Klopf Architecture

John and his team have worked with us on several large projects. Originally we chose John and his company based on their design portfolio and knowledge of mid-​century architecture. We weren’t sure if we needed the extra expense of an architect at first but in hindsight I cannot imagine going through construction without using his firm. They not only helped handle permits, property lines, engineering etc, but also monitored and double checked the construction and kept the project on track. He and his team are incredibly responsive and answer questions and concerns quickly. I also agree that John is very patient and knowledgeable and works with you even when some of your ideas seem off the wall!
Our house has more projects in its future… we may not use the same contractor but John and his staff will definitely be involved in all of them.

We hired Klopf Architecture to design our new construction residence, a mid-​century modern post and beam house. Given John Klopf’s track record with fabulous Eichler remodels and additions, we felt confident that he «gets» the style.
John and Geoff were very patient with us, listened to our wishes and took our feedback well. We went through several iterations of the design until it all felt right for us. In the end, they designed a beautiful house that accommodates our sense of practicality, yet makes the building look harmonious and aesthetic.
We decided to retain Klopf for the construction phase. I initially thought this was a luxury, but we were surprised how many decisions still needed to be made during construction, despite the very detailed plans. Having Geoff and John to rely on to answer design questions, and to keep an eye on the GC, was very much worth it.

We had worked with Klopf Architecture in ²⁰⁰⁵⁄₂₀₀₆ with a major addition & renovation of our 1944 rancher, and had such a fabulous experience that we spent several subsequent years trying to find another house to «Klopf». In 2013 we came across the opportunity to purchase a run-​down 1964 rare atrium-​model Eichler in Burlingame, CA with the intention of restoring & updating. We made the decision to purchase this fixer-​upper ONLY if John Klopf and his team would be available to help us bring it back to life. With the help of experienced Eichler remodeling professionals like architect John Klopf and his team, our Eichler was upgraded while still staying true to the mid-​century modern Eichler spirit. He brought the aesthetic back to 1964, but upgraded the structure to 2014. In our experience, John has a fantastic aesthetic, a positive attitude, great professionalism and communication, and was a great resource for advice as our projects went from concept to completion.
The Eichler was a «full gut» restore/​rescue: the house, which was previously inhabited by 12+/- people as a halfway house, and had endured tragic and significant abuse. The wear & tear was horrifying: mystery stains on the ceiling panels; mismatched lighting & paint; grungy carpet; gouged, sloppily patched & horribly stained mahogany walls; chipped & cracked tiles; rusty fixtures; countless fire hazards and exposed wires, etc. 100% of the windows needed to be replaced with double-​paned tempered glass, and 100% of the electrical system & wiring needed to be replaced. The configuration of the bathrooms, hall closet & laundry was awkward and impractical, but the bones of the house were good, as were the original copper-​pipes of the radiant heating system, though the boiler system did get upgraded to a compact combo unit, controllable with a modern «Nest» thermostat. John reconfigured some of the bathroom/​laundry room & hallway space and was able to insert a half bathroom into the previously inefficient configuration of this area of the house. The kitchen was in sad shape and the dining room was dark & depressing… by replacing an expanse of dining room wall to the outside with a wall of floor-​to-​ceiling glass, then removing the wall separating the dining room and living rooms, John was able to flood the space with natural light and openness, drastically improving the connection with the greenery outdoors. He had the added challenge of a rotting wood & untempered glass front wall of the atrium… it was so unstable it had to be rebuilt, but he was able to move the wall a few feet towards the street, tying it in with an existing structural beam, lending added stability to the new glass wall and front door configuration. This led to an expansion in square footage for the already ample atrium space. By continuing the interior (exterior rated) tile through the outdoor space, the entire property is one seamless, flawless, zen feast for the eyes. The entire renovation from the initial meeting to move-​in date and the close of the «punch list» was 10 months. We are thrilled with the open and bright end result!

You can not ask for a more professional and well executed architectural experience. John has amazing vision for design, and also is extremely knowledgeable about the inner working of all the city relations. But above all, he is a pleasure to work with. We would never use anyone else. Thanks, John!

Oh, the joys of home construction. You hear every horror story in the
book, but let me reassure you it can be done without too much stress.
The main reason we had a successful renovation — from brainstorming,
navigating the city’s permit requirements, monitoring construction, to
moving back in — was because of the guidance and talents of John Klopf.
John has the patience of a saint and really listens to all your ideas,
even the crazy ones, and is willing to incorporate them into his design.
He will never push his ideas on you, but is always ready with a clever
solution of his own. Every contractor who bid on our job commented on
how thorough John’s plans were. And here’s a little tip: a contractor
who we did not hire said we were lucky to have such detailed plans
because they allowed for full construction bids with little room for the
dreaded (and costly) change orders down the road. We’ve learned
contractors and architects are not always the best of friends, but John
worked effortlessly with our contractor, which was another reason the
project went so smoothly. John and his staff are friendly, intelligent,
creative and committed to excellent design and customer service. Except for a beautiful house (which he can also deliver), what more could you ask for in an architect.