James V Coane & Assoc Arch

I have used Architect James Coane over the last 12 years for a variety of projects and building issues. Every single time he has addressed my architectural needs and building issues in a professional, diligent and intelligent manner. \r I usually do not write reviews or make recommendations to friends, because I feel that I am putting my own reputation on the line if the referred person doesn't live up to my friend's expectations. Thus, I have a very short list of people who I feel I can refer without reservation, because I know they will perform their task wonderfully. Architect James Coane is one of those professionals I would recommend or refer to friends without hesitation. \r The first time I used his services, he was hired to add to and remodel a home my family had just bought in Southwest Pasadena. The home was very unique and had some creative challenges because we needed to change the floor plan to suit our lifestyle. Not only did he exceed that challenge, by designing and coming up with a set of plans which suited our family’s needs, but when only a few months after the plans were completed we found a different home nearby that didn’t require so many changes, we decided to sell and I believe his plans helped us obtain several offers over asking price and we closed escrow with a $500,000. profit. This was after owning the home for less than 2 years and making no improvements! Additionally, the new owners used his plans and his services to build their existing dream home.\r Our next home, the same one we have been living in for the last 9 years, is one of the original 100+ year old mansions of West Pasadena. Although, the home did not need any additional square footage, it desperately needed to be restored and a new kitchen and family area needed to be incorporated into the existing footprint. It was important that the new area feel as if it was part of the original design of the house, but also would work with our growing 21st century family’s needs. He was able to capture exactly what we needed within the existing footprint. We got a beautiful state of the art kitchen, new breakfast area and family area. After the project and restoration of the home was completed, it has been used in film and print work and virtually every single person from that industry comments that they can’t tell which part of the home is the original footprint and which is the 21st century one. It is a truly seamless design job.\r The last quality I want to mention about Jim, which I value the most and which makes him superior to others in his profession, is the attention to service he provides to his clients. I have called him numerous times in dealing with issues that have come up during the restoration of our home and he always has called me right back and usually would show up within hours at the house with an engineer or contractor to help him solve the problem immediately. I also appreciate his positive attitude and confidence in tackling any issue whether it is getting a permit from the city or figuring out a complicated design issue. \r Lastly, anytime I have referred him to a friend, I have always heard positive feedback and received a thank you for the referral.\r more

We had just returned from a trip to Morocco and were inspired by the beautiful Moorish architecture when we decided to tear down our existing house and build something from the ground up. It was a stroke of luck that we were introduced to architect James Coane for such an important task. He was patient, attentive to what we wanted and meticulous in the execution of what turned out to be a beautiful home. The addition of a private roof top terrace remincent of what you find in Morocco with a fireplace and seating area for summer evenings has always been a stunning design addition to our home. His knowledge of what we wanted was evident from the many buildings he had designed or restored that had the same feel. He was always punctual for every meeting, always available to answer questions and saw the project through every step of the way right up to the end. I would strongly recommend him for any project and would use his services again in a heartbeat.\r more

Nothing is scarier or breaks up more relationships than construction. To survive the life-altering experience of construction, you need to hire someone you trust. Jim Coane is the only architect I trust.\r \r I have called Jim “my architect” since 1993. It was my first house and my very first construction project, adding a second story to a 1939 bungalow. He guided me every step of the way and did a thousand things behind the scenes (engaged city planners, inspectors, promptly responded to alteration requests). He was meticulous about every square inch of my home, the new and old sections. He made my first foray into home renovation a wonderful experience that gave me the courage to pursue others in the future.\r \r As far as my home goes: To this day no one knows where the old house ended in the new construction began. I’ve received an endless stream of compliments from visitors, have had my home featured in commercials and TV shows and 20 years later, Zillow now ranks my home the most valuable property on my block. A true testament to how Jim Coane’s vision endures the test of passing decades. And by the way- it was completed in December1993. 40 days later it endured one of the city’s largest earthquakes of the past century… without a nick. My neighbors around me were not so lucky. \r \r Over the past 20+ years, I have used only Jim Coane to design and oversee millions of dollars of my every commercial and residential project. He’s currently at work designing what will become my next residence for the next 20 years. \r \r \r \r more

Our project was not for the meek! We touched every inch of our 1917 Reginald Johnson home - 6000+ square feet in San Marino. Our goal was to renovate the classic home to make it period correct but subtle with the most compelling and high-end conveniences. Our initial review included the usual checkpoints on quality, timeliness, staying on budget, experience with homes from the same era, style, etc. Jim and his team received flying colors from his references, and ultimately from our own experience on all of these.\r \r However, the biggest pluses of working with Jim were not apparent from the start and went beyond those initial criteria. Our work with him became iterative mid-project as we opened walls and made discoveries impacting large areas. Throughout the entire process Jim remained incredibly adaptive and creative with clever cost-saving alternatives to achieve the same design principles. Jim and his team gave us context and provided thoughtful considerations on how different designs would impact usability, appearance, and marketability in the near term, and just as important, they would propose infrastructure choices that would allow flexible development in future years. These are things you just don't know you need from an architect until you are there.\r \r Also a positive...on the relationship side, we came to learn that Jim's experience led to an easy rapport with his peers--whether a general contractor, their subs, an interior designer, design review board staff, or inspectors. The project benefitted greatly from his disposition in working easily with others, clipping along a bit faster that it might have otherwise. Within his own company his team and staff were nothing short of timely, upbeat and professional. \r \r The bottom line is that we felt we were lucky to have such a creative, smart, progressive and capable architectural team on our side during the long project. If/when I have a future project I would absolutely return to Jim.\r more

\r In 1994 we hired Jim to add onto & remodel our Craftsman Bungalow in South Pasadena. Jim was always very responsive & easy to work with. He is very detail oriented &\r very particular about matching the old with the new in a seamless fashion. Our home was built in 1906 & no one could tell where the old work ended and the new work began. About ten years later we decided to add a second story and of course called Jim. Once again Jims attention to detail came through, our home looks like an original 2 story craftsman home built in 1906. \r Jim was involved with not only the design, drawing, and permitting of our projects, but also helped us with getting the contractors bids and assisted in watching over the construction to ensure that things got done right.\r We have recommended Jim to all of our friends & will gladly work with him again the next time we do any architectural work.\r more