Passive Solar Heating & Cooling Companies in Washington D.C.

“Continuum was extremely helpful working with the City of DC. They have a deep knowledge of the building and zoning code and years of experience working in Washington DC. Continuum was invaluable getting our occupancy and accessibility items approved. We are already working with Dave and team on our next venture!”

“We met with Ileana to discuss possible renovation ideas to our 1960s house to open up the space and to re-think our upstairs bathrooms. She designed the project in a way that allowed us to consider the two pieces (upstairs and downstairs) both separately and together. We originally thought we would focus on the upstairs initially, but we were so happy with the redesigned first floor that we ended up deciding to tackle this project first. We contracted with a local company to do the work, and they have had no problems following Ileana's architectural drawings.”

“Where to begin with my comments about Cathleen Curtin, the positive side, or the negative… well, that’s easy! There is no negative, so here are the positives!! Having scaled down a good bit from a larger home, and now residing in my interesting apartment in Old Town, Alexandria, I needed to make improvements and changes that would make this small place my haven. It began with getting bids on a bathroom renovation. Having contacted other architectural services and builders in the area that I knew, I found that the recommendations (and the pricing) were all over the place, and I really couldn’t tell what they were going to do. I also felt that they were not listening to me regarding the need to connect the bedroom space and my master bathroom. From the minute I ran this idea by Cathleen, she “got me” and she listened to me and she responded quickly. Within a couple days of our first meeting, she was back to me with a clear and concise overview and pricing. I was impressed with her level of detail, as well as her efficiency. And, this impression never changed thru out what became a much bigger project. Where the others all were going to expand my bathroom and take away space from my bedroom, Cathleen Curtin was able to give me all that I wanted, AND MORE, in the same footprint – saving money, time and probably a lot of unknown issues in this old building. Her creative use of space and layout resulted in a bathroom that I absolutely love, and others marvel at. Once deciding to work with Ms. Curtin, I realized that I felt safe and comfortable to do more of what really needed to be done to my living space. She gave me that comfort. Having had some experience with such projects in the past, it was knowing that she was not only the Architect, but also the Project Manager, that gave me the confidence to take this on. Always available for questions, and always quick to find solutions to issues as they came along, she drove this project hard and fast, and with a fabulous outcome. The project included not only the master bathroom, but a new laundry room, leveling the floors in my bedroom, insulation where there was none, built in cabinetry that eliminated the need for furniture in the bedroom, re-doing of floors, adding hardwood floors where they did not exist, brilliant storage cabinets, new lighting thru out, a life changing gas fireplace, creative kitchen solutions that make me love cooking again, a very special powder room, and so much more. I am thrilled in my new space – and enjoy it more than I ever dreamed possible. Cathleen was a joy to work with, a consummate professional, a willing ear, a great production manager, and attended to each and every detail of the project. On site every day, often several times, staying ahead of all contractors with selections and materials, and kept me informed with clear and consistent communication. Running a busy enterprise, I needed this style of professional oversight, and feel that not only did she give me a wonderful new home to enjoy, she gave me great service and great value in a time that we often do not get what we expect. With Cathleen, I got more than I ever expected!”

“Karen at Transforming Architecture was reccoemnded by my real estate agent as she had done work on his home. At our first meeting she gave us an idea of the scope of the projects she has accomplished and the fee structure. She really listened to our ideas and concerns for our kitchen renovation. Karen presented 3 visions for our renovation, one with exactly what we asked for and then two other options. The third design presented involved moving our kitchen and creating an open floor plan. This was beyond anything we could have imagined o our own and made the best use of the space and our renovation dollars. We are currently under construction but Karen is readily available to answer questions and make edits to the design. It is a pleasure to work with her and I can't wait to see her vision come to fruition.”

“Where to begin! Melanie Hartwig-Davis is an extraordinary architect. She has worked on a number of projects for us, including our kitchen, family room/bathroom, and an extensive project where she completely transformed the outside of our house by adding lighted flagstone stairs, custom-designed wrought iron railings and an outdoor deck/entryway that provided us with much needed additional living space. The kitchen she designed for us completely exceeded our expectations. Melanie is one of those rare individuals who is able to think like an engineer and an artist at the same time. It seemed as if she immediately recognized what we needed to do with our space. This required creative interior design ideas to accommodate existing conditions. In addition to serving as our architect, she guided us in selecting colors, lighting, and stylistic features. We had a small space in which to work. She designed a kitchen that was functional, had ample cabinet and counter space, and was visually impressive. We could never have reached such a successful result without her input. One of the aspects we appreciate about Melanie is that she cares. She respects the integrity of the space, the style of the house, and the architecture of the neighborhood. She truly wants her projects to add to the livability of not only her clients but also the community. She is environmental in her choice of materials, and as a result, has impacted all of our additional household decisions. When it came time to replace the siding on our house, we went with a composite siding because we knew that is what she would recommend. We have since moved to a new house and invited Melanie over before our own family. We have a number of projects we hope to complete in the future and we would never use anyone else besides Melanie.”

“As a long-time client of Eustilus Architecture, I'm continually impressed by Eric's exceptional service and architectural expertise. Having collaborated with him on at least five rental property renovations and a significant third-floor pop-up project for our own home in DC, it's clear that Eric's skill and dedication are unparalleled. What sets Eric apart is his ability to handle projects of varying scales with the same level of detail and professionalism. From designing a cozy BBQ area to undertaking complex rental renovations and even personal home projects, Eric's versatility and creativity shine through in every task. One of the most noteworthy aspects of working with Eric is his adeptness in using modern technology. His ability to leverage these tools for design visualization not only aids in better understanding the project but also ensures that the final outcome aligns perfectly with our expectations. Beyond his technical prowess, Eric's approachability and willingness to engage at every project stage make the process enjoyable and stress-free. Whether it's following up on an ongoing project or offering insights for future endeavors, Eric is always available to provide guidance and answer any queries we might have. Having worked with numerous architectural firms over 15 years, our continuous collaboration with Eric for over five years speaks volumes about his reliability, skill, and professionalism. If you're looking for an architect who combines expertise with a client-focused approach, look no further than Eric at Eustilus Architecture.”

“Lorena Checa was the designer of two renovation projects in our Washington D.C. home. The first was in the early 1990's where she designed an expansion of our home enlarging bedrooms, living area, a bathroom and creating a utility room on the 2nd floor. All of this was done without increasing the footprint of the house. The second design project in 2011 was enlarging the bathroom in the master bedroom. This project involved demolition of the existing 1920's bathroom and a closet and replacing them with a modern bath including Thassos marble floors, glass tile walls, granite counters on custom designed cherry cabinets, special lighting, new custom etched glass windows and doors and a glass shower enclosure. Three particular strengths come to mind when I think of Checa Architects. The most important, to me, is Lorena Checa's ability to listen carefully to a client's vision, translate it into a project that can actually be constructed and then present you with a design which matches your vision but is vastly improved by her imagination and knowledge. The second is the depth of her knowledge of both design and construction. She can envision not only how a space will flow but also how it can be enhanced by the materials used. Her understanding of how different materials and fixtures will appear and will operate in real world situations is invaluable. She also has a vast source of artisans and suppliers for many one-of-a-kind solutions to difficult design problems. Finally, Checa Architects are problem-solving perfectionists which is exactly the combination you want designing and overseeing your construction project.”

“Dan was an amazing resource for my house renovation, helping me at all stages of the project. He assisted me in figuring out the financing and then worked closely with me in an iterative way, going through various options to create the plans for what ultimately became my dream home. Dan's value was in combining a keen artistic eye with great structural and engineering knowledge as well a through knowledge of the permitting process and economics of house renovations. He also introduced me to a terrific contractor who proved invaluable and well as vendors and suppliers who were great. Renovating a house can a daunting and sometimes scary process, but Dan's good counsel, sound advice, first-hand experience, and architectural skills made the process exciting, fulfilling, and even fun. I highly recommend him.”

“John Lehman has a long-standing reputation for providing an exceptional experience for his clients from the early design phase through the completion of the home. In 2012, DeSantana Stone Company had the pleasure of working with John on a house that he designed in Ellicott City, Maryland. Our company has built a friendly working relationship with John and we look forward to working with him in the future.”

“I have used Design Depictions for multiple projects. They have always been very professional and responsive. Their ideas and engineering practices have been very helpful. I look forward to my next project.”