Ellyn Amador, Architect

We used Ellyn and Rachel for a large remodeling job that involved the majority of our first story, the addition of a screened in porch and expansion of our garage. We were so impressed with their expertise and professionalism. Ellyn provided great advice about how to approach our remodel in a way that improved functionality but was conscious of cost. She has a passion for remodels and it shows. Her design for our house was able to capture all the items on our wish list while maintaining the "feel" of our home. She continued to be very involved during the construction phase, working closely with our contractor to ensure the plans were being built as designed. Rachel too was instrumental to the success of our project. So available and so helpful with guiding us through all the design choices. She had a good understanding of what our style was and made great suggestions with both safe selections as well as those that pushed us a bit to think outside our comfort zone. We ended up with a beautiful space that perfectly meets our needs. I give Ellyn and Rachel, my highest recommendation. Great listeners, attention to detail, well versed in their fields and a joy to work with. You won't be disappointed!

I can’t recommend Ellyn highly enough! She was able to take our existing house that was built in the 60’s and create a plan that seamlessly added the functionality and style that we were looking for. This was not a small job as we added new space and reconfigured our existing footprint, requiring a great deal of creative-thinking and smart solutions that made sense both financially and design-wise. Not only did she have great ideas for the project, she also incorporated our input for a design that works perfect for our family. Ellyn is incredibly meticulous, thorough and able to strike the right balance of suggesting ideas that meet your objectives while also ensuring the additions are smart investments. If an idea we had wasn’t the best use of our funds, she would highlight that for us. And conversely, if she had an idea that we hadn’t considered that made sense, she would provide us with those options and we ended up moving forward with just about everything she recommended. After the plans were done, it didn’t stop there. She was on-site during construction and worked great with our builder to provide valuable input any time we ran into challenges. Not every architect goes that extra mile. Ellyn and her sister Rachel make a really great team. A couple of our favorite things Rachel helped with were picking out the perfect countertops as well as helping us find the slurry finish on the exterior of our house that really pulled everything together. Taking on a large remodel can be very stressful and it has to start with great plans and design – if you choose to go with Ellyn you will be glad you did! We would use her again without a doubt.

Amazing work! Ellyn transformed our typical ranch-style 3BR/2Bath house into an incredible modern 5BR/4Bath house with all the features we wanted and others we didn’t even know we would want until she suggested them! The house looks like it was built from the ground up, all while staying within our budget! Ellyn was a pleasure to work with and her designs were beautiful and easily executed by the builder.

We would highly recommend Ellyn Amador as an Architect, along with Rachel Helms as a designer who works with Ellyn. We hired Ellyn to design a second story addition and extensive remodel of our existing home. We are very pleased with the result and the process. Both Ellyn and Rachel were very responsive to our questions and came up with creative solutions to maximize the potential of an existing property. The project turned out even better than we could have hoped for due to Ellyn's design and Rachel's selections.

Ellyn and her designer, Rachel were wonderful to work with! Ellyn’s design for our addition maintained the integrity of our 1950s cottage while adding modern touches and a very well thought out space. We would recommend her to anyone.

Ellen and Rachel are an excellent team! I had an extensive remodel and it turned out better than I thought possible. The level of professionalism, knowledge and follow through is second to none. They truly care about my project and what my end goals were. They worked closely with me and my builder and kept everyone in the loop all times. They were able to bring my vision to life. I highly recommend them!

Ellyn was our architect for a renovation converting a old duplex (est. 1932) in University Park into a single family home, and she was phenomenal. She listened to us attentively but did not let our suggestions hinder her creativity, as she made recommendations beyond what we imagined and designed a house with a beautiful layout, fully suited to our needs as a family. She worked with us every step of the way, and she gave good reasons for each of her design decisions. There were no questions left unanswered and no concerns left unaddressed. She turned our old, redundant duplex into a wonderful family home and superb hosting venue. I would recommend her to anybody requiring an architect with thoughtfulness, care, and cleverness.

We worked with Ellyn on a second story addition to our family home. This project was a massive undertaking, and we could not have done it without her! From the onset of developing our plans, she was able to guide us on how to best utilize our space and budget, while making our dream home a reality. The plans she handed over to us were so detailed and complete, that nothing was unclear during the renovation process. If ever there was a question, we had the answer in the plans. Many contractors we interviewed were shocked and amazed at the level of detail she provided. Once renovations began, we kept Ellyn on the project to consult, and it was probably the best money we spent on the project. Having an expert in the process who knew our vision (often times as lay people, we didn't know what we were looking at) saved us from costly mistakes. We could not be more pleased with the outcome, and many times when people are in our home they will make comments like "every inch of this house is used so well". I cannot recommend Ellyn enough, and in fact, have recommended her to many of our friends!

We have been so happy working with Ellyn. She took our needs and desires and turned them in to a truly gorgeous plan that was within our budget. She has also been closely watching the project through construction, which has proven to be invaluable. We will definitely continue to recommend her!

We worked with Ellyn and her design partner Rachel on a full house remodel which took 18 months from start to finish. What stood out from the first meeting was not just their professionalism and talent, but also their willingness to listen to our esoteric desires and impractical ideas and find ways to incorporate them in a way that made sense within the overall design (and budget!). It was always clear that theirs was a vision that melded beautiful design with well functioning details. On a practical level, both Ellyn and Rachel were also great to have as intermediaries between ourselves, our contractor and the vendors. They always kept everyone on track with what was needed for the next step in the timeline which took a lot of worry and uncertainty out of the process. At the end of the process we ended up with a house that we really love. After moving back I was so in love with the house that I didn't want to leave for any reason- I felt vaguely resentful when I had to leave for the grocery store. Working with them was a pleasure and the outcome is a dream. Wholeheartedly recommend!

Hiring Ellyn as our contractor was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made - truly. We did a whole house remodel and started from scratch with Ellyn. She made the BEST use out of our space and turned our 3,000 sqft home into a dream home. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, an office, open layout kitchen with two living rooms, butlers pantry, mudroom, laundry room, playroom, and 2 car attached garage. We got everything we needed and it is stunning. Cannot recommend her enough!

I would recommend Ellyn Amador. She helped remodel 2 bathrooms in my home that still had 1970's decor. I had never done a remodelling project. Based on my input, Ellyn drew up the design, helped me find a contractor and checked in periodically throughout the project to make sure that the work was being done as designed. The bathrooms are now complete; they look beautiful and updated.

We used Ellyn to get some guidance on a home and kitchen remodel for our newly purchased home. The home was built in the 1950's and had never been updated and we had no idea where to even begin! Ellyn helped put a plan together and came up with logical ways to layout the new kitchen that fit within our budget. We are extremely pleased and will definitely use her again!

Working with Ellyn Amador and Rachel Helms in remodeling our kitchen and first floor was AMAZING from start to finish! They provided excellent design and selections of all elements of our remodel. Great attention to detail from pre-planning to construction documents to construction completion. They managed our project and contractor effectively throughout the entire process. Ellyn and Rachel both did an awesome job and we highly recommend this team for your home project whatever it may be.

We found Ellyn on an internet search. Her website and her stated design philosophy lined up with ours. After going through a large remodel - ~1/2 the house - she was true to her philosophy (maximize existing space, listened to the house, thoughtful design). She and her interior design partner Rachel met with us several times to come up with a vision. Ellyn made regular visits during construction to check the accuracy of the work. Later in the project - Rachel helped us with all the countless choices of fixtures, paint color, decorations, etc. The drawing package she produced was professional, complete, and accurate. It ensured the competing bids were for the same, exact scope. The drawings also answered any questions that came up during the remodel. I feel fortunate we found her and worked with her.

We selected Ellyn Amador and her co-worker, Rachel for the remodel of 3 full baths. I was overwhelmed with all the choices for tile, paint, hardware, etc. After just a few conversations, Rachel was able to understand my style and helped me choose designs that fit my personality. Ellyn worked with us in determining the layout of custom cabinets as well as offering her expertise in certain aspects of the design. Both are very professional and friendly. Very easy to work with. Will use them again for next remodel for sure.

I highly recommend Ellyn Amador. She really invested time with us before we started our project to understand our needs and get to know our family. The plans she designed checked every single box we were looking for. She is talented, creative, dedicated and extremely professional. From start to finish, she worked tirelessly to ensure the project was a success. It's no surprise that her designer, Rachel Helms, is also exceptional. Both Ellyn and Rachel were always available to us. I can't say enough about them. If you are looking to add more space and/or make your existing home more functional, look no further. You will not be disappointed!

Ellyn Amador created a plan for our admittedly modest home and budget to include an expansion for a second bathroom, walk in closet and screened in back porch. The interior was completely reworked, the ceiling raised, the floor plan opened up, and spaces created to realistically meet our lifestyle, needs and activities. The result was more beautiful yet functional than we could have imagined; the surfaces are smooth, simple and lovely; the space is light and airy. We look forward to entertaining guests in the open kitchen/living/dining area and the screened in back porch, where we also plan to sip our morning our coffee and watch our evening TV. Ellyn works with her sister Rachel Helms, an interior designer, who provided invaluable advice and choices in finishes, paint colors, and furniture. They advocated throughout the construction to ensure a quality final product. We cannot Ellyn and her team more highly.

I would recommend Ellyn again and again. She was the first person who really understood my husband and I's vision for our house and was instrumental in its completion. Having added a second level addition to her own house, her advice was invaluable. From beginning to end she was always so responsive and involved. Her plans incorporated everything we desired for our house and she truly listened to us. Her site visits following the beginning of construction were great because we felt that someone was always on our side. Thank you Ellyn for everything!

Ellyn worked on our plans for an entire remodel of our home. We could not think of how to open the house, take down walls, make an extra closet and a large closet for me in our master a larger master bath and other changes while staying within the same foot print. After several renderings — She did it!! Her ideas and plans provided were spot on- we got everything we wanted. Thank You Ellyn.

Ellyn and Rachel assisted with out kitchen remodel. The house was custom designed and built in 1992, and while the kitchen was very functional it needed updating. Ellyn and Rachel were just what we needed. They listened carefully to our initial thoughts, and then thoughtfully offered suggestions to improve and refine direction. Both were very focused on adding value when it was needed, and did not interject themselves into the project needlessly. They recommended an excellent contractor with experience and connections to subcontractors specifically needed for the job. We got great value for the money we spent with them, and will engage them again when we tackle updating bathrooms.

Ellyn helped us reconfigure our second story, garage apartment so we could use it as an Airbnb listing. Not only did she redesign the space so that it was more efficient, she also had several decorating tips about table placement and pendant lighting that added to the charm of our Carriage House. No detail was too small for her consideration and excellent advice, including cost saving points. All of Ellyn's good work paid off for us, because the Carriage House caught the attention of Airbnb. They chose our studio apartment to be a part of their first group of Airbnb Plus stays in Dallas, TX.

When we bought the property, we had some ideas for how to convert the house, but Ellyn had the vision to repurpose key spaces. The end result was beyond the ideas that we had. We love the home, and Ellyn's addition of space in the guest bath and walk-in closet (also adding to the mud room), the butler's pantry and a totally new laundry room has a huge impact on the utility of the space. With Ellyn and Rachel directing the finishes, the house is beautiful, functional and a perfect fit for our forever home.

Ellyn was a pleasure to work with on our extensive remodel. She was extremely detailed and thoughtful in her designs for our 22 year old home. We are thrilled with how everything turned out. She brought us out of the 1990's and up to date. I highly recommend her!!!!!

Hiring Ellyn and Rachel to help us with our home remodel was probably the single most important thing we've done to make this project a success. Ellyn took the time to understand both our style and preferences as well as our needs and budget restrictions, and she put together a plan that maximized the use of our existing space and felt uniquely "ours". She assisted us with the contractor selection, and helped us make necessary tweaks to the final plans to make sure we stayed within the budget without compromising our vision. Ellyn also stayed on top of our contractors making sure that they followed the plans and pointing out things that needed to be corrected as soon as they occurred. The designer she worked with, Rachel, also did a fantastic job helping us select colors, finishes, materials, and fixtures that were both within our budget and worked with the overall style of the house. We didn't have to worry about falling in love with a particular kind of tile only to realize that we could not afford it. And if something we liked was out of stock, Rachel would come up with great alternatives. Overall, we had a great experience and would highly recommend Ellyn and Rachel without any reservations.

Ellyn was an awesome thought-partner on our extensive home renovation, and came-up with design plans that turned our objectives into a beautiful reality! And many of the unique items and features that make the renovation stand-out were suggested by Ellyn and her team. Raising the ceiling in the living room created a unique centerpiece to the house while still maintaining a cozy family atmospher. Additionally, we are particularly pleased with bathroom renovation results. Each bathroom has it's own style while fitting into our overall house design. Ellyn went above and beyond, having spent a considerable amount of time assisting us with project management while we were out-of-town. Designer Rachel Helms, also was a wealth of information and gentle hand while guiding paint, hardware and plumbing choices. Rachel's keen eye and continuous follow-up helped to streamline the design process. We highly recommend Ellyn and her team.

Per a friend’s recommendation, we were introduced to Ellyn to provide insight on how we could best maximize the space in our home. Upon a consultation, Ellyn was able to quickly provide a number of ideas and we hired her to redesign/reconfigure a significant section of our house allowing for a new office space, laundry room, 1.5 baths and open concept kitchen and living area. She has been an invaluable resource during our remodel! She is available to answer any questions we may have and has remained in constant communication with the contractor ensuring the job is completed correctly. We have also used the interior design services provided by her designer Rachel Helms. Rachel has done an excellent job listening to our interests and providing design choices that are affordable and match the style of our home. I can’t imagine undergoing this remodel without Ellyn and Rachel and their guidance.

We used Ellyn Amador to design the remodel or our home starting in early 2017. She produced a design that encompassed every aspect of the task including demolition, structural changes, and the finishing touches. We found her services so helpful that we kept her busy throughout the project and she was able to work with our contractor and clarify design issues as well as anticipate unforeseen problems and develop work arounds. We decided to use her designer, Rachel Helms, and she quickly dialed in to our tastes and presented several options for the interior including paint colors, hardware, tile, grout, carpet and especially plumbing and lighting fixtures. Ellyn and Rachel also caught some issues with selections we made and found substitutes at their own expense. She also kept to our budget and schedule. We feel that Ellyn made the best possible use of our space and the final product exceeded our expectations. We would use Ellyn again in the future and highly recommend her.

We hired Ellyn to help us reconfigure/add additional space after a unexpected, but welcomed, transition brought our daughter and granddaughter back to Texas. She was everything her website described and more. She listened to us describe our needs and wishes, and came educated about building codes and restrictions in our neighborhood. She provided creative ideas to help us meet our needs, and ultimately drew several options to remodel or add on. She was very professional and easy going after we changed our minds multiple times about what we thought we wanted to do with our house. We loved all of the design options she came up with and look forward to moving ahead on one of them.

We worked with Ellyn on a home remodel and we could not be more pleased. She is a delight to work with! Ellyn is highly skilled, a creative problem solver, an outstanding communicator and she has marvelous ideas. Ellyn is also very thorough, patient, professional and honest. We learned through this process to trust her completely, her eye for and experience with design are second to none. More than once, we did not agree with her ideas, but went with them anyway and we are so glad we did. Each time, we loved the end result. Additionally, the fact that she and her husband have grown children and are well acquainted with the various stages of family life makes her input and plans so practical, versatile and easy to live in, not only now but into the future as well. Every construction project is difficult but working with Ellyn made it as pleasant and stress-free as possible. We also had the pleasure of working with her designer, Rachel. She too is a great listener and was able to hear what was important to us and apply that to paint color, lighting, hardware etc. She walked us through many decisions that we have been very happy with. Moreover, they both care about each of their projects as if it was their own home.

Ellyn is a wonderful architect to work with! She designed a kitchen/den and bathroom remodel for us. We could not be happier!

Working with Ellyn is a joy. As a contractor, I appreciate her attention to detail. It makes my job so much easier. As the one who must navigate the "minefield" that is the many city governments in our area, I know that Ellyn has provided me with all the information I will need to secure what building permits we will need in a timely manner in order to keep the project moving forward. Plus, Ellyn is at the job site 2 to 3 times a week to make sure the job is going according to spec and that any deviations from the plans are caught early. That way delays are avoided and we can complete the project in a timely manner, which makes us look good to the client. I would highly recommend using Ellyn Amador as your Architect on any remodel project.

Ellyn was recommended to us by a friend to help us add on to our new house. After our first meeting we knew that she would be someone we could work with and who would give us the guidance we needed to do the job right. Ellyn charges for the initial consultation, which is different from some, but we felt the money was well spent. She spent several hours in our home looking at all the options and talking to us about what we were really trying to accomplish with the expansion, and she gave us a few ideas we had not heard from anyone else. There was no sales pitch - the session was truly about listening and giving us advice, which we paid for and were therefore free to take elsewhere if we wanted to. But of course we didn't. Ellyn is now working on our "as built" drawings and we are looking forward to the next step!

Ellyn has great ideas, temperament and insights from the conceptual planning through construction phase. We have worked on several projects ranging from small kitchen remodels to a full structural addition and remodel together.

Complete kitchen and living area remodel as well as master bedroom addition. Ellyn's timeless design helped us gain the full potential of our 50+ year old home. We have storage, open floor plan and flow which were lacking in the original home. Her idea of open shelving in our kitchen is one of my favorite features. Skylights in the master bathroom bring in natural light while maintaining privacy.