Red House Architects

We engaged Red House Architects and, in particular, Robert T. Braddock, to design a brand-new basement and a brand-new upstairs bathroom for a 70-year-old brick, colonial house. The existing layouts were completely demolished and started anew from bare walls and studs. Although constraint by the existing physical dimensions, Bob expertly analyzed the allotted “space” and designed a visually pleasing and easily functional basement that maximized both the aesthetics and utility of that “space.” Bob crafted a full bathroom having a walk-in, sit-down shower area, a spacious entertainment area that could be turned into a sleeping facility, a kitchenette area, and an enclosed utility area. An example of Bob’s artistic capability was the design of an open-lattice staircase that evoked a visual sense of spaciousness. Bob was equally skillful in mechanical and structural aspects by relocating the various boiler, heating and AC equipment into a compact utility area, as well as re-routing the various conduits for such equipment. On a smaller scale was Bob’s design for a modern upstairs bathroom. Bob was a pleasure to work with in that he was a collegial adviser and counselor who spent time listening to our wishful musings and counseled us as to the aesthetics and structural aspects of possible designs, including sketching out possible designs and explaining plausible possibilities or shortcomings.

RedHouse/Bob Braddock was great to work with. He sat with us to really understand what we were looking for in our major renovation of a 1960's split level home. For the parts we knew what we wanted, he listened and incorporated in the plan. For the parts we were not sure about, he thought through and showed us options to help us decide. The sketches he did on the spot while meeting with us really helped us decide what we wanted and visualize what the house would look like. He also got us over a big hurdle with the county zoning and worked with our builder on few concerns that came up during construction. Overall, would definitely recommend working with Bob/RedHouse.

I had a very positive experience working with Red House Architects. Bob was very punctual at our various design meetings. He always showed up prepared and provided very clear explanations behind his drawings, including the rationale as to why one approach made sense where another did not. I was the beneficiary of Bob's obvious experience as his business is based in the same community that I live and he immediately grasped my guidance: have my addition fit the style of the existing home as well as the original homes in the neighborhood. I couldn't have been happier with the results of the design as well as the final build effort itself.

We hired Red House Architects to design a master suite (bedroom, bathroom, closets) for our 1928 Sears-style single-floor bungalow; our goal was something that would seem like a natural extension of the existing structures. We wanted something more modern, but also wanted that fit in with the trim work of the old structures. We also wanted lots of light. Our emphasis was more on quality than size, on elegant modernity that would also seem simple. Bob Braddock nodded and came up with two or three proposals that maximized the space on the inside while preserving the overall architectural line on the outside. He came up with a way to combine large windows opening on the back with smaller ones on all sides, including in the bathroom and shower. The wooden doors and trim match the old house, only that they have a more contemporary feel. He managed to create a small sheltered space at the top of the stairs in the back, which he combined with a more modern stair system. He found a way to preserve our old bedroom off the kitchen so that it could continue to be used as a study/guest room. Red House had an excellent working relationship with the contractor we had chosen, was always available to them and us, which came in handy when -- as is so often the case with such an old structure -- we ran into a couple of unexpected problems. In sum, we were able both to update and preserve our house, and we could not be more delighted with the result.

Red House Architects designed an incredible open plan kitchen for us. We loved our existing pre-war house, but the kitchen was tiny and cramped and the plaster was falling down. We decided to tear down the kitchen-adjacent covered porch on the back of the house and expand the outer shell of the house to create a much larger kitchen and dining space. The design included a 14 foot cathedral ceiling at our request, a large and functional island layout, and enough windows to fill the space with natural light. The new roofline and the board and batten siding complemented the existing home beautifully; we've received so many compliments from surrounding neighbors, and nothing but "WOW" reactions from everyone who walks into the new kitchen space. The architectural reveal and sense of immense spaciousness in a small home is just a superb daily experience. Wonderfully easy to work with, responsive, reasonably priced, and an overall delight!

Robert was extremely talented and professional throughout the entire duration of my renovation. He was thorough in explaining how to achieve the goals of my dream home and gentle in letting me know where my vision and physics collied, yet offered terrific options that were, of course, better than what I could have envisioned. He was patient with my questions and my, at times, paralysis in making decisions. Truly, it was a joy each time he came to the house. The end result was better than I could have dreamed. I would recommend him without hesitation.

We hired Bob to design our home remodel for a 1935 colonial home. What we anticipated to be a relatively straightforward project ended up with several surprises along the way (working with an older home, it's expected). Bob provided guidance and support every step of the way. For planning, he walked with us through the home and listened intently to our vision while providing practical design advice to compliment our living style (we have small kids and like to entertain, so he described ways our life would flow in a certain spaces). He was extremely detailed oriented to the level of recommending which way a door should open based on wind flow and light. For execution, he was equally valuable. During the build, he visited the site and ensured building was to plan. He also took time to work with our builder to correct issues. In addition to being technically astute, Bob is kind and has complete empathy for his clients, during a stressful time. As such, we highly recommend him and will gladly work with him on any future project!

Bob Braddock, of Red House Architects, is a true craftsman. He is skilled, creative, knowledgeable, patient, supportive, fair, and will get the job done on time and on budget. He is professional, collaborative and a true partner throughout the project. Bob is a master at creating function and design. He effortlessly modernized our 1958 split level brick home creating a beautiful great room filled with light, natural flow, and showcasing our backyard. His design of our master suite addition, with bath and closet, is both a sanctuary and a perfectly planned space for me and my husband to begin and end our day. Bob listened very carefully to both of us and incorporated all our wishes and found compromises we were all happy with. He is budget savvy and keeps it a part of every conversation. After our drawings were complete and construction underway, Bob came out, upon request, to oversee our GC to make sure specific footings, foundation, structural beams and design elements were done correctly. This was a huge help and relief for us. Both my husband and I would highly recommend Bob, and Red House Architects, for any job. He is dependable, trustworthy and a pleasure to work with and we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our new home, inside and out!

I hired Robert to design a major addition to my house and then some adjustments to my current house, which included an entire new roof/attic so the ceilings could be raised. I had interviewed other architects and decided Robert was the best fit for my project. He is very easy to work with and his design better than I could ever imagine. My project is probably 1.5 months from completion, complicated by Arlington Co. requiring a storm water management plan, and a separate variance but Robert guided me throughout all of it. All the different trades involved in my project are telling me this is one of the best designs they have seen. When I am outside, people walking by stop and tell me the same thing. And fortunately the neighbors are all very happy with what they are seeing. Robert was also helpful in providing a list of contractors with whom he had worked for me to have bid on the project. I highly recommend Robert and would use him again if I had another project.

We did a major remodel of our house in Clarendon and Bob came up with a beautiful design that incorporated the modern aspects we were looking for while still preserving the character and integrity of the original house. He also expertly shepherded the project through the Arlington permit process, which is no small feat. Bob is highly skilled, has great design instincts, was responsive to our needs, and has been a pleasure to work with.

We hired Red House Architects to design the replacement for our old sunroom. Bob Braddock is the principal architect and came recommended by our general contractor. Bob came to the table with a lot of ideas and presented several options to consider. He is very thorough and very much listens to what the client wants. He provided several sets of detailed draft drawings which allowed my wife and I to go back and forth on a few of the design details. We are very pleased with the final project and can highly recommend Red House Architects.

I hired Red House Architects to design a remodel/addition to our house. The design related to demolishing the concrete slab under an existing garage, excavating for a new garage under the former garage, and replacing the former garage with an office and a mudroom. The design work was technically complicated and was completed to our complete satisfaction. Bob Braddock was easy to work with - incorporating our ideas when feasible and explaining preferable alternatives where appropriate. The work was done in a timely fashion and within budget. He also was instrumental in finding a well qualified contractor who was willing to take on the job. During construction he was helpful when issues arose. Bob had also been the architect for a previous remodel of our house that had involved the addition of a bedroom and bath as well as a rearrangement of existing rooms. It was because our experience with that earlier project had been so satisfactory that we asked Bob to take care of the current project.