DeFalco Home Design

We met Tripp DeFalco of DeFalco Home Designs after walking away from another architect’s design, feeling discouraged and uncertain about whether building a home would ever happen. From the very beginning, our experience with Tripp was the complete opposite. Rather than making us feel like an inconvenience, Tripp maintained consistent, thoughtful communication from day one. He emphasized how important it was for him to truly understand how we think and live so he could define the architectural direction that best suited us. Through that process, he introduced us to a style we hadn’t previously considered—Low Country architecture. Despite this being Tripp’s first Low Country home, you would never know it. He embraced every hallmark of the style: tall ceilings and expansive windows for ventilation, wide brick front porches for shade, dormers, metal roofing, shutters, and beautifully integrated indoor-outdoor living spaces that transition seamlessly into gardens and outdoor kitchens. Every detail felt intentional and authentic. We were very specific about the first-floor layout, and Tripp captured our vision perfectly. For the rest of the home, he took our high-level ideas and elevated them beyond our expectations. Remarkably, we only went through two design iterations—something almost unheard of—which speaks volumes about how carefully he listened and how well he understood our goals. The final result is a home that strikes the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality. Tripp worked seamlessly with our builder and interior designers, making the entire design and construction process smooth, collaborative, and genuinely enjoyable. We wholeheartedly recommend Tripp DeFalco and DeFalco Home Designs to anyone seeking an architect who combines creativity, professionalism, and a truly client-centered approach. Our new home is absolute perfection, and we are incredibly grateful for Tripp’s dedication and expertise in bringing our vision to life. -Lauren and Mike Kushin

My wife and I recently undertook a major home renovation, resulting in essentially a new home. 75-80% of the project was new construction, including all new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Tripp's design maintained some of the elements of our home, while achieving a unique, distinctive look unlike any of the other renovated and new homes in our area. Tripp worked very closely with us every step of the way. He was thorough, timely, and very knowledgeable of all aspects of design, permitting, and construction. He helped us select a general contractor and worked very closely with the contractor throughout the process. I have been professionally involved with commercial architects and contractors over the years, and can attest that Tripp absolutely knows what he's doing, from creative yet practical design to understanding how to achieve his design on the construction site. We couldn't recommend Tripp more highly.

We're extremely pleased with Tripp's work on our home renovation and addition. As first-time renovators, we needed guidance, and he delivered. He took the time to understand our vision and lifestyle, then helped us filter and refine our ideas. We feel that the resulting design is both beautiful and incredibly functional. Tripp had past experience as a builder and remained active on multiple projects, so he was able to advise on what was realistic for our budget. By working through key decisions together before bidding, we avoided costly changes and overruns later. He skillfully managed the bidding process, providing detailed plans/specs and giving his take on bids that allowed us to compare builders confidently. He also handled the entire permit process with Arlington Country. During construction, Tripp was our expert representative and helped to address issues as they arose. We appreciated his ability to see everyone's perspectives and find solutions that worked for all. Thanks to his industry experience and precise plans, the builders seemed to genuinely enjoy working with him, which made the entire process smoother. Tripp's combination of design talent, technical knowledge, and industry relationships made all the difference in bringing our project to life. We highly recommend him to anyone considering a home renovation or addition.

We love the house that Tripp DeFalco designed, and we can’t recommend him more highly. Tripp designed our full-home renovation and addition, handled permitting (including Arlington County’s land disturbing activity), and helped with builder selection. During construction, he reviewed our selections and joined our walk-throughs to make sure everything progressed well. He’s the total package. Tripp’s designs and recommendations were excellent, but what I love most about Tripp is that he listens. Throughout the process, I always felt that Tripp did his best to make sure we got the house we wanted. He answered our (many) questions promptly and thoroughly and gave us straightforward advice that balanced aesthetics, cost, and functionality. He’s not cheap, but he’s worth every penny.

We have lived in our smallish home in Falls Church for more than 20 years. Our initial thought/plan when buying the house was to renovate and add space. But our first ever experience with an architect ended badly, with no usable design and a house that one professional suggested was being held up by the chimney. So we lived with it and made our own incremental changes over the years. Until we knew we couldn’t do any more with what we had. So, Tripp’s design challenge was to reimagine our house, without expanding the footprint (as a corner lot we have two “fronts”) or building up due to foundation issues. We also needed the space to continue working for us and provide as much storage as possible. I’m pretty sure at one point he told us we should just move. But I am glad that Tripp was up to the challenge, because the result is amazing. What I loved about the experience working with Tripp was that he took our vision and really made it come to life. The end result didn’t change the basic layout of the rooms that previously existed, but it did allow for more space in the rooms that we occupy most and created new spaces where there previously wasn’t anything useful. Outside, our house is now a little jewel that all of our neighbors compliment when they see us. As part of our construction team, Tripp met regularly with us and our builder to head off any construction or design issues. His construction knowledge was invaluable and helped keep us from making multiple mistakes. In terms of overall design, we stuck, with Tripp’s plan, but also took a few detours that we hope helped preserve our unique aesthetic. Anyone looking for a high quality experience working with a skilled architect who really cares about the end result should definitely talk with Tripp. We highly recommend his service.

## Our Dream Home Journey with Tripp: An Unforgettable Experience When my wife and I decided to embark on one of the most significant expenditures of our lives, we were both thrilled and a bit terrified. With no prior experience in rebuilding, the journey seemed daunting. However, working with Tripp turned this daunting task into a delightful experience for our entire family. **The Process** From the get-go, Tripp made the process incredibly easy for us, including our two kids. He ensured everyone felt heard, and the final product beautifully reflected all our voices. Trip alleviated our fears right away. He visited our house, measured everything meticulously, and sent us a series of questions to understand our preferences better. We also sent him pictures of design ideas we liked and explained why we liked them. **First Impressions and Drawings** To our astonishment, Tripp quickly came up with drawings that perfectly captured our family's shared vision. The speed and quality of the first set of drawings were truly impressive. It felt like Tripp had read our minds, and we immediately knew where we were headed. If I had to guess, I'd say those initial drawings were about 80% of the final product. **Design Decisions** We opted to make many decisions ourselves regarding finishes and fixtures instead of hiring an interior designer. The clarity and detail in Tripp’s drawings made this process much easier, as we could visualize how each decision would play out early on. **Navigating Arlington’s Regulations** Arlington is known for its stringent approval process, but Tripp’s expertise shone through. From day one, he was mindful of potential land issues that could affect our plans. His understanding of Arlington’s permitting process and his proactive approach helped us avoid virtually all problems, allowing us to start our project on time without any hitches. **Collaboration with Alair Builders** Working with Tripp in combination with our builder Alair was an amazing experience. Their synergy ensured everything ran smoothly, and the result was nothing short of spectacular. **Conclusion** If you are considering an architect, you can't do better than Tripp. His ability to listen, his promptness, and his deep understanding of the regulatory landscape make him a top choice. Our dream home stands as a testament to his incredible skills and dedication.

I highly recommend DeFalco Home Design. Tripp consulted with me on all of my questions, was timely, reliable, responsive and so knowledgeable. His design is absolutely perfect for our lot! We absolutely love our home, even more than we could have imagined possible. We get so many compliments from our neighbors as well. We are so grateful for Tripp's expertise and design skills!

We hired DeFalco Home Design to guide us through a renovation and expansion of our 1930s colonial, and we couldn't be happier with the outcome. We worked directly with the owner, Tripp, as he helped us identify our priorities for the project, and worked through several iterations of the design. He then connected us with quality contractors to complete the work, and stayed with us as a project manager all the way through to completion. Tripp was involved with every step of the process, from permitting to choosing final paint colors, and the result is a gorgeous new home that was completed on-time and on-budget. We highly recommend!

Can’t recommend Tripp enough! He helped us turn our one story 50’s ranch into the two story craftsman-style home I had dreamed of. His designs are beautiful and he has been wonderful to work with: helping find the fantastic contractor, doing regular walkthroughs, helping with interior design elements. Tripp’s eye for detail is incredible and we are beyond thrilled with the home he created for us.

We worked with Tripp on a full home renovation and addition. From the very first meeting to the last walkthrough, Tripp provided invaluable guidance and creativity. Not only is he a genuinely nice person to work with, but his expertise as an architect and previously a builder brings a unique combination of knowledge to all points of the project. He answered our (many, many) questions promptly -- always with clear, thoughtful explanations that put us at ease. Tripp completely understood our vision for our dream home and brought it to life in ways we could never have imagined. He turned a traditional Arlington colonial into a modern, beautiful new house, while keeping the original charm. He handled permitting, builder selection, served as a great liaison between us and our builder, and kept things moving on track in all ways! He reviewed all of our selections to ensure they were a good fit for style and budget. To sum it up, "What does Tripp think?" was a very common question my husband and I asked each other throughout this process. We completely trusted his opinion, vision, and insight and are beyond happy with our new home.

Tripp was amazing from start to finish! I honestly can't put into words how he took what was in our minds and made such a beautiful home for our family - it's like he lived in my head. The whole process was seamless and he was so patient and had so many ideas that we hadn't even thought of. At this point, he's become family. We couldn't be happier with the final product - I can't believe that we live here. If I may say so, I think we have the most beautiful house on the block and maybe even the neighborhood. If you're looking for someone amazing, understanding and patient - DeFalco Home Design should be your only choice!

Tripp is far and away the best architect we have ever worked with. He listens carefully and offers creative solutions. He is organized, efficient and great at communication. We hope to work with him again someday!

Tripp was essential to our new home build project -- from drafting the preliminary design to the final walk through. He handled drafting the design, permitting, bidding, and weekly reviews of the construction. He stayed within his stated budget. Building a home from scratch can be overwhelming, and Tripp has a good sense of timing in terms of keeping the project moving while maintaining a manageable decision-making schedule for the client. Tripp provided us with creative and, just as importantly, practical solutions to not only space planning but also implementing our design vision. He listened to us, responded to our concerns, and he was professional and pleasant throughout the project. His plans were clear and able to be followed. He is very adept at translating between builder and client. Highly recommend.

Tripp did an exceptional job of listening to our project wish list during the design phase. He 100% embraced our overall goal of making our addition seamlessly blend with our existing house. When you look at our house today, you cannot tell where the addition is which is unusual especially around Arlington, VA, where so many home have additions and renovations. The flow on the inside of the house is natural and fits with the overall character of the home. We hired Tripp to stay on throughout the build phase of the home and he added invaluable support and direction to the builder. Home building can be emotional, and he helped us stay focused on the key project milestones and the big picture. He participated in weekly meetings with the builder and patiently answered our many questions along the way in a timely manner. He also made suggestions on brands of products we should consider which were high quality, while staying within our budget and overall design goals. During the RFP process, we reviewed five proposals which he oversaw including participating in the interview process with builders. Lastly, he handled the process of obtaining permits which was efficient. Overall, we could not have been happier with his professionalism, expertise, and overall team approach from day 1 to the end of the project. Home building is stressful and without his guidance, we feel it would have been far harder to achieve the results we wanted in our home renovation.

If I could give Tripp more than 5 stars I would. Tripp is the total package. Not only did he help us with a beautiful design for our Arlington home, he's also deeply experienced on the construction side. Hiring Tripp is like hiring an expert/advisor to have in your corner through the life of the project -- from design, to permitting, and beyond. A construction project can be an intimidating (and sometimes risky) venture, but working with a professional of Tripp's caliber can help eliminate a lot of the risk and confusion, and help ensure you come out with a beautiful end product, without stupid and costly mistakes on the way. Lastly, Tripp is level-headed, patient, responsive, and all around a very easy and pleasant person to work with. You would be very lucky to get him as your architect on your next project.

We worked with Tripp DeFalco when we were exploring a new home build. Tripp’s design work is so impressive, and that was a very fun process. He is a creative and accommodating designer. We ended up not building, but buying a home Tripp had just finished because it had all the features we were looking for—everything and more that a family of 6 would need, even though we were too new to the process to know it. Tripp has a design sense that personified just what I was looking for, and a practical sense that provided just what we needed. The home we bought is beautiful, and has thoughtful features and a logical layout that impresses us to this day, a year and a half later. In addition to having a vision that matched mine 1000%, Tripp was an amazing partner in the process. He was always reachable, alway willing to listen and consider ideas. And alway reasonable about them (from both a price and time perspective). And Tripp accommodated all the last minute issues that arise when a family of five has decided to make a last minute move! He stayed with us through the process to makes sure we knew how to care for the house. (His move-in kits are the best!) My only regret about buying a home that Tripp DeFalco built is that I will never have a need to buy another home that he will build! I’m sure his vision will evolve with the market and if it is as beautiful as my home it will certainly be something worth exploring.

We have been working with Tripp over the last few months to design a large addition and renovation to our current home. Tripp is clearly knowledgeable about the entire design and build process and has not only helped turn our vague thoughts and requirements into our dream home but has also been a great source of information and comfort through the entire process. While he’s friendly, personable, and incredibly easy to work with he’s also been incredibly good about helping guide us in the right direction, utilizing his experience to educate us and provide options to achieve our objectives. Tripp’s communication is thorough, responsive, and always with the intent to meet our needs and ensure we are going to get the house that will make our family happy . We loved his designs and creative ideas to meet our goals for our home and he was always fast through every step. We will miss our kitchen table visits with Tripp when he would deliver his amazing designs, but will always be thankful for the home he helped make for us. We have close friends who are both builders and realtors and everyone has consistently provided positive feedback in their experience with Tripp. I would confidently recommend DeFalco Home Design to a friend or anyone considering considering an architect.

I am impressed with the quality and level of detail provided by DeFalco Home Design for my front portico project. the project more than meets the objectives we set out to achieve and Tripp's design has been the talk of our neighborhood over the past few weeks. The designs were prepared very quickly and supported timely permits. The builders were able to complete the project on time and at cost with no questions or concerns. i highly recommend DeFalco home Design and our neighbors have already hired Tripp for an addition and renovation project based on our success. Thanks Tripp!

This is my house that I moved into in January of 2019! I had been working with Tripp since 2016 in trying to find my "dream house" and while it took longer than I expected to find everything I wanted, I was absolutely blown away with the finished product. The greatest part of the experience was working with Tripp and his team every step of the way. Specifically, I struggled to understand his "completed vision" in the early stages, but allowing and believing in his professional expertise and discretion was greatest part of entire design experience. Candidly, I did not appreciate how amazing the finished exterior build and interior layout would all come together, in way I could not understand in the beginning. I am greatly appreciative for trusting his decision making every step of way and highly encourage anyone else considering working with Tripp and his team to do the same!

Tripp is an inspired architect. His design for our home is one of the most impressive I have seen, and I can say that objectively as someone who considers architecture and interior design to be a hobby. I have toured countless homes over the years and Tripp's vision blew me away. But the home is not only stunning visually -- it also feels like a home and the layout is very purposeful. Not a day goes by where I am not amazed by certain elements of the design and the eye for detail. People (and not just friends/family) rave about the look of the home whenever they see it for the first time. Finally, and just as important, Tripp is great to work with and certainly knows exactly what he is doing based on his wealth of design and construction experience. I would highly recommend Tripp, and feel free to contact me with any questions or additional information about my home.

Our experience working with Tripp was great. We felt that the design of the house was quite unique. The big open spaces with high ceilings and panorama windows are just some of our favorite features. Tripp had great attention to detail when he designed it. From the amount of natural light, to how the rooms seemingly blends in together. We wouldn't a change a thing and would hire Tripp again any day. We constantly get compliments on the house.

Trip has been outstanding from the first meeting my wife and I had with him, He is very knowledgable and really got us excited about the rebuild on our current lot. Whenever we had questions, and there were plenty, Trip was there with an answer usually within hours of an email being sent. His answers to our questions have guided us through our rebuild project and also given us ideas that we more than likely would not have come up with on our own. We can not recommend DeFalco Home Design highly enough.