cJem Designs

What cJem Designs does

cJem Designs, PLLC is a boutique residential architectural design firm founded in 2013 by Jessica Larsen and headquartered at 157 South Lexington Avenue, Suite B2, Asheville, North Carolina. The firm operates three integrated service lines: Home Transformations (renovations and remodeling of existing homes), Custom Homes (full-service custom residential design), and Boutique Developments (spec house design for builders, developers, and investors). Project scope ranges from small accessory dwelling units to 4,100+ square foot custom homes, with a stated philosophy of space efficiency and sustainable design integration grounded in the founder's LEED accreditation.

The firm's core technology is its design methodology rather than a software product, combining space-efficient design principles, LEED-accredited sustainable design integration, and practitioner experience in residential and mixed-use architecture. The firm has accumulated reusable design assets in the form of a portfolio of ready-for-construction spec house building plans, and has achieved LEED, GreenBuilt, Energy Star, and Healthy Built certifications on specific projects (Modern Gem 1 and 2, Hub 1 and 2, Distance, House in Nature).

cJem Designs generates revenue through professional design fees for residential architectural projects. Pricing is quote-based and tied to project scope, size, and complexity; no standard fee schedule is publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is consultative and direct: prospective clients initiate contact via phone, email, or a website form to schedule a free design consultation, which functions as the principal funnel into paid engagements. The firm markets itself through its website portfolio, client testimonials, an email newsletter, and SEO, targeting homeowners, builders, developers, and relocators in Western North Carolina. No external investment, partnerships, M&A, or expansion beyond WNC has been disclosed.

Name

cJem Designs

Legal name

cJem Designs, PLLC

Website

https://cjemdesigns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

cJem Designs is a sole-principal, LEED-accredited residential architecture firm in Asheville, North Carolina, providing space-efficient, sustainable design for home transformations, custom homes, and spec house developments serving Western North Carolina homeowners, builders, and developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Residential architectural design
• Custom home design
• Home renovation design
• Sustainable architecture
• Spec house design

Headquarters

HQ city

Asheville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services for home transformations, custom homes, and boutique developments. Revenue is generated through design fees for residential architectural projects in Western North Carolina.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

cJem Designs is a licensed architectural firm providing residential architectural design services for home transformations, custom homes, and boutique developments in Western North Carolina. The firm, led by LEED-accredited architect Jessica Larsen, specializes in space-efficient, sustainable design and produces permit and construction drawings for homeowners, builders, developers, and investors in the Asheville market.

Product overview

cJem Designs is a licensed architecture firm offering three integrated service lines: Home Transformations (renovations and remodeling of existing homes), Custom Homes (full-service custom residential design), and Boutique Developments (spec house designs for builders and developers). The firm was founded in 2013 by Jessica Larsen, a LEED-accredited architect, and specializes in sustainable, space-efficient residential design for the Western North Carolina market. Projects range from small accessory dwelling units to 4,100+ square foot custom homes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Home Transformations Renovation and remodeling architectural design services for existing homes in Western North Carolina, focused on space efficiency and sustainable design integration. Designed for homeowners seeking to revamp their WNC house into a dream home that reflects the local mountain setting.
• Custom Homes Full-service custom home architectural design from initial concept through construction, emphasizing sustainable, space-efficient designs integrated with the mountain setting. Designed for individuals and families moving to or relocating within the Asheville, North Carolina area who want a sustainable, elegant custom home.
• Boutique Developments Spec house architectural design services for builders, developers, and investors in Western North Carolina, featuring sustainable and stylish designs tailored to Asheville-area transplant buyers. Designed to help clients capitalize on Asheville's high housing demand and population growth with attractive, efficient designs.
• Portfolio of Ready-for-Construction Spec House Building Plans Pre-designed spec house building plans available for builders and developers to select based on square footage, enabling quick project turnaround for housing inventory. A productized offering under the Boutique Developments service line.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• LDa Architecture & Interiors: Boutique architecture and interiors practice focused on high-end custom residential design. Comparable to cJem's Custom Homes and Home Transformations lines in serving discerning homeowners with personalized, design-led engagements.
• Marmol Radziner: Design-build practice specializing in custom modern homes with an emphasis on indoor/outdoor living and sustainability. Overlaps with cJem's custom residential and boutique development offerings in style, client profile, and design-led positioning.
• Olson Kundig: Custom residential architecture firm known for bespoke homes with strong site-responsive and craft-driven design philosophy. Highly comparable to cJem's Custom Homes practice in terms of project type and client experience focus, though at significantly larger scale.
• Aidlin Darling Design: California studio emphasizing sustainable, craft-forward residential and small commercial architecture. Shares cJem's commitment to integrated sustainability (LEED-oriented) and high-touch residential design, though with broader geographic reach.
• Studio Schicketanz: Boutique custom residential architecture studio delivering modern, site-specific homes with sustainability principles. Comparable to cJem in scope (custom homes, remodels) and personalized client engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• Robert A.M. Stern Architects: Large, established firm with a strong residential portfolio across custom homes, multifamily, and master-planned communities. Overlaps with cJem on the custom-residential side, but operates as a broad incumbent across many project types and geographies.
• Lake|Flato Architects: Texas-based architecture firm recognized for sustainable, climate-responsive residential and commercial design. Comparable to cJem's LEED-accredited, sustainability-led design approach, but operates at much larger scale across multiple project types and geographies.

Regional players

• Carlton Architecture: Regional architecture practice serving Western North Carolina with residential and small commercial work. Directly comparable as a fellow WNC-based firm competing in the same Asheville-area residential design market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cjem-designs

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cJem Designs