Harka Architecture stood out to us for their sustainable and innovative designs. We were impressed by how they assess carbon data and toxicology details to create a suitable design with the lowest carbon footprint possible. 

We also love their broad range of green services. They offer energy modeling, healthy materials consulting, life cycle assessment & embodied carbon analysis.

Their mission comes with quality results. One client was super amazed at how their small shack turned into a cabin that is now more beautiful and functional than ever.

To add to their positive lists, they are also very prompt, even with tight schedules. The nature of this industry requires a lot of patience, and that’s what the team demonstrates.

What we like about them even more is that Harka is very quick to communicate and respond to questions. They have solved any tricky problem that their clients have. Even when we reached out to them for an undercover consultation, they responded quickly.

The only thing to watch out for if you’re on a tight budget is that they can get too fancy with finishes at times. 

Beautiful and affordable design! Very professional.

I hired Patrick back in 2009 to help build a 1700 sq ft art studio and ADU. Needless to say, this was a tricky build (well, the city of Portland makes all buildings “tricky” but that’s a subject for another day). Suffice to say, without Patrick, the project would never have happened. With a killer recession at hand, I had to find all sorts of clever ways to keep costs low – Patrick’s design played a major role in making things happen beautifully and affordably. I’ve hired him more than a few times since then, which is the real measure of a professional.

Shawn Busse, Google review

Wonderful work, thanks Harka!

Thank you Harka for redesigning the staircase and front of my house!

The Harka team are wonderful to work with.

Chris Brown, Google review

Established in 2004, HOLAH has built a strong reputation for efficiency, specializing in residential and smaller commercial projects. 

They deliver thoughtful designs that maximize space for home, kitchen, and bathroom remodels while staying aligned with client expectations and budgets.

We love their focus on sustainability. They create buildings that use less waste and energy and have lower maintenance costs, using materials such as reclaimed wood. 

What’s even more impressive is that they have handled distinct projects before, including science facilities, commercial and residential housing projects, and more. This reassures us of their versatility and expertise.

Unfortunately, there have been issues regarding communication and poor response time. In one case, a client even chose to terminate the contract.

Very creative people and stays on budget. I love my new kitchen!

We LOVED working with Holah Design + Architecture! Greg and Libby helped us in all aspects of a major kitchen renovation. Their ideas were creative, exciting and within our budget. They educated us about materials and encouraged us to explore our needs and wants in a kitchen/dining room without feeling overwhelmed. It’s been a few years since we completed the project and I am thrilled with the results. Having had time to live in the space – I feel so lucky that I had the opportunity to work with such creative folks. I love my new kitchen!!

Sarah Marcus, Google review

My home now has more elegant space. Thanks, Holah!

We have done two projects with Libby and Greg – a basement remodel and a full remodel of the bedrooms/baths. They really maximized the space of our home with thoughtful design and made it a more elegant space with their help on materials selection. I would absolutely recommend their services.

Stuart long, Google review

Harmony Design Northwest’s focus on landscape architecture caught our eyes. While the first two firms focus on designing buildings and structures, Harmony Design specializes in blending aesthetics with functionality to create outdoor environments that are both beautiful and practical.

We really appreciate their participation in the Certified Backyard Habitat program. This program helps homeowners make their backyard more suitable for insects, pollinators, and other wildlife.

Beyond their environmental efforts, we also appreciate that they prioritize safety. They offer fire-resistant landscaping, putting homeowners at ease against potential wildfires.

We got in touch with one client who was very satisfied with how the final design was not only beautiful and functional but also perfectly aligned with their vision.

They also appreciated Harmony’s meticulous attention to detail in ensuring compliance with HOA guidelines and the city’s permit requirements. It made the whole process smoother and hassle-free for the clients.

However, we think the firm should improve its contractor referral service. A client that was given four referrals felt that the additional cost didn’t give the value he expected, as two of the contractors didn’t show up and the one they chose left them unsatisfied. 

We are in love with the landscape design! Thank you, Harmony.

Lisa and Melanie are so insightful and have a wonderful design sense. My husband and I are in love with our landscape design. It exceeded our expectations. Even though I like to think I have an eye for design, I could never have conceptualized and planned what Lisa did. I highly recommend Harmony Design.

Denise Archer, Google review

Amazing team and great design.

I had a great experience working with Lisa and the Harmony Team.  Lisa is very easy to collaborate and she is open to ideas for maximizing the utility and aesthetics.  I am embarking on a large front & backyard overhaul landscape project and there are a lot of details to review and ref.  Lisa took the time to understand my goals and help me refine the final design concept. I’m very happy with her work and highly recommend her for your next landscape design projects.

Berkeley Barnett, Google review

Green Hammer has been designing since 2002. Their track record led them to be one of Oregon’s leading green building firms, and has earned numerous awards that speak volumes about their quality of work.

What we admire the most about them is their commitment to sustainability. They have designed zero-energy communities and homes and have incorporated sustainable materials such as FSC-certified wood into projects.

Green Hammer also works tirelessly to accommodate unique requests. One client was very happy with the results when she hired them to build a wheelchair-accessible home.

It’s worth mentioning, however, that there were some instances of delays in project timelines. One client was also reported to be unsatisfied with an incorrect installation of their bathroom ventilation and a failed recommended expensive part that didn’t meet expectations.

I’m happy with our new family home. Thanks, Green Hammer!

We are so happy that we went with Green Hammer to remodel our family home. Our team (led by Michael and Laura) listened to us, were transparent, thoughtful, and responsive, and provided excellent guidance throughout our project. We felt heard and cared for, and the results are more beautiful than we could have ever imagined.  Thank you Green Hammer!

Erin Snyder Severe. Google review

A home that will shine for generations. Thank you, brilliant team!

From beginning to end, we knew we were in good hands with the brilliant and capable Green Hammer team, and that we would accomplish something truly remarkable together. Thank you everyone who worked with us to create a home for our family that truly will shine on for future generations. We are in love with our newly imagined and refreshed home.

Liz Coleman, Google review

Finally, Propel Studio Architecture feels close to home for its classic, minimalist, and thoughtful designs.

They deserve a spot in our list for its eco-conscious approach in designing energy-efficient homes. They use low maintenance materials, mechanical systems, and lighting fixtures that minimize energy consumption.

What we also like about them is how they go beyond architecture to make the communities feel happy in their spaces by engaging them in the design process. Clients testifying satisfactory results mentioned how Propel’s ideas changed how they look at spaces.

They are also highly regarded for their prompt response and transparency when it comes to costs.

However, if you’re looking for bold or unconventional designs, then their principles might not align with you as they focus on simple, timeless designs.

Super supportive and responsive!

Durham Construction had the opportunity to collaborate with Propel Studio Architecture on their Overhang ADU project, and the experience was a pleasure from beginning to end. The team at Propel was positive, supportive, and readily available to address any questions that came up in the field. We especially appreciated their drawing set being detailed, comprehensive, and easy to interpret. We would gladly partner with them again and highly recommend their services to anyone seeking an architect in the PDX area.

Daniel Durham, Google review 

Top-notch service. Thanks Propel!

Nick Mira contacted me to bid a landscape design he had executed. He provided me with the design, which was a very modern paver installation, and clear instructions. Nick responded quickly to any questions I had and did a nice job of handing the client and project over once we were chosen. I have worked with quite a few landscape designers, landscape architects, architects, and contractors- Nick and Propel Studio are top notch and I would not hesitate to recommend them in the future.

Ben Bowen, Google review