Clawson Architects, LLC

This is the second time that we've engaged Marvin and Rene Clawson and we are just as thrilled with working with them this time as we were the first time. We did a gut renovation of a newly purchased condo and although it was a relatively small job for the Clawsons, they treated it with the same seriousness and attention that they gave to the previous (much larger) renovation to our former home. They're creative, responsive and always professional. We love our new space and we appreciate Marvin and Rene's input, support and advice. We recommend them without reservation.

When we signed on to work with Marvin and Rene it was the first time we'd ever done a project with architects so we didn't really know what to expect. From the jump they provided us with detailed, helpful information. I interviewed a few other architects at the beginning of our project and Rene really helped level set better than any of the others in terms of what we should expect in terms of cost and time (for those with budget top of mind, what I'll say is that Clawson was neither the highest nor lowest bid we got). But where the team really shined was in marrying the original architecture of 130-year-old Victorian home with the sorts of design features we were looking for in 2024. Literally every person who has come over since completion has commented that what was a substantial addition to the back of the house looked like it had always been there. Then there were the more in-the-weeds parts of the project. Marvin came up with layouts and ideas we certainly never would have thought of on our own that managed to perfectly capture the sort of feel we were describing, and his ability to bring them to life in real time, sketching with us in the room really helped me as someone who can have a hard time imagining things without visuals behind them. The had reliable recommendations for who we could work with on every detail from general contracting to cabinet pulls and checked in and stopped by throughout the project If you are looking to breath new life into an old home while keeping the integrity of its original design intact I can't think of a better team to work with than Clawson.

Clawson Architects bring unparalleled expertise and experience to the table. We hired them to renovate our 130yr old house, including creating a kitchen addition, interior work on various living spaces and reconfiguring the primary suite and bathroom. They work through a rather lengthy and deliberate process to understand what your priorities are and then go about figuring out how to achieve your goals from an architectural and practical standpoint. While this process may seem extremely thorough and detailed, it will result in less surprises and unexpected costs once the actual construction gets underway, at least it did for us. Clawson also suggested 3 different contractors in addition to a few that I found on my own, and put together a smooth bid process. The bid set of plans was so detailed that two contractors said they've never seen plans that well defined before. Ultimately, this aided in getting accurate bids, and we chose a contractor that they recommended, and we were thrilled with the results. Marvin has a keen eye for detail, especially with historic homes. He pays attention to the finest elements from mouldings to door style, casings, and exterior trim work that I never even recognized after living in my home for 3 years. In the end, there's a price to pay for this level of quality, but where better to invest than in your own home, which is likely your most important asset. Our project just wrapped up and its exactly what we hoped it would look and feel like, if not better. I can't imagine an architect with a better eye or expertise when it comes to these old homes.

I had the pleasure of working with Marvin and his team in planning the renovation of our home. They guided us through all the steps and worked with us to create a plan we were excited to move forward with. We were in the process of pricing the project when a house that met all our needs came on the market. By having gone through the design and estimating process, we knew exactly what we wanted, had a price point in mind, and were able to make a successful offer. Clawson is a great team to work with, and that extends to the constellation of contractors and design partners that they recommend. The mutual respect between these groups speaks to Clawson's design integrity and ability to work collaboratively with all sorts. My only regret is that our design may never make it off the page. But without that design, we may never have been able to recognize our dream home when it became available. If you're looking to enhance your living space, I'd highly recommend giving Marvin, Rene, and the team at Clawson a chance to show you what possibilities they can create.

I couldn't imagine doing our home renovation, or any future renovation for that matter, without the help of Clawson Architects. Within a couple of weeks of having a house fire, Marvin and Rene had already done several site visits and had started drawing up plans to turn our 1950s ranch style house into a modern feeling mid-century dream house. They captured our aesthetic perfectly after only a couple of meetings and came up with breathtaking ideas that we would never have though of on our own (clerestory windows, vaulted ceilings, beautiful windows, detached car-port, etc.). Between weekly meetings, onsite catch-ups, and even shopping trips, we always felt like the Clawson team prioritized our project and kept us moving forward. In addition to the architectural work, we used Clawson for interior design throughout the house and 2 months after moving in, I'm still in awe of how amazingly everything flows together, how each room is separate and distinct while still feeling like an integral part of the whole house, and how all the attention to detail works so beautifully. Regarding that attention to detail, the Clawson team helped with almost every single decision made within the house outside of just the architectural work including but not limited to counter top slabs, furniture, carpets, wallpaper, flooring, chandeliers and lighting fixtures, window trim, window trim color, all the way to outlet covers colors and door hinges. When in doubt, they always knew someone to reach out to whether it was an upholsterer, a lamp shop, or a second hand furniture store. By the time we wrapped up the project, Clawson felt like family and even helped us move in, laid out carpet tiles, hung artwork, etc. My review doesn't do their work justice and I feel as though I'm only scratching the surface on how much we enjoyed working with Marvin/Rene & team and how impressed we were with their professionalism, creativity, and genuine enthusiasm for our project. Without a shadow of a doubt, if we had to do a home renovation again, we would reach out to Clawson without any hesitation.

Fantastic help with almost whole house remodel from start to finish. Handled everything from construction management, materials selection etc.

They are extremely professional and super knowledgeable about both materials and design, especially when it comes to staying true to the historical character of a home (our project entailed an addition to a 100 year old Tudor house). They ensured that every detail was thought of and made fantastic recommendations that would have never crossed our minds, finding ways to take elements from the original house to include in the addition with nods to so many different design features throughout the new spaces. By providing such thorough plans, the project ran smoothly for us and the contractor. And we loved that Clawson cared about how we wanted to live in the final space.

If I could give Clawson a 100-star rating I would. My husband and I worked with Marvin and Rene on building a two-story addition with full height basement on our century-old home. When Hurricane Ida caused extensive water damage to our home mid-construction, their support extended to help reworking our kitchen while preserving and restoring the historical detail of our dining room. In the planning stages of the project, Marvin was both creative and practical in coming up with the design of the new space that would balance beauty and function for our family. He always thoroughly explained the reasoning behind his recommendations and what our alternatives would be. The beautiful results of their expertise and extensive experience is evident in so many parts of our home from the exterior paint colors to the interior moldings to the seamless marriage of historical detail and new construction. During the construction process itself, it was indispensable to have them as advisors and advocates for us and the integrity of our project. Between hurricane damages, extreme challenges with our contractor, and major supply chain delays related to the pandemic, our project ended up being much more complicated and time consuming than originally envisioned. I imagine that working with Clawson when a project goes smoothly is an absolute delight and that in many cases they are a big reason for projects running smoothly. On a project with as many setbacks as ours, working with them felt essential. Not only did they provide support in working with the contractor to keep things on track, they were really key advisors to guide us objectively and keep us sane whenever the project veered off plan. Their award-winning expertise and professionalism is such a value-add and the fact that they are just genuinely good, down-to-earth humans on top of that is a big bonus. Highly, highly recommend.

We raised our children in what is now our 100 year old house. We had to decide to stay and renovate or find a new house. The house was in serious need of an update. We called Clawson Architects after reviewing their work on their website and talking to a friend who had also used the firm. Marvin Clawson came over and took one look and said, "your kitchen is too small and your bathroom too big for the main level of your house". He was absolutely right and designed a flow that works better than I could have imagined for our house by rearranging the main level footprint of our house. We now have a spacious, beautifully designed kitchen and dining room, a relocated powder room, family room and new mudroom, all within the existing downstairs footprint. We also added a primary bedroom and bathroom, walk-in closet and upstairs laundry room on the second floor by extending over the downstairs existing footprint. Rene Clawson designed our kitchen and two new bathrooms. She was delightful to work with in choosing colors, fixtures and materials. We absolutely love everything and I must say the kitchen is a showstopper. We highly recommend working with Marvin and Rene to achieve your wishlist of a functional and beautiful house. Susan and Rich, Millburn, NJ

Kitchen + Powder Room, South Orange, N.J. We truly enjoyed working with Marvin, Rene, and the rest of the team at Clawson Architects on our kitchen and powder room renovation project. This was our first time working with an architecture firm and we enjoyed the collaboration. The team transformed our dark and outdated kitchen into a a bright, functional space for our family of four who likes to cook together. The team's design was ambitious and required moving our powder room, relocating the stairs down to our basement, pushing out one wall to give more space and adding a food pantry. The team also worked with us to create custom tile for our backsplash, custom stained glass for the transoms, and a gorgeous walnut countertop for our island. Our open staircase downstairs to the basement helped us add an extra design feature we hadn't even imagined before was possible. Whenever we had any issues with the project, the team was responsive and helpful. The quality of the work by the contractor - Kasdan Construction - is outstanding, and the end result is exactly what we were looking for. We look forward to enjoying many years in this space, thanks to Clawson Architects.

Rene from Clawson researched a product I was looking for that I saw on one of their beautiful projects. It was so helpful and I would love to be able to work with them on a future home project, their work looks exemplary!

We had an exceptionally difficult problem to tackle. In the simplest of descriptions: how do we stick an elevator in a shingle-style Victorian built in 1895. While simultaneously renovating each bath, kitchen, and living space in addition to restoring key historic features lost to a flipper’s cheap renovation. Enter Marvin and René Clawson. They instinctively knew what needed to be be done and executed the perfect solution flawlessly. And not only did they give great thought to each interior detail, but the exterior finishes as well. This ensured a seamless addition, leading many people to the same comment, “I can’t remember where the original ends and the new begins!” We live in one of Maplewood, New Jersey’s most iconic Victorians. Because we take our stewardship very seriously, we sought the very best. The sophisticated thinking and extensive experience Clawson Architects brought to our project was second to none. This team was a natural fit for our family’s forever home. They and their magnificent team were with us each step of the way. And we couldn’t be more grateful to them.

I can't say enough nice things about Marvin, Rene, and the entire team at Clawson. Simply put, they did a fantastic job with our project. We live in an 1890's Victorian, with all the historic details, idiosyncrasies, and irregularities that come with an antique home. Marvin's design ensured that the addition to our home ended up merging seamlessly with the original home as an integrated part of the whole, not just a box attached to the side. More than that, the final design and construction is stunningly beautiful. The Clawson team had amazing attention to detail right from the start - helping us think through our needs and explore possibilities quickly and efficiency, and then coming back quickly with a final design that hit all the right notes and included myriad thoughtful details. Their skill and efficiency remained on display throughout the project, working with us, the contractor, and the town to ensure the design was fully realized in the final construction while the project stayed (to the extent possible during covid-19) on time and on budget. In addition to their amazing work on our home, Rene also brought her skills to bear on our kitchen through her ClawsonCabinets, which I highly recommend as well.

We live in a 100-year-old house that we love, but really needed more space: a kitchen expansion, another bedroom, a home office. Marvin and his team came back with a plan that delivered everything we were looking for and more. He is extremely meticulous about historical details. His commitment to the architectural integrity of our home resulted in beautifully seamless transitions between the old and the new. On both the macro and micro levels, we couldn’t be happier with the results.

Great exterior design and ability to capture our vision. Many neighbors are stopping by our house and complimenting “it’s the prettiest house on the block.”

We had a wonderful experience with Clawson during our home renovation. Our scope expanded significantly during the project and they were very adaptable to our changing needs. Marvin and Bart came up with a great design that allowed our addition to look and feel like it had always been part of our 90 year old home, and troubleshooted when we found some surprises during construction. Bart especially helped us throughout, coming up with ideas to give us more space (double vanities and pocket doors!), managing the contractor, assisting with permitting, giving tons of general advice, and more. Being pregnant / having a newborn during a pandemic while doing a full house renovation wasn't the easiest, but Clawson smoothed the way and we are so happy with the final results!

We highly recommend Clawson Architects and we can't thank Marvin, Rene and their team enough for helping us with our second project with their firm. What we thought would be a difficult and confusing undertaking - a long distance project in another region of the country - turned out to be a easy, collaborative effort that has resulted in a better than we could have hoped for outcome, both for us and for our contractor! Marvin's ability to focus our vision and harness technology resulted in a beautifully designed and executed plan and we are so pleased that we've just asked Clawson Architects to help us with a third project. Thanks Marvin, Rene and the Clawson Team!!

We worked with Clawson Architects to expand our property, and restore our 1906 home to be both historically relevant yet accommodate modern conveniences. Marvin Clawson helped us dream and imagine what our home could become, and stayed plugged in to the project. Bart O’Donnell expertly managed the day to day to ensure attention to every fine detail. We had great experiences with all the amazing staff. We continue to get compliments from neighbors and others who saw the amazing transformation. The creative work of Clawson Architects speaks for itself. Their network of contractor-contacts and their practical approach to managing our various requirements made for a great result and a pleasant process. We would hire them again for our next project, and have recommended them to friends and neighbors.

I very much enjoyed working with the team at Clawson. They have a great aesthetic, they were organized about process and they worked closely with my contractor to be sure that everything went smoothly and the plans were followed. They had good materials connections and the team was imaginative, professional and thorough in our work together. I highly recommend their services.

Rene from Clawson Architects has been so helpful as we embark on the home remodeling process. She has given me much needed advice on the process and what can be accomplished, has been very patient with my erratic touch-and-go timeline, and even went out of her way to email me a list of recommended landscape artists when she heard I needed someone. They seem truly concerned with making your home the best place for you.

Clawson Architects have supported us in planning and working out all the details on a full bathroom renovation in our Jersey City condo that involved removing a large bathtub and annexing space from the bathroom to add to the master bedroom closet. Rene and Marvin Clawson worked out the structural and mechanical design and dealt with all the potential problems with our building. Rene and Kathryn Sellaro on the design team took our basic idea for a gray and white bathroom scheme and gave us a well curated set of options (wall, floor, and accent tiles) fixtures (shower fixtures, sinks, hardware, toilets), cabinets, paint colors and lighting. We are ending up with the peaceful, neutral toned bathroom we wanted but with far more interesting final product than we could ever have come up with ourselves. We had seen another Clawson project in our building that we loved but reflected a very different vibe than we were going for. Rene's versatility helps her customers find their unique "dream" rooms.

Rene and Marvin Clawson of Clawson architects have done a great job for us on our nearly finished gut renovation of our master bath and expanded walk in closet. The took our basic idea, turned around the plans quickly, came up with great options on how to maximize our space and helped us pick a solid contractor and consulted and supported us on all our decisions throughout the job. It's been great to have them support us in guiding the builder as an expert but objective partner.

We hired Clawson to help us make our small kitchen feel bigger and bring more light into the house without expanding our footprint. The result is an absolutely gorgeous kitchen, powder room and new back entrance that functions perfectly for our family. Everything is impeccably designed and thought through and absolutely stunning. As a bonus they are also kind, warm, thoroughly enjoyable people. Couldn’t ask for more!

As a former architecture professor of Marvin and Rene Clawson I have to say unequivocally, that their portfolio of work is impressive. Their knowledge of traditional and historical precedents brings a timeless beauty to their work. And, it demonstrates a level of care and commitment in which aesthetic discipline and technical skill have enabled them to achieve and maintain an award-winning practice. I have enjoyed following their work over the years and would venture to say that they represent the profession of architecture in the finest sense of its traditions and practices. I would never hesitate to recommend them for any project—it is so gratifying to see former students doing this well.

This is our second experience with Clawson Architects and we are so pleased with our continued relationship. Marvin and his team really listened to our needs, developed comprehensive plans, and were open to our feedback and comments. They also have a complete list of trusted and highly experienced vendors who helped to make the process easier. Marvin worked with us on our budget and created an amazing kitchen and laundry room/mud room space within our financial specifications. With our mid century modern architecture and the new modern kitchen design, Clawson used their experience to seemlessly blend the two. Someone recently commented that it “felt like they were in California” - which was exactly the feeling we were trying to create with our California ranch-style home.

Clawson was a joy to work with and were respectful, honest and communicative. They brought my vision to life and delivered at every step of the project. Marvin and Bart were able to help me bring my big ideas to life! I recommend them, particularly with the challenges of updating older homes.

I have had the pleasure of working with Clawson Architects on several projects over the past few years. Each project affords me the opportunity to experience their expertise and professionalism. Their entire team, which also includes their subcontractors, shows enthusiasm and attention to detail on each project. I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.

We would recommend Clawson Architects whole-heartedly. We worked with Marvin, Mike and team on a top to bottom renovation and rebuild of an historic 1901 home. Their design managed to keep what was special about the original architecture, design, footprint and features of the house, while totally reshaping it into something bright, open and workable for our family. Their plans had great attention to detail, which allowed for a smooth and seamless construction process. They worked extremely collaboratively with the builder and interior designer, such that most of the time problems were resolved before we were even made aware of them! We are very pleased with the final product.

I had a wonderful experience with Clawson. I originally contacted them to help me look at homes with a view of "what could be done". I wanted an older home, but wanted a renovation that would add a modern twist, but at the same time maintaining the integrity, history and character of the home. Rene, Marvin and Michael were an amazing team, and stuck with me through more walk thoughs (over a close to 2 year search) than I can count. Once we found a great property (1889 Victorian in serious need of a redo), they were able to collaboratively design an amazing habitat for my family that did exactly what I wanted it to do - create livable, modern, functional space with unique and contemporary style.....all while maintaining the special character of the original. They worked seamlessly with the contractor and interior designer to make sure everything held together. And got me through a variance to boot! Great team and highly recommend.

Clawson Architects is a rare gem, even among high value stones. Their skill as architects and designers are unparalleled in our experience. Marvin, René and their team were absolutely outstanding in working with us. We worked together to completely renovate an 100 year old home, bringing it into the 21st Century and keeping the essential characteristics of the period. The attention to detail is outstanding, their plans are thorough and exacting. We have now lived in our new old house for over a year, and there is hardly anything that we would do differently. They worked very closely with our contractor during the renovation and this ensured a very smooth process, keeping everyone on the same page and responding to any issues quickly and fairly.

Many thanks to Marvin and the team at Clawson for exquisite attention to detail and thoughtful partnership on our project. We're nearing the end of a three-story addition, and it's exciting to see that Marvin's vision in real life is every bit as beautiful as it was on the page.

We have worked with Marvin and Rene at Clawson Architects in the past and we were happy to work with them again as we recently added a wrap-around porch and mudroom onto our 1910 Victorian home. Their work is outstanding and their attention to detail is unmatched in our experience. But what really sets them apart from other architects is that their work is extraordinarily authentic to our original home and our neighborhood, which mostly has 100 year homes. We will only work with Clawson Architects and we would recommend them to anyone looking to do significant remodelling or renovation on their home.

We researched long and hard before selecting Clawson Architects to help us with renovating our house. From the very first meeting Marvin was a pleasure to work with. He took the time to understand what we wanted and then then created a design that worked with our aesthetically, functional and budgetary needs. Marvin helped us find the contractor that would not compromise on quality, and understood the details that Marvin had incorporated into our blueprint. We were blown away with the level of customer service, and their work ethic and approach to workmanship. Throughout the actual construction, Marvin was very active to ensure that the design came to life. Our entire experience was exceptional, especially after everyone warned us about how difficult renovations can be-- we even managed to live in during the renovation! The end result constantly draws positive feedback from our friends, family and neighbors. Our home is now exactly the way we dreamed it could be.

We worked with Clawson Architects on a full gut renovation of our 1928 Colonial house in 2012. The house had no historic details left through previous "upgrades", and as such, was a blank canvas. Marvin's first question was "what do you want this house to do for you?". He and his team delivered on every point we discussed, were extremely supportive throughout the six-month project and made sure that every stage was completed on time. The breadth of knowledge, creativity, attention to detail, and professionalism were the reasons we hired them again for a much larger project on which we are currently working. We are looking forward to another great collaboration.

It is my pleasure to write a review of my experience with Clawson Architects, LLC. When we first moved into our home nearly five years ago, the layout of the first floor did not lend itself to our lifestyle - two young and active children, a large dog, enjoyment of cooking, of entertaining, and the outdoors. The house was dark and, though large, was not laid out to take advantage of the space - especially when entertaining. The house was dark, with limited views of the yard, and rooms on the first floor went unused because of the awkward floorpan. There was an enormous kitchen that felt more like a cafeteria than the center of a home. The redesign and renovation of the first floor of our home included the relocation and design of a bathroom; removal and reconfiguration of a large supporting wall; reconfiguration of a staircase, design of a fireplace; design of kitchen cabinetry and room divider; design and reconfiguration of a new living room, design of trim and moulding. We were familiar with Marvin Clawson’s work, as he had been responsible for the beautiful renovation of a friend’s home. We were familiar with the “before and after” of that home and the transformation was amazing. We were hoping for a similar experience and were not disappointed. Our work with Marvin began soon after he walked through our front door. We began talking about some of our concerns and what we hoped to achieve. Marvin engaged immediately, and with pad and paper in hand, began to sketch precisely what we had in mind, bringing life to our vision. Those first sketches, created within the first half our of our first meeting, served as a template for the work to come. It was clear that Marvin understood the house, its problems and potentials. Incidentally, Marvin’s ability to draw by hand, in the moment, was key in helping us test and visualize ideas, and was also a real timesaver. Working with Marvin and the staff at CA (in particular Jessica Bateman) was a pleasure. They listened to us and asked questions. Marvin was not shy about expressing his opinions but was never overbearing, and the work was always collaborative (this is what we wanted). Marvin’s understanding of architecture and architectural history provided depth and nuance to his work, and his aesthetic sense made it beautiful. The floorpan Marvin designed is efficient, flowing and far more functional than it had been, and also quite lovely: the entire space is bright with sunlight, accessible, inviting, useable, and elegant. The kitchen is inviting and properly scaled thanks to cabinetry designed to divide the room without blocking light or views. The architectural details - door widths, trim, a reconfigured stairway, a new two-sided fireplace requiring two faces for two different rooms - are beautiful, simple, and understated. Most important - the work reflects our tastes and sensibilities. From a practical standpoint, Marvin hewed close to budget and made suggestions about where to spend and where to save. He worked well with an interior designer and contractor. He was easy to speak with and completely accessible - both very important when working on a large project over an extended period of time. The the house now feels like it’s “ours”. We could not be happier with Marvin’s work and would recommend Clawson Architects without hesitation.

We were incredibly pleased with how the Clawson team applied creativity, professionalism, and attention to detail to our project. We met Marvin and Rene through our friend and interior designer, Victoria Balson. From the moment Marvin stepped into our home and guided us through his ideas of what we envisioned, we were thrilled with the way he, Rene, and their team executed the options and plans based on our needs and budget for our home. We opened up and gut renovated our kitchen, added a mudroom, changed the placement of a bathroom and installed plumbing for a future master suite. We're looking forward to working with the Clawson's in the future and highly recommend them.

Our project included a complete renovation of the exterior of our house and garage, as well as gutting our kitchen and the adjoining room. My good friend recommended Clawson Architects and we are thrilled we took her recommendation. Clawson Architects turned our outdated, drab home into the most charming house on our street. The transformation, both inside and outside, is amazing and we couldn't be happier with the results. Marvin, Rene and their entire team were professional, creative, and great communicators who were truly a pleasure to work with. They also gave us excellent recommendations of suppliers/contractors (tile, sinks, appliances, landscape architects) who we would gladly use again. I would highly recommend Clawson Architects!

Clawson architects have consistently performed at the highest levels in assisting in the restoration of my historic 1749 home. The staff is well-trained, responsive and work in collaboration with the home owner. Clawson Architects listen to my needs, then improve on them, or show me a better way that had not occurred to me. The contractors I employ work very well with Clawson, which is a critical consideration for any homeowner. The results are spectacular.

This is the second time we've worked with Clawson Architects and we highly recommend them. In 2013 we worked with them to transform an unused space into a master bath, closet and sitting room of our dreams. This year we worked with them again to make our galley kitchen functional for our family of five. The end result has exceeded our expectations! We highly recommend Clawson Architects.

Marvin and Rene were such a pleasure to deal with in our home remodel/redesign. They gave us great ideas and their plans made our fairly small 1930 cottage so easy to live in. They are great people and very professional. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

I recommend Rene, Marvin and their firm without reservation. We needed an architect to help us with every aspect of replacing a failing kitchen addition and deck on our 1895 Victorian and gutting \ renovating the new expanded kitchen & basement. I was overwhelmed with the complexities of the process and the work - Rene expertly guided us through the process to a successful conclusion. It was her competence in managing the process that caused me to hire their firm initially. Rene and Marvin listened carefully to our wants and needs and brought back a stunning design that accommodated most, if not all of our needs. Where features were in conflict or busted the budget, they helped trim & reorganize the remaining work. Their work product (designs, specifications, drawings, plan notes & meeting notes) were phenomenal and captured everything the builder needed to execute. They also worked carefully and closely with our builder \ GC and interior designer, understanding that we brought these previous relationships with us - consulting as needed with the builder on materials and structural issues. At every stage they provided the support & expert guidance that we needed to complete the job satisfactorily. The finished design complements our house incredibly - people who see it invariably comment on how the roof lines, windows, stairs, management of light & flow complement the existing structure. Our goal was to update our kitchen and basement with modern sensibilities (open floor plan, multiple sources of natural light, etc.) while remaining true to the original structure, and their plan perfectly accomplished this.

The Clawson team did a great job for us in the design and recommendations ( contractors, suppliers) in renovating a rather small (8 X 4) master bathroom. After the renovation, the room actually seemed larger. For those folks who think that the services of a professional architect are not needed, my advice is to think again.

Project transformed a covered outdoor porch into an enclosed three/four-season den and extended entertaining space to the outdoor patio. Marvin's expertise and knowledge of historic architecture and embellishments took a project from ordinary to extraordinary. We appreciated how Marvin and Rene worked together to strength our project vision.

I am an Interior Designer who has collaborated with Clawson architects numerous times over the past few years. Clawson Architects team is equally talented, responsible and conscientious about their work. Marvin and Rene are always a pleasure to work with and have the utmost integrity, as well as a super team surrounding them.

I am a Window and Door Supplier who has worked with Clawson Architect's for the past several years. We have worked together during that time on numerous projects large and small. Marvin's Professional Staff is always a pleasure to work with. One of the things I enjoy the most is the attention to detail that they instill and also the client's vision that they are able to share with all supplier's involved with that project. It has been very rewarding for me to be part of there project's and enjoy seeing the finished product and knowing our customer had a wonderful experience... I would not hesitate to recommend Clawson Architect's ! Frank Filippone Direct Millwork LLc frank@directmillwork.com

We had the pleasure of working with Marvin and Renee on a project recently in Montclair. It was a renovation of an entire home and we installed a complete home automation system. Throughout the entire project, coordination and communication with Marvin’s team was seamless. The end result was a smooth running project and happy clients. I look forward to working with Marvin and Renee in the future.

We at Thompson carpentry have been very fortunate to work with Clawson Architects for over 10 years. Clawson Architects and all of their staff are excellent in giving clients exactly what they are looking for in all of their projects. The quality of their drawings, specifications, and details they produce allow all of their projects to run smoothly and on schedule. The Clawson's great sense of style combined with excellent knowledge of architectural skills produce great results for their clients. I would highly recommend Clawson Architects for any size project.

We hired Clawson to "fix" two parts of our 1920's colonial that had been renovated in the 1950's with incorrect proportions and finishes. The mixture of time elements was not working for us. It became the right time for us to renovate when we realized that our beloved solar panels were creating a sheet of ice that came down like an avalanche on the front steps of the house. Marvin Clawson at one glance of our house was able to problem solve the aesthetics as well as solve the problem that we were encountering with the ice avalanche. We were sold to use him as soon as we saw his sketches and how our home would look. His details on our final blueprints were fantastic and our contractor was able to create exactly what Marvin designed. Rene has a keen eye for colors and was able to advise us towards fantastic colors that make our interiors flow with the rest of the house. Both Marvin and Rene were very positive and pleasant to work with for us and for our contractors.

We worked with Marvin Clawson on 3 projects; two were at our private residence and one was an institutional job. We found Marvin to be a very creative and resourceful architect and we were very pleased with the results. We are both in the design fields ourselves and Marvin worked with us very collaboratively. The institutional job was an extraordinarily complicated total renovation of a 60,000 square foot free-standing building in the Port of New York. He succeeded and did a beautiful job after two other architects were unable to negotiate the complexity. The private residence jobs involved the designing of a free-standing pool house and the designing of a kitchen and bath. In all cases, the results were very beautiful and with tremendous attention to detail and sensitivity to materials. The projects ranged from the spring of 2000 to the fall of 2013 and the project costs ranged from about $300,000 to approximately $3,000,000. Additional comments from 2017: As we continue to enjoy the high quality and design longevity of the beautiful private residence jobs designed by Clawson Architects, we have to award the projects 5 stars!

We had a lovely experience working with Clawson Architects, LLC. They designed a covered patio/porch (depending if the Phantom screens are up or down) complete with a sun deck above, opening from the master bedroom. It is beautiful! Marvin and Rene Clawson and their staff are very easy to work with and very helpful. They really listened to what we were looking for with this project. The project ran longer then we had hoped because we were putting in a pool, patio, and had the back yard professionally landscaped all at the same time. But, The Clawson end of the project was not the issue. I think the best compliment we received about our new covered patio/porch was that it looks like it was there, a beautiful part of our home, all along. We are very pleased with the end result and highly recommend Clawson Architects, LLC.

We have had the pleasure in working closely with Clawson Architects for the past few years now. Marvin, Rene & their team are extremely professional, organized, open, positive & motivated. In working with different professionals, we are always impressed with Clawson Architects work ethic, attention to detail, ability to build & maintain relationships and most important the end result of their projects. Their constant communication and respect between the client, suppliers & builder always seems to keep their clients in a good place while going through the construction process! I recommend them with confidence to anyone that is looking for architectural &/or interior design services.

When we decided to undertake extensive renovations to our two hundred and fifty year old home in Maplewood, we knew we were going to need more than your average residential architects. The work the Clawsons did for us was very special indeed. René and Marvin were able to provide us with a design that flooded the first floor of our old farm house with light and space, while respecting the historic bones of the structure. Their work combines a keen eye for design esthetics with exacting standards for execution. Throughout the process, they explained each step of the project, and worked closely with us to incorporate our ideas and goals. The Clawsons have our highest recommendation without the slightest reservation. Mike Stocker & Tony Dark

Embarking on a remodel is a major investment both financially and mentally. We needed an Architect who could not only connect with us as clients but also with the energy of our house both old and soon to be new. Marvin did just that and from day one he made us feel comfortable and was in synch with our vision of maintaining 100 years of character while updating the house to work for a modern day family. Clawson architects was professional in their approach, thoughtful and creative through out the process. Most importantly Marvin's personality and integrity made us feel like we had the right partner for this journey. We really love the end result.

We hired Marvin a few years back for a 100k home renovation that combined rooms from a poorly done 1990s addition and our original 1930s dutch colonial home. Marvin was straightforward about costs, helpful and always courteous. His team was very creative and fun to work with. As complications came up during construction, he worked with us to reallocate the budget as needed to get the job done within a reasonable timeframe. He even recommended a great contractor that he thought would be a good personality match for us (and it was). We highly recommend him.

We engaged Clawson Architects in the Spring of 2013 to help us transform our very, vanilla condominium in Jersey City. Marvin Clawson and Project Manager Jason Weisman came to our home and sat with us for several hours. We chatted... they listened, they watched us in our space --- they admired and took stock of our personal possessions and decor. The project scope considered a full bathroom, kitchen, dining and living room with a ceiling that sloped up to a loft area that serves as a family room and den. It was their mindfulness of what makes us, "us" that really stood out in this meeting and those that followed, that ultimately led to a remarkable space. They had completely designed everything around "us". The result was a spectacular use of space with architectural details that though simple, were completely transformative. The space literally flows around us. They took awkward corners and ceilings and made them useful. The attention and support they paid to our material selections from wood to stone to tile to fixtures was as personal to them as it was to us... almost as if the selections were going into their own homes. Their professional relationships with associated vendors was icing on the cake. Finally, we must add, that every project is stressful mostly because it is so personal, and ours was no different! One half of this family unit can get very nervous... and I have to say that Marvin and Jason always stayed calm and brought me back to earth. Thank you gentlemen, for all that you did for us! We'd highly recommend the Clawson team for any project you have in mind. We're certain to have them back to tackle our next floor!

After interviewing 5 different architects to design the kitchen and bath remodel of our 1890s Victorian, we settled on Clawson Architects. We connected with Marvin immediately; he was at all times respectful and professional, yet his personality and sense of humor quickly made us feel like friends. There are 4 sections outlined below where I believe the company excelled: ZONING There were several hurdles to overcome, and Marvin with his team (Jason was fantastic) deftly navigated the zoning and building departments of our town (Westfield, NJ). I accompanied them on these meetings with the town and always felt like I was in good hands with the most knowledgeable team behind me. We were able to get the remodel we wanted with a few minor concessions, without having to petition for a variance or build unwanted structures. KNOWLEDGE OF PERIOD HOUSES Marvin was a great choice for our old house - he is incredibly knowledgeable about period detail, what was original to the house and what was added later. He designed windows, doors and detailing that helped to maintain the period look, but designed a flow, layout and function for the modern day. CONSTRUCTION PROCESS When we began soliciting bids for the construction, we constantly heard from the contractors that the drawings were the most detailed they had ever seen. Every question they had was already answered in the drawings. That made us feel very secure in the bid price we were receiving. When unforeseen issues came up, the Clawson team was on it immediately and provided updated plans quickly. Not once were they the bottleneck. When we had a huge problem with the pace of construction, Marvin and Renee helped us find a graceful yet forceful way to get our point across with the GC. INTERIORS We didn't just get an architectural drawing of a space that we then had to figure out how to fill in. Marvin designed the kitchen layout, suggested finishes and other detailing. He was very attuned to the areas that caused me stress and offered to help, even though it may not have been an architectural element: tile selection, furniture layout in other rooms with the new flow etc. We also worked with Rene to select the colors for the whole downstairs. She gently pushed me outside my pre-fab "Pottery Barn gray" comfort zone and we agreed to a modern and fresh palate. The transformation was absolutely amazing. Now that we have vibrant color throughout the house, I'm no longer afraid of working with color and will never go back. In conclusion, when you work with Clawson Architects you get the whole package. They are incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and expert at what they do. They have the artistic eye and the architectural rigor to design beautiful and lasting spaces. I'd hire them again in a heartbeat.

My husband & I had the opportunity to work closely with Rene & Marvin Clawson while planning a project in Maplewood to convert an industrial building into a live/ work space. Throughout the project Clawson Architects provided us with their design talents but also with tremendous business insights without which the complexity of the project would have overwhelmed us. Creative, knowledgeable, helpful and resourceful are some of the many qualities this firm demonstrated over the many months we worked with them. Always on time, organized, professional and supportive we recommend this energetic and talented husband & wife team.

We hired Rene Clawson with Clawson Architects for an extensive home renovation which focused on expanding and remodeling the kitchen within the existing house footprint. By creatively repurposing other spaces, the size of our kitchen was doubled and opened up for a smooth transition into the adjoining family room. Historic features from throughout the 1908 house were incorporated into the new design. The project was delivered on time and changes that affected the budget were discussed and approved ahead of time. We LOVE the new kitchen and other improvements, including bathroom renovations and restoration of a sunporch for year-round use. Clawson Architects also built a mudroom addition on our house 10 years ago that has proved to be an invaluable 'landing zone' for a family with 4 kids and a dog. I highly recommend Clawson Architects for remodeling projects - large and small.

I have repeatedly found them to provide the highest level of detail and customer service. I would highly recommend their services.

We hired Clawson Architects for our gut kitchen renovation and couldn't be happier with the experience and the results of our project. They are very well respected in our town, so they were automatically on our short-list to interview for the project. We could not have been more impressed after our initial consultation with Rene. Rene asked us a multitude of questions (how we currently use the space, likes, dislikes, how we want to use the space, etc) and then she casually came up with the concept (switching our living room and dining room) that set us down the path to our new kitchen. No one else saw this tiny, yet hugely impactful, modification. It created an exceptional design and made us so much more comfortable in our space (even before the work had started)! Rene was extremely detail oriented and kept the project on pace. From planning, to reviewing bids, to discussing options with our contractor, she was helpful, and completely responsive. If we had a concern with something, Rene would come over to inspect the work (often within an hour or two) and provide her opinion. When new ideas came up during the process, she was great at helping us determine what would be was a positive change and what was a bad idea. She never hesitated to share her opinion and explain why she felt that way, but she would respect our opinion if we went another way. That said, it is hard to go against Rene's opinion because she makes a great case for her ideas. Be prepared to have a back-bone and confidence in your own vision, especially if you feel strongly about something. Take a look at Clawson's portfolio (the work speaks for itself) and give them a call. You will not regret it.

Extremely professional team. Sensitive to cost, time constraints and our personal style when presenting designs for review. The end result was a renovation that fit elegantly into our 100 year old home.

We had a great experience with Clawson for our kitchen and bathroom renovation. They gave us a creative design; helped us choose a good contractor; and were incredibly attentive and helpful when it came to problem-solving. The kitchen came out terrific, btw. Would highly recommend.

Clawson Architects helped us to make our 1960's builder model home into a newly renovated, highly effecient beautiful home with the character and feel of a 1920's home. Marvin and Rene were wonderful to work with, listened to our thoughts and idea's and together with their architecual expertise created the home we always dreamed about.

This was the second time we hired Clawson Architects for a construction project (a 3rd Story master suite was added to the house) and were very pleased with the results. Marvin and Bart were clear partners in this, providing design insight and project oversight which was incredibly helpful - especially with a contractor who was very good but needed occasional guidance. Numerous neighbors have commented that "it looks like the 3rd floor was always there" - and this is one of Clawson's strong suits: Their design seamlessly integrates new construction into old and it looks amazing every time. Should we ever consider another project, they'll be the first ones we call.

We have been working with Clawson Architects for over two years on a step-by-step renovation of our circa 1890 shingle style home. We just completed a major gut renovation of our kitchen and powder room and could not be more delighted with the final result. This is the third project we have worked on with Clawson and we will continue to use them until our dream home is fully renovated. Clawson's command of the aesthetic and functional aspects of design has resulted in each of our projects being both useful and truly beautiful. Their hands-on participation in and understanding of the construction process, especially with respect to older homes, eliminated false starts and design changes, saving both time and money. Equally as important to us as homeowners has been Clawson's comfort with a truly collaborative design process whereby our ideas and dreams were fully incorporated into the final product.

I hired Clawson to envision a new kitchen and powder room combination in our 90+ year old house in Maplewood. Their work far exceeded my expectations due to three factors. First, they have the creativity and the rigorous process to gain every inch of usable space, sunlight, and convenient placement within the alloted space. Next, they understood budget constraints and suggested methods and vendors to give us high quality without overpaying. Finally, the team stayed engaged throughout the project, holding the contractors accountable for exact delivery of the vision. This element became so much more important than I ever expected. Clawson stepped in multiple times to handle unexpected issues, working quickly and expertly. Dealing with a contractor alone, no matter how good, would not have provided the expertise and advocacy that Clawson gave us. It was like having insurance on the outcome of the project. Every day we enjoy the fruits of their top quality design, and the next time I upgrade any room they will be my first call.

My husband and I used Clawson Architects to completely renovate and add a second level to our ranch style house. We are SO pleased with the passion and work that Marvin and Rene put into such a large project. They are extremely educated in housing styles and created a true Arts and Crafts style home for us. We really appreciated their artistic approach and attention to detail. In addition, they were very open to allowing us to contribute and collaborate on many of the details and designs. It's obvious that Clawson Architects posses more than the necessary qualifications to do their work, but more importantly, we chose to hire them because they are professional, kind, and fair. Because of those qualities, we really enjoyed the entire process and experience of such a large project!

Clawson Architects worked with us to conceive and actualize a garden room and deck that opens out from the existing kitchen and dining room of our 100-year-old house in South Orange, NJ. Their professional knowledge and experience were invaluable in educating us through the course of planning, permits and construction. Their collaborative process of interacting closely with the client helped arrive at a plan incorporating our individual needs, aesthetics and lifestyle while considering all options within our budget. They remained true to the architectural style of the original house while creating a spacious, light-filled addition that flows perfectly from the original rooms. Throughout the building phase they had onsite weekly production meetings with us and the contractor to help with construction issues. We love our new room and appreciate the hands-on contributions of Clawson Architects. They're the best!

When we interviewed Marvin and Rene for our first project in our old house, they told us honestly that it was easier to move to a larger home than to marry the old to the new to get the first house to where we wanted it. So we moved. Once in our second, larger home, we hired the Clawsons to design our kitchen reno. We worked mainly with Marvin on the kitchen and he gave us a space that looks like it was always a part of our century home. His impeccable architectural detail, efficient layout, recommendation of great general contractor, considerate management of the entire project, and responsiveness of all at Clawson Architects was above and beyond. Marvin even came back recently in response to a panicked call about an entirely different project to assuage our unfounded concerns about flooring. The Clawsons are fabulous. Three years after our kitchen reno was completed, I never say I wish I.... It is still perfect.

We hired Clawson Architects to do a major rennovation of our 1910 house, involving a completely new kitchen and family room, plus a new second floor hall full bathroom. Why hire an architect? When money is tight, you might be tempted to “skip” the architect and just hire a builder directly. In our opinion, this is a mistake. It can mean the difference between getting a space that’s merely adequate versus one you’ll truly love. Why hire the Clawsons? Drawing skills. Marvin Clawson’s extraordinary drawing skills saved us time and money. He stood in our old kitchen and quickly sketched different ways of arranging windows, doors, cabinets, hallways. He showed us, in correct perspective, how our kitchen would appear looking down a paneled hallway. He drew three-quarter-views, cutaway views, views as if we were looking through floors and walls, etc. Believe it or not, these days, almost no architects can do this. CAD (computer aided design) drawings, which his office also does, have their place, but the turn-around time is necessarily much slower than Clawson’s instantaneous vision. The result of Clawson’s old-fashioned drawing ability is better communication between architect and client. We could really see how his ideas, and ours, would look. This helped us rule some things in or out immediately. It also made it easier for him to see what we cared about most. As a result, we made faster, better decisions that we stayed happy with. Good period design. The day of the cookie-cutter McMansion is over. The Clawsons are experts at increasing the feeling of light and usable space in your home without needlessly over-building. Our kitchen feels bigger than it is because it is well thought out. The Clawsons know how to incorporate period details that made our house more charming and functional. Our 1910 house got a “milk window” and a laundry chute. Knowledge that means quality and savings. The Clawsons’ deep knowledge of materials, and sources helped us achieve a high-end look on a budget. Jane had her heart set on a stone sink like ones she had seen in European farmhouses, but was dismayed by the high price of such items. Thanks to Marvin Clawson, we got a custom-made sink made of native limestone at a fraction of the cost. The contractors recommended by the Clawsons were a pleasure to work with – Scrupulously punctual, neat and highly skilled. They delivered a high-quality result well before the deadline. In the 2+ years since the job was completed, we have been super-happy with the result. Seems like we spend most of our time in there! It's a beautiful bright sunny room all day and all year long. It's hard to imagine a better outcome. We whole-heartedly recommend Clawson Architects LLC! The Conrad-Poors. (PS You can see the before and after on the Clawsons' website: http://www.clawsonarchitects.com/ )

We had been saving for our a complete redo of our kitchen and adjacent family room for many years. We have an older home with craftsman details, which had a barely functioning and unattractive backroom 70's family room addition and a cramped and ugly kitchen stuck in the '80's. We wanted to find someway to unify the look of the house and make it beautiful. We had spoken to a number of professionals about the project, but had not come across anyone who really understood what we wanted to do or had the right ideas to make it work before we met with Clawson Architects. They immediately knew what we wanted and how to make it work in our space. They provided design suggestions, finish suggestions, and technical knowledge. They were able to specifically match the woodwork details of the older part of the house to the new design of the new kitchen and family room. They also figured out how to work around some of the crazy idiosyncracies of our house, especially parts of the 70's addition which had been built rather creatively by the previous owner himself. They have had a lot of experience with older houses in our style, and we had seen examples of their work that gave us a lot of confidence going into the project. They kept on schedule with us and were routinely responsive to our quiestions, concerns and specific requirements. When we had concerns about the scope and cost of the project going over our original budget, they responded right away, talked with us, and provided us with options and alternatives to keep the project moving along. They also helped us choose a kitchen designer and a contractor that was perfect for the job (we can't say enough good things about either of those choices!) both in regard to budget and style. Everyone kept the work moving and the disturbance to us at a minumum. The end result is absolutely gorgeous -- we could not be happier with how beautiful the house is now. The rooms look like they were always part of the house and the craftsmanship is amazing. Both Rene and Marvin's vision, attention to detail, attentiveness and experience made the project move quickly, accurately and beautifully. We absolutely love coming home to the house now, and highly recommend working with this team.

We worked with Rene At Clawson Architects when we were trying to find a way to renovate our house and add an additional bedroom and master bath. Rene has a very consultative style, she helped us think through what we were trying to achieve, proposed some ideas and pushed us to get a survey done for the house which gave us a real view of what we could and couldn't do to the house. This was extremely helpful. Ultimately we made a decision to move to another house, but 2 things are very clear. First that we would still be in limbo trying to work out what to do if Clawson Architects hadn't advised us. Second that all the way along Rene's professional and honest approach made us trust and listen to her advice. I would heartily recommend this firm. If our house had not had a ton of restrictions on what we could do, we would have engaged and worked with them. In the future if we decide to remodel we would have no hesitation going back to them. Thank you!

I highly recommend Marvin & Rene Clawson of Clawson Architects. I am a local realtor and have recommended them to many clients, and I have personally used them to consult on my own house for my main bathroom renovation and a potential addition. They are creative, resourceful, and fun to work with. They are also extremely knowledgeable about older homes and therefore are able to give period correct suggestions. They take great care and pride in maintaining the historical character and integrity of our town, and I would recommend them without hesitation.

Clawson Architects designed beautiful masonry columns for our driveway - our contractor was thrilled to have such accurate drawings and specifications. And we love the completed job! Well done Clawson Architects!

Clawson designed an amazing kitchen addition we couldn't even have conceived of without their help. We were looking to expand existing kitchen space, and they completely reconfigured the floor plan of our first floor, adding a huge new kitchen, laundry area and powder room. My old kitchen ended up becoming a stunning dining room, my kitchen addition is open and bright and breathtaking. The flow of my entire first floor was greatly enhanced. Marvin and Rene Clawson were a pleasure to work with and really made a point of understanding our needs. They are very adept at designing in keeping with the character and style of the existing house. Our addition is seamless and could have been here from the time the house was built. We recently put our house on the market, and had multiple offers the day after our first public open house. The realtor chose to feature a photo of our kitchen with the listing, so potential buyers could see how our house differed from all the others in our neighborhood. We sold the house for more than our asking price. I'm certain it was because of the finish choices I made and the design by Clawson.

Creative, professional architects who do beautiful work with a focus on historical preservation to very high standards. Lovely people to work with also. Take a look at their wonderful portfolio.

Clawson Architects is an impressive group of professionals from top to bottom. My home (1749) presents challenges architecturally and esthetically. Clawson guided construction on the interior and exterior, and took a real stake in both projects, honoring my home for the treasure it is. I find Clawson to be price-sensitive, reliable and capable of getting the best job done on budget.

Very pleased with work from Clawson Architects - Rene, Marvin and their team. Over a number of years they have supported 2 projects at our house - new bathroom, new kitchen and other changes that made the house meet our needs. In the last job, we had ambitious plans, they listened to why we wanted to do it and suggested a smarter, much lower cost approach that gave us exactly what we needed. One innovative idea that no one had suggested in 10 years of our living there until they and it saved me quite a lot of money. Their work is thorough and top notch.