Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

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Featured Reviews for Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

Rebecca Schnier Architecture

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

July 22, 2015

“I highly recommend Rebecca Schnier Architecture. Rebecca has done several projects for us, including a 1000sf upper level addition, kitchen and bathroom remodels. The first project was in 2001 and the last one in 2012. She does beautiful design work that is very functional. She asks questions to be sure she understands her clients needs and taste. She offers design options and always has her clients best interests in mind. She is very creative and resourceful in her use of space. She is a pleasure to work with and delivers beautiful results.”

John Barton Architect

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

August 6, 2014

“We recommend John without reservation. He was the architect for our remodel several years ago. Many remodels feel very tacked-on. Every one of his remodeling projects felt very organic--they felt like the house was meant to be that way. He not only achieved that with ours but also solved some tough drainage problems on our lot. Years after the project was completed, we still marvel at how well the house works and how well it has handled our changing needs. He is also very professional. He set our expectations regarding cost and timing and met those expectations. Finally he provided great references to a contractor and a designer. We were so impressed, we just hired him again to work on our vacation house.”

Nielsen Studios

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

September 2, 2015

“Timerie Gordon of Nielsen Studios just did the interior design for our new company store, Annieglass on Santana Row. Her ability to recreate our vision in physical form while inputting her own style resulted in a space more beautiful than we could have imagined.”

Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

November 1, 2012

“We worked with Dotter & Solfjeld most recently to design an Italian villa on a hillside in Saratoga, CA. This was actually our third project together as they worked on an expansion and remodel of our previous house in Palo Alto as well. As soon as we bought the lot in Saratoga Russ and Wencke, of D&S, began studying the landscape, spending significant time at different points in the day to intimately understand the light, the views and the flow of the hillside. Russ and Wencke are experts at both exterior and interior architecture and design, and they are an amazing team! Once they felt they knew the property, they spent time with us to understand what we liked and disliked and then began designing our house based largely on Italian building principles of thick walls and simple, yet elegant, construction. D&S involved us in every step of the process and ensured we were completely comfortable with each phase of the design before moving forward. They totally went above and beyond the call of duty by diligently working with our planning department and even one neighbor. They were our advocates with the City and were clearly extremely well respected by everybody they interfaced with. During the building process, D&S worked closely with our contractor and foreman to ensure that the project ran smoothly and stayed on budget. Often times, there is tension between architects and contractors, but our contractor loved working with D&S. Some of our friends have also used D&S to design ultra modern homes...D&S is super versatile and we unequivocally and enthusiastically recommend them.”

ODS Architecture

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

August 25, 2012

“The staff at Ohashi Design Studio helped me design my kitchen/living space. I wanted to open up our galley kitchen to be able to see our incredible view from the kitchen. They came up with a design I never imagined could work so well. Rather than just remove a wall, they moved the kitchen, changed it to a more functional shape and not only opened up the view, but made the living space feel like we were outside. I have been especially impressed with their level of service. They listened to my dreams and goals and turned it into a reality beyond what I'd hoped for. They were available anytime I needed guidance during construction and made sure the project was built down to the finest details. They helped me find a contractor and oversaw the bidding process. They helped pick out all the materials and finishes, even the paint color. I can't say enough about their level of expertise and professionalism. I worked with Dave and Alan.”

Ogle Design

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

April 18, 2017

“Consistently refreshing creative architectural designs. William is a unique architect that understands deeply how to create highly functional buildings that are both efficient and gorgeous. Great work and extremely professional. Highly recommend.”

Timothy J. Banuelos Architect

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

July 13, 2020

“I have worked with Tim for 25 yrs.+ He is very thoughtful and sees the final "picture" from the beginning. He works well with me as the contractor with solutions needed for the projects. He is my 'go to architect for all my additions and remodels. Pete”

Mikiten Architecture

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

August 30, 2014

“We hired Erick Mikiten as the project architect for a major kitchen remodel and some ancillary work on the entrance porches to the house in 1994/95. We wanted to expand the kitchen, remodel the interior to include new cabinets and an island, provide a new seating area in an addition at the rear of the house, and improve what was then an awkward connection between the kitchen and a rear bedroom. Erick came up with a very creative solution to the space constraints in the existing kitchen that resulted in a much more spacious kitchen with a larger island than we had anticipated. The addition on the rear of the house not only provided a seating area with views into the rear garden that we use on a daily basis, but included a very attractive raised ceiling and exterior architecture that continue to receive admiring comments from friends and visitors almost 20 years later. Erick's firm also recommended a new color scheme for the exterior of the house, which we adopted. Even now, from time to time complete strangers stop by to ask about the specifications of the paint colors because they find it so attractive and are considering doing something similar. Throughout the project Erick made great efforts to understand what we were looking for and present alternative options to achieve this, going through multiple iterations of the design as we refined the concept together, then producing a final design that satisfied our budget constraints. During construction, Erick visited the site on a regular basis and worked closely with the contractor to make sure that the work was being done in conformance with the design.”

JBP Architects

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

February 10, 2020

“I worked with JBP Architects to remodel and re-layout my home, which required a foundation repair and upgrade. As part of this process, I had to move stairs, re layout the kitchen, redo the bathrooms and think about many of the implications of this process. JBP is wonderful to work with because they have construction background and experience, which means that they are realistic about what can be achieved given the time, space, budget and goals of the project. However, they can pair this experience with an understanding of flow, layout and livability - making sure that whatever you put together is truly additive to your home and living experience. I strongly recommend JBP if you are looking for someone that will bring a vision to your project that enhances your home living experience while being able to work with contractors and real world problems all the while.”

James Hill Architect, AIA

Berkeley, CA Architects and Building Designers

March 10, 2013

“I have work with Jim on a few of his project as a general contractor. Jim is amazing in the way he provides thorough details and continuity of meeting notes and feedback. I would work with Jim anytime and I would recommend his service to anybody who needs a great architect.”

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Is the scope of your home design project beyond simply replacing countertops or flooring? It’s the responsibility of a Berkeley home architect to transform human needs and desires into visual concepts and habitable structures. When you hire an architectural designer, you are not only hiring someone for their architectural services, but also to manage and coordinate other parties involved in the project. As you search through Berkeley, CA interior architects and designers, keep in mind the following tips to help you choose the perfect one:

How do I find the best Berkeley architect for my home design project?

It is best to hire a home architect who will be involved in all phases of the design process, from the initial concept to the completed construction. The architect is often the first person you will hire for your project. If necessary, they might also help you select and hire California subcontractors, which can include the builders, engineers and landscaper. Interior architects are also involved in negotiating contracts for all involved participants. It is for these reasons that it is extremely important for you to have a good relationship with the Berkeley residential architect you hire. He or she can be the tie-breaking vote between you and the general contractor and can be your biggest advocate during the construction process. Different architecture firms in Berkeley, CA provide different services, so the scope of the work can span from pre-design environmental impact studies to selecting furniture and finishes, depending on what your specific needs are.

What sort of process can I expect from a residential architect?

As far as the process goes, the architecture firm or individual that you choose will start with concept drawings and finish with construction drawings and documents. Some firms even design with 3D renderings and videos, but that should not be assumed. There should be plenty of meetings between you and your building designer until you have agreed upon a design that you are completely happy with. Always keep in mind that the designer will have building codes to follow, and likely pre-existing design limitations when dealing with a remodel, so while they might not be able to execute your exact ideas they always have your safety and aesthetics in mind. One of the most important duties of a residential architect is to serve as managers and supervise most aspects of construction, as well as facilitate communication between all other contractors, so you can expect them to be present throughout the entire building process to ensure everything is executed as planned.

It is very important to hire the right professional for the job. Remember that the most well-known or established designer might not provide the best architectural services for your needs. It all comes down to the individual project. Research and ask people whose work you like for recommendations. It's important to have somewhat of an idea of the style of house architecture that you prefer, as well as the amount you would like to spend. Residential architects in Berkeley, CA are natural problem solvers. They will assess the entire situation and help you to solve your problems too. Don't settle for a single company too early. Call and interview a few. Make sure that you feel like your personalities will mesh well and that you like their professional perspective.

Questions to ask prospective Berkeley interior architects:

What is your fee structure?
What does the cost include?
Do you have professional liability insurance?
Can you handle my special requests (ADA, LEED etc.)?
What types of renderings (3D, video, illustrative) will you produce?
What is your experience with similar projects?
When do you expect to start and be finished with the project?
What do your services include? (It's best that the services are until construction is completed.)
What happens when the cost exceeds the budget?
Can you provide me with references?
Would you say your work has a defining style? (This is important in case the architect's personal style will interfere with your vision.)
Will you help with hiring a general contractor and subcontractors?
What do you estimate the cost will be?
What will I need to provide?
Are there any complications you foresee with this project?

Find a home architect in Berkeley, CA on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to Berkeley architects. You may also look through photos of California projects to find interior architects and building designers who have worked on a project similar to yours.

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