Cline Architects

After owning our first home for a little over 2 years, we felt ready to kick off a structural remodel to modernize all of our living areas: our kitchen, dining room, living room, entryway, and laundry/bath. We interviewed several architects and firms, and quickly found that Jim and Caroline at Cline Architects were the perfect fit for us. We wanted to work with architects who were thoughtful, organized, meticulous, and known for great work — while also being grounded and realistic in terms of working with our space and budget (which was generous, but not unlimited!). We found a perfect match for all of that in working with Cline Architects. They thoughtfully listened to our goals for the remodel, and incorporated ideas and feedback into each round of designs. Throughout the process, we enjoyed how they were just as excited about our project as we were. Communication was a breeze and it really felt like we were all collaborating together as a team. With this being our first remodel, we also very much appreciated their guidance throughout the entire process. They never made us feel silly for not knowing how something in the process would work, and they were a huge help in vetting and selecting good suppliers and contractors. Like another reviewer here mentioned, our permit drawings were quickly approved, and our contractor had no issues building to spec -- all a testament to the meticulous thought and attention to detail that Jim and Caroline put into every step of our project. We're so pleased with how our renovation went that we already can't wait to start another project with the same team (how often do you hear that? :). We feel so fortunate to have found Jim and Caroline, and can't wait to recommend them to friends. Thanks again for a dream project!

Experienced, talented, knowledgeable, creative, responsive, efficient, and personable…these are some of the words that I ascribe to Caroline and Jim at Cline Architects. Caroline and Jim were a pleasure to work with on our home addition/remodel. The scope of our project was addition of two bedrooms and complete renovation of the existing structure. We decided to contact Cline Architects based on the recommendation of friends who had a good experience working with Caroline and Jim for renovation of their home. During our initial meeting with Caroline, she gave us a very clear description of the entire process from design, permit application, finding a contractor, to build. After providing a rough description of what we wanted, Caroline brought up some excellent suggestions and recommendations that we had not considered. The drawings that Caroline provided after our initial meeting were right on the mark. Caroline very creatively incorporated all of the key elements we had requested within the inherent limitations dictated by the size and shape of our lot. Caroline also introduced many new features and design elements that we had not previously considered but found to be very appealing. We appreciated that Caroline made an effort reduce costs by retaining as much of the existing structure as possible, while still creating a very different home from the existing home. After a few iterations, Caroline and Jim generated a final set of drawings that we really loved and were ready to submit for the permit application. Caroline managed the entire permit application process, which went very smoothly. Caroline and Jim were able to quickly address the minor comments we received from the building department without making any significant changes to the design of the house. The fact that we received only minor comments from the building department speaks to Caroline and Jim’s knowledge and experience. Caroline worked very well with our contractor throughout the entire build phase. The periodic site visits from Caroline were very useful for ensuring the build went true to plan as well as providing opportunities to discuss finish and fixture details that we had deferred making decisions on. Whenever we or our contractor reached out to Caroline with questions she reliably responded the same day and typically within an hour. Since completing the house and moving back in, we are very happy with the final product. The home is very comfortable and fits our life well. We are grateful for Caroline and Jim’s work. If you are considering a remodel or renovation of your home, we recommend that you meet with Jim and Caroline at Cline Architects to discuss your project.

We worked with Cline Architects in the Spring of 2014 to create plans and pull permits for our home renovation in West Portal (shown in their projects portfolio). James and Caroline were great at listening to what we wanted for the house and were efficient in coming up with several design options that opened up the upstairs layout, developed the empty garage space on the lower floor, and managed to fit a wider (and safer) stairway between the floors. Once we selected a layout they were quick to produce plans for the city and also negotiated well with DBI when we went to pull permits. We got a design we were happy with and we quickly able to begin building. During the construction process we made a few design changes and Cline was responsive in helping us modifying our permits. Once we completed the structural portions of our project we hired Cline for additional design services to help us pick tiles, paint color, and other finishes. They made the process easy and one year after completing our house we are still very happy with the outcome. I would hire Cline again when we need architectural services. They are real professionals and know how to work intimately with their clients.

Honest opinions provided, expectations explained, clients needs addressed or modified. Both Jim and Caroline are extremely professional yet personable. They were always on time and respectful of client's time. Would recommend to my friends.

my wife and I found Cline Architects on houzz and had met several other architects to consider a 3rd floor addition and roof deck. Immediately they stood out from the rest! We found Jim and Caroline incredibly helpful, thoughtful, and detail orientated.They listened to our needs and respected our opinions. They made the permit process in San Francisco hassle free. Our friends and neighbors were all shocked how smooth the process was for us! I would not hesistate to work with them again in the future!

I found Jim through a family member. He listened to what I wanted in my remodel and we began to work together. I live in the attic of an Edwardian and wanted to open it up. His design was exactly what I wanted. We encountered a few problems along the way, like not having enough support in the roof structure, joists being taken out by previous owners... This house was built in 1912. All along the process Jim was able to fix problems as they arose keeping the project going. Now the project is complete and I have a remodeled and safer home.

My husband and I were in the market for an architect who can design and project manage the addition of a third floor and a roof deck to our 2 story house in russian hill, San Francisco. We shopped around and interviewed a few different architects before finding Jim and Caroline. The moment we met them, we knew they are the right partners as they listened to our vision, shared their expert advise on things we haven't considered, and most importantly they are very easy to work with! We've worked with them for 1 year between designing the house and going back and forth with building department and received our building permit back in March. Although we didn't go through the physical building phase ( we had a baby and construction became too daunting) but are very pleased with the work that Jim and Caroline did. All in all, we highly recommend Jim and Caroline on any architectural projects. Their pricing were reasonable, have great taste in simple yet practical design, and are just great people to work with.

We hired Jim to design and manage construction of a completely new garden apartment. Although we thought we knew exactly what we wanted, Jim presented several fantastic improvements that are now part of the plan. We also had concerns about type of flooring and ceiling materials to use and Jim walked us through the various alternatives until we found the best solution. Jim is now working with us and our limited budget to complete this project and the results are looking great!

I first met Jim Cline in 2004 while working as the general contractor on a construction project for the local university. Since then I have hired him to work on several residential construction projects ranging from small remodels on single family homes to a major condominium development. Most recently Cline Architects has designed a modern addition for my own home and I am very pleased with the end result. Jim and Caroline are very easy to work with, quick to incorporate my ideas into the design, responsive to my concerns and full of creative solutions. I would recommend Cline Architects to family and friends.

Jim did the architectural drawings for our home when we remodeled. We found Jim and staff very easy to work with and they listened to my husband's (a general contractor) and my suggestions as to what we really wanted for our home but was also great at offering suggestions when we needed them. We have recommended them to friends in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Cline Architects has worked on two projects for us: a redesign of our exterior front stairs in 2012 and a complete kitchen remodel in 2013-14. It was a pleasure to work with Jim and Caroline on both of these projects. They are a great creative team who offered us a high level of personal service and attention. In 2012, our Victorian home still had its original stairs with no landing, forcing anyone at the front door to awkwardly stand several steps below the door. We needed to add a landing and bring the stairs up to code, and because we are located in a historic district, the design needed to meet the requirements of the Historic Preservation Commission. Jim and Caroline understood our concerns about respecting the historic character of the house and neighborhood and also finding a buildable solution that wouldn’t put us in an extended review process with the City. They consulted with City Planning and presented us with several viable options. We chose one, which the contractor we hired had no problem executing. We now have a graceful, solid set of stairs with a beautiful landing worthy of the house they are attached to. The second project was a complete and unexpected kitchen remodel in 2013, after a house fire destroyed our kitchen. Jim and Caroline met with us shortly after the fire and were able to set up a schedule that would have a complete design in place to meet the contractor’s timeline for getting us back into the house. We really appreciated that they not only accommodated us on short notice but also worked with us to understand our habits, taste, and needs. Caroline pointed us to several websites for idea gathering and was skilled in translating our many ideas into a set of finished designs. She was also great at coming up with creative solutions when we couldn’t quite decide what we wanted; for example, we opted for an island and were pretty sure we wanted a bookshelf rather than space for seating on one side. Caroline came up with a great solution that would allow either: we ended up with two fixed columns of shelves at either end with a removable center shelf that would allow a couple of stools to tuck under the counter. She referred us to a local cabinet dealer who also worked with us on cabinet selection. During the approval process, the City wanted floor plans of the entire house, which Cline accommodated. They also accommodated our need for separate billing for insurance purposes, with no problems. The end result is a beautiful and functional custom kitchen that is up-to-date and complements the rest of the house. (An added bonus of working with Cline Architects is visiting their offices in the fabulous Flood Building downtown.)

My husband and I worked with Jim Cline to design a passive solar 7000 square foot home in Heart Mountain, Wyoming. We wanted a home that complemented our certified organic farm and ranch. Jim was a joy to work with. He listened to our ideas and came up with an innovative design that enhances the high desert and Rocky Mountain prairie surroundings. It is a totally unique and original design, creative and artistic. Although it is a large house, the emphasis on natural materials makes it feel warm and inviting. Jim maximized the views of the surrounding landscape. I never tire of this house. We have lived here for over four years, and I am constantly rediscovering aspects of this home that make me appreciate Jim's creativity and attention to detail. I would recommend the services of Cline Architects to anyone who wants to build their dream home.