---
title: "Donna Riley Architect — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/donna-riley-architect-pfvwus-pf~1452082856
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1452082856.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Donna Riley Architect"
category: ["Architects"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/13532c8e030d7a49_7110-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "PO Box 2066, Carbondale, Colorado 81623, United States"
latitude: 39.3795
longitude: -107.2044
phone: "(970) 618-0035"
website: http://donnarileyarchitect.com
rating: 5
review_count: 6
best_of_houzz_awards: 2
followers: 74
last_updated: 2026-09-18
---

# Donna Riley Architect

Original Houzz profile: [Donna Riley Architect](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/donna-riley-architect-pfvwus-pf~1452082856)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Architects
- **Location:** Carbondale, CO
- **Serves:** Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Carbondale, El Jebel, Basalt, Cattle Creek, Catherine, Marble, Redstone
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (6 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2015–2019), for Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Recommended on Houzz
- 500 Ideabook Saves

Donna Riley Architect is a small firm specializing in custom design and green building practices for your home, addition, or remodel.

The firm was founded in 2002 and provides full architectural services from land selection and conceptual design through construction documents and management.  

Our experience in high end custom design marries perfectly with our extensive knowledge of green building to create homes that are as beautiful as they are sustainable.  We achieve this using a team approach of collaborating with both owner and builder to ensure the most innovative and cost effective solutions to our clients needs.

Our mission is to create functional spaces that feature character, comfort, and soul in the most environmentally conscious way possible while staying on budget.

### Services Provided

- Architectural Design
- Building Design
- Home Remodeling
- Architectural Drawings
- Custom Homes
- House Plans
- New Home Construction
- Home Additions
- Home Extensions
- Kitchen Design
- Sustainable Design
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Energy-Efficient Homes
- Floor Plans
- 3D Rendering
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
- Green Building
- Bathroom Design
- Space Planning
- Guesthouse Design & Construction
- Universal Design
- Home Restoration
- Drafting
- Project Management
- Barn Design & Construction
- Basement Remodeling
- Mudroom Design
- Tiny House Construction
- Staircase Design
- Deck Design
- Garage Design
- Laundry Room Design
- Passive Solar Heating & Cooling

### Areas Served

- Glenwood Springs
- Aspen
- Carbondale
- El Jebel
- Basalt
- Cattle Creek
- Catherine
- Marble
- Redstone

### Typical Job Cost

$20,000 - 2,000,000

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Donna Riley Architect |
| Address | PO Box 2066, Carbondale, Colorado 81623, United States |
| Phone | (970) 618-0035 |
| Website | http://donnarileyarchitect.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 74 |

**Social profiles:**
- Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/donnarileyarchitect/
- LinkedIn — http://www.linkedin.com/pub/donna-riley/39/b43/b85/
- Blog — https://www.donnarileyarchitect.com/

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Donna Riley Architect](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/donna-riley-architect-pfvwus-pf~1452082856)
- **Website:** http://donnarileyarchitect.com
- **Phone:** (970) 618-0035

## Credentials

- **Best of Houzz:** 2 awards (2015–2019), for Service.

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 6 reviews**

### All 6 reviews

**★★★★★ — Sarah Murray, Feb. 2019**

> Donna Riley is an excellent choice for your project. My husband's parents wanted to build an addition to our home which would serve as an Additional Dwelling Unit (in this case a one-bedroom apartment) so that they would have their own space when they come to Colorado to spend two months with us each summer. We live in a a renovated historic brick schoolhouse which was originally built in 1895.
> From start to finish, Donna was easy to communicate with and her knowledge and expertise was vital for the completion of this project. An important goal for us was for the addition to look as if it had always been there. We wanted the build to be seamless in its design and appearance. Donna's design and plan achieved this goal perfectly. We were so grateful for her understanding and ability to meet our needs while creating a beautiful space for my in-laws. There were a couple of difficult challenges that we encountered along the way and Donna met these with grace and confidence. This was another opportunity for us to witness first-hand, Donna's competence and aptitude.
> Donna enabled us to fulfill our dream of creating a incredible space that our family is fully enjoying while they are here. The addition does indeed appear to have always been a part of the schoolhouse and this a testament to Donna's phenomenal abilities as a highly skilled architect. We highly recommend Donna for any type of project you are considering.

**★★★★★ — Susan Edmonds, Dec. 2018**

> Donna Riley helped complete two projects:  an interior kitchen/bath remodel and a new free standing garage.  In both projects Donna listened carefully to our objectives and opinions.  Donna provided highly professional development and oversight.  We are totally pleased with the outcomes and would not hesitate to choose Donna for any project in the future.

**★★★★★ — Jody Sites, Oct. 2018**

> This was our 1st time building a house, and Donna was fabulous!! She worked with us from start to finish. She asked all members of the family what they'd like to have in the house, and then worked to make sure we could afford it. During construction, we trusted her when the builder encountered 'challenges'. She held our hands until the very end. She's the best!!

**★★★★★ — kelleyamdur, Feb. 2016**

> Donna Riley served as our architect for approx. one year, for a remodel project that included adding a partial 3rd story (Master suite and office) to our home in Carbondale, CO. Donna guided us through a complete redesign of the home, both inside and out. She was excellent at assessing the site, the existing home and where we had room to grow. Donna was very attentive to our budget and worked closely with the builder and engineer to design cost-effective solutions that met our goals. The project also included a new entry, new family room and two new/remodeled bathrooms. We have worked with architects before that prioritized design concepts over functionality- Donna finds a way to achieve both. She was always responsive and kept the project moving- we spent 6 months on budget, design and permits and 6 months on construction. Donna also followed through during construction, coming on site to talk to the tradesmen as needed. This is critical because many finish details get worked out in the moment. In general Donna was a pleasure to work with and we would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an architect to provide a high level of personal attention, knowledge and expertise for their remodel or new construction project.

**★★★★★ — thespurrierfamily, Dec. 2014**

> We have now worked with Donna on two very different projects, and couldn't be happier with the results. The first project was a significant remodel of our home, adding two rooms, a workshop, a bathroom and sauna. We liked the house when we bought it, but after the remodel we love it; it fits us like a glove now.  The credit for that is due to Donna, who listened closely to our needs and interests, and worked in a collaborative manner that made us feel involved in crafting our dream home. We couldn't have been happier to work with Donna, who helped us end-to-end, from consulting to help us choose our home at the outset, to architecting the remodel, and even helping us choose a contractor. The entire project was smooth, and on-budget. She often brainstormed with the contractor to solve problems, and the contractor went out of his way to compliment her as an architect he respected and worked well with.
>
> A few years later our start-up business was busting out of our home office, and we again turned to Donna to help us choose and design our commercial office space. As with our home remodel project, we engaged Donna from the outset, first as a consultant to help us choose a space that would meet our needs, and then as the architect to design the space and choose a contractor. We had a lot of specific needs to make the space work for our business, and Donna again was a pleasure to work with. She carefully listened to our needs, and turned our long list of requirements into an office design we could not be happier with.  She also was a key driver of making the project happen on schedule. For example, she created preliminary plans to present to city planning office, and by doing so, was able to expedite our permits since all the tricky issues were already pre-approved based on her earlier work. We also appreciated the fact that Donna involved us in the project by taking very careful notes on our business needs and preferences, but also in providing us design options we could consider and weigh in on. We felt she created a collaborative environment that let us participate, but she also provided us sage input that helped us avoid making decisions we might regret. At each stage in the project, Donna was diligent, organized, and thoughtful in her work. The end result turned out just like our home remodel project, where we feel that our commercial office space fits our business needs like a glove. It has been a year now since we moved in to our new office, and our productivity has never been higher. We could not be happier.
>
> We would enthusiastically recommend Donna Riley Architect, and if it isn't obvious already, we would love to work with her again should we have another home or commercial project in the future.

**★★★★★ — sklingelheber, Dec. 2014**

> We hired Donna to help us create flow between our indoor and outdoor living spaces.  She gave the project her full time and detail and she nailed it!  We are now enjoying a new beautiful 12 foot sliding glass door that opens to a renovated covered patio while also maintaining a stunning view of Mt. Sopris.  We enjoyed her ideas, her enthusiasm, the multiple tools she used to present her ideas, and her cooperative ethic in working with our contractor.  We highly recommend Donna Riley Architect.

## Selected projects

- [Carbondale Custom Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/carbondale-custom-home-pj-vj~7528120)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 18
  - Description: This custom home was designed to take advantage of the amazing Mt. Sopris views from as many rooms as possible. The connection of indoor and outdoor living spaces was very important and most interior spaces open up to corresponding exterior spaces. The kitchen is the most important room for these clients and was giving the largest priority. This chef's kitchen features an abundance of natural light, great views, ample storage, and a comfortable layout and feeling that promotes creativity in the…
- [Ranch home remodel, addition, and energy retrofit.](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ranch-home-remodel-addition-and-energy-retrofit-pj-vj~7574782)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 11
  - Description: This 50 year old modern ranch style home received an addition, complete remodel of interior spaces, and a deep energy retrofit. The exposed post and beam home has great bones but was severely under insulated. It is now brought up to better than code insulation levels while maintaining the much loved post and beam look of the interior. All exterior materials have been replaced with fire resistant materials in the process. This home has long served as a family gathering place for the extended fami…
- [Log Cabin Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/log-cabin-addition-pj-vj~7574827)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 13
- [Satank Schoolhouse Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/satank-schoolhouse-addition-pj-vj~5281858)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 10
  - Description: This historic building was once the schoolhouse for the Town of Cooperton, now called Satank, and was first built in 1893. It has gone through several renovations over the years to turn it into this charming single family home. The homeowners desired an attached apartment to be used for extended stays by family members as well as a studio rental. We designed the addition to look like it had always been there by integrating the roof lines with a long, graceful hip in corrugated metal. The origina…
- [Lakeside in Maine](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lakeside-in-maine-pj-vj~5280952)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 6
  - Description: When you have a beautiful lakeside property that you love, why only enjoy it for a few months of the year? This fantastic location in Maine was once only usable in the summer with it's un-insulated and tiny structure. The original cottage was poorly laid out, poorly built, and not worth remodeling. It was torn down and a new home was designed utilizing the existing foundation. This home features both a sunny deck and a screen porch for enjoying the many changing moods and seasons of the lake. Th…
- [Snowmass Exterior Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/snowmass-exterior-remodel-pj-vj~2445969)
  - Location: Snowmass, CO
  - Photos: 7
  - Description: This home on Snowmass Mountain has been a beloved gathering place for extended family ever since their father built it 40 plus years ago. Having received a complete interior remodel 2 years prior, it was time for the outdated exterior to be brought up to the same level of quality. We removed and replaced all exterior siding and wrapped the walls in rigid insulation to up the energy efficiency of the home. Three main siding materials were chosen to break up the big facades and add interest to the…
- [Raising the Roof](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/raising-the-roof-pj-vj~2287111)
  - Location: Carbondale, CO
  - Photos: 8
  - Description: This home is situated on a fantastic property, with a great room overlooking the Roaring Fork River, but the layout of the lower level bedroom spaces was all wrong. The basement was completely remodeled to incorporate a family room as well as 2 child suites. A new upper level addition over the living room was built to house a master suite and office. The bedroom enjoys views of both the mountains and the river with a new deck overlooking the river. The new interior stair was custom designed to b…
- [Modern Office Build Out](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-office-build-out-pj-vj~546795)
  - Location: Carbondale, CO
  - Photos: 7
  - Description: This commercial unit in Carbondale was completely unfinished providing a blank slate to create an office that functions beautifully for these small business owners. The large open space was divided up to create a comfortable entry, conference area, photo shoot areas, work spaces, bathroom, and storage. This business creates product videos so a quiet space was a must. We added sound proofing to the walls and ceiling to ensure that the neighboring tenants wouldn't be heard during video production.
- [River Valley Ranch Remodel and Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/river-valley-ranch-remodel-and-addition-pj-vj~466456)
  - Location: Carbondale, CO
  - Photos: 10
  - Description: This ten year old home required a few more spaces to make it perfect for the new owners. We connected the garage to the home with an enclosed passage way and guest room and added a third bay as a workshop. A small guest room was enlarged to create a spacious and light filled playroom, the guest bathroom was remodeled to include a sauna, and we updated the kitchen. Throughout the project, we maintained and improved upon the existing modern aesthetic.
- [Kitchen and Bath Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-and-bath-remodel-pj-vj~5327144)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 7
  - Description: This 30 year old home was in need of an updated kitchen and master bathroom. We designed a fresh new layout for both rooms in a craftsman style, that works perfectly for the owners and adds beauty to the home. When possible, existing plumbing locations were maintained to keep costs reasonable.
- [Missouri Heights Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/missouri-heights-home-pj-vj~465987)
  - Location: near Aspen, CO
  - Photos: 12
  - Description: Eco Friendly in the Craftsman Style Custom designed home on a south facing hill side with fabulous views. Our goal was to design an efficient and green family home on a reasonable budget, without compromising elegance, quality, and craftsmanship. This super insulated home was designed for both passive and active solar gain with a layout that steps down the hillside and grabs stunning views from every room.
- [Mountain Side Strawbale Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mountain-side-strawbale-home-pj-vj~466006)
  - Location: Carbondale, CO
  - Photos: 10
  - Description: High End, Custom Strawbale Home on south east facing hillside with dramatic views. Lime plaster walls, Recycled Copper Roof and Cladding, Active and Passive Solar Design. We worked on this project in partnership with Jeff Dickinson Architect.
- [Patio Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/patio-remodel-pj-vj~1498129)
  - Location: Carbondale, CO
  - Photos: 6
  - Description: The west facing patio to this family home in River Valley Ranch was small, uninviting and lacked shelter. The large west facing windows brought an extreme amount of sun light into the great room. In this remodel, we created an expanded patio to accommodate an outdoor dining room and comfy seating area. The new roof was designed to shade the harsh western sun from the windows while providing shelter to the outdoor eating area. The couch seating can be positioned under the shelter of the roof or p…
- [Red Hill Remodel and Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/red-hill-remodel-and-addition-pj-vj~466400)
  - Location: Carbondale, CO
  - Photos: 7
  - Description: This two story addition blends with the original to create much needed space for the kids, mudroom, and entry, plus a home office. As in the main house, all rooms take advantage of the solar exposure and the views.
- [Elk Springs Strawbale](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/elk-springs-strawbale-pj-vj~466008)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 8
- [Woody Creek Affordable](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/woody-creek-affordable-pj-vj~466513)
  - Location: Woody Creek, CO
  - Photos: 7
  - Description: With a tiny site and a budget to match, this owner set out to replace his trailer with a home he could be proud of. At just 800sf, the compact size and super insulation make for a home that requires almost nothing to keep warm and the use of reclaimed materials kept costs down.
- [Beaver Creek Homes with Aren Design](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/beaver-creek-homes-with-aren-design-pj-vj~546686)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 8
  - Description: Donna was the project architect on these homes while working for Aren Design of Vail, Colorado. The homes were designed and built by Aren Design and all woodwork was produced by Aren Design. Much of that wood work was detailed by Donna as well.

[See all 17 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/donna-riley-architect-pfvwus-pf~1452082856)

## Ideabooks

- [Sachleben](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/184689515/list/sachleben) — 28 ideas
- [family room remodel](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/184007944/list/family-room-remodel) — 8 ideas
- [Lambert, Sebago](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/183088117/list/lambert-sebago) — 6 ideas
- [Riley garden](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/182072986/list/riley-garden) — 38 ideas
- [Leduc](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/181263199/list/leduc) — 14 ideas
- [amdur kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/179065220/list/amdur-kitchen) — 49 ideas
- [Bohmfalk](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/177548135/list/bohmfalk) — 84 ideas
- [Lapenna](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/177112478/list/lapenna) — 29 ideas
- [Bock/Meir](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/171101698/list/bock-meir) — 65 ideas
- [berry](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/162004255/list/berry) — 7 ideas
- [Edmonds Home](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/161105314/list/edmonds-home) — 25 ideas
- [Riley Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/159787534/list/riley-kitchen) — 3 ideas
- [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/158531783/list/wish-list) — 1 idea
- [Spurrier Interior](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/153316682/list/spurrier-interior) — 106 ideas
- [Ellis](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/123143360/list/ellis) — 79 ideas
- [Marquis](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/123431253/list/marquis) — 65 ideas
- [Spurrier 2.0](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118945457/list/spurrier-2-0) — 92 ideas
- [riley](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/80215286/list/riley) — 37 ideas
- [low](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/108796723/list/low) — 50 ideas
- [edmonds](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/68115139/list/edmonds) — 46 ideas

[See all 45 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/donnarileyarchitect)

## Community Q&A

**Q: door** *(in Photo Questions)*

approx how much was door? was it purchased in L.A,?

A: The door is made of an eco resin.  Check out http://www.3-form.com/
not sure of cost.  Thank you for the question.

**Q: what is the beautiful smooth siding (?) around the windows?  Love it!** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: what is the framing?  2x ?

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*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-18.*