Eisenmann Architecture

Our project at hand is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) off of our garage. Eisenmann Architecture (EA) was tasked to deliver a budget-sensitive design. But the ink hadn’t even dried on the plans when the wobbles started. I ended up terminating the construction phase of our contract because I simply didn’t see the value-add in continuing on with their high price tag, misses, and hubris. Our Experience: three independent contractors came in with bids showing EA’s plan to be way off the mark vis-à-vis our budget. This triggered an additional change fee we had to pay to scale back. Other costly EA wobbles included a surprising unfamiliarity with codes and regulations around ADUs in California; our project manager moving back to France by which there was a 9-hour time difference between him and the actual project; a careless miss on the architectural drawing, hiccups with billing, and a couple of wild goose chases with me trying to source things EA had recommended but which were either non-standard or not allowed under California's ADU’s guidelines. Eisenmann's misses cost us a lot of money. Further, none of these costs was related to post-demo discoveries which are to be expected on a project like this (and which we also incurred). In the positive column, we were connected to an awesome contractor without whom we would have been lost. He caught some misses and stepped up for us in ways a 9-hour time difference to our project manager in France could not. Summary: EA's lead architect and principal, Stacy, is a rock start and deserves a team and infrastructure worthy of her talents. But I think EA is going through some growing pains. My advice to them would be to take a step back to better secure the foundation of their own house before taking on more new projects. Some anti-hubris pills couldn't hurt either.

Stacy Eisenmann and her staff are terrific—creative, knowledgable, well organized, meticulous, and always a pleasure to work with. Our project was fairly small, primarily the remodeling of one bathroom and the creation of a half bath near the front door, but it also involved relocation of closets, new wiring and lighting, and the design of a beautiful storage unit/headboard in the main bedroom. Our house is a late-70s gem designed by the architect Warren Callister, and we wanted to stay consistent with the house's style while meeting our personal needs and tastes. Eisenmann Architecture, working closely with our contractor (Wood Horse Construction), came through with flying colors! I recommend them unreservedly.

We have worked with Eisenmann Architecture on 4 projects over 8 years. The scale of projects have ranged from a comprehensive commercial renovation of a historic building (with a particularly challenging planning department process that Eisenmann handled with finesse!) to a simple and modern update of a deck attached to our San Francisco home. We have come to value Stacy's ability to blend beautiful design into a warm and livable space. Her team is organized, responsive, communicates clearly, and is committed to the project until it's done. We can't recommend her more highly!

We love. Love our home. That is the simplest statement we can make about the outcome of working with Stacy and her amazing team. We decided to work with Stacy based on her design sensibility and her deep experience designing homes in our local area. What we got was extreme care and attention to detail that caused our General Contractor to state that the construction documents were the most detailed they had ever seen. For us, that was comforting to know that we had worked with an architect and team that had thought through so many of the key elements that we may encounter in what is inevitably a long and difficult process. Stacy prepared us as well as possible. Beyond the details, Stacy's collaborative process and guiding hand at design resulted in what we believe is not only a beautiful home but one that is also so comfortable to live in. We feel extremely lucky to have the home we do and just as lucky to have found Stacy and team to help us make it a reality. Thank you, Stacy!

We have worked with a lot of architects. Some are good at design, not at planning. Some are great with clients, not so great with contractors. Stacy and everyone at her firm are in fact, good at every aspect of the design, communication, and execution process. We would prefer if all of our work was with them. Stacy has a deep understanding of both construction principles and client care needs. Truly special and we enjoy every minute spent working with them. Abe Wortman, Owner, Project Development, Proyecto Builders.

We are a general contractor that completed a large residential remodel and addition designed by Eisenmann Architecture. The experience could not have been better. We found them to be absolutely professional and extremely responsive. We were brought in early in the design process and had the opportunity to collaborate and give feedback on construction methods, materials and budget with Stacy, her team and our clients. They were able to identify areas early on that needed special attention which made our job easier and saved the clients money. There were also some client initiated design changes during the project that required their attention that they responded to quickly which helped minimize the impact to the schedule, something that's hugely important to us as the contractor and even more importantly to our client. They also have a great eye for detail and design which really shows up on the drawings. To a builder this is important because it eliminates ambiguity, cuts down on questions and translates into a finished project. We would work with them again anytime.

Stacy Eisenmann and her staff listened to my needs and ideas, and responded with great ideas and solutions. I felt heard and respected. The project turned out better than I had imagined. Their attention to detail was particularly impressive and appreciated. The project included converting an old, unfinished lower area of the house into a spiffy second unit, and remodeling the upstairs kitchen. I love it. (House was built in 1952)

I've been a contractor for the last twelve years and have worked with a good handful of architects in that time. I cannot express enough gratitude for the beautiful projects that I've been involved in with the Eisenmann team! Stacy is a great leader and it has been for me the utmost pleasure to have had the opportunity to work with her. As an Architect, Stacy is able to take on challenging projects and find creative ways to manage the planning and permitting submittals to get things through the city. She is client savvy to guide and improve your ideas so that the resulting spaces are not just functional but beautiful. Stacy accomplishes both with aplomb. Having the right architect makes the difference between having good ideas and the right to build them. If you want to take your idea and turn it into something you enjoy looking at and experiencing every day I highly recommend you start your team with Eisenmann Architecture. From a creative standpoint her work is exemplary. While it should be noted that creative firms reflect your tastes as a client, a good firm will help you move out of your zone and deliver something you would relish not just in the present but also in the ensuing years, if not decades. We have referred Stacy as an Architect to numerous clients and have had the opportunity to work with her on numerous projects. We have found her to be responsive and able to work through complex issues that arise during construction. Stacy’s drawings show every detail, well thought-out, with materials specified and researched. This not only makes our job easier as a Contractor and Builder, but we are able to provide very tight and concise bids at the beginning of a project that we are able to stick to through the course of a project. We wholeheartedly recommend Stacy as the Architect for your next project.

Stacy, Amber, and Jos were great to work with on a substantial remodel of our 1964 mid-century modern home that was in original condition. We really appreciated their attention to detail, and their recommendations helped us create the vision we wanted for our home. Stacy was knowledgeable on current trends, and made great suggestions that improved the aesthetics and functionality of our remodel. We love our home and can’t thank Eisenmann Architecture enough. Her team was also very familiar with codes and requirements in Berkeley, which was invaluable.

Stacy Eisenmann and her staff at Eisenmann Architecture were a pleasure to work with. Stacy designed a beautiful and very functional new kitchen and bathroom for my 1936 Mediterranean-style home. Stacy is the consumate professional -- always calm, always practical, a terrific problem solver with a great sense of design and color. She maintains strong relationships with local contractors and I really benefitted from having her by my side during the interview and selection process. I also enjoyed working with Amber and Jos from Stacy's team who were able to step in during those times when Stacy was not available. I love my new kitchen and bathroom and feel very fortunate to have been able to work with Eisenmann Architects.

Stacy is an excellent architect. She designed the remodel for my 1920's bungalow home. I am extremely happy with her work. It has modern touches - like skylights over the bath tub and staircase - while remaining respectful of the period of the original house (e.g. trim and moulding around doors and windows). I consistently get compliments on the finished remodel by friends and other contracting professionals. Stacy listens carefully and is responsive to questions and concerns. I highly recommend her.

Stacy and her team have a great attention to detail and great pride in their work. We hired Stacy and her team to model our small kitchen as well as some other smaller work to the rest of our apartment. Her first concern was functionality. She made sure we weren’t just thinking about how it would feel to use the space. Thankfully she was thinking about the live-ablility of this new space, because this was the first remodel my wife and I had done and I’m sure we wouldn’t have thought through that kind of thing like Stacy did. My wife and didn’t have a lot of time to meet and talk about the plans, luckily Stacy was very flexible in how we could all work together and so she set up one day long session which allowed us to make every decision about the kitchen and the other work in one day. We let Stacy choose the contractor we’d be working with because we trusted her and wanted her to work with someone she trusted. Though the contractor might have cost a little more we saved money in the end because nothing had to be re-done. Stacy chose someone great that she trusted and knew she could communicate with well. Everything was beautifully and on time. It’s been over a year and we still love how everything turned out. We plan on remodeling our bathrooms soon and we will definitely be hiring Stacy and her team and we look forward to hearing how she will get the most function our of our tinny SF bathrooms.