Coupard Architects and Builders

More than ten years ago Coupard Architects & Builders built a major addition on our 1925 center hall Colonial house in Lyon Park. Mark, Charles and their team were responsive to our needs and wishes in working out a design with us. And the construction process went very smoothly. The addition looks good and works well. Even after a decade we remain very satisfied clients and would recommend Coupard Architects without hesitation.

We used Coupard Architects and Builders for a complicated complete kitchen and adjoining room renovation in 2014. It required removing structural walls and extending an outside wall on a 60 year old house. In addition, uneven floors, walls, and ceilings needed to be leveled and they were creative and skilled in blending the old and new. Mark worked as a partner with us - he listened, integrated our ideas into the designs, was always accessible, stayed on track and within the agreed upon budget. The design/build approach worked seamlessly; Mark's contractors and subcontractors were experienced, creative problem solvers, professional, neat, and friendly. The quality of the work was first rate. We would definitely use him again.

We used Coupard Architects for a large screened porch/deck project in 2013. The project was fairly complicated as we had to excavate part of the yard to make room for the screened porch. They were at the house every day for about four months and the guys were totally professional and answered all of my many questions (and they were great with my nosy dogs). We did everything in ipe, which I fell in love with after they took me to see another project they had used it on, which was one of the reasons the job was a little long but I still love it so much. The screened porch addition blends perfectly with the house and visitors always think that it was part of the house before we bought it. Throughout the process Mark was totally available and always honest and professional. You really can't ask for anything more.

In 2007, we chose Coupard Architects and Builders after interviewing half a dozen other architects. Among the factors that influenced us were that we had admired renovation work he'd done for friends of ours years earlier, in Bethesda, and then discovered that a house near ours in Arlington, whose renovation we thought looked great from the street, was also his project. For us, it was a large renovation, including among other things a new kitchen, new siding and exterior look, new windows throughout - almost every space above grade was affected. In 2011, we went back to Mark for Phase Two: fix up the basement and all 3.5 bathrooms. Obviously we went back to Coupard Architects and Builders because what they had done for us the first go-round seemed to us to be stellar. Indeed, his crew worked carefully, were attentive to our needs (we stayed in the house during both renovations), took excellent precautions against dust contamination, and overall did superb work. They have also followed up to address three minor subsequent flaws that time revealed - returning in 2015, for instance, to repair an unexpected (and possibly insignificant) crack in one of our siding planks, at no charge and with great punctuality. No wonder that we are on the verge of signing on for a third go-round, even though this next project is much smaller (replacing a large but intricate, multi-level deck). We've recommended Coupard Architects and Builders to friends and to anyone who has asked, and continue to believe the work his team provides is top of the line.

Mark and crew did a terrific job rethinking and renovating our kitchen and two bathrooms. They were creative, open to suggestions, responsive and timely, and the work was meticulous. Our house, a 1926 craftsman style bungalow, had been redone in the 1960s and needed a boost--old vinyl siding, worn linoleum, cupboards which had lost their finish. Mark took it down to the plaster and batten and then rebuilt, helping us explore possibilities and discover some of the original architectural touches that had been buried by past renovations. We had plenty of ideas which he took in stride, coming early and staying late to discuss possibilities. He's a good listener and an excellent explainer of realistic options. He brought the renovation in on budget and on time. There were no surprises on costs or alterations--any changes we asked for were accommodated, and we were fully apprised of any changes in original estimates. We enjoyed the process. Over a period of three months, we had plenty of time to get to know each other. We appreciated Mark's high professionalism and his friendship, and, over the last four years, have grown increasingly grateful for the high quality of his work.

Coupard is the most outstanding design/build firm that we know of in the area. Mark Coupard did a total renovation of our 1920's Sears bungalow. We have been extremely happy with our experience and impressed with their professional and comprehensive approach to projects, brilliant design work, detailed planning, superb craftsmanship, amazing ability to resolve unexpected issues when they arise, and continuing relationship even a decade later. We have sent many friends and neighbors to Coupard, and were happy to see the results when these referrals turned into more great work. Our house is a historic property, and the design and craftsmanship of Mark's renovation resulted in its approval by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (qualifying for a tax credit.).

Having lived overseas in five different houses, we had some definite views about what we liked and didn’t want in a renovated home. We loved the location of our home in Franklin Park in McLean, Virginia, enjoyed a spacious lot, but the 1958 split level house left much to be desired. After contacting Mark Coupard, we discussed vision and strategy. I wanted to expand the house, especially the public spaces, creating a spacious, airy open environment where we could appreciate the significant trees and greenery on our lot. We ended up adding around 1000 square feet to the house. What had been the living room, dining room and kitchen became the living room that extended in an open floor plan to the dining area and large kitchen and deck. Mark and his team lifted the ceiling, but more importantly, created tray ceilings in the living room, dining room, kitchen and new master bedroom suite, creating interesting geometrics that also were echoed in a new small front porch. Large windows throughout the house (4 bedrooms, a study, a basement rec room), complemented by large skylights in two of the three baths and in the kitchen created a feeling of light and openness that were absent before. We worked closely with Mark and his team, and they guided us from selection of granite and tiles to light fixtures. Mark was very responsive to our ideas and needs, while offering the necessary guidance to us. While our son got a new bedroom and we a new master bedroom suite, as well as totally reconceived public areas, every room was improved. At the end of the day, we ended up with a home we view as a sanctuary. Our first houseguest remarked that the renovation vastly improved our living spaces but without compromising the intimacy of our home. I strongly endorse Coupard Architects & Builders who designed and oversaw the execution of the project. The work undertaken by Mark’s team of skilled craftsmen and builders was first rate, including the framing and woodwork. And the same can be said for the work completed by his sub-contractors, each of whom he has carefully tested over time. The masonry, for example, was completed with a high degree of attention to detail. Another plus worth mentioning, because we believe that the quality of this work would be hard to beat, is the quality of the interior trim. Similarly, the quality of the windows and doors exceeded our expectations. While our budget was higher than we originally planned, it was in part due to the choices we made during the construction process – with respect to kitchen and bathroom fixture, for example – and budgets were transparently discussed throughout the process. Communication between us remained excellent throughout. We ended up with a quality home we’re proud to live in and can appreciate the aesthetic inputs into the design conceived by Mark.