Brendan McHugh, Architect, Manasquan, NJ

My husband and I fully recommend working with Brendan and his team to design your home. He takes the time to fully interview you to undertand how you will use it. Brendan's designs are thoughtful and reflective of each homeowner. When we were searching for an architect we took almost a full year of interviewing homeowners and architects to find the right fit. We own a 100+ year old home and we were looking to renovate, not bulldoze. While many arhcitects would not entertain that challenge, Brendan did not waiver. He presented us with a "driving tour" of homes he had worked on. It was easy to see how different all of the homes he designed were. Some homes were renovations and others were bulldozed, but nothing was cookie cutter. We were thoroughly impressed to meet Brendan's clients and tour their places and see how each was unique to the site, the town and the clientele's lifestyle. After a thorough intake interview, the intial concepts for construction of our home blew us away. Brendan laid out options in a bubble diagram format which allowed us to integrate ideas for layout. All of the different bubbles had interconnecting components which allowed us to create a customized space that was highly personalized.The entire preliminary process showed the creativity in which Brendan was approaching the project. What was also extremely helpful was that during the bidding process, Brendan helped us to evaluate the GCs that bid on the house. He provided suggested general contractors and we also found our own recommendations. It was wonderful having an expert in our corner helping us to analyze all of the proposals (as some were over 100 pages long). Now, we are finishing the final stages of construction and Brendan has been there through every stage of the process. Even when we had "surprises" during rebuild, Brendan was responsive with proposing solutions, implementing new ideas and ensuring that construction continued. He works seemlessly with our GC, engineer and attorney. He has been upfront with pricing and stays on budget, which we appreciate! Highly recommend McHugh Architecture and Brendan McHugh!

Brendan and his entire team were spectacular in helping my wife and I design our "forever house" on the Jersey Shore. We came with a wish list and vague idea of a vision which he captured on paper. We definitely appreciated Brendan's aesthetic and attention to detail (both in form and function), yet we never felt pushed into going into a direction we did not want to go. He also showed tremendous patience as we hemmed-and-hawed about things like door placements, windows, and an upstairs laundry room just to name a few. Brendan also ensured that our contractor (also great) understood exactly what we wanted and the finished product exceeded our expectations. We have now spent five summers (and a long covid lockdown!) in the house and love it just as much as we did the first night. The open floor plan, many bedrooms for family and friends, and great outdoor access (including our "must have" screened-in porch and outdoor shower) turned out better than we could have imagined. I could not recommend Brendan more highly!

McHuh Achitecture was recommended to us by our lawyer who had previously worked successfully with them on a client’s home, and was very impressed with their work. We found Brendan very easy to work with. He was receptive to our suggestions. He was prompt in turning our thoughts into drawings and guiding us to avoid potential pitfalls, in spite of the fact that we were living in Hawaii and he was on the Jersey Shore over 5,000 miles away! The design of our custom home took advantage of the difficulties of the lot. It maximizes the space and showcases our home. We have four bedrooms, four baths, a loft, a wraparound porch and three decks on three floors including the roof, to take of advantage of the ocean views. Subsequently, we hired a custom builder recommended by McHugh Architecture. We had a great relationship with both of them and we have a beautiful home. After living here for awhile we wouldn’t change a thing. We have also received many compliments. Therefore, we unconditionally recommend McHugh Architecture.

I can not say enough amazing things about Brendan and his team. He is so skilled in his craft and keeps his clients always top of mind. This was such a relief as my husband and I had a terrible experience with another firm previously. Brendan was a pleasure to partner with due to his attention to detail, responsiveness, highly collaborative style and transparency. Also, his recommendation for the contractor we chose was phenomenal. Our project kicked off right when the pandemic started and this team completed a gutted full house renovation to perfection in 4 months! Truly amazing! We could not have been happier with the end result as when I first saw the finish product it brought tears to my eyes because I was so thrilled! I highly recommend Brendan to friends and family and will continue to do so!

McHugh Architecture came highly recommended by our builder to design a home addition and patio area. My wife and I were VERY impressed with their professionalism, creativity and attention to detail which far surpassed other architects we’ve worked with in the past. Communication skills and patience was top notch. McHugh set proper expectations for our project and communicated the steps in a manner that put us at ease throughout the process. Especially important was the communication of the options available at each step/phase and the pros and cons of each option. This made my wife and I truly feel comfortable and confident each step of the way. In the end, our addition was better than we could have imagined and we owe that to the architecture design, strategy and creativity of McHugh Architecture. THANKS!

Tower Windows has had the pleasure of working with Brendan and his staff on a highly detailed modern home renovation. We have been highly impressed with Brendan's designs, attention to detail, and customer guidance, throughout what could have been a very difficult renovation. As a leading distributor of high-end custom windows and doors, Tower works with many area architects and builders on some very demanding and highly detailed projects, and Brendan has shown skills that place him in the top tier. We look forward to our next involvement with this wonderful firm. Anthony Baratta Tower Windows and Doors, Inc.