John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

I've worked closely with Bret Walters at John Lum Architecture for the past 2+ years on what was effectively a new construction house in San Francisco, and while I'm thrilled for the client to have moved into his gorgeous new home, and couldn't be more proud of the finished product and the collaboration between me (I was the interior designer on the project) and Bret + the JLA team, I'm also honestly SO sad that I don't get to work with Bret all the time anymore. I have to admit that I was a big fan of John Lum Architecture for years before I had the opportunity to work with them; and the creative, clever, practical, and human-first design thinking they brought to every aspect of the project that I was involved in, was top-notch. They also are innovative not only in the design process but in the construction management aspects: for example, they introduced the entire project team (owner's rep, interior designer, contractor, client) to the software PlanGrid to keep track of drawings, construction issues, etc. in the cloud. To me this shows they're always exploring new technologies and ways to make their work more efficient, collaborative, and cutting-edge. And I can't say enough great things about Bret: he's extremely professional, a wealth of knowledge, a great listener / communicator, responsive, hard-working, and fun to collaborate with. He is also level-headed so that when something goes wrong in construction (which something always does), his approach is to stay focused on how to resolve and fix the issue. This project was NOT without its share of drama and sometimes-difficult personalities, and I was often impressed with Bret's ability to navigate those situations. I'd love to be able to work with Bret and the JLA team again on a future client's home. And unrelated to anything practical, John's pint-sized pitbull April is often at the office and she is my favorite office dog ever!

John and his team did a first-rate job designing our home in Sonoma. The house has brought us so much joy and friendship and beautiful memories over the years.

We had the pleasure of working with John Lum and his team four years ago to re-build our home. They took the time to listen to what we wanted and to understand our style. They presented us with a truly mind-blowing design and transformed our fixer-upper ranch house to a practical, modern yet warm home. He was mindful of our budget and suggested designs that accentuated the modern aesthetic of the house. John and his team were prompt in responding to our e-mails throughout the course of our project. They took care of the planning and permitting process efficiently. Our experience with John Lum and his team was very positive. We love our house and have received numerous compliments. We highly recommend them!

When we met John Lum for the first time, we were first-time home owners who knew nothing about architecture or remodeling. We had a one year old baby and only a vague notion of what we wanted for our home. The only reason we decided to embark on such a daunting project, one that would entail moving out of the home we had just weeks ago moved into, was because we had the utmost faith in John. We liked him immediately. He was so friendly and unassuming, yet so clearly brilliant. After just one walk through of the house, he laid out a vision that in large part is the home we have today. It was clear from the beginning that John was the intersection of competence and creativity. His designs were inventive but practical. When we told him that we wanted our playroom to be able to convert to a guest room and still preserve the open floor plan of the main level, he designed moving wall panels that meet at the diagonal that when opened, creates an open layout for the playroom and when closed, a private guest room with en suite bath. He helped us to achieve our aesthetic of a bright, cheerful, modern space while keeping within our tight budget. To this end, he designed floor to ceiling built-in cabinet systems by piecing together Ikea cabinets like a jigsaw puzzle. John and his firm connected us with an excellent general contractor with whom they had an existing working relationship. Therefore, the communication between our architect, general contractor, and ourselves was for the most part seamless during the construction phase. The predicted timeframe of the remodel was quite accurate (although this may have to do with the fact that our remodel occurred in 2011, and ours was our GC's only major project at a time when the economy was down). We had so much fun working with John, and we could not be happier with the home we now have. We continue to recommend him wholeheartedly to friends who are embarking on their own home remodels. For photos of our home, please see this feature in California Home and Design: http://www.californiahomedesign.com/house-tours/colorful-cheerful-and-clever-sf/slide/8166

We are very happy with the results of our major remodel with John Lum Architecture. We wanted to update our 1960's ranch home but keep it the same size (2,000 sq ft) yet make it more functional and open with more of an indoor/outdoor feel. The outcome was even better than we had imagined: a modern, open floor plan with lots of natural light, functional living space and architectural features that make the house feel larger than it is. Lum and his team were very helpful in providing us not only with the aesthetics we were after, they were instrumental in making sure the functionality was there and our storage needs were met. The team, especially the lead architect on our project, Daren, was a pleasure to work with and they helped us work though some key issues like maximizing the master closet space while making it an architectural feature in the small bedroom. Lum and his team listened to what we wanted out of our home and helped design a great space we very much enjoy.

I have worked with John Lum Architecture on two high end modern residences in the Peninsula. From the moment you step into their funky industrial offices in the Mission District, you know you are in a fantastic creative environment. John has a wonderful sense of humor and will create something innovative for each client. His lead architects have been equally great to work with - talented and highly collaborative. As an interior designer, this team approach is important to any successful client project.

We worked with John Lum initially and very closely with Bret Walters, Project Manager and Designer. Both have a clear vision for the modern line, color, organic shapes and vistas. I love that they both have a sense of humor, willing to listen to my crazy ideas and help keep my expectations realistic or at least achieve them more cost efficiently. Hiring these designers is not an inexpensive endeavor, but I don't plan on renovating another home so it was truly worth it. I have a home that reflects who I am, what I value and what I love.

We recently did a complete remodel of an old 1913 home in Eureka Valley. From the moment John entered the house the first time, he gave us several ideas on how to maximize space and views which elevated our initial remodeling plan from great to exceptional. John and his team remained sensitive to our needs throughout the project. Bret monitored the progress throughout the build and ensured that details of the drawings were executed as planned. John and his team were very knowledgeable about the San Francisco building code and helped us maneuver through the requirements of the SF planning department. Their advice was instrumental in cutting down review times which in turn allowed us to keep on track with our remodel timeline. As a result, we enjoy living in a beautiful home with a definite wow factor where we can entertain family and friends for years to come. We would highly recommend John and his team for any residential remodel in the Bay Area.

We are out-of-town owners that purchased a condomimium in Cow Hollow. Trust, creativity, clarity of our needs and strong follow-up are critical to us as we are out-of-town. It was a good experience from beginning to end: starting with the creative design by John Lum, developed good specification for effective bidding, interfacing with the contractor on our behalf, meticulously following up details to ensure we are happy with the outcome. Many twists and turns that required changes throughout as we discovered what was possible or not possible with a very old building and a strict home owners association. Bret Walters was always patient, logical and very knowledgeable with the solution to meet our needs. I trusted that he would evaluate all possible options that meet our budget and "look" and prioritize to a very few choices for us to make a decision. We encountered some difficult issues where Bret played a key role to get them resolved timely and logically.

John Lum Arechitecture did a fantastic job in our renovation project. It involved upgrading a dated apartment to a clean, modern residence. It involved new piping, new electric cables, new flooring, new bathrooms, new kitchen, and new bedroom layouts. Everything was done with permits, and to spec. Bret helped to identify contractors who were qualified to do the job, and help us choose the one that ultimately did a fantastic job in the renovation.

Excellent work ethic and always on time, this contractor fulfilled all of our expectations and then some. I would recommend this company to anyone in the future

One of the best architects in San Francisco, hands down. If you need someone who understands the complexity of San Francisco planning code, John Lum is it.