Bastions of creativity, these exceptional firms—ranging in style from traditional to contemporary—wield the vision to transform your home in ways you never thought possible.
The design gurus at this Charlestown-based architecture practice, helmed by married principals Isamu and Marley Kanda, see spaces not as what they are, but as what they can be. Take, for example, the 1915 Brookline abode—featured on a recent Boston Home cover—where the firm’s strategic removal of walls transformed a series of stunted layouts into one airy volume for cooking, eating, and socializing.
50 Terminal St., Bldg. 2, Unit 429, Charlestown, 646-228-1040, i-kanda.com.
A rising star among city architects, J.Roc Design founder Jeremy Jih approaches each and every project with a unique blend of modernity and practicality. Case in point: a modular South End roof deck, made from rot-resistant Sapele wood, that can be disassembled and rebuilt if the homeowner relocates—no screws or nails required.
If designing outdoor spaces is both an art and a science, it follows that the varied portfolio of urban, rural, and coastal projects by Kimberly Mercurio—a trained landscape architect and ecologist—is the one to beat. With practices in Cambridge and Woods Hole, Mercurio counts a spruce-filled Falmouth yard with an infinity-edge pool and stone walls among her successes.
2 Mason St., Cambridge, 508-495-1075, kimberlymercurio.com.
When it comes to kitchen design, conceiving the proper layout is half the battle. We’d trust the Divine Design team to lead the charge any day: The Wellesley firm—which also boasts a stunning 8,000-square-foot showroom on the Boston waterfront—once revamped a dated MetroWest space by swapping a restrictive peninsula for a granite-topped island with storage and seating.
180 Linden St., Wellesley, 781-235-5650, divinedesignbuild.com; 2 Battery Wharf, Boston, 617-443-0700, divinedesigncenter.com.
46 Waltham St., Ste. 302A, Boston, 617-338-1125, sternmccafferty.com.
If you ask us, principals Lisa Botticelli and Ray Pohl must be channeling the ocean blue when designing homes. Like the sea itself, their inspired creations encapsulate a simple serenity, combining classic shiplap paneling and vaulted ceilings with paned windows and kid-friendly built-ins.
31 State St., Boston, 508-228-5455, botticelliandpohl.com.
Perusing Jan Gleysteen’s portfolio, one word repeatedly comes to mind: timeless. With nearly four decades of experience under his belt, the Wellesley architect knows his way around traditionalism, dreaming up classic abodes—such as a grand suburban homestead with coffered ceilings and dramatic archways—that are built to last.
888 Worcester St., Wellesley, 781-431-0080, jangleysteeninc.com.
When it first opened its doors in 2011, A3 Architects pledged itself to sustainable design. Seven years later, the firm remains true to that commitment, masterminding projects including a net-zero Brewster home with solar panels and a strikingly modern glass staircase.
Call us biased, but when it comes to regional design traditions, New England has a lot to be proud of. The architects at Albert, Righter & Tittmann embrace that history wholeheartedly, executing new builds and renovations bursting with finely crafted millwork, grand stone fireplaces, and other nods to the past.
262 Washington St., Boston, 617-451-5740, artarchitects.com.
17 Elm St., Manchester-by-the-Sea, 978-526-4386, olsonlewis.com.
Picture a Cambridge living room, bathed in light from a swath of windows. A handsome wood buffet rests along one wall. Bold modern artwork hangs above it, adding bursts of color to an otherwise neutral palette, bolstered by plush sofas in creamy beige. It’s the type of tableau we’ve come to expect from creator Craig Tevolitz, of Platemark Design. Balanced. Refined. Exceptional.
45 Newbury St., Ste. 503, Boston, 617-487-4475, platemark.com.
Fun fact: Before embarking on a career in interior design, Jill Goldberg trained to be an actress. These days, the New Englander stars on a different stage, offering elevated yet approachable family-friendly designs replete with printed textiles, hand-picked furnishings, and distinctive accessories (a trio of bronze elephants for the bar area? Yes, please).
12 Union Park St., Boston, 617-292-0303, hudsoninteriordesigns.com.
If innovation is the name of the local interior-design game, then the Evolve Residential team has certainly mastered the rules. Flaunting sumptuous fabrics, a mix of classic and modern furniture, and an unrivaled use of color (see: a funky Marion beach house done in electric greens and blues), the spaces designed by this Boston firm are in a league of their own.
89 West Concord St., Boston, 617-424-0003, evolveresidential.com.
There’s a certain lightness to a Frank Hodge–designed space. His rooms are polished, but not stuffy. Artful, but not overdone. A self-professed traditionalist, Hodge has impressed us with projects ranging from a serene study with Venetian plaster walls and framed Claude Lorrain landscapes to his own South End brownstone, brimming with antique and custom pieces.
748 Tremont St., Boston, 617-267-8103, fdhodgeinteriors.com.