Testimonials from Clients

We worked with eM/Zed to design a kitchen addition for our craftsman-style home. Throughout the process, Keyan and Alexia provided us with peace of mind knowing that no detail was being overlooked. As naïve homeowners embarking upon a large project, eM/Zed's knowledge, extensive experience, and personable approach made the task enjoyable at every step of the way. It has been three years since the remodel and we still would not change a thing. We recommend eM/Zed design to all of our friends and look forward to working with them again. — Dana & Chris

We have worked with eMZed on two projects. The first was a proposed remodel of a home in Portland, and the second was basically a teardown of our current home in Lake Oswego. Between Keyan and our contractor, we really had a great collaborative team. He is thoroughly professional to work with, with thoughtful ideas, great problem solving abilities, attention to detail, and the willingness to really listen to our desires and ideas. Our completed home was everything that we could wish for, and we are constantly getting compliments from passersby. The home was also selected as the Reader’s Choice in the current year Fine Homebuilding houses issue. We only wish that we had another project to work on together! — Shirley & Richard

Although it has been several years, the fundamentals of what we did have proven the test of time. It was great work, and great bones that were established for our house. We wanted a light, airy, open floor plan with our addition, and we got so much more: The vaulted ceilings, clear story windows, daylit basement/studio, master deck, slight angle master bath bump out etc.. These elements were all very creative from a design and building standpoint. And it all fit within our budget. The biggest compliment I can give your work? Can we work together again? We are ready for a kitchen remodel. — Karen & Todd

I met Keyan after interviewing a few other architects to discuss an addition to my small house. Within minutes, I knew he understood how much my living space reflects the things that are important in my life—the details tell a story and are there for a reason. Keyan and Alexia put that same level of care and attention to detail into their design for my addition, and it shows. My house finally feels like my home! With their addition design, Keyan and Alexia made my small cottage into the home it was always meant to be. The footprint isn’t much bigger, but every inch serves a function and looking out every window makes me happy. — Lori

Keyan and Alexia exceeded our expectations in solving our design challenge with thoughtfulness and attention to detail, while keeping in mind our budget constraints and desire for both beauty and function. And they are lovely people — we really enjoyed our collaboration with them! — Gabriela Goldfarb and Paul Simón

The communication was excellent. Keyan listened to what aspects of the remodel were most important to us. He then created a plan that transformed it from a 1950’s dark galley kitchen into a bright, cheery room efficiently designed to make cooking and eating in it an absolute pleasure. It’s been a few years, but the compliments keep coming from guests. — Ann Kendellen and Jon Harker

I worked with eMZed for my personal residence after having the pleasure of collaborating with them on a client’s home. I appreciated they immediately saw solutions to the challenges of the vintage home’s floor plan that were beautiful, affordable and kept with the spirit of the home. I appreciated the amount of restraint their designs had to create elegant spaces that looked like the home has always been designed this way. I have referred them to many clients and always hear back rave reviews and appreciation for their talents and skills as well as overall joy and satisfaction of the process and experience. For myself personally, I would not do another remodel without them! — Jenelle Isaacson, Living Room For All

I did a little yard work on Saturday and 4 different people stopped to rave about the great design and how it looks like part of the original house “not some botched remodel”! We are really happy with the new space. — Joe

We are enjoying the new space and are really happy with the layout; you nailed it. I am really impressed with how the rooflines are blending in and looking like a natural part of the house. The entire design is looking good. Strangers are literally thanking us for such a thoughtful design, pretty remarkable. Thanks again. — Angie & Joe

The project came out beautifully. We are very pleased. — Vicki and Steve

You have to come see the house. It's so wonderful. I'm so happy. Thank you!! — Sarah

So demolition has started and every wall, every counter, the fake fireplace and everything in between is gone from the house now. It's shocking and startling and exciting and thrilling. When we walked in Monday night and I could see through the entire house for the first time I also could see in my mind's eye and feel in my heart how your beautiful design will work. You have this amazing job where you get to create the spaces where people live and love and laugh and sometimes where they cry and fight and die too. You create the context for their lives. What a wonderful gift you have and that you give to others in your designs. We so appreciate the home you are helping us create. Michael and I hope to live there for the rest of our lives. It feels magical to think that we will actually have a home that suits our needs and our tastes, that is not too big and not too small, with such a magnificent view, that will be beautiful and practical, and a calm respite at the end of a harried day. I just wanted to express my thanks to you. — Amy

I love working with eMZed. Keyan is one of the few mission based architect with a wicked design eye, but he also demonstrates discipline in a craft I’ve rarely seen in the industry. The results are beautiful, buildable and sustainable homes and spaces. — Sam Lai, Green Canopy

Thank you for our absolutely fabulous new home. I hope you appreciate how much we love, love love your design work. Also, please be sure to tell Alexia, that I totally appreciated her help with the lighting. — Katy

Keyan Mizani is without question a creative soul with an absolute attention to detail, design, function and aesthetic. Keyan designed a master bedroom/sitting room/ walk in closet and new dormer bathroom that sparkle with light and freshness and have more than tripled my storage area without changing the footprint of my 1920’s bungalow. The plans were complete and easily understood by the contractor, and the project was kept within budget. I enjoyed working with Keyan so much, I wish I could afford another house project. — Kate

We worked with eMZed to design our dormer addition and remodel of our 1925 bungalow. The project was architecturally challenging with typical constraints of attics in older homes, namely low ceiling heights, small spaces, limited insulation etc. Keyan helped us navigate these challenges and more with ease, and he worked well with our contractors. It was our first experience with a renovation, and his process, professionalism, attention to detail were stellar and really helped us feel like we were in good hands. We have high standards, and Keyan rose to the challenge and exceeded our expectations. We would recommend him to anyone! — Amrita & Ashish

A few years ago, my husband and I bought a small bungalow as a downsized home. We had to remodel the 8'x11' kitchen space as it was unusable. Keyan Mizani stepped in with amazing creativity and practical ideas. He drafted and re-drafted several plans, working closely with our contractor, cabinet maker and us. The beautifully designed kitchen is very efficient with amazing storage and work space. We cook together and enjoy our garden view with all the birds in this great space. — Vonnie & Joe

We appreciated that Keyan was easy to work with, designed to our desires, and helped us with a few unconventional features. He is personable with excellent communication skills, quick to clarify and make sure we understood his meaning. He provided excellent attention to detail. He introduced us to the Earth Advantage program and helped us earn a Platinum rating. He also supported us on-site in early discussions with subs as necessary. We have been living in our home for 4 years now and we are very happy at how it all turned out. We receive complements on our home often. We would use his services again and recommend him highly. — JoAnne and Scott

We loved working with eMZed - the kitchen remodel fits so well into our existing home and continues to delight us every day. Keyan’s many thoughtful ideas were absolutely focused on designing us just what we wanted, with an experienced, expert eye for style and practicality. He worked well with our contractor and was punctual, responsive, friendly, professional, and endlessly creative. Three cheers for Keyan! — Kasandra

I can honestly say the careful thought you and Alexia put into designing our house keeps us singing your praises to this day! — Lori & Rich

An artist friend introduced us to Keyan and eMZed and they brought artistry and creativity to the job. I loved how they presented us three plans, what we asked for, an improvement on it, and a creative “cartoon”. We asked for a remodel plan, what we got transformed our little house and we couldn’t have been more pleased. — Lori & Rich

Recommending EMZed is easy, what is difficult is focus. You did so much in our little job, everything from visualization to product management, even extending into interior decorating. You literally picked the color of the walls, and even made sure the cabinets were placed exactly as you envisioned them. You made it look simple. I also meant it when I told you that your services didn’t cost us, it saved us money. That check was easy to write. But, if I had to pick your strongest area it would be creativity. — Lori & Rich

I can't thank you enough for coordinating the contractor visits and especially taking the lead on walking them through all the various projects in our concept designs. My stamina in those weeks after surgery wasn't up to par and I was pretty tired toward the end of the 2nd visit -- it was so comforting to know you could walk them through our ideas as well (if not better!) than I could. Thank you again for all your hard work! — Brooke

Working with Alexia and Keyan was a wonderful experience. They were able to uncover the character and style that was hidden in the bones and history of our house. They made small changes to the floorplan which yielded huge benefits in the flow and livability of our home. They always listened to our needs and were fun and easy to work with. Over the past 10 years, we have worked on two separate projects with them and look forward to working with them again in the future! — Jeanne & Joe

Thank you for all of your efforts and all of the hard work you are doing on our project. I am so glad you are part of our team. — Kevin

The first thing that impressed us about eMZed Architecture was their listening skills. They not only heard what we were saying, they knew what we meant. We benefited from Keyan and Alexia’s collaboration during the design process, and again through the various other phases of our project. They are professional, creative, thorough, ethical, organized, and very skilled and informed about their business. We have not hesitated to recommend them to friends, nor would we hesitate to use them again. — Tom & Maggie

Not a day goes by when we don’t look at our kitchen and smile. We’ll keep on recommending you, for sure. — Paul

We have used eMZed design for 2 major projects in the past 10 years. eMZed was able to take a rough sketch, nearly cartoon like, of our dream house and turn it into an amazing custom home. Their attention to detail and ability to listen to their client’s needs and wants is incredible. We were so happy with the work they did on our home that we hired them for an entire custom build out of our commercial office building. eMZed turned a cold office shell into a warm inviting place for my clients. I get compliments on a regular basis about how nice and well-designed our office space is. All of their work has stood the test of time. We would hire them in a heartbeat for our next project! Nathan and Heather — Nathan and Heather

We really appreciated your hard work and input throughout this process. Without you Fizz would have been a lot less cool, thank you so much! — Shawn

I have worked with several architects, but none more approachable, innovative, creative and driven as Keyan Mizani. — Patti Perkins

As the trusses are going on, I’m getting really excited about this project! Excited because we’re achieving awesome infill goals of increasing density while not blowing away the scale of the rest of the neighborhood. And excited because these are going to look great! You already know I’m a fan of more modern styles, and I think the design here threads the needle so well, creating something that doesn’t offend those who are more traditional while pushing a significantly more contemporary look – and not looking or feeling like it was a compromise. — Travis Phillips, PCRI

Last night, we hosted a passover seder, with 25 people, in the big room you designed for us. We were amazed at how well the space, especially the high ceiling, was suited to the task. Even with all those people drinking and chatting, I was able to have a quiet conversation with the person seated next to me. I never felt crowded or overwhelmed with noise. I imagine that's not an easy thing to accomplish in so small a space. — Peenesh

We are pleased with our eMZed experience in designing and building our ADU. Keyan is a thoughtful listener and was able to give us what we wanted. He came up with wonderful options for our numerous requests. He was professional, knowledgeable and exceptionally patient with us. Bill and I would give him a 10 out of 10 and highly recommend him. We used the right architect for our needs. We are comfortable and happy living in the 800 sq.ft. ADU that he designed. And the neighbors like it also. — Ann and Bill

Very nice adaptation of the Portland row house. Love the transparency and long view you have created. Also great solution to the inherent row house stair problem. — Rob

eMZed was recommended to me by my contractor and I knew from our first meeting on the intended job site that we could work well together. Keyan reviewed my design concepts and my wish list then went to work making my dreams come alive in this beautiful and amazing structure that I now call home. My goals were to maximize every inch of space, bring in as much natural light as possible, and include home performance building techniques and energy efficient products as much as my budget would allow. With Keyan as my partner all of my goals were accomplished. Keyan’s knowledge of Portland’s building and code requirements was also a huge asset, not to mention his network of engineers, city planners and inspectors, and even tree removal experts. Throughout the entire project eMZed delivered far more than I ever could have imagined. I am grateful for their extensive experience and committed, personable partnership. If I ever built another house, there would be no need to look for another architect…eMZed is the best! When people ask if I’m pleased with the house I tell them that living here is like living inside a big hug…all of the time! Linda — Linda

The house looks particularly beautiful in the spring and I appreciate so much how your work added to that beauty. What a different house from the one I moved into. All the work we did was just so good for the house and I am happy to have contributed to her, and made her a more beautiful home for the rest of her life. I will be making a little money on the sale (surprisingly) even after spending so much on nothing that adds to the appraisal value. People have seen and appreciated the beauty, even beyond what the square feet and number of beds and baths the place holds. I just think you added so much to this house and others see it, feel it, and are willing to pay for it. Confirmation of the work we did together. With much appreciation — Bev

We have completed two projects with eMZed – a very complicated remodel and a new construction project. We loved working with Keyan. He is very creative and inventive, and a fantastic problem solver. He has a very refined aesthetic but also appreciates the practicalities of making things work and creating solutions that fit your needs and preferences. He has a lot of valuable experience that makes it possible to build with lasting quality and style, and still hit a budget. He will stick with the project as it is built to make sure all the little issues are resolved. If we have more building projects in the future, he will be the first person we talk to. — Brian and Perrin Stewart

Working with eMZed design was a fluid and enjoyable collaborative experience. Keyan gave us a great new kitchen layout and in turn he respected our design choices. It was our first remodel, as well as our first time working with a designer - and at no time during the process did we second guess our decision to work with eMZed. — Lisa & Chris

We chose eMZed to design a 2-story addition to our home, along with a few other needed upgrades. We shared our ideas and budget, along with hopes that we could have it all. Keyan and Alexia were so adept at listening. They heard our concerns and project goals, and presented us with a menu of fantastic alternatives we never dreamed of. We thank ourselves every day for hiring such a qualified and thoughtful firm. Their designs transformed our home in such a positive light. Thanks eMZed! — Blake and Taylour

I contracted with eMZed in 2010 to help me remove an existing house and design a retirement house. I was interested in preserving and using the existing Foundation to the extent possible. I wanted to deconstruct the old house and reuse as much of the old wood as possible. I also wanted to have a cistern that would collect rainwater from the roof and reuse it for toilets and outdoor irrigation. I had many requests. First and foremost, this was going to be a major project designed to wean me from a busy career into an active retirement. I wanted day-to-day involvement with the design and building of this house and I wanted to be able to make changes as we went along. Other requests:
Preserve the river view from this house and from my current home, the house above it.
 Bring light into the house-which was situated in a bit of a “well” and could have been dark. Built-in shelves, desks, bookshelves, to accommodate minimal furniture.
 A see-through house with windows on all sides - a garden house, in which the garden “comes inside”.
Two very private bedroom suites, noise-protected and no common hallway, each with the ability to close off without disturbance from the rest of the house. Outside of the bedroom suites, an all-open architecture.
A detached garage. A potting shed with a bathroom for gardeners. Inside and outside wood-burning fireplaces and a detached woodshed. And under 2000 square feet. There were many other requests and eMZed did a beautiful job with all of them. Keyan prevented me from making mistakes and was firm about important issues. On the other hand, he went with me on other items—like the exterior colors and reusing old wood. I have a house of which I am very proud. In front of my house is a very public walking path, and I still, after 8 years, get weekly compliments and praise from passers-by. “I love your house-I watched it being built”, “yours is my favorite house in this town” are common comments. — Judy

People often stop to tell us how much they enjoy seeing what we have done to the house and that they arrange their walks so as to be sure to come by eMZed’s collaborative and creative approach has saved us a tremendous amount of time and has kept us from making many costly mistakes. We are especially grateful for the way you are willing to help us work within a budget, giving us realistic options as well as imaginative suggestions. You have a gift for identifying the many needed tiny details that make all the difference in the final project. I love the upgrades and changes you have helped us with so far and am really looking forward to working with you again in the future. — Janet

Keyan is a pleasure to work with for so many reasons, among them his attention to detail and his willingness to try different options until everyone is satisfied. We bought a house that had already been remodeled by him, and his kitchen design is one of the primary reasons we were drawn to the home. It’s a beautiful and intuitive design and our favorite room to entertain in. We brought him back to remodel our basement, challenging him to create a space that looked as if it were original to our 1909 home, and he exceeded our expectations. We couldn’t be happier with the design process or the finished result. Our family would happily recommend Keyan to anyone needing a careful, detailed, innovative and good-natured architect. — April, Kyle, Marcus & Greta Clare

Keyan’s attention to detail, thoroughness in planning and follow through during the project ensured everything went well and left no surprises for us. My contractor told me during construction that Keyan’s thoroughness makes his job so much easier. — Marty Meade

During the past 10+ years, PCRI has worked with Keyan Mizani and eM/Zed Design on several rewarding affordable housing projects. Keyan is a collaborative and engaged team member and has an uncommon ability to listen and respond to our needs as a client as well as the project’s needs. In addition to being enjoyable to work with, Keyan does an exceptional job of maintaining focus on often competing tasks of managing costs, creating sustainable and healthy buildings, and ensuring the spaces within those buildings are functional, attractive and easily livable. It is a pleasure working with Keyan and eM/Zed Design; we envision many more successful projects together and heartily recommend him. — Travis Phillips, PCRI

My project was unique: building a new 2 story house attached to my 1940’s one story bungalow. My neighbors were worried: would it fit into the neighborhood? Thanks to Keyan it does. It flows so seamlessly that it is hard to tell that there are two separate houses. Keyan’s attention to the smallest detail really paid off. It’s been 3 years and I am still getting compliments on the design. Or, rather, Keyan is still getting compliments. — Kathleen

Keyan was quick to identify potential challenges in the design process for our remodel project, and creatively addressed workable solutions. His collaborative style helped us clearly identify our needs for the project, and his talent in project oversight helped ensure that his vision carried through the construction process. Alexia and Keyan also helped us select the fixtures and finishes for the project, and the new elements blend very well with the original 1922 craftsman details. We absolutely love the final results of our remodel project and enthusiastically recommend eMZed Architecture. — Jennifer Penfield and Ward Ramsdell

It was such a pleasure to work with Keyan and Alexia on our house’s master plan, and the subsequent kitchen/mudroom/deck project. Throughout our extensive remodel, Keyan was there when we needed him, working with the contractor and engineer as issues arose and making sure the design met our needs. The things we appreciated most about eMZed’s work were the attention to detail in the design, especially their ability to seamlessly integrate modern conveniences and touches into an historic home; the collaboration to accommodate our ideas and approaches into the design; and the flexibility and sensitivity to our schedule and budget. We appreciated working with true partners who could help us focus and ultimately realize the vision we had for our home. Thank you Keyan and Alexia! — Elizabeth & Matt

Keyan was a delight to work with. Not only did he come up with a brilliant design for our remodel, he was also on time and on budget. He was creative and flexible and open to solutions from everyone at the table. Every day we live in our house we are grateful for his thoughtful and intelligent design. — Perrin & Brian Stewart

My husband and I chose to work with Keyan twice for two complex remodels to our 1905 Craftsman home. We trusted his knowledge and regard for the spirit of the architecture as well as our desires. Each day we revel in our revised kitchen and bathroom, enjoying the improvements, functionality and beauty of their transformation. — Warmly, Deborah Horrell & Kit Gillem

You and Alexia helped us first with the major rehabilitation (just short of tearing down) of our 50-year old house, and then, three years later, with the design of a new garage. It was a pleasure to work with you, and it is a joy living in our home! — Skip & Linda

We’ve used eMZed Architecture on several projects, including two kitchen remodels. We are very happy with the results and are glad we had their guidance. They have a great eye for design and are a delight to work with. We highly recommend them. — Steve & Susan Klarquist

Thank you! We really appreciated your help and guidance on our first project in Portland. You did a great job on this project and the foresight you had to see the way the stairwell would layout was top notch. It really feels like a centerpiece of the house and the way that it brings natural light into a windowless space truly allows an otherwise cramped environment the opportunity to feel open and inviting. Great work! I’m looking forward to working with you on future projects! — Ryan Nieto