Howells Architecture + Design

We feel so fortunate to have engaged with Michael Howells for a whole-house remodel in Portland, Oregon. The beginning of the project took a few months as Michael and his team crafted fully realized architectural plans. This investment of time ended up paying off handsomely as the project proceeded very smoothly as a result. The house turned out beautifully – Michael’s ability to see the whole of the project while also attending to the details is remarkable. He was a true project partner in every sense. Michael helped to manage the general contractor ensuring that the construction execution was top-notch. He anticipated scheduling pinch-points during the global logistics crisis and helped us to press ahead on material orders which kept the project on-schedule. His detailed building plans were noted by installers to be “the best I’ve ever seen”. This level of detail and attention kept the project running smoothly. Michael was generous with his time and fully committed to our project. Further, he helped us to select furnishings for our home and helped with the hanging of artwork which created a beautiful, cohesive home Michael found some hidden treasures amongst our artwork, placing them in pride-of-place positions which resulted in beautiful aesthetics that hold deep meaning for us. Michael encourages his clients to bring their own personalities to the project and made room for our sentimental objects in a way that a rigid design afficionado would not. We are so happy with our beautifully reimagined, rebuilt home and treasured the experience of working with Michael every step of the way.

I asked Michael to help with my whole house remodel because I wanted to get past trendy to timeless. Michael’s rigorous understanding of architecture broadly and Portland in particular led to a home that supports today’s lifestyle and is completely authentic - it looks and functions as if it is the way it should have always been, even though we made significant design decisions. What I didn’t appreciate until later is the extent to which Michael acts as his client’s fiduciary in every aspect of the project, advocating for quality, value, timeliness and style. I couldn’t be happier.

We hired Howells Architecture for a complete gut and redesign of the kitchen, bath and laundry room of our 1920’s era house. Michael provided an innovative and sensitive design that met our needs. He worked with the contractors to ensure that everything was professionally done and true to his vision for our space. Everything stayed on schedule and within the budget in spite of the pandemic. Thanks Michael!

Michael Howells took our vague dream and built it into reality. Our remodel project is amazing. The floor plan includes a grand living space with a spectacular view, but Michael didn't let that view define success. The whole layout of the house feels extremely intentional. It's homey but spacious. There's room for everything we need to do. We can be close as a family but still find a quiet space when needed. The attention to detail is fantastic. Michael's commitment not only during design but throughout the entire build process was massive. I still sometimes expect to see him pop out from a closet even though we've been living here for a week. I can't thank Michael enough for helping us achieve this dream home. You'd be lucky to work with him.

I've had the pleasure of working on over a dozen projects with Michael Howells throughout the past 7 years, providing furniture & fixture solutions for a variety of projects. While Michael thoughtfully selects & sources products that are the best fit for the client's needs, a common thread across all projects is his attention for fit/finish detail, mastery of color, authenticity & integrity of products with an approach that transcends reductive labels like "modern", "contemporary" or "traditional". He works expertly & fluidly within any space & will bring a high caliber of quality at any scope or style -- big or small, more traditional to modern. No detail is left unconsidered but are also not overstated or made overly complex unnecessarily. What is left is a space that reflects the lifestyle of the client -- articulated & polished visually by Michael.

I've had the pleasure of working on over a dozen projects with Michael Howells throughout the past 7 years, providing furniture & fixture solutions for a variety of projects. While Michael thoughtfully selects & sources products that are the best fit for the client's needs, a common thread across all projects is his attention for fit/finish detail, mastery of color, authenticity & integrity of products with an approach that transcends reductive labels like "modern", "contemporary" or "traditional". He works expertly & fluidly within any space & will bring a high caliber of quality at any scope or style -- big or small, more traditional to modern. No detail is left unconsidered but are also not overstated or made overly complex unnecessarily. What is left is a space that reflects the lifestyle of the client -- articulated & polished visually by Michael.

We are so happy with our new space. Our kitchen and living room have been completely transformed. It was a genuine pleasure and honor to work with Michael. We really felt that we were working with an artist and an architect throughout the entire process. He possesses a unique combination of vision, creativity and professionalism as well as an amazing ability to listen and get a feel for our ideas. His presence throughout the process, his ability to advocate for the homeowner, and his obsessive attention to detail resulted in the finished product being of the utmost quality. ”

Working with Michael Howells on my house renovation project was an incredibly positive and inspiring experience. I benefited deeply from his ethical approach and design expertise. Michael held my hand throughout the entire process. He carefully explained my options and shared some choices former clients had made. Michael helped me select an awesome general contractor (ReCraft Home Remodeling) and communicated regularly with them throughout the project to ensure our collective vision was realized. My friends were amazed at how relaxed I was during this renovation. I cannot emphasize enough how much I relied upon Michael to help me make design choices that would have otherwise stressed me out. A year after the project has ended, I now know that my trust was well-placed. All my neighbors and even strangers have commented on my "new" house with all new windows, doors, light fixtures, paint, and porch boards. I feel compelled to share that shortly after my renovation, I received a significant promotion at work and entered a serious romantic relationship. Although I cannot fully credit Michael for these other life changes, it easy for me to see that investing time and money in making my house better made my life better, too. (Of course, past performances are necessarily not indicative of future results. You'll have to see for yourself.) Michael Howells is a passionate advocate for his clients with impeccable taste. I enthusiastically recommend him to anyone looking for a consummate professional in this field.

We were drawn to Michael Howells’ diverse portfolio of projects, which included both modern sensibilities and kitchens that were totally in sync with the period of his clients’ homes. We wanted a kitchen that was modern, timeless, and integrated with the quirky idiosyncrasies of our 1970's ranch. In our first meeting with Michael, we shared that our kitchen felt small, dark, and isolated from the rest of the house. We told him that we wanted a cheerful space that would bring in more natural light, feel connected to the outdoors as well as the dining and living rooms, yet respect and maintain a 1970’s vibe. This was not an easy ask, but Michael delivered! The new design is absolutely beautiful! He added a huge window that faces our yard, a passthrough that allows for socializing with others in the dining and living rooms, and moved the location of the stove and refrigerator. He paid attention to every detail of the new walnut cabinets, helped us select beautiful locally handcrafted tile and light fixtures, chose bright counter tops, and recommended high quality appliances. Michael had a vision for the potential of our kitchen, ensuring that it met all of our needs, and integrated well with the adjoining spaces and the era of the house. The design ultimately transformed not just the kitchen, but also drew in adjacent rooms and addressed issues of scale and utilization. To quote our 6 year old son, “It’s like we’re in a brand new house!” We just love hanging out in our new space - it’s bright, fresh, and modern. We appreciate his ethic of sourcing local materials and expertise on lighting and appliance selection. We are now blessed with a kitchen that is both stunning and functional. We can’t believe how much of a difference it has made to how and where we spend our time together. We are so incredibly happy with our kitchen and would highly recommend Michael as a talented architect.

I am a project manager with Hamish Murray Construction. I have worked with Howells Architecture on multiple projects. Michael Howells' creative and thoughtfully planned designs have led to some tastefully crafted remodels. He is client driven so his clients can rest assured that he will hold the contractor to high standards. On the other end of it, as a GC, he does have a sense of teamwork. With that said, we work well together to tackle any problems that sometimes can arise on remodels. He takes great pride on all of his projects and you can ultimately realize that his concern is that the final product is something his clients will greatly appreciate.

I was the contractor on an apartment remodel in Chicago. Michael Howells was the Architect. The thoroughness and attention to detail that he exhibited thought the entire project is something you don't experience often. It was a pleasure working with a professional who not only has a passion for architecture and knows what he is doing but is also timely and committed fully to the project.

My husband and I hired Michael Howells as our architect for our massive, year and a half-long, whole-house remodel of our 1952 mid-century modern home. He was recommended to us by our contractors Hammer and Hand. Michael has been a huge asset to the project. His design sense has been exactly what we needed in the house plans. This also carried over to his numerous suggestions of materials, fixtures, furnishings, etc. where he narrowed the myriad of options down to a handful that were a great fit for us. He made the overwhelming decision-making process a manageable one that left us with outcomes we are thrilled with. The scope of our project grew quite a bit as we learned more about the house and its potential and as we incorporated various efficiency solutions and design elements. Michael exhibited his flexibility and ability to adapt as the project evolved, while actively moving the process along through all its incarnations. Michael is easy to talk to, communicates his ideas well, listens and incorporates feedback. We believe we were able to create a better product as a result of the three of us working through options and arriving at an optimal place. Michael is the consummate professional and worked well with our contractors and the many subs involved. We always felt like he had our backs and that he had the well being of the project as his main goal. We felt well-cared for. Michael was extremely generous with his time from the design phase and throughout the remodel and punch list. He attended all of our weekly construction site meetings, participating at an appropriate level--often just listening and giving design feedback occasionally without inserting himself unnecessarily into other areas. In between site meetings he came to the house as often as he, the contractors, subs, and my husband and I needed. His architecture skills and knowledge were clearly demonstrated throughout the project. Michael is smart, interesting and easy to be with. He has a dry sense of humor with quirky sensibilities and often made us laugh. All of these aspects have made it enjoyable to work with him intensely for a year and a half--which speaks volumes in itself. We feel we have the (remodeled) house we wanted, much in part because of Michael's guidance. We highly recommend Michael for any projects.