Last updated on May 27th, 2024 at 07:03 am
Home additions are a popular option for homeowners who are looking to update, upgrade, and expand their homes. Additions can be external or right within the original home. Either way, the process of installing an addition can be tedious and hefty. This is why architects come in handy in responding to homeowners’ design and even documentation needs.
This list features 15 of the best home addition architects in the U.S. These firms have earned awards in residential addition and remodeling and have been featured in several industry magazines for their projects. The architects featured here were selected and ranked based on their capabilities and work history, as well as the overall quality of their operations.
Bowers Design Build
6715 Whittier Ave., Ste. #200 McLean, VA 22101
Bowers Design Build is a family-owned business that specializes in residential projects. Since its inception in 1990, Bowers has made a name for itself as one of Northern Virginia’s most respected design-build firms. The firm offers a full range of architectural services, including budgeting, planning, and on-site project management.
Bruce Bowers and John Coburn Jr. serve as principals of the firm. Bowers is an alumnus of the University of Maryland School of Architecture, while Coburn went to Embry Riddle University and to the Florida Institute of Technology for an MBA. Coburn also served as President and Chairman of the Board of the NARI Washington Metropolitan Chapter.
The firm’s portfolio is filled with award-winning remodels and additions. The firm has a way of transforming an old home without sacrificing its sentimentality and value.
The transformed bungalow featured here is one of the firm’s most notable projects. The home has a flat layout and two stories of wood and bricks. The home’s humble appeal has been well-received by local organizations and publications, as the firm won several awards for the project, including Northern Virginia Magazine’s Best Home Expert award and the Washington DC Contractor of the Year Award for Best Addition.
Carpenter MacNeille
106 Western Ave., Essex, MA 01929
Carpenter Macneille is an award-winning firm based in Eastern Massachusetts. The firm has gained popularity by earning prestigious awards, including the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art New England’s Bulfinch Award and the American Society of Interior Designers Design Excellence Award. For more than 20 years, the firm has worked on various home styles and projects.
The firm has an intimate appeal, as it was founded by two friends. Terry Carpenter and Robert MacNeille formed the business over dinner at a local seafood restaurant. The two were frustrated with the lack of multidisciplinary firms that could handle the full range of design and construction services as did the master builders of the previous century. After years of hard work, Carpenter and MacNeille developed the firm into the company it is today and built a strong following in Eastern Massachusetts.
The firm’s contemporary and classical designs frequently hit the pages of local publications, such as Boston Home and New England Home. The Harbor View, a contemporary home overlooking the docks at Manchester-by-the-Sea, is one of the firm’s finest works. The project has stayed true to its beach vibes without looking like a cookie-cutter beach home. It was featured in Northshore Home and The Boston Globe.
DeMotte Architects
635 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield, CT 06877
DeMotte Architects is an architectural firm servicing New York and Connecticut. Brad DeMotte is an alumnus of Kansas State University & established the firm in 1990. The firm has gained success by designing timeless looks using the most up-to-date technology and the best construction practices. The firm also puts its customers at the center of its process, and clients have frequently pointed out how much they have felt involved in projects with the firm.
The firm specializes in residential design, covering everything from custom homes to additions, and the firm is well-versed in the Craftsman, Colonial, Shingle Style & French Country home styles. The project featured here is a 1950’s home that was given an updated look through a remodel and addition. The project was carried out in two phases and involved a complete overhaul of the home which brought it in line with today’s standards.
H2D Architects
23020 Edmonds Way, Ste. #113 Edmonds, WA 98020
Under the leadership of Heidi Helgeson, H2D Architects has provided Seattle with high attention to detail, budget considerations, and environmentally-conscious methods since 2006. The firm cultivated a signature design by blending environmental factors and manufactured elements. This helped set the firm apart from the competition. Hegelson went to Saint Olaf College and to the University of Washington for his Master of Architecture degree. She is a life-long advocate of green design and progressive architecture.
The firm understands the importance of making each project tailored-to-fit and sustainable. H2D Architects has an incredible portfolio of home remodels and additions and is well-versed in several home styles—from Contemporary to Craftsman. The project featured here is a home in Edmonds. The home follows the organic topography of the site, taking advantage of the hillside setting, and features simplistic silhouette and cream-colored details.
HPA Design
35 Main St., Milford, MA 01757
HPA Design is an award-winning firm famed for providing one-of-a-kind homes to New England homeowners. Founded in the Greater Boston area, the firm understands the region’s neighborhoods, its residents, and what designs work best. The firm designs residential and commercial projects from the ground up and from existing projects. Henry P. Arnaudo and F. Paul Frederick assumed leadership of the company in 1990, leveraging their thorough experience in the industry. Arnaudo sat on the board of directors of the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston, while Frederick studied at Roger Williams University. The company earned the Boston Preservation Achievement Award in 2015 and a Prism Award for Best Multi-Family Reuse or Conversion, among other awards.
HPA’s portfolio has gotten the attention of local publications, such as New England Homes and Milford Daily News. This local and regional appeal stems from the firm’s fluency in home styles, as the firm has worked on Barnhouses, French, and Craftsman homes.
The dark orange Barnhouse in the photo featured here is one of HPA’s most notable home addition projects. The home is a classic Barnhouse with more contemporary details and features. The house was built along with the natural hillside of the site, forming a multi-level layout with the garage on the lower ground and the deck on the upper.
Krieger + Associates Architects
14 W Highland Ave. Front, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Inspired by the iconic steel mills of Philadelphia, Jeff Krieger pursued a career in architecture. He studied in the halls of Princeton University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Harvard Graduate School of Design. Prior to starting his own practice, Krieger worked with well-known architectural firms, including the iconic Venturi, Scott Brown, and Associates of the Pritzker-award winning Robert Venturi. In 1992, Krieger founded his namesake firm, and industry recognition soon followed. The firm earned two SARA Design Awards of Honor in 2011 and 2013, among other awards. Krieger has also been a faculty of Drexel University for more than 30 years.
Krieger’s award-winning portfolio stems from its deep roots in Philly’s architectural scene. The firm has an excellent understanding of the city’s architectural history, culture, and trends, and the firm has extensive experience in new construction, renovation, and addition. The project featured here is the firm’s renovation/addition project called the “Grand Old Brand New House.” This Chestnut Hill house underwent major overhauling, as the firm modified the home’s layout, details, and some of its functions. Krieger redeveloped the home’s living spaces, air circulation, finishes, and technical systems. This project won the SARA Professional Design Award in 2020.
Landis Architects/Builders
7059 Blair Rd., NW Ste. #300 Washington, DC 20012
Since 1990, Landis Architects/Builders has committed to providing the Washington Metropolitan area with a hands-on approach to design. Brothers Chris and Ethan Landis lead the company operations. The two lead a team of 58 employees in designing custom homes, remodels, and additions. Chris, Columbia University alumnus, is a licensed architect in four states. He also served as President of NARI DC. His brother and co-principal Ethan went to Swarthmore College and to George Washington University. He handles the production aspects of the firm’s operations, which include plumbing and electricity. The duo has established strong ties with local communities in DC, which is why 40% of the firm’s projects are repeat clients.
The firm has received more than 100 project awards from NARI and other relevant organizations. These successes can be attributed to the firm’s in-house design team, which never backs out of a challenge, even those involving historical sites. The 1950s home featured here took the firm 10,000 painstaking hours to complete.
Lasley Brahaney Architecture + Construction
860 State Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540
One of New Jersey’s leading names in design-build services, Lasley Brahaney was the winner of the NARI Contractor of the Year Regional Award in 2020 for a residential addition which included a master bed and bath. Janet Lasley and Marc Brahaney founded the firm more than 30 years ago. Impassioned by the pursuit of great design, Janet was the only woman to own a Princeton construction firm. Marc Brahaney attended Princeton University and is a licensed architect in the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Since 1987, the firm has been well regarded by Princeton residents for its creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. The firm has in-depth experience in both historical and avant-garde projects, and their portfolio encompasses new construction, home renovations, home additions, and smaller-scale remodels. As shown in Build Magazine, the firm understands the varying home styles in the New Jersey region.
The featured project is a home addition with Tuscan and Georgian design elements located on Library Place in Princeton. The home features a gable roof and traditional Tuscan columns. The firm built a two-car garage adjacent to the home that is connected by a mudroom and the front porch. The project displays how well the firm understands how to complement age-old design with present-day design solutions.
You can learn more about Lasley Brahaney Architecture + Construction on their website here.
NE Design and Construction
103 Terrace St., Boston, MA 02120
New England’s NE Design and Construction is an award-winning, full-service Architectural Design Build creative firm that showcases the beauty of Boston and New England architectural style. NEDC is a prolific figure in the Boston architectural design-build scene and the communities in Greater Boston. This creative firm puts a premium on top-quality workmanship and customer service. NEDC’s team of professionals are often praised for their courtesy, neatness, and manners.
The firm is headed by David Supple, an alumnus of Tufts University and an advocate of the client benefits of full-service design-build and the true role of the Architect throughout history as Master Builder. NEDC takes its clients through full creative architectural design, planning, and artisan-level remodeling services within their own sphere of responsibility. David has been directly involved in over 100,000 square feet of renovation projects over the years in Cambridge, Wellesley, Back Bay, Brookline, Somerville, and throughout the GBA. These projects have been featured in local media, including Remodeling Magazine, Boston Voyager, and The Boston Globe.
In its remodeling and installation of additions, the firm utilizes every nook and cranny in its build-outs and looks for contemporary storage solutions. NEDC works in various home styles, especially those that are prevalent in the Boston residential design scene. The beautiful home featured in the photo here showcases an aesthetic custom addition NEDC designed and built for a family in Boston comprising a multi-function banquet room, curved ceiling, parquet tile, full windows and a barrel copper roof which is a distinct and beautiful feature in its own right seamlessly integrated into the traditional Boston architecture of the home.
RD Architecture
1415 N Loop West, Ste. #300-22, Houston, TX 77008
RD Architecture is a residential design firm that offers remodels, additions, new construction, and re-styling of homes. Led by two esteemed females, the firm takes a personalized approach to home design. Principals Kathleen Reardon and Susannah Devine are prolific designers trained in both architectural and interior design. The pair utilizes this background to create bespoke designs with style and functionality in mind. Reardon studied Interior Design at Cornell University and Architecture at the University of Houston, where she graduated as valedictorian. Her co-principal Devine graduated with honors in interior design at The Art Institute of Houston. The firm is known for its green design methods, which take into account energy efficiency, water efficiency, and material selection.
The firm stands by a rigorous design process that starts from the schematic design stage and concludes at construction. The firm’s values of teamwork and graphic communication are reflected in the quality of work it produces. RD’s home designs are reflective of homeowners’ lifestyles and priorities.
The project featured here is an addition made by RD. It was designed to house six growing kids and include a master suite retreat. The home has a two-story layout, with the master suite upstairs. The home’s contemporary styling is also indicative of the firm’s keen understanding of its clients, as the home’s addition was geared towards the future of the homeowner’s large family.
RWA Architects
2771 Observatory Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208
In business since 1989, RWA Architects knows the ins and outs of sustainable architecture. The firm is well-versed in new construction, addition, and remodels. Its expertise is supplemented by its dedication to green building and sustainable practices. John Isch and Michael Mauch use creative solutions to solve complex design problems. In all of its designs, the firm considers the use of natural lighting, indoor air quality, recycled content, and stormwater management.
Integrity is RWA’s number-one value. The firm understands that building residential projects also necessitates building relationships within the local community. This mindset was honored by the CRAN Awards Honors in 2016 and the CPA Awards in 2019. The firm also adheres to regulations made by local organizations and heritage preservation institutions, such as Heritage Ohio, the Cincinnati Preservation Association, and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The photo here shows a Cincinnati private residence remodeled by the firm. RWA updated the home, which was once two separate residences. The firm merged the houses and added space for the outdoor pool deck and accessory structure. The home’s addition and remodeling are so seamless that onlookers may not be able to tell that the home used to be two separate homes.
Schaub+Srote Architects
2900 S Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood, Missouri 63144
Schaub+Srote Architects is a full-service architectural and interior design firm specializing in luxury residential and commercial design. Started by David Schaub as Schaub Design Group in 1992, the firm steadily developed its network of clientele in the St. Louis area. Decades later, in 2012, Schaub teamed up with high-end residential expert Robert Srote. The firm earned the Five Star Award of the Architecture International Property Awards and the distinction of St. Louis Design Hall of Famer. After Schaub’s retirement in 2018, Srote fully took charge of the company’s leadership. He is an MBA alumnus of Maryville University and a published author of a book that examined the collapse of the housing and financial sectors in the early 21st century.
Seen in the pages of Sophisticated Living and St. Louis Homes + Lifestyles, the firm is experienced in complex home styles, including Farmhouse, Tudor, and Manor. The addition project featured here is a massive work that includes a porch with an outdoor kitchen, expanded pool deck, five-car garage, and a grotto. The firm included natural stone and brick details along with wooden ceilings.
Trillium Architects
409 Main St., Ridgefield, CT 06877
Run by a seven-person team, Trillium Architects is a boutique architectural firm accomplished in Net Zero, passive, and off-the-grid homes. Led by Elizabeth DiSalvo, the firm serves Western Connecticut and New York’s Hudson Valley. The firm is an advocate of healthy and efficient homes. Trillium uses all-natural materials that are free of volatile organic compounds and toxic properties. These materials are installed with careful consideration of their possible effects on indoor air quality. The firm also believes in fair-trade architecture, where the charge honestly reflects the work.
The addition featured here is a complementary take on a 1960s carriage house. The mirrored property has a garage and a guest space that creates a buffer between the existing house and the main road. The firm cleverly used a barrel-vaulted walkway to connect the two-car garage and the original house. This home is a testament that clever design makes homes gorgeous and functional.
Wentworth Studio
8401 Connecticut Ave., Ste. #310 Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Since 2004, Wentworth, Inc. has designed and built luxury home remodeling projects in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia metro area. The firm offers architectural design, interior design, and construction remodeling services. Bruce Wentworth, AIA a prominent name in remodeling, serves as the company president. He has lengthy experience in home remodeling projects that have been featured by The New York Times and House Beautiful. He also writes about architecture and featured projects in Architecture DC, Washingtonian, and Luxury Homes. His leadership has helped the firm earn multiple NARI Contractor of the Year awards.
The firm offers cost-effective and comprehensive design-build services for various home styles. The project featured here is a home in the American University Park neighborhood of N.W. Washington, DC that features a three-season room, elevated screened porch. The home addition has a tranquil and cozy feel that is perfect for the D.C. neighborhood where it is located.
To learn more about Bruce and Wentworth, Inc., you can visit his website here.
