Homes, Landscape & Interiors
Traditional through Contemporary Design
HARRIS DESIGN creates distinguished homes, landscapes, and interiors for urban and country properties in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Central Virginia, and beyond. Our work crafts new custom residences, bespoke renovations, refined additions, and historic preservation that reflect their settings and the lifestyles of their owners.
Featured PROJECTS
As a full-service residential architecture firm based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Harris Design unites architecture, landscape planning, and interior detailing into one cohesive vision. Each project begins with an understanding of the site and architectural heritage, resulting in designs that feel timeless, grounded, and enduring. From master plans to millwork, Steve Harris guides clients through every phase with craftsmanship and clarity.
PEYTON HOUSE
Type
Single Family Residence, New Construction
Location
Troy, Virginia
Description
A new residence that embodies the feel of an historic Virginia estate.
Bungalow
Type
Single Family Residential, Kitchen Renovation and Addition
Location
Charlottesville, Virginia
Description
A 1920s servants’ kitchen reimagined, blending historic character with modern function.
GREENWOOD
Type
Studio Office, New Construction
Location
Greenwood, Virginia
Description
A minimalist “barn” built as an office and studio for a modern art collection.
Steve brings a creative, holistic approach to residential design. Having studied urban and regional planning at Miami University and architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Harris has built upon his education with years of experience in both commercial and residential design settings. His work blends architecture, landscape, and interior design into cohesive, functional, and ultimately beautiful livable spaces.
Known as an “ideas guy,” Mr. Harris synthesizes complex elements into well-balanced designs that reflect each client’s values and lifestyle. Through his firm he offers integrated design services thoughtfully tailored for enduring finished projects. Father of an adult daughter and son, recreationally you’ll catch him enjoying time with his extended family, gardening, antiquing for clients and himself, and discovering new adventures at home in the beauty of Virginia’s piedmont.
Steve HARRIS
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CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
I began working with Steve Harris with my sketch for my “wished for house”. Steve had
the unique ability to listen to my ideas and transform them into what became my “dream
home” - a Virginia Piedmont classic. He provided the design, and implementation for my
house, the landscape, and all of its interior design and furnishings.
Over the years we have continued to work together to improve my property - implementing further additions to the interior furnishings and decoration, adding a stable, and continuing to develop the landscape with gardens, and plantings.
Steve has been integrally involved in all of these areas and even took on the roll of general
contractor as the need arose during construction of my house and grounds. I highly
recommend him and the comprehensive services he provides.
C. Peyton MD
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
My husband and I engaged Steve Harris for his expertise and professionalism for the renovation and additions for our house and yard. He worked with us to transform our one-floor contemporary house into a multi-generational home. Steve designed and worked with our builder to add a second floor with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Then he converted our unfinished basement into a comfortable, handicapped accessible apartment for my father. Outside he designed a new driveway which was quite a feat of landscape design.
Throughout these complex projects, Steve carefully listened to our goals and requirements, all the while being attentive to our budget constraints, He is original and extremely versatile in terms of creative design and functionality. We highly recommend him for any building and/or landscape project.
C. and J. Langston
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
I hired Steve to design and install the entry gardens to our house. The location was a fairly steep barren slope, in full sun, that was difficult to maintain. I wanted year-round interest, but not requiring frequent planting or tending. With a well coordinated combination of shrubbery, including hollies, nandinas, spreading forsythia and spirea, shrub roses, barberries, and several ornamental focal point trees, my entry gardens look great all year.
Under Steve’s recommendation and supervision, yards of compost were tilled in to improve water retention and enrich the existing soils. Plants were carefully set out according to his plans and have blended into a harmonious tapestry. As a long time gardener, I was impressed with Steve’s knowledge of plant material and the way he combined it. He is easy to work with and has an artistic eye. I would highly recommend his services.
N. Campbell
