HOLAH DESIGN + ARCHITECTURE LLC

I had a terrible experience working with Holah. I initially hired them because they were nice and personable. But the more we worked together, the more it was clear that their communication style just did not work for me -- we couldn't get on the same page, and I started picking up more and more hostility in the interactions. It became increasingly stressful, and they kept saying they were taking care of things which I had to continuously follow up about (which it seems like they were not taking care of). The situation came to a head when they had told us they had submitted our permit and it was going through the process with the City. After many months, we still had not heard anything. My partner and I finally went down to the City ourselves, and we were told that our permit had never actually been submitted. We couldn't tell if Holah had been lying to us or had just been seriously negligent and unfamiliar with the City process, though they had misled us and kept reaffirming that they were. All in all, it delayed our project many, many months, and caused us to incur many more unexpected charges. It was a terrible experience. Given that there are so many options for architects in Portland, I can only recommend you look elsewhere.

It went well over all. Greg and Libby both are professional and personal, good listeners and fun to work with. We are very pleased with their service.

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 and 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).

We were interested in replacing our old dilapidated garage with an ADU, something that was practical and very energy efficient. We had a great experience with Architects Greg and LIbby Holah in a recent bathroom design and so we met with them to discuss our idea. They were very interested in both energy efficient design and ADU's and were excited about the project. So we contracted with them to do the design.

The idea of an ADU appealed to us but we really didn't know what one looked like. So to start the design process, Libby set up a number of visits to ADU's around the city to help us get a sense of what was possible. Then we sat down with Greg and Libby to develop a list of priorities including the vague goal of meeting or coming close to passive house and net zero energy use standards.
Once we agreed on our priorities for the ADU, Greg and Libby developed external design alternatives that included lifelike drawings of the ADU situated on our property. This was great since it helped us get a sense of what the building would look like. Greg also did solar studies of the sun exposure during various seasons so we could optimize solar heating in the winter and minimize it in the summer. This also helped us figure out to what extent we could install solar electric panels.
Once we narrowed down the external design, we delved deeper into what the interior would look like. We wanted a building that could house one or two people so it needed a bathroom and kitchen. We also wanted to preserve some space in the building for an art studio separate from the living space. We met with Greg and Libby a few times to get the interior space nailed down - they had great ideas on how we could maximize the use of limited space and presented various alternatives. For example, we looked at several alternatives for the stairway - that would be both aesthetically pleasing and minimize space use.
Once the interior and exterior were finalized, Greg then worked up options on the building envelope including framing, windows, doors, insulation, sheathing and other aspects of making the ADU as airtight as possible, minimize thermal bridging and maximizing insulation. He gave us a number of articles on houses that were built using the latest net zero and passive house technologies and then guided us as to what he thought were the best and most cost effective options.
Once the design was complete and the drawings done, the Holahs helped us get bids on our project from various contractors. Once we settled on a contractor, LIbby helped us navigate the complicated permitting process. She really smoothed the way for us.
Once the construction started, we contracted Holah Design and Architecture for construction administration. They did numerous site visits during various phases of the construction and were invaluable in ensuring that the building met the standards of the design. Whenever issues arose requiring their input and expertise, they were quick to respond and creative in helping resolve issues as they came up.
The other thing that we really appreciated about Greg and Libby was how helpful they were helpful during construction when we were not comfortable with how something was being done. Sometimes our discomfort was justified and other times it was just ignorance on our part. In either case, they were great in helping us come to resolution. For example, it seemed that some of the framing was being done outside the parameters set by both the plans and the energy efficient goals of the project. When I raised the issue with Greg, he came to the site, agreed that the framing should be modified and helped ensure that it was changed.
The ADU is complete and we couldn't be happier with it. Much of that is due to the great work of Holah Design and Architecture. We highly recommend them.

Easy and AWESOME!

They have been very responsive to our needs, questions and desires. Libby has wonderful ideas; open to alternatives; organized and efficient in planning, ordering and collaborating with various subcontractors.

Greg and Libby met with us to discuss our needs and to take measurements and pictures. Then they drew up a plan for our approval. We asked for changes, which they happily made. Then we came up with a final plan. They helped us find a contractor and they met with him to answer his questions and to help make the plans meet code specifications. We had a good experience with Holah Design. They were attuned to our needs and eager to make the space what we wanted. They were very good at communicating with us and really saw the project through.

They were great and we liked them a lot. The price was very reasonable for the work that they did. We did compare their price with other companies and probably went with them because of the price. We would use their services in the future too.

In general it was a good experience. As is typical, the initial design came in way over our budget, and we had Greg had a little difficulty accepting that his design was going to cost so much to implement, but we got over it. Both Libby and Greg were easy to work with, and they were generally responsive to our requests and were available when we needed them.

Our first appointment with Libby and Greg of Holah Design was at our home. They looked at our bathroom, listened to our ideas, took notes, gave us input regarding their ideas, measured and talked about how we might work together on this project. Next, we met at their office. They laid out their floor plans and we further discussed how the design would look and function. There was give and take as we discussed specifics, such as the internal shower bench, the shower enclosure, or whether a built-in vanity or stand alone sink would work best or how to integrate a washlet into our new toilet. We took home the plans and really scrutinized the design. We e-mailed further details and questions regarding cabinet design, shower wall height, flooring and subway tile height and size, etc. We had a back-and-forth interaction. Libby and Greg were great about getting back to us and helping us consider all the details that could surround or impact a specific decision. We finalized our decisions and commitment and signed a contract. They directed us to great contractors to get the job done. As the construction evolved, Libby and Greg periodically checked in on the progress and worked with the contractor to ensure the integrity of the design and successful completion of the project We are extremely appreciative of their work. They made great recommendations on design, products, and contractors. We could not be happier with our new bathroom.

Holah Design worked with us to make sure the kitchen reflected our taste and style, yet they still came up with ideas that we never would have. They were a pleasure to work with and understood what we were trying to accomplish and helped to keep us in our budget. Holah was low key and easy going; at the same time they were very prompt, professional and responsive. We have recommended them to other members of our family and will use them again if the opportunity arises.

The scope of work done was overwhelming from the start and if I didn't have the guidance and care they provided, I would have NEVER seen this project through. They are extremely professional, yet treat you like family. I knew instantly they would be fully committed as if this were their own property. There were only a few revisions (from my understanding this was rare, there's usually a lot more) and yet the city "sat" on the plans for over 8 months before an approval was issued. During this extremely stressful time, never once was my project less than a priority to them. It was incredible to work with Greg and Libby. I'd highly recommend them to anyone who needs their services.

In a time when it is often difficult to get a company to do just what they have contracted to do, it is more than refreshing to find one that will provide a service for a total stranger. Libby (and presumably Greg) did just that! I was referred to them by a general contractor when I was unable to find a Soil Engineer on Angie's List or anywhere else. Without knowing who I was, or if I would have any future need for their services, Libby researched their records to see if they had worked with any Soil Engineers in the past. I quickly received an email with a couple of names, and their recommendation based on their past experiences with the companies. She offered to try to find more names if the ones supplied didn't pan out. Based on her recommendation I called one of the companies and had someone in my yard in a couple of days. Not only didn't Holah Design charge me, the contractor they referred me to didn't charge me either. All in all, everyone involved was easy to talk to, very responsive, very informative, and didn't expect to get any gain out of the transaction. Thanks to Holah Design's referral I am no longer worrying about my property, and am out absolutely no money. Obviously they deal with only the best companies, and I am confident that it would be relaxing and fun to design a house with them at the helm. Should I need an architect for a remodel or to design a new house, I'm not even going to check the list, I'm calling them. They are a first class company, and they only work with first class companies!

We were anxious to preserve the view from the back of the house but did not know how that could be done. The addition was designed cleverly to preserve the view and also enhanced it. People passing on the street below often comment on how nice it looks. The Holahs were extremely helpful through the permit process and ever during construction.

Greg was very easy to work with and we felt we could trust him. The plans are beautiful, fit well with the existing house, and incorporate our special requirements and preferences.

Adding a 'back porch' was our goal. Greg and his team, came up with a design for a mudroom that fits our family's needs and keeps harmony with our 1909 Craftsman house. They made a few site visits, listened to our needs, and made customized drawings that we can submit to contractors for bids. We were very impressed that they took on our job as if it was a huge project; the details and communication during the process were great. They incorporated our desires and came up with innovative solutions that we can hand over to our contractor.

So far so good. We called and he arranged a time to meet us at our house to go over his thoughts and to learn how he works. From there he arranged to come and take measurements, and he proved willing and flexible to come at odd hours when we could be available. His ideas and drawing so far have been great and he is quick to adjust to match our ideas.

Greg Holah is great to work with. He's very friendly, professional, timely and detail-oriented. Our project was a small one, and I knew he had some very large projects going as well, so I wasn't sure what to expect as far as responsiveness. But I was pleasantly surprised. He spent a lot of time with us, answering questions, giving us referrals when we asked, and coming up with solutions to fit our budget. He's got a great eye for design and came up with some creative solutions to some of our old-house challenges. I would highly recommend him for any size project. I've seen his work on other types of projects-- large commercial and smaller residential-- and it was all impressive.

GREG WAS A GREAT PERSON TO WORK WITH AND COMPLETED HIS WORK ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET. HE HAS BEEN MORE THAN WILLING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO CONTRACTORS THAT I WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE. AN EXCELLENT ''GO-TO'' GUY.