Michael Lewis Architects PC

We hired Michael Lewis Architects to design a renovation for our mid-century home and can't recommend them highly enough. The project was substantial, from rebuilding the foundation to opening up and reconfiguring spaces, redesigning kitchen and bathrooms, maximizing light and the relationship between the interior and exterior. Michael and his team were highly collaborative and really took the time to understand our vision and work with us in developing a plan. They are great problem solvers and have an inspiring sense of design that synthesizes beauty and functionality.

After interviewing multiple firms, we decided to engage Michael Lewis for our substantial renovation project, which included expanding the foundation (especially tricky as our house is built into the side of a steep cliff), moving walls and creating new rooms, and overall reimagining our space. We also needed to stick within a set budget. What initially stood out to us was Michael's deep understanding of the Rivertowns, including how to design for homes in this area both aesthetically and pragmatically. Would characterize our home as mid-century modern (Frank Lloyd Wright architecture is pervasive in our area of Ardsley) and we wanted to retain and enhance elements that engaged the beautiful nature outside our windows. Additionally, Michael encouraged us to think about the additional functionality we were hoping to achieve through this renovation, which process was an incredibly helpful exercise to home in on what we needed and really wanted vs nice-to-haves / cool ideas we were kicking around. While our initial work was done with Michael, he soon brought in Peter Altomare to do the drawings and represent our project before the town review boards. Wow, cannot overstate how incredible Pete is as both an architect and a human being. First off, Pete truly loves architecture. This is his passion, and that energy bleeds through into his work. He thinks about your project constantly (just as we did), and as a consequence proposes ideas to you throughout the process. More substantively, Pete's drawings consistently reflected our input and his considered thinking. He was timely, communicative, and highly responsive. Before the town review boards Pete was terrific. While Michael joined the meetings (conducted virtually), Pete led and did a fantastic job. In fact, members of each of the architectural review board and planning board commented on how professional and thorough Pete's submissions were. And throughout the construction process, Pete and Michael regularly checked in with our contractors and us, and worked seamlessly with our contractors. Notably, our contractors commended Pete and Michael on their problem-solving to some difficult design elements that unexpectedly cropped up, and high responsiveness which helped to ensure our project was completed more quickly and at lower expense. And finally, it's worthwhile to note that Pete, Michael, and the entire MLA team were just a pleasure to work with. They were timely, followed-up, and always did what they said they would do. And respecting billing, they were fair and transparent. Whenever matters arose requiring discussion, we always reached an equitable solution and were never 'surprised' by something on a bill. Although I don't think we're keen to go through another substantial remodeling process during a pandemic, I can state without equivocation that our experience with MLA was first rate and would recommend this team to anyone looking for a top-notch architectural firm.

The team was great and easy to work with. They came up with a spot-on design for our master bathroom.

Michael Lewis Architects were meticulous, always available, in constant contact, informed on all specs of the project, and very easy to work with.

Mike and his team did a great job drawing up the plans for my project. They were attentive and responsive to my goals . I would use them again for future projects

As a custom home builder, finding an architectural firm that is capable, knowledgeable and great to work with is very important. Michael Lewis Architects PC is just that firm. I am impressed by their abilities and professionalism, along with their knowledge of local codes and requirements. That coupled with his design ingenuity, makes for one of the best architects with whom I have worked with. Their entire team is punctual and responsive to all forms of communications. Michael Lewis Architects PC is creative, pleasant and always ready to provide any needed information.

This is our 2nd time using Michael Lewis Architects for a large project, the first was 20 years ago renovating a NYC studio apartment. We have just finished our second project with Michael, renovating a house in White Plains New York that needed a completely new master bathroom, some kitchen work, creating new closets as well as a first floor study. We would very highly recommend to anyone this firm. Totally professional, knowledgeable and fair.

We were very pleased with Michael Lewis Architects. Both Michael and Mike Martorelli were very responsive to our questions, concerned with our timeline, available to meet with our contractor when needed, and we are very satisfied with our finished project (office entryway and restrooms). We have received many compliments! Many thanks!!

My wife and I cannot stop telling everyone how happy we were with the work that the MLA team did for us. Michael, Brandon & Myles were super responsive (our biggest factor), excited about the project and had fantastic ideas for our gut renovation. They immediately saw our vision during the initial walkthrough and from there came back to us with ideas on how to make it a reality. Most importantly, they’re just fun to be around! Don’t think twice about MLA!

We had a great experience working with Michael Lewis and his team on the first phase of our renovation project and will work with them again on the second half, too. Michael created a beautiful design for our bedroom-addition that corrected a decades-old renovation and produced an end result that fits seamlessly into the original Dutch Colonial style. We really appreciated the time that he and the team took to understand our goals and work with us in shaping the design. And their assistance in selecting a contractor and managing the renovation process has been invaluable. We highly recommend the firm.

Michael & Brandon a pleasure to work. Everything completed in an timely manor and they were always available to answer any questions as construction progressed.

Michael Lewis and team were by far the best architects that we have had hired. They also provide the design ideas and creativity that go above and beyond. Michael's vision, creativity, skills and experience certainly paid in off in actualizing our vision for our home renovation. Plus, he has a great staff who are professional, reliable, smart and pleasant to work with. I wholeheartedly recommend Michael Lewis Architects PC without reservation.

Professional and warm staff with artistic vision. We had to kiss a lot of frogs before meeting this prince of a firm. They understood our aesthetic and delivered a well thought out and insightful design. We highly recommend this firm. Don’t waste time with anyone else. They are extremely responsive to all questions. We never waited for an answer and they patiently explained the process and possibilities.

Michael and his staff put together a great design for our new front walk, stone wall and deck. We are very happy with the results. Thanks!

From the first moment we met Michael, we felt we‘d get along great and we did. From ideation, to the design and construction phase for a project that literally touched every room in the house and the exterior, Michael and his team have been a real pleasure to work with. Michael is insightful, experienced and knowledgeable in working collaboratively with his clients. He ‚got‘ our modern and clean design aesthetic and, importantly, was able to translate it into detailed plans that made the bidding and construction process as smooth as can be. We are very happy with the end result and can recommend Michael to anyone who is looking for an architect to partner with.

Our firm, Groves General Contracting, a second generation construction company has been affiliated with Michael Lewis Architects for over 20 years. During this time we have had the privilege of bringing Mikes Visions to fruition. Passionate, easy going and his vast knowledge of the trades, makes working with Mike a pleasure on every job. His ability to incorporate the existing elements into his work, always makes for a satisfied client.

Michael and his crew have been great to work with. He was always available to answer all of my questions. He was easy to work with, very professional and would recommend him for your next project

We have had a wonderful experience working with Michael Lewis, and we are very impressed with his talent and vision as an architect. Michael showed us how to transform the space in our home, doubling the size of our modest kitchen, while creating a seamless flow into the surrounding rooms. He is insightful in addressing the particular needs of clients, tactfully adjusting his approach to our personalities and preferences. Michael’s meticulous attention to detail has been evident from the earliest stage of planning to the present, as we are nearing the completion of the project. He helped us find a contractor who is well suited to our job, and we have continued to turn to him to oversee progress and to help finesse any stressful situation that arises. Without a doubt, we are delighted to recommend Michael Lewis with appreciation and enthusiasm.

Michael did a fantastic job helping us design our house. We bought an old converted Carriage house and did a gut renovation. He was helpful during the whole process from architectural design, contractor selection, project estimation and oversight to the final touches and project closure. Along this 1 year project we always felt we got the best service and a lot of our demanding requests and suggestions Michael was very flexible and accommodating while providing his professional expertise for additional guidance. We had a fantastic experience and are already designing additional projects for our house with Michael to start construction in 2018.

Michael Lewis Architects PC and more specifically Michael Lewis and Brandon have been great to work with over the past 3 years. Aside from being great architects, we've found them to be very accommodating and patient when it comes to dealing with complex projects that present various moving parts. We’ve referred Michael Lewis Architects PC to other property managers and friends and everyone has been very pleased with the experience. Please feel free to visit us at 145 Palisade Street in Dobbs Ferry NY 10522 to see Mike's work as Michael Lewis Architects PC has been an integral part of the entire restoration and future expansion of this property.

I selected Michael Lewis Architects because of their sense of architectural design aesthetics, creative use of living space, ability to provide a number of space options, and staying with deadlines and my budget. My project involved a 6 month time frame and reconstruction of my house structurally including interior bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets and exterior design and siding. I never had any worries or concerns throughout the project knowing Michael's excellent track record and seeing his past work. He especially was a calming, level headed influence throughout the lengthy project. I highly recommend him and his team. His understanding and sense of contemporary design mixed with classic architectural elements is beautifully appealing and timeless.

Michael and Brandon have been fantastic to work with. They've listened to our ideas and come up with an exciting set of drawings for us. They are responsive, thoughtful, considerate, and fun to be around. They've also handled all the permitting and design review processes, and finding contractors. We're really enjoying working with them.

Excellent design and troubleshooting expertise. Readily available from beginning to end of project. Remodel of basement in a tight space.

We worked with Michael Lewis Architects for a gut renovation of 1750 sq foot apartment in midtown manhattan. Michael had listened to our views on design and incorporated many elements but also did provide quality advice on kitchen, bathroom, hallway, planning early at design stage that made significant functional sense and was especially evident once project was completed. His team is knowleadable in NYC building code to ensure that your design goals can be achieved. He is a true professional, and courteous and responsive. When we needed an amendment to plumbing schedule (due to gas line change) Michael completed and worked with our expediter to file the new drawings in less than 48 hours! We would love to work with Michael and his team again and would enthusiastically recommend him to family and friends.

When last minute variance and COO challenges came up during the sale of our home, we were perplexed to find a starting point and how to locate the right architect for the job. Our next door neighbors gave us a five star recommendation for Michael Lewis. He was gracious and persistently helpful from the first meeting. He and his team are problem solvers personified and brought a difficult situation with time constraints to a positive conclusion. Our neighbors were actually conservative in giving Michael five stars as he was a shining star all the way through. We highly recommend Michael and his vibrant team for their commendable work.

Michael Lewis and his team worked with my family on updating our house. The project included a very significant zoning issue in Westchester County, NY. Michael was extremely helpful in all steps of the process. He is a great listener but knows when to suggest alternative courses of action. The result was outstanding. He treated the project as a personal matter---very detail oriented, very focused on achieving the result we wanted. I couldn't be happier with his team's work for our home.

We give Mike Lewis of Michael Lewis Architects PC the highest rating. We engaged Mike to find a way to create, within difficult time and space constraints, a new bathroom, utility area, and back entrance to our complicated, inflexible, 1906 masonry house. He was extremely responsive on all counts, and quickly understood the house, us, and what we were looking for. He followed through promptly at all stages and designed a creative, affordable solution that works well for us. He's also very easy to talk to. Mike's long experience served us very well; we strongly recommend him.

I loved working with Michael. His listens, is a great collaborator and steered us to fulfill our vision within our budget. He is professional, gets the work done on time and is fun to hang out with.

I have recently completed a project, the total rebuild of my house, with Michael. After several interviews with other architects I selected him for several reasons. He is well organized, has a genuine appreciation for the work he does, is very knowledgable on 21st century building technology and shares a similar sensibility with myself. The house that was rebuilt was a poor example of a 1960's deck house. Michael transformed it into a wonderful modern home. Having never done this sort of thing, I was in need of someone who could take the project from beginning (offering possible visions based on many conversations) through selecting a builder, overseeing the project as we moved along (essentially acting as project manager) and helping with the design of the interior down to light selection. Michael has a wonderful aesthetic. I would highly recommend him.

Michael did an excellent job, he was creative and easy to work with, with good follow-through. I would work with him again.

Michael Lewis Architects despite by a 200 sq ft addition for our house that required careful consideration of structural reinforcements and opened opportunity to improve spaces connected to this addition. In addition they designed 2 substantial roofs to cover 2 entries as well as an rear deck. We could not be happier with the effective and efficient designs. We gained a baby grand master bedroom, kitchen to living area open space, I walk in closet, a upstairs laundry unit and overall better flow to the house. Michael was fair in billing and even understanding of some financial circumstances. We will work with Michael Lewis Architects again

All experiences I have had working in collaboration with Michael Lewis Architects have been a true pleasure. Michael's knowledge and expertise help bring a clear and fresh vision to each of his projects. As a kitchen designer, it is always a great experience to be able to work with an architect who is also open to tweaking and listening to suggestions in order to create final plans which are as perfect as possible for the individual client. Especially when we come in at the very end of the process!

We've worked with Michael Lewis on two complex and challenging projects. His design sensibility, sensitivity to details and willingness to listen to our ideas, while honoring our budget was admirable. We depended on his input and guidance throughout the entire project and drew from his strong roster of skilled professionals to see our shared vision through to completion. He has helped transform what was once a derelict building into a home that is expansive and intimate. I would strongly recommend him and plan on employing his firm for all of our future projects. I can't recommend him enough.

We worked with Michael Lewis on two separate and fairly complicated projects and his work exceeded our expectations both time. He was always accessible and responsive and checked on the construction regularly until it was completely finished. The first project, a complete kitchen, powder room and basement renovation was challenging because the house was built in the early 1920s and our village is very strict and exacting about making changes both inside and out. Michael and his team achieved my vision in each space, worked so efficiently with my contractor, subcontractors, vendors and craftspeople, and forged such a trusting, professional relationship with the village inspector that everything went smoothly from start to finish-- unheard of in this village! The second project was a new-build pool house complex at a vacation house. Michael and his team created a building that so perfectly blended with the existing main house and the surrounding landscape that you would think it was original to the house. For this project, Michael had to work with contractors (builders and landscape architects and contractors) with whom he was completely unfamiliar. Not only did he work well with the other companies, he became the de facto project coordinator and kept the whole job on track. I would work with Michael again in a heartbeat!

10 years ago, Micheal designed and supervised the construction of a large renovation project at our home. We expanded our kitchen and dining area, rebuilt our backyard and converted a crumbling deck into a screened-in porch. Michael's design was extremely thoughtful and responsive to our aesthetic goals and practical needs. The design both indoors and outdoors is elegant and subtle and the whole project transformed our life in our home. All of these years later, everything still looks fresh and new as well as welcoming. Guests still exclaim at the spaces, particularly the screened-in porch, which is our most-envied room. With time, we still appreciate and love the work as much as we did when it was newly completed. Michael was a pleasure to work with, during both the design and construction phases. His design realization of what we asked for was very considerate of our thinking but also wholly unique and expert. The project ran smoothly and was on-budget, which was also much appreciated. Over-all, a great experience.

Michael Lewis designed 3 bathroom remodels in my home. The plans were great and the finished project looks and functions perfectly! I smile every time I walk into one of my bright, clean bathrooms.

Every time I step into my new kitchen, I thank Michael Lewis. We have a small Colonial that had a tiny kitchen, a minute office, an inaccessible powder room and zero flow. Michael's creativity and vision helped us turn our kitchen into the heart of the house. We ended up removing walls, creating windows, moving the powder room, opening up entryways, and now we have an eat-in kitchen that is a total pleasure to be in. Our house now has light, flow and an openness that give the illusion of a much more space. He listened to our needs, and found creative solutions, while being mindful of our budget. We couldn't be more pleased.

We have a center hall colonial that was built in 1917. After living in the house for almost 20 years, we decided it was time to upgrade and make modifications that would more closely fit today’s living while maintaining the “character and charm” of the old house. We had been thinking and discussing the upgrade possibilities for several years and with several architects, but each time that we thought we would do it, something just didn’t feel right. Then we were introduced to Michael (Michael Lewis). We immediately felt that Michael had a sensitivity for the “old” and ideas of keeping the sense of character while incorporating the new. But he first took the time to get to know us, our lifestyle, our goals, and our home before he put down any plans. And when he did start doing the planning and reviewing them with us, we knew we were on the right track, but he was patient with us and listened to our concerns. And we listened to his ideas and knowledge base. And somewhere during this process, we expanded what we were doing because it was the right thing to do for the old house and the right thing for us living here. Michael was terrific during this planning process, but it didn’t stop there. Because of various village codes and the nature of the project, we needed to go before the town’s Board of Architectural Review for approval. Michael was so thorough in his submission that the project sailed through with no issues with the comment “this is how the house should have looked all along”. And then he ensured that the contractor we hired was doing the project correctly and timely. Additionally, we lived in the house during this major renovation. Michael was our advocate with the contractor, helping to minimize our inconvenience. And Michael would “visit” weekly (more often if needed) to make sure progress was being made. Somewhere early on in the process, while the project was ours, it also became Michael’s, as if it was his home being remodeled, and he treated it as such, but had the objective point of view to make sure it was right. The house was remodeled 5 years ago. We completely remodeled the kitchen, moved one bathroom and remodeled three more and we raised the roof and built our master bedroom in the attic. We are very pleased to have completed the project and have enjoyed every day here. And we are thankful that Michael helped to improve our home.

Michael Lewis designed a beautiful curvilinear back deck for us; it turned an unsightly rocky area behind our house into an ornament to our property. Michael is a highly intelligent, imaginative, and personable professional --weI'd hire him again in a heartbeat for any project weI had in mind.

We hired Michael Lewis Architects for a master bedroom renovation. Michael and his team provided a range of design options and took careful consideration of our personal needs. We now have a dream bathroom and 2 walk in closets which we never thought would be possible with our space. We grew to trust his opinions about style, as well as his professional relationships. We hired a custom cabinet maker as well as a contractor that he referred. We hired Michael Lewis Architects a second time to renovate our first floor, which included a family room, bathroom, and cubby area/mudroom. They did an excellent job of designing the exterior to smoothly connect to our existing home at the same time adding many beautiful details. The interior, once again proved to be an efficient use of space and more beautiful then we ever imagined. After having been through several renovations with other professionals, we were please to end these projects within budget, more then pleased with the designs, and it was just nice to have met Michael Lewis.

Michael Lewis is a consummate designer with years of experience, talent, and organizational ability. We felt supported by Michael and his able firm throughout our project. There was a culture of sensitivity to our needs throughout the firm and skillful handling of issues as they inevitably cropped up. The firm worked with our century old house to bring it into the modern age, by retrofitting an amazing kitchen into limited space and converting an unusable attic space into a dream master bedroom suite with dormers, increasing our living space significantly. We highly recommend this firm!