Highly recommended! Sue is professional, knowledgable, and an expert in design! The Edwardian in San Francisco she remodeled preserved the period details yet opened up the space with modern features exactly as requested. She worked closely with me through all phases and negotiated with the contractors during the project. I am delighted with the remodel results!
Testimonials
A design that fits our modern aesthetics yet is functional for our family
When we first bought our tiny, single-story Berkeley bungalow over a decade ago as a young couple just out of grad school, we had no idea we would eventually transform it into a two-story, 1900+ square foot home fit for a family of four.
The challenges with our project are too numerous to list here - all of which is to say that Sue navigated each with skill and enthusiasm. Sue is creative yet practical, helping us achieve a design that fits our modern aesthetics yet is functional for our family, maximizing every square foot on a small lot. She is an excellent listener. Often, owners aren't able to clearly articulate what they want, or have conflicting desires. She carefully listened to both of us and made suggestions that made complete sense. We recommend her without hesitation and would use her again in a heartbeat should we ever attempt another remodel!
Reichi Lee and Daniel Newbold
Berkeley, CA
We have found ourselves in a beautiful, comfortable home that we love living in.
This old Craftsman home had done well by me for over 25 years, but as I retired, as Sharon and I prepared to marry and share this home, and as my knees aged, the home just didn’t work well for the two of us.
The kitchen had little counter space and an awkward shape that provided inadequate room for two people. The stairwell was narrow, with steep, uneven stairs. And we needed another bathroom.
Beyond the practical side, we wanted the home to feel larger, lighter and more spacious.
The problem was how to do this – where to put everything and how to build it without breaking our retirement.
Sue listened, was patient, and worked with us, kept our needs and goals in front while bringing her creativity, architectural knowledge and experience, and ingenuity to the designs.
When the remodel was completed, we found our goals were met, but beyond that, we have found ourselves in a beautiful, comfortable home that we love living in.
We put a great deal of our lives, our resources and our future, into the remodel of this home, and Sue really helped make it worth our investment.
Michael Jacob
We're thrilled with the result.
My husband and I hired Sue and Annitella in 2012 to do a major remodel on our house in Oakland. We added an outdoor terrace, a partially enclosed porch, and an interior bathroom and dressing room to the upper story of our Oakland house. The addition is on the front of the house, and it was important that it be coherent with the Prairie style of the rest of the building. This was a complicated project. It included making seismic modifications to the basement and first floor of the building to support the weight of the new rooms. With all the seismic engineering that was involved, I can't imagine doing a project like this without an architect with Sue's attention to engineering detail.
We're thrilled with the result. The new rooms are all that we'd hoped they'd be, and we find ourselves spending a lot of time there in all types of weather. Whenever someone sees the space for the first time, they're in awe of how well it turned out. We often hear, "I've never seen anything like this!" Sue and Annitella were great to work with, and invited as much involvement from us as we wanted to give. We have definite aesthetic ideas, and they were great about incorporating the ones that made sense, and dissuading us from those that wouldn't work. It was a good project all around, and we'd definitely recommend Sue.
Mary Ann Walsh and Richard Carter
Our office is the most beautiful office in Berkeley
We hired Oikos Architects for our home remodel. They designed a two level bedroom/home office. We were thrilled with the result. Our office is the most beautiful office in Berkeley with a breathtaking Golden Gate View. Annitella and Sue were a pleasure to work with.
Andy Ross
The design and space you created for us was creative, practical and beautiful.
I can't believe it's been so long since we moved into our new home. I wanted to take the chance to tell you how happy we have been here and how happy we are with the design and architecture work you did for us. The design and space you created for us was creative, practical and beautiful. Visitors to our home are very complementary of the aesthetics of our home, and we appreciate how well it works for our family!
When I take into account the challenges we were presented with - adding a 3rd story on top of an existing house, finding room for a staircase, making use of the existing open-ceiling atrium - I truly believe your design was nothing short of genius.
We have many friends that have gone through renovations, remodels and home construction projects the last few years. I can't think of any that had as pleasant an experience working with their architects as we did with you two! Your temperaments, your practical approach, your professionalism, and importantly, your creative input "fit us" perfectly.
Both, our city planning department and contractor were complementary of your design detail. We feel very lucky to have found you and hope we can refer many friends and family your way in the future. It will be a little while, but I am sure we will have another project in the future. I want you to know, without a doubt, we would come straight back to you and I would look forward to the experience!
We wish you nothing but similar success and ecstatic clients in the future. Please don't hesitate to use us as a reference - it is the least we can do for you!
Orinda Remodel & Second Floor Addition