building Lab, inc.

5.025 Reviews

Design-Build Firms

11x Best of Houzz winner

Online consultation

Eco-friendly

About Us

San Francisco Design Build Firm
Best of Houzz 2013 - 2021

To our clients and associates,“We hope you are staying healthy and productive while staying at home. Like many of you, we have adjusted our job flow and process by working remotely. While this transition has certainly presented challenges, we are grateful to be able to continue working on design and construction planning. Many of the tools we use regularly (pdfs, 3-D models, and online meetings) allow us to extend existing relationships and even develop new ones. During this recent reopening, we are able to conduct site measurement, preparation, and construction of new projects with careful implementation of social distancing and personal hygiene. If you are thinking about a remodel/new build, we are very happy to discuss possibilities with you and move your project forward.” building Lab is an award-winning firm specializing in thoughtful and highly refined residential design and building. We are passionate about modern architecture, dedicated to precision quality construction and committed to green building practices. Our clients come to us with visions of creating a perfect home for their family. This may mean locating an ideal plot of land in the community they love and building a dream home from scratch. This may mean fast-forwarding a tired mid-century gem into a stylish 21st century edition. It may also mean upgrading an older home with more current function + feel. Facilitating the process of bringing such dreams to reality is our mission at building Lab. To find out more about our processes, please call 510-420-1133 or email us at info@buildinglab.com with a brief description of your remodeling/home-building plans. We look forward to chatting and listening to your ideas. The bL Story: Skilled in carpentry at a young age, principal Stephen Shoup received his formal architecture training at UC Berkeley (M. Arch) and The Architectural Association in London. He started building Lab in 2001 based on his belief in a holistic approach to the design and building processes. With a team of talented designers and project managers, bL is involved in any number of residential categories: from new construction, whole-house remodel, addition, kitchen and bath, custom cabinetry, to master planning and landscape. In 2003, Stephen had the good fortune of purchasing a workshop from a well-known woodworker who was retiring and proceeded to develop a modern office compound that has become our headquarters today.

Services Provided

3D Rendering, Architectural Design, Architectural Drawings, Barn Design & Construction, Basement Design, Basement Remodeling, Bathroom Design, Bathroom Remodeling, Building Design, Deck Design, Energy-Efficient Homes, Green Building, Home Additions, Home Remodeling, Home Theater Design, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodeling, Landscape Plans, Lighting Design, New Home Construction, Project Management, Site Planning, Sustainable Design, Custom Homes, Fabrication of Cabinetry & Furniture

Areas Served

Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakland, Orinda, Piedmont, San Francisco, Tiburon, Belvedere, Belvedere Tiburon, Marin County, Hillsborough, Atherton, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Ross, Kentfield, Fairfax, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa, North Bay, Sonoma County, Napa County, Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Contra Costa, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, San Mateo, Belmont

Awards

Best of Houzz 2013 - 2021 Remodeling Magazine - Grand Awards and Merit Awards - various years NARI Platinum Awards and Grand Prizes - various years

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30 Projects

San Rafael, CA

Credentials

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Write a Review

25 Reviews for building Lab, inc.

5.0|25 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

5.0

Value

5.0

witts

Relationship

Client

We hired building Lab to overhaul our existing two bathrooms, rework our entryway and laundry "nook", and to revamp our small bedroom into a master suite, which included building an addition onto existing roof space. We knew we loved bL's aesthetic after looking over their portfolio; we were won over by Stephen Shoup's honest and straight-forward approach to client relations. We were looking for a team we could trust with the design and build, and also to deal honestly with expectations around expense and timing. Stephen and his team delivered beyond our hopes on all fronts. Our project was held up by a neighbor dispute, and bL was with us every step of the way, acting with their usual integrity and patience. The entire team at bL were always listening to our ideas and thoughts about design, yet also willing to lend their advice, given their design expertise. I could wax on about how delightful it was to work with the bL gang, but, more importantly, at the end of the project we were left with a stunning new master suite, new gorgeous bathrooms, and a more welcoming entryway; all reflecting the beautiful design, craftsmanship, and care of building Lab. We wish we had more projects for them, simply for the pleasure of seeing the gang, but alas, they made our whole house so beautiful it will surely serve us for a very long time. We heartily recommend bL.

November 16, 2020

Terry Chang

Relationship

Client

Stephen and his team were a pleasure to work with throughout our home improvement project. We all know communication is key for success, and they made the journey to finished product as smooth as could be, by keeping us informed and responding to us with professionalism, respect and courtesy every time. buildingLab remodeled our existing shower as well as full demo and remodel of our small ADU.

January 28, 2020Last modified:January 29, 2020

Shannon Wirtz

Relationship

Client

We hired buildingLab for the design of our multi-phase whole house remodel. Living too far for buildingLab to also do the build phase, they helped us identify the right build firm and stayed actively involved in the build process offering a partnership with the build company and ensuring the end product met their design intent and high quality standards. While we stayed within the footprint of the original house, everything about the layout changed. The design process was very collaborative. Stephen and Hide listened and took the time to get to know us, our living style and design needs. They asked questions and offered unique design solutions. Not only was their style aligned with ours but since they took the time to get to know us, we trusted completely their recommendations on product selection. Months after each design phase there was a circle back about anything we would do differently around design or product selections. Everything was then fed into the learning process for a future project. Any questions or concerns were immediately addressed. We enjoyed working with Hide and Stephen and love everything about our new home. Some of our favorite features are things we never would have considered without their suggestions. Their attention to detail and high quality standards coupled with a genuine customer focus makes working with buildingLab a unique and positive experience.

December 31, 2018

Alan Dow

Relationship

Client

building Lab served as our architect for a whole-home remodel plus landscaping for our mid-century modern home. Even though we did not change the footprint of the home and made only minor changes to the layout, the transformation was dramatic. We felt that building Lab listened well and valued our input in the design process. We are very happy with the outcome: a simple, clean, harmonious design, beautiful yet restrained, a comfortable dwelling that makes sense and will continue to make sense for some time to come. We were not completely prepared for the time and expense involved in such a project, but the end result made it worthwhile. We had an excellent general contractor and subcontractors that each contributed to the outcome. But building Lab was involved from start to finish and ensured that it came together in the right way. Great job.

April 4, 2018

Comment from building Lab, inc.:

Alan,
Thank you for your kind words. It has indeed been our pleasure to have worked with such mindful and engaged clients. You have a rare gem of home and we have very much appreciated sharing in the effort to bring it forward to suit your needs.
Gratefully,
Stephen Shoup

Lee Byron

Relationship

Client

building Lab designed and oversaw a whole house remodel for our home from 2014 to 2017. Stephen and his team have an incredible eye for detail, went above and beyond in understanding our aesthetics and practical needs and proposed numerous unique and inspiring details throughout the project. They were collaborative, invited us into the design process, and iterated quickly based on our ideas and the natural constraints of the project. The practicality of understanding how each design detail would be built brought both inventive solutions and helped us understand early what would be possible and why. Working with the same team through both the design and build phases brought peace of mind, greatly reduced the degree of project management I had to take on personally, and resulted in a consistency of accountability from start to finish. When surprises occurred (as they always do in a substantial renovation), design details were quickly adapted with the same thoughtfulness. building Lab treated the entire project with a true pride of craft and the results are simply stunning. I would recommend them without reservation.

January 11, 2018

Comment from building Lab, inc.:

I am deeply grateful for your stellar review. The credits go to our entire talented team, professional field crew, and amazing collaborators and sub-contractors. We take pride in every project we undertake, be it large or small. We aim to balance the desire for highly refined details and finishes, with the consideration for the client’s practical requirements and budget.

But this whole-house renovation stands out because you were a truly engaged and knowledgeable client and the project scope was extensive. Your interest in unique architectural details made our conversations particularly rewarding. This was a rare and most happy circumstance where we could have lots of creative freedom in pursue of innovative solutions. Besides myself and our design team, our engineer, installers, and fabricators all recognized this project was something special. Our photographer Scott Hargis spent extra hours trying to capture the luminous light quality and the ‘cool’ details! We can’t say enough how fortunate we feel for having this opportunity.

Karen Lee

Relationship

Client

I started looking at Eichler homes for inspiration for our whole house remodel and found photos of Stephen's house on Houzz. My husband Lester and I loved everything about it. We wanted to keep the original design of our 1952 Eichler-inspired home as much as possible and needed an architect who could help us realize our aspirations and guide us through the design process. Luckily for us, that architect was building Lab. Stephen and Hide are fantastic and fun to work with. Stephen and Hide have a very strong design style and aesthetic (which we love). They helped us explore different concepts throughout the feasibility study phase. They provided us insights about each concept, so we could understand how the design would impact the way we move and use the space and how each space or element would relate to one another. My husband and I learned so much from building Lab and we appreciated the level of thoughtfulness in their designs. We worked with building Lab on subsequent design phases, which included finalizing the design, budget and scope we wanted to move forward with for the remodel project. Stephen and Hide provided us invaluable guidance with the general contractor bid process and proceeded to develop all the construction deliverables for our remodel. Even though building Lab hasn’t been heavily involved during the build process, they have been very helpful answering our random design questions along the way, from fencing to back patio pavers to kitchen cabinets to closet door handles. There are so many details and decisions we had to make - we would often ask ourselves, what would building Lab do? We’re so happy with everything that we’ve been able to accomplish for our home remodel with Hide and Stephen by our side.

January 1, 2018

Comment from building Lab, inc.:

What a nice start of the New Year to receive such kind words from a client! Hide and I together with the building Lab team are deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with you and Lester. Likewise, we also felt that you both were fantastic and fun to work with.

As in any successful projects, the most important ingredient is the mutual understanding and appreciation among the key decision makers. In this case, we were delighted that you and Lester were both passionate about MCM design and aesthetic. Your desire to respect the original essence of your Eichler-inspired home while finding ways to update the home into a 21st century edition was very similar to my own approach in remodeling my home in Marinwood. Needless to say, working with clients who were ‘on the same page’ was such a pleasure.

We wish you and your growing family many years of enjoyment in your newly remodeled dream home!

Warm regards,
Stephen

Jeff King & Company

Relationship

Colleague

We recently collaborated with Stephen Shoup and his team at building Lab for a stunning, thoroughly modern master bathroom remodel. This project called for complex architectural detailing, where the intersection of materials became the highlight. They put great value in the creative process, turning challenges into opportunities. We enjoyed working with the building Lab team and look forward to collaborating again.

November 3, 2017

Nate Williams

Relationship

Colleague

As a structural engineer I work with a lot of architects and contractors. The design process and implementation can make a huge difference in how difficult my job will be. Building Lab not only makes my job much easier but also makes it enjoyable. It's a collaborative process through design and construction, which makes the project run more smoothly and results in a higher quality end product.

October 12, 2017

defauw design & fabrication, inc.

Relationship

Colleague

We have worked with Stephen and the Building Lab team on several projects. It's rare to find a collaborator with which we find so much in common- attention to detail, seeing a project through to completion with care and patience. I can highly recommend that any architect, client or fellow contractor or vendor work with them, you will not be disappointed.

September 18, 2017

Schwartz and Architecture

Relationship

Colleague

I would trust building Lab with any of our designs! A true partner with a keen eye for design and construction. Stephen was a pleasure to work with and I respect him greatly.

March 22, 2016

Comment from building Lab, inc.:

Thank you for the kind words Neal! We often look back at the experience of working with you with great appreciation. Both for the opportunity to realize great design and to work with a productive and collaborative team.

salsop52

Relationship

Client

building lab designed a new master bathroom for my existing house in San Francisco. The builder referred to it as a jewel box, which describes how we feel about the result. The designer re-imagine a space that was broken into barely useable sections and combined them into a logical flow that is both aesthetic and practical. Now I love taking showers in my bathroom and just admiring the rest of it while in the shower!

February 26, 2016Last modified:April 9, 2016

Susan McGarry

Relationship

Client

We hired buildingLab to do a 3-month kitchen remodel in San Francisco and they were great. It was a collaborative design process, which we really appreciated. Their aesthetic is clearly modern but they were able to problem-solve around some tricky issues in our traditional San Francisco house. For example, when we removed a wall, suddenly we were looking at making one cohesive room out of 2 rooms with very different styles. BuildingLab came up with a creative solution that really works. The crew that realized the remodel was excellent too: on time, clean, and professional. They were respectful of our neighbors, and of the fact that we were living in the house during the remodel. Most importantly, their work was great and anything that we found wrong, they fixed without giving us a hard time. A year later, we still love our kitchen!

January 23, 2016Last modified:January 24, 2016

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5 Ideabooks

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417 Comments

Commented: what are the dimensions of the space?This space is about 16'X24'. Thanks for your interest.

April 19, 2021

Commented: Is it possible to have a close up image of the privacy fencing?Thanks for your interest. The slats are 1"X2" redwood and they wrap around the end posts. See this other photo on Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/modern-ranch-in-san-jose-modern-ext...

April 14, 2021

Commented: floor tile name?You are correct. The mirrors are installed in such a way that they appear to be integrated with the light bars. Thank you for your interest.

February 7, 2021

Commented: what goes best with hardwood?It is not easy for us to recommend without seeing the actual space. A safe bet would be to install hardwood to match your existing flooring.

January 24, 2021

Commented: what kind of floor is it and?The flooring is a white oak wide plank by Provenza. Thanks for your interest.

January 10, 2021

Commented: Exterior colorsYou are most welcome. Good luck with your project!

December 6, 2020

building Lab, inc.