Thinking of Building a Luxury Home in Central Virginia? (Part 5 of 5)

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 23, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Bryce Resort, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design, Lake Monticello, Massanutten Resort, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect, Wintergreen Resort

Phase 4, known as construction administration, starts with dirt moving as construction begins. We stay available for questions, advice, and advocacy for our client. We review shop drawings and submittals and provide additional details if needed. Our visits to the job site can be bi-weekly or as needed depending on the complexity of the home and the skill of the contractor.

A key point to remember about the process of designing and building your luxury home is that it takes time. The design process can be fast – 3 or 4 months – or could take a couple of years. It really depends on the speed our client wants to go and the complexity of the design. If we take our time to work through the details, I know it will cost less overall to build the home and there will be less unknowns to figure out during construction. This also speeds up construction, further saving you money. Having the builder involved during design (integrated design process), also benefits the construction costs and speeds up construction.

Finally, a high-performance design solution that facilitates the life you want to live is the best way to build the highest value solution for your luxury dream home.

Thinking about starting the luxury dream home journey in the next few months? Let us set up a time to have a conversation. We can help get you started.

Thinking of Building a Luxury Home in Central Virginia? (Part 4 of 5)

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 22, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Bryce Resort, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Empathy, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design, Lake Monticello, Massanutten Resort, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect, Wintergreen Resort

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Phase 3 (2 or more months), also known as construction documents phase, takes all the decisions and testing we have done and converts them into the technical drawings needed for final pricing and permits. This is where the details get detailed and the drawing set grows rapidly. We cut wall sections and building sections through the building to figure out all the unique details in the home.

We work out the site layout to locate the house on your property. We show the locations determined by the soils engineer for the septic field and potential location of the well. The driveway and sidewalks are designed and materials selected. Sometimes we also engage a landscape designer during this phase to create an integrated design that fits the site.

During phase 3 we also do the math to size the joists, beams, and headers. The footings and wall sizes are determined and waterproofing and insulation identified. The level of detail for interiors depends on the job, but typically all the cabinets are detailed, and any unique interior feature is designed. If there is a 3D model, then this phase includes walking through showing furniture and wall art. It allows our clients to experience the home before final approvals and permit drawings are delivered to the builder.

At the conclusion of this phase the builder will send permit drawings to their subcontractors to determine contract price. This process alone can take more than a month.

Once the contract between the builder and you are signed, the permit review process begins in the local jurisdiction. We expect that the local building code official will issue comments during this phase that will require discussion or comments. This review process usually takes between 4 – 8 weeks. Once we satisfy all their concerns a building permit is issued and construction can begin. Navigating specific HOA or ARB requirements early is critical, as they can drastically impact the final design.

Thinking of Building a Luxury Home in Central Virginia? (Part 3 of 5)

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 21, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Bryce Resort, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design, Lake Monticello, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect, Wintergreen Resort

Phase 2 (2 or more months), also known as design development, takes these high-level concepts and starts creating detailed architectural decisions. We start thinking through high-performance elements including building envelope, HVAC, window locations (types and styles), and adaptability of spaces. We evaluate the spaces against the initial requirements and budget. We will draw in either 2D or 3d the massing of the house, interior walls, and start selecting interior finishes. The questions move to more detailed items such as storage of plates in the kitchen, where furniture sits in the bedroom, and how big is the tv. If we are adding a safe room or finished basement, all these elements that require space need to be included.

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This phase also brings consultants to discuss HVAC layout, our structural team does initial planning and sizing, and we know what the house will look like when completed. We also bring in our interior design team that works to select cabinetry, millwork, lighting, and plumbing fixtures. We find the right options for stone, siding, roofing, and decking. The Contractor is in specific meetings to verify cost and timing of construction.

Designing in this area requires knowledge of the land from slopes to rocks to clay. We know how the mixed humid climate impacts building science and can work through those challenges in this phase. This reduces surprises during construction, saving you time and money. We know what systems are available and what products are in stock in the local lumber yards, adding value to your design experience.

This is also a phase where the indoor / outdoor living spaces come to life. We detail the roof terraces, figure out the no step entries, and plan for patios and decks. If there is a pool, we will connect with the companies that will do the install to locate the pump equipment and understand the space needed for sunbathing and playing. From outdoor kitchens to screen porches to four season rooms, we plan out the spaces and how to make sure they work in our climate.

Thinking of Building a Luxury Home in Central Virginia? (Part 2 of 5)

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 20, 2026 | architecture, Blacksburg, Building Science, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Interior Design, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect

Phase 1 (1 or more months) of the design process, known as schematic design, is a discovery period for us and you. We look at the site, topography, sun orientation, views, septic field locations, well access, adjacent properties, and zoning / building codes. We are determining the rules for your dream home. If there are specific HOA or ARB requirements that we will need to follow it can drastically change the final outcome of the design. We want to make sure we know as much as possible about where your house will be located and what opportunities that affords us in the design process. Prior to and during this phase of analysis we need you to give us inspirational photos of what you like and even more importantly what you do not like.

We are going to ask you dozens of questions in this phase to figure out how you want to live in this new space. Who will get up first, who is messy, is there a large collection, antique furniture, things that take large amounts of space, meaningful heirlooms, artwork, patterns around daily life, special occasions, and even how and where you want to eat, sleep, play, work, read, and watch tv. It all plays into the design we will develop for you.

During this phase we will develop floor plans and exterior elevation sketches. We will explore massing, rooflines, and spatial flow specific to your building lot and house layout. We will get feedback on room sizes, circulation, and views of the Blue Ridge mountains, Massanutten peak, or Shenandoah River. We will talk about holidays and cooking and reading and resting. This work is done in 2D or 3D as needed for our clients. Most clients like the ability to see the building taking shape in a 3D model. The contractor that will most likely build the home should also be engaged in a design phase contract by the completion of this phase. They can offer preliminary high-level pricing to make sure we are hitting the budget target.

Thinking of Building a Luxury Home in Central Virginia? (Part 1 of 5)

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 19, 2026 | Accessibility, architecture, Building Science, Charlottesville, Custom Home, Green Building, Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality, Interior Design, Massanutten Resort, Roanoke, Roanoke Architect

Introduction (Part 1 of 5)

Are you thinking about building a luxury home in Central Virginia? We have more than 38 years of experience designing for steep slopes, mountaintops, valleys, and more. We understand how to frame the views and deliver large glass walls while also thinking through the sun’s path and interior comfort. The hardest challenge we face right now is pricing uncertainty. We know where the market is now for a new home and will help you walk through the process to get the highest value solution by designing in efficient solutions that are architecturally astounding.

Deciding to build a custom luxury home in Central Virginia or the Shenandoah Valley is an exciting milestone. From capturing iconic Blue Ridge sunsets to designing a generational retreat in Albemarle or Rockingham County, the journey begins with thoughtful design planning. Our goal is simple: translate how you want to live into an enduring, high-performance architectural design while protecting your construction budget.

Proper design planning takes time to figure out the right path forward. To deliver the best designs we start by asking dozens of questions. We want to know more about the site, how you want to live in this new place, your regular routines and special occasions, and your budget. We want to know your construction budget before we start our work. We want your home to look amazing without having to pay a premium for design solutions that lose value day one. We fully document the design and goals, which also minimizes change orders and scope creep during construction further saving you money.

Renovation for comfort and energy efficiency

by Charles Hendricks | Oct 16, 2026 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Indoor Air Quality

The best place to start when you are doing a renovation is to make your home as air tight as possible. In an existing home this means looking at the attic first. Most people assume windows and doors are the largest air leaks and energy leaks, but typically it is the attic. Focusing on stopping the heat from rising out of your home (In summer, running your air conditioner cools the house, creating a temperature imbalance that pulls hot, humid attic air down through those same ceiling gaps) will reduce the remainder of the air leaks.

Stack effect is the rise of warm moist air inside of a home that pushes against the top ceiling while pulling in air from low points. This causes a pressure difference inside the home that naturally occurs causing air movement and increases air leakage. When doing energy retrofit in a home that has combustion appliances, be sure that each appliance has proper combustion air before starting this work.

The attic floor is 60 to 70% of your leakage into this space. Warm air naturally rises due to the stack effect, driving warm, conditioned air upward to the attic and through the vents. This creates a vacuum type effect that pulls in unconditioned air through all the other leaks in your thermal envelope. Key areas to seal include:

Attic Hatch or Drop Down Stair – this is often a big hole straight into living space and often with no insulation above.
Plumbing and electrical chases – areas where wires penetrate the drywall / plaster ceiling that run into interior walls are open chases to energy to escape.
Recessed can lights – these are large holes in the ceiling with no air sealing. If the budget doesn’t allow for replacing old recessed can lights with new fire rated and air sealed cans, then you can use fire-rated rigid foam boxes over them and caulk them tight to the drywall below.
Top plates – hard to get to these in an existing house, so it depends on the level of renovation you are doing, but this is the final spot for air leaks

Adding insulation is just part of an energy efficiency strategy as most insulations do not air seal. Air sealing comes first and is usually more cost effective.

Once you get a tight attic then look to your basement and crawl space. You have the lid on top, now you need to make the bottom air-tight. If you have a crawl space, encapsulation is the way to go. Seal the rim board where floor joists meet the outside wall. Add insulation to the walls and seal it all up tight with a vapor barrier. A crawl space should be conditioned, not vented – making it air-tight also keeps the critters out. If you have a basement, the work is a little different. You want to find any utility penetrations and make sure they are air tight. The rim and sill plates should still be insulated and sealed air tight, but again, it depends on the scope of the renovation and if the space is finished.

Next you should look at any ductwork in unconditioned spaces. Make sure it is air tight because it will pull in unconditioned air from unconditioned spaces and send it all around your home. Using mastic to seal the gaps and cracks is the only way to get them air tight. It is tedious work in an existing house, but will improve your energy efficiency and room comfort. You should not use duct tape, it does not work for this application. If you can also wrap those ducts in insulation it will be a benefit to the comfort of the rooms they supply and contribute to a lower energy bill.

Finally, look at doors, windows, and outlets. Caulk and weatherstrip any gap or crack. Make sure the windows and doors close tight. Take off the outlet covers and seal the box tight to the drywall. Add storm windows if you have single pane windows. Consider replacing old doors with insulated exterior doors.

It is hard to find the biggest leaks in a home, but that is the path to more comfort and lower energy bills. The first step for making a home more comfortable and energy-efficient is to call an energy auditor to get full audit – they will pay for themselves if you act on their findings. While we aren’t official energy auditors, we use professional diagnostic tools like blower doors and thermal cameras during our renovation planning.

Want to know more about making your home efficient and comfortable?

Give us a call today to schedule a consultation!