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When you think of residential architecture, you might picture floor plans, elevations, or renderings.

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You might imagine structural elements, rooflines, and material choices.

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But for those of us who live and breathe home design, we know something deeper: every line drawn in a residential plan is a future moment waiting to happen.

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A window isn't just a break in the wall; it's the future home of a morning ritual.

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A hallway isn't just circulation; it is where toddlers will chase each other, where a teen will sneak off to their room, or where an aging homeowner might walk slowly, hand brushing the wall for balance.

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Residential design is intimate. It's about creating space for the small, repeated moments that define a life.

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Drawing Moments, Not Just Walls

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Architects and residential designers often get caught between codes, constraints, and client preferences. But behind every soffit, every nook, and every corner is the potential for a memory.

• That bench under the stairs? It's where someone will tie their shoes before a first job interview.
• The kitchen window above the sink? A parent will watch a backyard game while rinsing strawberries.
• The deep front porch? It's a conversation starter, a neighborhood connector, a summer evening tradition.

Good residential architecture doesn't just serve—it enriches.

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The Role of the Designer: Anticipating the Everyday

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A big part of our role as residential designers is understanding the quiet rhythms of daily life. We don't just ask clients what kind of home they want; we dig into how they want to live.

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We consider:

• Morning routines and how natural light supports them.
• Aging in place and how subtle changes in layout create lifelong flexibility.
• Family dynamics, from open concept living to private retreats.
• Seasonal changes, ensuring comfort and joy in every square foot, year-round.

When we design with intention, we make space not just for things—but for meaning.

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From Blueprint to Belonging

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A residential plan is more than a document for permitting. It's a blueprint for belonging.

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The lines we draw now—walls, doors, transitions, thresholds—become the backdrop for a thousand small acts of life:

• A hug in the hallway.
• A dog napping in the sun by the sliding glass door.
• A quiet evening curled up with a book beside a custom window seat.

These are the lines that live with us, long after construction ends.

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Conclusion: The Legacy of Residential Architecture

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As members of AIBD and practitioners of residential design, we have a rare privilege. We create spaces where people don't just exist—they become. We hold the pen that shapes family stories, comfort, and continuity.

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So, the next time you sit down to sketch, draft, or model a home, pause and ask: What moments will live inside these lines?

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Because in residential architecture, it's never just about building homes. It's about building lives.

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Have a great day.

Dennis Fletcher, CPBD

Certified Professional Building Designer

Dennis Fletcher Design Studio LLC

​dennisfletcherdesignstudio.com​

​Please use this link to schedule a phone conversation.​