Madson Design did an excellent job in working with me on my total home remodel. Their work started from the beginning with design work where they developed alternative floor plans and exterior elevations and discussed what I wanted and asked many questions to understand my requirements. The project, like most, kept morphing, and their flexibility was great in adapting to my needs. They also helped with the specification of all colors and finer design aspects such as use of tiles, different types of woods, shapes, cabinetry, and the 'feeling' that would result from such choices in different rooms. I would recommend without reservation.
Phillip Lew South San Francisco, CA
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James Madson worked with me and my wife on a kitchen remodel, and an expansion of our living and family rooms. He was an honest, intelligent partner in the project from start to finish, offering multiple excellent plans, as well as suggestions for cost efficiency (including working within our budget in the design phase), and he gave thoughtful guidance through the building process. I would recommend working with James without reservation.
Martin O'Leary Mountain View, CA
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James Madson of Madson Design has been integral in creating and developing plans for a whole house remodel and new construction of a pool house on my property. This is the first time I have engaged in a construction project and is my first experience working with a building designer. I could not have had a better choice than James to guide me through all the phases in such a complicated and large project. The challenge in this project is transforming a standard 1970's builder ranch style house into a sympathetically designed and constructed Craftsman style home. James has entertained this challenge enthusiastically and is actually bringing into existence my life long 'vision' of living in my own "Bungalow". He clearly did his homework on the Craftsman style, creating faithfully traditional and absolutely beautiful casework, millwork and trims for the interior as well as stunning changes to the exterior that clearly expresses the Craftsman style reminiscent of the famed Greene & Greene brothers. James had infinite patience as we worked through the re-design of my house to reflect a typical Craftsman house layout and he was able, without compromise, to incorporate all the functionality and modern conveniences necessary in today's world. Though James' designs are complicated and complex to construct - his plans are drawn very well with true lines and ample detail. His elevations are a joy to see - they pop with depth and detail. James is a delight to work with. His communication is consistently very prompt and reflective of our discussions. On any occasion when he is unsure of my meaning or intent, he immediately clarifies, which is vital to both our working relationship and the shared end product. He is always professional and honest in his communication. If he disagrees with an idea, he shares this with clear explanations and rationale - and always in a positive and pleasant manner. James is generous in sharing his huge reference of web sites and referrals for materials, products, and expertise, which is enormously helpful, saving time as well as building on ideas. James is very organized and stays on his timelines, getting revisions back very promptly as well as initiating the next steps to keep the project moving forward. I very much appreciated James' communications outlining the next steps which help prepare me to be ready as the next phase comes along. And - with all of the professional expertise James brings to his work, perhaps the most valuable intrinsic aspect about James is the personal caring he has demonstrated through out the process. Living through a home construction project is extremely stressful and at times downright frightening. There are huge sums of money involved and so much of the construction is foreign and a complete mystery to those of us not in the 'Trades'. James has been right by my side through the design and now into the construction offering explanations, encouragement, reassurance and support - and even a little whimsy now and then to lighten the soul and lift the spirit... I truly cannot more highly recommend James Madson. Sincerely, Kathleen O’Brien Wilton, CA. *** James Madson's service included the planning, designing and oversight of the construction of my home. Home design is primarily driven by creative ideas, but in order to achieve this, certain practical elements such as cost and construction must be considered. After communicating my design ideas to James, he would immediately address the issue of feasibility and cost, as well as function and aesthetics. James’ familiarity with the “in’s and out’s” of construction definitely streamlined the design process, allowing me to realize my dream within budget, while providing me the tangible results I was looking for. As an owner-builder, and aspiring general contractor, I really appreciated his outstanding knowledge and service.
Daniel Jones Esparto, CA *** When we first began to work with James, I was impressed by his clear desire to understand us and what we were looking for in our home. The various early designs reflected a wide variety of options, yet were consistent with our general concept for a home. The final result is the home that fits our family perfectly that we intend to spend the rest of our life in.
Annette Whiteford Davis, CA *** In Dec. 2004 I bought a historical landmark in an area of Sacramento called Midtown. The home was built in 1915 and has a unique heritage. When I purchased it I fell in love with the historical nuances of style such as the antique wood and open staircase, yet I knew the home would need a remodel to address the tiny kitchen and small bathrooms. Initially I worked with an architect for about 10 months that unfortunately had little creativity and didn't seem to appreciate the historical value of the home. After being discouraged by this experience I was lucky enough to be introduced to James Madson. What a difference his approach was in terms of design and care. He genuinely understands what the client is going through, provides proactive and timely follow up, and continues to be actively involved. James exhibited a respect for blending the modern conveniences with the historical nature of the home. He stays actively involved, has a unique ability to visualize the finished project and continually offers suggestions to ensure the client is completely satisfied. This might sound corny but I find myself saying "how does he do that?". I have been thoroughly impressed and would highly recommend James to anyone looking for a high quality, 'attention-to-detail', caring designer. Jolane Davis Sacramento, CA *** We are very happy with our home remodel project, and much of that credit goes to James for his ability to translate our ideas into a functional, beautiful design. We approached our first ever building project with a great deal of enthusiasm, but also with a little trepidation. We had specific ideas in mind, but were worried that they might not be successfully communicated to the designer. James not only was able to imagine exactly what we wanted, but he suggested some ideas of his own that further refined our addition. The end result was a new sunroom that is every bit as beautiful as we had ever dared to hope. James was a pleasure to work with. He was enthusiastic about hearing our ideas and always made us feel that our ideas had merit. He made suggestions when it was warranted, and graciously accepted whatever feedback we gave him. James made the give and take of the design process very enjoyable. His work was timely, and he was always prompt in responding to any questions we might have. James would be our first choice if we undertake any future building projects.
Sincerely,
Russell and Peggy Manlapig Elk Grove, CA *** James, you did an outstanding job and the design came out to be absolutely beautiful. From my personal perspective, you have the following strengths:
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Your designs are beautiful and you work with the client to make sure they achieve an optimum balance between aesthetics and cost. You were very good about pointing out areas that we should not compromise on that turned out not to be too expensive. For example the view from the back yard is gorgeous and at the time I was proposing a very boring design just to save a few bucks. |
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You are very responsive, easy to work with and you have a soothing demeanor. Remodels are stressful to say the least and your “bedside manner” is very comforting. |
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You are very open to taking suggestions and working with a lot of differing opinions, but you help keep the focus on key aesthetic considerations. You are a good “Aesthetics Cop”. |
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You are very reasonable in every respect, from your pricing to your ideas, to your ability to assess trade-offs |
We would recommend you to anyone--
Andy and Eva Dobrov Palo Alto, CA *** People always tell me I should have had a remodeling show film our room addition/remodel. James took our dated 40-year old house and turned it into a beautiful and inviting home. The small details he added truly make it unique and noteworthy. Plus, it flows so smoothly people can't remember the old layout of the house.
Linda Schwartz & Mark Starr Rocklin, CA *** We are thrilled with our remodeled home. Not only is our new second story with master suite perfect for our life style, but our home went from being one of the least interesting to one of the most aesthetically appealing homes in our neighborhood. James integrated our second story seamlessly, so that the house doesn’t have that “added on” look. His design, with its wonderful rooflines, still gets compliments from people passing by. Most importantly to us, James really listened to us and worked with us to be sure that our home was everything we wanted. He showed us numerous design options and added small touches that really make a difference. It isn’t easy to find a designer who is both creative and responsive, and we feel fortunate to have found James. Jim Sequeira & Bobbi Larson Sacramento, CA
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