Ernesto Santalla PLLC

Ernesto worked on several projects for us in the Washington DC area; both commercial and residential. We were extremely satisfied with his excellent services. Ernesto combines a magnificient sense of space combined with a practical way of executing his vision. Ernesto immediately spots what a space needs in order to make it look amazing. Great contribution to any design project

We commissioned Ernesto to design a modern living space in the Watergate Landmark community in Alexandria Virginia. Built in 1975 the floor plans had not been altered. The small dark rooms resembled traversing a maze. Ernesto's creative and unique transformation of the original floor plan allows natural light to flow into the open spacious public area for dining and entertaining. Varying ceiling heights and lighting define transitioning from one area to another. Floor to ceiling walnut cabinets provide an abundance of storage space in the open concept kitchen. At the front entrance and out of site, is a utility room with washer/dryer, storage/work space and sink. All concealed by a door resembling a wall. The master suite's custom designed cabinetry, upholstered headboard, and lighting is simple and modern. Frosted glass sliding doors on the 2 full baths provide privacy with a spa atmosphere. Working with Ernesto has been an amazing experience. His is a pleasure to work with and made the renovation enjoyable. We highly recommend him without reservation.

Creative, innovative, easy to work with, cost is reasonable, comes up with unique ideas, likes color, used him repeatedly on multiple projects

Much like Ernesto himself, Ernesto's work is beautiful, elegant, and graceful. His exquisite taste and choices are minimalist, yet polished and synergistic. It's always a pleasure to be in his company and see his beautiful work.

We hired Studio Santalla to renovate and decorate our condominium in the District. We bought the home because the building is very well constructed and the finishes are top notch, but the overall layout of the unit was predictable and lacked a WOW factor. Ernesto listened to my wish list and provided solutions that went beyond our imagination. He utilized frosted glass in unexpected places to maximize the natural light in the home and created a custom ceiling incorporating amazing light fixtures to create a focal point that truly sets the space apart. When decorating, Ernesto suggested modern pieces that worked perfectly with a couple of antique family pieces, creating a unique and interesting decor. All in all, we are thrilled with the final product.

My wife and I were considering renovations to our mid-century modern home. We wanted to redecorate and remodel my home office, convert a large rec room into a smaller kids' playroom and a more intimate family room, and redecorate the living/dining room area. We wanted to do this in stages, so we could try out different architects and interior designers in the event one wasn't a good match. We found Studio Santalla via the Houzz professionals' directory searching Houzz for mid-century modern home office interior designs. We liked Studio Santalla's designs in the photos on Houzz. We liked the fact that Studio Santalla responded thoughtfully to Houzzer's questions about their photos. We appreciated that Ernesto was an ivy-league-educated architect, and we we thought an architectural background would complement and ground his interior design-work. Since we had heard his name accompanied by positive comments around town, for a few years we asked the owner, Ernesto Santalla, to meet with us. Ernesto was responsive, extremely professional and a very good listener. He and his assistant are efficient, creative and witty, which made our meetings collaborative and fun. They were always prompt and prepared. Studio Santalla's designs were excellent and well-thought-out. He and his staff were careful and artistic and thorough. He introduced us to a very skilled cabinetmaker who we hired for additional work Studio Santalla designed. When mistakes happened, he let me take the lead. If I asked him to address an issue with one of the tradespeople, he did so promptly, tactfully and on several occasions achieved the result we requested initially at no additional cost. Other cabinetmakers and designers have seen Ernesto's work at our house and exclaimed his work is excellent. We concur. When our budget permits, we would like to work with him again.

We have used Ernesto twice - in 2005 to reconfigure the main floor and update the tiny circa 1958 bathrooms, and 2013 to convert our downstairs garage and rec room into a functional, cool, and sleek living space for our teenage twin sons. Ernesto's design has transformed our 1958 "modern" suburban home into a functional, hip, and calming 21st century living space. He worked within our budget to realize his vision and our goals. Our home is becoming more than what we thought possible thanks to Ernesto's design, color, and creativity. I would happily recommend Ernesto. His staff is professional and responsive, his fees are reasonable, and his design skills are fresh and thoughtful. Our home is more than where we live. It communicates who we are, how we renew ourselves, and what is important to us. Thank you Ernesto!

I have worked with Ernesto as a subcontractor for many years in both commercial and residential projects. His design style is crisp, thoughtful and tailored to his client's needs with integrity and restraint. He has a broad vocabulary of classical and contemporary architecture which he integrates seamlessly. Working with Ernesto is always pleasant - he knows what he wants and guides his projects to completion with clear and precise direction to his contractors. He is articulate, poised, and a gentleman, and I always look forward to working on his projects.

One of the most talented and engaging designers in Washington, DC. Ernesto Santalla is all about bringing about what the client wants. His combination of architecture and design training results in a project that is both elegant and warm and will delight for years to come.

Our project concerned the total renovation of a 5-level town house from the 12th century in the Provence, France. Ernesto did the magic that we had envisioned: keeping it simple with large format terracotta floor tiles, cable lightning and dark-stained steel railing while creating the clean modern look which we desired, even building a pool in the middle of the medieval village. Ernesto has showed to be a master in mixing the ancient with the modern and has created a very thorough and thoughtful design. We enjoy it every single day when we are in Provence.

Ernesto Santalla's work both as an architect and as an interior designer is unfailingly creative and inspiring. His vision blends old and new elements and ideas seamlessly; he is truly an original and we are always thrilled to be able to showcase his work on our pages.

I have worked with Ernesto and his team on a number of projects. They are responsive, knowledgable and a pleasure to work with. I was once told, good design is a good investment. Studio Santalla is a good investment!