Residential Architect
in Homewood, AL

Architectural fees in Homewood typically range from 10-15% of construction costs for custom homes, though design-build firms like River Brook often structure fees differently. Because River Brook combines architecture and construction, the pricing reflects the complete project rather than separate design and build contracts. Initial consultations help establish scope and budget. The team provides transparent cost guidance throughout the design process, ensuring your vision aligns with financial goals from the start. This commitment to clarity improves the experience and prevents surprises.

River Brook is one of the few true design-build firms in Alabama, performing architecture, interior design, and construction under one roof with one team. This eliminates the competing priorities and miscommunication that occur when homeowners coordinate between separate architects and builders. Additionally, the firm has earned national recognition including HGTV Designer of the Year (2023) and features in Architectural Digest and ELLE Decor. Kevin and Leigh Misso's complementary expertise in construction and Building Science ensures every architectural vision is both beautiful and buildable. The business is built on relationships, passion for design, and a shared commitment to excellence.

River Brook handles both residential architecture and construction as a unified service. The same team that creates your architectural plans also builds your home, ensuring seamless continuity from initial design through final walkthrough. This design-build integration means no handoffs, no separate contracts with builders, and no risk of construction not matching architectural intent. Licensed homebuilders and dedicated superintendents oversee every project with the same commitment to craftsmanship that defines the architecture. This approach improves outcomes and ensures success at every stage.

Design timelines in Homewood typically span 3-6 months from initial concept through construction-ready documents, depending on project complexity and revision rounds. The design-build approach often accelerates overall timelines because construction planning happens concurrently with architectural design rather than sequentially. Alabama permit processes and site-specific factors like historic district reviews can affect schedules. River Brook provides realistic timeline expectations during the initial consultation and maintains clear communication throughout every phase of the project. Time invested in design ensures construction proceeds smoothly.

If you're building a custom home, adding significant square footage, or fundamentally changing your home's layout and character, you need residential architecture. This is especially true in Homewood where lot constraints, neighborhood character, and your personal vision require thoughtful spatial planning. If you're noticing your current home doesn't function for how you live, or if you're purchasing land and want a home that maximizes the property's potential, an architect ensures form and function work together. River Brook's design-build model means you get both architecture and construction expertise from the start, creating a home that inspires and improves daily life.

River Brook provides comprehensive warranties on construction work and remains available for post-occupancy support after you move in. The team conducts final walkthroughs and check-ins to ensure you've settled in with total ease and every detail functions as designed. Because the firm handles both architecture and construction, you have a single point of contact for any questions or adjustments needed after project completion. This ongoing relationship reflects River Brook's commitment to enduring quality and client experience. The priority is your long-term satisfaction and the success of your investment in residential architecture.

When you hire separate professionals, you become the middleman coordinating between an architect who designs and a builder who constructs. This creates competing priorities, miscommunication, and the risk that construction won't match architectural intent. Changes during building often require architect revisions, causing delays and additional fees. River Brook eliminates these silos by performing architecture and construction as one continuous process. The licensed builders who will construct your home are involved from the first design conversation, ensuring every creative decision is vetted for buildability and cost before construction begins. This integrated approach improves project outcomes and strengthens relationships throughout.

River Brook designs and builds both new custom homes and comprehensive renovations throughout Homewood and Birmingham. The firm specializes in whole-house renovations and additions that integrate seamlessly with existing architecture. Whether you're updating a historic Homewood home or adding space to a contemporary property, the design-build approach ensures additions match the original character while serving modern functionality. The team handles structural modifications, interior reconfigurations, and exterior enhancements with the same architectural intentionality applied to ground-up custom homes. Every project reflects the same passion and commitment to excellence.

You'll approve architectural decisions at each milestone while River Brook's expertise guides the process. The journey begins with style assessment to understand your preferences, then progresses through mood boards, schematic floor plans, and detailed construction documents. You'll review and approve selections for cabinetry, fixtures, finishes, and furnishings with full presentation boards showing the complete vision. This balance ensures you maintain control over your home's design while benefiting from professional architectural and construction knowledge throughout the project in Homewood. The experience is collaborative, with clear communication at every stage. River Brook shares insights gained from years of work in Alabama to help you make informed decisions.

River Brook designs across architectural styles, from historic-inspired homes that honor Southern tradition to contemporary residences with clean modern lines. The firm's portfolio includes projects in Mountain Brook's traditional neighborhoods and Lake Martin's waterfront properties, demonstrating versatility across aesthetics. What defines River Brook's work isn't a signature style but rather the integration of architecture, interiors, and construction as artful movements within a whole composition. The team tailors every design to your personal vision while ensuring it complements Homewood's diverse architectural character and functions beautifully for Alabama living. Creativity and purpose guide every decision, creating homes that inspire the people who live in them.