Architects, Architecture Firms, & Building Designers Near Berkeley

“GVR not only met, but exceeded our high expectations. We give GVR our highest recommendation. Here's why... * Licensed and bonded, their work meets codes and will pass inspection. * Their price was fair * They finished 2 weeks ahead of the original 7-week estimate * They gave an accurate estimate of the final price up front. Final price was 5% under the original estimate. * Our fabulous assigned designer, Dafne, ensured all fixtures were compatible with existing plumbing connections, made excellent design suggestions and offered a designer discount. (ex: $20/SF tiles for $8/SF). Her 3D renderings showed how all the pieces fit together, and her 2D plans showed where each component would be installed. This was an efficient way to eliminate misunderstandings. * GVR clearly communicated, responded quickly, and welcomed our questions * They were flexible when unforeseen challenges arose, gave several solutions and collaborated to resolve each issue * They worked 24 continuous weekdays on our house sometimes staying until 7.30 PM to do the work to a very high standard, and remain on schedule * They had excellent craftsmen in every trade who gave great advice, yet respected the choices we made * They used only high-quality materials even for items we would never see, but would benefit from for many years * They treated us, our pets and our property with great respect * Every team member was an absolute pleasure to work with * GVR is a company of honorable people who take pride in their work What we did to allow GVR to do their best work * We had a well-defined vision and shared it * We watched YouTube videos to familiarize ourselves with what goes into a renovation * We understood at least one thing would not go according to plan, and stayed flexible and open to solutions * We gathered all fixtures and materials before work started * We were onsite every day to answer questions and make timely decisions * We were engaged in the project, but we didn't get in the craftsmen's way * We trusted GVR's experience and judgment and took most of their suggestions * We stayed focused on the 3 things that were most important to the design and to our comfort and convenience * We tried to keep our pets well clear of the worksite * We showed our genuine appreciation and respect every day to every craftsman * We offered Gatorade, chilled water, and snacks * We paid our invoices as soon as they came in * We invited our neighbors to come see GVR's handiwork * We recommend GVR whenever we can Here's what we learned: * Hire a licensed firm you trust * Clearly communicate what is important to you * Plan well, then let the artisans do their job * Understand the time and expense to fulfill non-standard requests * Learn what goes into each phase of work. * Keep confirming your mutual understanding * Be prepared to compromise when the unexpected arises We had an incredible experience with GVR. Every time we use our bathroom we will feel joy.”

“The project that EBCON Co. did for me wrapped up about a week ago. I thought they did an excellent job. The project was to design and build an ensuite addition to my house for my disabled sister, who will be moving in with me in a couple of months. I hired EBCON for the project as they had done my home remodel when I moved into my current house 10 years ago. I was very happy with that project and pleased that several of their key personnel and subcontractors were the same as for my previous project. The current project consisted of a bedroom/studio, bath, hallway/study, walk-through clothes closet, lots of storage space, and small outdoor patio with wheelchair ramp. As my sister is an artist and art teacher, we asked for a design that provided high walls for hanging her paintings and extra space in the bedroom/studio for her to paint and potentially teach a few students. The design process went very well. The designer worked constructively with us and made numerous trips to tile, stone, and carpet stores with us to select materials. We greatly appreciated the detailed plan skeches she generated, some of which showed my sister’s paintings up on the walls in her bedroom/studio! Challenges, including access to the addition through existing bedrooms and integrating the design with the existing house, were solved well. ADA guidelines for accessibility were strictly followed for the design and materials. We – and all our family and friends - love the design and how it has turned out. The construction work was very high quality – EBCON has very high standards for the work done on their projects, including for the smallest details. The EBCON team and the sub-contractors they brought in were great to work with through all the stages, including design, construction, and completion. In addition to weekly on-site progress meetings (which included the project manager, superintendent, designer, and often the head of the company), I was kept informed on a daily basis about what was happening and the timing for next steps. EBCON staff were always on site while work was being done, and they were always reachable for conversations. Overall we are very happy with the project. I would definitely use EBCON again were I to have another project, and I recommend them without reservation to anyone planning a large or small home construction or renovation project.”

“Joanne is nothing short of amazing. She is first and foremost a brilliant architect who designs beautiful homes and remodels. I truly believe her work will have lasting and historical significance. In addition, she is the rare architect who is a master of all aspects. We did a very large whole-house remodel that took years to design and plan and then more years to execute. Joanne led us through the whole process from start to finish. First, she worked with us to define our style and uncover every aspect of what was important to both of us, and then blend that into a coherent design that was elegant and very contemporary and yet down to earth. She helped us find a top contractor, who was also extraordinary, and we all worked amazingly well as a team. The execution could not have been better. Modern design often requires complex and subtle engineering and Joanne is thoroughly competent with the engineering. She completely managed the interactions with the structural engineers who were critical to the construction. Joanne oversaw every aspect of the construction and the many, many issues that came up on the fly. Our house actually straddles the Berkeley-Oakland border, which made for some challenging permitting issues. Joanne handled all of these regulatory issues as well. Joanne also led the many efforts at “value engineering,” helping us to make cost trade-offs to keep the budget down. Between Joanne and the contractor, we often were able to find alternatives that saved significant costs with little loss to the concept. That said, we did, inevitably, go considerably over our original budget, but that was our choice. As you get into it, it is hard not to want everything to be perfect, even if it costs a bit more. This meant lots of changes as the project evolved. Joanne took it all in stride and worked overtime to make significant changes even as deadlines loomed. We loved Joanne’s aesthetic sense and completely trusted her total vision for the house. So much so that when it came time to do the interior design, we asked Joanne to do that as well! Again, she was brilliant and we loved working with her, choosing each piece, color, texture, etc. with care and love. Besides all of her wonderful professional qualities, Joanne is a wonderfully thoughtful person. She is interesting and interested in everything. She is well-rounded and well-grounded. She never seemed flustered or anxious, and would always help us when WE were (which is also inevitable when you’ve taken your whole house down to the studs!). In the end, we ended up with the house of our dreams. We love living in it every single day. It suits us perfectly, both aesthetically and functionally. We really couldn’t be happier with the results. We really can’t say enough good things about Joanne and her work. It was a privilege and an honor to get to work with her. Our remodel was a monumental experience that has transformed our lives. We are deeply grateful.”