LMA Architecture

04/23/2026

"We are getting quite a lot of compliments on the design and how it integrates with the existing house, so thank you."

We love getting updates like this from our clients!

There is no higher compliment for an addition than when it looks like it was always meant to be there. We’re thrilled to see progress at this site, where the framing is nearly complete and our collaborative vision is coming to life.

The details are really coming together to improve the way our clients live in their space!

While the architectural plans do the initial work of design, the magic often happens in the construction process. We always play as part of a team and we love seeing our projects develop and grow with our collaborators in each next stage.

04/07/2026

🥂 Cheers to 10 Years! We're celebrating our 10 years of providing architecture without ego. Swipe through for a look back at the journey of LMA Architecture. 👉

2016
Leesa Mayfield Architecture was founded with a client-focused approach.

2018
Leesa joined the Wi******er Planning Commission as a leader in community projects and goals for the growing Shenandoah Valley area.

"My hope is to be... making an impact on our community... to serve as an example for other women and girls that we can do this."

2020
Leesa Mayfield Architecture combined forces with DFC Architects.

2022
The firm gained recognition as a SWaM (Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) certified business.

2024
Leesa was appointed to the AIA Northern Virginia Board of Directors, bringing local representation from Wi******er to regional architectural leadership.

2025
DFC-LMA transitioned to LMA Architecture, with Leesa Mayfield leading an all-female team. This year also saw the launch of the Summer Intern Program, investing in the next generation of architects.

"Our goal is still the same: to deliver projects that allow you to live more efficiently and happily in your homes and run more successful businesses."

2026
We're celebrating a decade of building spaces and serving our community. Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to the next ten years of designing brilliant spaces for living and working more efficiently & happily in their spaces.

03/05/2026

Leesa is excited to be taking all things architecture Wednesday, March 11th at Emil & Grace Shihadeh Innovation Center!

🛠️Our Architectural Drawing & Design class presents...

✨Chat Time with Architect in partnership with LMA Architecture

📅 Wednesday, March 11
⏰ 230pm
📍 EGSIC Forum

02/19/2026

A new commercial project just dropped in time for spring cleaning (seriously, check out the before on photo 6)!

Subaru approached us, in collaboration with KEE Construction, to design a new maintenance building using PEMB (that's: pre-engineered metal buildings) for their growing service needs.

After touring their previous facility and our initial meetings, we established the optimal size and workflow for the interior. Starting from scratch, we could identify and correct for behaviors that would slow down a workday with even small design inefficiencies, and designed a maintenance building that would operate smoothly and happily.

But, we couldn't just leave it as a cold metal box - nobody likes that! Plus, the site's location within Wi******er's Corridor Enhancement overlay district meant that we needed to work within these zoning requirements.

We made strategic decisions that transformed what could have been a utilitarian structure into a thoughtful addition to the streetscape.

Rather than placing the large metal building prominently along the street as initially proposed, we sited it toward the rear of the property.

We then employed subtle but effective design moves to add visual interest: standing the siding off the building face to create dimensional depth, alternating siding direction to vary texture, and incorporating windows throughout. You can see it in photo 9!

These windows proved to be the most impactful design choice for the folks who actually use this building every day! The service technicians consistently cite the improved lighting in the service bays as their favorite feature of this bright, spacious workspace.

After all, that *is* our goal: assisting clients to live more efficiently & happily by designing brilliant spaces for living and working, designed with your ideas, championed by our expertise.

02/13/2026

Diamonds are a girls best friend... except if that girl is an architect, then we'd be willing to bet that she'd prefer to design a *sparklingly* smart tenant fit-out for a fine jewelry studio in a historic downtown building.

Swipe through to see how we gave our client a functional and bright showroom (the before pictures WILL shock you).

The stunning 1903 space underwent a huge transformation from dark and confined to luminous and fresh. A thoughtfully designed new wall was proposed in the permit drawings that redefined the showroom's proportions in the best way.

The new wall turned out gorgeously, completed by the builder along with restored plaster details, enhanced illumination, and all the finishing touches.

This project exemplifies our philosophy: that architecture's highest calling is to elevate everyday moments into experiences of beauty and luxury.

02/05/2026

Are architects magicians? Well, we'd say we come pretty close.

We reimagined this home's layout by relocating a main-level bedroom to create a seamlessly integrated open-concept living room, dining room, and kitchen.

A formerly dark hallway adjacent to the kitchen was opened up, flooding the space with natural light and creating intuitive flow throughout the main level.

Upstairs, we transformed an underutilized two-story atrium into a functional second-floor family room—a casual "away space" for watching TV and gathering that added significant value without expanding the home's footprint.

The main level was completed with a comprehensive renovation of the bedroom suite, featuring an all-new bedroom, updated bathroom, and thoughtfully reimagined laundry area. The result was so successful that the owners chose to make this their primary suite, embracing the convenience and comfort of single-level living.

We absolutely love seeing all that natural light, but a happy client is worth all that and more!

"Working with Leesa was transformative for our home. She stuck with us through a challenging project and turned our house into a true home. Her thoughtful design solutions—like reimagining three awkward closets into a functional laundry room and private powder room—show how she really listens and problem-solves. The decision to fill in our two-story space was extraordinary, creating a family room we could never have achieved with our basement. Even the existing window fit perfectly! Leesa's creativity and dedication deserve all the exclamation points. We're so grateful."

01/23/2026

How do you design a home that comfortably sleeps three generations under one roof? 🏡

For this custom home, the mission was to balance togetherness with necessary privacy. We were tasked with creating a gathering space for grandparents, adult children, and grandchildren that didn't sacrifice peace and quiet.

Special requests were made for sound insulation and privacy for each smaller family unit within the larger family home, and to let in as much natural light as can be found.

We visited this completed project on a bright, crisp day and seeing the brilliant blue sky through the many windows confirmed that we met their goal.

The large sliding doors leading to the screen porch will allow for fresh air to come in and extend their dining area in warm weather.

What a pleasure to design this custom home for a growing family!

12/19/2025

Before & After 👉

This tenant fit-out was all about optimization: we started with a blank slate and added new reinforced concrete for the heavy roasters, integrated storage, a triple wash sink, and a bright client waiting room. The new space is tailored for Lone Oak Coffee Roaster's growing business. Thoughtful design really does makes business better for businessowners.

12/17/2025

In general over the last couple of weeks, I have been loosely using this quote from Virginia Wolfe:
Virginia said, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction"

My quote: “Give a woman a space of her own, a bit of money, and she will thrive.”

My reasoning: Virginia Woolf famously wrote, "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction". This quote from her 1929 essay, A Room of One's Own, argues that financial independence and a private, personal space are essential for women's creative freedom and self-expression. The "room of one's own" represents both a physical space and the mental and emotional space needed to think and create without restraint.

Our client, a woman business owner, needed an organized workspace tailored to her coffee roasting business.

She purchased a raw warehouse space just outside the city, and we designed exactly what she needed—from kitchen cabinet placement to reinforced concrete under her giant roasters.

The result? A light, airy space that replaced her cramped former location, complete with a triple wash sink, a welcoming front office, and a client tasting room where customers wait for pickup orders.

☕️☕️ Business is growing!

12/10/2025

Before & After 👉

Our client's original house was quite cramped at only 1,225 sq. ft. for a growing family. It presented several challenges: small rooms (a tiny living room and a kitchen too small for a true dining area), low ceilings, and an awkward layout with four different floor elevations.

Our solution was a strategic addition that integrates new living areas, including a family room, primary bedroom suite, bedrooms that the children don't have to share (IYKYK), and a dedicated laundry room. We opened up the kitchen, harmonized floor levels, and redesigned the space to maximize comfort and connection.

The result is a home that, despite its modest 1755 s.f. footprint, feels incredibly open and functional. It's still the charming farmette they fell in love with, but now fits their their family's more modern needs for gathering and entertaining.