Design a Home Addition Built to Last
Compliments Your Style
Brickmoon Design’s residential architecture practice designs home additions that look like they were always part of the original structure — because that’s the only kind worth building. The firm combines architectural expertise with integrated interior design, handling everything from structural coordination and permitting through interior selections and construction oversight. Additions designed without architectural rigor end up looking added. Brickmoon’s don’t.
The firm serves homeowners across Greater Houston, Austin, and the Texas Hill Country who want more space without the disruption of a move — and who want that space to genuinely belong to the home it’s attached to.
The Home Addition Design Process
From the first site visit through construction, Brickmoon manages every phase of the addition design process.
Design for Integration
The addition has to belong, not just be larger. Rooflines align. Materials carry through. Window patterns coordinate. An addition that looks intentional from the street requires deliberate design thinking — not just construction competence.
Understand the Program
We ask how the space will be used before any direction is proposed. A growing family needs something different than a home office. The specific use shapes every design decision from the first sketch forward.
Explore the Options
We present possibilities before committing to a direction. Second story, rear expansion, side addition, ADU — not every option fits every lot or structure. We explore what works within the real constraints of the property.
Detailed Design
Every material, window, and finish is specified. Kitchen and bathroom layouts are coordinated with plumbing and structural systems from the start.
Handle Permitting
We manage the full permitting process — building codes, setback requirements, and city-specific review. Permitting for additions varies significantly across counties. Brickmoon handles it from submission through approval.
Oversee Construction
We make regular site visits to verify the build matches the approved design. Issues are caught early. The project concludes with a final walkthrough confirming every detail has been executed as designed.
Types of Home Additions
Brickmoon Designhandles home additions of all kinds. Here are the most common.
Second Story Additions
Adding an entire floor without expanding the footprint. Second stories are designed so the roofline flows naturally from the existing structure — they read as original, not added.
Rear and Side Expansions
Horizontal additions for kitchen expansions, primary suites, family rooms, and mudroom buildouts. Foundation, framing, materials, and mechanical systems are coordinated so the new space connects seamlessly with what’s already there.
ADU Design
A separate dwelling on the property — guest house, rental unit, or independent suite for extended family. Brickmoon knows current ADU requirements across Houston, Austin, and Hill Country jurisdictions and evaluates feasibility before the design begins.
Guesthouse Design
A separate structure for guests or long-term family use. Brickmoon provides full architectural and interior design services — layout, material selections, and exterior character coordinated with the main house.
Pool House Design
Cabana, changing rooms, wet bar, or outdoor retreat — designed around how the property is actually used. Materials and rooflines coordinate with the main house so the site reads as one composed design.
Garage Design and Conversions
New garages, additions, and garage-to-living conversions. Roofline coordination, material matching, and structural evaluation are handled architecturally — not as a construction afterthought.
Why Choose Brickmoon for Home Additions
Learn more about the firm and the experience behind every Brickmoon project in Texas.
- Architect-Designed, Not Contractor-Built — Contractors know how to build. Architectural design goes beyond construction competence. Brickmoon designs additions so the rooflines flow, the materials carry through, and the proportions respect what’s already there.
- Regulatory Experience Across Texas — Setback requirements, height limits, neighborhood character guidelines, and historic district rules vary significantly across Houston, Austin, and Hill Country counties. Brickmoon navigates these requirements before the design begins — not after the first rejection.
- Integrated Interior Design — New square footage needs to work inside as well as outside. Brickmoon’s interior design team coordinates finishes, fixtures, and layouts for the new spaces alongside the architectural work — so the addition is complete, not just structurally sound.
- Historic District Experience — Houston Heights, Tarrytown, and Austin’s historic overlay districts each have design review requirements that can stop a poorly planned addition before it starts. Brickmoon knows these guidelines and designs within them.
- Two-Office Texas Coverage — Brickmoon operates from Houston and Wimberley. The firm serves homeowners across Greater Houston, Austin, Hill Country, and surrounding markets with direct knowledge of the permitting environments and building contractors in each region.
- Award-Winning Work — Houston’s Best Prism Award, multiple Star Awards, and consecutive Best of Houzz recognition. The standard applied to custom home projects is the same standard applied to every addition Brickmoon designs.
What Our Clients Say
Brickmoon Design’s client reviews reflect a consistent experience — careful listening, precise execution, and additions that feel like they were always part of the original home. Read what past clients say firsthand.
Home Addition Portfolio
Browse Brickmoon Design’s project portfolio to see completed home addition work across Houston, Austin, and the Texas Hill Country — second stories, rear expansions, ADUs, pool houses, and guesthouse designs across a range of architectural styles.
Celebrating 15 Years
Our Communities: Big Easy Ranch
New Project Completion: Glen Cove Modern
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Contact Brickmoon Design
Schedule a consultation with Brickmoon Design to discuss custom home design, remodels and home additions.Â
Houston Headquarters
7155 Old Katy Rd, Suite N190
Houston, Texas 77024
Central Texas / Hill Country Office
13501 Ranch Road 12, Suite 111
Wimberley, Texas 78676
Residential Arcitect FAQs
Is an architect necessary for a home addition?
Legally, no — for some projects. Practically, yes. An architect ensures the addition looks intentional, integrates properly with the existing structure, and navigates permitting without costly rejections. A contractor can build something that functions. An architect designs something that belongs. For any addition that touches the roofline, the foundation, or the mechanical systems, architectural involvement isn’t optional — it’s the difference between an addition that adds value and one that doesn’t.
How long does the home addition design process take?
Design typically runs 2–4 months depending on project complexity. Permitting adds 1–3 months depending on the jurisdiction — Houston, Austin, and Hill Country cities each move at different speeds. Brickmoon sets realistic timelines from the initial consultation so the schedule reflects the actual permitting environment, not an optimistic estimate that slips.
Can Brickmoon design an addition that matches an existing architectural style?
Yes. The firm works across all residential styles — traditional, modern, farmhouse, transitional, Craftsman, Mediterranean, and Hill Country vernacular. Style matching is one of the primary design challenges in addition work, and it’s one Brickmoon approaches deliberately — rooflines, materials, window proportions, and exterior detailing are all studied against the existing structure before any new design is proposed.
What if the lot is small or has unusual constraints?
Constrained lots require more careful design thinking — not a different firm. Brickmoon has designed second stories, creative side additions, and ADUs on properties that initially seemed too small or too irregular for expansion. Sometimes vertical is the right answer. Sometimes a compact but well-designed addition delivers more usable space than a larger but poorly planned one.
Can a garage be converted to living space?
Yes, but it requires architectural involvement to do it correctly. Proper permits, structural assessment, mechanical system updates, and covered parking replacement requirements all need to be addressed before and during the conversion. Brickmoon handles these as an integrated design and permitting process — garage conversions done without architectural oversight frequently fail inspection or create problems that cost more to correct than the original project.
How does Brickmoon ensure an addition looks like it belongs?
Rooflines, materials, window alignment, and proportions — every exterior detail is studied against the existing structure before the design is finalized. This isn’t a checklist. It’s a design process that starts with understanding the existing home’s logic before proposing anything new. Additions that look added are the result of skipping that step. Brickmoon doesn’t skip it.
What building codes apply to home additions in Texas?
Texas home additions are governed by local city building codes, zoning ordinances, and — in some cases — HOA and historic district guidelines. Requirements vary by city and by addition type. Brickmoon manages code compliance from design through permit submission and construction inspection, so the addition is built to code from the first drawing rather than corrected during the build.
What is the difference between architecture and interior design?
Architecture designs the building itself — structure, systems, and spatial organization. Interior design determines how those spaces are finished, furnished, and experienced day to day. Combining both under one firm produces far better results.
Does Brickmoon handle additions outside Houston and Austin?
Yes. Brickmoon serves homeowners across Greater Houston, Austin, the Texas Hill Country, and surrounding markets from two offices — Houston and Wimberley. The firm has completed addition projects in the Hill Country, lake communities, San Antonio corridor, and various Houston and Austin suburbs. Projects are evaluated based on location, scope, and permitting environment.
Related Resources
The Brickmoon residential architecture blog covers the custom home design process, Texas Hill Country building considerations, interior design integration, and everything homeowners need to know before starting a project in Texas.
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