Architectural Designers in Stoneham

“Charles Rose Architects designed a 2000 sq foot house (with as much deck) for us on an island off the coast of Maine on an oceanfront site that had never before been developed. Charles took great care in siting the house in relation to the water, woods, and other islands so that every room in the house would have stunning views unique to each room. He listened carefully to our values, priorities, thoughts and concerns throughout the process, and cared deeply about all of the details from start to finish. Charles and his fantastic colleagues were an absolute joy to work with -- for us as well as for the builders and tradespeople involved -- responsive to everyone's input, full of ideas and problem-solving, patience, good-humor, enthusiasm and professionalism, as well as great humanity. They treated everyone with respect and were accessible all of the time, even years after the project was completed and we had questions about maintenance. The house exceeds our dreams -- it feeds our hearts, minds, and souls. It is in harmony with Nature that surrounds it, provides the intimacy and privacy we'd hoped for, and its architectural beauty uplifts us daily, like no other home we have ever lived in. It is a refuge and a beloved home.”

“Joe Fournier did some great architectual design work on two large projects we did. A large remodel on one property and an almost complete rebuild on a second property. Joe acted as GC on the second job and did a wonderful job keeping things moving, helping us get good decisions made in a timely fashion and working closely with all the trades to ensure the work was coordinated and of high quality. The transformations to our properties were hugely successful and Joe was instrumental in helping us get to a place where the homes work so much better for our lifestyle. Highly recommend Joe's work (and already have several times).”

“We have worked with Carl Solander on several projects (large and small) on our 3 family in Brooklyn, NY. He helped us with a full basement reno, 2 bathrooms, and outdoor deck work. We were extremely impressed with his comprehensive knowledge of materials. His designs are modern and beautiful and a pleasure to live in. And lastly, he is awesome to work with- great listener, great work ethic. We have recommended him to several friends who have all been very happy. We are about to use him again on our biggest job yet and are so excited to see the results.”

“Glen is absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to hire him for my next project. He has such great new ideas”

“We worked with Leaf Design Associates at the suggestion of our builder. The entire experience was a pleasure. We were very clear about what we wanted and Richard was able to translate our wish list into two different sets of drawings and a third suggesting things we had not thought of and a re-design of our kitchen. In the end, we mixed and matched to come up with a final set of plans, including a new kitchen and are thrilled that we did. This was a redesign/addition to a historic home. Richard worked upfront with our builder and excavator to make sure the design worked within the restrictions set by the Historical Commission. The plans were approved by the Commission on first pass and they noted how pleased they were that the addition looked like it belonged on the original house. Overall, an excellent experience and we highly recommend Leaf Design Associates.”

“Full architectural design, material procurement, construction management and interior design for high end ski home. Amazing attention to detail; high quality; responsiveness. Overall a great project experience. High recommend services.”

“Paul Rovinell and I first worked on a project together over 10 years ago. Paul hired me to design a kitchen. He has since hired my firm to collaborate on many more kitchens throughout New England. I always admired his restrained aesthetic and his efforstless falir for modern spaces. When it came time for me to transfrom my UGLY 1960 time capsule Paul graciously accepted the challenge. We had so much fun designing it! He listened and delivered. My husband and I were THRILLED with the result. Paul is an architectural force. So orignianl and creative - I cannot say enough - Paul is a true talent.”

““You can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse” - Maybe not, but Doug Okun and Associates did succeed in turning what was once attic space in a Victorian house into a third floor modern suite. Indeed, by moving walls, and re-configuring space, he managed to create two bedrooms, a bathroom, a sizable closet and a gracefully curving staircase from the second floor. What had been dark, even claustrophobic, rooms became the bedroom level of a two story condo unit in a very desirable location in Somerville, Massachusetts. Doug worked closely with his contractor to see us through an at times arduous permitting process. In every respect he was indispensible.”

“Diane Lim brought fresh, creative, thoughtful design skills to a tricky remodeling project that involved joining two very different condos in a Back Bay building into one unit. We had worked with her once before on a kitchen remodeling project, which turned out great! She knew our style, which is why we went back to her for this most recent project. Throughout both projects, she was highly professional, knowledgeable, and on-time with her work. With an open and positive outlook, Diane listened to our ideas, and communicated well with our contractor. I have already recommended her to friends, and wholeheartedly recommend her now..”

“I am delighted to give my strongest possible endorsement to the architectural work of Shelly Wood Ziegelman. We worked together on four projects in the past six years: my extensive house renovation and, at Harvard University, two office redesigns and space planning for a first floor public space. The results were all spectacular (see below). In all four projects Shelly maintained excellent working relationships with contractors, trades people and involved Harvard personnel. This is a remarkable testament to Shelly's warm respect for everyone she works with which, naturally, is repaid in kind. In summary: I live every aspect of my life in wonderful surroundings that have been created by Shelly Wood Ziegelman. I consider this a great blessing and I am delighted to recommend Shelly to anyone who wishes to be similarly blessed. My association with Shelly began with extensive renovations on my house: extension of internal dining room and bedroom areas to include space previously devoted to exterior porches; conversion of the attic into an entirely new space for office or guest accommodations; creation of a ground floor bathroom; and complete renovation of a second-floor bathroom. Shelly's designs were elegant and beautiful, enhancing and modernizing the spaces while remaining true to the 100-year-old style of the house. The newly created third floor space incorporated light, space and a spectacular view and is now the nicest space in the house. Shelly worked seamlessly with me, matching her suggestions to my taste while concomitantly minimizing cost. She is extremely knowledgeable. For example, she knew specific features to accommodated my elderly mother's physical limitations. Shelly always kept the issue of her time and the costs of her services in clear perspective, up front, so there were no surprises. I next asked Shelly to assist in three projects related to my professional circumstances as Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University. (i) She did a total gut re-design of my office, creating a lovely, light, well-configured space accessorized with the perfect furniture and curtains that provided privacy without blocking light. (ii) When I moved, Shelly designed my new office, in a smaller space and an unforgiving location, again to spectacular effect. Everyone who enters, including my colleagues, says "what a wonderful office". Essential features were somehow included in a light, open space. (iii) My move also placed me on a wide, empty airport-like corridor. I asked Shelly to help create a friendly space, which she did. In all three projects, Shelly maintained an excellent working relationship with involved Harvard personnel (including architect John Hollister), exhibiting all of her unique professional skills in full force. Nancy Kleckner Herschel Smith Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology Harvard University”