Ballard + Mensua Architecture

Seth Ballard and his team transformed our home. We are thrilled with the results as are all our friends and family when they visit. The renovations are modern yet timeless.

Seth Ballard and his team helped us design an extraordinary modern mountain home, guiding us through the process from start to finish. He clearly explained his services, the options we had and worked with us to come up with a design and service options that worked with our budget. He gave us recommendations for furnishings and was invaluable in the selection process, which can be quite overwhelming. He assisted in working through questions and issues with the builder and helped come up with innovative solutions when issues came up. We were very satisfied with our experience and would highly recommend him.

When we first met Seth, we were immediately impressed with his knowledge about how to best optimize a space. Living in a city (DC), we found that to be invaluable. Kitchen space is one of the most important (if not the most important) spaces to our family and a few years ago we bought a house that we loved, but with a very unusual kitchen aesthetic. Seth helped us transform that kitchen into our dream - our friends are all blown away when they see the difference and the finished product. Seth really listens to his clients and he valued my opinion. He wasn't offended if something didn't work for our personal style and he also wasn't afraid to let me know if something wasn't going to work from a professional/architecture standpoint. In addition, he had some great ideas about how to handle a seemingly useless and unusable wall. Overall, we love coming home every day to our gorgeous space. Thank you, Seth!

We did a very very extensive renovation. We took a home that was 100 years old and brought it down to the studs. So everything was possible. Seth was much more than our architect and regardless of contractual terms went well beyond a normal scope of work. He was there for us throughout, patient, understanding and always ready to find a solution. His creativity coupled with a calm, confidant demeanor made for a great relationship and a fantastic conclusion. I sit on my first floor every day looking at what my wife and he created and feel very very lucky. I cannot give him enough stars. You would be lucky to have him take on whatever project you have.

We worked with Seth Ballard and his firm for a whole house renovation and we couldn't be more pleased with the results. We wanted some long-dreamed-of luxury features as well as to adapt the house so we could age in place. Seth used his considerable artistic talent and extensive knowledge of building and design to not only implement our vision, but understand it fully and design synergistic elements that surprised and delighted us. He is a truly gifted architect and designer who created many "sacred spaces" in our home.

Seth is an inspired architect with real problem solving skills. He was able to channel my desires and needs, proposing options, while keeping with my aesthetic. He has great quality providers and his clear experience with vendors as well as knowledge ensured this "to the studs" renovation was a complete success. I am not sure I will ever be able to move.

Seth and his team did a fantastic job on our 200 year old farmhouse restoration. He listened carefully to what we wanted, made terrific suggestions, created multiple options and oversaw the project from start to finish. Seth not only created the architectural plan but provided significant assistance with lighting, plumbing, appliances, hardware, furnishings, paint, landscape, etc. He provided a very detailed budget estimate which enabled us to know where we wanted to spend more or less on certain areas. We receive so many compliments on the house and are thrilled to have restored our 200 year old family gem.

Seth converted our single story detached garage to an amazing office space that looks out over the garden, then suggested we dig out the crawl space of our house to convert that to useable space. He has great vision, creates amazing details, and really works with and listens to his clients. We were thrilled with the result, and loved working with him.

I am a former Builder that now works with Seth Ballard providing Design and Construction Management Services. We met several years ago while Seth Ballard was being interviewed for the architectural services for an Historic renovation of a stone manor home in West Virginia. The clients were former clients of mine and after meeting Seth Ballard I felt strongly that the clients should commission Seth for the work due to his overall knowledge and design abilities. This started our association which has been a much enjoyed and successful venture having worked together on numerous jobs since and currently. Seth has a very talented eye for design and the discipline to keep construction costs in line by providing Cost of Construction Phases during the Design Phases which allows for the project to proceed with all parties being continually updated and informed of the total project. This has made for a smooth design to construction process. Seth also has a number of talented Contractors available to recommend and I have had the pleasure of working with several over the past years. The talents of these Contractors and the full service Seth gives to his Design Drawings and Specifications have made my job of Construction Management on his projects much smoother and contractor friendly leading to satisfied clients. Working with Seth has been most enjoyable and rewarding over the past years. Frank Bell

We just finished a spectacular custom home project in McLean, VA and we are so very grateful to Seth Ballard and his team! If you are considering hiring his firm, look no further. There can be no better architect in the DC/VA/MD area – and his pricing is more than fair. We first picked Seth because we loved his architectural style and heard that he had a reputation for ensuring that his plans are executed with impeccable precision and attention to quality. Also, his references were stellar….without exception, his former clients offered glowing praise for his talent, diligence, and follow-through. And now that we are former clients, we understand why. We always knew we were going to have a gem of a home with Seth at the helm. What we did not fully appreciate at the beginning was his proven ability to help us STAY ON BUDGET and his deep bench of connections with first-rate contractors and subcontractors who were prepared to bend over backward to meet Seth’s exacting standards. Here are just a few highlights from our experience: CONCEPT PHASE: During the initial meetings at our home, Seth went the extra mile to learn all about our lifestyle, future needs, architectural likes/dislikes, and budget. During this stage of the process, he would effortlessly make freehand drawings to help us visualize potential styles and layouts. We ultimately elected to go with a craftsman design, with lots of wood features inside and out. PICKING THE RIGHT PROPERTY: Seth joined us for car rides through the local neighborhoods, helping us to scout out the property that was best suited for our construction plans – free of any potential HOA or permitting snafus. DESIGN: With Seth’s guidance, we iterated on different design options. The design phase was high-tech and highly visual. Lots of 2D and 3D elevations, plus 360-degree videos. At each step, Seth clearly identified the estimated construction cost, and we would make decisions about what to dial-up and what to dial-down. For example, we elected to go with a cheaper asphalt roof (rather than slate), but with a more premium window. There were literally dozens of choices like that, and Seth did a superb job of helping us to make the right trade-offs and to “value engineer” the house. PICKING THE CONTRACTOR AND SUBS: One of the things that distinguishes Seth from the competition is that he works closely with a handful of contractors and subcontractors who have already been “pre-screened” for excellence. Seth connected us with a general contractor who was not only honest and diligent, but whose carpentry was truly “artisan grade.” Seth also drew upon a stable of outstanding subcontractors – in areas such as HVAC/plumbing, electrical/lighting, structural engineering, cabinetry, tile, drywall/paint, countertops, hardwood flooring, landscaping, etc. It was perfectly clear that these subs were striving to deliver the highest quality and exemplary service. Why? Because Seth was an important source of repeat business for them. This made them extremely responsive. BUDGETING: Seth developed detailed spreadsheets estimating costs for every aspect of the project, as well as options for “enhancements.” Once we made our choices, he was instrumental in securing a FLAT FEE CONTRACT with the builder (inclusive of subs) for everything we wanted. To provide even more control over the cost, the agreement specified that certain items would be “owner provided, contractor installed.” This meant that, regardless of whether we bought pricey appliances or tile or flooring, it would have no impact of the builder’s fees. To his credit, Seth’s estimates were quite accurate, and the project stayed on budget. ARCHITECT FEES: We negotiated a flat fee for Seth’s architectural services, and got way more than we bargained for. We had no idea Seth would stay so engaged throughout the project -- micromanaging every detail, and even offering interior design suggestions (e.g., stains and paints, cabinet and window designs, furniture layouts, etc.). It became clear that, regardless of how much we had agreed to pay in fees, Seth was “all in,” and was committed to ensuring that the end result was perfection. To be sure, in any large construction project, there will be some hiccups. But this was yet another area where Seth shined. Rather than being indifferent, or pointing the finger at those who were actually at fault, he would step up to “own the problem” and take charge until the issue was resolved. In one such case, he developed a design tweak that saved us money and produced a more beautiful result in the process. We never had to stress too much, because we knew Seth was 100% engaged and we could trust that the final work product would be a treasure of a home. One final thought. While Seth’s tremendous talent is obviously perfect for large custom projects, we have no doubt that he can deliver outstanding value for smaller home renovations too. When we did kitchen/bath renovations in our prior home, we naively thought that a “design-and-build” firm would deliver the best solution. With the benefit of hindsight, we could have done so much better hiring Seth as the independent architect and separately hiring a builder who would be accountable to the architect. The result would have been better quality construction, a better value, and far less stress. So whether you are about to embark on a modest remodel or getting ready to “dream big” with a new custom home, look no further than Ballard Mensua Architecture.

My wife and I had two great meetings with Seth regarding a potential remodel or teardown in North Arlington. Seth is knowledgeable, creative, and energetic. His knowledge and confidence about what was possible, especially in terms of permits and variances on a very small lot, took a lot of anxiety out of the process. He gave us great initial floor plan sketches and cost outlines. Our plans ultimately took a different turn, but I had full confidence in Seth to create a great result.

Run, don't walk, to hire Seth Ballard as your architect. Seth brought exceptional creative energy and expertise to a major home renovation project. He worked closely and collaboratively with us during the design phase of the project, and helped to oversee the construction phase as well. When necessary, he personally engaged to troubleshoot unexpected issues that arose during the construction. He is simply excellent in all respects, and we would not hesitate to hire him again for a future project.

We hired Ballard & Mensua, and worked with the principal, Seth Ballard, for a major renovation of our home. We had never worked with an architect before and didn’t know what to expect. Having lived through it there is no question we owe the final results, which surpassed every expectation, to Seth. First, Seth is an accomplished professional who listened to and came to understand our style, taste, and vision, and used his considerable creative talent to design our dream spaces. He spent a large amount of time with us to work in our ideas and desires. Second, Seth is experienced - he knows the business and helped work through the many issues and problems that arise during a renovation. He referred us to many vendors who obviously respect him and who delivered for us due to their relationship with him. He also worked out many structural issues and made on site changes seemlessly. We finished the renovation about a year ago and frankly, it has transformed our lives. Seth helped us create functional, beautiful spaces throughout our home. We highly recommend him and his firm.

Amazing. Fabulous. Wonderful. Can't say enough positive things about Seth Ballard. His ideas are creative, unique, and smart. His execution on our project was top-notch. You can't go wrong in working with him.

I have been working with Seth for 13+ years. Can't say enough great things about Seth and his organization. Seth is one of the most hard working individuals I know. He's always looking out for his clients best interest, while trying to keep them on budget. 5 stars!

Ballard Mensua provided the utmost professionalism and top notch service possible. Seth designed an amazing plan combining two semi-detached houses. The house flows seamlessly; Seth maintained the feel of an old Georgetown house all while updating the feel with more contemporary aspects. Seth is easy to work with; he listens and respects differing opinions but will be assertive when his approach is clearly better. I would hire Ballard Mensua. It was an unbelievably positive experience working with them and the outcome was beyond our wildest expectations.

We did a combo renovation and addition to our home (new master bedroom and bath, new kitchen, and new guest bedroom - built over 3 floors) and worked with Seth and his team to design a home that made the addition seamlessly connect to the original 1940s built home. We just completed the project and it is exactly what we hoped for and on budget. Seth brings an easy to work with approach, amazing ideas and connections to craftsman throughout the area, and an exacting attention to details. I would recommend him to anyone.

After months of researching on potential architects and interviewing a few, I hired Seth to undertake a major expansion/renovation of my house. The project, which finished for a few months, included a new kitchen, family room, master suite and basement. I couldn't be happier with the results. The best decision that I made for my project was to hire him as the architect and project manager. He is great architect and an excellent project manager. Seth put his personal touch on my house but let my style and preferences shine. He also did an excellent job handling the builder, any issue that emerge during construction, and making sure that I made informed decisions about the budget. The craftsmanship of my house is great. That was Seth's work on helping me to choose the builder and undertaking a hands on supervision approach. If you are looking an architect that can help you to do top quality reno in which you want to imprint your style, Seth is sure bet. I also like his direct and honest approach to handle issues that emerged. Seth made a potentially stressful project to go easy in terms making sure that the right decision were being made to have a solid and beautiful renovation. If I had to do the project again, I would hire Seth in a heart bit.

We hired Ballard + Mensua Architecture to design and supervise the construction of a three-floor deck and stair structure on the rear of our historic condo building in Dupont Circle, DC. Seth guided our Condo Association through the whole process, from concept to completion, and we couldn't be more pleased with the result. Seth's aesthetic eye and insistence on quality really resulted in a structure that goes beyond our expectations. He was also flexible in dealing with multiple interventions along the way, given the number of stakeholders involved as we were representing a condo board.

We have been planning our complete remodel of a 1950's ranch since 2008, which is when we first met with Seth, the principal architect of Ballard Mensua. I reached out to him after seeing another remodel he had done that I liked. Seth's services do not come cheap, but every penny has been worthwhile--he (and all members of his team) is very easy to work with, responsive to our needs and likes/dislikes, and has referred us to a great contractor and great sources for appliances, fixtures, etc. During this multi-year process, I had been saving images to ideabooks on Houzz, and this turned out to be invaluable: I gave Seth access to my ideabooks so that he really got a great idea of what I like and the feel I wanted for our house. Our reno, which ultimately wound up adding two completed stories on top of our totally gutted and redesigned ranch-original-footprint firs floor, began in August 2014 and will likely be completed by the end of June 2015 or early July. We are very pleased and excited with our project and look forward to living in our great new home, courtesy of our great collaboration with Ballard & Mensua!

One of Seth's contractors spent an entire day at my house fixing all my skylights (which the previous owner installed improperly and they were leaking badly) and repairing my roof. He did an excellent job - I was really happy with the work! I would recommend him to anyone.

Seth Ballard designed a perfect cottage for my residence in a wooded hillside on a cove off the Chesapeake Bay. Seth has a perfect design sense that is reflected in the spaces, details and materials in my home. His contruction experience is invaluable when working with a builder. Seth doesn't design from the outside in or from the inside out. He holds an entire vision that constantly evolves as he works closely with his clients to achieve the best solution to their needs, the site and the budget. Seth has strong ideas about design, materials, finish details and colors. Think hard about what you want - and press for the realization of your own vision - then listen to Seth and follow his advice!

I hired Ballard + Mensua to provide assistance with a stacked stone wall in my living room. Not only were they on schedule and on budget, the wall looks fantastic! I will absolutely recommend them to family and friends.

Following the recommendations from our realtor, we hired Seth Ballard from Ballard + Mensua Architecture to help us with the expansion of our traditional colonial 3 bed-room house in Bethesda, Maryland. The job was a total renovation / expansion to accommodate our 4 children, and included adding two bedrooms, expanding the kitchen, expanding the master bedroom, creating a master bath, creating a new mud-room in the basement, moving the laundry room, a new front porch, a new family room, and generally upgrading the house to meet our particular needs. Seth worked closely with us throughout the project, and was always very responsive to our needs. He is a good listener, with great ideas for stylish details, while also being very practical. He helped us with the bidding phase of the contractor, and in the end we found an excellent contractor (Stohlman and Killner); he adjusted the drawings to our needs, and once the construction started, helped us with the selection of products, and generally managed the project for us. He was always ready to meet and to come to the house and check on progress. He is not only a very good architect, but he is also very good at understanding our particular needs. And he has great taste! In the end, we are super happy with our renovated/expanded house. It has a very nice open concept and a great flow, which is wonderful for our large family. We could not be happier with the services provided by Seth and his team. I would highly recommend them.

We badly needed to expand our 1950's Cape Cod and were drawn to Seth's distinctive style on a number of homes he had crafted in our neighborhood (including his own). Seth completed a master plan for us that was broken into two Phases: a Kitchen and Dining room, Living room, Master Bedroom Suite addition/renovation in Phase 1 and a front porch and dormer addition as part of Phase 2. After interviewing over 10 architects and design/builders we felt Seth offered the most holistic approach. For renovation novices like us, Seth was the perfect guide and a great collaborative partner. He was able to take our goals and budget and work within the limitations of a cramped Cape to create a truly stunning, but simple design. We really appreciated his involvement in every aspect of the project from start to finish: his concern for the quality of work, no matter how small the detail, his availability throughout the project, and how he advocated for us with suppliers. It's abundantly clear he's not happy unless his client is happy. Seth was very conscious of recycling/repurposing materials when possible, which also helped our budget. We began construction in June 2009 and lived in the house through the project, which was completed on schedule in December 2009. We're looking forward to working with Ballard-Mensua again on Phase 2 as soon as possible.

I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Ballard and his talented team of architects for the past 15 years. Being in design business myself, I work with lots of architects and designers. I can easily say this firm is one of the best. I have never heard anything but praises from my clients about Ballard + Mensua Architecture. If you are in the market for an Architect, you owe it to yourself , at th every least, to set up a time to talk Seth Ballard. Meet with him and you decide.

We selected Ballard + Mensua Architecture for a major remodel of our residence based on their designs, recommendations, and experience with a project this complex. Not only did we create a new master suite over an expanded 3-car garage, we also added a greenhouse and modified some existing interior space. We appreciated Seth's design process, which ensured we had considered many ideas and options, and agreed to all critical decisions and budgets, prior to the start of construction. Seth provided bids from four excellent general contractors with whom he had worked successfully in the past; he was familiar with pros and cons and subcontractors of each team, allowing us to make a well-informed selection. Throughout the construction process, Seth was available, offering ideas and recommendations. He was an excellent interface with the general contractor and was able to resolve any concerns quickly and to our satisfaction. Though Seth does gravitate toward more high-end materials and finishes, he is respectful of the customer's budget and constraints and will recommend appropriate alternatives (where to splurge and where to save). We spent 8 months in the design phase and 7 months in construction phase. We couldn't be happier with the appearance, quality and functionality of our new space! Seth, his team members at Ballard + Mensua, and our general contractor and his team were highly professional, skilled, courteous and a delight to work with. We highly recommend Ballard + Mensua Architecture.

I met Seth a little over a year ago when he agreed to come down to Suffolk, VA to look at an historic home that I was thinking of purchasing. Since I no construction experience, there was no way I had the courage to consider taking a step like this without a professional opinion as to the condition of the home. During our initial phone conversation we immediately hit it off, and I was sure I had called the right person for help. We met at the house three days later and went through it together. It was in need of complete mechanical upgrades, it needed roof repairs, it had one of the ugliest kitchens i had ever seen, but was otherwise in remarkably good condition. Seth told me at our first meeting that if he did his job correctly, no one would ever know that he had been there. I loved his sensitivity to the property, and the fact that he has been managing every aspect of the restoration. I am 100% certain that every decision he made has been in my best interest, and was made with respect to the original character of the home. Seth has gone far beyond what I expected from an architect, and along the way has become a very good friend.

Seth Ballard of Ballard + Mensua has done several projects for us. The first was a major bathroom renovation that brought our builder standard bathroom into a thing of absolute beauty! The creativity and attention to the most finite detail was amazing. That was over 10 years ago, and we recently brought Seth back to help us update our aging home. It is stunning, and the color choices are to our taste, yet was also way outside of what we would have ever chosen on our own. Seth's sense of style challenged us to try something very new for us, and we are delighted with the outcome. We highly recommend Ballard + Mensua Architecture. We will be using them again as we begin to plan for our retirement home.

Seth and his company supported the entire life cycle of our project to renovate and expand a property we purchased in the Falls Church City. He met with us to understand our needs and desires as well as our budget. He provided options and collaborated with us to surface the best choice for our project. He provided as-is and to-be plans and helped us find a fantastic general contractor. He worked with the contractor through out the project to work through questions and issues and keep the project on track. He helped us work through changes that came up and detailed plans for the kitchen, bathrooms, staircase, fireplace, porches and lighting that make our house unique. We consulted with him on everything from paint colors to stone counter tops to hard wood floors because he was endlessly willing, interested and insightful. He connected us with vendors he has worked with for years and we made some great deals on appliances, cabinetry and flooring. His early work with the general contractor, Jerry Staley, and Jerry's subcontractors helped is work out a contract with pricing that allowed us to build out the space over a porch that was not in our original budget. We are so satisfied that we are working on a plan to build a garage and entertaining space in our backyard.

While I work with Seth Ballard professionally, when it came time to renovate my own house my wife and I chose to work with Seth and the Ballard + Mensua team because of the uniqueness of their designs and the creative details that you will not find anywhere else. Being in the business I see a lot of architects and I think that the process that Ballard + Mensua applies ensures great collaboration with the homeowner so their goals are achieved. I would not hesitate to recommend him for any large scale renovation.

I hired Ballard+Mensua to do a massive renovation on my 1927 Craftsman bungalow. Seth and company did a fabulous job. Seth totally understood what we wanted -- both in terms of look/feel and functionality. He did a masterful job translating our shared vision into a reality. It was also very helpful that Seth could make recommendations of contractors and craftsmen who could work with us. His folks were excellent and went out of their way to keep their prices within our budget. It was like getting a design/build firm for the price of design-only. Seth is extremely creative and has a fantastic eye for detail and what things will look like. Most importantly, he is a nice person who is extremely easy to work with. I highly recommend him and his firm.

We did a major renovation job in our 100 year-old home. 4 bathrooms, full kitchen, basement and some other work (adding/removing some doorways and windows.) Seth was our architect but also brought considerable creative design talent to bear, as well as great guidance and oversight of contractors. OUr experience was fantastic. We were on budget, on time, and very satisfied. We've happily referred fiends of ours to Seth with full confidence.

We worked with Seth Ballard of Ballard+Mensua Architecture to develop a concept to expand our 1950's cottage in Falls Church. Seth developed the plan, helped us compete the plan to several builders, helped us select a builder, and helped us manage the project (we managed some of the sub-contractors to save overhead). We first contacted him in late 2009 to discuss concepts, sketch ideas, and talk about rough-order-of-magnitude costs. We had plans and permits by summer and had selected a builder and began construction in late September 2010. The work was completed in summer of 2011. This first phase involved expanding the East side of the house from front to back almost 10 feet. This allowed for a substantial increase in the size of the dining room and kitchen and the creation of a master suite. The rest of this main floor was upgraded (new interior doors, new windows, new trim and refinished flooring) to match the new construction. We then decided to kick-off another phase to renovate the basement (which had not been part of the original scope). Seth drew up the plans and helped us bid them out. This was essentially an in place renovation with the addition of a bathroom and an egress window. This project was built in spring 2012 finishing around June. The basement project involved creating a new bedroom (with egress window), a new full bathroom, a utility room, and remodeling the family room. The old ceiling was "wavy" and had to be replaced, we put in a new tile floor, and new doors, windows, and trim to match the upstairs. Seth is a pleasure to work with. His creative designs allowed us to make our house far more livable and comfortable while minimizing the size of the addition. Now that we have been living in it for almost 2 years (since the main renovation was completed) we can confirm that his advice was right on the mark. Not only do we love our "new" house, but people stop on the street (yes, cars stop in the middle of the street) to look at it. It looks great but more importantly it works great. Seth was able to work within our budget constraints and his knowledge of sources (cabinets, appliances, tile, etc.) saved us tens of thousands of dollars. We would definitely work with him again. In fact we just contacted him to start working on a concept for a carport.

We hired Seth while looking to move from Charlotte NC to Northern Va in 2008. He helped us pick out the house and then design a plan to meet our needs. A lovely Queen Anne has become more of a home to us thanks to Seth Ballard and his team. It has been over 3 years since we moved into our new Master Bedroom, Master Bath, walk in closet and extended family room and we love each day. If you can imagine how small rooms were in 1905, just think what we had to fix! Seth came up with a solution to maximize our space, meet our needs and to manage the costs. Our addition looks like it has always been there. We strongly recommend him and look forward to using him on our next big projects.

A talented architect, project manager, and problem solver. A steady presence during unsteady circumstances. Seth is able to take your ideas, and his experience and combine them together to create a great design that will stand the test of time.

Ballard+Mensua is an incredibly talented, creative and professional architectural firm. We have contracted with them multiple times and have LOVED the product each time. Great attention to detail and client relations...always felt listened to, but their recommendations were frequently better!

Seth Ballard is an outstanding architect!! His attention to detail and attentiveness to his clients needs make the design and renovation less scary. Seth came highly recommended and the moment I met him I knew he would be my architect. His easy going attitude and wonderful personality make him so easy to work with. He listened, offered excellent options and suggestions, and made the time to accompany me in the selection of my most important finishes. He referred me to some excellent vendors and exposed me to materials and finishes I had not considered for my kitchen and bath renovation. Working closely with the cabinet designer and contractor, he made sure that my kitchen and bath not only meet but exceed my expectations. One of the best suggestions he made was the walnut countertop for my kitchen island. Initially I was reluctant to take that suggestion but it turned out to be my favorite item in the kitchen. I am extremely pleased with the open concept home and beautiful kitchen and bath Seth designed for me.

Seth is an outstanding architect. I've used him personally, and have also referred many happy clients to him over the years. He listens to his clients and takes the time to understand their needs, and then helps them achieve their goals on time AND on budget. He's a rock star.

Seth is an amazing architect. We have worked with him on 3 major projects and this last one was a complete gut down and addition. My wife and I highly recommend Seth and his team. He is creative and listens to his customers. He is always pushing to do more with his designs.