Every home we design is fully custom and tailored to the individual client. No two projects are the same because no two people are the same.
Our process is structured in clear phases that guide a project from the earliest conversations through final construction. Each phase builds on the last, ensuring that your home is thoughtfully designed and carefully executed.
1. Schematic Phase
(Average of 25% of the design time)
Conversation-driven and focused on the big picture
This is where we begin by getting to know you. Before drawing plans, we focus on understanding how you want to live in your home. We want to create spaces that support your values, dreams, and goals for life.
Initial Meeting Topics
•What kind of life do you want to live in this home?
•What are your values and priorities?
•What safety and health considerations need to be part of the project?
•How you want the space to function?
These conversations guide the early concepts and preliminary layouts. Rather than starting with a predetermined plan, we begin with your lifestyle and translate that into a design vision.
Why Custom Instead of “New Construction Plans”?
Many homeowners start by searching online for house plans and then hire a drafter or builder. While this approach results in a new house, it rarely produces a home that supports the life you want to live.
Custom design allows us to focus on the details that make a home truly personal, including:
•Personalized floor plans
•Healthy, energy-efficient, and durable spaces
•Framed view, Connections to nature
•Comfortable lighting, Adaptable Spaces
•Quality materials, Functional and practical spaces
•Thoughtful and beautiful finishes
•Spaces designed around your daily routines
Custom homes are not just about appearance they are about designing a home that works naturally to support your way of living.
2. Design Development
(Average of 30% of the design time)
Refinement and coordination
During Design Development, the initial ideas become more defined and buildable. This phase transforms early concepts into a coordinated design.
We develop:
•Detailed floor plans
•Structural systems
•Exterior elevations
•Building sections
•Interior design coordination
•Material direction
This is the phase where we consider how the home works structurally, how loads are carried, how spaces span, and how the building comes together as a complete system. More in-depth meetings take place during this stage to refine decisions and ensure the design reflects your goals.
3. Construction Documents
(Average of 35% of the design time)
Technical precision
Construction Documents are the technical drawings used for permitting and construction. This phase provides the clarity needed for a smooth building process.
At this stage, the design is:
•Fully dimensioned
•Carefully noted and specified
•Coordinated with structural and engineering systems
•Prepared for permitting and pricing
These documents serve as the roadmap your builder will follow throughout construction. Clear, detailed drawings help prevent confusion, reduce costly changes, and ensure the home is built as intended.
4. Construction Administration
(Average of 10% of the design time)
Oversight during construction
Our involvement continues after construction begins.
During construction administration, we:
•Visit job sites
•Answer contractor questions
•Help resolve unforeseen conditions
•Ensure the design intent is maintained
We act as your advocate throughout construction, helping guide decisions and protect the quality of the design.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does the process work?
Our process is organized into structured phases that move the project from initial vision through technical documentation and construction oversight. Each phase builds clarity and confidence as the project progresses. The process blends our years of experience and design training with many conversations with our clients as we learn their values and vision. We work collaboratively with our client and their builder to find the best solution for the dream projects.
How are costs set?
Cost vary project to project. A more complex foundation or roof takes more time to design both aesthetics and structure and with that costs more for instance. We work with each client to develop a good faith estimate for design services up front and update our clients through continued conversations along the design process. The construction costs start out very high level based on square footage and as we develop detail in our drawings your builder can start estimating the build budget with more accuracy.
What is the timeline?
Each project timeline varies depending on size, complexity, permitting requirements, and construction conditions. We work with you to establish realistic expectations from the beginning. Designing and building a custom home takes time and should be an enjoyable process.
Is everything custom?
Yes. Every home we design is tailored to the individual client’s life, values, and goals. No two homes are alike because no two clients are alike. We want to help you find your dream home solution for your land.
