Press

We want to thank our many homeowners, clients, builders, consultants, vendors, fabricators, interior designers, lighting designers, artisans, landscape designers, and technicians who have contributed to the success of our projects, without whom, they would not have been possible. Our sincerest gratitude also goes out to the magnificent photographers and stagers who do our work a great justice in showcasing the details and designs which we so fondly create.

Awards and Publications

Testimonials

John and his associates were so helpful in the design of changing office space to apartments. They gave us many options to choose from and did so in a very timely manner. It was a pleasure to work with them and I would refer them to anyone needing Architectural designs for their projects.

John Ortendahl

We hired Wolstenholme associates to design and renovate a warehouse loft in Philadelphia. Their work was excellent. Their design was perfect for the space. They listened to our needs and came up with an excellent plan. There kept to their timeline and were very responsive. Most important they were available for followup questions from the contractor that kept the project moving. I would recommend this firm to others interested in first class plans.

Andrew Nehrbas

After getting a couple of proposals from other architects, I decided to hire John and his team. They were very experienced and the final design was in line with my budget and expectations. (Some architects like to draw fancy things and pay no attention to what things cost, this was not the case with Wolstenholme & Associates.) I would definitely recommend John and his team and will be hiring them again on my next project!

Larry Thomson

We have worked with Wolstenholme and associates on over a dozen jobs together over the past several years. We really enjoy working with John and his team as they share our focus on bring the client's vision into reality. Unlike many of the upper echelon residential architects we have worked with, John truly listens and give the client what they want. Not what the architect "thinks they should get". John has a good team with him that enables him to produce work in a timely fashion. He also comes up with creative designs and solutions to problems that arise in the custom building process.

Worthington & Shagen Custom Builder, Inc.

After purchasing a historically significant mid-century home we contacted Wolstenholme and Associates to complete a 1200 foot addition that was to reflect the original design intent of the architect. The Residence that was executed in 1959 was only partially built, and the architects intent was to build a larger home. Wolstenholme had to design to be very respectful in homage to the homes original design but comply with today's codes and requirements plus include energy efficient features such as triple pane insulating windows, thermal breaks in all of the envelope materials and super insulations in floors walls and ceilings. John and team were a pleasure to work with, very collaborative, respectful and always had options to solutions that allowed the best solution for the budget. We are pleased with the results and would highly recommend Wolstenholme and Associates!

Eric Wolff

John & Casey were great and gave us lots of options! We love our additions - recommend!

Matt Hyams

John worked in a very creative way to include my ideas as well as his own. I have used John on a number of projects, I will use him again due to his strong listening and management skills.

Tom Frank

We were referred to John Wolstenholme by our builder to design a single family home for our growing family. We wanted someone with experience but also someone who could design with a modern touch and someone who would involve the client in the design process. John and his team were excellent to work with. They helped us bring our rough ideas into a cohesive plan and ultimately a design we absolutely love. We were faced with a challenging plot design and zoning issues but John and his associate architect Matt supported us every step of the way. We had an initial consultation meeting with John, he took thorough notes and put together a plan for what we wished to be included in our design. We then met on site with some further discussion and were given a few design options. Once we decided which option to cultivate, the process flowed smoothly. John and Matt were excellent listeners, communicate well/promptly, and can articulate your design needs into reality. I cannot say enough about what a pleasure it was to work with this firm. They are true professionals but also just all around nice people which makes the process that much better. Thank you Wolstenholme Associates!

Amish Sheth

John Wolstenholme Associates, LLC was recommended by my contractor to design and draw plans for a portico over my front entry area. Julia Compton from the Wolstenholme firm was assigned to the project. We found Julia to be warm, friendly and professional. She discussed in detail with my wife and I regarding our vision for the project and provided valuable insights as to what features and details would be appropriate for the portico design. In about 10 days Julia provided us with two design variations for us to select from. She also discussed with our contractor what materials he preferred to use on the project and integrated those into the final plan too. We were very happy working with Wolstenholme Associates and the vision and detail for the project that they provided.

George Kuleba

John Wolstenholme and his associates, specifically Casey Thompson (now Bues) and consulting engineer, Steve LaBriola, developed plans for our “adaptive re-use” of an 1820s barn in Bucks County PA into what will be our primary residence. Since it was previously inhabited only by horses and cows, this included all aspects of construction, from plumbing to electrical power, from roof to foundations. WA was responsive to all our habitability and aesthetic requests, and developed very good initial schematics, and then more detailed construction drawings. They were fast, flexible and creative. Equally important, given the many challenges of working with such a unique existing structure, they were quick to help address and solve the many issues that inevitably arise during construction. They’ve made site visits and offered continuing input, and have been an invaluable partner in this adventure! We’re more than happy to endorse both their technical work as architects, and their business practices.

Geoffrey Haines-Stiles

Deciding to work with John and Casey, the firm's interior design professional, was absolutely the best decision we made regarding our major renovation project. They led us through not only the development of the final plan and specs but, also oversaw the construction phase. They worked with us through the design process at our own pace. They were very accommodating and responsive... very knowledgeable and up-to-date on quality new materials and products available... very patient with us... very timely in their responses to our questions and concerns... very economical in their use of their time and our money.

William Hall

We had a small space and big ideas for an office space for me, a writer. John was undaunted. He listened carefully to my needs and offered a few different options. We made a selection and started working together; he was open to input all through the process. He's the consummate pro in architectural knowledge AND respectful of his client's needs and wants. The office was completed on time and on budget and everyone who sees it loves it. Most importantly, so do I! That makes John our go-to guy for any building projects we may have. Highly recommended!!

Kay Rock

When deciding to renovate our home to make existing space more practical, we enlisted the help of Wolstenholme Associates. John and Matt were fabulous throughout the process-great listeners, prompt in follow-up, full of innovative ideas, and well connected within a strong network of local builders and kitchen designers. They were also cognizant of estimated costs associated with various improvements and able to provide guidance as we were going through the design process. We have yet to complete our renovation project but John and team led the way and are continuing to stay in touch and be available to us and builders as we move through the process. We have already recommended Wolstenholme Associates and will continue to do so. They are reputable among builders, honest, fair, great communicators, and excel in their area of expertise!

Amy Hampton

I hired Wolstenholme and Associates on two projects in Doylestown Borough. Both projects were historic renovation jobs. John did a great job with layout and design. He turned the plans around in great time! He pays attention to detail and budget! John and his team were very helpful throughout the projects. I highly recommend him!

Lori Thomson

John and his team did an excellent job turning our theoretical home concept into a real life design and plan. He was easy to work with and very responsive to our comments on drafts throughout the process. The end result was a home design that we really loved. Highly recommended.

J. Feehan

John and his team designed some floor plan changes for the first floor of our home. John really took the time to understand what we were trying to accomplish and gave us some alternative ways to approach it. He also used photo simulations to show us how the end result would look. He was prompt in attending meetings, delivering drawings and responding to questions, and was always very accessible. John stayed with the project through completion of construction and provided recommendations and useful input throughout. Fees were very reasonable, especially given the quality of service. Great job all around.

K. Delplato

I had the pleasure of photographing several of John's projects. It was clear to see his incredible vision and the ability to transform any space into a work of art. From a grand reclaimed barn residence to a smaller bedroom office addition, John's design aesthetic is top notch. I look forward to working with John again and would recommend him highly.

Linda McManus (Linda McManus Images)

“When searching for an architect for our major renovation project, we were looking for someone who would think creatively knowing the goals of our project, which included a redesign of the front of our home, a family room and bathroom renovation, and the creation of a finished basement that included an office space. We explored some local build design firms, as well as architects. When we met with John, we knew immediately that we were meeting someone who listened, was respectful to our needs, and brought to the table the creative flair we were looking for. John was meticulous in providing us documentation of the entire process, and we were very pleased with the pacing. Further, he recommended to us a local contractor, and after interviewing many, we ended up working with him (many thanks, John!). We could not be happier with the outcome of our project.

A. Andersen

Wolstenholme Associates created structurally sound and beautiful architectural drawings for our most recent home renovation. John Wolstenholme and his team were very professional throughout the entire process and were easy to work with. We are very happy that we used them!

Jeannie Williamson

We had several problems with our house including rot behind a hardscape patio and improperly applied stucco. We went to John Wolstenholme for his advice on how best to proceed. We were afraid that we were going to have to rip out the entire patio and we were struggling with how best to replace the exterior to maintain the house's value as well as fit in with our existing neighborhood. John came up with some very innovative ideas on how to draw water away from the house, thereby saving our patio and he worked with us to determine the best look for our house. Along the way, he also suggested some enhancements to the house entrances which really improved the curb appeal. John was very easy to work with, his plans proved to be invaluable during the renovation, and he did the work for well under his not-to-exceed estimate! Finally, John’s recommendations for contractors were very helpful in getting estimates and ultimately in a renovation that we are very pleased with.

Anonymous

We have known John Wolstenholme’s reputation as a conscientious, detail oriented professional for many years. When our Florida residence was destroyed by hurricanes in 2004, we did not hesitate to hire John’s firm to design the rebuild. We requested a design utilizing the original footprint with less than a 10% increase in overall footage as to not increase tax assessment; while producing an updated, dramatic aesthetic improvement within a limited budget. More than one building inspector would marvel at the comprehensive architectural drawings. They quickly learned, to save time, they would start with John’s drawings first and if necessary then reference the engineering drawings. John far exceeded our expectations; we would not hesitate to refer his company to anyone looking for a job done right and on time!

Anonymous

I first contracted with Wolstenholme for my own home, and after being completely delighted with everything they provided, I then began a relationship with them with my business, Rutgers Landscape Design. Our Landscape Design Services have been recommending Wolstenholme Associates to our clients for creative solutions, additions and new construction projects for many years now. Generally speaking, and as a rule, Rutgers Landscape Design does not provide referrals for any trade professionals. That is of course, unless they have truly proven themselves to be exceptional and outstanding. I am happy to say that Wolstenholme has met this criteria and then some, and that they always exceed expectations. We are proud to consider them a partner for any project we have together, and I am confident that anyone who choses to use there services will confirm what I am writing.

Jim Brophy (Rutgers Landscape Design)

I have been photographing their amazing work now for several years now. Always a pleasure to work with them. Every time we work together it feels like a joint creative experience which I think is important to us both.

Katrina Mojzsez (Top Kat Photography)

Wolstenholme Associates has completed a couple projects for me. The most recent one was a fit out of an unfinished retail space for a new nail salon. John did an excellent job and completed the work in a timely manner. He came up with some cost saving ideas too. I was charged a fair fee and was not nickeled and dimed for minor changes to the drawings.

Dave Wurz

We hired Wolstenholme and Associates as the architects for an outdoor living space for our home in the spring of 2012. John came out to our house to visit with my wife and myself, to get a clear picture of what we were looking to accomplish with this space. John took the time to ask many questions regarding how we were planning to use this space, and used our feedback to develop a few scenarios for us to review. John used our ideas and added a variety of options that we were not aware were possibilities. We could not be more happy with the final outcome and often use our new outdoor living space to enjoy our backyard, and entertain friends and family. When it came time to obtain quotes from contractors to build our addition, we could be confident that the quotes were comparing apples to apples, as all specs and materials were clearly outlined in the Wolstenholme blueprints. Wolstenholme worked closely with our contractor to be certain the execution of their plan was spot on, and was available for consultation with the contractor when needed. Our experience with John Wolstenholme and his team was excellent and we have recommended them to several of our friends.

John Virnig

John Wolstenholme is the architect of our home in Pennsylvania which is actually a barn that has been converted to a home. It has all the elements of the original barn combined with modern fixtures to make a truly unique house. He retained the barn doors and windows and even the silo, which now has an elevator inside it. Everybody who has seen it has been amazed at the design and the little details that make this house so beautiful and unlike any other in the region.

Ruchika Sah

I am a designer and I worked with John Wolstenholme on a project and found him to be responsive, courteous and professional. As a design professional, I am looking for an architect who will be able to work in conjunction with me and other trades. It is most desirable to find an architect who can add to the collaboration and put ego aside to work toward a common goal. John tries to ascertain what you want on his end and then he will offer constructive assistance to help you toward your goal. He is objective and non-judgmental while adding to the process. He is a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend him.

Vincent (Casa Buena Suerta)