The Best Residential Architects in North Carolina

Last updated on July 11th, 2024 at 12:01 pm

Embarking on a residential construction project in North Carolina requires careful consideration and the right expertise. A residential architect’s role is crucial in avoiding common pitfalls in the construction process. These professionals bring the knowledge to maximize space utilization, optimize energy efficiency, and incorporate sustainable materials. Additionally, they add artistic flair and unique design elements that reflect your personality, ensuring your home is functional and beautiful.

In North Carolina, with an average project cost ranging from $150,000 to $450,000 and potentially reaching up to $600,000, selecting the right architect can make a significant difference. The cost per square foot averages $71.32, and projects typically take up to nine months to complete. Given these stakes, the expertise of a residential architect is invaluable in managing timelines and budgets effectively.

North Carolina, home to approximately 10.7 million people and a median home value of $332,265, boasts a vibrant real estate market. With 2,267 relevant contractors in the state, particularly in areas like Raleigh, finding the right professional can be overwhelming. This article highlights some of the best residential architects in Raleigh NC, known for their creativity, reliability, and proven track records. Whether you want to build a modern urban home or a charming suburban retreat, these architects have the skills and vision to bring your dream home to life.

Overview: The Best Residential Architects in North Carolina

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

Sophie Piesse Architect

302 W Weaver Street, Suite F, Carrboro, NC 27510

Sophie Piesse is an incredible architect dedicated to serving the people by creating thoughtful and intensive designs. Wanting to accomplish more on a bigger scale, she decided to establish Sophie Piesse Architect in 2005, and since then, she has aided and served her community through architectural services. 

Working alongside Sophie is Luisa Pedrosa, a skilled architect whose passions lie in art, design, and nature. The firm strengthens the communities it works in while emphasizing diversity and support. It achieves greatness through various collaborations, extensive design processes and phases, and passionate performance. 

A notable example of the firm’s work is Modern Home in Mebane. This project has a timeless style and seamless modern design. It is a mid-sized home with well-managed space, appropriate materials, and furniture to complement its modern style. The home offers a premium feel and experience for residents to enjoy.

Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect

440 Bayberry Dr., Chapel Hill, NC  27517

What separates multi-award-winning firm Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, from the other architects is that it understands how each project is about more than designing an exceptional space. It recognizes how its spaces transform peoples’ lives and lifestyles and is dedicated to doing so.

The woman behind the firm and its success is Arielle Schechter, AIA, a registered architect whose artistic passion and devotion have led her to pursue architecture and eventually establish her top-tier firm. Her specialty is Modern designs, sustainable and practical methods, and incorporating natural light in each home’s setting.

A fine example of the firm’s accomplished projects is Wolf-Huang Residence on Lake Orange, a unique and special home in its location and neighborhood. This modern home is situated beside a lake and is designed to face the beautiful outlook of the lake, landscape, and sunset beyond it. It has high-end materials, furniture, and premium amenities that promote a lavish yet calm lifestyle within the residence.

Kersting Architecture

4022 Market Street Suite 201, Wilmington, NC 28403

Kersting Architecture, founded by Michael Ross Kersting, AIA, is dedicated to elevating the living space and impacting a community. The firm achieves this through a personalized, streamlined, and efficient design approach and provides clients with attractive residential spaces tailored to their needs. 

Michael is the driving force behind the firm’s progressive nature. He embraces the challenges of turning a client’s vision into their dream home. As an NCARB-certified architect, he leads the firm’s team in providing the best design solutions. The firm has received eighteen awards, including being named one of Ocean Homes’ Top 50 Coastal Interior Designers in 2020. 

Nestled on a natural landscape with a view of the beach’s rolling waves, the firm aimed to harmonize this featured home with the scenic environment. Mobius House is a modern beach house that reflects a complex yet subtle combination of materials and space, from the wooden deck and functional outdoor pool to the sleek kitchen and living room. The house is decorated with numerous glass windows to provide its residents with a stunning view of the beach and the environment from every vantage point.

Grant Group Architecture

1502 West NC 54, Suite 602, Durham, North Carolina 27707

With over three decades of experience, Grant Group Architecture has offered the region of North Carolina excellent architectural design and planning solutions. The firm’s work is clearly recognizable through its competent farmhouse, cottage, and contemporary home designs. Its consistency, high-quality designs, and efficient planning services have made it one of North Carolina’s leading design firms.

Brian Grant, a Master of Architecture graduate of North Carolina State University’s College of Design, is one of the firm’s leaders who provides significant insight into the residential projects the firm manages. Brian and his team deliver unique yet effective design concepts that meet their client’s objectives by utilizing a comprehensive, tailored, and sustainable approach. His past works have been featured in various publications, such as The News Observer.

This featured project is the Lakkas Residence, a beautiful home nestled in the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina. This house blends well with the area’s eclectic and modest scene through its large screened porch and simple balconies. The firm pays extra attention to natural light by grouping the kitchen, dining area, and living room in a spacious, light-filled design.

Vellum Architecture and Design

188 Charlotte St, #3 Asheville, NC 28803

A highly esteemed, internationally acknowledged firm, Vellum Architecture and Design represents what architecture offers, blending a property into its surroundings. The firm creates homes that contrast and complement its nature to elevate its atmosphere, design, and identity. 

The firm’s founding principal architect, Mark Rudolf, is leading it. Mark is a specialized architect who is registered and licensed in multiple states in the country. He has also traveled throughout Europe. He has gained substantial knowledge of the architecture present there and has used that knowledge, along with his pre-existing architecture skills, to found Vellum and share his craft with the firm. This has led to the firm being recognized globally, with additional certifications such as NCARB and LEED AP.

Featured below is a contemporary-style home, Two Creeks Residence. It primarily has wood and stone as the materials of the house, which are both incorporated well to provide a rich, luxurious finish to the design. This beautiful home has six bedrooms, a huge kitchen, game rooms, and guest rooms, which offer various benefits to its residents. It also has a beautiful balcony, which offers an outlook toward the striking scenic landscape beyond it.

James S. Collins, Architect

1700 N. Elm Street, G4, Greensboro, NC 27408

Operating for over twenty years, James S. Collins, Architect, remains passionate about the architectural context and craft produced in each project. Among the associations that have accredited the firm are the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, North Carolina Chapter, AIA, and NCARB. Hailed as one of the preferred residential architects in Raleigh, NC, it was also awarded during the 2016 Residential Design Awards Grand ARDA for Custom Homes.

The incredible architect behind the firm is President James Collins, who has an exceptional work history. Before establishing the previous firm, he worked with several others who are also successful in the architectural industry and have actively participated in other firms. Now that he has his firm, he uses the knowledge gained from these activities to hone his craft.

Featured is Georgian Residence, an eye-catching federal revival-style home that emphasizes simplicity in living. With a simple, rectangular shape, the home offers a compact yet organized space that provides enough space for residents to feel at ease. It also has a neutral color scheme of mostly white, with a few hints of black for contrast, adding to the clean atmosphere.

Dawn Christine, Architect PLLC

701 East Chatham Street, Suite 205, Cary, NC 27511

Dawn Christine Architect, PLLC, is one of the top choices for clients looking for reliable, outstanding architectural services. With a specialized team of experienced personnel, the firm visualizes and actualizes a client’s dream home to perfection. From conceptualization to construction, the firm is happy to guide clients in every step. Among the best architects in North Carolina, it was acknowledged in the 2021 Build Magazine’s Best Full-Service Architecture Firm – North Carolina.

The firm has won multiple awards during its nine years of service, with prizes including the International Property Award in the category of Residential Interior Private Residence for Standard to Stately for North Carolina (2020), Architecture Award Winners (2020), and Rethinking The Future Awards (2020). It has also been certified by AIA and LEED. 

The firm mainly manages the craftsman, bungalow, and modern home styles, and it has the skill set to incorporate other styles in its projects. An example is Colonial Craftsman, a home that takes on the two styles as its design. The firm carefully planned the project to be built on the landscape around it and to let in natural light. It emphasizes modern living and has the proper design and amenities to accentuate it.

STITCH design shop

630 N. Liberty Street, Suite 301, Winston Salem, NC

Since its inception, this award-winning architectural and interior design firm has delivered highly personalized and fresh design solutions. STITCH design shop was established to bring its clientele novel concepts that represented their unique character while exceeding expectations for a project. 

The firm is constantly one of the premier design studios in the Southeast, developing new and groundbreaking ideas for residential homes. Its devoted and professional staff has gathered over 20 design accolades quickly. Among these awards are the North Carolina Merit Award and the North Carolina Honor Award from the AIA in 2020. The firm was also recently featured in the Triad Business Journal, Metropolis, and Winston-Salem Journal.

The Fala Residence is one of STITCH design shop’s noteworthy residential homes in North Carolina. This house makes the most of its natural surroundings through a well-lit, flexible, modern design incorporating high-quality wood graining and clean lines. The house’s interior offers bright and minimalistic areas that utilize the architectural dynamic, which is enhanced with creative furniture. This modern home, amid a green landscape, honors the undervalued relationship of the living environment with nature, aided by the firm’s distinctive and enduring approach.

Pursley Dixon Architecture

311 Atherton Street, Charlotte, NC 28203

Pursley Dixon Architecture focuses on bringing fresh designs and ideas to create beautiful and thoughtful spaces that elevate residents’ lives and experiences. It employs an adaptive approach, adjusting to client’s needs and offering comprehensive solutions to their problems to design meaningful homes suited to each of them.

Due to the firm’s committed performance and quality service, it has stayed in the spotlight long enough for several known publications to recognize it officially. These include Traditional Home, Luxe Interiors + Design, The Classicist, and Beautiful Homes. It has also earned awards like the Southern Living Home of the Year award in 2015.

The English Garden Cottage is one of the firm’s notable works and is included in its portfolio. Both the interior and exterior evoke a striking and natural home feeling. Because the home consists of garden rooms, residents can live inside and outside. The house’s amenities include an open courtyard, a pool house and pool, a master bedroom, and outdoor spaces.

Acanthus Architecture

1124 Brookstown Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Acanthus Architecture is a multifaceted firm that offers a wide array of architectural services over different market sectors. The firm typically takes on projects within North Carolina but also manages projects from outside of the area, which demonstrates its versatile nature. Also, it has consistently implemented a sustainable and practical approach to its projects to ensure that it has a positive environmental impact.

For over twenty-six years, the firm has accomplished several projects: colonial, craftsman, mid-century, modern, and classic styles of homes. Because of its carefully planned design methods, it has earned the praise of many, including the recognition of associations such as AIA and LEED.

A prime example of what the firm can accomplish is this elegant craftsman home, Steamboat Springs House. With entailed woodwork, the home employs a rustic atmosphere. The firm chose the location to suit the firm’s desire for a space that overlooks the slopes below it, pairing the rustic design with an earthy feel. It has multiple facilities like a dining room and kitchen, a spa terrace, and large recreation rooms.

BuildSense

502 Rigsbee Ave, Suite 201, Durham, NC 27701

BuildSense is a leading architecture firm that always gives each client’s dream house a distinct style and perspective. The firm believes that the essential basis for a remarkable home is a strong understanding of the client’s goals.  This dedication to grasping the vision of a project, along with the firm’s two-decade experience, enables the company to commit to each project. As a result, the firm provides unique design solutions that surpass the expectations of its clientele.  

The firm’s portfolio has been recognized with national and local awards, such as the Guildmaster Award for Service Excellence in 2018. One of the leading architects in North Carolina, it was also featured in a 2018 Architect Magazine article.

Featured below is the Urban Courtyard, one of the firm’s remarkable projects in Durham, North Carolina. BuildSense focused on choosing materials for this fantastic residential home that gave the room a feeling of strength and tonal colors, complementing its green setting. The two-story home welcomes its residents with a unique living space filled with natural light and modern design, set in a striking environment.

Vines Architecture Inc LLC

530 HILLSBOROUGH STREET, RALEIGH, NC 27603

Vines Architecture is driven by its passion for building strong and healthy customer-client relationships. It believes that forming a trusted bond between both parties and collaborating accordingly is critical in accomplishing successful projects. It stands on its principle of listening closely to each client for careful and comprehensive planning and designing. 

Leading the firm is president Victor Vines, AIA, and LEED AP, who manages it and supervises the projects. His excellent work history is becoming even more evident during his leadership at the firm. Under his management, the firm has managed to earn several awards, such as the AIA Triangle Honor Award (2019), the AIA NC Honor Award (2019), and the AIA NC Merit Award (2019).

Collins House is a beautiful residential work by Vines Architecture. This home results from an addition and renovation project that the firm executed on an existing traditional home. Initially, it had many flaws and design errors, but the firm worked on it to transform it into a visually appealing and practical home.

Harbinson Architects

1311 Brookstown Avenue, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27101  

Harbinson Architectss is an architectural firm that emphasizes flexibility and personalization. It offers services for varying complexes and sizes and consistently meets its clients’ needs and desires. The firm also values each client’s home and always makes it unique to the individual. 

For 16 years, the firm has been outstanding in serving the area and its people. For this reason, it has been featured in multiple publications such as The New York Times, The Luxury Home, Architectural Record, and ENR. It has also won the AIA Design Award, AIA Religious Architecture Design Award, and NC AIA Design Award.

Rustic Stone Cottage is one example that meets the firm’s standards. This cottage-style home features wood and stone materials as the base and primary components, adding to its earthy feel. It is set on a hill landscape, with an overview of the lovely, tranquil scenery just outside the wooden doors and stone doorstep. Its interior also includes classic, rustic furniture, contributing to the inviting atmosphere.

Mermans Architecture & Design, PLLC

2108 South Blvd, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28203

Mermans Architecture & Design, PLLC, is an architectural and design firm devoted to delivering design solutions founded on innovation and timelessness. In the past thirteen years, the firm has been a prominent figure in the residential industry for its diverse experience designing homes of varying styles. The firm’s works have been featured in several publications, including the Charlotte Business Journal and Rue Magazine.

This custom home in Charlotte’s Foxcroft area is an English Revival house beautifully designed by the firm. The parge-finish brick facade with dark shiplap accents and the high, arching rooflines produce a timeless exterior in the neighborhood. It also features an elegant driveway connecting the home to the surrounding community.

Duffy-Magas + Associates

301 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28207

For over 26 years, Don Duffy Architecture has provided custom homes that have always succeeded in exceeding its clients’ expectations. Renowned for being one of the leading architects in North Carolina, it values its relationships with its clients and seeks to build long, trustworthy bonds with them to pave the way for repeated businesses with loyal customers. These clients also noted several positive reviews of the firm’s timeless designs and seamless design planning. The AIA, Institute of Classical Architecture, and Congress of Residential Architecture in Charlotte are several organizations that commend the firm for its positive efforts and splendid architecture.

This featured home below is CLASSIC, a residential property that blends beautifully with the nature around it. The house’s exterior utilizes wood and bricks as the primary components and is colored with a light theme for a warm atmosphere. The house’s interior uses wood for most of the space, employing a primarily rustic theme. These are found in the vinyl floors, wooden fixtures, and cozy furniture. Some parts of the house also include marble and granite as the primary materials, which add to that premium experience.

The Raleigh Architecture Company

716 S. Saunders St., Raleigh, NC 27603

Since its inception a decade ago, The Raleigh Architecture Company has progressively built a solid reputation as one of Raleigh’s premier residential design firms. Its independent partner, the Raleigh Construction Company, has provided Raleigh’s clientele with outstanding contemporary and modern house designs and high-quality general contracting services.

Founder Robby Johnston has been behind the firm’s propel to success since the last decade. His involvement in the first LEED-certified buildings in the region, recognized by multiple awards, has allowed clients to trust in the firm’s sustainable and cost-effective home designs. In recent years, the firm’s awards include the 2020 AIA South Atlantic Regional Honor Award, the 2020 AIA NC Honor Award, and the 2019 AIA NC Merit Award. Among the top architects in North Carolina, it was also featured in a 2017 Archinect article.

The private home in a mixed-use urban area is featured below, the Chappell-Smith Residence. Its sleek design emphasizes minimalism, which accentuates modern living. The home features a carefully-designed interior to fit the owner’s living space, including a double-height residential area with garden views.

Louis Cherry Architecture

222 North Bloodworth Street, Raleigh, NC . 27601

Louis Cherry Architecture is a responsive architectural practice that treats every project as an opportunity to enrich the human experience and improve communities. Each task is handled by a skilled team with understanding and devotion, resulting in excellent design solutions. With its professional and sustainable design approach, the firm has worked on various projects in less than a decade, from libraries and restaurants to schools and residential spaces.

Principal Architect Louis Cherry, FAIA, LEED AP, spearheads the firm with his holistic and intricate design approaches. Louis brings over three decades of experience in modern residential homes and commercial spaces to the firm. He also has 20 years of experience teaching design studios and professional practice as an NCSU College of Design educator. 

Featured below is the Modern Country House, a lovely home nestled on top of a green landscape that blends well with the cozy environment it reflects. The home features a sleek interior design with luxurious furniture and a spacious backyard with an outdoor pool. The rooms are surrounded by glass walls that allow natural light to flow throughout the home. 

Kevin Pfirman Architect, PLLC

307 Martin St., Wilmington, NC 28401

Kevin Pfirman Architect, PLLC is an architectural firm that delivers AIA-accredited projects and complete architectural design and planning services throughout North Carolina. Among the renowned architects in North Carolina, the firm specializes in complex projects with a high degree of client service and specific attention to the environment, climate, and building site. 

The essential concept in each project the firm undertakes is to provide the best design quality to its community while leaving a lasting and positive environmental impact. This sustainable approach has allowed the firm to be featured in several publications, including WECT News and SALT Magazine.

This featured project reflects the firm’s commitment to delivering excellent design solutions. The design of this project, the Bald Eagle’s Nest, combines iconic old Nags Head/Outer Banks vernacular beach cottages from the early 1920s and the late 1800s California Craftsman style. The house’s interior was designed to use the best solar orientation, vistas, and breezes and provide its residents with a grand environment of spaciousness.

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of architects, 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 North Carolina 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.