Building your home is a big decision and choosing the right location perfect for your needs is crucial to ensure that you’ll love coming home every day. For the residents of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, everyone is welcomed by its warm rural feel and pleasant family-centric communities. The borough even features many parks and great schools, providing a wonderful atmosphere for kids and adults alike.
If you’re looking to settle down or renovate your home in this lovely area, we’ve gathered a list of the best residential architects in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. This list was curated based on the quality of their projects, their design process, and of course, their recognition in the field.
The Montoro Architectural Group
150 West Saddle River Road, Saddle River, NJ 07458
For John Montoro, having a ton of ongoing diverse projects is an extremely gratifying challenge which makes for a dynamic practice that clients can benefit from. The firm offers a crossover of design ideas, stemming from experience with many different project types, ranging from homes to civic projects.
He founded the Montoro Architectural Group, a full-service architectural and design firm that designs for both commercial and residential clients. The company has built more than a hundred shopping centers and more than 500 homes and additions throughout New York and New Jersey over the years. John is enriched by over 25 years of experience in the business and is currently on the Historical Commission of Upper Saddle River. Being in the business of design, he has always been keen on diversifying, with some of his projects branching out to private and public schools and even healthcare facilities and civic projects. This eagerness to broaden the company’s reach and expertise is backed by The Montoro Architectural Group’s goal of creating a dynamic design, maximizing the clients’ and the projects’ ROI.
The Montoro Architectural Group is accredited by the NJBIA, Bergen County Historical Society, American Concrete Institute, NJSBA, and the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA), and is the recipient of the American School & University (AS&U) Design Award and the Smart CEO New Jersey Future “50“ Award of 2016. One notable example of its work is a Colonial Classic makeover pictured here. The company enhanced an old ‘60s colonial and transformed it from an outdated home into a timeless classic. The team made use of its intrinsic beauty and enhanced it with thoughtful design additions.
Paredes-Grube Architecture
240 Rock Road Second Floor, Glen Rock, NJ 07452
With an established reputation among clients, Paredes-Grube Architecture has made a name for itself as a reliable architectural firm. It has served the communities of Bergen County in New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area for more than 25 years.
The firm’s chief principal, Xiomara Paredes, AIA, founded Paredes-Grube Architecture after 10 years of experience in firms in northern New Jersey. Now, with over 30 years of experience, Xiomara has established her firm for fine residential design and innovative architectural solutions. Her process takes into consideration the historical details, the style, and the setting of the client’s home. Her hundreds of successful projects in Bergen County and its surrounding area can be owed to her passion for old homes, her great technical expertise, and her eye for detail.
Paredes-Grube Architecture is affiliated with the AIA, the Glen Rock Historical and Preservation Society, and NCARB. The firm has also been featured in several magazines like Home Magazine, New Jersey Monthly, and many more. Additionally, the firm has received numerous stellar reviews from clients, praising the firm’s work and professionalism. A stunning example of the firm’s solid work is the Haworth Avenue Residence. The project is a large renovation that embraces the house’s original structure and amps it up with more contemporary interior design choices. The result is a beautiful blend of old and new as seen on the facade of the home.
Z+ Architects
240 West Crescent Ave. Suite D, Allendale, NJ 07401
Z+ Architects is a firm known for designing award-winning homes, offices, restaurants, and special needs buildings throughout the New Jersey area. The firm’s chief principal, Mike Scro, earned his Master of Architecture from Yale University and has taught Architectural Design Studio at Penn State University as well as abroad in national architectural design programs in Rome, Italy. Mike’s impressive background in the art of architecture is the driving force of Z+ Architects that makes it what it is—a designer of world-class homes.
Z+ Architects is also AIA, LEED, and NCARB certified and has been serving areas around New Jersey since 2001. It provides a range of architectural services with special attention to detail. Pictured here is the Wood Road Residence project, a large 1950s split-level mixed siding house in New York that catches the eye with its sleek structure and the perfect blend of textures with concrete, brick, and wood.
Plan Architecture
125 Paterson Ave. Second Floor, Little Falls, NJ 07424
As experienced problem-solvers with a thirst for making things better, Plan Architecture creates innovative buildings with a client-driven, program-based architectural design that’s appropriate for any budget. The firm was founded by Dan D’Agostino, AIA. He is an architect with over 15 years of experience as an architectural designer and project manager. He received his Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the New Jersey School of Architecture at NJIT and is part of the Little Falls Planning and Zoning Board and Little Falls Economic Development Committee. His work spans from new homes to renovations and single-family homes to high-rise mixed-use buildings. This versatility has given him an edge when it comes to experience in a variety of residential use buildings. For his work, he has received an AIA Gold Medal award for a mixed-use structure designed for Lower Manhattan and has recurring appearances on NBC’s George to the Rescue.
An example of the detailed, stylish work the firm does is this Modern Lake project. This modern home is a style not typically found in Northern New Jersey. The L-shaped floor plan creates meaningful spaces both inside and outside and the open living area makes for a brightly lit home.
Peter Cooper Architects
14 Overbrook Rd., Ramsey, NJ 07446
Since 1989, Peter Cooper Architects had always been providing a personal, integrated approach to design with consideration for the context of the site and the demands of the project itself. When it comes to designing, Peter Cooper Architects keeps in mind the ideas of ecological design and designing with nature since the firm believes that the process should be personal, professional, and socially responsible, with sensitivity to the cultural contexts as well.
The firm was founded by Peter Cooper, an architect with a deep appreciation and respect for architectural history and its cultural roots. This passion of his is the driving force of Peter Cooper Architects which has its consideration of each region’s vernacular style and historical roots that shows itself in the designs, which is important to achieve responsible architecture and planning. In line with that, over recent years, Peter Cooper Architects has also taken a turn towards green design by using methods and technologies that are energy efficient and socially responsible.
Peter Cooper Architects has more than two decades of experience in the business and with that comes a depth of understanding for a good design that is crucial when it comes to imagining homes with careful details, like this lovely project featured here.
Cathy F. Benson, AIA
1156 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450
For over 30 years, Cathy F. Benson, AIA has been providing full-service architectural design to clients throughout New Jersey and New York. She has completed hundreds of projects during this time, ranging from small home renovations to large-scale layouts for operation centers.
Cathy F. Benson, AIA, is LEED and US Green Building Council (USGBC) certified and had always believed in being a strong steward for the environment, preaching energy efficiency, good air quality, and sustainable design in her work. She is also involved with Paterson Habitat for Humanity and has designed several projects that are both efficient and cost-effective.
In all of her designs, she strives to exceed her clients’ expectations each time. One example is this lovely Closter New Home project, a large Mediterranean yellow home in new York with a warm red tile roof and lovely stonework.
Tek Design Inc.
545 Otto Pl., Paramus, NJ 07652
Tek Design, Inc. offers a wide range of architectural and interior design services for the high-end residents of the New York and New Jersey areas. Over the years, the firm’s principal, Sevan Tekian, has worked with several firms both in Lebanon and England before establishing her practice in New Jersey.
After working with several firms abroad over the years, even becoming the head of the architecture department in one, Tevian established Tek Design Inc. in 2004. Since its establishment, the approach of the firm had always been to have open discussions with the clients about what matters the most to them in their home to initiate the concept and style
Regardless of the project size, Tek Design Inc. guarantees to give it the fullest attention, with Tekian herself supervising the construction and all interior installations. One example of the firm’s fine work is this marvelous brick-and-stone home in Chappaqua.
