ABOUT
As a design and consulting firm, we strive to provide personalized, one-on-one service for each of our clients. We will spend the time with each customer to find out what their unique wants and desires are for that new home, renovation project or weekend retreat.
It is important to us that you receive the attention to detail that is expected with such an important undertaking. We employ the services of architectural designers in our office, and using the latest in computer assisted design & drafting techniques, they can provide the highest degree of quality in our construction documents.
Using your communicated ideas, we will provide you with a rough study plan that you can alter to reflect your personal tastes and lifestyle. Once these changes have been approved, we will provide a preliminary layout of the floor plan and elevations for your further examination.
Once the initial designs are approved, the construction documents are begun. These include all of the elevations, floor plans, structural notes, roof plan, sections, details, etc. that a contractor requires in order to build the home or addition. (Note: Your plan may need to be modified to comply with local requirements regarding snow loads, energy codes, soil and seismic conditions and a wide range of other matters. In addition, you may need to obtain permits or inspections from local government agencies before and while in construction.) Options available for additional fees: 3D drawings and Softlist generated material lists.
For contractors, we can convert your existing drawings (hand-drawn or other CAD formats) to Softplan drawing format (currently runninig SP v2014). Plotting services are also available. Please call or email for further details.
The Design Process
1. Initial Design Meeting
All those pictures and magazine articles that you have saved for months are welcome to “Show and Tell”. Home design criteria are established at this meeting. The layout, square footage, style and many materials such as brick, stucco and stone are discussed in addition to site considerations and the owner’s lifestyle.
2. Preliminary Design Meeting
About three weeks have passed since your initial design meeting. the presentation of the preliminary design is welcomed with much anticipation. At this meeting, the layout of the home is apparent including 1/4″ scale drawings of each floor, front elevation and room dimensions. The prioritized design criterion is reviewed.
3. Preliminary Design Review & Revisions
It’s been a few weeks since the preliminary design meeting. Your plans are slightly worn from your discussions with friends and family. Changes are discussed, revisions and consequences for changes to the plan are reviewed. Keep what you like and change what you don’t! This is the most important meeting so far. Additional details are added after the preliminary design is agreed upon. Items added may include niches, ceiling details, window details and the location of that special painting in need of framing supports.
4. Preliminary Design Approval
If all goes well, your initials on the plan authorize us to proceed to working drawings. If not, return to step 3. Everyone’s goal is to leave the meeting with an approved design that reflects the owner’s wants and desires, fits on the home site and is within budget. Please remember that your builder should review the plans for budget proposals.
5. Working Drawings Review
It has only been a couple of weeks since our last meeting, but much progress has been made on your plans. At this meeting, all four elevations and detailed floor plans are reviewed. There should be no surprises, only additional documentation to your new home.
6. Final Completed Construction Drawings
All your hard work, decisions, meetings and labour of love for your new home are done. Final blueprints with all the construction details on how the home is built are viewable on each page of your set of plans. This is the conclusion of the design process. We hope you have enjoyed working with us throughout this process. Thank you and good luck building your uniquely personal home.
SERVICES
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- Custom Home and Cottage Design
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- Renovations & Additions
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- Commercial Space Planning
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- 3D Renderings
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- Plan Conversion
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- Interior Design