We used Holah D+A for a major home remodel and addition. Greg and Libby were fantastic to work with. They listened to our ideas, added some cool ideas of their own, and designed a home that we love! Their design kept the 1950's vibe of our home, but updated it with a more modern style. From the basketweave design of the floor in the kitchen to the spa-like feel of the master bath, every touch is perfect. They were a tremendous help at every stage of the remodel. They helped make finish choices, worked with the contractor to keep the project moving, and helped make sure we got everything we asked for and more. We couldn't have done it with them! read more

Holah Design + Architecture, LLC came highly recommended. We needed an architect and a designer for a home office addition and remodel of a 1949 house. They were able to recommend several exceptional contractors that they'd worked with, which helped us get off to a timely start on the remodel. The public areas of the house were taken down to the studs. Libby designed some much needed storage, as well as a spectacular kitchen and main bath. Greg added additional character to the front of the house with the addition of a covered porch and addition to the garage to accommodate a workshop. read more

Greg and Libby Holah were awesome! My wife and I had for nearly a year been working through ideas on how to go about remodeling our small kitchen in perhaps an odd shaped house. We tried a number of different contractors and designers. And I think we really tried to make those relationships work. But we never found a connection we could trust or that could really help us through a process of developing creative ideas. That is until we met Libby and Greg Holah! They were very personalized and dedicated in their service that really relaxed all the barriers, allowed the creative juices to flow. In working with them and their assurances they actually made the whole process fun! They always brought wonderful ideas to the table but as well always allowed my wife and me to steer within many options to the choices that made sense for us. And as easy and personable as they were to work with they clearly were both very skilled architects and designers with broad and varied experience that simply helped us made sure we weren't straying down paths that weren't going to work. In the end the results couldn't have been better. We today enjoy an artful and tasteful place (no pun intended) in our house that is an open, central gathering spot for friends, family and memories! Thank you Libby & Greg! read more

Libby and Greg are wonderful to work with from the minute you meet either of them. They take the time to listen to your needs, help you work thru the solutions, and bring such a fresh eye to the project. We've worked with them on a couple of projects and each time they work thru the what-ifs and find a great solution that is innovative and aesthetically pleasing. We also found them to be timely in providing follow-up calls or emails and delivered documents as they said. Also there is no 'greater than thou' attitude you might expect with architects with such a beautiful portfolio...they keep their attitude in check. We would suggest working Holah Design even on a small project like our first one; a mudroom addition. read more

Terrible experience working with Holah after hiring them as architects for a remodel on my home, and to help getting permits for our project with the City. Really strange communication style, and months had passed where nothing had been done. They told us that they had submitted our permit with the City of Portland, and each time we checked in about it (weekly), Libby assured us that it was moving through. After months had passed and we still didn't have the permit, my partner and I finally went to the City ourselves -- and we were told it had never actually been submitted. This was a devastating experience, costing us a ton of money, and setting our project back many, many months. After this we terminated our contract. As a home remodel is already stressful enough, it's imperative to find a team that you can trust. Holah was certainly not that. read more

We just finished up a huge project with Libby, and I feel like half my house is brand new! As with most construction projects it had it's ups and downs (we were living in a house that was torn apart), but we are very happy with the outcome. We re-worked our whole upstairs down to the studs, added a bathroom and reworked our stairs. Everyone else I talked to wanted to add a dormer to get 2 beds and a bath upstairs, but Libby was able to figure it out without and the results are stunning. The design fits well with our 1925 home and we're loving it. read more

We just completed a garage conversion to an ADU and modernized garage space in a very old structure, and partnered with Holah Design & Architecture to oversee the process. First of all, the team at Holah D&A was the best part of the whole experience. Libby is a great designer and has a really solid understanding of the city permitting process, including recent updates to the ADU process that were instrumental in getting my project through the permit process. Libby and Greg worked up very comprehensive drawings and worked with me very closely to get the project permitted, which was a multi-month process that overcame many challenges. Throughout everything, Libby was very transparent, and in the end was able to avoid having to pursue multiple exemptions with the city's development office, with significant cost savings as a result. After the permit was approved, Libby worked hand-in-hand with my general contractor and his team, in a very constructive arrangement where Libby would check in as-needed. The terms of the contract were very fair, broken into phases that allowed for multiple ways to bring them into the process (which I strongly encourage others to take full advantage of). Greg is a true, licensed architect, meaning that the drawings didn't need to be farmed out for signatures by other experts, but rather could be submitted to the city as-drawn, with the appropriate level of rigor given to the details. The Holah team was instrumental in getting this project both off the ground and throughout our surprise moments as well. In particular, when we hit a challenge during demolition, Libby very quickly developed and provided additional structural drawings using her extended network of specialists, which saved tons of time and prevented us from making bad decisions about the mitigation plan. The project's detail drawings were very comprehensive, and the contractors had no problem using them to complete the project. Libby and Greg were also very accommodating of my suggestions, and worked my ideas into the overall design in a way that was really stunning. Once we got to the fit and finish stage, Libby had excellent suggestions about supplier networks, which we took full advantage of. Knowing who to call, right down to specific individuals at the appliance store, was such a huge help and time saver, and we ended up getting some great deals on our fixtures based on her contractor discounts. We were really pleased with her modern sense of style, and the recommendations she gave about materials and lighting options. Overall, we could not have completed this project without the Holah team. I consider their work to be the best investment of the whole effort, because when you work with them, you've got great allies in your corner that can help with everything from design and style guidance through technical expertise, and even advocacy with the city to make sure your project gets done on time. read more

We had something of a laundry-list of issues to deal with in a remodel, including a full kitchen remodel plus redesign of the room adjoining the kitchen, along with various storage-space and access issues around the house. Having never launched a project of this sort, we needed a lot of guidance about possible options for solving these various issues with the functionality of the house. After speaking with a range of designers and architects, we decided to work with Greg and Libby at Holah Design + Architecture. Their perspective on the project as a whole was a great fit with ours, and we felt very comfortable brainstorming and hashing through details with them. In addition, they really understood our tastes and designed with that in mind, while remaining cost conscious. In the initial phase, they went through all of the issues that we raised and produced three alternative plans that addressed them in different ways. Many of the ideas in these plans were things that we had not thought about, and we ended up iterating on ideas from several of them, until we converged on a final plan. They were always very receptive to brainstorming on our part as well, and the final plans included a lot of great ideas that would never have come about if we hadn't taken the time to iterate on the design. The success of the design phase in this project really set the stage for the rest of the project. They also took a very active interest in the materials, advising us on floors, tile, cabinets and countertops. We couldn't be happier with the choices that they guided us toward, in particular the cabinets and the tile backsplash, which work beautifully together. Clever ideas like including a narrow section of butcher block within the granite countertops, ultimately worked very well. Another big part of the success of the project was the rapport between the Holah's and their recommended contractor (Fouch Building & Remodeling) and the cabinet maker (Old Style Cabinet Works). Having Greg and Libby plugged into the project through construction was very helpful, particularly since we were new to this. We are very happy with the results, and do not hesitate to recommend Holah Design + Architecture; we would absolutely use them again (and probably will). read more

We found Greg and Libby Holah on Angie's List. Interviewed several architects, liked the Holahs. In 2008 we hired them to design a 2-story addition, with in-law apt, to the back of our 1906 semi-Craftsman house. We had some very specific requirements, including a beloved existing view that we wanted to save. We LOVE what the Holahs came up with. The addition is simple and modern yet fits perfectly with the 1906 house. The special view is preserved--and even enhanced, with another line of view added that wasn't there before. The rooms have a really warm, comfortable, spacious feeling to them. The addition looks beautiful from the street in back of the house. Several years later we are still really happy with the whole thing. Then in 2012 we hired them to design a porch for the 1906 front of the house. The porch is beautiful and comfortable and functional. I think the house's original porch (long gone) must have looked something like this. We love it. read more