Urbanism Designs

Urbanism is the dream team to hire to create a one-of-a-kind dream house. Pam and Erwin are designers, project managers, realists, artists -- they're the beautiful balance of organizational execution and artistry. It was a gift to be able to work with them, and I hope others can experience that gift. They can take you from vision to execution. You will be delighted and will have a home that represents you.

Of all the reviews we have written, this one gives us an IMMENSE amount of joy. Pam and Erwin have been phe-no-me-nal in all aspects of our house design. We had a major re-modelling and square-footage addition to our single family home and both of them have been a major support and guiding light for us right from the inception to the end. The amount of thought they put in and the level of detail they go into, is really superb. Every small aspect of the design was well-laid out, researched and discussed with us. They are always open to our suggestions and mould their ideas accordingly. There was never a single moment when we felt we were being pushed into 1 particular direction to fit their own ideas. That is the very reason why our house now feels like our 'home'. Pam and Erwin were also very generous with their feedback, and always had our best interests at heart. Even though the whole process seemed daunting to us in the beginning, it is only because of Pam and Erwin's help that we were able to finally get what we truly desired. They have the unique ability to break down the whole project into small parts and almost hand-holding us through each part. Also, they are very mindful of their client's budget and special requirements like adding colours, having kid-friendly spaces and rooms. We felt we were designing our dream home with ideas and palettes of our choice, with our friends and not with some design-firm owners. We would highly recommend Urbanism Designs as a one-stop shop for all your house-improvement needs.

If there were options to give more than 5 stars, I would easily do it. High level summary of us(clients): What: Full house interior renovation of our 1960's eichler(4 bed, 2 bath) Why: Many original pieces that were falling apart and needed a major lift. About: all permitted, structural work was done(load bearing posts removed and crossbeam added, sink line moved) We moved into an eichler a year ago that was for the most part, original.We wanted to do a full house remodel that brought our home into modern times but still partially kept the eichler look and feel. We found Urbanism and instantly fell in love with their work and aesthetic. After having an intro conversation, my wife and I knew they were the one. This was our first major remodel so our knowledge was low despite all the research on forums and videos. If you are on the fence about utilizing a design firm, I highly recommend it to save yourself an abundance of time from stress, management, and all the moving pieces that need to be had for a home renovation. The cost is so worth it especially if you have busy lives. Pam & Erwin are EXTREMELY ORGANIZED and executed everything they said they would do every time. If there were any delays they let us know in advanced(permits can vary based on city). They walk you through the process, have on-site visits, and made sure we were well advised. Most importantly, they took our ideas and made them infintely better that made more sense for our needs and goals. Their network is extensive and they work with amazing contractors, cabinetry builders, fabricators, and others needed to make your dream home come true. Their network works extremely fast and they do not subcontract. Pam & Erwin educated us on materials, colors, layouts, design from beginning to end. I really admire how they collaborated with us and really listening to what we wanted. As someone who always keeps cost in mind, Pam & Erwin always comprised when necessary, showing me alternatives that would still achieve a similar aesthetic, while not spending an arm and a leg. They made us feel comfortable and confident that what we were spending was going to be well worth it. Urbanism and their team educated which areas those were, and the pros and cons of going all out vs going the cheap route. If you don't have the budget I get it, but if you do, spend the money on quality items that last so you won't have to spend even more money again to fix or replace them in the near future. My take on design: Good design should not be confined by cost so for those who ask "why do designers always choose such expensive things?" Would you want a half assed design that did not show the true potential? It's what designers do after the fact to accomodate your budget and goals that make them stand out as your project adapts and

We've worked with Pamela at Urbanism twice now - the first time when we first moved into our home and needed advice on getting the house set up and paint colors and over the last two years on a major house remodel. Pamela and Erwin were terrific to work with - had great, innovative ideas, collaborative and taking the time to understand our family's needs. We really enjoyed the experience and will continue to work with them as we work to furnish our house. I would highly recommend them!

We worked with Pam and Erwin for two years as we were planning our remodel. They were incredibly patient as we worked through different ideas, offering thoughtful suggestions throughout that truly enhanced the final design. They honored the mid-century modern character of our Eichler while seamlessly incorporating modern functionality. Their attention to detail, clear communication, and collaborative approach made the entire process effortless. We especially loved incorporating color into our project—the blue kitchen cabinets, green laundry cabinets, and the stunning moss-green mid-century wall tiles in the primary bedroom added a unique and personal touch to our home. The result is a beautifully cohesive design that feels distinctly ours. We couldn’t be happier and highly recommend Urbanism Design!

Working with Urbanism Designs was one of the best decisions we made for our home remodel. The quality of work, the creative ideas, the experience, and the effort to achieve perfection was witnessed throughout the project. Every day, we are in awe of how our home has been transformed. There’s not a single room or space that we don’t cherish and admire. And in each of these spaces are memories of our design discussions and of the people working/touching/transforming the dream to reality. Thank you, Pam and Erwin!

We have worked with Pamela and Urbanism Designs on a number of projects since 2017, from partial interior decorating (living room, bedroom, etc.) to a more significant recent remodeling of our kitchen and bathrooms. We appreciated the way Pamela sourced and recommended potentially interesting pieces and choices while being mindful of our tastes and general stated requirements. We also appreciated the iterative nature of the collaboration, as well as Pamela’s great taste, eye for contemporary design, and her keeping in mind the rooms’ desired functionality (especially for families with kids). Furthermore, her collaborators (structural engineers and contractors) have done a great job and our home has undergone a significant upgrade as a result. As Urbanism Designs has undertaken more substantial, time-consuming projects, we are grateful to have had the chance to continue collaborating with Pamela and recommend her unreservedly.

Working with Pamela and Erwin on our Eichler house renovation project during the COVID-19 pandemic was a seamless and efficient experience. Pamela's preparedness, adaptability, and clear communication ensured a successful collaboration. Pamela's dedication to our project was evident from the start. Despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic, she always came well-prepared to our meetings, showcasing her attention to detail and commitment to our vision. Her efficient and organized approach kept the project on track and ensured that all our questions and concerns were addressed promptly. Her clear and timely responses fostered trust and confidence, creating a strong working relationship despite the online nature of our interactions. Pamela's expertise in mid-century modern design was evident in every aspect of the project. She created a design that perfectly captured the essence of our desired aesthetic. Her attention to detail and understanding of our style preferences resulted in a space that exceeded our expectations. Our home has been transformed into a breathtaking masterpiece that reflects our personal style and pays homage to the architectural heritage of the Eichler double A frame house. If you are seeking an interior designer who understands and respects the unique character of Eichler homes while infusing them with a modern touch (I know she's exceptional on other styles as well!), I wholeheartedly recommend Pamela. Working with her has been an absolute pleasure, and we are forever grateful for the exceptional work she has done.

We had the privilege of working with Pamela on multiple projects over the past two years, starting with the interior design and fixture / finish selection on a ~1800 sq ft addition to our primary home in San Francisco. Pamela was truly a delight to work with, always responsive, thoughtful and proactive. She quickly learned the (not always similar) preferences my wife and I had and also (always appropriately and professionally) pushed us to consider things outside our “comfort zone”. She was always thinking ahead re details and finishes and kept us organized even when the rest of the project and vendors not in her scope were less organized… as we worked, mostly remotely, through COVID. Pamela had a terrific eye for colors and textures and helped tie the new addition smoothly into our existing 3000 sq ft. She was also respectful of budget and given her business model we felt aligned to balance quality, aesthetics, uniqueness, budget (and lead times..) on every item. We are thrilled with the end result and would strongly recommend Urbanism. In fact, we have subsequently sought Pamela’s help on our second home, a small office for our business and currently, a “special” interior project (details to come). Thank you Pamela!

We met and hired Pam just before the pandemic hit and started renovations two months into shelter in place. Overwhelming was an understatement but Pam was there through the whole process and I'm so happy that we chose her to be our designer. I don't know if we would've survived pandemic renovation without her help. It was so easy and seamless and we just worked together so well. It does help that she and I are on the same wavelength and that she can read my mind :) We really enjoyed working with her so much. I appreciated her knowledge in Eichler homes because she was able to provide us with solutions that worked well and was cost saving. Thank you, Pam and Erwin! We miss working with you!

We started our home project with nothing more than a rough idea of what things were important to us. We wanted clean lines, modern yet still warm and livable, neutral & timeless. I met Pam, and on the spot, knew she was the right person to work with. Pam asked all the right questions and listened to what we wanted in our dream home. She completely understood our vision, thought of every little detail, and didn’t overlook any aspect of the project that we felt was important. The level of detail and thoroughness when it came to how the spaces were designed really showed Pam and Erwin’s level of expertise. Pam and Erwin had our dreams, vision, and best interest in mind. From the initial space planning for the kitchen and master bathroom, the layout of slabs, tile and cabinetry, selection of all the finish materials, colors, fixtures and hardware, they were very professional to work with. Details matter to us, and their attention to detail is apparent in our finished home. They referred excellent vendors and suggested the best, high end and quality finishes and materials. Most importantly, Pam and Erwin’s work ethics are unbeatable, and they made sure we got everything we wanted on our checklist. From start to finish, the design process went smoothly, and the meetings and discussions were fun and productive. We gave them the creative freedom and trusted their design process and vision and our kitchen and bathroom remodel designs are masterpieces. We were so pleased with the quality of their work that we asked for Pam’s help to furnish our house. Every room was beautifully designed with an understated sense of elegance and in tune with the architecture and surroundings. Pam’s sense of style and her vision has positively impacted our quality of life as we enjoy her work every day. We are very grateful that we were able to work with Pam and Erwin. Our house would have not been the same without their creativity and vision.

Pamela of Urbanism Designs is one of the most talented designers we have had the good fortune to work with. We first met with Pamela in January of 2020 as our new home construction kicked into high gear. We knew right away after our first meeting that Pamela was a good fit for us based on her positive attitude, transparency, her willingness to collaborate with everyone and her design sensibilities. Pamela basically had a 6400 square foot home as a blank slate and helped furnish every room. Early on in the process I shared my vision of how I imagined each space might be used and shared some images of contemporary furnishings, and that was enough for her to get the ball rolling. Pamela was amazing at pulling furnishings together on slides for me and my husband to review, and she really paid attention to every detail. If there were pieces we weren’t totally in love with, she was quick to swap them out until we were completely satisfied, with no ego involved. There were a few furnishings that I wouldn’t have chosen myself that have turned out to be my absolute favorites, specifically, outdoor rocking chairs, which I now bring indoors if I need more seating on movie nights. They are seriously the best! Pamela came to every meeting prepared with swatches and endless images of each room, down to lamps, decor items, towels, sheets, etc….She also presented us with ideas for our outside furnishings and the pool cabana/ADU. She created spreadsheets detailing every item we were ordering, cost, date of expected delivery, and quite often she would be the one receiving the delivery if we were unable to be there ourselves. Pamela was present on move-in day December of 2021, to make sure each rug was placed in the proper room, the furniture was placed correctly, the mirrors were hung at the correct height, and that nothing arrived damaged. On the rare occasion when something was dinged or did not arrive in perfect condition, Pamela was right there to help rectify the situation. She literally held our hands from the beginning to the end. Pamela helped us get through what seemed to me an overwhelming job, and turned the experience into a well organized, methodical, collaborative, joyful project, and we are so pleased with every aspect of our journey. The icing on the cake is that Pamela is a great human being and a joy to work with. She will always be our go-to designer!