Lisa Joyce Architecture

Our 1911 Cole Valley home had not been touched in 35 years. Lisa took our requirements for a remodeled kitchen, master bath and lower level suite and elevated the outcome by asking us the right questions. The right questions got us better ergonomics, more expansive storage and elegance of design. This was done with acute attention to cost. Her ability to communicate clearly to contractors we had chosen was critical as sometimes they had a different agenda and she kept them on task and caught out any shortcuts they might have gotten away with as we didn’t know enough of the issues to spot. That was a characteristic of hers that is of inestimable in it’s value but as far as piece of mind that we had at the end of the project I can say it was crucial. Lisa, has a range of abilities in interior design and was helpful in choosing colors as we painted every square inch in our and outside of our home. She “got” us, our taste and vision for the ambiance we wanted for the home from which I comfortably write this review. I just wish we had another house for her to design.

I selected Lisa Joyce as my architect for a much-needed kitchen-centered remodel. Her charge was to maintain the integrity of our 1926 Tudor home while modernizing it into an attractive and functional working space. It included the kitchen, pantry, laundry room and powder room. Throughout the project, Lisa was a pleasure to work with. She worked with me as a true partner and listened closely to my needs and requests, while offering excellent options. We worked together methodically week-by-week, over a cup of tea and snacks, often with the contractors. She is a collaborative worker and got along with all the parties to find the best possible solution to any issue. Lisa is a skillful architect and engineer. The result was that I got exactly what I wanted, and made a new friend in the bargain. I cannot recommend her more highly for any remodeling project. I love my new space and would not change anything about it.

Lisa is a terrific architect and also a great project partner. She has done two projects for me--a big remodel and a small ADU. She provided options for both, which allowed us to discuss the projects and come up with the best solution. She is professional without a big ego. It's such a pleasure to be able to talk with her about designs and to feel like your ideas and concerns are taken into account. She has great ideas that are also functional. And she knows how to work within budgets. I would gladly refer her to anyone considering a remodel.

Hiring the right architect for a construction project is like finding the right partner for a two-legged race. You need someone who's in sync with you in terms of your style and your pace, and who will be a good partner when unexpected events come up along the way and you need to adjust--which they undoubtedly will. I worked with Lisa over the course of more than a year on a "small" (in square footage) but quite complicated project to finish and connect the basement of my 1920s Craftsman style house through an internal stairwell. Not only did she design a layout and flow that far exceeded my expectations for how well it would integrate with the existing house, she helped me to work with the construction company every step of the way as my advocate, interpreter, and advisor, keeping me well-informed and sane throughout the lengthy and very involved process. The resulting addition has been wholeheartedly embraced by my entire family of two adults and three teenage children, improving our quality of life through new spaces that allow us to better enjoy our home and host family and friends. Normally, when you finish a complex project like this, where you have literally had to make hundreds of little and big decisions, you just want to be done with it. But working with Lisa throughout entire process of consultation, design, and construction was always a pleasure. I valued her strong organization and communication skills, her patience and positive attitude, her ability to provide honest feedback in non-judgmental way, and her way of providing advice with an opinion while giving you space to make the ultimate decision. In addition to serving as my architect and intermediary to the construction firm, Lisa went above and beyond by supporting me on projects that were related to but not central to the main construction--for example, painting the interior and exterior of the house, designing a front and back garden, building a new backyard fence, designing a bicycle shed, and even picking out a new color for my front door. Through her years of experience in the field and working in the East Bay, she has an extensive network of vendors (brick-removers, painters, gardeners, etc.) who are highly skilled and will do your project even during a high-demand season purely based on their relationship to and trust in Lisa. Her connections proved to be extremely valuable, saving me time, effort, and money. Also, though not her main focus, she is also an avid gardener with a designer’s eye, skills which she put to use for some additional projects to complement the main construction. Long story short, I would highly recommend Lisa as your architect.

Lisa expertly guided us through a massive renovation project from design, permitting, construction and finishing interior and exterior touches. Lisa's ideas were fresh, innovative and yet practical. I had strong opinions on design and Lisa was able to listen and provide me with experienced and expert feedback that allowed me to confidently make the thousands of decisions necessary for a project of this scope. I chose a cement chartruese flooring tile in the kitchen and it looks fantastic. I definitely would not have felt confident enough to go with my instincts without Lisa at my side. Finally, she continues to this day to assist me with her time and opinion on follow up items with the contractor, creative ideas for a sunshade sail, etc.

Simply put, we would recommend Lisa Joyce unconditionally for any design project of any size. Over the years, she helped us update a kitchen/laundry room, three bathrooms, a dressing room, alcove, and the family room of our very traditional home. We then moved to a needy 1970s fixer. Lisa was enthusiastic about its potential, held our hands when our confidence wavered, and guided us through a total remodel to a home that expresses our vision so well. She is very professional, client-focused, and extremely responsive. Her designs are both functional and beautiful. It was a wonderful collaboration.

Lisa was a joy to work with! She skillfully updated our home while staying true to the architectural integrity. She listened to our ideas and integrated them while gently guiding us in the process. Lisa was organized and essentially oversaw our complete remodel from initial planning down to final touches. She has the unique capacity of being highly creative and calm and thoughtful. If you are considering using Lisa Joyce for your project- do not hesitate. You will be in very good hands.

Lisa Joyce re-designed our kitchen, split up one bedroom to create 2 relatively spaceous bedrooms and added a balcony to complement the front of our house. Lisa is an outstanding architect who listens very well to the needs and desires of her customers while enhancing their ideas to create beautiful and efficient spaces. She is strategic AND solution-oriented, a great honest partner, and excellent communicator during a process that -everybody who remodels agrees upon- is a long road with unexpected obstacles. She is always there for you, with a smile and solutions, leading to better results. In addition, your budget is truly the basis of her input and designs. She also ensures that her part of the process keeps on moving as agreed upon. In one word: excellent!

I so appreciated Lisa Joyce's guidance on a kitchen remodel that included revamping some adjacent areas (adding skylights to the living room and a dark hall and revamping a poorly utilized over-staircase hall closet). I only wish I'd gotten going on the project years sooner so I'd have been enjoying longer! I was impressed with Lisa's ability to divine my "style" via her visits with me and by having me clip things from magazines and the internet to to show my likes and dislikes of design, functionality, etc. She was able to spot patterns in my preferences that weren't obvious to me. Lisa's ability to define those patterns gave me the courage of my convictions when it came to selecting materials and making the myriad of decisions that arise once the work got going. With confidence I stuck to my guns on some design ideas/finish selections, confident that Lisa had "nailed" what I like and thus, despite what the contractor or friends might suggest, I'd go with my gut. I wasn't disappointed with the results. Lisa's approach is practical--she has a household and a business to run, too--and always budget-conscious. She steadfastly guards against "project creep" which anyone should appreciate, and/but happily takes on more when given the green light.. I very much appreciated Lisa's help as we went through the process of selecting a contractor. I could rely on her to tell me whether my expectations were in-line with norms. And she stuck with me through all the back and forth that occurred during that process. She came up with a really fun, unique solution to an odd hall storage closet, converting the space into a lodge-like bar just outside the kitchen. It's fabulous...and I keep telling her she needs to trademark the idea. The result of the project was a kitchen with much improved functionality and finishes, a really fun bar area, and MORE LIGHT, in what I consider to be the right mix of styles evident in the house and surroundings. Without hesitation I would grab Lisa Joyce to guide any architectural project...and hope to do so at some point again. Before photos below, Link to photos of completed project: http://www.houzz.com/projects/430432/Kitchen-in-the-hills

We hired Lisa Joyce to remodel our kitchen, den, and our adjacent deck area. Lisa is not only a total professional, but unlike many architects, she actually listens to her clients and helps make their visions come to fruition. We have had Lisa help us give the front of our 1920's "traditional" Piedmont home more character and a unified design a few years before. Instead of her just presenting drawings that were her idea of what should be done,like three other architects did, she really incorporated our concepts. She also has great ideas and superlative taste which we often incorporate. But she gets to know her clients and observes how they live and really works them into her designs. For instance, I am a big tea-lover, so she suggested I have a tea cabinet, a large drawer for my tea and cubbies to display some of my many colorful teapots. She also observed that we like light-filled, warm, colorful rooms, so suggested alder cabinets, a copper peninsula and mediterranean tile. If you hire Lisa Joyce for your projects, you will be very, very happy.

I hired Lisa to assist with a kitchen renovation for my 1920s home. She explored numerous design options with me, generated creative and thoughtful solutions to many problems and worked at a pace that was comfortable for me. Her sense of design - in keeping with the architectural style of the house - while updating for today's way of living was excellent! For example, I wanted to open up the kitchen to the breakfast room which required removing part of a load bearing wall. Lisa was able to come up with a design which saved money by retaining some of the wall, but removing what we needed and making it all look like it was originally built that way! Finally, Lisa maintains excellent relationships with many professionals (city officials, contractors, cabinet builders, tile and stone resources), which she uses over and over again for clients. These professionals, as a result of their relationship with Lisa, provide excellent service to her clients. Lisa was always available when needed, including when her input was required on a moment's notice. Lisa's billing was fair and reasonable. Lisa has my highest recommendation!

Lisa is just fantastic - she is creative, practical, budget-minded - the result? Our home is perfect! She is now helping me with a remodel of an apartment in New York City. She really is very talented, a good listener, and just a pleasure to work with.