Indigo Design Group

I’ve used Indigo Design Group in a variety of roles, including design consultation; architecture, and city planning /​legistics, all for a multi-​unit renovation project for many years and am very happy. Kristin is unbelievably effective and well-​connected, smart, reliable, and easygoing. I was especially impressed by her handling of final permits and inspections. It’s hard to imagine any better service like Indigo’s.

I am have been working with Kristin Personett on my house renovation for 9 months and have found her to be top notch. In addition to being an incredibly talented architect with and amazing aesthetic (she designed Toast Wine Bar, etc.), she is always pleasant, organized, prompt (often answering my texts instantly), and good natured (even in the face of calamity). She is especially talented with dealing with the red tape and bureaucracy of the Oakland and Berkeley zoning offices. In fact I call her my «permit whisperer». In addition to all this, we had a very contentious design process with our Berkeley neighbors and Kristin was beyond helpful, professional and effective. We really couldn’t have done it without her. Not only do I recommend her to all my friends, but this is my forth renovation and I honestly think Kristin is as good as it gets.

Kristin is a principal at Indigo Design Group in Oakland. I’m an owner/​builder and have hired Kristin to work with me on two multi-​unit residential conversion projects that require substantial interior renovation and landscaping. I’ve worked with 2 other architects before (one good experience and one bad), but working with Kristin is unlike working with the others. First, I trust her taste. Second, while Kristin loves to create good design, whether it is building or landscape, she equally loves getting projects built. That’s important because she regularly works with investors like me who are concerned with how the cities of Oakland/​Berkeley/​Alameda/​San Francisco will react to our projects. Kristin works so often with the city approvals process that she has a very good sense of what can be done, how to get things done, and how long it will take to get it passed. You might love your architect/​designer, but if your project takes six months to finally pass a city approval process, when you thought you were only in it for six weeks, that can be a big problem. Hire Kristin and you’ll get plans that meet your design needs, a project that can be built, and one that will stay on track.

Indigo Design Group, out of North Oakland, was great to work with. Kristin Personett, the principal, was sometimes hard to reach via phone (I recommend email), but did a great job designing our roof deck and addition to our modern home. The whole team was really friendly and professional. Our project looks great and I would totally recommend them:
510.697−4289.

Kristin Personett was a good architect. She was sometimes hard to get a hold of, but for our small deck project, she was great at getting permits at the city. For a larger project, I’d take a look at some work samples, but if you’re doing something small, I’d recommend her.