Central Texas Architectural Design

About MFM Design Group

Matthew F. Manuel, owner + Principal

I received my architectural education in upstate New York, at Syracuse University. The program allowed me to study design in Florence, Italy for my 4th year before returning to complete my thesis. In 1996, I graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture and continued to live and work in Syracuse. I spent eight years with Holmes King Kallquist & Associates Architects, a small firm that had a strong interest in residential design. This is where I developed my skills and passion for residential architecture.

In 2005, I left New York to pursue a call to missions work and later moved to Senegal, in West Africa. While in Senegal, I designed a training center for missionaries and also acted as the General Contractor to build the structure. After returning to the United States, I founded MFM Design Group in 2008, with a focus on residential design. In 2015, I relocated to the Austin area of Texas with my new family, where I designed and built our own farmhouse.

The experience of being a General Contractor for my own home was a great step in informing me on how building in Texas works. I have great relationships with a number of builders and subcontractors, but a significant portion of my work is from individual homeowners and word of mouth recommendations. I am truly passionate about construction, and have a wealth of hands on building experience. This informs my designs and the construction details. I pride myself on focused attention to my clients needs, while blending creative and site-specific design.