Local business · Somerville, MALocal business · 343 Medford St #4, Somerville, MA 02145, USA
Verified record
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from JtA. 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
Sixteen reviews, every one of them five stars across four years, and a striking share of them from restaurateurs and shop owners rather than homeowners. JtA, which trades as Joe the Architect, is a Somerville architecture, interiors and brand-design studio; the company says principal Joe Stromer founded it in 2008 and puts itself at 18 years in business, with Alberto Cabre as principal and design director. What clients keep returning to is the paperwork and the coordination, not just the drawings. A 2025 reviewer opening a coffee shop described being walked through getting the full drawing set needed to submit to local authorities; another that year said the studio helped them through special permitting, finding the right contractor, and even settling on colour palettes. Homeowners writing in 2024 said the team worked collaboratively with their contractor to keep the vision intact, and kept contractors on task and on timeline so that back-and-forth came off their plates. On Google the studio holds 4.8 stars from 17 ratings. Several clients have come back. One wrote in 2024 that they had used JtA for two homes and two commercial projects — "They are my architect" — and a 2025 reviewer said they had worked with Joe and his team twice over eighteen months. The residential work described runs to a front porch and interior bathroom renovation, an apartment reconfigured after a family grew, and a roof deck taken from design iterations through permitting into building. Worth knowing before calling: much of the written praise comes from commercial and hospitality clients — restaurants, a retail space, a coffee shop, an optometry office — so ask specifically for residential references close to your own project. Houzz shows twelve projects and puts the studio's typical job cost at $10,000 to 3.5 million, a wide enough band that scoping budget early will matter. This is a design practice rather than a builder: you are hiring drawings, permitting and design direction, with construction contracted separately. For an older home that needs reconfiguring rather than patching, and for owners who want someone to carry the permitting and hold a builder to a schedule, it is a sound call. Ask which studio lead would run your project — reviewers name several different ones.
“Also joethearchitect.com is in Somerville. Joe, Alberto & team are great.”
Working with Joe and the team at JtA was a total pleasure. As a photographer who has captured numerous projects for them, I really appreciate architects who design with light, texture, and flow in mind, which this team does well. Every space was thoughtful, balanced, and photo-ready. The team was organized, communicative, and easy to collaborate with from start to finish. Highly recommend JtA for anyone who values design that not only lives well but photographs beautifully.
I have worked with JtA on many occasions with my business and I highly recommend their services. The entire team top to bottom are a joy to work with. Very good ideas in design, extremely professional in all ways, and flexible to the changing needs of a project. They brought great things to my restaurant projects in architectural design, interior design, and construction permitting for the city. I hope you are as impressed with their work if you choose to work with them. Good people doing great things make excellent teams and I am proud to have them on mine.
The team at JtA is awesome! Consistently friendly, competent, available, and an all-around pleasure to work with. Highly recommend them.
I have now had the pleasure of working with JTA on designing some of our restaurants and now our home. The team at JTA took our ideas from magazines, pictures and social media screenshots and turned it into our dream home. Throughout the process they helped us through special permitting, finding the right contractor and even deciding between color palettes. The team is creative, patient and supportive. We don't own another home but if we ever do, JTA will be our first call for design work.
JtA has been an immense part of Oak Bistro from the very beginning. We started working together even before opening our doors, shaping our brand identity and designing the space—from lighting to colors—all while staying within a tight budget. Even though we didn’t have much financial wiggle room, investing in branding was non-negotiable for me. It was more than just a design process; it was about creating the soul of Oak, a space that truly reflects who we are. JtA made that possible. The entire experience was nothing short of magical, especially since Oak is our first “baby.” The JtA team was with us every step of the way, bringing creativity, expertise, and unwavering support. They understood our vision and made it a reality, all while making the process seamless and exciting. Nowadays, I work closely with Elaine, who has been our ride-or-die. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and genuine care for our brand make all the difference. She doesn’t just execute; she collaborates, refines, and ensures everything aligns perfectly with our identity. Whether it’s a new project, a quick fix, or fresh ideas to elevate Oak, she’s always there, and I can’t imagine doing this without her. JtA isn’t just a design firm—they’re partners, visionaries, and truly an extension of the Oak family. If you’re looking for a team that listens, executes with excellence, and treats your project like their own, JtA is it.
Specializes in
Also offers
Service area
Languages
Added 17 new comments, added 63 new photos, established rating 4.1