FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
HOW LONG DOES THE DESIGN PROCESS TAKE? Generally, design for a custom home design can take 2 to 6 months depending on size of the home. This includes everything from client meetings, field measurements, design, drafting, and coordination through necessary consultants such as structural engineers and contractors; to the submittal of permit drawings to the building / planning department. Sometimes it's less, sometimes it takes longer. There are many variables including overall scope of work, style, scale, How quickly you return design comments and if there's a Home Owners Association or other design review involved. The time frame varies - we're putting together an instruction booklet for construction and therefore, provide extremely detailed plans from which to build. Give us a call to find out our current workload. Consider that if you've "been thinking of this construction for some time now, maybe it's worth a little wait to have it done right." We schedule projects for design in order in which contracts are received.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Initial Conversation Give us a call or send an email, we'd love to hear from you. We will spend some time on the phone with you to discuss the details of the project. We will ask the who, what, when, where, why and how questions as they relate to your project. We can also schedule a time to meet with you at your home or project location for a meet + greet. Meet + Greet Our first meeting is a chance for us to simply meet and chat about your dreams for your project. This is a time to learn more about each other and how we might be able to help. We can grab a cup of coffee to discuss plans for your new lake house or walk through your current home with you to see first hand the areas you wish to renovate or modify. This will also give us a chance to talk through how your project compares to other similar projects, view photos, discuss budgets and ultimately form a plan together for moving forward with design. Conceptual Design Based on the existing conditions and notes from the meet + greet, we will prepare a project scope that will identify the spaces and areas related to the project. We will take measurements of your home as they relate to the project and create as-built drawings which will form the foundation of the project. We will then create preliminary design options based on the specific project scope and individual requirements. We will meet to review the design. sketch out new ideas and make revisions as necessary. This initial design phase will also help to begin obtaining preliminary budget estimates. Design Development | Final Design In this phase we will refine the conceptual design, aligning it with your specific needs and tastes. Based on the revised conceptual design, we will complete more detailed drawings to further define the scope, scale, and character of the project. The final architectural drawings will include floor plans, building sections, elevations, kitchen + bath design, and electrical + lighting plans. At this time, we will also select interior and exterior products and finishes related to the project. Construction Documents Construction drawings will be completed based on the approved design development drawings. These drawings will specify, dimension, and detail the site and building for construction and will also include all structural framing plans and details. The drawings will instruct the builder so they can build the project the way it was intended. These drawings will be used to obtain building permits, as well as by lenders to provide financing, if applicable. Contractor Selection Partnering with a contractor who fits your needs is a crucial part of the process. We partner with a select group of contractors that align with our values, are qualified for your project, and can provide you with the result you desire. Contractors can be brought onto the team early in the design process or they can be invited to submit bids for the project once construction documents are complete. Regardless of which method you choose, we will walk you through the process to select the appropriate contractor based on your needs and to ensure the best value for your project. Construction Observation Once the construction begins, your project is moving from a dream to a reality and we will continue to be involved with your project throughout the construction phase. Through construction observation we can implement our extensive construction knowledge and experience to help provide a smooth transition from the design phase to the completed project. Communication at this phase is essential for a successful project and we will act as the liaison between you and the contractor during construction. We will answer questions as they arise and we will perform regular site visits to determine if the construction is progressing as planned. If any changes occur during construction, we will work closely with you and the contractor to help make the best decision possible based on the situation.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am a professional member of the American Institute of Buildign Design, AIBD. The AIBD requires a minimum number of continuing education credits each year. I am also a Certified Professional Building Designer with the National Council of Building Designer Certification, NCBDC.