Hulburd Design

I have worked with Holly Hulburd and her excellent team for over a year. Holly has been creative, responsive and a great listener in our ongoing home renovations and expansion of storage solutions. Because I was in a panic without adequate storage, Holly quickly organized new cabinet and kitchen re-design and a stunning library space in our home. Holly has also guided us in furniture selection both from mass retailers as well as custom options. Her access to fine craftspeople to do everything needed, from cabinetmakers to stone installers, upholstery, and electrical work has been outstanding. (We're in SF where getting skilled people to do "small jobs" is near impossible.) Holly is flexible, a great communicator and warm presence. She never lets constraints alter the quality of the job, and her staff is highly knowledgeable, responsible and customer-oriented. I highly recommend Hulburd Design.

Holly and her firm were fantastic to work with! Holly recognized immediately that the home's architecture had a lot going on, so her focus was to provide clean lines and minimal aesthetic, well, except for the roof deck, which was pure disco! We really like how the furnishings grew mainly from the blue kitchen island so as to reinforce, not compete with, the architecture. We would definitely work with Holly again!

As a San Francisco-based general contractor, we have done several small to mid-sized projects with Holly and her consummate staff of professional architects and designers. We have also referred HD to clients who have subsequently enlisted her firm for interior design and architectural services. Across the board, Hulburd Design has exceeded expectations. From the construction end of the process, we find her blueprints, designs and details to be builder-friendly--easy to interpret and execute, yet elegant in function and finish. I highly recommend Holly for all your construction, remodeling and interior design endeavors.

I spent my entire educational and work life focused on design. In 2006, my wife and I built a new home in Mill Valley, CA. It was a monster project. Once the house was finished, I thought for sure with all my "talents" I would be bale to tackle the interiors with the same vigor. I tired. I have an unlimited supply the of best furniture and lighting as I own 5 showrooms full of the best furniture in the world. Some how, each configuration fell short of the significance of the house. I raised the white design flag and called Holly. We argues for months like brother and sister. Holly painstakingly stayed with me on all my journeys, each time infusing a clear perspective of how to turn a house in to a home. It was an eye-opening experience. Before Holly, I would come home to a house that looked like unfinished business. After Holly, I come home and I feel a veil of serenity and accomplishment. It's still difficult for me to admit I couldn't do it myself, but the fact it, I couldn't. And Holly did.

My wife and I have worked with HD since 2001 and we have had them do at least 3 separate projects on our home. The first experience was a significant interior remodel that took over 9 months. the other projects have been one month to 5 months in duration. We have been so happy with Holly and her team and I can't say enough good things about the quality work, the hand holding through the process and the follow up on all the little things that inevitably need to be completed before the job is done, done, done. I would and do work with HD again and again. phil

We did our first project with Hulburd Design almost 15 years ago when we moved and remodeled our kitchen. People often ask me if I would change anything about my kitchen, but it was so well-designed that I wouldn't change a thing, even after all this time! Holly at Hulburd Design has an eye for details and making sure that everything makes sense in the space. Working with Holly has been such a fun collaboration and we have continued to work with her, recently remodeling three bathrooms. We have learned so much about what makes good design and our house is livable, functional, and beautiful.

We couldn't be happier with our decision to work with Holly when we renovated our apartment in San Francisco in 2008. It was a pleasure to work with her and her team through the whole process. Holly has great taste and a wonderful sense of what fits with her clients. She helped to make all of the many design decisions, from paint colors to door pulls, fun and easy. She was also very helpful during the construction phase and stepped in to ensure that the project stayed on course. In the end, we feel our home is comfortable, beautiful and perfect for our family. We love Holly and she has become a great friend over the years.

Hulburd Design did two projects for me. The first was a complete decorating assignment for an apartment. Holly's work captured my personality perfectly in all aspects of the design. Execution was flawless and they took all the pain out of the project. Not only do I enjoy living in the space, but I get constant complements about it. I was very impressed with the firm's design skills, knowledge of brands, fabrics, craftspeople, service folks and even obscure sources. Their organization, discipline, care, attentiveness and ability to stick to budget was impressive. Because it went so well, I hired Holly for a second project -- to architect and manage a complete remodel of an older apartment in SF. Hulburd's combination of architectural skills and decorating skills made for a fabulous finished product. Everything came out as planned and once again the firms care in every design detail, attention to timing, budget and quality, made for an outstanding finished product. If I built another home from scratch, remodeled another one, and/or decorated another one, Hulburd Design would be the first firm I'd call.

We have been working with Hulburd Design since 2002. The project—now our home--worked out so well that we have worked with HD on subsequent projects, large and small, and have recommended the firm to others who were looking for a gifted architect/designer. We had bought a 100-year-old house that was stately on the outside and rotten within. We had to gut the interiors and start afresh. Hulburd redesigned the interiors to suit our sensibility and family needs. Though rebuilding the house was a long haul, Holly’s skill, experience and creativity made it a pleasure. She brought together great design and beautiful materials—wood, stone, tiles, textiles--used in the most understated way. She was super-responsive to our concerns and helped us make informed choices. She and her colleagues paid keen attention to detail--the subtleties of fine finish work that made all the difference in marrying old and new into a harmonious whole. Thanks to HD, our home is light, airy, welcoming, warm and practical. It sure doesn’t scream “DESIGNER!” We appreciate Holly’s design aesthetic: subtle, refined and clean. We appreciate not only the work but also the chemistry of the relationship.

Hulburd Design brought light and order to our homes and workspaces. Five jobs and counting, our relationship with Hulburd Design has been inspirational. We hired Hulburd Design because they are both an experienced architecture and interior design firm with a large and loyal network. Hulburd Design understands the symbiosis between all areas of construction and works seamlessly with other teams – managing projects on time and within budget.

Hulburd Design is one of the most creative, forward-thinking design firms in the architecture and design field. Holly Hulburd with her team at Hulburd Design is one of few architectural firms in San Francisco that has the amazing ability to help you achieve your vision. As a consultant, I have worked with hundreds of people in the construction industry over the last 35 years. I think if you want a creative team to get your ideas manifested, I would use Holly. Plus that she is a lot of fun.