• “James Madson's service included the planning, designing and oversight of the construction of my home. Architectural 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
    Esparto, CA

    For more, see the Jones-Whiteford Residence in our Projects tab.

  • “I can't say enough about how happy I am about the work James did designing our whole-house remodel/rebuild. James is both tremendously skilled and extremely professional. My wife and I had never been through such a large project, and James' knowledge and experience was invaluable throughout.

    I will describe the process we went through with James a bit later, but I want to start by describing his design skills, and the outcome. James designed our house in a very holistic way, inside and out. While he of course took our requirements into account (larger kitchen, master suite, rooms for the kids), he made sure that all of these things came together in a balanced way. Each room came out both beautiful and functional on its own, but they all feel integrated as well. He designed the outside as carefully as the inside, and the result is amazing. We literally have people stop and just stare. If we happen to be outside people stop to tell us how great it looks. Cars drive by three times to look.

    James considered every beam, every piece of trim, every window, and the result is amazing. He is just incredibly talented, and that talent led to a fantastic outcome. He has the ability to draw something on paper or on a computer, and have that idea come through and become real in the world. The results always exceed expectations, every time.

    Back to the process. To start, James has a well considered and repeatable design process, and will describe to you the steps, and the costs, right up front. He helped us scope the initial options (one floor or two floors? Key needs?) and developed several designs. After a couple of iterations to refine what we decided (we decided to add a second floor) he put together preliminary plans and elevations, which we used to get initial bids from contractors. After deciding that we could afford the project, James worked with a structural engineer (who is excellent and I also highly recommend) to develop the construction documents and worked with the city to get permits (planning, building) while we narrowed our choices for a contractor.

    After we started construction, James reviewed photos and did in person walk-throughs. He almost always found things that were not quite built to the plans and he worked with the builder to address the issues. These are things that I would probably not have caught until much too late, and having him there to balance out my builder's desire to keep moving was key to having the design become real. James does charge an hourly for these reviews (at a rate we agreed on when we first hired him, so completely transparent), but looking back I would have had him come out several more times than I did in order to catch issues as soon as possible. (James also did photo reviews, which was an efficient way to get his expertise, but nothing beat the on-site time with the builder).

    Regarding budgeting, this was a big project for us, and we definitely had budget constraints. James was really good about giving different types of options for various aspects of the project, and was good about calling out areas that might be expensive and giving alternatives. That being said, no two projects are the same and there were several cases where we needed to dial-back something because of the costs. Fortunately we caught most of these before construction began, and James was great help tweaking the plans to get them where we needed to be to hit our budget.

    To wrap up, I can’t recommend James enough. If we ever do any kind of construction or major remodel again I will be calling him. If he’s busy on other projects, we will wait for him. If you care about professionalism, detail, and balance between form and function, you should hire James Madson.”

    Kevin Streeter
    San Bruno, CA

  • “We just completed a new two-story house with walk-out basement in Los Altos. The process took several years to design and build as we changed from a major remodel to a new house with basement, but James was patient, flexible, knowledgable, and thorough. We had some unique design choices which he took off with. Instead of falling back to the familiar styles he's worked with over the years and discouraging us from taking this leap, he immersed himself into the design, buying out of print books with old photos, learning about old European design and construction methods. I decided to import many materials for re-use inside the home, and James was able to incorporate these elements into the design of the house and interior finishes so that everything ties together. We also built the house with high mass construction, super energy efficiency, and health/biological considerations, and James was able to accommodate our choices despite them being new and more challenging. We are very happy with our experience working with James, and highly recommend him and the passion he puts into his work. Our house turned out better than we expected. We regularly have strangers stop by to tell us how beautiful our house is.”

    Jill Woodford
    Los Altos, CA

    For more, see the Woodford Residence in our Projects tab.

  • “James did a great job of taking what was, in my mind, a basic box ADU design and turning it into something with unique characteristics that enhanced both the external visual appeal, as well as the interior flow and comfort, while at the same time controlling building costs. He worked the engineers to ensure a well designed structure, given the expansive soil in our area. He also worked with the city to get permits approved (a nightmarish process, as you can imagine).”

    Werner Gerola
    Woodside, CA

  • “With pleasure, we celebrate James Madson and the design he created for our small space. We added an aging in place unit/an ADU and removed all steps so we could enjoy our home without worrying about future limitations. Given the small amount of space allowed in the permit, James was totally masterful in using every square inch in a functional and beautifully designed place. We are thrilled at what he created for us, the support he gave us along the way, and his collegial, respectful, helpful presence. The light, the details, the imagination have given us more than we imagined. Hire him! He is exceptionally talented.”

    Bonnie Bernell
    Redwood City, CA

  • “We worked with James in our house expansion project. He created a new floor plan for us that makes the new space feels so complete, like it was there from day one. We love the end result. We have excellent communication with him and the design process was very efficient. He integrated our wish list into the design and we could not be happier with the design. We highly recommend James. As a matter of fact, this is our second project with him.”

    Gwen Wang
    Menlo Park, CA

Testimonials

New Homes & ADUs

Whole House Remodels

  • “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.”

    Philip Lew
    South San Francisco, CA

    For more, see the Lew Residence in our Projects tab.

  • “Ours was a major remodel of a home that is very precious to us so we had to get it right. It was a wreck with 3 haphazard additions over 30yrs, creating a jumbled mess. James was extremely patient as we worked through many design variants trying to isolate what didn't work for me though I couldn't quite put my finger on it. After some time and immeasurable patience James found the magic solution. A year later I still marvel at the result which is better than I had hoped for. Thanks again James.”

    David Etheridge
    Half Moon Bay, CA

    “James is a thoughtful and creative designer who worked with us to transform our rundown, haphazardly built home into one that flows with coherence and beauty. He worked within the constraints of the existing footprint and incorporated our ideas into a functional design. James is patient, listens well, and is a good communicator. Read his design philosophy on his website- he puts these thoughts into practice.”

    Ari Etheridge
    Half Moon Bay, CA

    For more, see the Etheridge Residence in our Projects tab.

  • “Madson Design was the right choice for our full house remodel. James is incredibly patient, detailed and a great communicator. He worked with us through the entire building process. Our project was particularly long, but he was always available to us when we had questions or needed additional assistance when new issues would arise. James has a keen eye for detail. He gave us suggestions to improve the flow of our home and polish the overall design. We continuously receive compliments on our home. In fact, I was recently approached by a passerby who said that our house "improved the entire neighborhood". I can only take partial credit for the appeal; leaving the remaining credit to Madson Design. I would highly recommend James to anyone considering a home remodel or design project.”

    Miha Krumpak
    San Rafael, CA

    For more, see the Krumpak-Loy Residence in our Projects tab.

  • “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 an architect who is both creative and responsive, and we feel fortunate to have found James.”

    Jim Sequeira & Bobbi Larson
    Sacramento, CA

    For more, see the Sequeira-Larson Residence in our Projects tab.

  • “James, you did an outstanding job and the design came out to be absolutely beautiful. From my personal perspective, you have the following strengths:

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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”.

    • 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

  • “James worked with us to design a lovely addition to our home which we are very happy with. James is a thorough, talented, and extremely detail-oriented designer who is not only creative but is well versed in the regulations and restrictions that our city (Palo Alto) has. As we are located in a flood zone, and thus have stringent restrictions regarding expansion, James came up with a multi phase plan of expansion that worked well within our budget and also adhered to the city codes. The design functions successfully within the awkward setbacks of our corner lot, thereby allowing us to stay on one story and still preserve the space in our backyard. James incorporated our desire to have an open and light feel in the addition, and we really love the touches like arched openings throughout that make it truly special. It is really a pleasant, family friendly space to be in now.”

    Tiki and Doron Keller
    Palo Alto, CA

  • “James Madson of Madson Design has been integral in creating and developing building 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 an architectural 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 Green & Green 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

Remodels & Additions

  • “James did a wonderful job taking our home from a hodgepodge of architectural elements to a clean, cohesive, beautiful finished home. Whenever we had a question about the plans, or encountered a "surprise", James was easy to reach and helped smooth over the bumps. We get compliments on our home from dog walkers, the UPS driver and our neighbors are thrilled with the finished project.”

    Ann Zerega
    San Jose, CA

    For more, see the Zerega-Cummings Residence in our Projects tab.

  • “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

    For more, see the Davis Residence in our Projects tab.

  • “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

  • “We've used James on two houses, and we loved him both times. He was thoughtful and inspired, budget conscious, and had a mild, easy going manner that was easy to work with. I found him to be honest and straightforward. He also had several very good references to others in the design and construction phases, all honest and easy to work with people, like him. We felt very fortunate, compared to our previous remodel, where the architect was pushy and gave us flawed plans that were costly to adjust. We had no surprises with James, other than he came in on budget, or slightly under, on his cost. We recommend him highly!”

    Carrie O’Leary
    Mountain View, CA

  • “James is an excellent designer. He worked with us on tastefully extending our home, and his designs were totally in keeping with the Spanish Mediterranean style of our home. He works from a background of real, in-depth knowledge of architectural styles, which is something we really appreciated. He was very easy to communicate with, and was a consummate professional. I would highly recommend him.”

    John Chisholm
    San Francisco, CA

Professional References

  • “I have been in the Construction industry for over 38 years in the Bay Area. I have had the opportunity to build hundreds of custom homes designed dy many different architects, and I would have to say, in all my years I rarely have the pleasure of working with such a knowledgeable and articulate designer as James. The amount of time and forethought he puts into his projects is above and beyond what I usually receive in a "working set" of drawings. I have had the pleasure of working with James on a couple of his designs and his working knowledge surpasses any architect I have worked with in the past. In my experience, most architects do not understand the actual building process, James does, which helps the project immensely. I would definitely recommend Madson Designs for your next project. Regardless of who you have actually build your home, getting it designed correctly the first time will not only save you time but money also, and James and his team will do that for you.”

    Toby Crawford
    Los Altos, CA and Sunnyvale, CA

  • Love working with James from Madson Design! I have had the pleasure of collaborating with James Madson on numerous custom home and remodel projects and have found him to be an expert designer. James is an amazing talent and is capable of crafting designs in every aesthetic ranging from Tudor Revival, Craftsman, Mediterranean, to a Modern Beach house in Half Moon Bay. In working with him, you will appreciate his sharp attention to detail and great communication skills throughout your project from start to finish. I highly recommend James Madson Design.

    Anna Cesario
    Saucy Design

  • “James and I have worked together on a number of projects: both re-models and new builds in which my company provided the landscaping. Each project has been a very different style of design, but James has consistently demonstrated his ability to accomplish quality work with impressive design-build integrity. I find him to be articulate, adept at identifying client needs, and able to patiently and successfully bridge the disparate work of all contractors to insure a consistently high quality project. I've noticed, repeatedly, that he is always tactful and professional, but insistent that all work be done to meet his standards. In this he is attentive to the details, while holding the overall needs of each stage of the project.”

    Carolyn Price
    East Bay Botanical Services