For Brad and Theresa Angelini, architecture is much more than a profession—it’s a family affair. Since 1989, the award-winning, husband-and-wife duo behind Angelini & Associates Architects have designed spaces that welcome the morning light as often as they draw families together. As the holiday season approaches, their philosophy feels especially timely, with their vast body of work standing as a proud cornerstone of Ann Arbor’s architectural community.
When Brad and Theresa moved to Ann Arbor, they had a six-month-old baby and dual teaching roles at the University of Michigan School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Initially balancing their practice with academia, the pair chose to go all-in on their firm after landing a significant job designing a home for one of the university’s regents.
“That was a big turning point for us,” Brad says. “It let us feel like we had the freedom and the ability to maintain a practice.” Today, more than 700 projects later, Angelini & Associates endures as a testament to collaborative, client-centered design.
Operating as equal partners, the couple shares every design decision. Each brings different strengths, with Brad excelling at client outreach and Theresa in project management. “In terms of collaboration, we both realize it’s not about anybody’s ego,” Theresa says. “It’s whatever works—the winning scheme—and if one of us is uncomfortable with something, we talk about it and respect each other’s opinions.”
The couple is so in sync that they often joke about forgetting whose idea was whose throughout the creation process, preferring instead to spotlight the contributions of the firm’s talented 10-person team. This humility is reflected in the Angelinis’ design approach, too, with the pair discussing everything from groceries to clients’ sleep habits to best tailor a home to their needs.
But while every client’s needs are unique, Brad notes one universal truth: “Bottom line,” he says, “everybody ends up in the kitchen—across all departments and households.”
Another aspect that plays a big role in the Angelinis’ process is the presence of natural light in their interiors, a throughline that extends across their body of work and requires a thoughtful balance between practicality and client expectations. For some projects, this approach necessitates a layout aimed at best capturing the first hints of dawn through east-facing windows. For others, the sunset is the name of the game, with living rooms, patios, and porches positioned to catch those last gleaming rays of sunshine from the west. “It starts with the orientation of the house,” Theresa explains. “That determines what views you can get and where light can then enter the home.”
This dedication to thoughtful, client-focused design has led Angelini & Associates to professional acclaim over the years, including multiple Detroit Design (formerly Detroit Home) Awards since 2005, an AIA Huron Valley Firm Achievement Award in 2014, seven AIA Huron Valley Honor or Merit Awards, and a LEED Silver certification for sustainable design.
Despite this recognition and the firm’s national presence—the Angelinis have completed several collegiate projects in Iowa, Arizona, and Texas—Ann Arbor continues to influence their approach to architecture, with many of the community’s clients prioritizing discretion and eco-friendly practices over elaborate, showy exteriors.
“The thing that sets [Ann Arbor] apart from some other areas is that it’s not ostentatious," Theresa says. “The people here aren’t remodeling or building a new home just to impress other people.”
After more than 35 years, Angelini & Associates continues to influence the way Ann Arbor families live and grow together. “It’s such an honor to be invited into [our client’s] lives," the couple says. “It’s something we’re really thankful for.”
Learn more at angeliniarchitects.com.