Design Process

 

The Typical Process for New Construction:

 

Step 1 - Design Consultation:   We talk about what you want, need, and hope to feel in your space. We may discuss things like nostalgia, safety and comfort, function, daylighting requirements, colors, and vibe. If desired, you may

Step 2 - Design Conceptualization:   I work on 2-3 or 3-5 hand sketches representing different versions of the concept.

If this project is for Landscaping, we review foot traffic flow and gathering spaces, water catchment or retention as needed, and spatial organization of plantings. 

If this project is for New Construction or Renovation, we review function, spacing, usage, and Once reviewed, we go over pros and cons of each and combine the pros into a new, final hand-sketched plan. 

Step 3 - Digitization:   I begin digitizing the work in Revit, an AutoDesk Software very similiar to AutoCAD. 

 

2. Step 2 is for digitizing the site plan. This is done in Revit 2023, where I can provide you with PDF and DWG files for future use if necessary. Digitizing the site plan design would take approximately 3-4 hours, and based on your needs, I would make 2 versions of the site plan to separate two pieces of information: General Site plan with notes for potential at-home construction (work performed by the homeowner) and a Landscaping Plan with a planting schedule and material sqft takeoff. Attached are two examples, one from a recent project that was based in San Bernardino, CA, and another in NC, showing the difference between the site plans and level of information. Finalizing all of the planting information, material schedule, and the two versions of the site plan would take another 4 hours or so.

 

In total, the project would take less than 12 hours total to finish, with end products in 24x36 or 11x17 PDF format, and a dwg if requested.

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3. WHAT - Draft 3D Conceptualization - Step 3 is WHAT the end product will look like. I apply the things I've learned in Step 1 and Step 2 to model up your house (starting with the living room and dining room) in my program Revit, to make sure the rooms are to-scale with furniture places appropriately, and then into Sketchup where I can modify and customize as many things as desired. When the draft model is ready for finalization, I will send you an update of what it looks like, for proof of concept. This step would take approximately 3 hours to model the whole house, and then an additional 2 to begin detailing the kitchen and dining rooms. If you only want the kitchen and dining modelled up, this will take 2 hours total.

 

4. Final 3D Design - The final product would be a single 24x36 PDF with the floor plan of the area of work and furniture locations, a furniture schedule that includes product number, size, quantity if applicable, manufacturer, and manufacturer website, and two to three renderings showing the two rooms. Putting together the schedule will take approximately 2 hours if more than 3 manufacturers are sourced (this is including time for finding the right design-appropriate products).

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Because a building is not just a building, the tendency to make it your own becomes overwhelmingly urgent to some. If a place doesn't feel right, then one will never be totally comfortable. I don't just mean physical comfort, the mentality of comfort is safe, secure, warm, welcoming, relaxing, contentment, etc. It's an ambigious word really, that is synonymous with the things that make you happy.

 

I find that when I am in a space that makes me uncomfortable, it is a space that breathes dismal, isolating unhealthyness, like solitary confinement, and makes me shy away from staying in that space for long periods of time. That's why beds are so amazing; they're made to make you comfortable...in fact, some beds are so comfortable you never want to leave them! But that's how a building should feel as well; the home you inhabit shouldn't feel sterile and generic. Make it yours, so that your always comfortable. And I can help you with that. 

 

I will work with you to make the ultimate and best decisions you could possibly make, concerning budget, efficiency, aesthetics, and priority. Knowing you and what's important to you in life, on a personal level, will guide the process I form with you.

 

Ideas will be reigned in from the imaginary to the real world, so that the home you need is the home that is made.