Awards & Recognitions
August 2026
We are honored to have our founder, Mahya Salehi, featured in an inspiring interview by Voyage LA. The article explores Mahya’s background and journey into architecture, tracing her early fascination with how environments impact daily life from her childhood in Iran and the UK to building a custom residential practice in California. Mahya discusses her hands-on, integrated approach to architecture and interior design, the importance of guiding clients through the emotional journey of building a home, and her commitment to thoughtful, timeless design that improves how families live.
August 2026
We are thrilled to announce that Mahya Salehi Studio has been honored with the Best of 2026 Award by BusinessRate. This data-driven recognition is awarded to businesses that consistently demonstrate excellence in service, quality, and customer satisfaction, as evidenced by verified reviews and local market performance. Being selected for this award highlights our studio’s dedication to providing an outstanding client experience and our continued commitment to excellence in residential architecture and interior design across the Bay Area.
July 2026
We are excited to have our Dayton Residence featured in e-architect. The article explores how our studio reimagined a compact Silicon Valley site around a central open-air courtyard inspired by traditional Iranian homes and connected to the client’s memories of his grandmother’s hacienda in Mexico. It highlights how this shared architectural history shaped a modern family home that brings together light, privacy, and spaces designed for gathering while responding to the needs of contemporary California living.
July 2026
We are thrilled to have our recent Silicon Valley residential project featured in Contemporist. The article highlights our studio’s transformation of a compact site into a modern, light-filled family home designed in collaboration with contractor Sergio of Integrum Construction. Drawing inspiration from Iranian courtyard architecture and memories of Mexican haciendas, we anchored the floor plan around a central open-air courtyard that seamlessly blends cultural history with contemporary California living.
June 2026
Mahya Salehi was recently interviewed by Custom Builder for an in-depth article exploring the evolving desires of tech-industry clients building custom homes. In the piece, Mahya shares insights into how today’s tech executives are highly analytical and deeply involved in the design process, yet they are increasingly opting out of complex “smart home” gadgets. Instead, they prefer investing heavily in state-of-the-art, behind-the-scenes mechanical systems while keeping the living spaces simple, analog, and focused on authentic comfort as a retreat from their digital lives.
May 2026 - June 2026
Mahya Salehi Studio’s Washington Residence project was featured in two Custom Builder articles: Steep Flag Lot Shaped Every Decision in This Contemporary California Home and Tech-Sector Homebuyers Don’t Want What You’d Think. The first article highlights how Mahya Salehi Studio transformed a steep, narrow Fremont flag lot into a contemporary home through thoughtful planning, daylighting, spatial layering, and indoor-outdoor connections. The second explores the studio’s approach to evolving tech-sector homeowners’ needs, focusing on family-centered, multigenerational spaces that balance timeless design with advanced building systems.
May 2026
Our Washington Residence project was featured by Homes.com News for its innovative response to California’s lot-splitting legislation and the unique challenges of a narrow, flag-shaped site in Fremont. The article highlights how Mahya Salehi Studio transformed the constrained parcel through linear planning, courtyards, staggered levels, skylights, varied ceiling heights, and cost-conscious material choices. These strategies created a light-filled, contemporary home that balances openness with comfortable family living.
May 2026
Mahya Salehi’s article, How firms can direct AI instead of reacting to it, was published by AIArchitect and explores how small architecture firms can intentionally integrate artificial intelligence into their practice. The article highlights AI’s role in supporting regulatory research, early design iteration, creative material exploration, and business operations, while emphasizing that architects remain the essential editors who guide technology through professional judgment and design expertise.
April 2026
We are thrilled that our Washington Residence has been featured in Contemporist. The article details our approach to transforming a difficult, easily overlooked parcel into a spacious family home that maximizes natural light and privacy. It highlights our design strategy of using visually linked rooms instead of a fully open layout, incorporating skylights as vertical light wells, and utilizing large window walls to frame the surrounding greenery, seamlessly blending the interior spaces with the outdoors.
April 2026
We are excited to have our Washington Residence featured by the Chilean design publication Estudio Arquitectos. The article explores how our studio embraced the challenges of a long, narrow flag lot with steep slopes to create a light-filled contemporary home for a couple in the tech industry.
A responsive family home provides a tranquil refuge
October 2025
Our Washington Residence project was featured by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for its thoughtful and responsive design. The home provides a tranquil refuge for family life, blending openness and intimacy through natural light, layered materials, and a strong connection to its landscape.
We are officially a Certified Women's Business Enterprise (WBE)
April 2025
Mahya Salehi Studio | Architecture + Interiors | is proud to be officially certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs. This certification was processed and validated by the Women’s Business Enterprise Council – Pacific and confirms that our firm meets WBENC’s rigorous standards, verifying that the business is woman-owned, operated, and controlled. This important recognition reflects our commitment to diversity and excellence in the fields of Architectural Services and Interior Design Services.
Mind Coffee: Featured in Best Cafe Designs
July 2024
We are proud to have our design for Mind Coffee in Berkeley featured on Best Cafe Designs, a leading platform dedicated to showcasing exceptional cafe architecture and interiors worldwide. The article delves into our unique approach to creating a “mindfulness”-focused environment, highlighting how the space fosters thoughtful interaction and provides a serene oasis near the UC Berkeley campus.
Celebrating Our Quality Business Award Win
June 2024
We are thrilled to announce that Mahya Salehi Studio has been honored with the Quality Business Award for 2024! This prestigious award recognizes our commitment to excellence in architecture and interior design, and we are proud to be named the Best Architecture Firm in Walnut Creek.
Washington Residence WINS THE USA PROPERTY AWARD
February 2024
We are thrilled to announce that our Washington Residence project has been honored with the prestigious USA Property Award in the Architecture category. This highly respected award recognizes outstanding achievement in residential and commercial property design across the nation. Being selected as a winner highlights our studio’s dedication to excellence and innovation in architectural design, as showcased in the Washington Residence.
Carmen's La Hacienda - Mexican Restaurant WINS THE USA PROPERTY AWARD
February 2024
We are thrilled to announce that our Mexican Restaurant project, Carmen’s La Hacienda, has been honored with the prestigious USA Property Award in the Interior Design category. This highly respected award recognizes outstanding achievement in residential and commercial property design across the nation.
Industry Insight: Commercial Interior Design Features Mind Coffee
May 2023
Our design process for the unique Mind Coffee project in Berkeley was featured as an in-depth case study by Commercial Interior Design. The article provides industry insight into how our team successfully translated the abstract concept of “mindfulness” into a functional and serene cafe environment. It details how we overcame specific spatial challenges with thoughtful solutions, such as the distinctive custom fabric ceiling and varied seating arrangements, to create an engaging and mindful experience for visitors.