Designed Happy

Designed Happy—the brainchild of architect TJ Monahan—began in 2014 as a blog. “My goal was to educate homeowners about the design and remodeling industry,” recounts Monahan. As the blog found an audience, he began to offer light consulting, then wrote Designed Happy: The Book in 2021. Two years later, a high-end residential design practice became part of the enterprise; a weekly podcast, a newsletter and even a comic strip are part of the mix.

Monahan brings 25 years’ experience both as an architect and a licensed general contractor to big, complex projects such as whole-home renovations, additions and new construction. “Because of my background, I think about design and construction at the same time,” Monahan observes. “I know what things actually cost and where the real value is, as well as how to make it beautiful.”

Monahan and team listen carefully to clients, asking not only what they want but why they want it. “I figured out pretty early that what people say they want and what they need are almost never the same thing,” reflects the architect. “They say they want a bigger kitchen, but what they really want is for their family to hang out together. That gap is where the interesting work happens.”

See more at HandD.com/DesignedHappy