Why Choose Us ?
in Birmingham, Alabama
At Hentz Inspired Living, we specialize in crafting stylish architectural designs that perfectly combine practicality with a touch of creativity. We invite you to explore how our expertise can transform your unique ideas into spaces that truly reflect your vision! As a female-owned design + build, architectural & interior design firm, consider this your official invitation: come in and take rest under our wings, join us, and become part of our HIL family.
Our mission, oh, that's simple: we want to become your guide, a trusted resource meant to be your guide, providing that safety net through every step of the design process by committing to being fully present, transparent in our business practices, educating our clients, pulling advice and wisdom from over the 20 years of professional practice acquired, and engaging in genuine collective equal partnership with fellow practitioners, vendors, and skilled contractors coming together working towards bringing a set of architectural plans and drawings to life.
when working With HIL
It’s a trust-the-process kind of experience—without the mystery.
You’ll always know:
-
what phase we’re in
-
what decisions need to be made (and when)
-
what impacts budget and schedule
-
what we’re recommending—and why
Our goal is for you to feel confident at every step, and genuinely proud when you get your keys back and walk into a space that feels like home again.
Our Promise:
Proactive Planning. Protected Budgets.Beautiful Results.
Project Phases 1-4
Phase 1: Lifestyle + Adjacency Study
We learn how you live. We map relationships between spaces (bubble diagrams and adjacency planning) so the home supports your routines, hobbies, and the way your family gathers.
Phase 2: Lifestyle + Adjacency Study
We learn how you live. We map relationships between spaces (bubble diagrams and adjacency planning) so the home supports your routines, hobbies, and the way your family gathers.
Phase 3: Lifestyle + Adjacency Study
We learn how you live. We map relationships between spaces (bubble diagrams and adjacency planning) so the home supports your routines, hobbies, and the way your family gathers.
Phase 4: Lifestyle + Adjacency Study
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
Phase 5: Lifestyle + Adjacency Study
Project Phases 1-4
Phase 5: CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
Project Phases 1-4
Phase 6: interior ELEVATIONS, MILLWORK & CABINETRY SHOP DRAWINGS
Project Phases 1-4
Phase 6: LFF & e sPECIFICATIONS & PROCUREMENT OF FIXTURES, FINISHES & EQUIMPMENT
Project Phases 1-4
Every project starts the same way: an idea, a vision… and a dash of hope.
Our job is to turn that hope into an inspired plan—with the details, specs, and construction drawings that set your builder up for success. When the plans are clear, your builder can schedule labor correctly, order materials with accurate lead times, and bid the project with fewer unknowns.
That’s how you get to spend money on “wouldn’t it be nice if…” instead of spending it fixing “how did this happen?”
We take it personally—in the best way—because when a client trusts us with their budget, we consider it an honor. We teach, educate, guide, and protect you through the home-building or remodeling journey with transparency, thoughtful specifications, and consistent communication.
Proactive beats reactive. Every time.
-
Timeless Over Trendy:
-
`We favor proportion, balance, and restraint over passing fads. Our homes are designed to age gracefully—architecturally and emotionally.
-
-
Craft over flash:
-
Stone, brick, wood, metal—materials that feel honest in the hand and improve with time. Details are deliberate, not decorative for decoration’s sake.
-
-
Porches, hearths, and thresholds:
-
We believe the best homes are layered. Deep porches, outdoor fireplaces, and transitional spaces create natural places to gather, pause, and belong.
-
-
Architecture that feels illustrated:
-
A well-designed home should read clearly—even as a sketch. Strong rooflines, thoughtful massing, and intentional hierarchy give the house a story you can understand at a glance.
-
-
Indoor–outdoor living as a way of life:
-
Not an add-on, but a mindset. Patios, gardens, and outdoor rooms are treated as extensions of the home, not leftovers.
-
-
Designed for real life:
-
Children, dogs, aging parents, muddy shoes, holidays, quiet mornings. Beauty means nothing if the house doesn’t support how you actually live.
-
What Guides Our Design, SETTING US APART
Here at Hentz Inspired Living, we believe that every home should be a sanctuary that serves your family’s unique needs, not the other way around. As a woman-owned business, we approach each project with a deep sense of empathy and understanding, treating our clients like family.
How we approach problem solving, makes all the difference, paying careful intention, while prioitizing our client’s resources by drawing very detailed plans with specifications, that allowed HIL to pass off to the builder who then could prepare the construction schedule knowing ahead of time the amount of construction materials that would be required, sub-contractor skilled labor, and vendor lead times, that he could base his bid estimate and construction schedule accurately that best protected their budget, allowed the homeowner to spend part of their budget on the would be nice if items, rather than using it to pay for the mistakes and inconsistencies in installations that had to be later corrected that ate up all the fluff and made it so the client was only able to pay for the must have action list on their project, not a choice I’d like to make, so why should my clients have to deal with something that I could of help them prevent?
It’s all about being proactive rather than reactive. That budget goes so much further when it has been skillfully crafted and constructed in the preliminary planning process that HIL does with each client during Phase 1 of the design process. At HIL we aim to guide our clients to take an active role in the preconstruction planning process—to make them a strong partner—delivering a space for them to call once again “home” when they rest their heads.
it's all in the approach
1. Personalized Design Consultations:
We take the time to get to know you and your family. By understanding your lifestyle, preferences, and aspirations, we can tailor our designs to reflect who you are.
2. Education Throughout the Process:
We believe that informed clients are empowered clients. From the initial concept to the final touches, we guide you through every step of the design process, ensuring you understand your options and feel confident in your choices.
3. Creative Budget Management:
We understand that a beautiful home doesn’t have to break the bank. Our innovative approach to budgeting allows us to creatively utilize resources while delivering stunning results that fit within your financial goals.
4. Functional yet Aesthetic Spaces:
Our design philosophy centers around creating spaces that are not only visually appealing but also practical. We prioritize functional layouts that consider daily activities—whether it’s cooking family meals, managing laundry, or maximizing storage—ensuring that your home works for you.
5. ADA and Age-In-Place Design:
We specialize in designing homes that are accessible and accommodating for everyone, including those with disabilities or age-related needs. Our seamless integration of ADA features respects the integrity and dignity of our clients, allowing for independence and comfort without compromising style.
6. New Builds, Renovations, and Additions:
Whether you’re starting from scratch, updating an existing space, or expanding your home, we offer comprehensive services to bring your vision to life. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that every project reflects your family’s lifestyle and enhances your daily living experience.
7. One-on-One Support:
Our commitment doesn’t end with the design. We provide personalized support throughout the construction process, ensuring that your vision is realized with the utmost care and attention to detail.
At our firm, we strive to leave our clients better than we found them. We’re not just creating homes; we’re crafting spaces where families can thrive, grow, and create lasting memories. Let’s work together to design a home that truly serves you and your loved ones. Your dream home awaits!
What makes us different
"THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! for your thoughtful (and beautiful) design. The construction is going slow by there is progress. The framing, roof and shingles are finished. I LOVE the roof line. Doing a walkthrough after the framing was finished really brought your design to life. there are so many little things that now make so much sense to us! For example, how you did the entrance to the master bedroom, the entry door is not right at the hallway, it goes in a little bit. That was such a tasteful tough and it made a big difference aesthetically. I cannot wait to see the addition after the walls are up!"
Dani Hodgkinson -
"Then Susan Hentz commented, like she did here on your post. I saw some of her work and ended up hiring her. She did the MOST AMAZING JOB on the redraw of my house. Words can't even describe how happy I am with how she did it. Do yourself a favor now and at least give her a call. It'll save you so much time and you'll end up with the most amazing design beyond your imagination."
Jessica & Dan Fuchs -
Susan Hentz and her team brought exceptional creativity and professionalism to our project. Her design ideas were inspired, and she was responsive and accessible every step of the way. I couldn’t be more pleased with the experience.
Jesse Neimus
I highly recommend Susan Hentz and her team. Her creative vision and thoughtful design solutions exceeded my expectations. She was professional, responsive, and accessible throughout the entire process. An outstanding experience from start to finish.
Drew Carlyle
