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Homes that reflect the hopes, dreams, and emotions of life.

We make places that matter to people.

For homebuilders driven by a desire to create homes for people first, Design Story Spaces is a collaborative, creative architecture firm. We are inspired, passionate freethinkers who listen to understand, and design places for people, not formulas. The kind of places that have the potential to change people’s lives and make a difference. Even if it’s only one life, that’s one life seen, heard, and made better.

Work pictured above completed while at DAHLIN Architecture l Planning l Interiors.

The result is orchestrated magic.

Home Builders

We work beside your internal design team where you need us, or we can lead you through our process from start to finish.

Developers

We understand the transformation of land into home and community—and the alchemy of plan design, architectural guidelines, entitlements, and approvals.

Homeowners

We conceptualize, design, and draw your home the way you want it, for every little nuance that makes your life—and home—perfectly your own.

Collaborators

We are thought-partners, idea-generators, team curators and collaborators comfortable with all types of clients, or on any stage.

Services

Design Ideation

We listen, uncover, and build the story to guide our design process and decisions as a team. Together we’ll uncover the special spaces and relationships that will define your home.

Conceptual Design

The “Fat Pen Stage”. We work quickly to create big ideas for your project, fueled by the insights in your story. This is about capturing the big picture and bringing the form to life.

Schematic Design
& Project Delivery

Building on the concepts chosen, we bring everything into greater focus, from hardline to scale drawings, to thinking through the most efficient design. We collaborate to create final construction documentation and check in during the key stages of building.

Team & Consultant Coordination

We are relationship-driven and can jump in to motivate and lead an internal team stuck on a project, or put the most innovative, customer-centric designers in the business together on a team created just for you.

Speaking Engagements

Big ideas get bigger when they are shared with others. We love to do just that and create inspiring presentations for the big stages like PCBC, ULI, IBS, be a co-presenter or collaborator on your events, or design conversations for your team in focused work groups.

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Founder, Donald Ruthroff, AIA

About Don

Don Ruthroff, AIA is the Founding Principal of Design Story Spaces. He is a recognized housing industry leader with more than 35 years of experience in homebuilding and community creation, bringing his expertise as a respected architect for his integrity, creativity, and problem-solving. From homes that are well-designed and cost effective to execute, to communities that have a strong sense of character and grounding, he understands how to collaborate with teams to achieve the best outcomes. Don’s collaborative spirit and eye for design have made him a sought-after partner in homebuilding and an expert voice on design trends. Don has more than a decade of experience as a judge at the local, regional, and national levels, and is an active member of BIA Bay Area, California Building Industry Association, and The National Association of Home Builders.

where we've worked...

In The News

Builder Online

IBS 2023: Buyer Preferences and Home Trends for 2023

FloridaRealtors.org

NAHB on Home Size: Smaller, Bigger, Smaller Again

some words from our clients

"Don has been a member of our design team on numerous communities throughout the past twenty-eight years and I recommend him without hesitation. He approaches each design with enthusiasm, professionalism and experience—combining creativity with a great knowledge of planning, design, and construction to help his clients achieve their vision. His structural engineering and architecture background combined with his strong interpersonal skills allows him to work well with cities and agencies, neighbors, and elected officials to help his clients obtain approvals and bring their projects to completion. Don truly listens to and recognizes your needs and provides solutions based on his creativity, knowledge and problem-solving resourcefulness. Whether you have a single home or a master-planned community, Design Story Spaces will provide the same attention to detail, care and professionalism to your project."

Patrick Costanzo, Jr.
Principal, Developer and Builder, PCJ Real Estate Advisors, LLC