ORR Design Office, Inc.

Orr Design group is amazing to work with. Garry Orr and his team put together such incredibly detailed plans which leave nothing to question which is important with any project. However it is extremely important with high end project like they produce

Its a pleasure to work with an honest company like ORR Design Office. Designs and quality is sharp and on point!

Gary is an amazingly creative designer and Architect. He goes above and beyond to make a project a success. His blending of cutting edge technologies and budget sensitive value engineered options makes his projects exciting and affordable. His team is organized and professional. I look forward to working with Gary and his team on future projects.

The design team at Orr Design are truly exceptional. We used them to transform the front of our home 10 years ago and the response was so overwhelmingly positive we hired them again to complete the back of our home. Their design has truly transformed our home and connected our house with our landscape to create a completely updated indoor/outdoor feeling. Again the response has been overwhelming.

New to the area, we researched architects and Gary and the team at ORR Design Office stood out for their innovative and sophisticated design work. They helped us find an empty lot in a mature neighborhood and got us pointed in the right direction. Working with Gary and his team, the design process was comprehensive; starting with the basics and then continuing to evolve to the smallest details as the project progressed. Anyone that has completed custom design understands that this could be a challenging process; Gary will work with you to make the entire process as pleasant as possible. His ideas are remarkable, memorable, and calming. He works very closely with you to make the entire project and every detail is a reflection of your wants, desires, needs, and personality. The end result is a modern house that is easy to live in, has marvelous design features, and is a total pleasure to live in- we love it. The house and landscape has a totally integrated inside/outside seamless function and is perfectly attuned to the weather/climate in here in Northern California. There were surprises (in a good way) about features in the house that I continue to learn about well after living in the house; such as when the moon is centered perfectly in our 24 foot tall front window in September and April; the amount of awe and amazement that I experience is incredible. Every square foot of the house, its interiors and landscape reflects a keen attention to detail. Gary and the ORR Design Office create striking, fresh, thoughtful, and appealing designs- they are the best designers I’ve ever met or read about.

I retained Gary Orr and the Orr Design team to design our dream backyard. We wanted a BBQ island for entertaining, a fire pit, pool, pool house, and beautiful low maintenance landscaping. Given these wanted elements, Gary Orr and his design team prepared a wonderfully creative and innovative design. It was so much more than we could have ever designed or envisioned. The design transformed our flat backyard to one with contours using soils excavated for construction of the pool. This also resulted in creation of a cozy, forested siting area around a fire pit. Creative patterns and colors were used to create concrete hardscape connecting all the backyard elements. Our 400 square-foot pool house was designed with a private, outdoor shower, which we love! All this creativity was accented with beautiful low-maintenance landscaping and low-voltage lighting. Attention to every detail was incorporated into the many plan sheets, which provided absolutely everything needed for reviewing and comparing contractor bids. During the construction, Gary Orr and his staff provided timely assistance whenever requested to ensure the various contractors adhered to the design details. I highly recommend Gary and the Orr Design team.

We have collaborated on many projects with Orr Design over the years. Their innovative approach to design and attention to detail are impeccable! Jim Wood, President R&J Construction, Inc.

Our special home project in Davis, CA, designed by the ORR Design Office. We interviewed sereral architects and gary stood out for high quality design work and his passion. Our experience through the project was no different. Our family is very busy and Gary accomodated us and created a project that we use everyday. There is no question that ORR Design's work far exceeded anything we expected and as a result- we love it. I would highly recommend that anyone looking for detail, originality and most of all, creative vision to consider this company.

I am in real estate and have the ability to meet and interview designers and architects regularly. Gary's creative mind is unsurpassed and he doesn't settle and is determined to provide outstanding results! His vision keeps everyone on track at all times and he works well in challenging situations. Our beautiful custom home in the East Bay was creatively designed top to bottom -every detail including the lighting, landscaping, swimming pool and even the flower pots was planned. The way that it connects the inside with the outside and to the rear guest house was stunning. It became a gathering place that I really believe changed our lives with new and old friends and family. Our daughter's friends always seemed to want be there- which I really loved. People who visited were surprised by the house because so many of the average homes in the area all seem to look the same yet Gary and his office was able to make a vision that fits in to our older neighborhood but also stands out as unique, comfortable and classy in an understated elegant way that Gary convinced me that it would. He was right! The house won several awards for its design and detailed features. Unfortunately due to personal circumstances we had to sell the house but I hope to someday work with ORR Design Office again on another great project. I miss this house.

Our busy family lives in an innovative modern home that ORR Design created on the half-acre lot where our original older ranch home and pool was. we living in the neighborhood for many years and wanted to stay here and rebuild in our own style. We were able to move the original home across town to another lot for a local non-profit organization. Gary and his staff spent a lot of time getting to know us and our needs as well as making sure that our new home design would have good Feng Shui in its organization and detailing. We wanted a modern home that had a lot glass and natural light, curved lines and be easy to maintain. The design Gary created surpassed our wildest visions with countless features and details that have never been seen anywhere and included a way to increase our entertaining area during large gatherings by expanding our main house into a finished garage space by sliding a giant wall that opens up into our family room and backyard. We love the kitchen with its commercial sized countertops, a walk-in cooler and the layout and have used it to host numerous fundraisers and events wonderfully. The front of the house has a curved wall with random "see-through" port hole windows the size of bricks that the kids have fun looking through and an entire wall of glass in our living room that views a central courtyard with a white birch tree grove- it feel like we live in a forest. Our pool area and backyard has a curving ramp-bridge that connects our second floor to the yard area which is a fun conversation piece and unique part of the Gary's vision. Over the years and even today, we have received countless compliments from visitors, other architects and from people that normally don't like modern styled architectural design. Some of the house's details that Gary designed had a some inconvenient glitches (mostly due to oversight by our contractors) but considering the complexity of the house, these glitches were fixed and no longer are issues. ORR Design helped in these instances and has been available for advice at all times. Although the home went considerably over our original planned budget, we came to understand that there is a big difference between costs for traditional and modern custom home construction and that in retrospect, our end result is a good overall value and probably well below costs of what others would pay for this level high level of design and customization. Gary is very visionary and passionate about the design of our home and I've learned that this trait of Gary is rare. He taught us a lot about good design and said that once we learned the difference and nuances, that we'd never be the same again and he was absolutely right. We enjoy living in our home and love watching our family grow here and feel that living here has touched our lives dramatically.

I live in an older mid-century modern home on a very steep slope that's hidden in the woods here in Ross, Ca. An impossible site and house to renovate and transform. However, I hired ORR Design Office and Gary Orr to help me with a plan that could be absolutely transformative. They developed several schemes that worked including an underground garage and that had a roof-patio that would have been fantastic. The City said NO, so Gary and the team at ORR started over and came up with a series of terraces, patios, stairs that all lead to a newly redesigned entry and courtyard. The result is different but equally functional and exciting. They designed the house with new large windows to let in the sun helping to warm my interiors. The Town of Ross approved the new plan and my next step is to begin building it. Not an inexpensive project, but the result with look like a new ultra-custom modern home that's perfectly nestled into the hill. The terraced modern landscaping design feels totally connected to the house and not some gardener's idea of a frilly flower basket or fancy estate. I feel that Gary is so effortlessly talented and that his vision is so complete and detailed that my project couldn't be in more experienced hands. I can not wait to experience the results! .

Just had a chance to see Orr Design's Davis indoor/outdoor project! True to form--they have thought of everything. From the moment you walk to the front door to the newly transformed outdoor living space--every detail has been thought of; and you are taken on a journey that is both captivating and thoughtful. If you are looking for innovative design that supersedes your expectations, Orr Design is a firm that can execute more than what you expect!

Gary is true visionary in all his design work. He has a thorough knowledge of contemporary building materials and state of the art products. His service ethic is top notch. He has been involved in three projects for me and has always been immediately available for consultation. Gary has cross skills that range from architecture and landscape to interiors that can't be found in one person.

We interviewed a few architects who came up with the same uniform approach of building a big 'blah' custom house on our hilly, nontraditional plot, I asked Gary to visit - primarily to prove to my husband that we 'really couldn't afford him'. However Gary exuded so much enthusiasm and excitement and confirmed our feelings that our humble plot with long lost views of Mount Diablo, had huge potential. We were sold and the end result truly surpassed our dreams. Gary is very passionate about design and architecture and truly wants each house to have its own unique design and individuality that suits the owner, their lifestyle and their surroundings. He spent a lot of time getting to know us and encouraged boundaries to be pushed and explored, but respected our choices. The best part is, once the overall design theme is agreed, Gary pulls together and recommends a cohesive look inside and outside, even down to the smallest detail of which handles work with which drawers. As we had a hillside plot and the design included an underground garage, we had a lot of grading and engineering involved and some issues arose that had not been foreseen at budgeting/planning stage. These issues, amongst others did take us over our budget. This should be a consideration for anyone who wishes to rebuild, it will cost more and it will take longer to build, so be prepared, whoever you choose, for these eventualities. Gary designed a beautiful contemporary house that blended in with the mature neighborhood perfectly. We constantly get compliments, whether it is from neighbors walking by or visitors from overseas. It is beautiful from every angle inside and out, and the interior/exterior hard and soft scape blend together seamlessly.

ORR Design's new projects have a special sensitivity in their relationship of the design to the site and/or to the existing structure, in the case of remodelings. Gary and his talented staff combines a creativity of design with a good functional program that not only solves problems, but gives a flair to the final result. The magazine as well as several of our special publications have regularly published his work.

Gary Orr originally designed my home for the previous owners. It is a beautifully crafted Tuscan-styled home. Since we bought it we decided to add a few of our own touches. The home was too perfect, so we asked Gary to design our additions as if the home was originally meant to be that way. He created a perfect ourdoor cabana, complete with skylights, ceiling fans, and state-of-the-art heaters. It is as if we added 800 sq ft. to the home and you would never know it wasn't always there. He also added an extraordinarily original skylight to our kitchen to bring natural light into the space. And, as you might expect, it is beautiful. Gary works closely with the contractor to ensure his (and our) vision is properly executed. And, he listens well to understand what you desire. I have been in real estate finance for over 30 years. Gary's work is some of the best I have ever seen. I am convinced our property value has increased meaningfully as a result of his work. I recommend him most highly.

"Gary and his team are the best at architectural design office I have worked with in my 20 plus years as a structural engineering consultant. Gary skillfully blends contemporary and traditional styles into a seamless mosaic creating a pleasing environment that perfectly matches the client’s vision. As in an orchestra, Gary conducts and oversees the placement of every architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical component leaving nothing to chance. Everything is examined to make sure each element fits properly, removing any guess work by the Contractor. He is a friend, colleague and an amazing architectural designer. Without question, I highly recommend Gary Orr and his design team to anyone seeking precision quality work and exemplary service."

Gary has a real eye for the whole project. Nothing is foreign to the theme, yet each space has a distinctive feeling and purpose. Gary's nuanced use of materials and lighting is remarkable. I have hired him for two homes and would ask for his services again. I feel that he understands the customer and communicates very well. My favorite room in my last home was the great room. It flowed from outside to inside and out again. I still miss that room.

Gary is a creative talent. His ideas will stretch your own. Gary is passionate about his work, and it shows in his detailed plans. Gary will get you to think outside of the box, but you will need to check that your budget stays within the box!

My name is Michael Fields ( owner/ partner of Allied Construction & Site Development). I recently had the pleasure of working with Gary Orr and Orr design on an extensive remodel/ addition. I can say without reservation, that Gary's; vision, design flare, space usage, and attention to detail are second to none. I highly recommend Gary and his design team for any project a prospective customer may be considering. I also look forward to working with Orr design again.

The ORR Design Office staff was great to work with. It was mind-boggling how much time and energy they put into our house, and they made it extremely easy for us. They designed everything in this house, from the cabinets to the tub spouts; to the concrete counter tops and fire places and our swimming pool. Practically nothing in our house was standard, or out of the store but it all made sense. They spoke to the contractors on a daily basis and spent several hours on the site, with a careful designer’s eye, every two or three weeks. They worked very well with the contractors, but were very particular about everything being built exactly to their plans and not some kind of short cut the contractor might have thought was better. If something wasn’t built right, they were adamant that it be torn out and redone to their high standard of quality. In my experience, the most important single aspect of building a house was finding the right designs, and that if you had to spend a little more time and money there, that it would be the best time and money spent over the course of the entire project. We never felt like we weren’t getting our money’s worth- it was actually quite the opposite. Our experience with ORR Design and the result of living in this new house exceed our expectations.

Gary is an experienced professional totally dedicated to his work and performing creatively on each and every project. Excellent client interface and follow-up are one of Gary's strengths. Few in his profession have Gary's skills across such a wide spectrum of disciplines. Gary is a visionary.

Orr Design created a home that is perfectly designed for the site and understands our lifestyle and requirements. From beginning to end Gary was involved in every aspect of the project including plans, landscaping, interior design and working with contractors. The design is purposeful and reflects the unique vision for a custom home and while balancing the many challenges of the property and project. Orr Design spent an unparalleled amount of energy and time on the project and was committed to it through and after completion. The new lifestyle the home provides is thrilling and the frequent complements received are still surprising. It is a real show stopper in the neighborhood.

Gary and his Orr Design Group designed extraordinary spaces both inside and outside our already lovely residence. His plans were developed after first spending many hours with my wife and me to develop an appreciation of our wishes and our tastes. Gary's exquisitely detailed plans for our house and gardens added immensely to original appeal and utility of the home. Under his constant supervision, the resulting project is an absolute delight that is thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed today.

Gary completely transformed our back yard and adjoining interior spaces. It was pricey re-model but well worth the effort. I highly recommend Orr Design for anyone who truly wants something special, tasteful and elegant.

Having seen some of ORR Design Office's work we met with Gary to talk about renovating our kitchen. (When we moved into our home 18 years ago the kitchen (circa 1950-1970) was going to be the first project. Over the years our approach ranged from re-facing the cabinets and buying new appliances to working with architects on preliminary plans. Only last year did we finally tackle it.) It was clear to us from our interactions with Gary Orr during initial conversations, site visits, ongoing conference calls and emails that an important part of his process is getting to know us - our lifestyle, how we live in and use our home and kitchen (and how we would like to) - our entire home - not just the areas he would be redesigning - and the site. In short, Gary's is a holistic approach. The kitchen renovation would not change the footprint of our home, but it was a gut renovation - down to the studs, rafters and sub floor, and included engineering to raise a severely settled corner in that area of the house. While the construction process is well defined by sequencing, building codes, standards, budget, etc., it is by nature complex and messy. The best laid plans get changed as hidden conditions are uncovered, availability of materials and components - and their specifications and prices - change, the budget changes (up and/or down), and a project moves from paper plans and renderings to physical reality. We cook and entertain a lot. Our kitchen had to be a great working kitchen; it is the focal point of our daily activities. But the project was also a part of preparing our house for sale, sooner or later. We agreed that the kitchen had to elicit "wow, I want this," when one enters it. We learned over time that Gary has a reason for every design element and detail. Our kitchen changed from having small windows to lots of glass and doors to the back yard. The kitchen design incorporated an antique china cabinet that had been in our dining room and which became a central visual element in the new kitchen, and details included sight lines from an approaching hallway and from the dining room through the kitchen to the newly designed and landscaped back patio and yard. (Gary is also a highly talented landscape architect and this was a part of the project scope. He created an outdoor room into which our new kitchen opens.) We spent a great deal of time with Gary that yielded plans that we were comfortable sticking to. Nevertheless, necessary or optional changes did arise because of conditions and because we simply changed our mind about a detail. Gary comfortably worked with us to solve problems and incorporate changes that would work with the overall plan. Gary is extremely knowledgable not only about architecture styles and history, but also about the latest materials, furniture, fixtures, techniques and technology. He is driven by doing work that speaks eloquently for itself and that yields thrilled clients. And our kitchen does elicit "Wows" when people enter it the first time. For a number of reasons we have great uncertainty in our lives. We don't know how long we are going to be in our house and enjoying the wonderful kitchen. But when we do consider living somewhere else, the thought always includes working with Gary Orr, and ORR Design Office.

Gary is probably the most talented and detail oriented professional I have ever come across in my career. He was my Manager and Design Principal at the Orr Design Office. During my time at Orr, Gary steadily grew the client base and showed extreme design prowess in multiple facets of design from Commercial to Residential to Landscape to Furniture and Fabric.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Gary Orr for over a decade. I have worked in his office on a variety of projects from innovative residential designs to regional city planning projects. Gary understands the unique position of architecture within the arts as a discipline with both transformative and visionary potential and as a practice deeply responsive to the everyday lives and needs of people. His ability to poetically integrate structure, form, and space in dramatic ways testifies to his talent and versatility. Gary’s concern for the needs of the client, his ability to think across disciplines, and his attention to thoughtful detailing in both materiality and assembly are trademarks of his office. He is in the truest sense, a great designer.

Gary Orr and Orr Design have done two major projects for me and my family. Gary's vision for what is possible and what makes esthetic sense is amazing. Interiors, Structural, exterior space, landscape hardscape...they do it all. They even designed custom furniture for our backyard remodel. If you value design and you appreciate a space that makes you feel right, Orr Design is a remarkable source. OD designed a backyard remodel at my private residence that included a complete re-grading and re-shaping of the yard. His concept of outdoor rooms was right on the mark. We spend 8 months a year cooking, lounging and swimming in the space he created for us. Based on that project Gary also did the design of commercial space for us in Danville, CA. The details of the buildings fixtures, water feature, pavers, interior space and overall appearance from the street allowed us to rent the space out quickly. They also designed the tenant improvements. Orr Design doesn't cost any more than other design options, but they certainly add more value than lesser sources. I would recommend them for residential, commercial and landscape design projects.

Bayview Builders. Inc. Oakland California awarded the contract to build a fantastic contemporary home located in Danville, California. Gary and his team of creative designers and architects designed and administered the project in a professional manner and with Bayview, insured that the project was built to only the highest standards. The completed home is a showplace of their visionary creativity. The project included the demolition of an old home and construction a new LEED certified 5600 square foot Modern Ranch house that included significant site work, construction of a guest house / cabana, extensive landscape and the construction of underground parking with a podium supporting the home The plans had over 110 pages that included specifications to the last detail including technical documentation.

We purchased a three bedroom ranch house knowing that we wanted to add on a master suite and create a library. We hired Orr Design to design and manage the construction and were very pleased with the results of the project. Gary Orr's attention to detail helped us get the construction completed at low bid contracting cost. The original garage was converted into the library and it is important to note that because the porch and roof line were extended there is no tell tale sign of a garage conversion. The actual addition included an all purpose room and a gracious bedroom and bath with a walk in shower. There is great attention to detail including picture molding and impressive coffered ceiling that carries through the design from the older part of the house. Gary , as landscape architect, designed the hardscape and plantings for our yard. He actually used granite blocks to create a unique water feature (pic). Rose B. Fair Oaks

I hired OrrDesign to design a two-story garage studio adjacent to my 1929 house. Gary Orr and his staff were very easy to communicate with and were receptive to all ideas and questions. The design exceeded my expectations, using design elements, proportions and construction techniques to make the new building perfectly compatible with the older structures. OrrDesign shepherded the design through the review and permit process, communicated clearly with contractors, resolved all questions in the building process. Gary Orr visited the site periodically to monitor progress and quality of construction. The design was innovative, yet totally in keeping with the period architecture. The attention to details was amazing and was commented on by every contractor involved in the project. Even inspectors were complimentary. I am beyond satisfied and very happy with my choice of architect.

Gary is one of the most creative design professionals that I have ever met. I have worked with various well-known and substantial architectural and design firms though out my career as an audio/visual consultant. I have worked for extremely large and very small projects throughout the world including Dubai and Gary stands out among his peers. His is a great friend and a very fun person to work with on any project. Gary never runs out of ideas, he never fails to produce a great design and he is very detailed in his plans, treatments and product choices. I highly recommend Gary."

I had the great experience of working with Gary Orr. He actually opened a door opportunity for me. His passion for excellence in design and detail was contagious. I was a proud collaborator of each design that I participated. His level of expertise is amazing