Houses in traditional towns embrace the classic aesthetic while still embracing modern influences that meet current standards. These buildings hit a sweet spot both visually and functionally, as the time-tested beauty meshes perfectly with contemporary elements. Architects should be able to handle diverse styles, old, new, or a combination of the two.
The following list highlights the top residential architects in Petaluma, California. These studios have impressive project portfolios, rich industry backgrounds, and can point to plenty of positive client feedback. Their creative principals have extensive resumes. Among these elite firms, some stood out even more having earned coveted awards from industry organizations. The companies included work mostly in residential markets, save for a few that accept light commercial work.
AIM Associates
100 Fair Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
AIM Associates is known for sustainable spaces that elevate people’s way of living. The firm’s creative solutions and high-performance architecture prioritize a cleaner and more efficient environment. This focus on green design and integrated management propelled its name to prominence, earning a solid network of clients in Marin County and beyond.
Principal George Beeler is a big proponent of eco-friendly architecture and design. He is part of numerous green organizations, from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) to the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council. Since 1982, he’s amassed a dynamic portfolio that includes affordable homes, pharmaceutical laboratories, technology centers, offices, and educational facilities.
The featured project is an adaptive reuse of a historic residence in Tomales. The property served multiple purposes across its lifespan. It was once a bed and breakfast; currently, it’s a small hotel and retreat house. The structure integrates sustainable elements, including cellulose insulation made of recycled paper. These features are not limited to the main house, as it also features drought-tolerant and native landscaping.
VRA Architects
108 Petaluma Blvd North, Suite 200, Petaluma, CA 94952
vRA Architects crafts beautiful and long-lasting spaces. It specializes in architecture, planning, and consulting work. Other services include project management, land-use entitlements, and winery development services.
The studio’s projects showcase function and style, with designs specific to the owner and their environment. Projects are consistently completed on the client’s schedule and within budget, completed with a polished finish that matches the owner’s lifestyle.
Owner Stephen vonRaesfeld is a seasoned architect with over 30 years of industry experience. He leads an architectural team with Allison Vincenti and Natalie Loftus, both proponents of sustainable design. To date, their practice has completed projects for individual, corporate, and development clients. That includes residential spaces, wineries, artisan-food establishments, commercial facilities, mixed-use developments, and infill projects.
Here is the Treehaven Ranch in Sonoma County, a striking abode in the middle of a California expanse. The two-story property stands on a stretch of land with minimal greenery, save for a few trees and sun-dried grass. The home features a stone base with exterior brick walls and shingle roofing. The burnt copper tone of its sidings complements the white beams and accents, adding color to the dry environment.
Green Building Architects
74th Street, Studio 61, Petaluma, CA 94952
Green Building Architects is a Petaluma-based practice with a focus on sustainable designs. Its central philosophy revolves around creating spaces with minimal environmental impact. The firm’s process strives to conserve natural resources, lessen waste and toxic construction materials, and foster healthier indoor environments.
Principal Bill Wolpert has over 30 years of design expertise. His dossier includes new homes, historic rehabilitations, and additions. These projects aim to enhance the owner’s lives and provide energy efficiency and hassle-free maintenance. Wolpert is also a pioneer as one of the first Certified Green Building Professionals of Build It Green.
One standout project is the Taylor Residence completed in 2019. The wooden home sits on a sloping four-acre lot in a rural locale. The large expanse provides ample space for horses as well as locally-grown plants. Like most of the firm’s architecture, the house integrates many green elements including solar panels and a strategic metal roof design. Other sustainable features include excellent indoor air quality, a heat-pump water heater, radiant floors, and energy-efficient systems.
Studio 101 Designs
101 H Street, Suite C, Petaluma, CA 94952
Studio 101 Designs is well-known for its creative solutions and timeless craftsmanship. It takes a collaborative approach to architecture and management, one attuned to modern design.
Building more with less is a core aspect of the studio’s philosophy. It consistently aims for efficiency through the use of fewer resources and less time and energy consumption. This goal fuels its process, a model that has proven successful based on its track record.
The firm offers design services for prefabricated modular homes and custom site-built houses. A thorough understanding of the homeowner’s lifestyle encourages the creation of spaces that fit their vision. Through this process, the team can provide aesthetic and comfort specific to the client. Each design also integrates sustainable materials, a conscious effort to provide eco-friendly solutions.
President Scott Landry is an industry veteran with an extensive resume. His seasoned status honed his expertise in modern homes. One of his notable projects is the Santa Barbara Residence. The stylish home features wood exteriors and contemporary interiors. The simple yet sophisticated design combines classic and current trends, a design blend that works wonderfully.
Steve Charlip Architect
104 Fifth Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
Stephen Charlip Architect, also known as SCA, is a Petaluma-based practice with an impressive reputation. It has a portfolio of homes that range from traditional abodes to modern dwellings. The firm has a 90% buildout rate, a notable feat that adds to its elite status.
Stephen Charlip, the eponymous principal, has over 25 years of experience in the Southern California domain. His dynamic catalog includes projects in residential and landscaping markets. Careful precision is put in every project, stylized to cater to the owner’s needs. Charlip’s stellar craftsmanship has won rave reviews, commending the work’s aesthetic style and his team’s efficient process in the field. Project completion on time and budget also earned praise from satisfied homeowners.
The featured project is a custom residence in a private California community. The two-story property includes the main house and an adjacent single-car garage. It has an understated design with smooth gray walls and wooden beams and borders. Glass windows provide ample lighting and scenic views of the verdant environment.
Mahoney Architects & Interiors
Six C Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
Mahoney Architects + Interiors is a well-esteemed practice based in the Bay Area. It has completed over 200 residential projects in the North Bay, ranging from coastal homes to contemporary houses. The company’s dossier includes interior, exterior, and kitchen spaces.
Colleen Mahoney spearheads the boutique firm’s day-to-day processes. As a Petaluma-native, she brings a personal touch to every project, one that reflects local sensibilities. Her designs evoke a family-oriented aesthetic mixed with modern and sustainable design.
The studio is a homeowner favorite and a recipient of many client-voted merits in the area. Some of its recent accolades include the People’s Choice award from the Petaluma Argus-Courier, awarded consecutively in 2019 and 2020. Mahoney herself has over 20 National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) awards to her name. She has been named Professional Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women.
This lovely residence—featured below—is a two-story home with white exteriors and a tall and steep gable roof. It has a patio with wood pillars, a red brick chimney, and a large garage. A traditional elegance emanates from the house, its classic suburban palette a reflection of classic Americana.
Harrison Woodfield Architects, Inc.
431 Humboldt Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Harrison Woodfield Architects is one of California’s most preferred design studios. It works exclusively on residential projects for over 25 years. The firm focuses on custom homes, remodels, additions, and master planning for complex rural and urban sites.
The full-service practice has two offices, one in Sonoma County and the other in Carmel Valley. Functional and visually appealing spaces are synonymous with its name. These cater to the homeowner’s wants and needs both on a personal and aesthetic level. Each project also fits its local environment, providing harmonious energy indoors and out.
Sara Harrison Woodfield is the president and principal architect of the company. The worldly veteran has over 30 years of expertise, with architectural influences that include California, Italy, and the Far East. Woodfield employs green and sustainable principles in her craft as a Certified Green Building Professional, a USGBC member, and a LEED-Certified expert.
This Contemporary Farmhouse in Redwood Hill is a modern take on a traditional residential style. Tall oak trees and sculpted greenery frame the home and complement its aesthetic allure. Its exteriors feature cream-colored wood sidings and white accents on support pillars and borders. The soft color palette extends to the interiors, which echo an elegant layout fit for a sophisticated taste.
Mad Architecture
145 Keller Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
MAD Architecture is an award-winning firm well-versed in modern and traditional design. It strives to deliver high-quality spaces that perfectly balance the owner’s lifestyle and preferences, the site’s environment, and the home’s overall aesthetics.
Principals Mary Dooley and Chris Lynch helm the operations as co-partners with over 30 years of design expertise. Their practice includes a small team of talented and skilled professionals well-versed in creative designs. A streamlined process focused on client satisfaction delivers timely completion, cost-effective solutions, and optimal results.
The studio has completed residential projects, wineries, offices, hospitality spaces, health care facilities, restorations, and interior designs. Most of these projects have received critical acclaim from national industry bodies. MAD Architecture’s recent accolades include the 2020 Best Interior Renovation from the Gold Nugget Award of the Pacific Coast Builders Conference (PCBC) and the 2019 Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Redwood Empire Chapter.
The Mid-Century Modern Zen House in Santa Rosa. The project is a makeover of an existing 1950s residence, a Japanese-inspired design that needed refreshing. The updated structure includes new layout, entry, and decks, three bedrooms, and three bathrooms. It also has new windows and doors that provide optimal views of the trees and the landscape. Black-colored exteriors add a sense of mystique to the home.
