Name: Hard Hat Huddle: How to Design a Home Like a Pro
Start: 2026-01-23T11:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-23T13:00:00-05:00
Location: Courtyard by Marriott Pigeon Forge

Hard Hat Huddle: How to Design a Home Like a Pro

A behind-the-scenes look at how professionals design homes—and why STRs and primary homes require completely different design strategies.
About this Event

Class Description

Most people think home design is about square footage, aesthetics, or what looks good on Pinterest. In reality, the most important design decisions are the ones that happen long before construction ever begins.

In this Hard Hat Huddle, we kick off the series by walking through how experienced residential design professionals actually approach home design—from understanding how a home will be used, to identifying early decisions that impact cost, constructability, and livability. We’ll also break down why designing a short-term rental is fundamentally different than designing a primary residence—and why trying to do both with the same plan usually doesn’t work.

This class pulls back the curtain on the things seasoned professionals instinctively consider—but rarely explain—so you can start seeing design the way professionals do, not just how it looks on paper, but how it performs in the real world.

Why Attend

Most people don’t know the difference between a good plan and a bad plan until construction starts—and by then, it’s usually too late.

Hiring a “professional designer” doesn’t automatically mean the design is good. Residential design is deceptively complex, and not all designers have the experience needed to account for how a home actually gets built and lived in. In this class, you’ll learn how seasoned residential design professionals evaluate home designs early—what we look for, what often gets missed, and how to spot common shortcomings before they turn into costly problems on site.

Who Should Attend

Contractors and builders
Project managers and superintendents
Realtors and real estate investors
Homeowners and STR owners
Design professionals looking to strengthen their residential knowledge

Price & Give Back

This class carries a $20 registration fee, which helps cover venue costs and ensures seats go to people who actually plan to attend.

Hard Hat Huddle exists to give back to the construction community that has supported our business since 2019. The goal isn’t profit—it’s education, connection, and raising the bar for how we design and build homes together.