Karen Bellamy, Architect

I have never worked with an architect before and thought I knew exactly what I wanted. Karen was available, patient, and knowledgeable. She was close to her time/cost estimate AND her plans were approved without question for the permit. I haven't started my project yet, and, since I can't read plans, I will have to wait to see if my dreams become reality. Hopefully, I can update with more feedback then.

If you need an architect, call Karen! There is no need to look any further! Around 5 years ago I initially hired her to do renovations on my 1946 home. She did such a fantastic job that I have asked for her help on numerous additional projects since then - most recently this month. I never really know what I want; but she always extracts exactly the right information from me and comes up with a perfect solution. The changes to my home have been perfect. The additions look like they must have been there when the home was originally built.

The only problem with Karen Bellamy's redesign of our kitchen is that we like it too much and now never want to move from this house, given the pleasures of the galley. Her design created more actual space as well as the illusion of more space. Karen calculated placement of plumbing and appliances and lighting to enable happy convenience. Her knowledge of contractors' needs and practices proved spot on as did her recommendations for materials that would prove durable and attractive. All her suggestions (with options) were discussed with us as she drew up the plans, so we were never surprised with outcomes--only delighted. After five years we still feel that way.

We have now worked with Karen on 2 projects. Last summer she did the plans for a room addition to add to our mountain views. This summer she is doing the plans for a studio. It has been so easy working with her. She asks all the right questions, checks back after doing the plans with some suggestions that we non-professionals may not have considered and has been wonderful in working with our contractor. We could not recommend her more highly. She's fun too!!

Karen helped me to design two bathrooms in my house. She was extremely professional and very creative. She asked me a lot of questions to understand our needs and listened to me. We went through a complete revision due to me changing plans and she was professional and courteous. She handled all the details and I did not have to worry.

My wife and I hired Karen Bellamy to design an 800SF two-story addition to our one-story 1,300SF Spanish Revival house that was built in the 1930’s. As built, the house already had fantastic curb appeal. Consequently, our major concern was preserving the historical integrity and charming appearance of the home while adding two bedrooms and two bathrooms. She succeeded in designing an addition the seamlessly blends old with new. Karen was a pleasure to work with. She was full of great ideas, always willing to listen to our input, and very patient with us throughout the design and construction process. Karen used the latest 3-D software drafting tools, providing us with insightful renderings throughout the design process. She contributed a solid understanding of construction practices and knew how to navigate building variances, plans, and permits through the City of Tucson’s Building Department. We are 100 percent satisfied with the end result and recommend Karen without reservation.

I hired Karen to draw up plans on a relatively short timetable for an accessory structure on my property. Our first meeting was very productive, and she was able to take some rough drawings I had created and generate a great first draft. As we iterated through revisions, she incorporated my wants and addressed my concerns using her knowledge of area-specific codes and requirements. At the end of the process, permits were issued quickly and within my desired time frame with no issues. Highly recommended.

Karen has helped us remodel our bathroom in 2012/13 and patio/garage area in 2016. She did a wonderful job designing spaces so to match the existing style of the house (mid-century modern). The new bathroom has now a frosted glass curved wall that flows with the rest of the house and the patio is a wonderful new space that adds a whole new dimension to the house. I love Karen's attention to details and her appreciation for good material. I definitely recommend her 100% and I am planning to use her expertise in the future. She is my go to architect.

Karen was wonderful in designing the addition for our historic home. She was great working with the city for approval and in the end it was seamless addition that added to the charm of the house and took away nothing from the historic appeal and character. First rate!!!

Karen is simply the best! She designed an extensive renovation/addition to our historic home in the Sam Hughes neighborhood of Tucson. She maintained our home's historic feel and look while integrating all our our needs for modern living. We were able to complete the whole project while still living in San Francisco thanks to her excellent communication and clear plans. We are now living in our dream home.