Please note: this page contains reviews and opinions sent in by Berkeley Parents Net subscribers. Your own experience may be different. Please always check references before hiring!

• Is this a fair price for drawings?
• Architect to artfully expand a small home
• Architect to create master plan for future work
• More Architect Reviews from 2006
• More Architect Reviews from 2005
• Architect for modern/contemporary design 2004
• More Architect Reviews from 2004
• Coverting garage to painting studio 2003
• Bungalow-friendly architect 2003
• Design for bungalow addition 2003
• Architect with structural expertise 2003
• Kitchen and bath remodel for small craftsman 2003
• Addition to Glenview home 2003
• Budget kitchen remodel 2003
• More recommendations from 2003
• Designer for kitchen remodel 2002
• Planning a 2nd story addition 2002
• Architect for addition to too-small home 2002
• Kitchen and bedroom remodel 2002
• Architect for major rehab 2001
• Recommendations from 2002 & earlier

• See also: Planning a remodel
• Should I Hire a Contractor or Architect?

Is this a fair price for drawings?

Can anyone out there help with determining whether I've been taken for a ride by an architect? She charged me 74 hours (almost $6000) for the design phase and all she had to show for that is a few drawings. Is that normal? I hope someone with architectural knowledge can help me. Also if you have a good architect, please recommend. We will definitely terminate with this present one. Just trying to figure out how to proceed and what to do next. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer

It sounds to me that you didn't do your homework on hiring an architect who's style matched yours. Most architects will give you a proposal for their work so you don't get sticker shock in the end -- and this proposal should detail exactly what you will get for your money (for example, 3 diagrammatic concept ideas, 4 schematic elevations, floor plan, etc.... depending on the job.) Make sure you get this before you hire your next architect. The AIA website has consumer information on this as well anon

This architect you hired is essentially only billing you $6000/74 hrs = $81/hr. She is cheap! Principle architects charge $150/hr! Perhaps you should have hired her with lump sum payment instead?

I cannot attest to the quality of the drawings she gave you, but most homeowners don't seem to understand the complexities involved in designing a house.

With the fee includes consultations with other disciplines including but not limited to: structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, City planning staff (making sure she is designing something that will NOT get you into trouble with the planning department), landscape architects, HVAC, etc etc etc! Not to mention, sitting down and actually drawing the drawings.

She will also be signing her name to the drawings and attesting that she has followed all codes and regulations and that the building is structurally sound.

$81/hr is a small price to pay to be guaranteed that you are getting a set of drawings that are up to code and will not fall on your head.

Now, if you don't like HOW she designed the house, then you should be negotiating changes and costs.

And, when you signed the contract to hire her, you should have (if you did not), discuss design fees, design changes, and expectations! If you had done all of this, I am surprised you are surprised with her bill! Unless you had discussed a ''not to exceed'' cost, of course her design fees will change, especially if paid by the hour, with changes you request. Bewildered

Architect to artfully expand a small home

We are looking to expand our 1000 sq. ft. Walnut Creek home and I'd like to collect some architects' names to speak to. We are looking for someone who can artfully expand a small home on a small lot so that it doesn't look like a blatant addition (i.e. no rectangular box stuck on) and which maximizes our lot so that it is not 'all house'. Someone with a Rockridge/Berkeley design sensibility would be ideal, not a modernist. The architect should also be strong in structural expertise since we may want to add a second story but don't know how that will work with our foundation. Also, has anyone done work with Bill Mastin recently? There is one very old recommendation for him. I saw a house in Fine Homebuilding that he designed that is exactly what I'm looking for Erin

Architect to create master plan for future work

We find ourselves in the situation of perhaps needing to remodel one bathroom (leaking problem) and realize that in order to feel we've spent wisely and are happy with the outcome, we need a master plan for remodeling other aspects of our house. We cannot afford right now to do all of the work we'd eventually like to do but don't want to have to redo in 2 or 5 or 10 years things we do now. You recommendations would be greatly appreciated! drl

We hired Envelope Architecture + Design in Oakland in 2003 and they drew up an amazing, thoughtful, stylish master plan. We've been working with them on and off as we implement it in phases. They are great young guys with an incredible eye for design, creative solutions for problems, and kindness and patience (important with the inevitable stress of remodeling). If you admire modernism, I highly recommend them.

Envelope Architecture + Design 510-839-0140 http://www.envelopead.com/

-- Nicole R.

Milton is very professional and very client orientated and I think is an excellent architect. I would highly recommend him for other for work. If we have another project or a friend were in need of an architect we would definitely use/refer Milton.

We would highly recommend Milton for architectural needs. Eddie

More Architect Reviews from 2006

I own a 4 unit apartment building in Berkeley's Elmwood District that burned down in August. The exterior walls will remain, but the entire interior must be rebuilt. The property was built in 1921. Can anyone recommend a builder or architect who has experience with this architectural era and knows how to deal with fire restoration? THANKS ida

Hi we are doing a large addition to our house in el cerrito. I would like to have any recommendations for an architect. We already have our design and my husband who is a mechanical engineer has and can draft on autocad and solidworks. But we may need an architect to do the final drafting with all the details etc or better yet someone who we can pay to consult with us as to what details need to be included and my husband can do the actual drafting work. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated
tamara

Hello, Does anybody have a great architect recommendation? This would be for new home construction. We'd like a house style that is traditional with some Craftsman and maybe some Asian influence, so experience in these styles would be a plus! Thank you in advance! Maggie

I just wanted BPN members to be aware of Doug Wolff AIBC. I have a remodeling project in Berkeley that I need plans drawn for. I called Doug Wolff based on his craigslist.org ad and briefly explained my project. After barely a minute of conversation, he said "I'm not going to get involved in this type of project." click. I would not recommend using someone with such poor business skills. Tanya

Hi, Richard Worthy, Worthy Designs, 665-4573 is a licensed architect with a lot of experience with home remodeling (among other things), and the local planning offices here in the East Bay. He's helped several people on the Parent's Network in previous years and is now available again. He's a friend of mine. Very reliable, friendly, cost-effective. Betsy

We are currently working with a start-up architecture firm called Arcsine. They are based out of Oakland. There are only two architects in the firm. We needed to remodel a home we purchased: remodel entire kitchen, effectively add a whole story to our home, remodel master bedroom, etc. Arcsine has been good with the planning and design ideas. Our contractors have liked working with Arcsine, too (big plus!). Arcsine's number is 510-444-2410. Anon

I would recommend Sunny Grewal of G&S Architects. He will help you navigate through the whole process of design, permits and building. He has a real passion for his work. 510-548-7448
Julie

To the member looking for a current recommendation for an architect: my vote goes to Mahmoud Poursand (510-333-3524) gehldesignbuild[at]gmail.com I've recently retired from 27 years as a contractor and he's the best I've ever worked with. Talented and extremely honest and straightforward. Larry G.

We used Chet Zebroski of Erickson Zebroski Design group for a remodel several years ago, and highly recommend him and his partner, Laurie Erickson. We interviewed a number of architects after our home burned in the Oakland Hills firestorm, and ultimately chose to buy an existing house and remodel it. Chet had been the project architect for a neighborms reconstruction and got high praise from their very experienced and respected local contractor. This recommendation carried a lot of weight with us, because we wanted an architect who was realistic about construction costs and issues and easy for both us and our contractor to work with. Chet was all of these and more. Not only did he help me to articulate my ideas and translate them into wonderful living space, but I also consider him one of the most ethical professionals Imve ever met. I hope to have the opportunity to work with him again. Although EZDGms office is in San Francisco, they have considerable East Bay experience. You can contact them at 415-487-8660, via email at ezdg[at]pacbell.net or check out their web site http://www.ezdg.net/home.html
optimoms

Scott McGlashan, McGlashan Architecture, 510 549-2102. Check out his work on the web: http://www.mcglashanarchitecture.com
Melanie

I can wholeheartedly recommend Geoff Holton as an architect to consider. He designed a new home for us and has been a real pleasure to work with. He is a good communicator and a good listener, very reliable. He's interested and knowledgeable about "green" construction, if that's something you want. He works well with contractors, has lots of good ideas, and is a genuinely nice person. He can be reached at 663-9797. His office is in Oakland. happy customer

We have used Peter Brock in Berkeley with his partner, Marina Rubina, to design the Berkeley house we expect to begin in July. Previously, we had a difficult experience with an architectural team, wasting a year of precious time and were both discouraged and disillusioned. A neighbor who is the president of a contracting firm recommended Peter and Marina, who stepped in and we began anew. In a short time, they recognized our needs, our lifestyle and our architectural taste, working to produce what we wanted and needed for our large extended family. With three grandchildren we take care of for two days a week, we wanted someone who understood the dynamics of childcare and an entraining schedule that included 11 of us on a regular basis. As we're seniors (I have a site, seniorwomen.com), we also wanted a house that incorporated 'aging in place' features. Peter and Marina were sensitive and responsive to our needs. We couldn't recommend them more highly: http://www.peter-brock.com/
Tam

More Architect Reviews from 2005

We recently did a major remodel that included knocking down walls, building a staircase to the basement and creating an entire floor with three bedrooms and a bath in the basement. Our contractor recommended an architect who had recently moved to Oakland from the East Coast where he had been doing a combination of commercial and residential.

His name is Bill Engelhardt. We instantly hit it off with him. He was thoroughly professional but has a great sense of humor and a very clear and easy way of explaining what he thinks should be done and why.

Our first clue that he was the right guy was that he instantly saw where we could build the staircase after several other people had been confounded by the problem, considering our relatively compact floorplan. His idea was bold and surprising - and it totally works. He is a fast and reliable worker and his rates seem completely in line with local standards. Most important, we really liked working with him and found his ideas to be tasteful and intelligent.

Highest recommendation.

HIs email is: bill[at]billengelhardt.com phone: 415-572-8895
Jason

I highly recommend Hiromi Ogawa as an architect. We had her design the remodel of our small Albany house and couldn't be happier with her creative and thoughtful design for us. 510 205 8683
poregan

Re: Great Architect in Albany
You should check out Robert A. Wolf in Albany. He does a great job adding on to older homes while maintaining the original character. He has a website: rawconcepts.net Anon

Re: Architect Needed
I would like to recommend Antonio Robles, who is very thoughtful, creative, reasonable, and takes the time to really understand what you're trying to accomplish. He's got nearly 20 years of extensive residential experience of all kinds. He has a fairly full schedule, but always makes time for his clients. Give him a call at 510-717-2796-- you'll be glad you did. lauren

RE: Architect recommendation for front decks
To the person needing an architect to design a set of decks on the front of their house: I could recommend the architect we used: Lori Bockholdt. She designed a beautiful major remodel for us, including a deck, and handled the permits for our project. She also worked with a structural engineer for our project. We are very happy with her work. Her e-mail address is lbockholt[at]sbcglobal.net. Kim

We're doing a small remodel of our garage and would like to work with a contractor/builder (and perhaps architect) that has experience and knowledge of "green" building methods and materials (e.g., cellulose insulation, cork flooring, low VOC paints, energy efficiency, etc.) It's also a pretty small and simple job, so we'd like someone who's reasonably (low) priced and prompt. thanks! Jamie

We are looking for an architect for a major remodel including adding square footage to the existing foundation footprint, reworking interior space and adding a garage in the Oakland hills. We first need to decide if this is feasible with our slope and underground culvert. An architect with experience building in the hills is essential. Nancy

We just wanted to take a moment to recommend the architect we've been working with on our remodel. His name is Eric Dumican (415.828.9037, ericdumican[at]yahoo.com). We're doing fairly extensive work with a complete kitchen, master suite, master bath, stair well, attic remodel and a deck addition. All in we're adding about 500 SF of living space. We are on a tight budget and want to get a lot done but Eric was very attentive to our needs throughout the whole process. He's a great listener and very easy to work with, not one of these big ego types. He was creative in minimzing costs and also from a design perspective. The final design is really fantastic and we're very pleased with it. Give him a ring or drop him a line if you're looking for an architect! See his website at www.dumicanstudios.com Jean

Architect for modern/contemporary design

We are planning a staged remodel of our house in Berkeley and would appreciate recommendations for an architect/designer with modern/ contemporary projects in their portfolio. Judy

Architect Reviews from 2004

Re: Designer/architect, San Francisco
My husband and I are working with Richard Parker of 450 Architects right now on a pretty major remodel of our house. We haven't even gotten our building permits yet, so I can't tell you how the project will wind up, but the drawings he's produced for us are terrific, and he's already proven himself to be very responsive, budget-minded, ''green,'' etc. You should definitely give him a call. SF Remodeller

Re: Looking for Architect in 925 area code
I've seen a nice remodel of a ranch style house ''across the hill'' by Gary Samonsky of Samonsky, Pometta Architects. Maybe they could help you? Mombo

I do know of two good architects, Robert Wolf and Andre Rothblatt. They both have a lot of experience. Andre has a more contemporary style and Robertms style is more traditional. Robert does a great job in making homes with additions look like they have always been a part of the home. I have worked with Robert and he was great in helping us understand the costs of the project. My suggestions to you are: know what you want to do, make decisions in a timely manner and stick to them, be realistic, and patient.

Robert Wolf 510-525-0211
Andre Rothblatt 415-626-5112

This is in reply to an inquiry by Mary for an architecture firm. I live in the Oakland Hills and had my whole house remodeled (most of it was completely gutted out and some of the rooms were enlarged, etc.) I used Peter Soldat Architecture. 510-655-1608 Peter Soldat ( the architect) was excellent. His approach, his advice, his design and implementation were exceptional. His advice and approach helped me to keep my original budget without compromising the desing and quality of remodel. He has done other homes in the Oakland Hills and Alamo. If you wish to contact me or see my house, please feel free to do so. Alena

This is in response to a request for Architect. I used Robert Wolf for my architect for a second story addition in Berkeley. Robert is extremely knowledgeable about structural requirements and excellent working knowledge of all the planning and zoning requirements. He is also very creative. He did a great job in helping us find a contractor and make decisions that keeped our costs down. His phone number is 510-525-0211. Anon

My wife and I have met Glen Jarvis through fund raising house tours featuring the homes he has worked with. While we have not actually worked with him, we find him a very personable and responsible person who would appear to be easy to work with. The homes he has remodeled, often of the time period you mention, never show signs of the remodel, seamlessly moving from old space to new. But is it also clear that he has created remarkably comfortable and easy to live in modern spaces that cater to our current lifestyles. The clients we have met over the years always seemed very pleased with Glen and were still friendly. If we were in your position, we'd certainly consider Glen Jarvis for our project. Sean

My husband and I were planning on a project that would create a playroom. I posted my request for an architect on the ADPSR listserv and got back over 20 responses. I meet with two people with whom I was very impressed. Rinna Flohr - she was on time, very informative, listened well and was very easy to talk to. She listened to my ideas and my budget and was quickly able to see a few problems...she made some good suggestions of how to make the project much smaller and less costly...AND told me that I did not need to hire her for such a small job. So, she actually helped me plan a new project - much better bang for the buck - and talked her way out of a job. She was great about it all - when we do a larger project, and I actually get to hire someone, I will contact her...510.849.3111

Gregory Proefrock - he was on time, very informative, listened well, took excellent notes and was generally very pleasant. By the end of our meeting, it was obvious that what we wanted was not going to happen for the budget we had in mind. We discussed a smaller, less involved, much cheaper alternative and he too suggested that was the better route and said for such a small project, I did not need plans other that my own. He seemed to understand permits and their implicationsVvery helpful. Again, in the future, I hope I get to call him for a projectV 415.225.5606

Both of them had a free first meeting (I do not know if that is always true)and neither acted at all put out that the result of the meeting was that we would not be able to do the project. I would recommend both of them for a project - just from what I experienced, both would be the type of person I would want to work with on an addition. As a side note, if I had done the project, both had very reasonable per hour rates! Wendy

We have a 1927 home designed in the Julia Morgan studio. The original kitchen was remodeled long ago, and we need to remodel the entire, very large kitchen. We are looking for an architect who can help return the kitchen design to the original craftsmanship in the house. Does any have a recommendation on someone for this?

Help! We need to supersize our old, tiny Albany home. Should we add on a new second floor, or raise the house and build a new first? Do we hire an architect or a contractor? Help! Any/all advice gratefully accepted.

Coverting garage to painting studio

My husband is a painter and we would like to convert our detached 2-car garage into a suitable painting studio. We would like to hire an architect or someone who does design/build. We are specifically looking for someone who is sensitive to the craftsman style of our house and can make the studio coherent with that design but also include some of the more modern accountrements you would expect in a studio such as high quality lighting. We want someone to do a top notch job and aren't necessarily looking for the cheapest. roxanne

Bungalow-friendly architect

Can anyone recommend an architect that you think might work well with the bungalow style (a 1920's house built in the Crocker Highlands area of Oakland). We are looking to possibly add on to our house, and want to find someone whose style might work well with the period of our house. And who of course, is great to work with! Thanks. Hilary

Design for bungalow addition

My husband and I want to add a second story to our one-story Craftsman bungalow (built in the 1910's) in North Oakland. Any recommendations for an architect/designer/builder who is able to: 1) work within the Craftsman style and Oakland building codes; and 2) provide budget estimates that turn out to be feasible? The latter seems to be the tough criterion; we keep hearing things like ''So and so gave us wonderful designs, but everything cost 4 times what he/she predicted!'' Thanks for any suggestions. Madeline

Architect with structural expertise

We are doing a kitchen remodel on a limited budget, and need recommendations/advice on having plans drawn. Because we will be moving a bearing wall, we probably need to have professional plans. Given our budget, however, we do not want to pay $5000+ for an architect who will give us lots of great ideas that we will then have to eliminate one by one because we cannot afford them. Also, the architects we met so far have been primarily focused on design, and not so verse in structural issues. Any recommendations on how, and from whom (structural engineer? architect? contractor?), to get a good set of plans from someone with expertise in structural and spacial issues, and with sensitivity to those on a limited budget? (If I have to talk to another architect who tells me that the average kitchen remodel costs $60-$100k, I think I will cry.) xia

Also, please be aware that with a kitchen remodel in Berkeley/Oakland area (houses that are old) that once you start removing plaster and the like, you are bound to find problems (dry rot, structural issues, etc.) that have to be addressed and can drive your costs through the roof. I started out with a 50,000 dollar kitchen remodel and ended up with a 20,000 dollar foundation and a 70,000 dollar kitchen. They basically had to remove the whole south side of my house! The wood underneath was so rotten, it was like a corn husk. And the previous owner had done some shoddy work, and there were no wood support beams supporting the roof in my dining room! Good luck!

Kitchen and bath remodel for small craftsman

Can someone recommend 1) an architect, and/or 2) a design/build firm, for a remodel/addition to a small Berkeley craftsman home. This will be minimally re-doing the current kitchen and bath plus adding a laundry/storage room and a 2nd bath, to maximally (ideally) all of the above plus an ''extra room'' addition. (Then, of course, there's the deck building for the backyard but that might wait...) Can you recommend someone for this type of work? How recently was your remodel or addition done? How did your budget for the job end up covering things? Looking forward to recent recommendations, tips, advice, etc. etc.! Thanks. Needing a little more space

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/kitchbath/
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/flooring/

Addition to Glenview home

We are thinking about putting an addition (bedroom and bathroom) on our home in the Glenview neighborhood of Oakland. We would very much welcome recommendations for architects and/or contractors with a strong design background. Looking for someone who is efficient, reliable, honest, and talented. Any leads would be appreciated. Christy

Kitchen and bedroom remodel 7/02

We are looking for an architect to design a kitchen and master bedroom remodel. Adam

Budget kitchen remodel

Hi - We are ready to remodel our 1920 bungalow kitchen and we need help! We have no idea where to start. We're hoping a budget of $15k is reasonable for a small, eat in kitchen. We will have a friend do the actual construction work for us so we can save on labor costs.

Since we are total novices, we had thought of hiring a designer/architect to help us with ideas and draw up a plan. Any recommendations? Is $1000 a reasonable cost for this service??

The only showrooms we know about are Ikea and Home Depot. Any suggestions on books, magazines or showrooms we can look at to get ideas? Also, any tips from other kitchen remodel survivors? Such as what to do first, how to proceed from there, things you learned, things you overlooked or would do differently next time or ??? Thanks in advance with this overwhelming project! Julie

More recommendations from 2003

We are currently working with architect Bill Mastin. Our project is in its final phases (we hope!!); we too own a small Berkeley bungalow, which Bill enlarged somewhat with us: we extended the back of of house a bit, remodeled the kitchen and added a partial second story. We are incredibly happy with Bill, in fact, we nearly revere him. We have worked with him on this project for about 2 years now, though the construction phase has only been the past 8 months. He is extremely thorough, attentive to detail and knowledgeable about bungalow style. He has listened to us deeply and respectfully, and created a design for our house that incorporated all of our individual needs and personalities, but at the same time is respectful of the original house and its integrity. Regarding reliability, we see Bill as reliable to a fault--he is meticulous and determined to communicate clearly and to make decisions collaboratively (at the same time, he has opinions and makes them clear). We were recommended to him by friends whose small bungalow remodel was one of Bill's first projects, and it has held up beautifully--it's a lovely space. And we've seen other houses he's worked on, including his own, and found them each unique and full of wonderful, intimate details and light. For us, Bill has worked as both architect and project manager, and has been excellent, organized and responsible. We have found him to be respectful of our budget, and able to help us to make choices which kept our project from escalating beyond what we could afford. In short, we cannot recommend him highly enough. Working with him has been a delightful, educational and harmonious experience. We have the highest respect for his ideas, and we love our improved home. lianne

Planning a 2nd story addition

Hi My husband and I are planning on adding a second story to our small house in Albany - but need advice on how to proceed. He is planning on doing much of the work himself (along with our contractor friend). We have a good idea of the floor plan we want. Do we hire an architect to draw up the design - if so - does anyone have an inexpensive recommendation? then do we get an engineer to check it out and go get permits? Any help or advice appreciated. Julie

You need the services of a structural engineer to design your second floor addition as well as checkout your foundations and first floor walls to ensure they can support a second floor (they probably can't). You don't necessarily need an architect, but either an architect or designer (an individual who is not licensed as an architect) may be helpful to you in developing your ideas and making sure the work is complete and well coordinated. Having a good set of drawings also helps smooth the design review and building permit process, as well as providing the basis for contractor pricing/bidding.

As an aside, I recently attended a seminar by a contractor who suggested that it is far less expensive and disruptive to raise an existing house and add a new floor underneath rather than adding a second floor.

Feel free to email me if you have further questions about the process. Lori, KlumbArcht AT aol.com

Architect for addition to too-small home

I'm looking for both an architect, and a contractor, for an addition to a small ( 1000 SF) Berkeley home built in the 1910's. I want to keep as much of the ''Craftsman'' feel as possible, but need probably 500 additional square feet, as I have a school-age daughter. Does anyone have recent recommendations? Tips or advice? People (situations) to avoid? Any and all recommendations are welcome. Also, if you have had recent work done, would you comment on the approximate price. Thanks. Dreaming, in a small space

Architect for major rehab

We just bought a huge old house in Berkeley and are planning a major rehabilitation (new kitchen, tear down some walls, new master bedroom, etc.). We're having a very hard time finding an available Architect- Does anyone know of a good, available Architect? Thank you.

More Recommendations from 2002 & earlier

Re: Seeking kitchen designer
Angela Klein is a close personal friend of mine and a talented architect. Here is Angela's information: Angela Klein is a licensed architect with over 18 years experience in various commercial and residential projects. She is currently the principal of her own practice in Alameda, specializing in small commercial interior and residential projects. Small remodels including kitchen and bath remodels are her specialty. Current projects are various residential remodels in Alameda and Piedmont, College Avenue Presbyterian Church, Borel Middle School and Action Technologies.. Angela has worked for the firms including John Malick and Associates, Stephen Sooter Architect, Brayton and Hughes, The Woods Group and in the past.

As an architect with interior architecture experience, Angela is unique, in that she can provide complete design and execution services for your project from planning and construction detailing to inte lindamurphy

We are seeking a recommendation for an architect to help us with a small remodeling design. We are interested in architecture students as well. Can anyone recommend someone (price?)? Susan

David Moffat at 841-1902 is terrific with maximizing space and making an simple elegant space out of limited space. His office is on 9th st. Wendy

We are in the midst of a MAJOR remodel of our house (gutting the kitchen, three new bathrooms, work on the dining room, garage, laundry room and hallways). Our architect, Regan Bice, had been described to me as "a prince of a man" when I was checking references on the architects we considered. That description was absolutely on target. Regan has made a very stressful (and expensive) experience much less so. He is tremendously talented, but does not have a huge ego. He listens and suggests rather than imposing his "vision". He has been able to come up with elegant solutions to our problems while trying to keep some sort of budget in mind. He has remained calm and accessible and caring during difficult periods (such as last week as we fell apart over the stress of moving out...walls come down tomorrow!)

Regan has built several firestorm area houses; (one was recently mentioned in a four page spread in the San Francisco Focus) in a variety of styles, but most tending toward what I suppose would be called minimalist. At the same time he is at home working in other vernaculars - our house is a "Bay Tradition" which is post-Craftsman, and I've seen a wonderful territorial style house he designed in New Mexico. I cannot say enough about him. He is not as expensive as Christofferson and Graff, and in fact I've been feeling guilty about how underpaid he is for the job he is doing for us. His associates, Chris and Andrew, are also superb. I feel very fortunate to be working with the office of Regan Bice Architects, and unreservedly recommend him to anyone contemplating new construction or major remodeling. Feel free to contact me with any questions. His office number is (510) 549-1499. Natasha

p.s. I recently saw a house for sale and their ad bragged "kitchen designed by Bennett Christopherson". He has an outstanding reputation in this community. Sharon