Featured ProJects

It seems like only yesterday that Edie and I asked for your help in updating our existing home and to employ your vision by designing a new special-purpose building and by helping us integrate it into an existing landscape design.

The landscape and site design that Lifescapes (now the Scapes Landscape Design Group) presented us was inspired and included a pool, pond, and gardens and was implemented with their normal efficiency and professionalism.

The site plan also called the inclusion of the pool/guest house and a gazebo and it was for your design of these improvements that Edie and I will be forever grateful. You listened to us and respected the efforts of Jim Lesti, the Lifescape designer. The result integrated our dreams for this new building with their land plan to make for a backyard that has been acclaimed by many but most importantly exceeded our hopes. The little “jewel box” of a building that you designed and the gazebo that mirrors it quickly became the focal point of the garden.

Though the garden design won several national landscaping awards for Lifescapes, it was your building that inspired the calls and comments from as far away as California, Florida, and New England after the grounds were featured in the Better Homes and Garden Magazine. It is hard to believe that a building that has just 836 square feet above ground can serve seamlessly as the clubhouse for Edie’s friends, the guesthouse that relatives look forward to visiting, and our daily family room complete with an extra kitchen for large gatherings. It performs these duties so well that few guests realize that this building has a lower level that is my office and changing area and cabana for swimmers.

We could not have done this without you and the results speak for themselves.

After many years of making do with half measures, Edie and I have finally learned to identify talented people and to trust these experts. You are one of them.

Jim D.
Alpharetta, Georgia

I have worked with Karen Hinden of Designs for Living for several years and have come to appreciate the fresh approach she takes to home design.

Karen was responsible for creating the overall design for a subdivision of 17 high end homes that I recently completed. Her elevations presented a cohesive community look and the interiors prompted reactions from buyers that they were seeing floor plans that they simply had not seen anywhere else. Coupled with the ease with which Karen is to work with and strong customer reactions has made for a positive partnership in producing homes that are unique.

Dan & Linda Martin
Linda Martin Trademark Homes, LLC

Working with Karen Hinden

Our relationship with Karen has been a complete pleasure. From the first conversation, Karen listened to our thought about how we live, what is important to us and our vision for our new house. She asked important clarifying questions to be certain she understood exactly what we intended. Karen was very patient when, after reviewing a plan, we asked for a few changes. She was very happy to make changes and always offered her best thinking about the evolving design. Her design is perfect for the way we live everyday and perfect for entertaining family and friends. She takes the time to pay great attention to detail. Along with the lovely and very functional interior, she created an exterior elevation that was exactly as I pictured my dream house. We couldn’t be happier. She was a true partner in this process. I think the best testament to Karen and the work she did for us is that we absolutely love our new home and would not change one thing!

The Weir Family

To Whom It May Concern:

“ Simply Amazing!!!” That sums up the experience I’ve had working with Karen. She’s been absolutely wonderful in helping us create our dream home. For anyone that has ever worked with her, I’m sure they will agree when I say she has a talent unlike no other. She was able to meet with us just a few times before she knew exactly what we were looking for. Her attention to detail goes well beyond what you could ever ask for and the end result has been nothing but Magnificent!

Thank you Karen for putting us in a place we love calling home!

Sincerely,

Taki Skouras
CEO
Cellaris

As our sixth child was planning her wedding my husband Kaye and I were planning for “us”. As we enjoyed dinners out we began to draw our ideas of a new home on napkins and scratch paper. We both knew what we wanted and our needs for later in life. We found a builder who recommended Karen Hinden (Designs For Living). Off we went to meet Karen. We took our clippings and notes. Before our talk was over, Karen knew just what we wanted. She’s a great listener. Karen had some wonderful ideas to add to our plan. Her endless time and expertise has been invaluable throughout our entire process. Karen takes such great interest in the home in which she has helped design, and is available from beginning to end. Karen continues to do “drive by's” and checks on “her” project often. She was heaven sent!

Kaye and Camilla E.
Marietta, Georgia

It is my opinion that Karen Hinden is one of Atlanta's best residential architects. She listens to her clients and then she produces something magical and uniquely designed to make the clients' dreams become a reality. She can do this because she is not limited in one architectural style. She approaches each job with tenacity until it is the very best it can be. She will not settle for less than her best. I always enjoy getting to work on one of her projects because she puts so much detail and thought into the plan. Ultimately it is her attention to detail and her drive to satisfy her clients that sets her apart.

Rosemary Ullom, Interior Designer
Rosemary Ullom Design Associates, LLC

To whom it may concern:

Karen Hinden DBA Designs for Living has done work for me since 1986. She has re-worked plans and drawn new plans for me and for my customers. I would never hesitate to refer anyone to her and have done so many times.

Milton Jones, President
Milton Jones Homes, Inc.

Karen,

Rumor has it that when a couple decides to design and build a new house, they should expect a long and difficult battle and hope for the best. Our experience was a complete contradiction to this way of thinking. I want to thank you for helping to make our new home visions come to life and actually exceed our expectations. You were able to take the exterior design we were looking for, add the basic floorplan we had in mind, and add your knowledge of what would look good and perform in a functional way, creating a home that is beyond what we had expected. How many people can say that!?

Thank you for your patience when we were making changes, your diligence in working to get everything "just right", and just being nice to work with. Also, your recommendation for a builder was a perfect match for us. We had talked to four different builders prior to your recommendation. We had a fifteen minute initial meeting with him and knew he was the one we had been looking for.

If we ever decide to build again, you will be our first call.

Please feel free to use us as a reference anytime. You will not find anyone more happy with their new home.

Thanks,

Chris and D'Lee P.
Alpharetta, GA