Architect Andrew Morrall

We have referred Andy as an Architect to numerous clients and have had the opportunity to work with Andy on close to a dozen projects. As a San Francisco Architect Andy is able to take on challenging projects and find creative ways to manage the planning and permitting submittals to get things through the city. We have found him to be responsive and able to work through complex issues that arise during construction. We have not had the opportunity to work with any other Architect that provides as much detail and knowledge of the construction process. Andy’s drawings show every detail, well thought out, with materials specified and researched. This not only makes are job easier as a Contractor and Builder, but we are able to provide very tight and concise bids at the beginning of a project that we are able to stick to through the course of a project. The amount of detail and plans that Andy provides also makes for a beautiful project with interesting and creative design elements. A lot of the projects we have worked with Andy on are large 3^rd story additional and entire house remodels. We wholeheartedly recommend Andy as the Architect for your next project.
Adrian

Project was successfully finished and we are so Happy!
We were looking for a San Francisco based Architect familiar with moving projects through the city permit process. We were also looking for an Architect that had the experience and creativity to take on a challenging and expansive project. We found that Architect in Andy. Two years before finding Andy, we had actually started work with another Architect and we weren’t happy with his ideas or design. We are so happy we made the switch. Andy was able to solve our design challenges with so much skill and creativity. Andy was able to offer creative solutions, finding a way to stack the main staircases, saving so much space and really making the staircase a grand focal point. He centered the Kitchen, making it our family’s central command center. The large kitchen island, which easily seats all 5 family members is integral to the expansive family room addition, Dining Room, and Front Living Room. When you enter the home, you are greeted by the new grand staircase linking to our new lower level and existing upper level with a view of the expansive open remodeled Kitchen and onto the light filled Family Room Addition. The lower level of our home was completely transformed from an awkward garage, laundry area, and strange parking arrangements for 2 cars to a true two car garage, full laundry and storage area, a gym, and a new bedroom and bathroom.
We felt that Andy was able to listen to our needs and transform our older Edwardian Home into open and light filled space that our growing family can live in for many years to come. We enthusiastically recommend Andy as your Architect and have done so ourselves to friends embarking on their remodeling projects.

I’ve reached out to this place 4 times and never heard back once. Are they out of business? Are they too busy? No clue… because they don’t respond.

Now that the project is completed I want to update my previous review from 2013.
First without Andy we would never have been able to begin or complete the extensive renovation to our Sunset District home. Andy worked with us to make a 1912 home fit our modern day lifestyle with a beautiful design and maximized our budget.
Andy’s knowledge of the city building and planning department process allowed us to get the most done without extensive delays for city approval of the plans.
The detail of Andy’s plans and drawings were invaluable during the year long construction. Countless times I reviewed them when questions arose during all the phases; from demolition of 3 rear levels of the house, to foundation, structural, and finish details.
Andy was there to answer questions from the contractors and for a final inspection with the contractor.
I also appreciated the straight forward and easy to understand contract and payment terms for services.
The best investment in our new home was hiring Andrew Morrall.

This is an update to our 12÷5÷13 review.
We completed our renovation in December 2014, and are very happy with the outcome. We now have a beautiful home with a modern functional kitchen, updated bathrooms, and a new sun room. Andy is instrumental in the success of this renovation on several fronts–
1. Creating a design that is modern, beautiful, and more important, a design that is also practical and functional. The kitchen is now such a delight to work in and around, and for the first time, we could enjoy the sunlight beaming coming through the master bedroom and bathroom.
2. Giving us a set of construction drawings that are detailed, and that we could use to communicate and shop for owner-​supplied building materials. As novices in renovation, these drawings turned out to be extremely useful in our shopping for materials from lighting fixtures, plumbing supplies, appliances, to other project materials. The thoroughness of the drawings was an excellent communication tool and saved us a lot of time. Many salespersons commented on how thorough and informative the CD were, and how it helped them to help us.
3. Guiding us efficiently and seamlessly through the complex multiple permit process as well as the neighborhood review.
4. Referring us to the best providers— At the get go, we had several contractors in mind, Andy recommended a few more. After a careful review process, we chose Andy’s recommendation, Mulhall Construction, and they turned out to be exceptional for the job. Throughout the project, Andy collaborated closely with Mulhall, and provided the «owner’s» perspective in assuring that the project was completed to specs. When I could not find an acceptable cabinet maker, Andy came through with a recommendation to contact Cabinets & Beyond, which turned out to be very cost competitive and responsive. When we ran into design/​installation problems with the resin panels that serve as enclosures to our kitchen, he worked closely with Mulhull Construction and the 3Form representative to solve the problems.
We moved out of the house during the renovation project and traveled out of the country a few times. We communicated with the project manager and Andy via email and phone as issues arose. Andy was always reachable and came through with advice and help. We couldn’t have asked for a better architect!
It was a pleasure to work with Andy and as a result of his work, we now have a beautiful home that we are enjoying daily!

We hired Andy for an extensive and complicated renovation of our 1929 Sunset District home. It not only called for a complete renovation of all the bedrooms, kitchen, and baths, but also a 1000 sq ft addition of a third floor. We have been working for Andy for over three years now and have been through what feels like all the parts of the planning code, construction, and now final inspections. The best compliment I can give is that I would use him again and would recommend him to others for the following reasons:
1. Andy has an excellent sense of design and listens to your needs. He found the right balance between honoring the craftsman and deco style of our home while also updating the interior with modern conveniences. For example, we wanted a more modern kitchen that would fit the style of the home, and also asked for a new staircase to be built that would look as though it had always been there– he designed both these things very successfully.
2. Knowledge of the planning and building code. He understands how be an advocate for you if needed in the Planning Department. I have even had Andy on our side in front of the Planning Commission.
3. His plans are very detailed oriented– a critical factor in a renovation as complex and extensive as ours.
4. Andy will stay with you throughout the renovation through final inspection– he is willing to answer questions and assist as needed through the process. He cares that the job is done right.
5. He is a great advocate for you before and during the renovation. We have learned that having an advocate such as Andy is a great thing to have when working with contractors. Even if the contractor is good, it is peace of mind to know that Andy will drop by to help ensure the plans are executed properly, and he knows all the right questions to ask.
Andy is pleasant to work with and we are really enjoying our new home!

Our project is now almost finished, pending final touches and inspection.
After sharing experience with other friends doing remodeling, we realized how lucky we were having Andy in our side. His detailed plan made the project really straightforward. Most of potential problem were resolved in the design phase, not in the construction time.
Andy was also available during the project to answer any question that we, or our contractor have. He also regularly visited the project and provide timely feedback for our contractor to address.
We were quite happy with his work. Our house also gets nice compliments from our neighbors and friends. It gave our 60 year old house a new modern new look, without being out of place in our mature neighborhood.

We are currently getting bids from general contractors for a major remodel of our home and would never have gotten to this stage without Andy’s superior work.
I knew we were working with a knowledgeable architect the morning we went to the city building department. Despite the scope or our project, we got approvals from the city building department without issues and done in one visit.
We initially contacted 3 architects. Andy was the only one that offered ideas and suggestions, during the first telephone call, that could help us meet our budget and accomplish what we desired.
Andy outlines the project in phases, explains his process for working, and expectations of the client in a clear and concise contract. This is really appreciated. It is a good framework for establishing a collaborative working relationship.
As we continued to work with Andy he proposed designs that accomplished our goals. His design was creative despite requirements the city would have when bringing a 100+ year old home up to current standards.
At one point we encountered an issue that could have ended up being costly to repair. Andy incorporated a suggestion we made that was not part of his proposed design. I really appreciated that he was open to our idea, incorporated it, and improved upon it in the final design.
Everyone has been impressed with the thoroughness and detail of the construction plans. The details he included will help the general contractor provide an accurate bid. The plans even included little things that I forgot we mentioned but obviously Andy was listening.
We would recommend Andrew Morrall without exception.

We hired Andy to design plans for a down-​to-​the-​studs renovation of our 2 unit, 3 story Victorian in San Francisco. We had a strong desire to keep unnecessary costs in check, while achieving a modern, clean layout, by moving the main living areas to the back of the units and connecting the basement level to the first floor to create a duplex down, 2-​level unit.
Given our conservative budget (by San Francisco standards), we were resigned to having fairly simple layouts without much dramatic interest. Andy proved us wrong, and delivered spectacular design schematics that far surpassed what we thought we could achieve with our budget. The main living areas are spacious, full of light, and feature an internal balcony that provides soaring 20 foot ceilings. We were very impressed with his creativity. He used our budget wisely, moving walls and installing structural steel where necessary, but keeping existing walls in place when possible to avoid unnecessary cost.
When it came time to bid the project out, we were pleased to find that our budget had been respected, as bids came in at the range we had planned for from the outset.
Andy’s final construction plans were incredibly detailed, specifying every aspect of the design down to the door handles and cove base. Our contractor remarked that they were the most detailed set of drawings he had ever worked with.
Andy is also very knowledgeable about city codes and the permit approval and review process, and served as an excellent guide through that daunting process.
We wholeheartedly recommend Andy as an architect. He is easy to work with, honest, timely, creative, and knowledgeable.

We were looking for an architect after closing on a 2-​BR marina flat last year and based on a friend’s recommendation, engaged Andy on a major remodel of the entire place. Initially, Andy helped us figure out how to open up walls, utilize dead space and create a stunning new entry with a new staircase leading down to an entirely new master bedroom suite at a lower level. Not only did Andy present creative ideas, he was extremely thoughtful of our budget and was focused on creating a practical living space. We were so happy with the designs, we decided to get Andy to redo our kitchen as well, and he came up with a great plan for a dramatic open kitchen that engages our entry, dining and living area. We now have a beautiful, open and importantly functional home, and also increased the square footage of our flat by 400+ sf. Highly recommended!

We’re just finishing a long overdue remodel of our primary living spaces — kitchen, dining room, family room and pantry — and couldn’t be happier. In the design phase of the project, Andy asked all the right questions and miraculously managed to accommodate all our «must-​haves and like-​to-​haves» without moving the outside walls! He worked closely with us throughout this phase, presenting several options, introducing ideas and details we never though of, and melding our preferences into a light-​filled, open, elegant and functional design that also created an architecturally smart relationship between the new space and the rest of the house.
Andy also assisted with both finish and fixture selections, including taking us around to various places to look at cabinetry, fixtures, stonework and flooring. He’s not only skillful in his design but also very thoughtful in its execution, paying strict attention to the smallest details. He was always responsive to every question we had and worked very well with the contractor and all the subs. We especially appreciated his documenting all phases of the project including his well-​timed site visits when he could work directly with the contractor, answering questions and resolving unforeseen challenges cost-​effectively and efficiently. We’re thrilled with the final results and are confident that Andy would bring the same high level of professionalism, creativity and responsiveness to any architectural undertaking. Without reservation, we highly recommend Andy to be your architect.

Now that our kitchen is done, we get compliments daily about how awesome it is. We couldn’t be happier with the work Andy did for our kitchen. It is a beautiful space now, and the heart of the home, instead of the tiny dark kitchen we started with. We’re going to remodel our bedroom next, and we will continue to work with Andy on the rest of our house transformation.

Andy has really impressed us.
We wanted to renovate our kitchen:
He asked us a number of questions about a «good» kitchen… toured and measured the existing kitchen, went home… and came back with 3 wonderful designs to consider. We had a few comments, and Andy helped to adjust the design intelligently and appropriately.
The design we picked looked impressive and was optimized for functionality.
We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

A talented Architect and an Artist, Andy designed and transformed our Master Bathroom and Closet into a work of Art. He worked with us through every facet/​faucet of the design, giving us several design options to choose from, developing the chosen design and assisting us with finish and fixture selections. We are so pleased with using an Architect of Andy’s caliber, nothing was left to chance or the whim of the contractor during construction. Andy has it all — he not only displayed expertise in design, but in construction as well. Every aspect of the construction was thoroughly detailed and specified in the plans and documents. Andy dealt with the building department and made sure the documents were immediately approved. He then was available during construction and made site visits to review the work being done by the contractor. What a relief. We very much recommend working with Andy as the Architect for your next project.

About the best review I can give Andy is that I would use him again for our next remodeling project. Although our project is currently in progress, we have been happy so far with the results.
Andy is the Architect on our Kitchen Remodel for our Edwardian condominium in the Marina. He presented very imaginative design options we hadn’t thought of initially, which reflect in a dramatic and well designed Kitchen. Andy’s exceptional attention to detail is represented in 7 sheets of Architectural Plans and Details. Such ideas as subtle reference to the existing fireplace mantle in our new and expansive opening between the Dining Room and Remodeled Kitchen, and integrating a new wine display case within the existing trim work, really give the effect of a new and updated Kitchen that belongs with the existing Architecture and period detail. Andy has been great to work with, starting with presenting several design options, working with us personally to select finishes and fixtures, personally submitting the plans and getting them approved, and being available during construction for site visits.
We highly recommend Andy as an Architect.

We transformed our kitchen and put a major 3 story addition with a roof deck at the back of our Victorian House in the Haight. Andy was the Architect and was able to take a very challenging existing kitchen with a narrow floor plan, with many jogs and angles and create a very cohesive design. The inherent narrowness and angles of the space were turned around and actually made design features of the space. With very little wall changes, Andy was able to redesign the Kitchen Cabinets and reconfigure the sink and appliances to create an entirely new look. The lighting, soffits and cabinet details were all well thought out and blend seamelessy with the existing house.
The major 3 story addition also proved challenging. Andy’s thorough knowledge of the San Francisco Planning Code allowed us to attain a rear yard variance. The addition was very well detailed, extensive waterproofing details were included for the exterior flashing and for the roof deck.
We were able to achieve all our goals, and then some with Andy as our Architect. We highly recommend him.

We highly recommend Andy Morrall as an Architect. We hired Andy to do the extensive remodel of our Laurel Heights Edwardian home. We found Andy to be very professional and reliable. Through a series of design meetings, Andy was able to offer several design options to choose from that were very creative and sensitive the existing Architecture of the house. Andy offers complete services, providing detailed construction documents to work from, and he has working relationships with General Contractors that he can recommend to do the work.
We are very pleased with how it all came together and highly recommend him.

We strongly recommend the services of Andrew Morrall. In our experience, Andy has an approach that I believe people will find very rare and refreshing.
My wife and I had a dream to build a modern/​contemporary home for many years. Once we had sold our existing home, we purchased a 1949 ranch house on a large lot in our same neighborhood. We had a good idea of the modern styling and elements we wanted to incorporate into the design but lacked a ‘detailed’ vision. We found Andy by searching on the web and looking at architects’ projects in the Bay Area. Andy had designed and built a modern home in the Oakland Hills that was breathtaking and really appealed to us. We contacted Andy and even before a formal arrangement was defined, he had made multiple site visits to our property in Willow Glen area of San Jose to give us his friendly professional opinion about a property and how the design might be approached. He was extremely accommodating and friendly throughout the entire process. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about both the architectural and construction aspects of the building process, he posses a great natural sense for what the client truly wants out of the design, with the ability to easily present alternatives that make the most sense for how the clients plan to use the space.
Furthermore, Andy is punctual; the utmost professional, and overall was a real joy to deal with throughout the project. I would strongly recommend him and his firm to anyone looking for architectural design or construction services in the Bay Area.

We asked Andy to be our architect for a large renovation and addition project in our Noe Valley (San Francisco) home. We were very impressed by his ingenious design solution that got us a variance and allowed a garage for 2 cars. Two large decks above qualified for the open space requirement. We also had him completely reconfigure the interior plus build out the lower level to our 1896 Victorian. His documents were finely detailed, so went through the San Francisco Building Department with great speed. He was great to work with, had great ideas and problem solving skills, plus treated us professionally and on a timely schedule. I would highly recommend him to be your Architect!

We’re in the middle of remodeling our 1914 craftsman bungalow in Alameda and hired Andy to do the design work. Specifically, we wanted to re-​connect an in-​law unit built in the 70s, back to the main house and returning it to its original glory.
Andy was able to grasp the concept of what we were looking for and turn it into reality. He spends the time listening to and understanding your needs. Then the magic happens. He came back to us with two different options — both that worked, but one we fell in love with straight away,
While the construction work is still in process, Andy has been involved the entire time. He clearly lays out all fees, costs and schedule so there are no surprises. His rates are absolutely reasonable. I was also impressed with his recommendation for contractors although there is NO pressure to use them. Often, his preferred vendors have come in cheaper than other quotes that we’ve secured which was an unexpected bonus.
We’re planning another two renovation projects and will definitely be hiring Andy again to do the work. Andy is trustworthy, communicates well and delivers on time. You’ll certainly be impressed with his work.