Susan Hentz
Founder & Principal | Hentz Inspired Living
Susan Hentz is a residential architectural and interior designer based in Alabama and the founder of Hentz Inspired Living, a design practice focused on thoughtful, process-driven homes that balance beauty, constructability, and long-term livability. With a career rooted in both design and construction literacy, Susan brings a rare hybrid perspective to residential projects—one that bridges vision and execution. Her work spans custom new construction, major renovations, additions, age-in-place planning, and design-build consulting, serving homeowners, builders, and real-estate professionals across the Birmingham metro and beyond.
Susan’s approach is grounded in the belief that great design is not decoration—it’s decision-making. She is known for translating complex client needs, site constraints, and budget realities into clear, buildable plans that support how people actually live. Her role often extends beyond traditional design services into project quarterbacking—anticipating issues early, coordinating teams, and protecting clients from costly downstream mistakes.
Early Influences & Foundation
Susan’s passion for residential design began early. As a child, she spent countless hours creating functional layouts in a handmade dollhouse, focusing not on aesthetics alone but on how spaces worked together. This instinct was reinforced during her teenage years when she accompanied her father daily to the construction site of their family’s custom home—watching the process evolve from raw earth to finished residence. Originally pursuing a career in healthcare, Susan later pivoted into interior architecture and residential design, drawn by the intersection of systems, human behavior, and the built environment. That early healthcare influence continues to inform her work today, particularly in accessibility, aging-in-place strategies, and empathetic design.
Professional Practice
Susan has worked across the residential spectrum, collaborating with:
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Custom home builders
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Trades and fabricators
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Engineers and consultants
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Homeowners navigating complex renovations
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Clients requiring ADA-conscious or future-proofed homes
Her deliverables often include feasibility studies, schematic design, construction-ready drawings, 3D models, and client education materials, all structured to reduce risk and increase clarity before construction begins.
She is especially recognized for:
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Breaking down overwhelming projects into manageable phases
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Teaching clients how to think like builders without losing creativity
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Designing homes that evolve with their occupants over time
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Advocating for transparency, documentation, and informed decision-making
Design Philosophy
Susan’s design philosophy centers on these core principles:
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Function first, always.
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If a space doesn’t support daily life, it doesn’t matter how beautiful it is.
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Process creates freedom.
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Clear planning and documentation allow creativity to thrive without chaos.
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Homes should serve people—not the other way around.
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Design must respond to bodies, habits, seasons of life, and change.
Her aesthetic sensibility leans warm, timeless, and grounded—often blending architectural clarity with layered, human-scaled interiors.
Leadership & Thought Leadership
Beyond client work, Susan is building a broader educational and advocacy platform within the residential design and building industry.
She is actively developing:
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Educational content for homeowners and emerging professionals
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A podcast focused on residential design, construction realities, and client education
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Speaking and panel participation for home & garden shows and industry events
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Resources supporting women in architecture, design, and building
She is known for her ability to translate industry complexity into accessible language
—empowering clients and professionals alike to make better decisions.
Today
Through Hentz Inspired Living, Susan continues to push for a more thoughtful, ethical, and human-centered approach to residential design—one where creativity is paired with accountability, and where clients feel guided, protected, and confident from first idea to final build.
