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The Best Residential Architects and Designers in Riverside, California

10 Min Read

Last updated on May 27th, 2024 at 08:49 am

California is known for its diverse home styles, designs which include Mediterranean, modern, and Spanish-inspired homes. The unrestricted variety of styles allows architects to create stunning homes that mix and match from the palette available. And Riverside and its nearby cities are home to talented architects proficient in creating unique, diverse spaces.

This list compiles the top ten residential architects in Riverside. They were selected based on a number of criteria—we carefully weighed each firm’s accreditation and certifications, professional affiliations, and recognition in the form of industry awards and press. We also took into account their years in the industry, client reviews, and the range of services the firm offered. For a home designed with the utmost care for client visions and impeccable industry standards, get in touch with the best residential architects in Riverside.

This list includes both licensed architects and residential designers who can both design stunning homes but differ in other services offered. Architects are trained in design, engineering, and project management and have passed a licensing exam. Residential designers typically don’t manage projects and plans will need to be approved by a structural engineer. Whether you choose to hire an architect or a residential designer will depend on your project needs and complexity.

If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.


Landry Design Group

1818 S Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Richard Landry established Landry Design Group in 1987. Meanwhile, Brian Pinkett’s management skills have helped the firm to grow. Both men are professionals with rich backgrounds in design and architecture. Together, they lead a group of visionary designers at Landry Design Group. It is among the many firms constantly recognized on Architectural Digest’s AD 100 list.

As a leading architecture firm in California, Landry Design Group keeps its award-winning designs a standard among its projects. The company specializes in two timeless architectural design—modern and classic. Its design-savvy team and outstanding projects have been featured in Architectural Digest, California Homes magazine, LUXE magazine, Casa & Estilo, Custom Builder, among others.Its portfolio of stunning luxury homes showcases the artistry and expertise of its team. One of its notable works is found in Los Angeles: the Spanish-inspired residence below blends a variety of tones and textures.


McClean Design 

190 S Glassell St. Suite #203, Orange, CA 92866

In the last 19 years McClean Design has grown into one of the leading architectural firms in the area. The firm’s team has worked on twenty and counting homes in Southern California. Before founding McClean Design in 2000, Paul McClean built a diverse resume in architecture. He honed his skills by working for various architectural firms across the planet, from firms in California to international companies in Australia, London, and Dublin.

The firm specializes in timeless elegant designs, and those designs have found themselves in the pages of many magazines, including The Orange County Register, LUXE Interiors + Design, Modern Luxury Orange County, Imperio, Prestige Design, and Harmonies magazine.

Looking through McClean Design’s project profile gives potential clients a quick glimpse into the firm’s expertise in harmonizing modern living with the natural environment. Lush scenery surrounds this dreamy home atop Sunset Boulevard. Before coming up with the final design of this Robin residence, McClean Design was faced with many factors. The main problem was how to fit a three-story home into a one-story community.


Miller Architectural Corporation

1177 Idaho St. Suite #200, Redlands, CA 92374

From the coasts of California to Utah’s suburban neighborhoods, Miller Architectural Corporation (MAC) is a familiar name. Gary Miller’s rich background in Architecture has been MAC’s foundation since the firm’s inception. Prior to founding Miller Architectural Corporation, Miller built his profile by working with various architectural firms across California.

With more than 30 years of field experience, MAC has mastered different architectural styles in a number of markets. Its diverse design team presents clients with designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Found in a cul-de-sac in one of Redlands streets is this stunning Mediterranean-inspired home. The 6,800-square-foot home welcomes guests through its custom iron doors. Its exterior invites new guests to speculate about the beauty that might be held inside. The home’s interior—which includes Italian marble and granite—delivers. 


R.L. Osborn Architect

1450 W Sixth St. Suite #115, Corona, CA 92882

Robert Osborn is a seasoned architect with over 30 years of design experience in Southern California. Since 2002, his company has provided more than 20 project designs for residential and commercial spaces. The firm has been lauded for its creative approach to creating modern solutions. This innovative method, on top of its sharp designs, makes R.L. Osborn Architect one of the best in Southern California.

The company’s commitment to giving clients a hassle-free experience goes beyond just creative designs. R.L. Osborn Architect builds trust and reliability by collaborating with established engineering consultants and contractors to create a safe, functional home. Aside from Spanish-inspired homes, the firm adds flavor to California’s neighborhoods by creating modern designs that complement the vast California landscape.


Richard Meier & Partners Architects LLP

1001 Gayley Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024

Award-winning firm Richard Meier & Partners Architects offers California only the best work. The firm’s exceptional projects have won over 30 prestigious awards in the last five years. Recently, the firm won two 2019 Society of American Registered Architects’ Design Awards of Merit in recognition of Professional Design Excellence.

Under the management of Richard Meier and his equally accomplished architectural partners, Richard Meier & Partners Architects LLP has extended its services throughout the United States and into the international market. The design prowess the firm consistently demonstrates also delivers consistent results.

One of its residential projects located in Southern California features an airy contemporary coastal style. The home includes a full-height glass wall on the south end, providing grand views of the Pacific Ocean. It also features an open space floor plan and an exterior living room, an intriguing take on a standard California home style.


Sautter Architecture

411 Harvard Ave., Claremont, CA 91711

In 1993, American Institute of Architects-certified architect Eric Sautter started Sautter Architects. His projects in California, Arizona, and Massachusetts provided him with a broad architectural background. Sautter Architecture is a boutique firm specializing in urban design, historic preservation, and interior design services. The firm has worked with many homeowners as well as commercial clients, including the California Museum of Photography and Providence Health System. Currently, the firm’s works are located in California and Nevada. 

One of Sautter Architecture’s most notable works is the contemporary two-story house pictured below. The unconventional, greek-contemporary style fits the surrounding landscape perfectly. 


Stern Architects

2961 W MacArthur Blvd. Suite #120, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Stern Architects offers California with design services honed through 35 years of hands-on experience. It is a legacy that was started by late architect Robert Steven Stern. Today, the firm is under the leadership of Angelica Stern and James Fortunes. Together, they continue to lead a group of talented individuals brought together by the goal of delivering exceptional designs.

Stern Architects’ broad range of design expertise allowed it to create stunning projects. In fact, its portfolio welcomes clients with diverse styles and specifications. As a result, the firm is considered as among California’s most sought-after architectural firms. 


William Hezmalhalch Architects

2850 Red Hill Ave. Suite #200, Santa Ana, CA 92705

William Hezmalhalch Architects (WHA) is an industry-acclaimed and recognized firm that has been gracing California with remarkable home designs for over 35 years. It is a firm of choice for homeowners looking for diversity, creativity, and forward-thinking solutions. WHA’s architects, designers, and planners work with clients to create tailored-fit design solutions.

A blend of traditional and coastal themes defines this home in Corona del Mar. WHA designed and developed the 2,965-square-foot custom home called the Dahlia House. One of the main designs prioritized was to unify the indoor and outdoor living areas. This allowed making the most of the beautiful scenery and social neighborhood. The firm maximized the home’s space by creating a roof deck overlooking the city. In addition to the overall use of the home, WHA also made sure to create designs that are in line with the strict city building requirements.


Wishard Architects

231 Alessandro Blvd. Suite A216, Riverside, CA 92508

Creating classic and functional designs has been Wishard Architects’ practice since 1982. The firm is under the leadership of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional and Licensed Architect Dan Wishard. 

Wishard Architects has remained a family-owned firm offering a diverse design selection for residential and commercial projects. Throughout its years in business, the firm was able to work on over 500 projects. This goes to show the reliability and excellent skills the firm can bring to its future projects. As a U.S. Green Building Council certified firm, Wishard Architects also ensures sustainable building designs.


Xavier Design Group

4481 Pondmoor Dr., Riverside, CA 92505

Xavier Design Group is a Riverside-based architectural firm. Its design style ranges from modern to Spanish-inspired homes. The firm was founded in 2005 by Xavier Hernandez, whose aim was to bring together a group of individuals to create design solutions to different home building problems. Thanks to the firm’s initiative and care, many previous clients have praised its reliable and prompt services.

Since Riverside is near Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Santa Ana, it is exposed to a diverse assemblage of home styles. The firm enjoys the liberty this offers when it comes to home design options. Which is why modern and eclectic elements are often seen playing around its designs. Take a look at the Casa Ole featured project. Neutral tones are highlighted by using elements like glass, wood, and metal. 


How can I find a contractor near me?

Read our latest articles on the best Residential Architects in and near Riverside. If you don’t see your city below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.

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About Our Rankings

This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration.


Get Bids For Your Build

If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

Author

  • Shahe Demirdjian

    Shahe is an Editor at Home Builder Digest with around four years of experience as a writer and editor in the construction space. Shahe has always had a huge interest in commercial/residential construction and real estate. On top of his experience at Home Builder Digest, he has two years of experience as a Construction Partner Specialist at BuildZoom and six years of experience as a licensed real estate agent. In his work, he takes advantage of his expertise to take complex technical jargon from those realms and transform them into accessible, engaging content, blending his business administration expertise with a degree from Arizona State University with his experiential insights. Expertise: Architecture, Home Design and Build, Home Remodeling Key Highlights: Arizona Real Estate - Licensed Salesperson Education: Arizona State University - Bachelors in Business Administration