Carlsen & Frank Architects

I had the great pleasure of working with Sylvia of Carlsen & Frank Architects on a small but complex total rehab of a historical one-story house in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was a passion project that, frankly, I could not have undertaken without her guidance and expertise. She was a crucial and enthusiastic partner throughout, from the initial site visit, to developing a budget, to reimagining the interior layout, coordinating throughout with a contractor who was a long-time and trusted collaborator. She was able to balance our shared desire to retain as much of the original character of the house as possible with practical concerns around current building codes and modern building materials. Any setbacks (which were inevitable, especially in a complex project like this one) were always met with clear explanations and a range of possible solutions.

We hired Carlsen & Frank Architects to design a new/add on bathroom on our main floor and a built in wardrobe on the second floor. We worked with Sylvia - she was outstanding to work with. Professional, flexible, competent and with a great attention to detail and functionality. Sylvia was proactive and open to our needs and desires. She was there for every step of the construction process, working closely with the builders (with whom she had a great rapport and collaboration as well). She was always accessible and friendly. Everything went smoothly and as planned and we couldn’t be happier!

Sylvia and Peter were a pleasure to work with and extremely knowledgeable/creative in designing my triplex. They saw the project from start to finish and problem solved several city issues along the way. I would highly recommend them and will be using them for future projects. The triplex was featured in several articles including a national article in business week/Bloomberg news.

We hired Carlsen and Frank Architects for several projects. Sylvia Frank is a joy to work with--she's a creative problem solver who takes time for the details. On the remodeling of a large family room, Sylvia's sourcing perseverance was essential for the replacement of a wall of windows. Other projects include a bathroom remodel and addition of a coffee bar and bookcases to a family room. I highly recommend Carlsen & Frank.

My husband and I were very happy with the work Sylvia did on our remodeling project. We updated one bathroom and added a second one. Since our house is a small bungalow, Sylvia’s attention to detail and her ability to creatively and wisely use the space was impressive. We appreciated her assistance in choosing materials for the project. She also communicated very well with us and our contractor.

Sylvia was wonderful to work with on our kitchen remodeling project. She worked well with the general contractor, always kept us informed of the progress, did a beautiful design, and was professional at all times. We are very happy with the finished project.

I am an architect who has worked with Sylvia Frank. She is a creative problem solver, and a highly regarded member of our profession. I am always impressed by Sylvia's ability to listen to clients and contractors, and to smoothly navigate all the issues that arise in any construction project.

My husband and I met Peter and Sylvia before we purchased our home. We had ideas about renovations and an addition. They were extremely helpful from the very beginning they listened to our ideas, suggested ways to implement our ideas. They helped with contractor selection, paint colors, crown molding, tile selection, room and bathroom designs. Peter helped get the drawings ready for the Historic Preservation committee approval for the project. Peter and Sylvia visited the site almost daily and their attention to detail has made our new house a home. Our construction is now complete and we not only have a wonderful home but new friends.

I couldn’t be happier. Carlsen & Frank Architects transformed the dark and cold feel of my home’s adjoined kitchen and great room into a warm and, welcoming dining and gathering area. Specifically, they removed the stationary center island in my kitchen to open more space and improve circulation. Architect Peter Carlsen then designed and built a movable counter-high table that doubles as a food prep surface and kitchen eating space. Its unstained red oak top and black stained legs match kitchen cabinets and countertops. In the great room, they recommended that the mosaic stone fireplace, vaulted wood ceiling and “Madmen” style bar stay to provide visual interest and set the color palate for paint, new flooring and bar nook renovation. The beige-glazed ceramic tile floor was replaced with 2 ¼” wide, unstained white oak hardwood. Dark wall paneling was replaced with painted gypsum board. The stained woodwork was painted off-white. The bar nook, next to the fireplace, was updated with a black granite countertop to match the kitchen countertops and its walls were painted a contrasting brown, inspired by the colors of the stone fireplace. I highly recommend Carlsen & Frank Architects. Thank you. R. Agnew

When we decided we needed a first floor addition to accommodate visiting elderly parents, all we could envision was a rectangle on the back of the house. Peter and Sylvia of Carlsen & Frank Architects met with us, discussed our needs, and came back with a plan that not only solved our immediate need, but resolved other issues we had with our home. They were supportive and helpful through all phases of construction. We ended up with a wonderful downstairs family room and full bath, but also improved the “flow” of the downstairs space, gained much needed closet space, and an additional upstairs room that we don’t know how we ever did without. The addition mimics the style of our 1912 house so well that it is not immediately apparent, inside or out, where the original house leaves off and the addition begins. We are daily enjoying and regularly get compliments on the space.

Carlsen and Frank Architects brings with it a multi-dimensional approach to design, having the benefit of both Sylvia and Peter's perspective. I primarily worked with Sylvia, who has a deep knowledge of building code and regulations - it made the whole process for me and my contractor very easy. She also has a keen eye for detail - the addition built on my 1909 home is seamless, which was of utmost importance to me.

Carlsen & Frank are a rare team who closely listen to their customers - then present creative & imaginative ideas that may stretch one's imagination. They have passion for their craft, but fully support their client's views/limitations- perhaps the physical setting, perhaps financial, perhaps just personal opinion. They first provided our household a complete redesign, with multiple creative options, and recently drafted a follow up project. No question that we will first consult with them in the future, and they will be the first architects we would recommend to others.