REVIEWS

yARED TESFAYE

“They think outside the box, they are creative., attention to detail, return comments within few hours, they are pleasant to work with.”

March 2025

PETER HE

I hired Catarina’s firm for a boutique condo conversion project. That project is not easy. With a less than 1500 sq ft triangle shaped lot, it was a challenge to design the best possible plan to optimize for layout, sqft, market value. But we did it. The project was a success. While I was designing the condo project with Catarina, I came across a SFH opportunity for my personal home in Montgomery County. She did a great job for me there too. It was my personal home; so I was picky. The house is now built. The inspection department’s manager used this house to train a new inspector and praised the plans as a very good set of plans.

March 2024

Aaron hutMan

Catarina was fantastic. She helped design a remarkable space in a penthouse unit in an old brownstone, with multiple levels, rooftops and creative use of a non-conventional floor plan. I get complements all the time. She also helped identify and interact with contractors. Highly recommend!

October 2019

fahad bakir

Catarina Ferreira and her team were extremely efficient and finished before deadline. The innovative design is already a hit in our pre-marketing efforts. They listened to my needs, and delivered beyond my expectations. I look forward to using Archi-Textual for future projects!

May 2019

masha schildkraut

We hired Catarina and ARCHI-TEXTUAL to serve as the architect to renovate a colonial house and make it more suitable in style, look and and functionality for us. In addition to her impeccable taste, skills and thoughtful approach in architectural design and implementation, we got a wonderful resource for much more. Architectural Design Catarina carefully listened to us and observed our lifestyle and translated that into a great and functional design of space. We fully renovated the kitchen and family space, master bedroom and bathroom, and created storage and closet spaces. Every builder that we interviewed and consulted throughout the process commented on how detail oriented and precise Catarina's plans were! Which not only helped to make the building process smooth, but it also saved time and money. Catarina provided a virtual 3D model of our design that we could access and add to, together with the builder. This way, we could always envision what our future home would look like and make selections of furniture, fixtures, materials (tiles etc) that would be plug into the model! Project Management and Fiscal Control of the Builder/Contractor Fees As I mentioned by hiring Catarina, we got more that a tasteful design. Catarina was a great source of referrals for vendors and contractors. Most importantly, she reviewed all proposals and change orders that came from the contractor. And those were often overpriced through mark ups etc, which we would not have known had it not been for Catarina's watchful eyes. An experienced architect who deals with various processes and knows competitive pricing as well as has an understanding of how much projects and mark up for materials should be not to go into the outrageous territory, Catarina often called to these errors to our attention. Which allowed us to negotiate prices and make sure that we were not being overcharged, by mistake or intentionally, by vendors and contractors who provided the services. Referrals and Product Sourcing Catarina saved us time and money by making the selection process of materials, fixtures and vendors easy. She offered us lists of products that would complement her design as well as negotiated on our behalf some orders. Our stylish Italian kitchen is one example of Catarina's resourcefulness. Having too many choices online, in addition to various show rooms available throughout the Greater Washington area, can be very overwhelming. Especially, when one has to make selections of multiples fixtures and products and under a tight deadline from the builder. Having a resource like Catarina was a tremendous help. We still refer to Catarina with various design related questions as I have not been able to find anyone more knowledgeable when it comes to design and product selection in various areas, from kitchen equipment to landscape choices.

September 2018

linda mullenix

We started working with Architextual officially in January 2015. But let me go even further back. Prior to signing any contracts, my husband and I actually reached out to Catarina (the principal architect) about a year prior because we were initially thinking of buying a new, modern home and then renovating it. Neither one of us had ever gone through a major renovation/construction before so we reached out for pointers. She met with us on the weekend and gave us pointers: who to reach out to, what's feasible with what types of budgets, what types of home to look for, etc. We watched for market after that and, not finding what we were looking for, decided to renovate our current home to make it our modern, dream home. We reached back out to Catarina, along with a few other architects, to see what kinds of ideas they had with our home. We had a home built in the 1950s (about 2100-2200 sq ft) and Catarina was the only one that took an innovative approach with the limited space we had to meet our needs (as opposed to just building another story, or adding a massive addition, etc.). She also seemed very receptive to our ideas and thoughts; so we decided to sign a contract with her. We essentially gutted our entire living space, removed walls, moved plumbing, took over our old garage as living space, built a new garage, moved the kitchen, added/moved bathrooms, and reconfigured our master bath (to include going into our old kitchen space). Basically, we moved/shifted everything on the main floor, with the exception of the three bedrooms. We were in design phase from January until about mid May 2015 (and subsequently started demo and construction beginning of June 2015). Catarina and my husband and I had bi-weekly design meetings with her, where she would bring us her drawings and plans and we'd systematically go through rooms and tweak and modify as needed. LIke I said, she had an innovative approach to the use of space so it was a great starting point and she took into account our suggestions and likes/dislikes and best tried to accommodate us. You can really tell that she really loves what she does and really wants to make it work for the clients, and not just "put her stamp" on everything. Architextual also uses great modeling software where we have beautiful 3-D renderings that could really show us what it will look like in the end! Also, it allows us to make minor tweaks and changes effectively without taking a lot of time. Once we entered into construction phase, Catarina, the GC and us would meet just about every other week, depending on the work that was being done to go through construction items. She was great, in the sense that she could immediately see things that were done not-to-specification, design/construction issues, etc. Overall, if I had to do it again, I would definitely hire Catarina and Architextual again! She's very easy to work with, loves what she does, and we have a beautiful end product that we love.

September 2016

john tye

I have nothing but the highest praise for Catarina Ferreira and Architextual - I fully recommend her architecture style, her professionalism, and the value I got. When the roof of my house started leaking in 2013 I hired Architextual for an extensive project to tear off the existing roof deck of my DC home, replace my roof, and design and build a new roof deck. It was a major project that ultimately cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in all, including payments to my general contractor (I hired Impact Construction). Catarina Ferreira, who owns and runs Architextual, was excellent from the beginning. I’ll start off with her design sense -- Catarina simply has excellent vision and taste. She has an intuitive feel for what makes a nice space, how people use space, what lighting should feel like. She has a very contemporary, spacious style. Catarina created gorgeous plans for my roof deck (along with some smaller projects including a new bathroom and bedroom), and delivered everything on time and within budget. She helped me to navigate the historical review process, and the zoning rules. She helped me to find a fantastic GC (Impact Construction), which was expensive but performed excellent work. Catarina was a joy to work with -- always professional and easy to communicate with -- and I am extremely happy with the final results in my house. Feel free to contact me if you’d like to learn more about my experiences with Architextual.

April 2016

james little

We hired Archi-TEXTUAL to design and manage the renovation of our 1910 row house in Washington DC's Bloomingdale neighborhood. The project includes the complete demolition of all four floors to create a rentable basement unit and a separate 3-level home for us. We could not be happier with how Catarina and her associate Bryan have managed our project through the permitting phase. On the administrative side, Catarina effectively and regularly communicates key project developments and challenges as they arise. An on-line portal allows us to keep track of the project's progress with easy access to current drawings and timelines. Through effective administration and communication, Catarina and Bryan brought our project to the permitting stage on time and on budget. Catarina and Bryan demonstrate an exceptional ability to strike the appropriate balance between respecting our design preferences and pushing us to reach the full potential of our home. This is particularly evident in the final design of the first floor and master suite. In both of these areas, Catarina took our basic preferences and created a space that far exceeded our expectations...or even what we could have envisioned. Moreover, when we express concerns or reservations about particular design elements, Catarina and Bryan work with us to find reasonable solutions. Overall, we feel we are all working on a common team with a shared vision for success. As you can imagine, this came as a great relief, and makes working with Catarina and Bryan a treat. Finally, Catarina remains mindful of budgetary constraints and offers great recommendations to manage project costs, while maintaining architectural integrity. For example, Catarina and Bryan continued problem solving with the structural engineer, until they could develop a design that maintained an open floor plan, without adding costly steel beams or inconveniently located pillars. This persistence resulted in a superior final plan. Other examples abound: working with vendors to lower shipping costs, negotiating with other service providers for better pricing, exploring design alternatives to lower material costs, and so on. These results achieved without sacrificing design integrity meeting our needs and desires. Overall, the experience so far has been wonderful. We are about to enter construction phase and will update with additional reviews upon completion.

December 2015

nicole mitchell

“Catarina is a talented professional who will work very hard on your behalf. Her designs are modern and innovative, and she excels at maximizing the efficiency of small spaces. She partners with you on your project, and has been a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend her firm - especially for those who need an experienced guide to navigate you through the rules and regulations of taking on a major project in the District of Columbia.”

September 2015

ANGELICA PINEDO

“To decide whether or not to buy and renovate a house was a big step for us. So we did everything we could to make a well informed decision. We started by inviting 10 architects for an introductory interview, based on their portfolio (e.g., Houzz, websites). All competed in terms of quality and reputation, but ultimately, it boiled down to their personality. Renovating a house is a wonderful, but taxing project. And being able to enjoy the process as much as the finished product was very important for us. We were lucky to find in archi-TEXTUAL the perfect match with our personality, our goals, the concept of the project, and our budget. From being invaluable problem solvers to good listeners, they impressed us at every step of the way with their professionalism, business acumen, design strategy, and ability to adapt their stylistic approach to our taste. They are also very resourceful and always found ways of maximizing our budget; not by cutting corners or compromising in the design, but by being creative. Catarina Ferreira, archi-TEXTUAL principal, served us as advisor, coordinator, and technical manager, as well as creative artist. She helped us design our house and administer our construction contract. The end result was a project that will be completed on schedule, within budget, and to a high standard of quality. As clients, we could not have asked for more. If you are considering hiring archi-TEXTUAL, do it. We know it was the best decision we ever made.”

September 2015

Maria & Tudor Francu

“We bought an old, dilapidated 4,000 sq. ft. house with the intention to deconstruct a big part of the house, re-design and re-build it. We knew that the architect will have a paramount role in translating our vision of the house into reality. After exploring dozens of architects we selected and we interviewed 6, Catarina was one of them. From the very beginning she was able to see how the challenges of the house can be transformed in amazing opportunities. Through the schematic design and design development phases she made sure that her design satisfies our taste, needs, lifestyle and budget. She designed a space that is unique, beautiful and functional, and maximizes the full potential of the old house. She also provided construction administration services and kept the builder accountable for executing the design; when there was a building error she corrected it immediately. Deconstructing the old structure became a daunting task that uncovered many unforeseen issues. Catarina found budget friendly solution for all these challenges and she was able to transcend the hidden potential of the old contemporary house into a new contemporary splendor. The new house is way above and beyond our expectations. We highly recommend Catarina, her dedication to her art and craft, her professionalism, her promptness, attention to detail, positive and can do attitude, made our project journey a very pleasurable experience. If we think about one single word to define Catarina, that would be DEDICATION.”

September 2015

BEVERLY ZOOK

“Catarina and Bryan have been great to work with. We are in mid project with ARCHI-TEXTUAL. Permit drawings are in the final stage. They are been provided creative ideas and incorporated our thoughts into the design.”

SCOTT BRUGGEMANN

“I hired Catarina from ARCHI-TEXTUAL, PLLC to conceptualize a renovation of a Capitol Hill townhouse. Her work exceeded my expectations. The design opened up the rooms and her attention to design is evident in the finished product. Catarina developed the plans and managed the bidding process with the prime contractor. She remained focused on the project and ensuring contractor compliance with the design. She's very pleasant to work with and I would hire her again.”

Hired ARCHI-TEXTUAL on 2014

JESSE SMITH/ J ALLEN SMITH DESIGN/BUILD

“As a remodeling contractor we get to work on many projects with quite a few design and architect professionals in the DC Metro areas. I can honestly say that working with Catarina and her team has been a great experience time and time again. By starting out as a design/ build team from the start we are better able to steamline the process to begin construction faster and offer better value to our clients! They always come up with fresh design ideas by thinking outside the box and make it exciting to do what we do.... remodel and improve our clients homes. I would highly recommend ARCHI-TEXTUAL to anyone wanting a professional with an eye for detail to work on their next renovation project. “

Jesse Smith

Gabe and Terri Parrilla

"My wife and I hired Catarina after narrowing down the search for an architectural firm in the Washington DC to 3 firms, using the AIA DC chapter website. We immediately had a good impression and connection with Catarina during the interview process. Our project included an overhaul renovation of a two story house and basement, built in the early 1900's. As you can imagine the magnitude of the scope for this project is vast but Catarina's professionalism, expertise, and creativity made the design a very pleasant, entertaining, and smooth process. More importantly, she really listened to our ideas and preferences and suggested effective ways to incorporate them into the design. We could not be happier with the end result and highly recommend Catarina to anyone needing architectural services.

Hired ARCHI-TEXTUAL on 2013

Peggy Joyner

We started working with the company in September 2013. We are still working with them to complete architectural drawings. They are developing full architectural drawings for a complete renovation of our 1912 home, to include an addition over a garage. The company is doing a fantastic job of bringing new elements to the home, while keeping the integrity of the home in place. The experience is going extremely well! The owner is very receptive to our ideas and is bringing great ideas to the table.

Although archi-TEXTUAL, PLLC was the 2nd company we interviewed for the project and we were sure it was the one to select, we interviewed at least 6 other companies before selecting them. The owner, Catarina Ferreira, is a wonderful, knowledgeable and very professional person to work with. She gets you excited about a renovation that could be very exhausting.

Hired ARCHI-TEXTUAL in 2013

Dale Colbert

Renovations of any kind can be daunting. However, Catarina has been able to consistently ease the pain by being on the same page in terms of our modern style and budget. Time and again, Catarina has been able to think outside of the box when we face either structural or budgetary constraints. She is able to maintain the look we are wanting to achieve, work with the contractor, and identify reasonably priced yet stylish options. She is responsive and patient. Her rates were reasonable based on an overall construction cost of $200k project. I would use her in the future as well as recommend her to anyone. She makes a potentially painful process very pleasant.

Hired ARCHI-TEXTUAL in 2013

Robert Cabeca

"Catarina meets all the qualifications. She is a real pleasure to work with and develops practical, simple, effective solutions quickly. She has helped me see my project concepts in new perspective giving me clear information to make the best choices."

Year first hired: 2012 (hired more than once)
Top Qualities: Expert, High Integrity, Creative

Brian B.

“Catarina is a wonderful architect and is a real pleasure to work with. She is courteous, professional, communicative and creative. She transformed my vague ideas and notions into a beautiful reality. I can't recommend her highly enough.” May 31, 2012

Hired Catarina as an Architect in 2012

Aidan Hampson

“Catarina is an excellent architect for anyone who wants a professional and innovative job. Catarina is very hard working and involved and I cannot recommend her highly enough. My project is still in progress but is resulting in a property that all the neighbors feel the need to stop and compliment. That even while they say, "there is too much development in the neighborhood, but we love your property". Catarina's style takes a lot from both her European roots and her training in New York. It is not typical Metro colonial McMansion!” May 31, 2012

Hired Catarina as an Architect in 2011

Nancy Glenn Hansen

“I was impressed by Catarina's strong, creative presentation for the design of a complex downtown project. Her ability to convey ideas and field questions was superb. She is an outstanding architect in Washington, DC. I would be confident in hiring for residential or commercial projects of various sizes.” 2012

Irfana Ali

“Catarina has a good concepts and creative ideas. She is very detail oriented, easy to work with, very knowledgeable about her work, has the ability to resource also. Would HIGHLY recommend her to others looking for creative/innovative design.” August 1, 2011

 Hired Catarina as an Architect in 2011