--- title: "CogitateDesign, PLLC — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/cogitatedesign-pllc-pfvwus-pf~973466102 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~973466102.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "CogitateDesign, PLLC" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/7223f86301009363_2519-w400-h400-b1-p10--.jpg address: "Raleigh, North Carolina, United States" latitude: 35.8334 longitude: -78.5799 phone: "" website: http://www.cogitatedesign.com rating: 5 review_count: 4 best_of_houzz_awards: 5 followers: 183 last_updated: 2026-09-18 --- # CogitateDesign, PLLC Original Houzz profile: [CogitateDesign, PLLC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/cogitatedesign-pllc-pfvwus-pf~973466102) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Raleigh, NC - **Serves:** Raleigh, Cary, Clayton, Rolesville, Forest Hills, North Hills - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (4 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2014–2017), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - 25,000 Ideabook Saves Cogitate Design is a full service architectural firm. Principal Architect, Keith Palma, approaches each project by striving to define the inherent design issues- independent of the latest trends- and providing solutions that are respected by our clients and known for design quality. His process involves considerable client interaction and involvement in an effort to craft buildings to their needs and wishes. His work is not rooted in a particular style; it is about absorbing a client’s philosophy and responding appropriately. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Space Planning ### Areas Served - Raleigh - Cary - Clayton - Rolesville - Forest Hills - North Hills ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | CogitateDesign, PLLC | | Address | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | | Website | http://www.cogitatedesign.com | | Followers on Houzz | 183 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [CogitateDesign, PLLC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/cogitatedesign-pllc-pfvwus-pf~973466102) - **Website:** http://www.cogitatedesign.com ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2014–2017), for Design, Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 4 reviews** ### All 4 reviews **★★★★★ — worthido1, Sept. 2014** > I have been working with Cogitate for several months and have been very pleased with Keith's support. Our goal on this project is to update a 1980 home to help smooth the exterior lines and optimize the living spaces. With only a few guiding principles, Keith was able to make sense of my wife's and my thoughts and deliver two thoughtful schematic options. > I can't wait for the construction to begin; I know that Keith will be there with us the whole way through. **★★★★★ — mbk008, Sept. 2014** > We hired CogitateDesign to help design our 100+ year old farmhouse renovation in Maryland. The newer poor additions needed to be removed, with modernization of the entire structure. The was a full gut rehab. Keith was able to walk us through the design process from start to finish. His questions helped us find a house design we wanted to live in that would match our lifestyle. We had multiple versions of the layout and Keith's patience and expertise was helpful every step of the way. In the end he was able to guide and assist in our creation of the vision we had for a new old house. His design savvy and willingness to work with us to achieve what we were truly after was an excellent addition to our team. His design advise was concise and comes from vast experience doing what he does. Most importantly he worked with us to get to the final design instead of designing it and selling us on what would be his design. This teaming approach is required in a renovation of this magnitude. What one sees in a magazine might not match the realities of living in a space every day. Keith kept the livability of the space paramount during the entire process. **★★★★★ — timjcollins, Nov. 2013** > We hired Keith to help us with an old family farmhouse. From the beginning, he gave us lots of alternatives, several of which we're not in his best interest, but certainly were in ours. > > He designed a beautiful house that we were not quite ready to build. But when were are ready, we won't hesitate to re-engage Cogitate. Keith has a great mix of talent and ethics. We wish we could find more service providers like him. **★★★★★ — Allen E Neyman Associates Architecture, Feb. 2013** > Principal Keith Palma worked with me in my Architectural firm for quite a few good years. Was excellent to work with generally and specifically showed competence, creativity and efficiency in work he did. ## Selected projects - [Stuart Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stuart-residence-pj-vj~1606623) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: The client requested increasing entertainment space within the house and asked for a better ‘connection’ to the yard. The solution was to provide a new structure in which the windows were positioned to not only take advantage of the best views of the yard but to also accommodate the interior furniture layout and how the space would be used for entertaining. An adjacent new patio serves as an outdoor entertainment space. - [Wehr Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wehr-residence-pj-vj~1606607) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: Built between 1895-1905, this Farmhouse suffered many questionable additions/renovations over the years. However, the clients fell in love with the proximity to the District of Columbia and the bucolic nature of the site. The first design task was to remove all the previous additions and start from what was basically the original structure. On the first floor, a new large Kitchen-Dining area, Walk-In Pantry, Mud Room, Entry, and Powder Room are provided. The existing Living Room and Den will be… - [McDonnell Residence- Vineyard Quarters](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mcdonnell-residence-vineyard-quarters-pj-vj~151262) - Location: Great Falls, VA - Photos: 18 - Description: New Guest House (while at GTM architects) - [Collins-Stone Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/collins-stone-residence-pj-vj~271841) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - Description: New custom residential home. An existing home exists on the property and embodies sentimental value and family history. The initial intent was to renovate/ add on to the existing home. However, given its current state, a new house is proposed. The proposed house takes its cues from the existing house. The proposed house replicates, without copying, the original structure. General locations of rooms/spaces are retained while clearly defining the public and private portions of the house. The main… - [Worthington Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/worthington-residence-pj-vj~1606637) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - [Nugent Residnece](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nugent-residnece-pj-vj~156420) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 1 - Description: New House + Guest House (while at GTM architects) - [Morris Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/morris-residence-pj-vj~313362) - Location: Park City, UT - Photos: 9 - Description: New Custom House (while at GTM architects) - [McDonnell Residence- Main House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mcdonnell-residence-main-house-pj-vj~151281) - Location: Great Falls, VA - Photos: 35 - Description: Renovation + Addition (while at GTM architects) - [Krawczyk Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/krawczyk-residence-pj-vj~156346) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: Renovation + Addition (while at GTM architects) - [Kildaire Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kildaire-residence-pj-vj~151315) - Location: Raleigh, NC - Photos: 6 - Description: New modern single family home - [On The Boards](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/on-the-boards-pj-vj~156380) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: Various residential projects in the 'works.' [See all 11 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/cogitatedesign-pllc-pfvwus-pf~973466102) ## Ideabooks - [\#PlayHouzz](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/63170367/list/playhouzz) — 7 ideas - [Modern Exteriors](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7340803/list/modern-exteriors) — 29 ideas - [Modern Interiors](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16978638/list/modern-interiors) — 1 idea - [Modern Kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16978613/list/modern-kitchens) — 1 idea - [Entry Canopies](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16978395/list/entry-canopies) — 4 ideas - [Modern Bathrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16978372/list/modern-bathrooms) — 1 idea - [Modern Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16978236/list/modern-farmhouse) — 1 idea - [In The Game](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16682879/list/in-the-game) — 5 ideas - [Architectural Street Signs](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/14708061/list/architectural-street-signs) — 8 ideas - [Architectural UNfacts](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6898315/list/architectural-unfacts) — 3 ideas - [Architect Realities](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6895730/list/architect-realities) — 8 ideas [See all 11 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/cogitatedesign) ## Community Q&A **Q: Deck rails ending on roof slope** *(in Photo Questions)* I am doing a project that has the deck rails that are ending on the roof slope. How did you attach the rails to the roof? A: As I recall, they were friction fit with construction adhesive. The railings are decorative, there is no access to the roof... so structural/human impact loads were not an issue. **Q: Can you show bathrooms? is there a half bath down stairs? Laudry room?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: I double checked, I don't have any photos of which you specifically asked... I've posted the ones I do have. **Q: where can I find this house plan** *(in Photo Questions)* House plan finds? A: The house was for a specific client who paid for design services. The floor plan is not for sale and I don't post the floor plan. The clients paid for a custom home and it would not be ethical to readily allow others access to their project. I hope you understand. If there's something I can assist you with, please feel fee to contact me. **Q: does it have a laundry room?** *(in Photo Questions)* getting the husband on the same page, he loves the house, just want to know what the floor plan looks like, A: It could me modified to your needs. Feel free to email me any questions. **Q: Beautiful!** *(in Photo Questions)* We are also painting our house white and plan to have white columns and railings. Did you have any difficulty making sure the columns and railings matched the BM color you chose for the hardiboard? I think I read fiberglass columns, were the railings composite? Thank you!! A: Yes, the railing system and columns are a composite material. HB&G is the manufacturer of both. I've never had issues with paint adhering to either the railing system or the columns. However, the railing system is pre-finished in white and rarely do we paint it. While the railing will accept paint, once painted you've negated the maintenance-free aspect of the railing- which is a primary reason we use it. Feel free to follow up if you've any additional questions. Thanks for looking! Keith **Q: Columns** *(in Photo Questions)* What size are the columns? Thank you! A: Here's the web site link: http://www.hbgcolumns.com/fiberglass-columns/permacast-columns/permacast-square-fiberglass-columns --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-18.*