Skip to content

tahoe-Tyrolian-Village-Ski-Chalet

“Jim is a brilliant architect and a pleasure to work with. He has the wonderful ability to take your ideas and create outstanding home designs. His knowledge of the complex permit and approval requirements for Lake Tahoe take the pain out of the application process too.”

“I would highly recommend him.”

– Gary & Therese Gardner

“We met Jim in 2014 during my interviews with architects for rebuilding a new home in the  Rubicon area. Jim sounded the most logical, knowledgeable and cost conscious from all the architects  interviewed and in came on board in November 2014.  We are in the final stages of permitting and Jim has been the rod in the middle of everything to get all the permits in place to start construction phase soon. Jim is very experienced architect, with good knowledge of the area  and a good listener.  Whenever we had an ideas he would take it and build on it for better results.”
“We are very happy  to have him in the team and he has been the key for everything.”

-Sebon and Varti Vartanian

“Jim worked closely with us to build our dream expansion. He is well versed in zoning and permitting issues, getting both completed expeditiously. He is knowledgeable in local building codes, shepherding plans thru the approval process.”
“Overall Jim was effective and highly responsive.”

-Sandra Cath and David Contis

Ski-On/Ski-Out Custom Family Lodge in Northstar by Borelli Architecture
“We used Jim Borelli to design a home for us in Tahoe at Northstar.  We chose him over two other architects and are really glad we did!   He is smart, creative, tech savvy, and really easy to work with.  He is always prepared and on time to meetings.  One of the things we appreciated the most about Jim is the fact that he is willing to listen to ideas we have and change the design if something isn’t working for us.  He also is well regarded and well respected by our contractor and foreman which helps make the job run more smoothly.”
“We would definitely use him again should the opportunity present itself.”

-Andrew and Denise Armanino

“We bought our 1972 fixer in the fall of 2011 realizing that it would need an extensive interior remodel, general upgrade and garage addition. A year later we contacted Jim.  He was very patient and agreeable working with us over the course of several years accommodating our time schedule.   His knowledge of the local building regulations was clearly evident as TRPA approval and the permitting process proceeded swiftly and without difficulty and he directed us to an excellent general contractor.  He solved every problem and was able to incorporate all of our ideas into a very handsome and functional design.”
“We were very pleased with the result and process.”

-Jack and Bobbe Stehr

“We were looking for an Architect that could bring the “Tahoesque” cabin vision we were trying to achieve with a 39 year old home we purchased in South Lake Tahoe. In addition, we wanted to give our second home some much needed exterior Tahoe charm, as well as, making this our “go to” retreat with giving it a 2nd Master Bedroom and Master Bath on the main floor and adding a mudroom and a garage. What was also extremely important to us was to find an Architect who was responsive and who understood the TRPA (Tahoe Regional Planning Association) requirements. Well, Jim Borelli was our guy to do just that!”
“Jim listened and was instrumental in bringing our vision and dream of our Tahoe retreat get-a-away to life!”

-Bill and Gaylene Hall

615 Woodridge Before and After
“Jim has been a partner from the beginning in our home renovation/redesign process. Before we even purchased our home, Jim advised us as to the feasibility of implementing our design ideas. He assured us that the very dated, dark mountain cabin we were considering could be turned into the wonderfully modern that fitted our design aesthetic and Lake Tahoe lifestyle. And then his design made it a reality! His plan opened up what had previously been a claustrophobic low ceiling home from the 60’s to a contemporary design with open views out to Lake Tahoe – a view we weren’t even completely aware we had! Throughout the construction process Jim was there to make certain that the house that was being built was consistent with the design. When the inevitable construction realities required real time design changes, Jim was there to advise on what work arounds were feasible and what design alternatives could be implemented.”
“The result is a house that we absolutely love and are proud and excited to come home to every day.”

– Jeff and Peggy Poindexter

“We used Jim Borelli for a kitchen and partial bath remodel several years ago. One of the things that most impressed us with Jim was his willingness to listen to what we wanted our kitchen to be –as opposed to only using his thoughts and ideas. As we were moving here from out of state, we also really appreciated Jim’s knowledge of the local building codes and environmental restrictions in the Tahoe Basin. His ‘inside knowledge’ made a huge difference in how smoothly our project ran. Jim was always more than timely with our requests and deadlines and overall he was a pleasure to work with.”
“We look forward to using him again when we get to stage two of our update.”

– Sharon and Kevin Schrage

1-tahoe-residential-remodel-architect
“Jim transformed what we referred to as our “big red box” of a house into a beautiful mountain retreat. He worked within the footprint of the existing space with the exception of a new entryway. He maximized the space and views beyond what we had thought was possible. Jim is extremely easy to communicate with as we were 2700 miles away during most of the process. He was timely with the project and did a great job in understanding our style, construction budget and things that were important to us. Additionally, he did an excellent job in managing planning permits and other necessary paperwork with the local agencies. He was also instrumental in helping us pick a General Contractor who was a perfect match for us and our project. The final product ended up being much more than what we thought we could do within our budget. He has great vision and was able to convince us of a few things we weren’t completely sure of and now we can’t imagine it any other way.”
“Jim has a way of understanding how to maximize space, incorporate personal style and create a home that feels like it belongs in Tahoe.”

– Wayne and Karen Marino

“We recently bought our home in Incline Village and it was a complete fixer-upper from top to bottom which included moving the kitchen from the second floor to the third floor, building out new bedrooms and bathrooms and completely new layouts. We were in need of a reputable architect and we were referred to Jim Borelli. Right off the bat, we communicated that we need the plans within a tight time frame and Jim was able to make it work and deliver on time. In addition to delivering the plans needed to start the project on time, he was very knowledgeable and had a great input. Jim worked very closely on our behalf with our contractor, the city and structural engineers to make sure everything stayed on schedule.”
“We highly recommend Jim Borelli for your next project.”

– Yann and Veronica Phung

1-200Harbor-BA1
“A few years ago I did an extensive remodel of my house in Brockway. Before I started I interviewed several local architects. Jim won hands down! From the very beginning I could see that he had a good sense of design but was totally open to my ideas. He was very aware of keeping the project within my budget. He even had a contractor friend out to see if the project was feasible before we signed the contract. Jim helped me find a great contractor and was available for questions during the construction.”
“In the end we completely transformed my house from a 70s ugly to a charming home that I love. Nobody can believe that it the same house!”

– Josselyn Robertson

“Jack and I were hesitant about the “expense” of using an architect for a simple entry addition. However, the expertise that Jim Borelli brought to our project made that investment a wise one. Not only does our addition have structural integrity, it has style! And Jim was there with us till the day it was completed.”
“Our flat, boxy exterior is now a mountain home that makes us smile every time we open the front door.”

– Sharon Love

“In Dec. of 2011 we purchased a gutted foreclosure in Reno, Nevada that Jim had designed in 2006. We contacted Jim to find out what he knew of the history and he gladly helped us determine if there were any serious faults with the construction that was started . We contracted with Jim to redo the existing plans, field measure the structure and redesign several areas that were modified from the original. Jim’s ideas and plans turned out better than we expected and we finished the remodel in 2013. This house has met all our expectations and its design is the hit of the neighborhood, one of the best high end gated communities in Reno.”
“We love the house, the views of the city and lake , the design and enjoyed working closely with him.”

– Chuck Harder

467-Driver-Tahoe-BA“I retained Jim Borelli to design/redesign three houses in Incline Village between the years of 2002 and 2007. Mr. Borelli performed admirably in all respects. He was prompt, creative, direct and responsible in seeing each phase of development through to conclusion.”
“I would use him again and heartily recommend him for your consideration.”

– John Wingo