Architects & Contractors

03/06/2005 Skye L. says:

I worked with a great granite, marble, travertine and limestone installer and fabricator.  He does kitchens, baths and fireplaces.  Fast and does beautiful work --- Jimmy Nava (408)807-3497.  He gives free estimates.  Everything else we are doing ourselves --- an additional 1000 square feet -- I think Paul and I will be done next year.  ACK!

03/07/2005 Nish N. says:

Max - I asked my financial advisor Caroline Egan (who is great for this sort of thing). Without knowing exactly what you need, she recommended: "Chris Ovlen & Lupe Sanchez. Their home phone is 510-836-7620; both are great architects and I do believe Lupe has some spare time to freelance from the house..."

03/07/2005 Nish N. says:

Caroline's husband Rick also recommended: "... Jason Lang, he's freelance/independent, he can be reached at 415-385-2150"

03/07/2005 Philip M. says:

Hi Max, When I redid my last condo, I found an interior designer who coordinated the entire effort. (I didn't really need an architect as I wasn't making any major structural changes.) The designer's contractors were brilliant - showed up on time, finished on time and were reasonably priced. I'd recommend him specifically, but unfortunately he's semi-retired now, busy playing golf in Palm Springs. I found him by asking around at local antique stores that I liked to shop at. You may also find it worthwhile to walk around the San Francisco Design Center and ask for recommendations from people who share your design aesthetic. That said, although I haven't used them personally, James Marzo and Paul Wiseman seem to always be written up in some magazine or another. Check out their websites at http://www.jamesmarzo.... and  http://www.wisemangrou.... Regards, Philip Mikal

03/07/2005 Jamie T. says:

I just finished a kitchen/bath remodel. Some walls got moved around, and some ceilings vaulted so it was pretty extensive. I ended up doing most of the design myself, but the contractor I worked with was great. Contractor is Larry Green, and the company is SGS Inc. With our project he let me be pretty hands on which is what I was looking for, I am not sure if that is what you want though...

03/07/2005 Tod S. says:

What's going on Max? It's been a long time. One of the best contractors in the Los Altos/Palo Alto area is my dad. He was in the tech industry for 30 years and a director at Sun. 5 years ago he decided he had enough of that and started Los Altos Remodeling. He's a licensed contractor with a small crew that does medium to high-end residential remodeling. Unlike some of the contractors in the area, he'll do an honest job with great craftsmanship. He's Ted Semple at 650-465-0341.

03/08/2005 A L. says:

Jan Threlkeld, AIA is incredible!  VERY RELIABLE!  His rates are very fair.  I would trust him with all of my remodeling needs and his staff are also great! I really recommend running the scope of your project by him and getting an estimate.  They also specialize in getting pain in the butt city permits.  Contact info can be found at www.janthrelkeld.com - Tell them Alex sent you!

03/08/2005 Oksana "Trouble!" T. says:

Check these guys out.
http://www.aidlin-darl...

03/15/2005 Lori C. says:

Max, Not sure if you found anyone but thought I might chime in in case you haven't. My friend, Steve Wade, is an excellent architect/contractor. Here is his website should you wish to take a look:http://www.swstructura...

08/02/2007 JaM W. says:

I have to revive this thread because it's the closest I've found to what I need.

PLEASE HELP:
I need referrals to moderately priced architects and contractors.

If you have any experience, please let me know what you liked or disliked about the company/individual.

08/02/2007 Lydia P. says:

My friend, Liz, had a great experience with Rob 510-913-3636. He came by my condo b/c I was having mild components removed and he really doesn't do small projects. But I've seen the AMAZING work he did to my friend's condo. In 3 months turned a party pad into a beautiful space for a reasonably priced amount.

08/02/2007 JeFF T. says:

Just be sure you're looking for a contractor/architect (licensed) and not a handyman (unlicensed).

08/02/2007 Tracie "Swrkr" P. says:

I have a list.

08/02/2007 vuForce Fresh "Galactic Dubjive" x. says:

there is/was a housing bubble in SF?

08/03/2007 Jeff "The Cheesemonger" D. says:

I am seeking a commercial/retail contractor for a new project I am working on.....

all suggestions welcome

08/03/2007 Marian "Momsie" G. says:

Ten years ago, I had won an auction consultation with an architect, she was ok, but I cannot say  enough about her contractor who is now a dear friend, Keith Bupp (licensed) .  Keith is honest, fair and will let you be on hand for every phase of the project.  He has helped me totally remodeled  my lower floor of my home (a custom-made kitchen that Sunset Magazine wanted to do a feature of as well as the rest of my home) .  I had dry rot at the back and part of the front of my home (it was on stilts to hold the back of the house up), we had half of the lower floor totally torn down and rebuilt with French doors, a built in book shelf for the room next to the kitchen, which was the maid's quarters, moved the bathroom, a small reading/tea room, moved the old kitchen cabinets into the basement for storage and build a surrounding (concrete) retaining wall all around the basement, a trelis fence with a brick walkway. Oh, and painted the garage and home as the last finishing touch - all in 4 months!!!   Other projects he has done, were also featured in newspapers and magazines.  Keith is low-key, calm (I have never seen him "loose it").  Even played "classical" music while working.  I was invited for pizza-Friday on every project.  As you are aware, because of the Iraq War, alot of home building materials has jacked up the cost of concrete, bricks, etc.  So, you must take this in consideration on waiting for supplies to come through for your project.

01/09/2008 Elizabeth F. says:

Steve Swasson - architech - flat fee, paid on a fee schedule until the work is done - 415-297-1946.  He doesn't use autocad but can't beat the flat fee, he obtained all permits in one day, efficient, stays on top of us, pleasant to work with, and will make a ton of revisions and come to our home to field measure as many times as needed all in the flat fee...no surprises.

We're getting bids from two great contractors ...Paul Holland (415-305-6297) and John Mino (415-298-1443).  I will keep you posted which one we like best.

01/09/2008 GIR .. says:

We really need help on all fronts too (had a terrible contractor experience in the past that has left me kinda of afraid to start again) - considering how old this thread is I'm not sure about the original referrals.  Some of those places look super $ too..

01/09/2008 Tim C. says:

http://www.yelp.com/bi...

I like this guy alot...He's experienced, honest, creative.  Does residential and commercial.

02/08/2008 cj f. says:

I am still looking for a good contractor, as I am still hurting from the last one!  I DO NOT recommend Daniel Lopez (DBA Fiorentina, in Pacifica).  He had a spat with the designer and rather than handle things professionally he took his frustrations out on my project.  He did terrible, shoddy work and it appeared to be intentional.  I had to hire someone else to tear apart his work and redo it.