Our firm was founded in Charlotteville, Virginia over 36 years ago. In that time we have designed 100s of homes and renovation projects for our community. We have built solid relationships with quality builders and know this community. From Key West to Glenmore, Old Trail to Ivy, Keswick to Earlysville we love working on traditional to modern styles. Our work infuses building science into all types of homes making them durable, energy efficient, healthy, and beautiful.
Renovations and Additions
Renovation and addition work in the Albemarle County area often allows us to bring a traditional style home into a functional modern solution. This home we added an in-law suite on the rear of the existing brick ranch house.
Custom Homes
We have 100s of custom homes designed to provide a dream life on beautiful dream lots. The styles of home that we have had the opportunity to design include prarie, modern, traditional and more.
Interior Design Consulting
We also offer interior design consulting. We can help create a plan to update your existing home. Our connections with trusted material suppliers provide many options for you to choose from.
This past year the Gaines Group designed a much needed addition to the Montessori School of Charlottesville Gordon Avenue campus. Located in the Venable neighborhood of Charlottesville, the original building is a Victorian home built in 1894 by UVA professor Richard Dabney. We were asked to provide a design that matches the needs of the school while keeping a cohesive appearance with the historic building. I had many meetings with Lindsey Munson, an administrator at the school, learning about the specific needs of the Montessori classroom. I have firsthand experience with the Montessori way of learning since both my children attend or have attended MSC. In selecting a preschool for our children we enjoyed the Montessori philosophy of fostering personal independence and social responsibility and believed MSC would provide a great foundation for their education. What makes me proud is with this new addition, MSC will be able to enroll 17 new students which will increase their scholarship program thus creating the ability to offer full scholarships to deserving families who might not have the opportunity to gain a strong early childhood education.
We were able to usher our design through the Charlottesville Board of Architecture Review process and receive approval. Construction began in late spring of 2018 and completed in time for the 2018 fall semester.
MSC is in the midst of their Building Peace capital campaign to offset costs of the new addition. MSC is seeking to raise $150,000 and has received a matching grant of $75,000 from the Charlottesville Perry Foundation. MSC must raise the additional $75,000 to receive this donation. If you would like to help families afford the opportunity for a quality early childhood education please visit
There is nothing better than working with great clients on projects that offer the community a great resource. Timberlake Place is that type of project in Charlottesville. The end result will be 27 affordable, green, apartments in town that are designed for people of any ability. These homes are located on a bus line, has a planned community garden, and a conservation area on the site. There is no better feeling that getting to work on a project with such a good purpose.
