Green Building in Dyke.

“After interviewing several architects to design a home for us in Rockbridge Baths, VA, we chose Candace Smith. She totally fulfilled our expectations. She was an active listener as well as a creative collaborator. She was able to blend our ideas for a home with the skill and knowledge needed to develop building plans. The end result is a stunning as well as functional home overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. We met frequently with Candace Smith on the building site and in her office to ensure that the house would meet our expectations which included placing the house in just the right location to maximize the views. Additionally, she joined us in interviewing prospective builders and worked with him throughout the construction process. In sum, Candace is a superb architect and it was wonderful to work with her and her staff.”

“Ruth Ellen completed a whole-house renovation (2003) and a screen porch design (2012) for our family. She is insightful, practical, and thinks of things to incorporate into her designs that we never in a million years would have thought of. She's got inter-personal and listening skills that would make a professional mediator jealous--traits that come in handy when managing the expectations and goals of a builder, owner, and even spouses! Working with her has always been a pleasure, and ten years on we are proud to call her our friend as well as our architect.”

“I'm currently working with Chris Hays on a new, energy efficient, modern farm house. From the beginning of the process Chris has listened to my goals and concerns, and creatively interpreted them into a beautiful and functional home. The space is light and open, and I feel so lucky to be able to soon live into such a special, unique home. In addition, Chris has been very considerate with budgetary concerns and worked with me and the builder along the way to keep to our budget, and in some instances creating additional savings (which I can't complain about!). Chris Hays and the Hays-Ewing team have just been wonderful to work with.”

“There are many architects and builders but few who have the skill, experience, and vision to design and build a green house. Looking for a modern architect in the area, we found Patrick's website and we got to know him before we hired him. We liked him immediately and never "interviewed' anyone else. We never regretted it. He shared our desire to build lightly, letting the surroundings influence the design and materials. He artfully brokered the inevitable differences of opinion between husband and wife, and we enjoyed the consultative process of working out the design together as a small team. After the design was complete, we were happy to have him build the house, too, which has worked out beautifully. On complicated custom houses, there are many situations where unforeseen circumstances or questions arise, and things move more quickly and smoothly when the person responsible for constructing the house is the same person as the person who envisioned it. The house is not yet complete, but we are currently on budget (more or less) and the product is a work of art. I have suffered through many residential and commercial building projects over a lifetime, and this is the first one I've enjoyed. If you're looking for a person with the sophistication and experience to design and/or build a complicated "dream house," Patrick is your man. And if you're not sure, ask him to take you to our house and show you what he is capable of creating. I think you'll come away a believer!”

“Charles is passionate about his calling, yet he listens and doesn't force his views. Most importantly, Charles is honest, stands behind the advice he gives and puts his client's interests first.”

“Working with Alloy Workshop has been very easy. They came up with great ideas to fit our needs, style, and priorities. They helped us make decisions about the project. Their meticulous planning of the project has made the construction stage very smooth. Everyone who works there is super friendly and professional.”

“Thea is absolutely fantastic to work with! She listens to what I like and want and then guides with the perfect touch. I would never have been able to do my kitchen without her help and it turned out better than I could have dreamed.”

“We initially contacted Frazier Associates as a potential architect for our retirement house in Nellysford VA. After meeting with their team we accepted their proposal and began working closely with our architect, Annie Mathot. Interactions moved from overall style and basic room layout to progressively more specific details about every aspect of the house. Annie was able to capture exactly what we were looking for as a concept and then guide us in making the multitude of decisions and choices involved in turning that concept into a set of plans. Meetings with her were always a pleasure (we actually enjoyed the process), and she was always knowledgable about pros and cons of design alternatives. She kept in close contact via email on an almost daily basis as the project moved forward. She and Frazier Associates kept everything on schedule, and prepared all of the required plans and drawings within the initial cost estimate. They provided suggestions for selection of a builder, and recommended the builder we eventually selected. Their knowledge of and experience with local builders was invaluable here since our house was not the typical residential construction project for the area. They continued to assist us throughout the process of getting the house built, interacting with us and the builder on a regular basis. Our vision was to have a "new old house" that had the feel of an older home, and Frazier Associates made it possible for us to achieve our desired result.”

“I have worked with Jim for over 20 years on a variety of projects both commercial and residential. Jim shows an extreme attention to detail as well as a real care about how the space is used and how it feels. He works hard to economize my budget and the space that is being added/reworked knowing that it's not the amount of space but how it's used and how it feels. Jim goes above and beyond to deliver the best solution and will rework a problem until he feels that he has nailed it. Because this form will only allow me to enter one date I will say that I've worked with Jim on projects the following years: 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2010, 2014. I continually go back to work with Jim because his solutions are always elegant and simple, solution-oriented, thoughtful, and not splashy. Jim is honest and has the highest integrity to completing the project on time and in budget. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

“My relationship with Train and Partners began 20 years ago with two large commercial projects. Since that time they have designed two residential remodeling projects plus designed and managed the construction of two vacation homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is quite obvious that we have been more than pleased with their professional talents and our personal relationship. It is a very satisfying experience to have someone convert your long and sometimes vague wish list into a beautiful home.”