Building on Tradition : The Work of Curtis & Windham Architects

A firm expressing the best in classical architecture, rendered anew for today’s contemporary lifestyles.

Over two decades, William Curtis and Russell Windham have worked to show that classical architecture can embody the same attention to context and custom approach to design often ascribed to more modern movements, underscoring how versatile classical ideals and details can be. In styles reminiscent of the great Tudor manor houses of England to quaint symmetrical clapboard farmhouses, quintessentially Mission-style haciendas, and of course neo-Georgian mansions, the firm builds houses with a faithful adherence to historical detail, proportion, and materials that makes them stand out as truly world-class designers. 

With interiors as much a part of their core practice as exteriors, this firm is able to carry through an integrity of vision—graciously curved banisters, warm and inviting mantels, detailed brickwork, and coffered ceilings—that makes every project feel truly whole, complete. Yet a strong sense still pervades every featured home that they are organized to support modern lifestyles, taking the best of the past and adapting it to create homes that are truly comfortable and functional for today’s families.

William Curtis and Russell Windham established their architectural practice in Houston in 1992. Since that time, their work has received both regional and national recognition, including multiple John Staub Awards from the Texas chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, and in 1999, the firm received the Institute’s Arthur Ross Award, which honors architects working in the classical tradition. Curtis & Windham’s work has been featured in various publications, including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Period Homes.