---
title: "John TeSelle — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/john-teselle-pfvwus-pf~687948047
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~687948047.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "John TeSelle"
category: ["Architects"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/486325c40d85f785_3543-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "405 Fairfax Ave, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, United States"
latitude: 36.1337
longitude: -86.8006
phone: "(615) 297-1919"
website: http://www.jt-architecture.com
rating: 5
review_count: 22
best_of_houzz_awards: 14
followers: 227
last_updated: 2026-08-27
---

# John TeSelle

Original Houzz profile: [John TeSelle](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/john-teselle-pfvwus-pf~687948047)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Architects
- **Location:** Nashville, TN
- **Serves:** Nashville, Madison, Brentwood, Goodlettsville, Antioch, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Belle Meade, Lakewood, Berry Hill, Metropolitan Government of Nas, Whites Creek
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (22 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 14 awards (2015–2026), for Design, Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Houzz Influencer
- Recommended on Houzz
- 25,000 Ideabook Saves

John TeSelle Architecture is residential design with attention to detail and client needs.   Projects include additions, renovations, and ground-up new construction.  Since the firm was founded in 2000 I have helped hundreds of clients realize their dreams -- whether large, small, or somewhere in between.

Client service is the center of my architectural practice.  The needs and desires of my clients are the generators of everything that I do.  My job as an architect is twofold - to give my clients the information and options they need to make good decisions and to communicate those decisions to the contractor.

Budgets are as important to success as are ideas.  We will discuss costs and budgets at the first meeting and at every design milestone, to ensure that the design develops in a realistic environment.

A distinguishing characteristic of my approach to is that I will personally attend every meeting, coordinate all the drawings, write the specifications, and draw every detail on the construction documents.  I do not hand off architectural design or management work to others. My practice is sized to allow me to provide this level of consistent attention to every job.

I am always interested in talking with people about their ideas and dreams for building.

### Services Provided

- Architectural Design
- Building Design
- Home Remodeling
- Architectural Drawings
- Custom Homes
- New Home Construction
- Home Additions
- Home Extensions
- Kitchen Design
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Sustainable Design
- Energy-Efficient Homes
- Floor Plans
- 3D Rendering
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
- Bathroom Design
- Green Building
- Space Planning
- Guesthouse Design & Construction
- Universal Design
- Multigenerational Homes
- Pool House Design & Construction
- Home Restoration
- Historic Building Conservation
- Project Management
- Handicap-Accessible Design
- Outdoor Kitchen Design
- Basement Remodeling
- Mudroom Design
- Attic Conversion
- Basement Design
- Tiny House Construction
- Staircase Design
- Garage Design
- Site Preparation
- Construction Drawings

### Areas Served

- Nashville
- Madison
- Brentwood
- Goodlettsville
- Antioch
- Forest Hills
- Oak Hill
- Belle Meade
- Lakewood
- Berry Hill
- Metropolitan Government of Nas
- Whites Creek

### Typical Job Cost

$25,000 - 3 million

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | John TeSelle |
| Address | 405 Fairfax Ave, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, United States |
| Phone | (615) 297-1919 |
| Website | http://www.jt-architecture.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 227 |

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [John TeSelle](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/john-teselle-pfvwus-pf~687948047)
- **Website:** http://www.jt-architecture.com
- **Phone:** (615) 297-1919

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- American Institute of ArchitectsLEED AP (U.S. Green Building Council)NCARB (National Architectural Licensing Council)The Ohio State University, Master of ArchitectureVanderbilt University, B.A. Russian and Mathematics

- **Best of Houzz:** 14 awards (2015–2026), for Design, Service.

**Affiliations**
- [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471)
- [NCARB](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/ncarb-pfvwus-pf~1477640315)

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 22 reviews**

*Aspect averages:*
- Work Quality: 50.0
- Communication: 50.0
- Value: 50.0

### Reviews

**★★★★★ — HU-99919478, Sept. 2025**

> It was an absolute pleasure working with John on our home addition over the past 12 months. The two best descriptors of John would be 1. immense attention to detail and 2. highly responsive. When partnering with an architect, I can't imagine a better combination.

**★★★★★ — Justin and Ashley Karpinos, Sept. 2025**

> John TeSelle has been an absolute gem to work with. He has been the architect for a major renovation project for us over the past two years that entailed building an addition, redesigning some existing spaces, and adding external spaces (a patio and a screened in porch).
>
> John guided us from the earliest brainstorming stages to the finish line of this project. His steady demeanor, incredible attention to detail, willingness to respond to questions and inquiries were all tremendous. He helped us navigate unexpected variables and setbacks with creativity, flexibility, and grace.
>
> His professional network led us to our general contractor. The details of his plans and drawings elicited praise from our contractor and every single sub we worked with along the way; most described him as the best architect they had ever worked with.
>
> We would recommend him without hesitation to anyone.

**★★★★★ — Rebecca Allensworth, Aug. 2024**

> A wonderful architect and partner in the building process. He's extremely professional and reliable, not to mention creative and expert. I would highly recommend.

**★★★★★ — Rodgers, May 2023**

> John TeSelle is personable, professional, and easy to work with.  He listened to our goals and constraints and provided us with a solid architectural plan as well as several solutions to problems we encountered during construction.  We would be happy to work with him again on a future project.

**★★★★★ — Larry McKee, Feb. 2023**

> John came highly recommended, and we were told he was thorough, thoughtful, and knowledgeable. All true! We started out planning to build a new house but ended up deciding to do major renovations to our existing home, and he was fine with shifting gears with that decision. We went in with a solid set of ideas and plans for the changes, and he worked well with us in reviewing what was possible given the structure and our budget. He also made sure the changes we wanted could be safely and cost effectively engineered in terms of the existing conditions of the house. His drawings were precise and easy to read, and as we reviewed them and suggested revisions he was quick to supply new versions. There were times when he disagreed with our choices, and sometimes we saw his point and sometimes we didn’t – never any hard feelings from him about those. Several contractors we interviewed commented on how they liked working with John due to his clear and precise plans and notes, and there were no major snags in terms of completing the work as he presented it. Would definitely work with him again if we have the opportunity.

**★★★★★ — Margaret Read, Dec. 2018**

> John designed a screen porch and carport with attached studio for us.  He listened to our needs and arrived at a design that met them.  We are very pleased with the outcome.  When friends visit, they comment that the structures look like they were built with the house, even though the house was built in 1938.  Small details really made a difference, including the overhang of the eaves that keeps the porch dry even during heavy rains. Choices for materials such as flooring and finish were excellent..  The porch addition doesn't make the house dark, due to careful placement and height of ceiling. We love our new outdoor space!

**★★★★★ — Liz Catania, June 2018**

> John designed us a beautiful home that's functional and a dream to live in. We feel like we're on vacation every day!  We have a modern aesthetic but were building in a historic overlay area which was challenging.  Not only did John do an amazing job working with us to make sure the house was everything we wanted inside and out, but he managed all the trials of getting everything approved with grace, always calm and professional.  We can't imagine having gone through construction without him- he made the process easy even when there were the inevitable issues and delays. I can't recommend him highly enough.

**★★★★★ — Danielle Gilbert, Nov. 2017**

> We couldn't have asked for a better experience with an architect than we had with John.  He listened to our ideas and put together plans for two rooms that we absolutely love. He seamlessly added a screened in porch and second-floor addition onto a 1930's home that looks like it has always been there.  He was meticulous with details and helped us work with our contractor to make sure everything was done correctly.  He is easy going and calming throughout a project that could have been aggravating.  We had a great experience and we now have new rooms that feel like sanctuaries to our family.  Thank you, John!!!

**★★★★★ — RJB Interiors, May 2017**

> John TeSelle's design to our historic Nashville home is incredible. John's gave us very clean lines for our addition, lot's of natural light to a previously dark old home, and ensured the contractors executed the plan perfectly. We love our chef's kitchen, deck and master bath.
>
> Also, John helped us manage our project budget, and provided us with incredibly detailed plans.
>
> Finally, John is a gentleman, brilliant artist and great friend.

**★★★★★ — Kristen Daniels, Jan. 2017**

> We found John through an internet search, and completely lucked out. He was extremely knowledgeable and professional. We renovated a 1930s house in Downtown Franklin and he helped marry our vision, the historic style of the house, and best functionality for our lifestyles. If I could give him 10 out of 5 stars, I would!

**★★★★★ — crowellzach, Oct. 2016**

> John was great!  We worked closely with him for a little over a year through the entire remodel of our 60's ranch. We spent a few months in the initial design and then he was there through the whole process of choosing and working with our contractor. He also guided us along during the codes/approval process from the city, which was very intimidating to us.
>
> He was very open to listening to our ideas and executing them while still giving us his professional opinion.
>
> We'd absolutely use him again!
>
> btw...we found him on this site too

**★★★★★ — Cathy, Feb. 2016**

> We consulted with John to provide conceptual drawings on a large remodel project for our historical turn-of-the-century family home.  He was respectful, knowledgeable and showed a particular flair for creatively solving the problems often associated with historical houses.  Our collaboration allowed us to think through the best options for bringing our old home into a more modern living arrangement.  His skills enabled us to view and review plans and drawings to accurately visualize our project.  His efforts greatly facilitated our ability to accurately communicate with the builder.  His work was always skillful and timely - highly recommended!

## Selected projects

- [Trace Creek Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/trace-creek-residence-pj-vj~578096)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 11
  - Description: A new residence of approximately 7,300 square feet on a rural site near Nashville. The house is built into a hillside and appears to be one level from the front. The rear of the house steps down the hill to create a second level open to the back yard. A screened porch, upper and lower level patios, and an herb garden connect the interior of the house to the outdoors. The owner of the house creates stained glass, and examples of her work are integrated into windows, fixtures, and display areas.
- [Milton Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/milton-residence-pj-vj~783128)
  - Location: Murfreesboro, TN
  - Photos: 9
  - Description: A new 5,000 square foot house on a rural lot. One story above grade, with a partial finished basement. The house is oriented to take advantage of a large meadow on the north side of the site, while the home office and children’s bedrooms look out onto a wooded area to the south. A large central room combines kitchen, dining, and living areas and connects to a formal front entry as well as a carport and mudroom. Basic materials such as brick, lap siding, and corrugated metal are used along with s…
- [Barton Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/barton-residence-pj-vj~3342950)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 7
- [Mockingbird Porch](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mockingbird-porch-pj-vj~6089805)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 3
  - Description: A two-story addition to this historic Tudor style house includes a screened porch on the lower level and a master suite addition on the second floor. The porch has a wood-burning fireplace and large sitting area, as well as a dining area connected to the family room inside. The second floor sitting room opens to the master bedroom, and a small home office connects to the sitting room. Windows, cement stucco cladding, and wood trim all match the existing colors and finishes of the original house.…
- [Stanford Court residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stanford-court-residence-pj-vj~52775)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 5
  - Description: An addition to a 19th-century log cabin, and renovation of some existing spaces.
- [Valley Vista residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/valley-vista-residence-pj-vj~52776)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 4
  - Description: Extensive renovation of existing house and construction of a large addition in a style to match the house.
- [Guest cottage - the Hamptons](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/guest-cottage-the-hamptons-pj-vj~52773)
  - Location: Amagansett, NY
  - Photos: 4
  - Description: A one-room guest cottage adjacent to an existing beach house.
- [Earlington Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/earlington-residence-pj-vj~6395892)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 8
  - Description: Extensive renovation and expansion of a 1960’s ranch house. The entire house was remodeled, and additions were constructed for a new master suite, studio, screened porch, carport, and exterior living areas. The existing garage was renovated into a family room. The original rooms of the house were small and closed off. New structural work allows living areas to be open and light-filled. The two-story addition provides a spacious master suite with a soundproofed home music studio below. All photos…
- [Screened porch](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/screened-porch-pj-vj~52783)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 4
  - Description: A detached screened porch connected to an existing deck with a covered walkway.
- [Richland kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/richland-kitchen-pj-vj~52782)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 3
  - Description: Complete renovation of a kitchen in an existing house.
- [Bowling Avenue Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bowling-avenue-residence-pj-vj~52785)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 3
  - Description: An addition and renovation for an existing residence.
- [Study addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/study-addition-pj-vj~52779)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 7
- [Pennywell Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pennywell-kitchen-pj-vj~78477)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 2
  - Description: Complete renovation of a kitchen in an existing house, to make it more open and more connected to the adjacent dining room.
- [Craighead Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/craighead-residence-pj-vj~2842379)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 6
- [Otter Creek Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/otter-creek-kitchen-pj-vj~130092)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 1
  - Description: Complete renovation of a kitchen in an existing house. In order to reflect the Craftsman style of furniture, oak cabinets in a simple design were used.
- [Butterfly Meadows Inn and Farm](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/butterfly-meadows-inn-and-farm-pj-vj~141142)
  - Location: Thompson's Station, TN
  - Photos: 4
- [Holly Tree Kitchen and Bath](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/holly-tree-kitchen-and-bath-pj-vj~7287095)
  - Location: Brentwood, TN
  - Photos: 5
- [Kitchen with a forest view](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-with-a-forest-view-pj-vj~7200587)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 3
- [Pool House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pool-house-pj-vj~7200584)
  - Location: Nashville, TN
  - Photos: 3

[See all 19 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/john-teselle-pfvwus-pf~687948047)

## Ideabooks

- [Hallway closets](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/34253324/list/hallway-closets) — 9 ideas
- [West Linden Kitchen Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5979809/list/west-linden-kitchen-ideas) — 9 ideas

[See all 2 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/johnteselle)

## Community Q&A

**Q: what color is walls** *(in Photo Questions)*

What color white are your walls?

A: Sorry, I don't know that. The owner selected the color but it was years ago!

**Q: Really enjoy your design.** *(in Photo Questions)*

What is the high from floor to gable.

A: It is about 16 feet.

**Q: I love the bed!** *(in Photo Questions)*

I have been looking for a platform bed with built in nightstands/shelves. Would you please tell me where this one was purchased. It's perfection.

A: Thanks for your interest. The owner told me that is the Andes Acacia Kind Bed from CB2.

**Q: Porch looks great!** *(in Photo Questions)*

Do you have specs for the up-lights? Also the tie rods and turnbuckles?
Thanks.

A: Thanks!

The lights are Vision3 FL1 model. The tie rods and turnbuckles are 3/4" diameter but I don't have a specific manufacturer. Those were generic items painted on site.

**Q: Where did you get the vanity?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: That is an item from an antique store that was reworked to serve as a vanity. So one of a kind, but you could maybe find something similar someplace. Good luck!

**Q: What is the floor...slate or a porcelin tile?** *(in Photo Questions)*

A: That is a slate tile.  Sorry but I don't know the manufacturer.

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-27.*