Upton Architecture, LLC

We are so happy we hired Margaret to design our complete renovation (+addition). She not only made the entire process easy on us, but she made it fun. Knowing that we had Margaret in our corner as we endeavored on the largest project of our life was an enormous relief.

We enjoyed working with Margaret on our recent large renovation. Not only was she able to work with us to create a design that reflected what we had imagined, but she was able to advise us throughout the process. Margaret is able to calmly trouble shoot and problem solve different types of issues that arise along the way, from design to completion. We had never worked on a renovation or house project, so her guidance was invaluable. In addition, her process and communication were clear. She provided timely updates and deliverables. We would definitely highly recommend Margaret and her team!

They did a great job assessing the project and making great suggestions to enhance the final product. Good communication and thorough design. Very pleased with the final product.

This review is long overdue, though prompted by the (at least) seventh or eighth time that we have recommended Margaret Upton to someone for their home renovation. We did a pretty extensive renovation (doubling the size of our Cape Cod) and cannot say enough great things about Margaret and her designs. Not only is she extremely kind, she was also very communicative about our goals and her ideas as well as where we were in the process of permitting. Because Margaret has owned her architecture business in Kensington since 2009 she is also very well-versed in the in the nuances of county permitting and codes. When an unforeseen issue arose, secondary to a county rule change, she was very easily able to navigate and resolve the problem. Even our builders were very impressed with how easy was to connect and communicate with Margaret. Our builders also continuously commented on how impressed they were with her “zero wasted space” design. Every inch of our remodel is purposeful, well thought out, and aesthetically pleasing. Margaret designed both the interior and exterior of our house, and we constantly get compliments about both; sometimes people just walking by will ask us who we used based on loving the exterior of our house. For all of these reasons, we would highly recommend Margaret Upton Architecture to you and all of your friends.

I cannot recommend Margaret Upton and Upton Architecture highly enough. I wanted to renovate my 1940"s cape cod to enable me to age in place. This required building an addition and reconfiguring the first floor. Margaret took into account my wishes, presented designs that met and anticipated my potential needs and then adjusted them to my changing priorities. She was present throughout the process of planning and construction and worked smoothly together with my excellent contractor. The result is a gorgeous, reimagined, light filled and completely accessible home. The house has retained its old charm yet has modern features. Architecturally it fits seamlessly into the original home design and into the neighborhood. In addition, the new addition provides me with two decks for outdoor living. I have been absolutely delighted with the entire process. I encourage anyone considering a renovation to contact Upton Architecture.

I can't really say enough about the professionals at Upton Architecture. Margaret's team was efficient, approachable, and really listened to the vision we had for our home. Her designs reflected what we had in mind and were in keeping with the broader neighborhood, something that we really cared about living in a semi-historical district. Once the project kicked off, Margaret stayed with us to make sure that it was progressing according to our plan. She provided insights and nuance that we would have missed, and she did so with the touch of a true professional. Our home is now warm, inviting, and has received compliments from everyone who has gotten the tour. You will be in the best of hands with this firm, I know we were.

We recently decided to add a large screened in porch as well as find a solution to an awkward interior layout. Margaret worked with us to figure out our needs and came up with a beautiful and functional design. She had a very creative vision for the interior space challenges and we are so happy with the changes. When we needed to make some modifications to the porch design, Margaret was easy to work with and responsive.

Upton Architecture, LLC provided excellent architectural design services for my wife and me in developing concepts and eventual construction and installation plans for a multilevel elevator addition to the rear of our home. Working directly with the remodeling constructor and the elevator supplier, Margaret Upton was able to provide us with several design options from which to choose. Once we made our selection, Margaret and her team, developed final construction plans, obtained the required permits, and maintained a presence during construction to assure builder compliance with the design and code requirements. The project proceeded very smoothly; all inspections were met; there were no change orders, and the job was completed to our total satisfaction within the original estimate. I can honestly say that the success of our project was in large part due to the planning support and superior architectural services provided by Upton Architecture, LLC. I must also add that Margaret Upton was an absolute delight to work with and I recommend her organization most highly.

Margaret provided thoughtful input on our design ideas for renovating our kitchen. She was extremely helpful throughout the process.

Margaret and team helped us design a new second story (conversion of great room). They were friendly, responsive, and flexible in terms of responding to our many preferences and constraints, and we are very happy with the end product. Would recommend for anyone looking for an architect in the DMV area. Thank you!

Working with Margaret Upton and her team of women architects has been fantastic. We'll be using her though the whole process of planning, designing and building our custom home. Margaret is knowledgeable and a great communicator. Upton is also a great value--we decided to go with an hourly rate rather than a flat fee for the project. This might seem risky, in terms of knowing (and sticking to) a budget. However, this allowed us to come in well under the 'normal' cost for architectural services for a couple of reasons: 1) her rates a very reasonable--she works from a home office, and has a unique model of working with other architects on an as needed basis 2) we were organized and thoughtful about what we wanted (if you are the type that needs multiple drawings, or substantial changes to agreed-on elements, etc, then hourly fees will add up). Highly recommend Upton Architecture!

Margaret Upton provided architecture and building support services for our home addition project in 2019. From the beginning Margaret was professional, accessible, and served more as an advisor and support role than a vendor or business. We were very pleased with her level of commitment and she listened to us, worked with us and provided recommendations and ideas based on her experiences, and she did so with an easy style and approachable attitude. During the construction phase Margaret made multiple visits to our house and communicated often with us and our contractor. She remains connected and is someone we definitely recommend and would advise considering. It was a pleasure to work with Margaret and her team.

Margret is responsive, talented and very detail oriented. We worked with Margret on a relatively large extension and she helped us achieve our dream home. We highly recommend Upton Architecture.

Upton Archituture LLC is the best firm for anyone lucky enough to have them. The lead architect Margaret Upton is knowledgeable talented, creative, patient and she listens. Her designs captured my vision in designing two beautiful bathrooms and her overall involvement throughout my renovation project had excellent results. Her creativity and attention to detail is unmatched.

I highly recommend Upton Architecture for any home architecture needs. They designed the most beautiful screened-porch for my home in Chevy Chase, DC that is both exquisite and practical. I am impressed with this women-owned business and found them super easy to deal with--they were always one email or call away.

I highly recommend Upton Architecture. Margaret and her staff were very professional and knowledgeable. Margaret listened carefully to our thoughts and frequently augmented them with her own designs and ideas; several times during the process, issues arose and Margaret always developed a solution, sometimes bringing other resources (such as engineers) to bear. We really benefited from her vast experience, her network of related professionals, and her knowledge of local regulations and procedures. Lastly, it was very easy to work with Margaret - she definitely steered us in the correct direction when we were headed off track, but there never was any "I know best" type of attitude. She is warm and effective, and was focused on getting the results we were after. No fuss. Organized. Beautiful layouts and design elements. Thoughtful. This was a full house construction.

I was the general contractor on this project. Upton Architecture was quick to respond to the few items that needed clarification. Their plans were detailed and complete. They were a pleasure to work with and I look forward to doing more work with them.

Working with Margaret has been a real pleasure. As builders, we truly appreciate the well thought out and professional drawings from her studio that help make the projects run smoothly! She is easy to talk to, responds promptly, and always gives thorough answers. I always look forward to working on her projects.

Margaret was a great choice for us. She helped do a major renovation while at the same time containing architectural and (based on her recommendations) construction costs. She was helpful and engaged through the entire process. She even stopped by to check on the general contractor and helped us with some interior design questions once we were back in our home.

We worked with Margaret Upton and her team on a substantial renovation to our first floor and bathrooms. She was extremely responsive and very patient with us. We changed our minds several times and each time she accommodated us without a problem. She took us through the permitting process seamlessly and worked well with all the other contractors involved. I highly recommend Margaret and would definitely work with her again.

Margaret is a phenomenal architect and such a delight to work with! We highly recommend Upton Architecture. We're doing a large remodel and 2nd level addition (our first ever). During the design process, Margaret was great and supportive -- we gave her a handful of wish list items, and she delivered a design that encompassed everything and more. Margaret is extremely knowledgeable and answered any question we threw her way. Her team is also great -- Julie was a pleasure to work with. We just started the construction phase, and have Margaret to thank for our great contractor. We are so excited that the build/reno process has started and cannot wait to see the finished product (pictures to come later)!

Last year, we decided to do a substantial renovation of our house, adding a basement + 2-level addition on the side and updates to the flow of the house throughout including pushing out the front of the main floor by 4 feet. Pretty much only the 2 existing bathrooms are untouched. Margaret sat down with us at the beginning and helped us work through the vision into concrete plans. We are 7 months into the project and in the home stretch, and all along the way, Margaret has been creative, solid, supportive, responsive, dependable, patient, honest, down-to-earth, and best of all has never led us astray (and has kept us from doing so). She is very good about making sure the final build will fit well into the community. During the construction project she has helped work with the builder on big and small details. I like that she charges by the hour, and also that she works with part-time professionals who are attempting to balance work and life. I highly recommend Margaret to my friends that are considering renovating, and suggest you give her a call before you start yours.

Upton architect has been absolutely wonderful to work with on our home addition project. From the very first phone call where I had to leave a voicemail (which was promptly returned), to our introductory meeting we had the pleasure of meeting Margaret Upton and we described what we wanted and she thoroughly described their process to receiving our very first (and subsequent sketches) we have been over the moon elated with the impeccable service and high quality work. It was extremely clear that in the first conversation she truly listened to our wants and desires because the firm 100% nailed it with the initial basic sketch. In subsequent sketches she has adjusted for our additional requests. And the details the firm added in, without our request, have immensely enhanced the addition which is the reason you hire highly trained and experienced professionals like Upton to round out your vision. In addition, we've had the opportunity to view (from the outside) some of the firm's home additions in the area and they are gorgeous - very well designed and they seamlessly match the original structure. We highly recommend selecting Upton Architecture for your next project.

I highly recommend Margaret Upton. Margaret designed a Great Room for me in 2009 when she first went into business for herself. It has been several years now and this timeless design still serves us as well as it did seven years ago. I had a vision for what I wanted and Margaret translated my ideas into reality. The space, scale, and function of this Great Room transformed the way we live in our home. I appreciated that Margaret offered various options from which I was able to select the one for me. During construction, Margaret worked closely on site with our contractor and made herself available as needed.

Insightful,diligent,intelligent, professional, personable, creative and slightly masochistic are words I would use to characterize Margaret Upton. (yes, slightly masochistic!) She should have bolted after our first meeting. We are demanding, opinionated, detail-oriented,budget conscious and one of us thinks he was an architect in a former life. The previously mentioned wannabe- architect spent hours examining the drawings, resulting in pages of emails to Margaret. With razor sharp accuracy and legendary patience, she expeditiously responded to the myriad queries. Perhaps most significantly, really understanding us, she navigated us through the selection of the perfect contractor, and I mean perfect!!! The collaboration between all of us was flawless; Margaret crafted the plan of our dreams, and Finecraft delivered it. Thank you for not bolting.

We used Upton to design our house addition to make is wheelchair accessible. The owner, Margaret, was fantastic. She listened to our needs and was careful to make sure we were included every step of the way when decisions were necessary. Margaret ensured that all of the permits were in place. In 2014, Montgomery County added a "live-ability" tax credit that entitles the homeowner to a $10,000 tax credit. Margaret researched this and went to the county to get this tax credit for us. It required her taking her design plans to them for approval. This was an enormous help to us. Thanks to Upton Architecture and our builder, Finecraft, we now have a lovely, very accessible addition to our house.

We hired Upton Architecture for our basement digout and full renovation. Margaret was great. We can't say that enough, she was truly great. During the project, we had many issues including needing to fire the general contractor. Margaret stuck by us through the entire project and was a true partner in the process. We appreciate her diligence and dedication to the project and recommend her wholeheartedly.

Margaret and I have worked together on several projects. She is respectful, efficient and a good architect. Upton Architect meets deadlines and a good problem solver.

Margaret Upton's vision and ability to convert our overarching ideas into our "dream home" exceeded all of our expectations. Her constant support kept us grounded during the roller coaster of emotions typically associated with a lengthy and extensive renovation. Her personal attention helped us avoid many challenges associated with a project of our size and it was clear that she had just as much pride invested in the success of our project as we did. We cannot say enough about Margaret and her team of professionals -- they have earned our highest unconditional endorsement for anyone considering a home renovation or construction!

Working with Upton Architecture has been a pleasure to say the least. As a professional in the industry, with over 30 years of experience under my belt, I can say when you run into an architect that is knowledgeable, professional and personable you have a fantastic combination. Because of our collaboration with Upton Architecture the project we worked on together was carried out smoothly and efficiently....and the project turned out to be gorgeous. It was a joy working with Margaret Upton and we look forward to working together on more projects. Thank you. George Papaheraklis Founder/President Finecraft Contractors, Inc.

I contacted Margaret Upton, architect at Upton architecture during the preliminary stages of my remodel project. She replied to my message promptly, discussed her company briefly, and scheduled a free consultation very quickly. The meeting was appropriate in length, and she presented a folder of written business arrangements, which I found helpful, easy to read and professional. We walked the property while discussing timeframe, budget, contractors, home function and style taste. Because of her recommendations, the scope has be changed to more accurately meet the needs of my home. I am grateful for her insight and expertise.

I decided to hire an architect, with our remodeling project, because proportions are important. And that is what Margaret Upton delivered. While she asked me to decide on the shape of the porch roof, it was her idea to use exposed beams. Now the front porch really adds to the beauty of the house. We are very pleased with the work of Upton Architecture. K. Mosbaek

Margaret Upton was a fabulous architect, who designed a wonderful 2 story addition for our home. It was her idea to do 2 stories instead of one, and preserve more yard. She was always responsive to questions, or changes we wanted to make in the design. I cannot say enough positive things about her work!

Margaret worked with us in 2008 to renovate our 100+ year old home in Woodley Park. It was a complicated project, as we were un-zoned at first, and within the jurisdictions of the DC Historic District and Fine Arts Commission (b/c we faced federal land). Margaret not only championed us through the various approval processes (and there were many!), but she also designed a renovation and addition that met our functional needs and preserved the historic charm of the home. This was an enormous challenge that she met with pleasure and great success. Her hands-on approach kept us sane, even excited about the possibilities. I have and would continue to recommend Margaret to anyone in the DC area, especially if you foresee your project being faced with any special approvals.

We worked with Margaret Upton on the design of a two-story addition to our home and found her to be creative and collaborative throughout the design process. Margaret made sure to really understand our needs, wants and budget and incorporated these elements into her initial plans and subsequent modifications. She never was ruffled if we came to her with new (sometimes unrealistic) ideas and tried to incorporate them into the design where ever possible so as to ensure that the design reflected our input. One of Margaret's many areas of strength is her deep understanding of how a family functions and uses space within a home; and her designs reflected that understanding. We are so pleased with our new space and attribute that largely to our work with Margaret. Without reservation, I would recommend Margaret Upton as an architect who is creative, efficient, collaborative, really listens to the client and delivers a product that reflects those qualities.

Margaret Upton designed a fabulous second floor addition for our one floor 50's rambler. The three bedroom, two bath addition perfectly captured our dream of more space without looking like a "McMansion". We now have an incredible new space that exudes charm and warmth inside and out that beautifully ties in the old with the new. We frequently receive compliments on how well the design fits into street without overpowering the neighboring house - just what we wanted. Working with Margaret exceeded our expectations in every way.