Your local community college should offer night classes in Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Kitchen & Bath Design.

It takes experience and knowledge of what looks appropriate on different architectural styles.

I've been in the HVAC industry and the architectural sheet metal trade my whole career (Sheet Metal Workers Local 36) and construction and rehab comes easy for me.  

I am trying to figure out a way to budget for this little roof add-on piece and I keep describing it as an "architectural pitch" on the roof and no one knows what I mean.

Trigger being home size (primary) since i have a growing family,  and commute from fremont to cupertino knocks out 2.5 hours for my wifes day,  and more importantly I want good public schools (at least 9 rated)Changes to current house:HOA is a big issue, no architectural changes allowed even though it being a SFR.  

I live in Hato Rey where are tons of houses with awesome architectural detail.

Question I have: 1) How difficult was it to renovate to the historic architectural standards?

Why not go down to the local planning office or local government and see if you can look at a concept plan or architectural drawings of what is planned?

I lived in Germany for a few years for my job, and miss the culture, history, and architecture of the various parts of Europe. 

Exteriors, architectural color, and kitchen/bath design was a huge part of my biz in LA.