What they do
Architect-led design-build: one firm designs and builds modern custom homes.
Licensed architects in VA, MD and DC; Virginia Class A contractor; registered Maryland home builder.
Where they work
Great Falls, McLean, Arlington, Reston, Leesburg, Bethesda, Chevy Chase.
Reviews and recognition
- Published project size: Typical job $2M-$5M (as listed on Houzz).
- Google: 4.9 from 34 reviews (checked October 17, 2026).
- Houzz: 30 reviews, 5.0.
- Recognition: 15 Best of Houzz awards (2012-2026); Northern Virginia Magazine Best Contractor (2017).
Architect, design-build or builder?
With an independent architect you get drawings first, then bid them out to builders, which takes longer but lets you compare prices on one design. A design-build firm (an architect and builder under one roof) is faster and gives you one point of contact, but you lose the competitive bid. Some builders on our builder list design in house too.
What a custom home architect does
Most residential architects work in the same stages: schematic design (rough layouts and massing), design development (materials, structure and systems), construction documents (the detailed drawings a builder prices and the permit office reviews), help with permits, and often construction administration, visiting the site to check the work matches the drawings. Ask which stages are included in the fee.
Questions worth asking
- How many new custom homes have you designed in the last five years, and can I see two?
- How do you charge: a percentage of construction, hourly, or a fixed fee?
- Will you help me pick a builder and visit the site during construction?
- Have you dealt with the permit office for my town?
Check a Virginia architect’s license on the DPOR lookup.
Sources
Last checked October 17, 2026. Something wrong? Ask for a correction.