We at Goodhouse have assembled a team of talented architects and designers, keeping the firm small enough to allow our full participation as designers, but large enough to fully serve the needs of our clients. Architecture, interior architecture, and interior design each receive equal measures of passion and commitment from our team. Happy, respectful, and productive collaboration is the lifeblood of our firm- we’re good listeners, and we encourage our clients to express their wants and needs in a nurturing environment, and then work with them to create houses that are beautiful, functional, and that will endure for generations to come.

Our work is not based on a signature style- we approach each project as the singular experience that it is, and strive to create thoughtful solutions that are as individual as our clients. We collaborate with the best local engineers, landscape architects, builders, and artisans to build dynamic teams where mutual respect and full commitment to our clients’ needs is the guiding light. And our long experience with construction, planning, and project management ensure that our projects are completed on time and on budget.

We work out of our red studio barn in Stony Point, just six miles north of downtown Charlottesville, and keep the setting informal and comfortable to foster a creative work environment for us and our clients. We’d love to hear from you, so please give a call, drop a line, or connect via the internet. We’re happy to discuss a potential new house with you, help with the selection of a property or an existing house, and hear about your dreams for the home you hope to create.

OUR TEAM

Peter Labau

Peter Labau, Charlottesville DesignerHistoric and traditional architecture has been a lifelong passion for Peter, who comes from a long line of architects, designers, and builders. In the early 1980s, Peter founded an award-winning architecture and construction firm in Boston, MA that specialized in the restoration and renovation of historic houses, and the creation of new ones in traditional styles. Peter served as the principal designer and president of The Classic Group for twenty years, assembling a team of passionate and talented individuals who delighted in the team approach to creating truly remarkable houses. Seeking a more laid-back lifestyle, Peter sold his interest in The Classic Group in 2005, and relocated to the Charlottesville area. He worked as the sole proprietor of Peter LaBau Residential Design for twelve years, before forming Goodhouse Design with architect Jessie Chapman in January of 2017. Peter brings award-winning design skill, project management and construction experience, along with his tremendous knowledge of historic and traditional architecture to Goodhouse Design. Most of all, he enjoys working with people. The day-to-day collaboration with co-workers and clients is his greatest pleasure.

In addition to his duties at Goodhouse Design, Peter is a musician, book author, photographer, and avid motorcyclist. You can catch him performing on banjo and dobro with the Bent Mountain Trio, or you might see him on his motorcycle exploring the hidden corners of western Virginia, camera in hand, searching for elusive architectural gems.

Email: peter@goodhousellc.com

Jessie Chapman

Jessie Chapman, Charlottesville ArchitectAfter college, Jessie worked in an architecture firm in New York that specialized in historic preservation. She came to the University of Virginia to study architectural history, and then completed a second degree in Architecture. She’s been fascinated by old buildings for as long as she can remember, and spends her time away from the office on sketching trips all over the world.

In addition to historic architecture, Jessie has a keen interest in the details and materials that make houses beautiful and functional. She loves finding out what colors and textures bring delight to a client’s eye, and combining them to create a space that is lively, yet balanced.

Jessie is a Licensed Architect in the state of Virginia and she is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. She is a frequent guest critic at UVA’s School of Architecture, and she sketches in and out of Charlottesville whenever she has the chance. She finds that sketching on location feeds her creativity and informs her practice. Jessie is an avid urban sketcher, and serves on the Board of the Urban Sketchers non profit.

Residential architecture is extraordinarily intimate, which makes it fascinating and rewarding. A client has to feel complete confidence in order to convey what’s important. There’s a lot of interpreting in my work, because I need to help people see. That’s why I spend time developing my skills through sketching. It helps me translate things quickly, whether it’s for an owner, a cabinetmaker or an architectural review board.

Architecture is a language and, to me, it is important to study precedent and context. For residential work, I find a certain comfort in exploring themes that have been established and adapted over the centuries.

I always tell clients, “What you don’t like is just as important as what you do like.” And I encourage them to share images, ideas, materials and their specific thoughts and reactions. Most important to me is that the client’s vision is realized, not mine.

Email: jessie@goodhousellc.com