Our Process

  • Initial Consultation

    Let’s open the door to your dream home - We begin with a no-pressure free consultation to explore your vision, budget, and timeline. We want to ensure you are making an informed choice about who you chose to partner with and that we’re the right choice for your project. Afterward, we’ll produce a quote that outlines the next steps tailored to your unique needs.

  • Defining Project Scope

    Clarifying your needs and dreams - You’ll complete a project questionnaire to articulate your goals, space requirements, and style preferences. We’ll help prioritize your budget and propose a detailed project scope, including estimated costs and timelines.

  • Design Work

    From inspiration to reality -  Your project progresses through thoughtfully structured phases to ensure clarity, creativity, and collaboration.

    Learn more about the specifics of each phase below.

A modern house sits on a grassy hilltop, with snow-capped mountains in the background under an cloudy sky.

Preliminary Design

  • ~ 1 month

  • PD - Pre-Design & Conceptual Design

    • We begin with a deep dive into your goals, budget, and vision for the project. This is when we discuss your style preferences, expectations, and any key ideas you have in mind. It's all about getting to know each other and understanding the big picture.

    • After gathering the necessary information, we align your budget, review code requirements, and explore inspiration images.

    • Diagramming of the site, plan, and elevations/massing begins.

    • Design Meeting #1: We present multiple design options and refine the ideas based on your feedback, combining or adjusting as needed.

    • Share your goals, budget, and vision for the project

    • Gather inspiration images or examples that reflect your style - Pinterest boards are great for this!

    • Communicate any practical needs, site constraints, or lifestyle priorities & Help clarify what’s most important to you in the final design

    • Be available for Design Meeting #1 to review early design concepts and offer open, honest feedback

A modern rectangular house with wooden exterior panels and large glass window, surrounded by field with small bushes, with mountains in the background.

Design Development

  • ~ 1-2 months

    • This phase bridges the conceptual with the constructible, creating a clear roadmap for construction.

    • At this stage, we combine the elements you like from each concept option and the drawings move forward with more clarity. Key details of the project are refined, and material selection begins.

    • Often, this phase includes the production of color exterior renderings to give us all a realistic image and get on the same page with how your home will look

    • Design Meeting #2: We present the refined designs for further review and feedback.

    • Design Meeting #3: We review the final design, discussing any last changes before moving to construction documents. At this stage the design is considered ‘locked-in’ and any changes may incur additional fees.

    • Review updated floor plans, elevations, and materials

    • Provide feedback on flow, layout, and key details

    • Begin considering finishes and exterior materials with guidance

    • Finalize any program decisions (e.g., room functions, layout preferences)

    • Be available for Design Meeting #2 (refinements) and Design Meeting #3 (final review)

    • Confirm you're ready to move forward with the selected design

Modern wooden house with stone steps leading to a patio, overlooking green hills and distant mountains during sunset.

Construction Documentation

  • What should we know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.

  • CD - Construction Documentation

    • Finalized, detailed plans are created and shared with you and your selected builder, ensuring everything is clear and ready for construction.

    • Closeout Meeting: We wrap up the design phase, discuss next steps, and answer any final questions before construction begins. We also ensure all documents are complete and ready for submission to local jurisdictions.

    • Review final drawings for clarity and completeness

    • Provide contact info for your chosen builder or consultant team

    • Approve any documents needed for permit submission

    • Ask questions if anything feels unclear—we're here to help

    • Be available for the Closeout Meeting to discuss next steps before construction

Ongoing Support During Construction
Even after delivering your construction documents, we’re available to collaborate with your builder ensuring that any unforeseen circumstances are addressed holistically, in keeping with the intended design. Extensive construction administration is not a service that is typically offered, but can be discussed as needed. 

Note: This process is based on the average home project. More complex or customized projects may require additional meetings or steps.

Investment

Hiring a design professional is a big step—and it’s normal to wonder what it might cost. While each project is unique, I offer clear, upfront pricing so you can move forward with confidence. Below are some examples to help give you a sense of what your design project may cost.

Instead of charging a percentage of construction costs, I provide a guaranteed maximum fee based on estimated design hours. You’ll receive a personalized quote after our first meeting, and I bill monthly for time spent—never more than the quoted maximum.

Most projects fall between 1% and 5% of the total construction budget, depending on scope and complexity. A few typical examples:

~ $7,500

Average Size Home

Average Single-Family Home (2,000–3,000 sf)

Complete design services for a typical custom home, including floor plans, elevations, materials, and permit-ready drawings.

~ $9,500

Large Custom Home

Larger Single-Family Home (3,000+ sf)

A more complex design process with expanded square footage, often including multiple wings, detailed site planning, or additional customization.

~ $3,750

Smaller Home

ADU / Guest House / Smaller Home (~1,200–1,800 sf)

A scaled-down but fully featured design, often for in-law suites, rental units, or compact primary residences—with all the care of a full home.

~ $1,750

Garage/Addition/ Outbuilding

Garage / Addition / Outbuilding

Simple, focused design support for secondary structures or expansions—ideal for workshops, storage, home offices, or extra living space.

These are starting points—not fixed prices—but they’re meant to make the process a little more transparent if this is your first time hiring an design professional. If you'd like a custom quote or want to talk through a potential project, contact us for a personalized quote.

In some cases, I also offer alternative pricing options—such as reduced fees in exchange for resale rights to the final design. These options are considered on a case-by-case basis and may be a good fit for certain project types or budgets.