Klopf Architecture

We have worked with Klopf Architecture on 3 house projects. We chose them because of their excellent reputation working on mid century modern homes and we have been so pleased with all of our projects. Angela has been the primary lead on the 3 projects but John has also been involved and they all collaborate to obtain the best outcome. The design has been excellent as well as the communication and organization. I would highly recommend this company!

We worked with Klopf on a remodel of our Menlo Park, Eichler-style home. While we ended up stopping the project due to complications from covid-19, we very much wanted to recommend them. We got as far as submitting permits to the city, but not through construction. John and Yeg, who we worked with primarily, are excellent listeners. They took the time to understand what kind of feel we wanted for the home. After hearing us out on any topic they'd help us understand our choices and tradeoffs in a way that was clear and easy to understand. Throughout the design phase they were on top of everything and detail oriented. We had regular communication and updates and always knew where the project stood. Finally the results were great. The design we came up with was very well suited to us and we felt good about what tradeoffs we did have to make to stay in budget. Overall a very professional firm that produces top quality work. Highly recommended.

We bought a Modern-ish house in 2013 which was built in 1976. Good Modern bones with a few character/design flaws in its original iteration. I experienced two stalled attempts to find a great architect to help me realize the vision for the house. In May 2016 I made a third push to find a great professional to partner with me on this project -- winnowing 12 architects to 10 to 8 to 2 over the course of the summer. By fall we were down to John/Klopf Architecture and one other firm. Both firms described logical design ideas but how daunting it was to consider "placing all your chips" on one bet with one firm! I had definitely entered "analysis paralysis". My solution was to conduct a mini "Design-Off", hiring both firms for 6-8 weeks to flesh out ideas for the facade of the home -- the big challenge for which I could not visualize a solution. This proved to quickly (and widely) separate the two firms, in two important areas: 1.) clarity of translation of my vision into actual design, and 2.) method and manner of collaborating with me. First -- on the translation of design -- John and his team "got it" out of the gate. The designs delivered demonstrated they listened intently to what was important to me. And, they were visually stunning! John saw in our house's bones masses and shapes to emphasize which made our house look like a whole new house vs. a remodel. But, the early designs were not perfect, which brings me to my second point re: method/manner of collaborating. John and his team worked fast and iteratively with me to review sketches in order to quickly get on the same page of likes and dislikes. It was important for them to propose some big ideas and get my reaction -- have me push against them, add to them, or dismiss them. This turned out to be the most fruitful part of the process. Not only did I now know Klopf could fix the facade of my house, I learned our work styles meshed. I cannot emphasize this last point enough. So, Klopf won our "Design-Off" and we sprinted into the design of our whole-house remodel. John's pragmatic candor brought needed guardrails to my ideas for the project -- allowing us to push the envelope while still keeping a realistic budget with great alternatives and proposed compromise solutions. I would describe his even-keeled approach as "tranquility at pace" -- he is incredibly responsive and keeps things consistently and smoothly moving forward, deftly directing difficult conversations in such a way to keep everyone aligned on the goal and playing their position on the field. As noted in other reviews, Klopf's attention to detail is second to none -- builders and city planning councils alike laud this trait. Bottom line, I highly recommend Klopf Architecture!

Our family really enjoyed working with John and his team for the design of our modern home. From start (initial questionnaire) to finish (tour of finished home), the Klopf team was knowledgeable, friendly, and extremely professional. They look great care to evaluate all of our needs and fit that into the design of the home. Their design aesthetics are fresh and sharp. The finished home is beautiful and suits our lifestyle perfectly. They also take extreme pride and ownership in their projects. Unlike some of the architects we interviewed prior to hiring the Klopf team, they didn't just drop a finished design on our lap. Instead, they helped to project manage throughout the permit and construction phase as well, which was a huge plus for inexperienced homeowners like us. We also really appreciated having a single point of contact (Liu) who was always prompt and helpful, and the rest of the team would jump in to help when needed. When issues arise (we'd be lying if we said our extremely complicated project had no issues), the Klopf team always approached it with a candid, positive, problem solving attitude, and never once played the blame game. That is unique and says a lot about the team. We cannot say enough good things about the Klopf team and would not hesitate to work with them again.

We had a wonderful experience working with the Klopf team for our major Eichler remodeling in 2016. From the first meeting with John and his project manager/architect Liu, I was impressed with their professionalism and the high standards of work they could delivered. Throughout the 10 months process, they were very responsive with any questions we had, meticulously organized with information regarding finishes and materials. That made the painful process in decision making so much easier. John is especially helpful in helping us resolve issues with our contractor, with his expertise, and great reputation in the Eichler community, the contractors are more likely to listen to him than the homeowners. That made a huge difference in our experience. We are very happy with both esthetic and quality of the design, and Klopf Architecture’s excellent services as well. If I ever wanted to remodel another Eichler home, I would use John again!

When my husband and I began the process of planning for our remodel, we had a very hard time finding a reputable architect, who would respond to our calls, and who matched our modern style. So, I went out on a limb and contacted Klopf Architecture after seeing their beautiful work in Dwell Magazine. I was so impressed by their portfolio, but was worried that they would not be interested in our project or they'd be too expensive. Thankfully, I was BLOWN away by their interest in our project (which started out small and grew to involve our whole house) and reasonable prices. John and Ethan were very responsive and took the time to get to know us, the desires for the flow/function of our home. They gave us amazing options for the floor plan of our home, which lead us to expand the scope of our project and we couldn't be happier with the results. I also found that they were so respectful of our budget and worked to design within our limits. I was also happy to find out that throughout the construction process, there were very few issues that came up, requiring changes. The drawings were so detailed and well thought out, that it made the construction process virtually seamless. Additionally, the Klopf team provided assistance with picking out some of our finishes, so that when it came time for me to make final selections, I had a document ready to go. It was so helpful to have direction in this area. I could go on and on about the excellence of Klopf and their team and have offered to be a reference for them. If you are looking for a modern style architect, I could not imagine finding any better team. Thank you Klopf, for helping us create our dream home!

We hired Klopf Archirecture in 2015 and decided kept them to the end of our project. We bought our Eichler with the intention of expanding. However it took us years of hesitation to make the jump. Years of researching, yet I still kept coming back again still loving all of Klopf’s portfolio -they are on point to Eichler’s distinct inside outside seamless style. There became only one choice for us. John Klopf and Klara, our project manager worked and communicated well us and our contractor. Home remodeling is disruptive and major indeed but with them on my team, I always felt that they got everything simple, under control, and in the right direction. No regrets. Highly recommend.

We hired Klopf Architecture to renovate our 1960s Eichler which was in dire need of updating. The scope of our project including removing an interior wall, expanding and reformatting the kitchen layout, eliminating a hall closet to expand the master bathroom, in addition to updating much of the plumbing and electrical and refinishing most interior surfaces. Our goal was to be true to the Eichler aesthetic but update with modern finishes and original touches- Klopf was the perfect team for this. While we had a pretty good idea of the things we wanted to do, John and his team were an invaluable resource with a wealth of knowledge and definitely worth the investment. They created a very detailed set of plans including materials, fixtures and finishes which made the contractor bidding process an easy comparison and ensured that the construction process went smoothly. Klopf’s taste, experience and approach to design made it easy to trust them throughout the process. John also helped us tailor our plans based on our budget so that we focused on work that should be done at the same time while identifying items that could be done at a later date. We are very happy with the outcome of our project thanks to Klopf Architecture. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to remodel an Eichler or for any other modern style project.

In the summer of '15 we bought a Mid Century Modern home that needed a full renovation. We wanted to carry through the core architectural principles applied to the original design while folding in some of our own form and function preferences. We reached out to a number of architects who were known to have done work on homes from this era and after our first conversation we felt very comfortable with Klopf. John and his team were top of the line professions -- their ideas, knowledge and client service as good as it gets. We worked in partnership as we evolved our plans. They made much of the process easy and their approach to making as many decisions up front so that we could go into construction with almost a fully baked plan (down to materials selected) helped us and our builder move through the build as quickly as possible. We really valued the team's eye for how everything would hold together and they did a ton of research on specific materials -- from fixtures to finish materials to paint colors. We would strongly recommend Klopf Architecture for people who have ideas and opinions on what they want, want to be involved and need a great partner to bring ideas and push them on theirs.

We hired Klopf Architecture to renovate an Eichler I had recently purchased but was in need of repair. Based on Klopf Architecture’s portfolio, it was clear that they were not only familiar with but also experts in Eichler design and remodels. The design process was thoughtful and collaborative. I found working with John and Klara to be seamless and smooth. I also decided to hire Klopf Architecture as the Project Manager for construction, which was a fantastic decision. Their weekly walk-throughs with the contractor and attention to detail throughout the process minimized the stress and anxiety of the renovation. The result was a beautifully refreshed home where we often host friends and family. I unequivocally recommend Klopf Architecture if you are interested in renovating your mid-century home.

We are more than delighted with John's design of our brand new house. He came highly recommended and my husband and I are happy we decided to work with him. Spending the time up-front planning and deciding every detail made the whole project go relatively smoothly. We have been in our house since April '16, and love how John and his team (Klara and Jeg) listened to what we wanted down to sun exposure studies that are so very accurate, keeping the sun out in the summer and in during the Fall! The attention to detail was superb!

We hired Klopf Architecture to alter the layout of the home, which also involved a small addition, and move and renovate the kitchen. We worked with Geoff Campen on our project. He was a pleasure to work with: reliable, creative, easy going, sensitive, responsive, experienced, and knowledgeable. When I agonized over a decision, I always found great relief in his advice. In all, we are so thrilled with the outcome of the renovation.

We hired Klopf Architecture to remodel our 1966 Ranch Style house located in San Diego. Even though they were not local, we loved their designs and aesthetic and knew they would be the perfect match for our project. From the initial interview through the construction phase, Klopf Architecture has been incredibly attentive to the project and responsive to any questions or issues that arose. We also appreciated their flexibility in incorporating many of our suggestions and design requests into the plans. And when we did need a design suggestion Geoff always quickly responded with multiple fantastic ideas often supported with 3-dimensional renderings to help us visualize the outcome. We truly enjoyed working with Geoff and Klopf Architecture. Even though our project is still in the construction phase (stay tuned for project completion photos) we talk about using Klopf Architecture for future projects.

I hired Klopf Architecture to design a major remodel of my Eichler home, including a complete reconstruction of the bedroom wing (3 bedrooms and 2 baths) and a significant kitchen expansion. I enthusiastically recommend Klopf Architecture to other potential clients based on the very positive experience I had. When we met to discuss the project, John Klopf asked a lot of questions and listened very carefully to my answers to make sure that he understood what I was trying to accomplish by remodeling, which was the major reason I chose him to work on my project. His subsequent work, from the conceptual designs to the final selection of components and finishes, showed that he really took this to heart and kept my priorities in the forefront rather than trying to impose any preconceived ideas on the project. He came up with creative, simple and elegant solutions to design problems, preserving and even enhancing the mid-century modern aesthetic of the house’s design with sensible updating. He remained sensitive to cost, offering economical design alternatives so that I could stay within the project budget. It was a pleasure working with John on the project. He demonstrated high standards of personal integrity and was a calming influence throughout the inevitable stresses of a major remodeling project with his unfailing graciousness.

John Klopf and his project manager Klara Kevane were great! They helped shepherd us through our long remodeling road (long because of our constraints, not theirs). Klara was very good with details and patiently and resolutely steered our project toward good design, including on details that would otherwise have been lost on us. We appreciated John's straightforward style. They definitely added a lot of value and I'm sure saved us a lot of angst and pain. We also liked our contractor Keycon, and the Klopf team worked well with Keycon, even when there were different opinions around the table.

Klopf Architecture worked with us for 2 projects - a bathroom addition and then a second phase to add a family room and remodel other areas of the house. They are really great at maintaining the mid-century modern esthetic and the additional parts fit well into the house - most people cannot tell where the changes were made since they blend so well.

When my husband and I decided to update our Eichler home, we did not hesitate to contact Klopf Architecture. We had met John Klopf earlier in an Eichler event, and found him and the team very knowledgeable and resourceful. They helped us to create a "new" home with Eichler philosophy intact. Our concerns and questions were always answered promptly and respectfully.

My wife and I hired Klopf Architecture to help us create the home we always wanted and envisioned, and the results were nothing less then perfect. John and Geoff and everyone at KA really helped guide us through every phase of the project from start to finish. While our home was not necessarily complex, it was instead an exercise in creating something incredibly simple and clean, based around a very specific lifestyle, and environment. The timeframes and budgets - once presented - were right on the mark. And as mentioned, they walked us through the incredible complexities of building a custom home from the ground up. The project was complete on time, and honestly there was simply nothing that needed to be adjusted. I hope this is the first, and last, time we will need to do this, because we are quite spoiled at this point! Honestly - we can't say enough!

My husband and I hired Klopf Architecture shortly after buying an Eichler house. We wanted to open up the space, enlarge the kitchen, reconfigure the master bedroom and bathroom, and update all the finishes. Klopf came highly recommended from our neighbors, and I liked John Klopf right off the bat. He is a straight shooter who is realistic and knowledgeable about Eichlers and budget. Overall, Klopf and his team were the highlight of our remodel. I can't recommend them enough. Klara Kevane was our project manager, and we loved working with her. She was extremely responsive, detailed, thoughtful, and organized throughout the entire process from design to construction. Klara and John answered my endless questions patiently and thoroughly. I especially liked that everyone at Klopf is technically savvy. We were able to communicate via email, text, and phone. I was worried about not being able to meet for meetings during the design phase, but the diagrams, markups, and 3d renderings conveyed the information very clearly. During construction, we met onsite weekly. Klara emailed weekly meeting minutes to everyone involved, took photos, and documented progress and open questions. Having lived in our house for a year now, we absolutely love it. The new layout achieved all our goals, and we use the space exactly as intended. Everything flows seamlessly. Thanks Klopf, Klara and team!

We wanted to update our Eichler with modern amenities while preserving the essence of the original design. The Klopf team (we worked with John and Angela, who were both excellent) immediately got what we were trying to do and were our most professional partners throughout the process. Our contractor, Michael Meyer, Fine Woodworking, was the third partner in the trio and Klopf's team was able to work well with them and subs effortlessly. One of my favorite parts of the project was when we were trying to get dimensions right for our fireplace based on an inspiration photo we really liked. Angela used 3D modeling and send rendered images for our consideration of many different layouts so we could be sure we'd get it exactly right. (you can judge for yourself from the photo below) Overall, we are really pleased and have no reservations about recommending the whole team.

We loved working with Klopf Architecture on our remodel. John and Klara helped us keep the mid-century modern feel of our Eichler while updating the house to better fit our needs. We took the house down to the studs and redid the electrical, plumbing, and windows. We also rearranged the bathroom layouts, moved the kitchen to open up the floor plan even more, and added on a small addition. Overall, everyone we worked with at Klopf Architecture had great attention to detail and was very professional. John and Klara were very responsive to our questions, concerns, and needs. We had a couple in person meetings at the beginning, and then set up a shared Evernote group and Houzz ideabooks. Through lots of discussions and email threads, we ended up with a design that was exactly what we wanted. During construction, we had weekly site meetings with the contractor and Klopf. This was so helpful for troubleshooting issues as they came up. Klara was so organized and really helped make the construction process go more smoothly, she was also great about connecting with manufacturers and getting technical information when we needed it. Working with John and Klara was the highlight of our remodel, and we’d definitely recommend them!

We enlisted Klopf Architecture for a mid-century modern addition/remodel project. As purist Eichler enthusiasts, it was incredibly important to us that the new meld seamlessly with the original and we knew that such a feat would require the skills of an experienced professional. We had admired several previous projects executed with Klopf Architecture and knew that their work was consistent with the aesthetic we hoped to achieve in our own home. John was remarkably adaptive to our needs. We had a clear vision for our project and John was able to help us realize it, despite unforeseen code and structural limitations. We felt that he listened carefully and adapted to our needs as clients. He was never pushing his preferences or ideal, but was always striving to achieve our vision. The design itself was the result of a highly collaborative and iterative process. John and Angela (Todorova) consistently came up with terrific design solutions - practical, functional and simple, which made for a beautiful outcome. In addition to the design phase and permit phase, we also asked for Klopf services through the construction phase, too. We were incredibly skittish about embarking on such a massive endeavor after a tumultuous experience on a smaller project years earlier with a rogue contractor. John and Angela were incredible throughout the entire process, starting from the demolition to the completion of the project. Whenever we encountered errors or problems, they were supportive, helpful and resourceful. We depended on John and Angela to be critical of the craftsmanship to ensure a quality result. They were very open with our contractor and never hesitated to request changes that were needed and although our contractor was excellent, it was a relief to have an ally during this phase of the project. John was reliable, dependable, levelheaded and professional regardless of the situation. The commitment to their projects is unparalleled. We enthusiastically and without reservation recommend Klopf Architecture.

John and his team have worked with us on several large projects. Originally we chose John and his company based on their design portfolio and knowledge of mid-century architecture. We weren't sure if we needed the extra expense of an architect at first but in hindsight I cannot imagine going through construction without using his firm. They not only helped handle permits, property lines, engineering etc, but also monitored and double checked the construction and kept the project on track. He and his team are incredibly responsive and answer questions and concerns quickly. I also agree that John is very patient and knowledgeable and works with you even when some of your ideas seem off the wall! Our house has more projects in its future...we may not use the same contractor but John and his staff will definitely be involved in all of them.

The best decision we made when we decided to remodel our newly-acquired 1949 mid-century modern house was to work with Klopf Architecture throughout the whole process. Our project was a complete gut and restore job. For the remodel, the original house footprint was retained while the interior was reconfigured to utilize the space more effectively. John and Liu of KA transformed the dark, cave-like two-bedroom house with a tiny kitchen and no master suite into a light-filled, open home fulfilling every item on our wish list, plus more: master suite, great room featuring a kitchen with ample prep space (see photo), third bedroom, pantry, and laundry room. Thoughtfully placed skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows now flood the house with natural light and bring the outdoors in. The house is much more open and feels bigger, with better flow and practical use of space. Both aesthetically and functionally, it is now exactly what we had been hoping for. What was once a house that prospective buyers couldn't run out of fast enough is now a home that guests and strangers admire in awe! John and Liu are a pleasure to work with - they are friendly and professional, listen carefully to our preferences, solve problems, pay attention to details, and are responsive, creative, and thoughtful. They were able to work within our budget, which at one point involved modifying some of the design to reduce costs while maintaining the aesthetic goal. They provided support throughout the construction process, giving key input not only on the design, but also assisting with interpretation of change orders and supporting us during the more challenging times. We look forward to the landscape being installed so that we can truly appreciate KA's "bringing the outdoors in" design!

We've been working with John Klopf for over a year now - preparatory to starting a major renovation of our Eichler home in Diamond Heights. We are updating materials, interior and exterior, with some interior changes to make the great original layout work even better. We took out time to work through design options - and to be thorough in our planning. John has been great to work with - good understanding of what we wish to accomplish, offering some brilliant design solutions, while being respectful of budget. We're about to start actual construction so ... another report in in a few months.

We hired Klopf Architecture in 2011 to design our new construction residence, a mid-century modern post and beam house. Given John Klopf's track record with fabulous Eichler remodels and additions, we felt confident that he "gets" the style. John and Geoff were very patient with us, listened to our wishes and took our feedback well. We went through several iterations of the design until it all felt right for us. In the end, they designed a beautiful house that accommodates our sense of practicality, yet makes the building look harmonious and aesthetic. We decided to retain Klopf Architecture for the construction phase. I initially thought this was a luxury, but we were surprised how many decisions still needed to be made during construction, despite the very detailed plans. Having Geoff and John to rely on to answer design questions, and to keep an eye on the GC, was very much worth it. After a year of inspiring design development with Klopf Architecture, one year of design review and permits with the city, and 1.5 years of construction, we are enjoying our beautiful new house (http://www.houzz.com/projects/1309962/modern-atrium-house).

My husband and I fell in love with a gorgeous property overlooking the Bay Area with only one problem: a cement brick house that had been built by its original owner in the '60s. Uninhabited for the past 10 years and barely functioning, we knew we had to renovate it entirely, or take it down and build anew, an option we frankly couldn't afford. Thankfully we called John Klopf, who assured us we had a diamond in the rough that could be modernized within our budget. Over the next eight months architect Angela Todorova and John managed our total home renovation from plans to final construction so that today we are living comfortably in the coolest house we've ever owned. The most dramatic improvement was opening up the kitchen by adding floor to ceiling windows where there had been a galley-type kitchen before (see photo). We wanted much more light inside the house, plus completely modern baths, kitchen, and a laundry room. With only 1850 square feet and a lot of funky angles, it was a challenge. They succeeded. And not without Scott Flegel Construction and his talented team. Initially my husband and I considered trying to supervise construction without John and Angela to economize, but we feel our money was well spent keeping them involved until the end. The construction phase presents numerous decision points and problems, especially with an old structure. Angela's keen eye and John Klopf's input along with our creative GC gave us a better house. The icing on the cake was the design for the bar that Angela and Scott collaborated on, the drawing they are proudly showing in the attached photo! We are happy to recommend Klopf Architecture. Christine and John Triska

We had worked with Klopf Architecture in 2005/2006 with a major addition & renovation of our 1944 rancher, and had such a fabulous experience that we spent several subsequent years trying to find another house to "Klopf". In 2013 we came across the opportunity to purchase a run-down 1964 rare atrium-model Eichler in Burlingame, CA with the intention of restoring & updating. We made the decision to purchase this fixer-upper ONLY if John Klopf and his team would be available to help us bring it back to life. With the help of experienced Eichler remodeling professionals like architect John Klopf and his team, our Eichler was upgraded while still staying true to the mid-century modern Eichler spirit. He brought the aesthetic back to 1964, but upgraded the structure to 2014. In our experience, John has a fantastic aesthetic, a positive attitude, great professionalism and communication, and he and his team were a great resource for advice as our projects went from concept to completion. The Eichler was a "full gut" restore/rescue: the house, which was previously inhabited by 12+/- people as a halfway house, and had endured tragic and significant abuse. The wear & tear was horrifying: mystery stains on the ceiling panels; mismatched lighting & paint; grungy carpet; gouged, sloppily patched & horribly stained mahogany walls; chipped & cracked tiles; rusty fixtures; countless fire hazards and exposed wires, etc. 100% of the windows needed to be replaced with double-paned tempered glass, and 100% of the electrical system & wiring needed to be replaced. The configuration of the bathrooms, hall closet & laundry was awkward and impractical, but the bones of the house were good, as were the original copper-pipes of the radiant heating system, though the boiler system did get upgraded to a compact combo unit, controllable with a modern "Nest" thermostat. John reconfigured some of the bathroom/laundry room & hallway space and was able to insert a half bathroom into the previously inefficient configuration of this area of the house. The kitchen was in sad shape and the dining room was dark & depressing...by replacing an expanse of dining room wall to the outside with a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass, then removing the wall separating the dining room and living rooms, John was able to flood the space with natural light and openness, drastically improving the connection with the greenery outdoors. He had the added challenge of a rotting wood & untempered glass front wall of the atrium...it was so unstable it had to be rebuilt, but he was able to move the wall a few feet towards the street, tying it in with an existing structural beam, lending added stability to the new glass wall and front door configuration. This led to an expansion in square footage for the already ample atrium space. By continuing the interior (exterior rated) tile through the outdoor space, the entire property is one seamless, flawless, zen feast for the eyes. The entire renovation from the initial meeting to move-in date and the close of the "punch list" was 10 months. We are thrilled with the open and bright end result!

My HOA hired Klopf Architecture to design new fences, front gates, lighting and paint color plans for our condominiums. They were designed in 1963 by Quincy and Jones and built in 1964 by Eichler Homes. Replacements in the 1990s did not serve the mid-century aesthetic well -- but owners did not want to return to the light-inhibiting original thin-line panel fences and gates. The Klopf team produced three outstanding options. The one we selected includes brilliant design features like frosted glass doors with 1/4-in spaces between fence boards to allow light in along with clear glass doors for the pool area with 1/2-in spaces between boards surrounding it. The overall design and color plan is clean and elegant. John Klopf and his team could not have been more friendly and flexible throughout. We look forward to implementing this design over the next few years.