on. His creative design skills are fantastic along with his 3D ability. He understands budgets, is an expert with city building departments, and knows how to execute. You are in excellent hands working with Sean Rinde!