Fabl Design is a Nashville-based architectural design studio helping homeowners across Davidson County plan additions, remodels, ADUs, and custom homes. We handle the design, the drawings, and the details that keep your project moving.
Every service we offer, delivered locally — with drawings your builder and your permit reviewer will both understand.
From first sketch to construction-ready plans, we shape spaces around how you actually live — additions, remodels, ADUs, and new custom homes.
Site planning, hardscape, and planting design that connects your home to its yard — patios, entries, and outdoor living that feel like part of the architecture.
Photoreal interior and exterior renderings so you can walk your project, make decisions with confidence, and align every stakeholder.
Measured, verified documentation of your existing home — the foundation any thoughtful remodel or addition should start from.
We prepare, package, and shepherd your submittals through the local review process — so your project keeps moving.
A curated network of vetted builders we've worked with — matched to your scope, budget, and timeline.
Before design begins, confirm the district your lot sits in. The Nashville zoning map lets you search by street address or parcel number and shows the base district plus any overlays that affect what you can build.
Zoning maps are for general research only. Verify districts, overlays, and permitted uses with the Nashville planning department before making decisions — or send us your address and we'll confirm it for you.
The district your lot sits in sets your setbacks, height, and how much of the site you can cover. Here's a quick reference we use during schematic design in Nashville.
Metro's largest-lot residential districts, used for rural and low-density areas of Davidson County. RS80 is single-family only; R80 also allows a duplex on a conforming lot.
Large-lot suburban and semi-rural neighborhoods. Common where properties are on septic or in low-density edges of the county.
Half-acre suburban lots — a frequent district for large rear additions and detached garages or ADUs with room to spare.
Mid-century suburban neighborhoods across Davidson County. Side setbacks tighten to 5 ft, so additions are usually pushed to the rear.
One of the most common single-family districts in the urban core. Single-family only — no duplex — which matters when you're considering a second unit.
Compact urban lots that allow a two-family use where the lot conforms — common in East Nashville and other pre-war neighborhoods.
The tightest standard single-family district. Buildable area is limited, so height, ISR, and rear setback usually drive the design.
In the 2.5-story districts, height is also capped at 35 ft to the ridge and 24 ft to the eave.
Covers the historic urban core inside the pre-1998 city boundary and replaces suburban standards with urban ones.
Applied to neighborhoods where Metro wants new houses and additions to match the existing rhythm of the street.
Design-review overlays administered by the Metro Historic Zoning Commission in districts such as Edgefield, Germantown, and Belmont-Hillsboro.
Metro's standards for a second, detached dwelling on a single-family lot — one of the most common project types we design in Davidson County.
Metro Water Services regulates work in the floodplain and floodway, which is common along Davidson County's creeks.
These figures are general guidance for early planning — final requirements depend on your parcel, overlays, and any prior variances. Verify with the Nashville codes department or the official zoning ordinance. We confirm them for your address before design begins.
This project reconfigured the existing home with a two-story addition to create a first-floor primary suite, three upstairs bedrooms, and more functional shared living spaces while minimizing demolition. The design preserves existing plumbing where possible, improves circulation and natural light, and complements the home's original architectural character with a cost-effective addition.
This project expands the upper level of an existing single-family home to better accommodate the client's growing space needs. By adding a second story above an existing rear volume, we created a larger primary bedroom, closet, and bathroom while repurposing the original attic as a home office and playroom. The addition was carefully designed to match the home's existing roof form and architectural character, creating functional new living spaces that feel fully integrated with the original house.
This project adds a three-story DADU to an existing single-family home on a steeply sloped site, expanding the overall living capacity while maintaining a strong physical connection to the main house through a shared deck. The design takes advantage of the changing grade to create a walkout lower level and organize the program across three distinct floors.The DADU includes a primary suite, office, laundry, screen porch, and additional bedrooms, with a flexible lower level that opens to the backyard. Overall, the project extends the functionality of the existing home by integrating new living spaces into the site conditions and strengthening the relationship between indoor spaces and the landscape.
We regularly submit through Metro Nashville Codes and are familiar with Historic Zoning overlays in East Nashville, Germantown, and Belmont-Hillsboro. We'll flag overlay and zoning implications before design decisions get expensive.
“Ty and the whole team at FABL design are exceptional architects and truly wonderful partners to work with on any home design project. We really could not recommend them highly enough. We were going through our first home redesign / addition project and Ty was there ever step of the way. He went above and beyond anything we could have expected, including helping us navigate the permit process with the County, providing potential recommendations on design features we could incorporate, and always being available to answer our questions (even while he was welcoming a newborn). We loved working with Ty and hope to have a chance to do projects with him in the future. Whether you are doing a small remodel, a medium sized addition, or a complete new build FABL Designs is the company you should work with. Thank you for everything you did to help get our project across the finish line Ty!”
Nearby cities and area guides that pair well with the Nashville page.
Also in Middle Tennessee — zoning, setbacks, and permitting for Franklin homeowners.
Also in Middle Tennessee — zoning, setbacks, and permitting for Brentwood homeowners.
Every city we serve across Middle Tennessee, plus how permitting differs between them.
Statewide overview of our Tennessee services, regions, and zoning maps.
Tell us about your space and what you're hoping to do. We'll write back within one business day.