Wm. F. Holland/Architect

Bill Holland has worked on two California projects of ours, one in Piedmont and one in Rockridge. We have developed and remodeled a few projects over the years but these two being personal residences have been the most important. There are two things we look for in an Architect: skill and process. Skill is technical, creative, and administrative. Process is timing, forethought, billing, transparency, communication, flexibility, and plain old personality. For us Bill meets all of these things exceptionally well. Bill understands space, volume and usability. There is a balance and flow to a W.F. Holland design. It reverberates when you live in one. Things are subtle, balanced and harmonious. Bill's experience comes into play especially well with design feasibility. He understands the ramification of design, how to avoid triggering costly engineering requirements and how to solve problems efficiently without sacrificing creative design. An architect also needs to have the experience to navigate city planning and regulations. Bill worked tirelessly with a changing building and planning staff in the City of Piedmont during Covid and was able to keep our project moving along in a timely manner. Bill still charges for services the traditional way. If he designs your house he charges for the service of designing your house. Not for how much it eventually costs to build your house. I am tragically old-fashioned in my continual belief that this a fair way to work with an Architect. Bill is one of the last of this breed. The process working with Bill is great. First of all he listens, and really makes your ideas sound awesome. Then he makes them better and presents them back to you as an initial design. You can look at the spaces and flow of the design and make a million changes. Once things are finalized it goes into true design. Building and engineering plans are produced. Bill works closely with my structural engineer and my contractor so the whole process was seamless. Costs were transparent and there have never been any surprises with Bill. Best of all Bill is a down to earth guy. He is great to work with. He displays no attitude and I've never seen him have a grumpy day. He is warm, conversational and reachable. He communicates well and often. This is really important. I think of Bill as an Architect's Architect. He has an amazing amount of experience, an amazing portfolio of work, and a personality that makes it seem as if you are his only client. Personal and extremely capable in every way.

Bill did a fantastic job on our exterior remodeling project. We gave him a general idea of what we were looking for, and he quickly produced a thoughtful proposal that met our goals, while respecting and enhancing the historic character and style of our 1906 Craftsman house. He shepherded the project through the City of Piedmont's design review process, patiently answered our questions, and met with our contractor to ensure that every detail was done properly. The result looks fantastic, and we'd hire Bill again in an instant.

Mr. Holland helped us conceptualize our new small house. The challenge was to utilize the limited floor space (< 1,400 square feet for a 2-story house) permitted by zoning regulations in the most efficient and useful manner. We wanted the house to be comfortable for 2, but able to handle our entire extended family of 9. This was not going to be an easy task and would necessarily involve trade-offs and compromises between desires and reality. Working with Mr. Holland was a pleasure. We are not laid-back people and have strong opinions - despite (or perhaps because of) no knowledge of building or architecture. He listened carefully, understood our goals and desires, and was able to show us where we might want to change our opinion to get the best result. He created detailed hand sketches that had enough detail to allow careful review but did not involved repetitive expensive drafting. We were able to do a number of rounds of back and forth changes until the design was optimized to everyone's satisfaction. The whole procedure felt collaborative, and we grew to implicitly trust his judgement. At each step along the way, Mr. Holland kept to his promised timeline. The quality of the sketches and his ability to match our needs with a buildable plan were impressive. We were extremely pleased with our experience and would recommend Mr. Holland to others without reservation.

My husband and I worked with Bill on a kitchen/bath remodel. This was our first renovation, and Bill was very patient and informative. He put up with us scaling up and scaling down several times. He always offered his honest and informed opinions, without ever pushing us in any particular direction. And, he was always SO fast in turnaround time - he never kept us waiting. He is kind and thoughtful, and has a natural ability to understand what his clients want. We really enjoyed working with Bill.

Bill has done extensive work on our home -- skillfully updating a midcentury home that needed a great deal of vision and TLC. The result is outstanding. (This is the second project he's tackled for us -- the first was a complete overhaul of a 1910-ish home 20 years ago -- again A+ work.) He is thoughtful and knowledgeable -- about both form and function. With an unerring sense of design and years of experience, you can count on Bill to design elegant and practical solutions. Moreover he knows his way around local building codes and regulations. Easy to work with, he's flexible and works to incorporate client concepts and preferences. Highest marks for Bill.

It was a pleasure to work with Bill from the very start. We had some unique ideas in mind to build a detached studio/ garage. Bill was fabulous in helping to incorporate our ideas while being up to city code and keeping safety in mind. He also was great at navigating the city’s review board in order to gain a building permit. Bill worked diligently and quickly to get our project done, approved and ready to be built! Our new garage studio is complete and we are very very happy!

We did a major remodel to our home. Down to the studs and rebuilt from the ground up. Having never gone through a remodel before, this was uncharted territory. The best advice given to us from friends with remodel experience was to put together a good team: Architect and Builder. You, as the client and homeowner, need to be comfortable and have good communication with the team. If not, the process (and it's a long one) will not be good. Not only has our experience been good, it's been highly enjoyable. How many people going through a remodel can say that? Bill was the first architect I talked to, and the last. I knew he was the one for our project. He is a very kind person. He is honest, likable, and highly experienced. He is a straight-shooter, has high integrity, and you can tell he takes pride in his work. Bill did an excellent job translating our goals and wishes into his plans. We are nearing the final stages of our project and we couldn't be happier. I would highly recommend working with Bill. You will not regret it.

Bill helped transform our house beyond what we initially thought possible. From the first meeting Bill really understood what we wanted from the project and gave us several great options, offering ideas and suggestions we hadn’t thought of initially. Moving through the design process he was always attentive and responsive to our feedback. When it came to submitting plans, Bill's relationships and expertise with the city were super helpful in moving the project along. We could not be happier with the final product, it is exactly what we wanted.

I chose to work with Bill Holland because he had experience dealing with the local Planning Commission. He was most helpful in obtaining the necessary approvals. This was my first significant project, an expansion and full kitchen and den remodel, and so I relied on Bill a great deal at every phase. He was prompt, attentive, a good listener, and great to work with. With the benefit of now being able to see the finished product, I can say that his design was brilliant. He managed to maintain the older character of the house while creating a dramatic new space that opened up scenic views. Various simple suggestions that he made really enhanced the appearance of the new space. He was very creative turning what was a one-car garage into a legal two car garage despite certain space limitations. As a novice, I did not anticipate how often I would be called upon by the general contractor to make decisions on various issues as the construction progressed. Whenever I felt I was in over my head, I would call on Bill and he would respond in a timely fashion. Bill worked seamlessly with the general contractor and made good value engineering suggestions. All in all working with Bill was a very positive experience.

Bill Holland rescued our home remodel project. We knew we were embarking on a big renovation, but we didn't have a budget to match. We therefore started out by choosing a very affordable architect, figuring we'd control costs from the get-go. Big mistake. After multiple go-rounds with our first team, we felt uninspired, uninterested, and unprepared to get our project off the ground. Add to that our concerns surrounding dealing with the City Planning office and we felt like we were marching inexorably toward a cliche home remodel disaster story. Enter Bill. From the outset, his experience and know-how were palpable. He listened very patiently and carefully to all our objectives for the project, never pointed a finger at our previous team, and then disappeared with a promise to come back with some synthesis of what we'd described to him. How impressed we were! His initial vision was clear, incorporated what we'd hoped to see, and achievable within the constraints of budget and the City rules. He thought through every aspect of the project, from the location of the stairs to the flow of the rooms to the design of our ceiling. Most importantly, his plans were infused with his own knowledge and experience, they didn't just consist of our own ideas bounced back to us. We ended up choosing from the various potential layouts that he offered in a modular fashion, putting together a synthesized whole that we really love. And this is where the practical aspect of his experience became evident: he got us through design review and building permitting in under 6 weeks, and without any significant concerns/revisions from the City (a monumental achievement in Piedmont). To offer a balanced review, I feel compelled to also include a drawback. Bill does his drawings in Photoshop, not in Autocad. This did present a bit of a problem when interfacing with the structural engineer, although I don't fault Bill for sticking to his chosen medium. Also, Bill isn't cheap...but then, as we learned, with him you get what you pay for! Plus, the amount of time and money saved by putting together a good design from the beginning (avoiding multiple City reviews, construction snafus, and revision once building has started) MORE than made up for his fee. One example: the staircase, as drawn by our initial architects, wouldn't actually have fit in the location that they specified. It was off by a few inches, but Bill picked this up, and saved us goodness-knows how much in redesign/rebuild costs. Bill always met the deadlines that he specified, was easily reachable by phone when necessary, and displayed quite a bit of patience in talking a couple of newbies through a huge project. Our project is now complete, and we are living in the beautiful space that Bill designed. He will always be welcome in our home and we appreciate him every time we walk in the front door (ie every day).

After interviewing several highly regarded architects in the Bay Area, we chose to work with Bill to plan a rebuild/remodel/expansion of our 3,000 sf home. Bill is thorough, a great listener, is current on and encyclopedic about the latest in materials and finishings, and boasts a terrific network of support service providers (structural and soils engineers, landscape architects, builders, etc). If you want a partner who'll help you think through things along the way without dictating outcomes or being heavy-handed, Bill is fantastic!

My husband and I were doing a whole house remodel. After interviewing 4 architects Bill was an obvious 1st choice. We not only loved the work in his portfolio but upon meeting him, we found him to be extremely easy to talk to. He is a great listener and was happy to incorporate our design ideas with his own. He has a great design sense and a real understanding of light and flow within a house. He was very timely when responding to questions and always available when we wanted to talk about the project. His years of experience proved to be especially valuable when we submitted our plans to the city. The design and permitting approvals came effortlessly because Bill was able to anticipate and remedy any problem areas the city may not approve. All around, he is amazing to work with and we would highly recommend him.

Bill helped improve the flow of our new home by opening up the floor plan, adding a small addition and remodeling the kitchen and a bathroom. Bill is a a patient and thoughtful listener and is great at asking questions to help elicit your vision, rather than telling you what would look best. We wanted to move quickly and he was both responsive and efficient. He was able to get us through the design review process and into construction within a couple months. It has been a pleasure to work with Bill.

I interviewed numerous architects to help me with a major remodel and addition. After meeting with Bill it was an easy choice because he actually listened to what I was asking for without first suggesting his "vision" of the space. He's creative, detail oriented, humorous and very responsive, an overall pleasure to work with.

After interviewing three architects for our project (renovating the kitchen, two bathrooms, and staircase of our 100-year-old apartment), we hired Bill Holland. What we loved about his portfolio was his sensitivity to original architectural features and his ability to blend them seamlessly with the renovation. We didn't know when we hired him that he would be great to work with: he's amazingly responsive and sensitive to clients' needs and budget; he doesn't try to impose his vision on the client but listens first, then offers an array of creative solutions. And he's a very talented architect. One of the three we interviewed assured us that the staircase remodel we had in mind could not be done. Bill did it, and it looks fantastic. In fact, the whole place looks fantastic. We feel very lucky that we found him and that he was willing to take on our job (his portfolio includes many projects on a much larger scale than ours). Last, he also recommended a contractor who was wonderful -- and who completed the job on schedule! They made a great team.

As a contractor / builder, I appreciate Bill's responsiveness to questions I have in the field. His ability to help keep a project moving with timely feedback and elegant solutions, helps me to keep my deadlines and commitments to my clients. Bill's talent for design driven architecture, his ability to work with many different personalities, and his collaborative nature make for a great working relationship with both client and builder, which leads to great results and a happy client.

Bill is a local architect who worked with us for our add-on and remodel. We went into our initial discussion with a vague notion of making the house brighter and more "airy" as well as practical questions on how to best utilize the space we have. Bill gave our idea form and substance: large bay windows, French doors, skylights, generous open spaces. We couldn't be happier with the outcome. He is also very conversant on local planning and design processes and made the whole experience go smoothly.

Jetton Construction, Inc. has worked with Bill Holland on numerous home and whole home remodels. His sensitivity to space, light, and crafted detail yields a home that is vastly improved and a pleasure to live in. Bill is great to work with and responsive to both the home owner and the builder. He is very attentive to budgets and project schedules and fluidly deals with changes when they appear. You will be in good hands collaborating with Bill Holland for your home design.

Bill Holland was our architect on a major remodel of our 1930's home. Bill was outstanding to work with. He listened and understood what was important to us and provided insight and an expert eye to show us what was possible. He was available from the beginning to the end and I alway trusted his advice.

Being a general contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years now, I have had the opportunity to work with scores of architects for a range of different types of projects. I can say hands down that Bill Holland is one of the BEST architects I have had the privilege to work with--I cannot say that lightly given the scope of projects we do. Bill has a broad understanding of traditional homes. He has a tremendous sense of space, balance and flow. He truly thinks about all details and the global picture of the project. Most importantly, for me, he also designs from a builder’s perspective which is critical because it's not about a pretty picture; it's about HOW the structure gets built. This sense of the form and design allows him to construct plans that not only cater to the client wish list but are relevant and buildable. I refer Bill to all of my clients and will continue to do so. Not only is Bill a talented and thoughtful architect, he is personally a really good guy. If you are looking to remodel, expand or build new Bill is the man for the job.

Bill designed plans for a whole house remodel for our home in Peidmont. He was very responsive and detail oriented. We can't be happier with the results. Everything went very smoothly.

We work with Bill in redesigning our mid-century classic house, he takes an approach with "what we have and how to make it work" and we greatly appreciate his vision. Bill is very thorough and listens to our requirement; he takes up our project as one of his own, which makes us feel at ease and comfortable. Bill is very talented and we will recommend him to anybody without any hesitation.

Bill Holland is the consummate creative architect, sees the big picture in a project but doesn't overlook the details.Incredibly easy to work with and open to client input. He brought fresh ideas and has the experience to carry them off. We wanted a seamless remodel to a 1926 William Wurster home and Bill provided it. Let's put it this way, I would love to do another project with him!

Bill is a fabulous architect with exquisite tastes and a very practical application. His humor and intelligence add a nice balance to his professionalism. Consider yourself lucky to have Bill on your Team.

I have known Bill Holland for over 20 years. He was an architect for a personal residence in Piedmont, CA, which was finished in 1987, and he was the architect for a complete remodel of 3 flats in Pacific Heights in San Francisco, CA, which was completed in 2011. This remodel included raising the building to add parking, new foundations, new plumbing, new electrical, and a rear yard extension for the 3 units. Bill did an unbelievable job of navigating the very complex San Francisco requirements, and created a great contemporary plan while preserving the historic facade. Bill is very talented and very competent, and I would I would unequivocally recommend him for any residential project

Bill did the design of our whole house remodel and extension. We love his aesthetic and he conducts his business with top notch professionalism. What I liked best was that he's a good listener. Highly recommended.

Bill Holland designed our custom country home in the California Delta. He listened closely to the design concepts we wished to accomplish and interpreted them magnificently. Bill fully comprehended our admiration of the legendary Cliff May classic California Rancho as a basis for design and enhanced it beyond what we could possibly imagine. The design carefully took into consideration views of the countryside, wind patterns, solar effects, and the preservation of trees. It resulted in a home that is nearly seamless with the beautiful countryside that surrounds it and has provided our family a wonderful living experience. We still call it Bill's House.

We LOVE working with Bill Holland. He has a great sense of space. Our home (and the others we visited before selecting to work with Bill) have a wonderful airy openness and lots of light, while still feeling true to the style of our traditional home (built in 1916.) Bill listens and sometimes senses what we are looking for before we do and finds creative solutions. Plus, he is warm and easy-going, yet supremely professional. No huge ego here! After several months of planning, our major home remodel is under construction -- and Bill is a great partner to have.

My husband and I would highly recommend Bill Holland. He was able to listen to what we wanted and turn it in to a beautiful design that has changed the way we live in our house. Bill dealt with changes with great patience and a can-do attitude. We look forward to working with him again on our next project! Beth & Jamie Barrett

Given that we have a Clarence Mayhew house built in 1937 we were nervous about bringing our home into a more live able contemporary home. We wanted at the same time to respect the work of Mayhew and wanted to keep our home timeless and seamless in its expansion and revision. Bill Holland proved to be the answer to our concerns. He both showed respect for the history and craftsmanship of our home and made an integrated addition that seemed so natural from the initial plans from seventy years ago. He continued the execution of artisanship,woodworking, hardware and brought it all into today's family living needs. Bill was a pleasure to work with, easy going but professional and timely and he truly listened to our concerns and desires. We wouldn't recommend anyone else honestly and I say that being an interior designer myself that truly believes in honoring history and craftsmanship.

We spent two years with Bill Holland, the first conceptualizing ideas for a major remodel of our 1916 Craftsman style house, the second in construction. We loved working with Bill and today appreciate his talents as we enjoy living in our evolved home. Bill is a gifted architect – able to visualize the design and construction of a three dimensional space in his mind’s eye, and then communicate his vision to clients in an understandable way. We wanted more openness and access from the rear of our house to our back yard. The result is stunning – truly an indoor/outdoor living space. Upon the completion of our project, Bill and we were honored to win an award from the City of Piedmont for the Best Outdoor Living Area in 2011.