Eight architecture and design firms serve Normal Heights, University Heights, and Kensington in 92116 — WHIT at HOME and Ten Seventy Architecture handle residential projects from single-room redesigns to full-home renovations, while M. Swabb Interior Design Collective covers space planning and materials selection for the neighborhood's older housing stock.
1733 Madison Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
+1 443-537-3790
Verified1740 Meade Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
+1 909-844-3761
Verified4411 30th St Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92116
+1 619-800-3488
Verified4421 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92116
+1 619-692-9655
Verified4630 Ohio St, San Diego, CA 92116
+1 619-741-6706
Verified4134 Adams Ave Suite 106, San Diego, CA 92116
+1 619-450-6550
Verified4421 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92116
+1 415-818-1208
Verified4516 1/2 30th St, San Diego, CA 92116
+1 619-573-5522
VerifiedCalifornia does not require an architect for most single-family residential remodels. A licensed general contractor can handle kitchen renovations, bathroom remodels, room additions under certain size thresholds, and ADU builds without an architect on many projects. An architect or licensed designer becomes necessary when the work involves structural calculations for load-bearing wall removals, multi-story additions, or projects that exceed two stories.
WHIT at HOME and Ten Seventy Architecture both serve the 92116 area and take on residential projects ranging from single-room redesigns to full-home renovations. M. Swabb Interior Design Collective focuses on the interior design side — space planning, materials selection, and furnishing — rather than structural architecture.
Residential architects in San Diego typically charge either a percentage of total construction cost (8 to 15 percent) or an hourly rate ($100 to $250 per hour). For a $50,000 kitchen remodel, architectural fees at 10 percent add $5,000. For a $200,000 addition or ADU build, fees at 12 percent add $24,000.
The investment often pays for itself in smoother permit approvals, fewer change orders during construction, and layouts that maximize the irregular lot shapes common in Normal Heights and Kensington. The eight firms listed in the architecture and design subcategory for 92116 range from full-service architecture practices to interior design studios.
An architect handles the structural and spatial design of a building — floor plans, load calculations, building code compliance, and construction documents that contractors bid from. An interior designer focuses on the look and function of the spaces inside — materials, finishes, furniture, lighting, and layout within an existing structure.
In Normal Heights, firms like Ten Seventy Architecture handle the structural side, while M. Swabb Interior Design Collective and WHIT at HOME lean toward interior design and styling. Some firms do both. For projects that involve moving walls, adding square footage, or building new structures, an architect is the starting point. For cosmetic renovations where the bones stay the same, an interior designer may be all that's needed.
Not always, but it helps. California's ADU laws have streamlined the approval process, and many prefab and design-build companies offer turnkey ADU packages that include architectural plans as part of the build cost. For custom-designed ADUs on the older, irregularly shaped lots common in Normal Heights, hiring an architect to maximize the layout within setback and height restrictions often produces a better result than a stock plan.
The City of San Diego processes ADU permits through the Development Services Department, and most projects are approved within four to six weeks for detached units under 1,200 square feet. For architecture firms in the 92116 area, the full architecture and design subcategory lists eight companies. For contractors who handle ADU construction, see the general contractor listings.
San Diego Lineup is a neighborhood-first civic business directory covering 40 communities across San Diego County. From restaurants, bars, and coffee shops to salons, contractors, doctors, and local services — Normal Heights’s businesses are organized by neighborhood with verified details, ratings, and direct contact information. Explore all San Diego communities →
Get listed on San Diego Lineup — email us at [email protected] and we’ll get you added.
New photos, updated hours, or a better description — email us at [email protected] and we’ll take care of it.