Design 1 Studio

I?ve been building ADUs for clients as a GC for five years now and I always recommend Design 1 Studio for the plans. The reason is simple: their plans don?t create problems during construction. Dimensions are accurate, details are clear, and when the inspector shows up, everything matches. That?s all I ask for.

A coworker recommended Design 1 Studio after they designed her ADU. I called on a Tuesday and had my consultation by Friday. They designed a one-bedroom detached ADU for my backyard that?s modern and private. They positioned the windows and entry so that the ADU and main house each have their own space without feeling on top of each other. Really thoughtful design. City approved the plans first try.

Design 1 Studio handled the plans for my new restaurant space. They knew all the health department requirements, the hood and ventilation specs, grease trap sizing, ADA restroom layout ? everything. I?ve opened restaurants before with other designers and this was by far the smoothest permit process I?ve been through. Plans were approved by both the building department and health department without corrections. That saved me weeks.

We needed a master bedroom addition and a full remodel of our existing kitchen and two bathrooms. Design 1 Studio handled all of it as one project. The addition was designed to match the existing roofline and exterior perfectly. The interior layouts are functional and beautiful. Our contractor complimented the level of detail in the plans multiple times during the build. We get compliments from every visitor now.

We spent months looking for the right designer for our forever home and we?re so glad we chose Design 1 Studio. They listened to everything we wanted, took notes, asked smart follow-up questions, and came back with a concept that captured our vision perfectly. The design phase took about three months and the construction documents were finished a month after that. We?re about six weeks into the build now and everything has gone smoothly.

I?m a small-scale developer and hired Design 1 Studio to design a duplex on an infill lot. They understood the zoning, the setbacks, and the parking requirements without me having to explain anything. The design maximized both units at around 1,200 sq ft each. Plans passed plan check with only one minor comment about the site drainage, which they corrected in two days. I?ve already hired them for my next project.

They converted our two-car garage into a studio ADU. The design maximized the 400 sq ft we had to work with and included a full bathroom and kitchenette. I?m giving 4 stars because I had to follow up a couple of times to get status updates during the plan check phase. Once I reached them they were always helpful and knowledgeable. The plans were approved and the conversion is done and looks great.

Solid experience with Design 1 Studio. They designed a one-bedroom ADU for our side yard. The lot had some grading challenges and they worked around them well. Plan check came back with a few items related to the drainage plan, which they corrected within a week. I?d give 5 stars but the initial turnaround on the preliminary design was a bit slower than I expected. That said, the final plans were thorough and professional.

We built an ADU so my mother could live close to us. Design 1 Studio designed it with her needs in mind ? no steps, wide hallways, a walk-in shower with a bench, and easy-to-reach cabinets in the kitchen. They were patient and kind throughout the process and checked in with us even after the plans were submitted. The unit is built and my mom is safe and happy in her own space right behind our house. We are so grateful to this team.

Design 1 Studio designed a second-story addition to our single-story home. We were concerned about it looking like an obvious add-on but the design blends perfectly with the original roofline and exterior. The structural plans were solid and our contractor didn?t have to request any clarifications during the build. The addition is complete now and everyone who sees it assumes the house was always two stories. That?s exactly what we wanted.