Verified record
A homeowner who had already tried a budget-friendly architect on a new custom home wrote in December 2025 that, until this project, they had not known the difference between a great architect and a poor one. Five months earlier, another client credited Vahe with thoughtful ideas and with hunting for ways to keep unnecessary costs off the job. Boston Architects & Builders is an architect-led design-build firm in Watertown, owned and run by principal architect Vahe Ohannessian, AIA — custom homes, additions, remodels and energy-efficient retrofits, with the drawings and the construction in the same hands. The Better Business Bureau lists a three-employee firm with an A+ grade, and Houzz lists LEED accreditation, Passive House training and a published deep energy retrofit case study. In a July 2017 Thumbtack review, stair plans the firm drew went to the local inspectors and came back approved right away. A February 2021 client said Vahe explained what he was doing with the floor plans as the project went along; an August 2019 reviewer put it more briefly, saying he made sure they understood everything. A December 2016 Houzz client credited Vahe and Al with professionally drawn plans and structural assessments. The bigger work shows up too. A November 2023 Angi reviewer described one of the most complex projects in Historic Chestnut Hill, and a January 2017 Houzz client came through a major home renovation with the firm alongside them. In November 2016, a client said Vahe worked cooperatively with their interior designer and the project finished in timely fashion. Most of what is written down is older: eight of the thirteen accounts date to February 2021 or earlier. Google shows 4.5 stars across 12 ratings, with 5.0 averages on Houzz, Angi and BuildZoom from smaller counts, and BuildZoom's profile carries 25 projects to Houzz's ten galleries. Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration, #154287, is active on the state register in the company's name. Houzz lists architect licence #50291 and BuildZoom lists construction supervisor licence CS-092503; confirm those two on the state register before permits are pulled. For a homeowner who wants one firm to draw it and build it — a custom home, an addition, or a deep energy retrofit — this is a sound fit. Ask for a fee structure that separates the drawings from the construction, and ask who signs the permit set.
I’ll start this review by saying I didn’t know the difference between a great architect and a poor one. I had tried working with a budget friendly architect for my new custom home project, and I can’t tell you how hard it is to get excited about a project when the architect is unresponsive and unprofessional, telling me “I can try to look into it in a few months I have a lot going on”. I had a the complete opposite experience working with Vahe and the team at Boston Architects and Builders. From the first meeting we had when discussing preliminary designs, to the final finishing touches, I can’t emphasize enough how easy the communication has been. The best part was the help we received with the permitting and the construction on top of the designs. It allowed us to feel comfortable focusing on other parts of the project knowing we were in good hands and being taken care of on the permitting side. The knowledge BAB had when it came to the historical commission was very impressive. Even though it wasn’t in their “scope of work”, they took time out of their night to join in on the historical meeting online to help us with the process. Vahe was actually out of country during this meeting, and still joined us at 2:00 AM where he was. The one team approach has been incredibly helpful and efficient and has made the process so much smoother. The end result is better than we could’ve imagined. When Vahe told me at our first meeting “Don’t worry, we have it under control”, that truly played out. I also want to give a big shoutout to Carine, the 2 nd architect I was working with on Vahe’s team. As lucky as I was to have Vahe on our side from start to finish, now imagine having 2 Vahe’s. That’s exactly how it felt working with Carine who went above and beyond including multiple site visits even when I didn’t ask her to, it truly felt like she was treating the project as if it was going to be her home. Overall I can’t thank BAB enough for everything they did for us. One last specific I want to mention was when Vahe called me on a Saturday morning at 6 am and said “As I laid my head on my pillow last night, I thought of a suggestion for the garage that would make it look better.” Knowing that he is truly thinking of his clients even on the weekend is all I can ask for as a client. I don’t think I’ll ever work with a different architect because now I indeed do know the difference between a great architect and a poor one, and this is the best you’ll ever get.
I’ll start this review by saying I didn’t know the difference between a great architect and a poor one. I had tried working with a budget friendly architect for my new custom home project, and I can’t tell you how hard it is to get excited about a project when the architect is unresponsive and unprofessional, telling me “I can try to look into it in a few months I have a lot going on”. I had a the complete opposite experience working with Vahe and the team at Boston Architects and Builders. From the first meeting we had when discussing preliminary designs, to the final finishing touches, I can’t emphasize enough how easy the communication has been. The best part was the help we received with the permitting and the construction on top of the designs. It allowed us to feel comfortable focusing on other parts of the project knowing we were in good hands and being taken care of on the permitting side. The knowledge BAB had when it came to the historical commission was very impressive. Even though it wasn’t in their “scope of work”, they took time out of their night to join in on the historical meeting online to help us with the process. Vahe was actually out of country during this meeting, and still joined us at 2:00 AM where he was. The one team approach has been incredibly helpful and efficient and has made the process so much smoother. The end result is better than we could’ve imagined. When Vahe told me at our first meeting “Don’t worry, we have it under control”, that truly played out. I also want to give a big shoutout to Carine, the 2nd architect I was working with on Vahe’s team. As lucky as I was to have Vahe on our side from start to finish, now imagine having 2 Vahe’s. That’s exactly how it felt working with Carine who went above and beyond including multiple site visits even when I didn’t ask her to, it truly felt like she was treating the project as if it was going to be her home. Overall I can’t thank BAB enough for everything they did for us. One last specific I want to mention was when Vahe called me on a Saturday morning at 6 am and said “As I laid my head on my pillow last night, I thought of a suggestion for the garage that would make it look better.” Knowing that he is truly thinking of his clients even on the weekend is all I can ask for as a client. I don’t think I’ll ever work with a different architect because now I indeed do know the difference between a great architect and a poor one, and this is the best you’ll ever get.
I am delighted to recommend Vahe and his team at BAB. His architectural and design skills are truly outstanding. From the outset, Vahe impressed me with his thoughtful ideas and his commitment to working within my budget—always looking for ways to save on unnecessary costs for me without compromising quality or vision. What stood out most was his exceptional communication. Vahe consistently kept me informed and coordinated seamlessly with all parties involved: the condo HOA board, property management, neighbors, and the city. His proactive approach meant he often anticipated and addressed potential issues before they became problems. This contributed to it being a low-stress experience for me. Despite the challenges of remodeling a small, older urban unit—and my being out of state in a different time zone—Vahe and his on-site team were able to creatively and efficiently expand both the kitchen and bathroom and bring to life my dream of a charming little back bay condo. His professionalism, transparency, and warmth came through from our very first phone call. I immediately trusted him, and he delivered beyond expectations. I highly recommend Vahe, Carine, Luigi and the BAB team without hesitation. Their integrity, expertise, and dedication make them an exceptional partner on any project.
I am delighted to recommend Vahe and his team at BAB. His architectural and design skills are truly outstanding. From the outset, Vahe impressed me with his thoughtful ideas and his commitment to working within my budget—always looking for ways to save on unnecessary costs for me without compromising quality or vision. What stood out most was his exceptional communication. Vahe consistently kept me informed and coordinated seamlessly with all parties involved: the condo HOA board, property management, neighbors, and the city. His proactive approach meant he often anticipated and addressed potential issues before they became problems. This contributed to it being a low-stress experience for me. Despite the challenges of remodeling a small, older urban unit—and my being out of state in a different time zone—Vahe and his on-site team were able to creatively and efficiently expand both the kitchen and bathroom and bring to life my dream of a charming little back bay condo. His professionalism, transparency, and warmth came through from our very first phone call. I immediately trusted him, and he delivered beyond expectations. I highly recommend Vahe, Carine and the BAB team without hesitation. Their integrity, expertise, and dedication make them an exceptional partner on any project.
Amazing experience, And highly recommended. Vahe and his team did a fantastic job on one of the most complex projects in Historic Chestnut Hill MA
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1 change recorded — last scanned Sep 6, 2026.
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Boston Architects & Builders. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$23,000 – $35,000
Typical remodeling project around $29,000
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Reused original moldings on a 1922 home4.6
Handles complex projects3.9
Interior painting of condos and apartments3.9
Custom cabinetry3.5
Basement flood repair completed while owners traveled3.2