564 E 2nd Ave Suite 201, Durango Colorado 81301
RA+A did a fantastic job helping me build a custom home. From their innovative design solutions and budget management to their technical knowledge, they delivered a home that is as functional as it is beautiful. I recommend RA+A for the following reasons:
When it comes to both price and quality, in my opinion RA+A is the best firm in town. Their flexible contract options allowed me to start with a base contract and add services a la carte, as needed. This convenience meant I could focus on exactly what I wanted, without feeling locked into unnecessary extras. In addition, they came up with creative solutions to meet my design goals while keeping line items on target, unlike other firms in town known for going over budget. For example, I wanted a wood paneled accent ceiling that matched my oak floors. RA+A helped me save over $12K on this design detail by switching to a more affordable wood and staining it to look like oak instead of using actual oak.
Elizabeth Boone, a Principal at the firm and the lead on my project, was absolutely fantastic. I cannot recommend her enough. She was extremely organized and professional. She has a fantastic eye for design. And, she's skilled at creating beautiful designs in a wide range of styles - contemporary and traditional, etc. - which is unusual. She is highly detail oriented with exceptional project management skills. She worked at a top firm in NYC before coming to Durango which shows. I was always excited to see her new design ideas in meetings - from floor plans (she gave me multiple options!), to elevations, to custom fireplaces or kitchens. Elizabeth has a natural intuition of how to enhance designs to elevate the experience of day-to-day living. In addition to design, she excels in managing budgets, coordinating with contractors, organizing supplier meetings, and selecting materials. Her ability to communicate effectively ensures that everyone involved is on the same page, which made the entire process smooth and enjoyable.
RA+A offers a wide range of design services, from simple as-builts to comprehensive custom home designs. Elizabeth and her team helped me design six custom built-ins, including a desk, oak office drawers, a custom kitchen, bathroom vanities, a fireplace, a floating staircase, and custom window muntins. Their flexibility meant I could have as much or as little designed as I wanted. My contractor, Classique Builders, also did an excellent job overseeing the building process based on the designs.
The firm’s engineering expertise was invaluable. The owner (Tracy) is an engineer, and several engineers on staff (Dakota) provided critical support for my lot with challenging typography. They engineered a foundation cut into a steep slope and replaced eight columns with substantial beams to maintain an open floor plan, showcasing their advanced technical skills and precision.
They seamlessly integrated natural views with the house, creating a harmonious balance between the indoor and outdoor spaces. This connection was aided by: thoughtful roof deck design, placement of windows according to surrounding mountains, 5 panel doors, and strategically elevating the home as the slope of the land increased in order to center views of mountains & garden.
Lastly, their knowledge of the city's code was a significant advantage, saving me time and money during the design phase. This expertise is not something all architects in Durango possess, and it made a noticeable difference in the efficiency of the project.
I spent 18 months working with RA+A. I highly recommend them.
On a side note, I also recommend spending as much time as possible detailing what YOU (the client) want before you meet with R+A or any architect. Include both qualitative and *quantitative* descriptions. In part, the success of a custom home is determined by how well the client (YOU) can communicate what you want & need.