A city located in Orange County, Los Alamitos is a quiet suburban city surrounded by numerous neighboring areas, offering numerous outdoor recreational activities. It is an ideal location for people to live a calmer and peaceful life with the area’s simple environment. It has excellent schools, parks, and is known for its horse racing scene.
Our editorial team curated this list of the top seven best residential architects in Los Alamitos, to help you consider the best choice to update or create your new home. We took into consideration the firm’s designs, process, experience, and accolades.
Kollin Altomare Architects
4265 E. Conant St. Suite 101, Long Beach, CA 90808
Kollin Altomare Architects has completed numerous skyline commercial projects both locally and internationally, and has been involved in the design and renovation of more than 400 hospitality and leisure designs. They’ve also made their mark in luxury residential, mixed-use, and retail projects that mesh various components to offer the client a modern, urban finish. Founder Michael Kollin leads the firm as president and CEO, receiving accreditations from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and is a proud member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC).
Featured is an award-winning, oceanfront residence in Newport Beach, California – a recipient of the New-Build Custom Home SARA Award in 2006. The 5,200-square-foot, 2-story contemporary home includes six bedrooms, seven baths, a professional kitchen, dining, and a great room with direct access to the beach. An additional three-level 3,500-square-foot guest house includes an entertainment room, cabanas, and sun decks. The home’s overall finish blends modern design with a coastal setting, integrating indoor and outdoor living. The project was featured in Custom Home Magazine and Coast Magazine in 2006 and 2004, respectively.
Grisafe Architecture
3750 Schaufele Ave. Suite 150, Long Beach, CA 90808
Grisafe Architecture is a full-service residential and commercial firm offering a bevy of services. From energy-efficient planning, mechanical system design to electrical system design, the Grisafe Architecture team aims to be a one-stop shop to ensure quality finish. The firm’s projects revolve around contemporary and traditional residences, occasionally producing ranch-style houses.
One of these ranch-style homes is the feature project, the Keynote Residence in Long Beach. This home began its construction from the 1940s to the 1960s, after World War II. The main focus for this project was to improve the curb appeal while providing updates like an en suite bedroom. The result is an updated home, redesigned for a modern-day look.
Mark Wheeler Residential Design
4918 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815
Featuring numerous projects throughout the California area, Mark Wheeler Residential Design has produced various updated contemporary residences with a revamped facade and interior designs. One of these projects is the Krauel Residence in Los Altos. Prior to the firm’s involvement, the house was in desperate need of an upgrade for its exterior structure. The result is a clean exterior including more windows for added lighting, improving the home environment.
Other upgrades include more interior space and the addition of a second floor to maximize the home’s size. Currently led by Mark Wheeler, the firm has produced over 250 custom homes over the past 20 years. With projects in California, Utah, Texas, and North Carolina, Wheeler has established the firm as a reputable company with its track record of quality homes and projects.
DeMarco Architect
9121 Atlanta #826, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
Principal Cheryl DeMarco, AIA, currently oversees the firm’s projects specializing in custom homes and remodeling but occasionally providing services for multi-family, mixed-use, and restaurant projects. With this amount of services, DeMarco has established various partnerships with numerous contractors, engineers, and building inspectors, further improving its results. It is worth noting that apart from DeMarco’s architectural background, she is also a real estate agent and is capable of providing professional advice for any type of property.
Pictured below is an addition and renovation project for a 1960s home. The addition includes an entire second floor, one master bedroom, one bedroom, one bath, and a loft/office space. Loft area with high ceiling and natural ventilation pairs well with the features of this home. This results in an inviting coastal-style home for this growing family of six.
Gulian Design, INC.
5855 E Naples Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90803
Gulian Design, Inc. began back in 1993. Since the firm’s beginnings, Edward Gulian, the firm’s principal, has designed an array of popular and unique styles of custom homes. The firm also tackles any size commercial projects ranging from offices, retail spaces, and restaurants. Gulian Design, Inc. staff consist of Architects and Engineers with a highly trained production team to deliver the most comprehensive documents available for your building and permitting needs. They have won many awards for their designs and services from various agencies and have been featured in several magazines throughout the years.
One of their most recent projects completed is this 4,000-square-foot residence below. This project was constructed in the Naples area of Long Beach, CA. GDI provided the client with a sophisticated facade that includes balconies, floor-to-ceiling doors & windows and an indoor-outdoor living floor plan that incorporated a well-designed landscape.
OroHaus
4182 N. Viking Way Ste 215, Long Beach, CA 90808
One of the best projects OroHaus completed is this bungalow residence in Rossmoor, California. The OroHaus team provided a simple finish with a straightforward design for the home’s facade which incorporates the front yard giving an overall vibrant look. Founder Martin Ruvalcaba has tackled numerous residential projects like this, emphasizing simplicity in its modern and traditional works.
The firm has been in the business for only six years, but Ruvalcaba has extended his services to structural engineering, which has aided him in providing projects that are both simple and refined.
Tori Jones Design
2711 Oak Knoll Dr., Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Featuring a bevy of modern projects, Tori Jones Design has accumulated a portfolio of various modern houses most of which have a clean refined finish. An example of this is the feature project below, a contemporary residence in Oleander Street. A simple exterior structure is paired with a sophisticated interior design with contemporary furnishing. Projects like this offer the client a functional home that provides an efficient use of its space to create a comfortable environment.
Founder Tori Jones started her architecture career in the mid ‘90s and has since developed her skills to cater to clients with various requests. The result is a portfolio full of quality residences that is functional and efficient.
