Do You Really Need an Architect for a Home Renovation?
There’s a common belief that you don’t need an architect unless you're building from the ground up. Renovating? Just call a contractor and a designer, right?
Maybe. But here’s the thing: most of the time, when you're adjusting walls, layouts, rooflines, or how spaces connect—you’re actually reshaping how your home functions. And function is design.
Design vs. Decoration
Not all renovations require an architect—but many benefit from one. If you’re removing walls, modifying a staircase, or adjusting the footprint or roofline of your home, you’re not just making construction changes—you’re rethinking how your space works.
These changes aren’t just cosmetic. They affect structure, circulation, light, safety, zoning, and the relationship between spaces. An architect is trained to see those layers all at once—to anticipate how one decision might impact others across the house.
Architects bring years of education and technical knowledge to this kind of work. We understand the physical and spatial consequences of altering your home’s layout—what happens when you open up a floor plan, lower a ceiling, shift a stair, or punch through an exterior wall. We consider structure, building codes, insulation, natural light, movement patterns, and long-term flexibility—all while shaping a cohesive design.
In short: we don’t just make it look good. We make sure it works—on every level.
While decorators focus on how a space looks, architects focus on how it lives. We think in plan, in section, and across systems. And we ensure that what gets built feels purposeful, aligned, and lasting.
Hire an Architect First
Too often, homeowners go straight to builders for advice on layout and design. But when the person drawing your plans is also trying to sell you construction services, design can become a byproduct of budget or speed—not a response to your life or site.
I always recommend bringing in an architect first—even for modest renovations. You need someone on your side who starts with your vision, not your square footage. Someone who can shape the big picture before it gets handed over to be built.
New Homes, Old Problems
Nowhere is this more apparent than in many of today’s new builds—white boxes with black asphalt roofs, oversized forms that ignore scale and context. These houses often feel dropped onto a site rather than grown from it. Massing becomes arbitrary, materials are generic, and landscape is treated as an afterthought. They are houses for anyone—not homes designed for someone.
This approach can diminish the fabric of a neighborhood. When every lot is maxed out for square footage and resale value, we lose something—proportion, privacy, trees, texture, light. Good design resists that impulse. It listens to the site. It preserves scale, character, and materials that belong. It integrates rather than imposes.
A Personal Belief
I believe residential design should do more than deliver square footage. It should shape meaningful spaces, respond to context, and feel rooted. Whether I’m working on a small intervention or a full build, my goal is to help create homes that feel lived-in, lasting, and quietly distinctive—not just marketable assets.
In short:
If you’re planning a renovation, hire an architect first.
They’ll help ensure your project is thoughtful, functional, and fundamentally aligned with how you want to live.
Here’s how I approach this kind of work - Read more about my services
If you’re curious to hear from other designers, Architectural Digest has a great piece:
Architectural Digest, “Survive Your Reno: Hire an Architect and Designer”