“I hired Cari for a major project, and she blended the three worlds of what I wanted, what the space could support, and what would help if we ever sell. She’s a creative problem solver who is excited about what a structure can do to support the way you live. She didn’t flinch when I pushed the boundaries (‘could we do this seemingly-unreasonable thing?’) but also told me no when what I wanted was unreasonable, unwise, or unsound. She’s a smart partner, and what I got was better than I had hoped for.“
-Chris W. (San Mateo)
“We hired Cari a few years ago to plan a major kitchen remodel for our 1940s bungalow. Throughout the entire process, she was caring, responsive, and insightful. She helped us identify possibilities that we would never have thought of on our own, and helped us to visualize what it could look like. All of her recommendations took into account the unique features and constraints of our home. She also was able to provide recommendations for General Contractors, custom cabinet makers, where to get good and affordable countertops, and other resources that we’d need. Working with Cari was a genuine pleasure, her expertise and skill were evident in abundance, and her billing was transparent and reasonable. I would hire her again in an instant, and would not hesitate to recommend her to a friend.“
-Aaron M. (El Cerrito)
“Cari is the most efficient and creative architect. My wife and I had already worked with (and fully paid) two other architects, before meeting Cari. We went into contract with her at the last minute to make some significant changes to our already, previously approved plan! Most other architects could have easily refused to attempt these changes. But she took our project, and completed it quickly and perfectly. Our communication with her was totally smooth, even during COVID where we could not meet in person. Cari brought some design ideas that we would never have thought of on our own. If you want an architect to enlighten you, while at the same time will listen to your needs, Cari is her!“
-Navid S. (El Cerrito)
“We loved working with Cari. My wife & I had spent years trying to figure out what to do with our house. We had been stuck with fragments of ideas and no idea how to pull it all together. Cari was a wonderful listener, helping us to focus on what was really important to us, and adding her own inspiration into the mix. We enjoyed the entire process, and continue to be thrilled with the final result.“
-Tao S. (Berkeley)
“Cari did an amazing job on redesigning our front stairs. She was super nice, on time, easy to work with, and made a gorgeous design for our stairs. She worked closely with the builder, and was just overall amazing, for a reasonable rate. Next time we have a project, I’ll definitely turn to Cari!“
-Jenn G. (Oakland)
“We are embarking on a remodel and are incredibly happy to have connected with Cari. She’s extremely professional and we’ve had no issues working with her and her team through the new environment that COVID presents. The designs she presented provided a range of options: from a more conservative “move a few walls from here to there, add space here” to a more radical option that had us rethinking how to best utilize the space all up. The process was a two-way discussion where she listened and took to heart what we were trying to achieve, both aesthetically and functionally. Would recommend Cari Designs for anyone looking to remodel their home!“
-Chris R. (Berkeley)
“Cari and her team are great. They took our vision and created more than we even thought possible! Easy to communicate with, responsive, and helpful are all ways that we have enjoyed working with them. She also referred the contractor we have hired. We highly recommend CDA for your project!“
-Tana C. (Richmond Annex)
“Cari was so helpful. Going over the details and answering all of our questions. Such a creative architect, which we were originally having trouble finding. Communication is key for her, and we couldn’t be happier about that. We’ll definitely work with her in the future!“
-Darrell C. (Oakland)
