Conversations with David Hauser

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Hauser.

Hi David, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Savannah, Georgia, soaking up the Historic District like it was free graduate school—those layered porches, ironwork, and lived-in character stuck with me. I started at Georgia Southern chasing a business degree, felt the walls closing in, took a year off, and landed at SCAD for historic preservation. One year in, I realized I was wired more for creating than preserving, so I switched to architecture.

I put myself through five years at SCAD (a 4+1 master’s program) working at Home Depot, installing blinds, and swinging hammers on Victorian homes in the district. At school I leaned hard into the creative side—research, synthesis, realization—always trying to design spaces that actually influence, enhance, and facilitate the people using them. Between undergrad and the master’s year I interned at Gensler Atlanta and got a clear look at corporate architecture. Valuable experience, but the structure and lifestyle weren’t for me.

During my later SCAD years I also worked at Whole House Studios under Robert Vargas on high-end residential work, which quietly planted the “do this yourself” seed. After graduating with a 4.0 in the master’s year, I moved back to Atlanta in 2012 and started what became GoodHaus Atl. Early on I partnered with an interior designer and a classmate; we launched as Urban Purpose Design focusing on design services. I eventually bought out both partners (2018–2020) and rebranded to GoodHaus Atl—essentially taking full ownership of the company I started.

These days we deliver full Design+Build: new construction, big renovations, additions, kitchens, baths, outbuildings—the whole residential spectrum. My style has settled into what I call contemporary vernacular—big roof overhangs, exposed structure, a little twist on the columns, warmth and rhythm from materials like white pine post-and-beam, grounded by strong bases, still respectful of forms people recognize (think California bungalows from the ’20s–’40s with a modern pulse). The project at 1446 Monroe Dr NE is a recent high-water mark of that thinking. I’m 42, raising two daughters (ages 5 and 6) and fully invested in Atlanta. Building good houses and good relationships here is the long game. I do that through honesty, quality and relationships.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Not even close. The first couple of years were pure grind. To keep the lights on I drove Uber from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m., again in the evenings, and donated plasma while still trying to grow the business and network during daylight hours. We started design-only, then around 2015 I pushed us into build services by bringing on a qualifying agent/general contractor. I learned under him for a few years, then got licensed myself. That transition had its share of learning-curve hiccups.

Budgets, timelines, client expectations, the usual construction-world plot twists—we hit most of them. Early modern design experiments taught me expensive lessons about flat roofs and pure form-over-function. But those years forced creative problem-solving, straight-talk communication, and a frugal mindset that still shows up on every job. These days an unhappy client is extremely rare. We hit deadlines, communicate daily, and treat every project like it’s both art and business. The rough road just made the current version of GoodHaus a lot more intentional.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a designer-builder I’m equal parts architect and problem-solver. The creative high for me is taking a client’s life, site, and budget and turning it into something that feels inevitable—spaces that work hard and still make you smile when you walk in. I love the Design+Build model because I get to keep refining details while the house is actually going up. That’s where the real magic happens: a hybrid steel-and-wood column, exposed rafters for rhythm and warmth, a three-story atrium that ties the whole house together, custom flashing that finishes the story.

I’ve moved away from pure modern (too often expensive and unforgiving) toward a contemporary vernacular that people respond to more warmly. Large overhangs, honest structure, a respectful nod to familiar roof forms, then just enough twist to keep it interesting. Inspiration still comes from early 20th-century California bungalows and the historic fabric I grew up around in Savannah. Straight-forward communication is non-negotiable—I tell clients I’m a frugal person and I bring that thinking to every decision. Creativity without accountability is just expensive sculpture. My job is both.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Hanging out with my theater friends at the Historic Savannah Theatre right downtown. We’d kill time before or after shows, laughing on the sidewalks, ducking into the squares, and just soaking up that whole Historic District energy. I’d stare at the ironwork, the old brick and wood, the way the light hit those buildings, and invent stories about the people who’d lived there. That mix of friends, performance, history, and texture felt electric—and it’s still the part of architecture I chase hardest.

Pricing:

• Kitchen renovation: $80,000 – $200,000
• Master bathroom renovation: $40,000 – $100,000
• Secondary bathroom renovation: $25,000 – $60,000
• Rear home addition (~800 sq ft): $175,000 – $400,000
• Whole-home renovation (full gut): $100 – $300 per sq ft

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goodhausatl.com
• Instagram: @goodhaus_atlanta