AMACHER & ASSOCIATES

I WORKED MOSTLY WITH FRANZISKA, WHO IS VERY CREATIVE AND HAD WONDERFUL IDEAS FOR BRINGING LIGHT AND FLOW TO WHAT WAS A CHARMING, BUT DARK AND BORING LAYOUT. SHE IS EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ALL PHASES OF RENOVATION, FROM DEALING WITH ME AND MY NAIVE IDEAS, TO PICTURING THE OUTCOME, TO JUDGING THE WOOD USED IN STRUCTURAL REPAIRS. I CAME TO TRUST HER JUDGMENT ABSOLUTELY (I DID HAVE TO BE FIRM ABOUT WHAT I COULD NOT AFFORD; SHE HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, AND HAS NO PROBLEM HEARING ''NO, NOT THIS YEAR''). VERY IMPORTANTLY, SHE WORKED EASILY AND PRODUCTIVELY WITH THE CONTRACTORS, SHARING HER IDEAS AND HER APPROVAL, MAKING SUGGESTIONS, ASKING QUESTIONS, AND GENERALLY BEING A SECOND OPINION IN A SKILLFUL AND FRIENDLY WAY. I QUICKLY BECAME CONFIDENT THAT ONCE SHE AND THE CONTRACTORS HAD REACHED AGREEMENT, THINGS WERE GOING TO BE DONE RIGHT. I WILL DEFINITELY HIRE HER AGAIN, AS SOON AS I CAN AFFORD SOME MORE OF THE ENERGY SAVING CHANGES SHE RECOMMENDS. SHE'S WORTH EVERY PENNY.

Everything I said above about Amacher and Associates is still true. I sold the above house and moved to Cambridge, into an 1891 worker's cottage that was cramped, dark, and completely lacking in insulation of any kind.  This time, Franziska designed the renovation and addition, with input from us when our ideas were good.  She helped us through a grueling variance process, and once again worked beautifully with the contractor.  She also helped us through our attempts at design, making very useful suggestions and encouraging our better ideas.  She spent hours with me helping me design my IKEA kitchen, and helped us stay on budget as much as possible.  The result is absolutely gorgeous, full of light, very functional and green (very efficient appliances, on demand water heater, heat recovery, super-insulated), and she made a small house feel roomy (by making the living room dining room and kitchen essentially all one big room, although there are clear areas) while preserving the historical feel of the older part of the house.  Special treats are the now visible original beams, windows that make the main room feel like it is part of the garden, a soon-to-be green roof and wall, wonderful unexpected angles that add interest to almost every place you look, and lighting that makes every room bright and interesting.  We are in love with our house and Franziska is responsible for almost every wonderful thing.