Kiley Scott Darden
Principal Architect, AIA, NCARB
Starting his career in Kansas City, Kiley has accumulated over 20 years of residential design experience with projects located across the country. He began his career under Howard Nearing, the founder of NSPJ Architects, in 2000, and in 2021 he moved to Franklin, Tennessee and founded Harpeth Architects. His passion for detail, scale, and timeless design has given him the opportunity to develop signature custom homes in Kansas City, Nashville, and across the United States.
Michele Lanham
Architect III
Michele’s interest in architecture was kindled by memories of watching her grandfather restore an old Victorian house on the Jersey shore. After graduating from high school, she traveled across the country to study architecture at the University of Southern California and University of Arkansas before making her home in Franklin, TN. Her diverse work portfolio includes civic, arts, educational, and corporate projects. Since joining the Harpeth team in 2022, she’s had the opportunity to work on several custom homes in the Williamson County area. Michele is the proud mother of two grown children. Outside of the office, you will find her involved in her own home renovation projects, gardening, cooking, church activities, and trail running.
Sam Green
Architect I
Sam has always had a love for single-family architecture and pursued his Master of Architecture degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Kansas State University. He worked on luxury single-family homes in Kansas City before relocating to Nashville to continue his career. With a heart for detail and architectural excellence, he is committed to the art of creating timeless and innovative designs. Emphasizing the importance of a wholistic design process, Sam takes care in every part of the project’s journey from paper to reality.
Tori Staggs
Designer II
Tori, a proud native Tennessean, cherishes her Southern heritage and considers herself a true Southern Belle. Alongside her husband, whom she met during their time at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tori is a fervent supporter of the UT Vols. She is known to sport her UT gear in the office during football season, proudly showcasing her support. Her passions revolve around classic English, French, and Southern aesthetics, meticulously crafting designs that not only exude authenticity and beauty but also harmonize with the natural environment surrounding them.
Tristen Ball
Designer I
Tristen grew up in a small town in northwest Ohio and knew early on he wanted to become an architect. A family trip to the East Coast sparked a lifelong love for residential design, especially the timeless elegance of English Colonial homes along the shoreline. That inspiration led him to earn his Architecture degree from The Ohio State University, where his passion for thoughtful, people-centered design deepened. Time spent studying in Europe gave him a broader perspective and a lasting appreciation for how architecture shapes the way we live. Now based in Franklin, Tennessee, Tristen is fulfilling that early dream, designing homes with heart, story, and enduring character. He finds joy in caring for clients and seeing them fall in love with something he helped create.