Architectural Designers in Grantham

“"My wife and I had pursued several options as we developed a plan for our home. In many cases we were frustrated with the input we were receiving, so we began looking at timber frame plans because of their openness and creativity. It seemed that an architect familiar with timber framing had a special eye for the type of features we were looking for in our home. We contacted them and we were pleasantly surprised when they informed us that they were happy to assist in designing a home that accommodated our needs. We were frustrated because we had general design ideas but couldn't put it all together and needed the creativity of an architect. Bonin Architects did a wonderful job in working with the best of our ideas. They assisted us with difficult site issues and we are now able to go forward with the construction of the home confident the home is filled with our ideas and their expertise.””

“Smith & Vansant is a phenomenal architectural firm. In fact, working with them renovated not only my house, but my life! After 15 years or so of living with the property more or less as I found it, my tiny 1850 Cape needed long-overdue renovations -- including improvements to all major systems, solutions to a big water problem in the basement, a new kitchen, a new roof, adding working and living space, and a home office, along with extensive site work and landscaping. From a design perspective, they are simply brilliant. They have a fantastic aesthetic sense; know how to integrate old and new in a way that is pure genius; and are skilled problem-solvers. I wanted the house to be more liveable and comfortable, while still honoring the antique details that had drawn me to the property in the first place. Pi Smith and Stephen Branchflower in particular not only listened to me all along the way, but heard me. They gave me exactly what I had hoped for. From a practical perspective, I needed to live in the house while this was going on, and they were sensitive to my need to carry on amidst the upheaval. They worked closely with the contractor, Lud Leskovar, to assure that I was comfortable and inconvenienced a little as humanly possible while the work was being done all around me. Smith & Vansant, Lud Leskovar and I worked closely as a team. The kept me informed as to costs all along the way and helped me make decisions that took into account my both budget and my dreams. They were endlessly patient and always kind. Everyone in this close-knit firm is a pleasure to work with, operates with the highest integrity, and knows what they are doing. I can't recommend Smith & Vansant highly enough. For photos of this project, see "Houzz Tour: Beautiful, Hardworking Cape Renovation" on this site.”

“Sonya Misiaszek came highly recommended to us by friends who were satisfied clients. It was very important to us that we had an experienced architect who would complete the job in a timely manner, would listen to our needs and wishes, had a good working relationship with the general contractor and his subs, and who was sensitive to the pristine wooded lakeside setting in which our 5,000+ sq ft home was to be constructed. We lived several states away from the project and were very pleased with Sonya's management of the design and construction and with her help in making decisions from afar. Sonya incorporated all of our unconventional ideas that made this house unique and dearly loved by our family. She included secret spaces for each of our children, two screened in sleeping porches with panoramic lake views, a loft on the second story looking over the kitchen, two stone fireplaces, a large walkout basement with ample storage space and a large boat room. She helped us select natural finishes that gave the house the interior "golden glow" for which we were hoping. We also specifically asked for the house to have a "camp like" feel, and Sonya's familiarity with New Hampshire inspired her to add camp sinks in the kids' rooms, painted floors and horizontal pine paneling (some distressed) and ceilings throughout, and stained rustic skirl siding on the exterior. This house is solid, and there is nowhere that we feel safer. It is very cozy, virtually pest proof, and it not only fits into its natural surroundings but also feels like a true reflection of us. The property came with a number of building restrictions and environmental protection issues. Sonya's patience and persistence kept the project moving, and it was completed in less than 14 months. Our expectations were exceeded.”

“We took on a big renovation project in Vermont, while living out of state. We hired Pricilla Cotton as our designer and David Cotton as our Architect . From the get go we knew this was a very wise decision! Together they were able to help us envision what the home would look like and were able to make our dreams a reality. They were creative, with a terrific eye for detail, color and overall design. They always presented several options and were willing to work with our suggestions. They frequently checked on the project in our absence and sent pictures, allowing the project move along at a better than expected pace. In addition, they were mindful of our overall budget, making tactical suggesting along the way to contain costs. Overall, we are thrilled with the final project and both David and Priscilla terrific help along the way!”

“I renovated my 1905 home in downtown Hanover, NH in 2009. The renovations included new bathrooms, but the challenging changes--and the ones most important to me--were the ones that transformed my kitchen and the adjoining dining area. I hired Haynes and Garthwaite to plan the project, do the drawings, and supervise the work. I worked closely with Andrew Garthwaite. I was, and remain, so pleased with what was done and how it was done that I am hoping to persuade Andrew to do the designs for my condominium in Cambridge, MA. The Hanover renovations achieved what I wanted them to achieve, stayed within the limits of the budget Andrew and I had established, and were more exciting than stressful to live through. Before the work, the first floor of the house was relatively dark. The spaces were cramped and impractical for whatever activity they were supposedly destined (cooking, entertaining...). The kitchen was an awkward L-shaped thing with dreadful cabinets, appliances in illogical places, and basement stairs in an unfortunate spot. The dining room was too small to accommodate even eight people comfortably. I showed Andrew the open-floor layout of a recently-built condo and basically said: reproduce this effect in my house--without destroying the character of the house. Amazingly, that was exactly what he did. A useless outdoor porch became part of my new dining room/kitchen. The basement stairs were moved to an outside wall, where they were out of the way (and also easily accessible, through a new outside door, to plumbers and electricians and other people with muddy boots). Lovely, well-designed cherry cabinets and drawers complemented grey-black granite counters. An island separates the kitchen from the dining area, where I recently fed ten people comfortably. New windows mean that the entire kitchen-dining space catches first the morning and then the afternoon sun; recessed lighting and attractive hanging lamps take over after sunset. I have two armchairs, a coffee table, and a large Bijar rug between the dinner table and the kitchen island. Even though the house has two studies, I now tend to work sitting in one of the chairs in the dining area, simply because the aesthetics of the space are so pleasing. Three old bathrooms--each with its own set of problems--are now thoroughly updated. Everything works, and the bathrooms look attractive. In the bedrooms, closets and built-ins have enhanced storage space without making the house look like a victim of identity theft. Thanks to Andrew's skills and dedication, we started with excellent and precise plans. But Andrew was constantly available during the project, watching for unanticipated possibilities as well as problems. The results were really terrific. I recommend Andrew and his firm without reservation to anyone embarking on a renovation project.”

“Don Bladja and his team at Koal PLLC have provided remarkably professional and creative work product for our home development efforts. It has been a joy to see our vision unfold with Don as he deftly works with our builder, his structural engineering partner, our cabinet maker, and others on our complex project. He has taken a very rough plan, started by another architectural firm with which we were unsatisfied, mixed in quite a number of unique and complicated requests from us along with forbidding site restrictions and has turned it into a detailed set of drawings that has "wowed" all with whom we have shared. Our builder and his tradesmen have easily implemented our shared vision straight from Don's plans. Many of our complicated requests, including a float room, sauna, elevator, and golf simulator/theater/business conference room combination (to name just a few) started as simple ideas scribbled on a napkin. With Don's expertise and experience, he quickly showed us many alternatives; turning our crazy simple sketches into detailed plans that worked within our uniquely challenging house footprint. It has been an absolute pleasure working with Don and his team. We only wish there were more than 5 stars to rate Koal PLLC, so you would more fully understand how impressed we have been!”

“CMK Architects is an incredibly talented firm with a diverse portfolio. Their designs are both environmentally friendly and visually stunning. CMK Architects has the ability to create both functional buildings such as schools, firehouses and police stations as well as impeccably crafted private homes. CMK Architects has a vision that blends creativity and logic. I would highly recommend CMK Architects to anyone who is looking to create a unique space.”

“Currently working with this architect on a custom home in southern Vermont. Works closely with us, is fastidious, smart, and patient! He blends building science with a creative, stylistic eye. I trust him completely.”

“Chris brings a brilliant approach to home design. He quickly delivers a plan by capturing the desires of the owner. His design signature is unique and a breath of fresh air to the custom home market.”

“Thank you Kate for helping us to brainstorm ideas, design and assist in creating our forever dream home with your thoughtful and mindful architectural suggestions! You listened intently to our vision to produce a structural design that would work with our existing home, built in 1985, and stay within waterfront protection restrictions and open up striking views of the water from nearly all directions. With new windows and wall of glass sliding doors, we can’t believe how much natural light has been added to our home. We wake every morning seeing and feeling the warmth of the sunrise to start our day peacefully, calm and stress free. We now feel so connected to the outdoors, being able to view all the wildlife in their natural habitat. Many of our neighbors also comment on how beautiful and tastefully done the exterior of the home is and how it continues to fit into the charm of the Henniker area despite the large additional footprint. You are an extremely talented and trusted local professional gem who is creative, easy to work with, and very responsive given the timeline and budget for our project. We are very proud of and love the work you did and highly recommend you to manage any project large or small. You proved to us and the contractor that you are able to successfully handle any challenges, changes, or curve balls that come your way and make it all work out beautifully.”