Mason Miller Architect

We hired Mason last year to help us reconfigure our kitchen & mudroom into a more open, functional space. The layout was tricky, but we ended up with an incredible upgrade to our space, which is the functional heart of the house. Mason did a great job understanding our problem and coming up with several layout solutions that worked for us. It was a pleasure to work with Mason from the initial sketches to the final installation, as he is easy to get along with, very accesible and he does excellent work. He brings the right balance of function and design together, effortlessly. I'm a creative director and I had a very good idea of what I wanted the space to look like. I found Mason's interior design taste very refined and loved bouncing ideas off of him. We would definitely recommend Mason to anyone in need of a good architect. In fact, we've just started yet another project with him.

We interviewed several architects and design-build firms to fully renovate and add on to our mid century modern home. Ultimately we were looking for someone who appreciated the style and would provide comprehensive architectural and design services. As full time working professionals, it was important to have a team that could guide the process and provide technical expertise. Mason clicked right away and not only provided vision but also was a joy to work with. He ultimately created full architectural plans, redesigned the floor plan completely, sourced contractor and millworker, guided permit process and selected and purchased finishes. The entire process from plans to move was about a year and he was flexible in terms of meeting during evenings or electronically and was super responsive to bring contractor questions or building issues to resolution. Given scale of project, most people ask about the process (and then lead in with their horror story) and I’m so thankful to have found Mason as we had a great experience which was relatively stress free. Mason’s calm demeanor and responsiveness was a major contributing factor in this regard. We have now moved in and continue to appreciate all the small and large design choices driven by Mason. He created a home which is modern yet extremely functional and I would recommend Mason for small or large scale projects to create a beautiful space with a worry free design / build process.

When we purchased our 1920s Dutch Colonial, we knew that it would be essential to renovate our small galley kitchen and open up the living space to make life more functional and comfortable for our family. With Mason's planning and assistance, we completely renovated the kitchen, dining, family and powder rooms. This was an extensive renovation that included removing load-bearing walls, relocating main plumbing, and troubleshooting the many issues that come with undertaking a project like this in a nearly 100-year-old house. Most of the companies we spoke with before interviewing Mason wanted to own our project from beginning to end. However, Mason truly crafted his involvement with the project according to what we wanted. Although he would have been quite capable of handling the project from start to finish, we wanted Mason to develop plans based on the way we wanted our home to function, and then work with us to hire and provide oversight to our contractor, as well as collaborate on the design and finishes in the space. Our endless questions and high involvement could have been off-putting, but Mason was incredibly pleasant throughout the entire process. He was considerate of our suggestions, was quick to respond to all of our questions, and was willing to walk us through the huge number of details involved. Even when we wanted to make some major changes after construction had begun, he was speedy make adjustments to the plans. The changes were seamlessly implemented along the contractor's timeline and the updated layout was built out perfectly. We loved that Mason was forthright about his opinions, but was flexible and open to changes. He was aware of the budget he had given us for his services and stuck to it even though there were unforeseen events that could have had him run over what he originally estimated for his time. As a result of his expertise, creativity and guidance, we have exactly what we'd hoped for. We'll definitely be using him again for another project in the near future.

Mason helped us envision a family room conversion of our garage. He is highly creative with a good feel for quality and modern design. He is quite easy to work with, clear in his communication, respectful and punctual. Due to the floods last April, in which our house was involved, we have not moved the project forward, but will push forward when the time is right. Overall, I would highly recommend Mason if you care for great quality and design esthetics at fair fees.

Perhaps the best thing that happened for me, my wife, and my Mid-Century ranch was that Mason and his wife relocated from San Francisco to the Chicago area. We could not be happier with the design and architectural assistance that Mason provided for us. Extremely professional. Strong design aesthetic but not overbearing -- i.e., respectful of client aesthetics. Great with design finish choices. Wide variety of services beyond just design layout and drawings -- extremely helpful in a variety of areas. Creative in approaches. Super easy to work with. I've got friends who have (wisely) hired him based on my recommendation, I've got others who are sad that he's not local to them. I am a horrible client - lots of changes, tendencies to micromanage, etc. By the end of our project, I had developed so much confidence in him that I stopped micromanaging and caught myself saying (repeatedly) "lets just go with what Mason recommends." In terms of what he did: Mason did design consulting and brainstorming on layout and renovation ideas. He sketched NUMEROUS alternatives for us to consider. He executed all permitting plans. He assisted with our selection of GCs. He interfaces with our GC to see that his / our vision is executed. He's shopped with me on numerous occasions for finishes (flooring, ceiling, cabinets, tile, etc.) We're nearing completion of "Phase I" as we call it. We'll have other phases and I would not hesitate at all to hire him again (if he's available). Indeed, we have every intention of hiring him for Phases II, IIII, and IV when we get to them! Having recently relocated, Mason is like your favorite "unknown band" who you secretly hope doesn't get popular because it will harder to get "tickets to his show," but who you also hope has great commercial success. To Houzz readers, please don't make him TOO popular so that he's still available to me to hire for that other work! We should have photos forthcoming (we're still in the process of final finishes). *Project Price noted is not Mason's fee. It was the total renovation budget.

When we set out to remodel our mid-century home in Noe Valley, we knew we had quite a puzzle on our hands. We had very clear objectives in our minds (add a master BR w/ en suite bath, open up the floor plan to take best advantage of the views and add a half bath) but no idea how to make them all work at the same time, or if it was even possible. Especially given the cost-saving constraints we had set: keep kitchen and existing staircase in place. So after a relatively short exploration exercise, we were THRILLED and AMAZED with the creative and beautiful solution that Mason came up with that met each and every one of our objectives and then some! At the end of the project, we have a smart and stunning new kitchen, a master suite that makes efficient use of limited square footage, an open floor plan that makes the most of breathtaking views, abundant natural light and the most charming half bathroom EVER. We honestly could not be happier with the results. In addition to his fantastic vision and creativity, Mason is also a joy to work with! And not just from the client POV - our contractor and his subs thought so as well. Highly recommended!!