The Best Residential Architects in Knoxville, Tennessee

Last updated on October 9th, 2024 at 01:59 am

Building a home is one of the most significant investments, and finding the right residential architect is crucial to ensuring your vision becomes a reality. In Knoxville, Tennessee, residential projects typically range from $150,000 to $300,000, with high-end projects reaching $550,000 or more, depending on size, design, and materials. The timeline for these projects can stretch up to 12 weeks, though unforeseen challenges are common in construction.

Knoxville, home to approximately 195,889 residents, boasts a median home value of $430,000. This thriving city blends urban amenities with scenic beauty, making it an attractive place to build a home. Given the considerable investment, choosing a reliable contractor can significantly impact the project’s outcome, impacting time, cost, and overall stress levels.

A reputable contractor ensures the project is completed on time and within budget, minimizing unexpected costs and delays. A reliable contractor brings expertise that can enhance design ideas and quality of workmanship, ultimately delivering a finished project that meets or exceeds expectations, enhancing the value and livability of the home. If you’re looking to build a home in Knoxville and need a trustworthy architect, you’re in the right place. This guide will introduce you to some of the best residential architects in Knoxville, TN, helping you navigate the selection process confidently and easily.

Overview: The Best Residential Architects in Knoxville, Tennessee

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more. 

Sanders Pace Architecture

514 West Jackson Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

Sanders Pace Architecture is an award-winning architecture firm that creates built environments of various types, scales, and complexity. With nearly two decades of experience, Sanders Pace Architecture has established a strong reputation for providing high-quality full-service architecture, planning, and design services to clients who seek thoughtful and progressive solutions. This Knoxville architect was featured in an article from the Wall Street Journal.

The Calloway Ridge House is a unique property on an eight-acre ridgetop overlooking the Smoky Mountains. It was once a 1950s suburban ranch house that Sanders Pace Architecture preserved the original shell of and added new spaces above and outside of its existing footprint. This stunning modern home with an exterior blends the original stucco base and IPE inserts with the upper level’s reverse board and batten siding, creating a unique contrasting pattern. Inside, the same lovely blend of materials can be found with the white oak flooring, walnut millwork, and built-ins that complement the white walls and trim. This 4,680-square-foot home won the AIA Tennessee Award of Excellence 2019.

Jonathan Miller Architecture & Design

4814 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919

With a great passion for classic design, Jonathan Miller Architecture & Design is best known for creating traditional, timeless homes in the area. The team believes their homes offer a lifetime of enjoyment, built for creating memories. It always strives to create homes that are visually striking and keep the needs of the end-users and the safety of the environment in mind at all times. This architect’s project in Knoxville, TN, was featured in an article from the Knoxville News Sentinel.

For its fantastic work in creating timeless homes, it was awarded the Knox Heritage Preservation Award back in 2019. Cityview Magazine also named it one of the Best of Knoxville for three years. One example of its proven ability to design classic homes is the Classic French Paradise project featured below. It embodies the French paradise atmosphere with its elegant stonework and layout. Large windows and arching wooden beams can be found lining the home, giving the exterior character that translates well into the lovely, expansive interior.

Barber McMurry Architects

505 Market Street, Suite 300, Knoxville, TN 37902

With a rich history of 106 years, Barber McMurry Architects is a firm that has devoted itself to superb design. The team believes this is born from how it continually works to improve its best practices across different markets, bringing a fresh new perspective to each project. As a result, the firm has been recognized with various awards, including the East Tennessee Preservation Award and AIA East Tennessee Design Award.

One of Barber McMurry’s award-winning works is featured below, the Boetger Residence. It’s a passion project residence designed and owned by the company’s Chad Boetger. This 2,789-square-foot home embraces the neighborhood’s abundance of natural light with its floor-to-ceiling windows in all the living and sleeping spaces over the Holston River. It’s also designed for maximum energy efficiency, as it’s positioned to allow the winter sun to passively heat the house during the cold months while overhangs provide shade during the warmer seasons. This home makes excellent use of innovative framing, continuous insulation wrap, energy-efficient LED lighting, and an HVAC system.

Elizabeth Eason Architecture

524 S Gay St., Suite 301, Knoxville, TN 37902

Sustainability is at the heart of Elizabeth Eason Architecture. With an AIA member and a LEED Fellow at the helm of the business, its team takes the time to find the perfect design solution to satisfy clients’ needs through sustainable means. Its impressive portfolio is filled with houses that take advantage of each site’s offers, evident in the home featured below. Principal Architect Elizabeth Eason is a LEED Fellow from USGBC, positioning the company as one of the reputable architects in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Azalea Lakehouse, a charming abode, is enveloped by the large trees in the area. Since the clients love the outdoors, the home was designed to utilize as much of it as possible, from its location near the waters to the view from its large corner windows. Cathedral ceilings top off the main level, kitchen, dining, and living spaces, while a partial second floor has additional bedrooms and a full bath under a gable roof. Outside, the family can enjoy the sun and the views from their large deck around the house and garage with unobstructed lake views.

Dollar & Ewers Architecture

11 E Jackson Ave., Suite 101, Knoxville, TN 37915

With over two decades of experience in design, Dollar & Ewers Architecture has an established reputation of being a hands-on firm, regardless of the project size or the market. It adds vibrance and life to each space it works on by combining form and function in the smallest details. This sort of practice has earned it a great reputation, backed by its AIA Tennessee Design Award in 2017.

Brian Ewers, AIA, LEEP AP, is at the helm of this detail-oriented firm. He is backed by more than three decades of experience and has remained committed to progress in terms of architecture and in serving his community. This is proven by his past leadership roles in AIA East Tennessee and the East Tennessee Community Design Center and his work in revitalizing his community by having the firm provide pro bono services for nonprofit and disadvantaged clients. With his continual push for growth, while remaining firmly grounded in the community, the firm has earned an exceptional reputation.

Below is the Residence on the Norris Lake project designed by Dollar & Ewers Architecture. It’s a 4,500-square-foot home that takes advantage of its location with its huge windows that line each part of the home. This modern design also features open spaces and natural materials, bringing in the natural light that the area of Norris Lake offers.

Rosser Design Studio

306 Creekmoor Dr., Jefferson City, TN 37760

Established by David William Rosser, Rosser Design Studio is a promising design firm specializing in residential and small commercial renovations, additions, and new construction. Rosser’s passion for creating things meaningfully translates into his design practice within the firm. The firm’s work revolves around defining the scope and scale of each project and finding creative solutions to meet each client’s practical needs, producing a stunning final product.

Rosser Design Studio’s talent for creating residential projects shines in the Westmoreland Blvd. The renovation is featured below. For this 4,900-square-foot project, the firm was hired to create dramatic changes to an outdated brick house in a great corner location. The work included upgrading the exterior with new windows, painted brick, a new front entrance, and an exterior sunroom and deck connecting the home to the backyard and pool. The new look consists of newly painted eggshell white walls, refinished floors, a new kitchen and bathrooms, and a complete overhaul of the living area that can now accommodate more guests in its welcoming atmosphere.

George Armour Ewart Architect

404 Bearden Park Circle, Knoxville, TN 37919

Since its establishment, George Armour Ewart Architects has designed various projects while maintaining high standards for each building. It works with the most knowledgeable and responsive industry professionals to ensure each project detail is up to standard, establishing itself as one of the leading architects in Knoxville, Tennessee. The firm is also accredited with the AIA East Tennessee, AIA Tennessee, AIA National, US Green Building Council, NCIDQ, ABC East Tennessee, Knoxville Chamber, and the East Tennessee Building Officials, which demonstrate the firm’s extensive knowledge and strong track record.

The Private Residence 3 project featured below is a fine example of George Armour Ewart Architect’s exceptional skills. It’s a unique modern home that utilizes clean, angular lines on its exterior, which translates well into its interior, which shows the same symmetry and balance in design. It’s a striking home with a unique showstopper element.

R2R Studio

2575 Willow Point Way, Suite 105, Knoxville, TN 37931

R2R Studio is best known for being an architecture firm that embraces an open environment and welcomes ideas from staff and clients. To ensure a home is truly designed for the client, it takes their ideas into a customized development process to ensure that every need is addressed, no matter the size of the project. It is important to the team that every voice is heard, and it strives to maintain a streamlined process that places a premium on collaboration. Through this strong foundation of teamwork and communication, each project receives the attention it deserves.

Below is R2R Studio’s work on the Henderson Residence, a 7,400-square-foot modern home in West Knoxville. This home embodies how the studio can translate the homeowners’ vision into a reality. The client wanted a home dictated by the principles of Vastu Shastra and the Indian culture that was centered around the wellness of the family and community. The design process integrated these principles into the building’s orientation and layout. The home also has energy-efficient features like strategically placed windows that take in natural lighting, water filtration, LED lighting, and HVAC systems.

Johnson Architecture

2240 Sutherland Ave., Suite 105, Knoxville, TN 37919

Johnson Architecture is a well-established design firm that provides architecture, planning, and full in-house interior design services to various markets. Throughout these ventures, its team has remained steadfast in its philosophy that great design combined with strong client service and attention to detail is what makes a home designing process stand out. Through the years, it has continuously held itself to high standards in all of its projects, which have been recognized with awards like the AIA Tennessee Merit Award, the Keep Knoxville Beautiful Award, the East Tennessee Historical Society Award of Distinction, and the East Tennessee Preservation Award.

An example of Johnson Architecture’s work on residential projects is the Lakefront Stone Cottage featured below. This private residence is located in a lovely planned community along Fort Loudon Lake in Knoxville. The home was designed with lake views and hosting family gatherings in mind. Upon entering the charming, stone-clad cottage, people are welcomed by immediate views of the water. The home is light and airy, with an inviting open layout.

WystWynd Designs

401 North Forest Park Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37919

For thirty-eight years, WystWynd Designs has remained steadfast in its commitment to designing refreshing and approachable homes, sparked by the founder Ric Mixon’s inspiring trip to the West Coast. Ric, a member of the AIA and a LEED AP certified architect, is an award-winning professional who has served on several national and regional AIA boards and completed Earthcraft training. This provided him with a skill set that combines building science with regional know-how to create buildings designed specifically for the communities they serve.

Below is an example of WystWynd’s work on single-family residentials, which shows a home built for the needs of Tennessee. Dubbed their Best Residence project, this cozy home features classic elements found inside its lovely monochrome brown exterior. Inside, people are welcomed by wooden details that are complemented well by the beige walls throughout the house, mimicking the woods surrounding this home’s exterior.

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of contractors, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the residential architects in the Knoxville area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.