Tobin Dougherty Architects

I first experienced Tobin's work at the American Institute of Architect Silicon Valley Home Tour, were one of his Portola Valley homes was being recognized as one of the most amazing examples of beautiful architecture in the Bay Area, a region filled with amazing architecture. The home on the tour was an amazing example of just what makes great architecture so comforting. There is just something so amazing about walking into a well designed home that balances space, texture, efficiency of the structure and the way the windows and doors connect to and bring out the best in the site. Since that day, Tobin has been one of my favorite architects. What is really great though, is that he is just a really nice guy. Some architects, when they become so successful that their name is synonymous with amazing homes and buildngs, tend to act like they are better than everybody else. Tobin is just a nice laid back person, who is great to talk to and great to work with. I cannot more highly recommend Tobin and his team if you are looking to build a new home or do a major renovation to your existing home. You cannot find an easier or better architect to help you build your dream,

Our Interior Design office is currently collaborating with Tobin Dougherty and his outstanding team on a ground-up residential estate within the Bay Area and we would highly recommend their skills and talent for any project either contemporary or traditional. Tobin has an incredible sensitivity to architecture and a true understanding of the details that make a project special. His expertise, taste, and professionalism across the board with clients, contractors, and designers alike is a wonderful addition to any creative project.

Tobin was referred to us by a neighbor who did 2 remodels than a full house build with him. Our project started out a little tricky - we bought a property built in 1927 and in our town, houses built prior to 1941 go on the historical inventory and the first thing Tobin had to do was get the home off that historical inventory, which I've heard is not that easy. During the initial planning process, Tobin listened to our needs and desires and was able to translate our input into a beautiful design that is functional and fits in beautifully with our neighborhood. During the planning process, the town has thrown a lot of requirements at Tobin and he and his staff have been able to professionally navigate the process and get the project approved. We can't wait to see the finished project!

We would like to offer our highest recommendation of the architectural services of Tobin Dougherty Architects. We wanted a modern design with a sense of space and light that fully took advantage of the views and setting of our property. We did not find that most of the local architects had the creativity or range of design we were looking for until we heard of Tobin, who has worked primarily in Bay Area Peninsula and also had long ties and history with architectural projects and construction in Nevada County area. Once we took a look at his portfolio, we knew he was the one to create our Szabo Winery Ranch Home in Nevada City, CA. It is common knowledge that building a home can be extraordinarily stressful, but Tobin has guided us through the process so that we fully understand the vision and logic of his design. He listened to our (sometimes conflicting) wish lists and successfully translated them into a design that is truly extraordinary. He is patient, perceptive and always listens to and takes into consideration his clients’ concerns. Tobin has continued to work with our contractors during the building process to ensure that the design is not compromised in any way, and we already know that the finished product will far exceed our initial expectations.

We have had the pleasure to work with Tobin on new home construction projects as the interior designer. He's a brilliant artist with an ability to capture three dimensional thinking at every level. He is committed to his clients and delivers not only beautiful work but a real home that is comfortable, something that can be challenging in modern design.

Tobin planned my dream home in Los Altos. He's an amazing artist, and managed to capture my style, and translate it to a plan. He created a modern, yet warm house, and very functional for my family. He's a genius for playing with natural and indirect light, I am a very happy customer and a fan.

Tobin is a rare gifted architect who has the ability, the vision to resolve any challenge in a majestic way. He thinks in design mode. He adapts creatively and effectively to his clients needs.

Tobin is a truly unique architect. We interviewed six architects before settling on him and can't imagine working with anyone except for him after living in the results of his work for more than two years. His aesthetic is unparalleled but more importantly he designs your house, not a house for an architectural magazine or website. Incidentally, Windy Hill Haven, which is here on Houzz and on his site, is truly worthy of such a showcase effort in our opinion; but, it was designed with our family in mind first and foremost. He was respectful or our living space and ecologically focused requirements as well as our budget. We certainly made compromises along the way; but, Tobin was always there to help us with design engineering ideas that would not sacrifice the flow and aesthetic of the home and at the same time would not blow the budget. The other aspect of his working style is his clear communication and accessibility. We are still tweaking a few things related to the landscaping and a few finish concepts and he's always there to lend an opinion. For him, it's not about the fees but rather about a lasting, organic dwelling space that stands the test of time. We'd work with Tobin again on any future projects and have recommended him to quite a few others here in Portola Valley. Tim McAdam

My husband and I were looking for an architect to help us design the 2500-square feet place we purchased in SF. We talked to quite a few pros and each has own vision for the design. As two opinionated individuals we always argue over any decisions; but this time we didn't because we both love Tobin. Tobin has a great and professional eye for the space/style; an ability to listen to our needs and bring that needs to life by showing / convincing us with a better, cooler version; and systematic yet emotion-centered approach to translating a vision into reality by thinking ahead of budgeting through his years of experience working with contractors and neighbors. We decided to postpone the project due to a family reason but highly recommend Tobin (and hope to work with Tobin next year) if you need help to design/build your great home in San Francisco that also has great resell potential!

I have worked with Tobin on numerous projects over the years starting with an award winning home in Capitola, CA twenty years ago and now on a large addition/remodel in Carmel Valley. I'm the general contractor on these projects and working with Tobin has always been an exceptional experience. His ability to visualize what needs to be done and to provide drawings articulating that vision is an immense help when tackling projects large and small. His taste is impeccable and his ability to adapt to whatever style the customer wants is amazing. As you can see in the photos on this site his design range is not limited to any one particular style. He is accomplished in all the styles you see here and then some. I would highly recommend Tobin for any of your new construction or large addition/remodel needs.

Tobin stood on our property with pencil and paper, listened to our project description and crystalized it in about 15 minutes. Sketch in hand, the creative process of aligning the 'reality' aspects of building something from scratch began. He won the business because of his down to earth demeanor and clear sense of what we wanted in the project. Over time our conceptual design became a properly scaled living space that is both a joy to live in and affordable to own long term. He refined and enhanced the project plan delivering remarkable results. Some original ‘must haves’ were never incorporated because they ultimately were not needed. The project (and the budget) benefited from a sensible paring down of the initial wish list. Tobin has a practiced ear and his advice favored preservation of value and unity with the surroundings while creating something unique, beautiful and useful. He was able to identify the lifestyle elements we wanted and brought those into focus. His experience with clients in different phases of life with differing budgets made a big difference for us. The end result leveraged his insight and perspective without needing to gratify his ego. This was our project and he respected that boundary, becoming a trusted advisor. The money we spent with Tobin was money well spent. Our project came in on budget and exceeded our expectations. Friends and family still notice subtle things that only come to light after they've visited multiple times. Not everything that makes a house a home can be cataloged in design magazines or on Houzz. It took patience and some wisdom to discern what we really wanted from what we originally asked for. I give Tobin my highest recommendation and will work with him again.

We selected Tobin to build our house in Portola Valley, California after interviewing about 15 different architectural firms. We felt that choosing the right architect was one of the most important decisions we would make when building our new house. Tobin’s design aesthetic was our favorite from the first day we met him and saw his work. What my husband and I really appreciate is Tobin's ability to take both of our opinions/wish lists and incorporate both into a design that worked wonderfully. I remember him asking us, if location was not a factor, work, schools, etc - basically if you could have your fantasy house, what would it be? Our answers were wildly different but somehow, after hours of sitting on our hillside with a pad and some pencils, Tobin incorporated many of our wishes and dreams into his design. Tobin’s approach to the design process is one of collaboration. He showed us options and explained the cons as well as the pros of each and staying true to the design aesthetic; together we built a fabulous house. Integral to the process was the discussion of not just what was happening in our family at that moment but planning ahead. Thoughts of storage and usability of rooms and space, both indoor and out. The art, the design, always at the forefront, were infused with usefulness and understanding. Areas were designed with flexibility for change in mind. Tobin was always personally involved in every aspect of the our project from conception to completion. Our project was never handed off to a Junior Designer, as happens so often. Tobin was fully there for us throughout the building journey. He helped us with managing our contractor and subs, coming up with cost effective alternatives throughout the building process.