Architects & Building Designers in Ridgewood.

“Xiomara and the team at Paredes-Grube were a pleasure to work with during the renovation of our turn-of-the-century home. We were specifically looking for an architect with experience preserving the charm of older houses, and several neighborhood recommendations pointed us directly to Xiomara. We felt we were in good hands from the initial consultation through the design process and the completion of the construction documents. Their recommended network of contractors and kitchen designers was excellent; the professionals we chose did such a beautiful job that we could not be happier with the result. At our initial consultation, Xiomara listened closely to our vision and asked insightful questions about our lifestyle and how we planned to use the renovated spaces. We truly appreciated the thoughtfulness of her approach and her focus on functional design. We iterated on concept drawings until we were happy with the proposed layout. At each step, Xiomara explained in detail why she designed things a certain way or why certain requests were not feasible or recommended. The flow of the house now makes perfect sense; the rooms were planned to maximize every square foot, even accounting for future furniture placement during the earliest design phases. The detailed design documents followed, including all side elevations, which we refined further. Xiomara and her team were always responsive to our revisions. They were knowledgeable about projected costs and town regulations, and they were incredibly patient as we explored every possible design option. As a result, we are confident that we ended up with the best possible design for our needs. One area for improvement—which may already be addressed for more recent clients—would be the inclusion of 3D renderings. While we worked primarily from 2D elevations, we believe 3D models would have helped us grasp the geometry of the additions more easily and allowed for even faster decision-making. Finally, the construction documents were completed without any major issues. When a few revisions became necessary due to unforeseen structural conditions and town official requests, the team delivered them with a very quick turnaround.”

“We could not have been happier with John's work for our apartment combination project. Throughout the whole process, he was reliable, quick to respond, and stayed on top of all of the moving parts, including dealing with our co-op's extensive requirements. I've already recommended him to a coworker who is planning her own renovation, and wouldn't hesitate to use him again if we ever need an architect in the future.”

“I recently completed a full gut renovation of my Manhattan apartment, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results delivered by Essential Design & Build. From the initial design phase through final execution, the team demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, creativity, and attention to detail. They took the time to truly understand my vision and brought it to life with thoughtful design choices that enhanced both the functionality and aesthetic of the space. The project was completed on schedule, and their communication throughout the process was consistent, transparent, and reassuring — a rare quality in today’s renovation landscape. The entire team was diligent, respectful of my home, and clearly committed to delivering a high-quality result. They handled every aspect of the renovation with care and precision, and their craftsmanship speaks for itself. I would recommend Essential Design & Build without hesitation to anyone looking for a top-tier renovation partner. They made what could have been a stressful process feel seamless and rewarding from start to finish.”