Paola One Design - P.O.D.

Paola was our architect on a gut renovation of our 100 year-old Tudor home. We'd initially chosen another architect for the project but then felt somewhat lukewarm about the initial ideas presented. We are glad we eventually switched to Paola. She listened to what we wanted and delivered a plan that was what we told her we wanted and more. And it didn't end there. Any renovation project, we eventually realized, has to be designed twice - once based on what you expect at the outset and another based on what you actually find when the house gets torn down. We ran into some challenges and also pleasant surprises at that point. Paola worked with them to develop a new plan that was even stronger. Then, she proceeded to oversee construction with great focus and an eye for details that we would not have even thought of. Most people dread the idea of home renovation. But with Paola, it was fun. Along the way, as she explained her thought process, we got a little bit of design education, and she was open to our ideas and input, which made us feel like part of a creative team. We highly recommend working with her if you're looking for an architect who knows modern design.

Paola is the best architect out there! So creative and dedicated. She designed our gorgeous remodel and was a pleasure to work with!

We recently completed a whole house renovation with Paola, and she was an absolute pleasure to work with. We showed Paola a few photos of the modern design we had in mind, and her creativity and imagination took over from there. Her process - from the renderings to the presentation of a myriad of ideas - makes what is typically a difficult process fun and easy to work with. Paola holds herself - and the contractor - to a very high standard, and we appreciated her attention to detail at every point of the project. She has a remarkable way of finding creative solutions to any issues that inevitably turn up during a renovation. Her vision exceeded out expectations, and we would give Paola our highest recommendation for any project.

Paola designed and oversaw a stunning build of multi-level back porch, which transformed the back of our property from a bland space that we didn’t use much to a stunning space (interior and exterior) that we use all the time. Paola was great to work with!

Paola saved my house. The first architect I hired took over a year to design a house that went over budget by more than $400,000. Paola took on the project, worked within constraints from that first design effort, and quickly designed a house on budget that I like much better than the first attempt. She was easy to work with, very responsive, and understood my needs. Her smart choices meant I could have an open, sun-filled contemporary residence that I can afford.

Paola One Design is one of the DC-area’s finest residential architects and designers. Two of her recent projects have been/will be featured in our modern architecture tours in the DC-area. We chose her works as they are true shining examples of how to breathe new, modern life into an older home. In 2018 she completed a renovation and modern addition to a 1938 Tudor style home in Bethesda. With help from original drawings, she focused on rediscovering the home by eliminating the haphazard 1980s additions and marrying a new, modern addition to the older, elegant design. The new addition forms an L-shape with the original house and pays homage to it by using a modern version of the same industrial materials: metal, brick, glass, concrete, wood. The result is a warm and inviting home with a more functional sequence of spaces that lends itself to a contemporary lifestyle. In 2019, she is finishing another renovation and addition; this time to a 1950’s brick rambler, that carefully preserves most of the original footprint, while adding a new life and (literally) new levels of modern living to the property. Paola is dedicated to her clients and shows the utmost care and love for each of her projects and clients. It is rare to find such expertise and attention to detail combined with such an amazing attitude and positive approach to all projects and clients. I cannot recommend Paola One Design (both the work and the person) enough, especially if you have an older home that you are looking to update.

Working with Paola Amodeo has been a pleasure throughout the design and construction of our house. We decided to work with Paola based on an alignment of our interest in a modern renovation of mid-century brick rambler. Paola took the time to understand our vision, presented concepts, and worked iteratively with us to arrive at design that reflected our vision. The finished house not only met our design vision, but far exceeded what we imagined when we started. Paola has sometimes challenged us with design options that we might not have otherwise considered, but now that we have incorporated them in the house we are glad that we did. She is closely involved during the construction phase and has worked with the builder and us to resolve issues as they come up. Our project would not have been possible without Paola's ability to help us navigate the design and construction phases. We highly recommend Paola's design services.

It's rare that you meet someone that takes what's in your minds eye and make it a reality. I distinctly remember my first impression of my home when I saw it with doors and windows. I remember coming to a standstill and my heart racing, for what seemed liked eternity. That moment is now etched in my memory forever. I love the space you've created for me. Thanks Paola for making my dream space a reality; and also thank you for making the architectural process a walk in the park.

Paola tackled our complicated project after FOUR other architects tried and failed. From her original designs to her careful eye during the construction, she turned our small, ill-designed house into a beautiful, functional, family home. I would recommend Paola for any small to super large projects. She can do it all.

We have worked with Paola on multiple projects and are always blown away by her designs. She is easy to work with, has a great sense of humor, is very caring and has a lot of passion for her work and design. Her clients love her because she goes the extra mile to ensure that all of them are getting what they want within their budget. Her projects are all very unique and none are "cookie-cutter". She makes award winning projects that include green building and modern aspects that incorporate well with new and existing homes. We are very happy to have established a great working relationship with her. Two thumbs up and five stars all around!

Paola was our architect for the remodeling of our home, an old brick Tudor style home with a slapped on clapboard addition. We torn down the existing addition, and asked that a new addition be built, including the remodel of the remaining parts of the home, so that the old and the new parts of the home are integrated. We chose Paola for several reasons: (1) she understood our vision from the very onset. In fact, she was able to articulate many ideas which I did not think of myself. She appreciated why we wanted to conserve the remaining parts of the house, and came up with her own vision and concept of the final outcome – the preservation of the old brick house, complemented with the new addition of metal and glass, to create a home which is very chic, modern while paying homage to the original. (2) her design aesthetic. I saw pictures of her former work and was instantly drawn to them. They were thoughtful, well-designed and confident. The homes were looked like they could easily have been featured in Dwell. We loved the final design of our home. It was not only creative, but also took careful consideration of proportions, the flow of the movement and usage of the house. After the design phase of our work, we chose to keep Paola for the construction phase as well, which has been on-going for the last 8 months or so, with another 4 months to go. Paola has invested so much of herself into our project, including the tiny details - from personally going down with me to a marble and stone specialist to choose my kitchen counter-top, to offering advice on light fixtures. She also did an amazing job working with our contractor, a fine balancing act between maintaining the design integrity of the home, creating ease of construction while keeping the construction cost in check. She has been really accessible to me throughout the process and listens closely to our needs, and proposes solutions. Paola is clearly such a talented and passionate architect who designs beautiful and functional homes. Through our interactions with Paola, she is now more than an architect, but a friend to us. She is a gem and a great person. I’m so happy we found her.

Paola transformed my tired, disco-era townhouse into a stunning modern masterpiece. She effortlessly balanced functional needs, style, and budget in the design of what ultimately became a major get renovation project. Paola was also invaluable throughout the construction phase. With the endless choices that arise when the contractor is on site - sink height, cooktop clearance, grout color - her guidance has clearly resulted in a cleaner, more usable, more visually appealing result than if I were on my own. Perhaps the greatest part of working with Paola is that she quickly learned where to push me ("Try this bold color!") versus where to let me experiment (especially in LED lights, where I had a clear vision). Based on my experience, I highly recommend P.O.D. for any major design project. One little caveat - I call dibs on her time when I'm ready for my next project.

Paola’s creative design work, diligence and professionalism exceeded our expectation at every opportunity. We knew we wanted to a clean, modern feel for our renovated home. What Paola gave us was a light-infused, beautiful, one-of-a-kind modern home that also respected our budget. We wanted modern aesthetics that still had a family feel and she delivered 100%: creating spaces that fit our family, maintaining the original footprint of the home and paying special attention to interior flow and finishes. She supported us through the entire process. Not only did she create an inspiring design, but her guidance about fixtures, countertops and finish details was tremendous. It was also important to us that our remodel be environmentally friendly. Paola shared our philosophy and her design was a Green Choice award winner in Arlington, VA. We are incredibly grateful to Paola for our wonderful home.

Paola transformed our modest split-level house into an open, inviting and I have to say pretty stunning home. Unlike other architects we interviewed for our project, Paola really listened to what we were trying to achieve, understood what was most important to us, and then designed something that delivered on our wish-list and was within the budget. She then saw the project through the construction phase, ensuring attention was paid to the details and the overall integrity of the design. She managed the relationship with the builder – which was extremely helpful – and was always available and eager to consult on any and all aspects of the months-long project. It’s rare to work with someone so talented, committed, professional and kind.

We had owned our house for a number of years and had never really been happy with a few aspects of it. It had no curb appeal and an awkward layout with dangerously steep stairs. The house is in a great neighborhood in close proximity to Washington DC, great restaurants, schools, etc. so we did not want to move. Then we met Paola. We had interviewed other architects and design-build companies but were never sold on their suggested projects. Paula, however presented a new idea -- a modern addition that would solve all our concerns. Armed with detailed renderings of what our house could be, we were quickly sold on this new idea. The end result is terrific. We have a smart layout, safe stairs and a beautiful new exterior. Paola's idea was smart and cost effective. Plus, Paola was present throughout the entire project helping us ensure that the design we were sold was brought to life. After the build was complete, Paola helped us do the interior design of our new, modern space. We truly love our home.

Paola Newman is a colleague from our architecture school days together in Michigan. To this day, Paola remains extremely positive and passionate about her work. She impressed many during our days of education and continues to impress through her dedication to her work. Congratulations to the fortunate individuals who hire her talented skills for your project.

We always knew we wanted a modern, open floor plan home in the DC area and Paola has been great through every step of the process. We engaged Paola very early on, when we were reviewing properties for our large renovation. She was always willing to meet at the property to share insight and put forward ideas which was extremely helpful in selecting the right home for our renovation budget. Paola is very thorough and detail oriented and her drawings and renderings enabled us to envision our home before construction began. We feel that our ideas and changes have always been heard and reflected throughout the design/drawing process. Paola has also been very respectful and mindful of our budget and presenting ideas that are beautiful within budgetary constraints. I also must add that Paola is very responsive, and has always made herself available via email, phone calls or meetings. Our home will be completed in a few months, but it has been a great journey and we look forward to enjoying our dream home soon.

I hired this company to help me with an interior design project. I had an idea of what I was looking for, but when I saw their design, it far exceeded my expectations. Beautiful design, creative, practical. She is also quick, responsive, and a pleasure to deal with. I highly recommend Paola!

The project was a complete remodel of a North Arlington colonial built in 1942. It involved re-imagining the structure as a energy-efficient, modernist home of light and steel. (And all while maintaining the same footprint!) The architect designed the home, organized the contractors and managed the project through all phases of construction. Communication, responsiveness and attention to detail were all of the highest quality. The project was a challenge on many levels and its success is the product of brilliant design and unrelenting diligence.

Very innovative and original design ideas Great personality and a pleasure to work with Always available to discuss project details and execution Professional and dedicated in every phase of the job