The Best Residential Architects and Designers in Washington DC

Working with an experienced architect can be the difference in making your vision come to life. Finding the right residential architect in

Washington, DC can be challenging. You need a professional you can trust with your dream home, and with the complexities of design, construction, and budgeting, this decision is crucial. The right architect can design a space that fits your style and remains relevant for many years, making this a key step in creating a home that inspires and suits your lifestyle. Residential projects in the nation’s capital typically range from $150,000 to $450,000. Still, high-end custom homes often exceed $500,000, depending on size, design intricacy, and materials.

With project timelines extending up to 18 months, selecting the right architect is vital to ensure a smooth process and a successful outcome.
Washington, DC, home to around 671,000 people, showcases a rich and diverse architectural landscape. This diversity mirrors the city’s deep historical roots and dynamic urban development. The median home value here is $660,000, highlighting residents’ importance on quality construction and design. Drawing from permit data sourced from the building department, there are approximately 317 contractors specializing in custom home projects in Washington. This wealth of options underscores the city’s vibrant construction industry, offering a spectrum of architectural expertise to cater to varied tastes and requirements.

With so many options for residential architects Washington, DC, the process can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry—this guide is here to help. Whether you’re dreaming of a modern masterpiece or a timeless classic, finding the right architect is key to bringing your vision to life, as the right one can help you with energy efficiency, space utilization, and sustainability. We’ll explore some of the top residential architects in Washington, DC, highlighting their skills, styles, and dedication to excellence.

Overview: The Best Residential Architects and Designers in Washington DC

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

Donald Lococo Architects

3413 1/2 M Street NW, Suite A, Washington, DC 20007

Donald Lococo Architects is noted for its expertise across the architectural spectrum. It does not confine itself to modern or conventional styles. Lococo’s artistic background is evident in his designs: he studied piano performance at the Royal Conservatory before getting his undergraduate degree. He subsequently earned his Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan. Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and House Beautiful, among others, have featured Lococo’s residences.

The firm is regarded as one of the DC area’s most unique, elevating living spaces while never crafting two homes. Lococo has received Benjamin Moore’s internationally renowned Hue Award, was a Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove First Place Kitchen Design Contest Global Winner, and was Southern Living’s Best New House. It has also been recognized with awards by many American Institute of Architects chapters. He has also served as a judge of architecture for the AIA, national magazines, and the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art.

Kube Architecture, PC

818 18th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006

Kube Architecture, PC is best known for highlighting the importance of light, color, texture, and materiality in their work. The firm is dedicated to developing solutions for spaces that cater to working and living in the built environment. The company uses only the best materials and industry techniques. It comprises a talented group of specialists with various skills and talents.

Kube Architecture, PC strongly supports the environment and goes above and above to help the cause. It uses green components whenever possible to ensure its projects are energy-efficient and long-lasting.

Gardner Architects, LLC.

1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 330, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Gardner Architects LLC is a residential architecture firm that focuses on aesthetically crafted, sustainable structures and places. The firm’s work is site-specific, detail-oriented, and client-centric, having been developed during three decades of professional practice. Notoriety as one of the leading residential architects in Washington, DC, led to its inclusion in the 2018 Washington Post article.

Gardner Architects is led by Amy E. Gardner, FAIA, LEED-AP, who has taught at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation since 1989. Amy was the founding coordinator and driving force behind Arch 600/611 Integrated Design Studio and Advanced Technology courses. This program received multiple honors, including an AIA Education Honor Award, an ACSA Teaching Award, a Lilly Center for Teaching Excellence Award, and an NCARB Prize for the Creative Integration of Teaching and Practice in the Academy.

Wiedemann Architects, LLC

5272 River Road, Suite 610, Bethesda, MD 20814

Wiedemann Architects is a full-service architectural company with over 30 years of award-winning design experience. The firm’s portfolio contains both traditional and modern designs. It also includes streamlined residential additions sympathetic to older structures—additions so clean they seem like they have always been there.

Wiedemann Architects LLC has a range of experience and a standard of eminence in design, as revealed by the firm’s numerous architectural awards under the supervision of Gregory Wiedemann as founding principal.

Gregory formerly served as a partner of Muse-Wiedemann Architects. This firm quickly became one of the leading design firms in the Washington area. Mr. Wiedemann is NCARB certified and has professional architectural registration in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, and North Carolina. Mr. Wiedemann is NCARB certified and has professional architectural registration in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, and North Carolina. Apart from his practice, he has been a constituent of the design and technology faculties of the School of Architecture at the University of Maryland and a faculty member of Johns Hopkins University, where he taught a design course in the real estate development program.

DW Ricks Architects + Associates

3300 N Fairfax Drive, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22201

DW Ricks Architects + Associates (DWRA) is an Arlington-based full-service Architecture firm. DWRA is known for being an approachable and easy firm to work with. It values its clients as collaborative partners and is instrumental in helping shape its work.

DWRA’s commitment to residential work has made it a leading home design firm in the DC Metro region. The firm has been recognized by numerous design awards, published in leading shelter magazines, and featured in newspaper articles and television. DWRA has designed and built over 200 residences..

Some periodicals featuring the firm’s projects are Home & Design, Arlington Magazine, Best of Better Homes & Gardens, Cottage Living, Southern Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Architecture DC, The Washington Post, and The Northern Virginia Sun Weekly.

CHECA Architects, PC

2336 Wisconsin Avenue NW, #32130, Washington, DC 20007

CHECA Architects was built on the idea that good design speaks to the distinct sensitivities of its clients and reflects who they are. The firm possesses the knowledge and creative ability to convey and design practical solutions. A part of the top ​​architects in Washington DC it blends goals, objectives, and lifestyle considerations into a shared vision and a distinct design approach by working directly with clients. Its main goal is to achieve a harmonic interaction of form, light, and space while appreciating the natural beauty of the surroundings and boosting the human spirit. CHECA’s mark as a full-service firm is its ability to attend to every well-crafted detail, from lighting to landscaping, to build attractive, modern homes in the city, the country, or anywhere in between.

Lorena Checa is the visionary and principal architect for CHECA Architects of CHECA Architects. Her exposure to innovative design, diverse perspectives, a lifetime of travel, and an innate passion for sustainability influence her craft. Her design approach is rooted in ancient wisdom and informed by science. She can uniquely incorporate modern technologies and materials to enrich the human experience and create new paradigms for ecologically sensitive architecture.

Cunningham | Quill Architects

1054 31st Street NW, Suite 315, Washington, DC 20007

Cunningham Quill Architects is based in historic Georgetown’s Canal Square. The firm applies new and inventive methodologies to each of its projects. It is led by its namesakes, Ralph Cunningham and Lee Quill, who have over five decades of combined expertise.

The firm is founded on the values of teamwork and social responsibility. It handles all aspects of a project and specializes in everything from master plans to interior makeovers. The firm also contributes to advancing its local community by completing various pro bono projects that aid non-profit organizations.

McInturff Architects

4220 Leeward Place, Bethesda, MD 20816

McInturff Architects, based in Bethesda, is dedicated to creating modern, finely crafted projects. Its complete architectural and interior design services are based on meaningful client communication, the kind of communication that connects meaningfully to the individual needs of the users. One of the top ​​architects in Washington DC, it was featured in the 2018 Washingtonian article.

The firm has won more than 320 design accolades, including three AIA Institute Honor Awards, two for Interior Architecture and one for urban design. The projects have been widely published locally, nationally, and internationally. They are the subject of three monographs published by the Images Publishing Group of Australia: In Detail: McInturff Architects (2001), In Residence: McInturff Architects (2007), and In House: McInturff Architects (2013).

Barnes Vanze Architects

1000 Potomac Street NW, Suite L-2, Washington, DC 20007

Barnes Vanze Architects was founded by Anthony “Ankie” Barnes and Stephen Vanze. Barnes earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, and his Master of Architecture from Yale University. Vanze completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Brown University and his Master of Architecture degree at the University of Virginia. They are both Fellows within the AIA.

The firm specializes in traditional design and is popular in the DC area, it has won multiple prizes, including the Palladio Awards from the Traditional Building and the Awards for Excellence from the DC Chapter of the AIA. Barnes Vanze Architects has also been featured in numerous print and online publications. Its staff of  23 includes six principals and a professional studio team. Barnes Vanze has also completed projects nationally and internationally, with some of its most significant work located everywhere from Canada to the Caribbean.

Bonstra | Haresign Architects

1728 14th Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009

Bonstra | Haresign Architects is motivated by the idea that design improves environments and inspires people. The firm believes in architecture’s ability to enhance and rejuvenate the physical environment and the world’s economic and social problems. It is a firm of 30 highly qualified and creative architects, designers, and problem solvers who thrive on discovering innovative solutions to city and neighborhood concerns. It was founded in the heart of Washington, DC, by William J. Bonstra and David Haresign.

The company operates in a collaborative studio setting, with each team member contributing to all project conception, development, and implementation aspects. The team values and promotes open dialogue on architectural concepts and client solutions.

Moore Architects, PC

105 N Maple Avenue, Suite 100, Falls Church, VA 22046

Moore Architects, PC, is mainly a residential design company that has completed over 300 projects in the Washington, D.C. area. It was launched by Charles Moore, who completed his Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech. Moore Architects, PC, has been acknowledged nationally by the AIA, the Washington Architectural Foundation, and the Arlington County Preservation Design Awards Program.

One of the leading ​​architects in Washington, DC, Moore Architects, has been featured in publications such as Home Magazine, Fine Homebuilding Magazine, Architectural Digest, Southern Living Magazine, Washingtonian Magazine, and The Washington Post. Its projects were likewise featured on HGTV’s Dream Home and What You Get for the Money programs. Moore Architects provides clients with a hands-on approach throughout the process and offers a full range of services.

ISTUDIO Architects

1400 16th Street NW, Suite 130, Washington, DC 20036

ISTUDIO was formed to build artistic, sustainable communities. It focuses on original, creative, and well-reasoned design solutions for each customer, regardless of project type. STUDIO believes that good design will improve quality of life by enhancing living places.

Since its launch, the studio has enjoyed working with clients and collaborators locally and beyond. The company has won awards for its design work and its commitment to community development and sustainability. Its team vows to continue providing a blueprint for inspirational places to live, work, learn, and play.

Known as one of the renowned architects in Washington DC, it is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the US Green Building Council (USGBC), and the American Planning Association (APA).

Bennett Frank Mccarthy Architects, Inc.

1400 Spring Street, Suite 320, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Bennett Frank McCarthy specializes in a wide range of architectural services. The firm’s design process is also structured to tailor services to each client and their project requirements. The firm is dedicated to its customers and thinks architecture and community design work best when context is considered.

Bennett Frank McCarthy works in an open studio environment to promote the free flow of ideas among team members. It enjoys the planning and construction phases and looks forward to each new project, finding each one educational, intriguing, and entertaining.

The firm maintains memberships with the National Council on Seniors Housing, the Housing Association of Non-profitNon-profit Developers, the Maryland Society American Institute of Architects, and the Assisted Living Federation of America.

EL Studio

1319 Naylor Court NW, Washington, DC 20001

Elizabeth Emerson, AIA, and Mark Lawrence, AIA, started EL Studio almost 20 years ago and have over two decades of design expertise. The practice specializes in new designs for demanding projects through collaboration and rethinking standard techniques and materials. It also handles complex situations and attempts to review standard processes and materials through study and experimentation. EL works with design partners to provide solutions specific to the difficulties and opportunities presented on each project. It serves as its clients’ advocates, building knowledge of their current and future demands.

Best known as one of the top residential architects in Washington DC it has performed many projects. Some of its projects include the Syracuse University School of Architecture and the U.S. Embassies in Rabat, Morocco, and Vienna, Austria. Lawrence has also served diverse projects with companies in D.C. and L.A., such as the U.S. Federal Courthouse in San Diego and the UCLA Broad School Art Center.

GTM Architects

7735 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20814

GTM Architects is a full-service design company with offices in Bethesda and Washington, DC. The firm is organized into collaborative studios led by professionals in specific fields.

GTM Architects’ president and founder is George T. Myers. He graduated from the University of Maryland and earned a Master’s in Architecture. The Commercial Studio’s principal, Rick Conrath, earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Houston and a Master of Science in Landscape Architecture from Harvard University. GTM Architects has been featured by The Business Journals, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, GlobeSt, Commercial Observer, Arlington Magazine, Patch, The Seattle Times, and Bethesda Magazine. 

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 Washington DC 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.