Our Process

Our Simple 5 step process:

Step One

Design Consultation Meeting

It’s a good idea to talk to your local building departments before you hire a house designer. They will inform you of zoning restrictions, approval certificates & any special permits that may be singular to your building lot and should be clarified before time & money is spent on engaging a house designer.(I.e. Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Health, Grand River Conservation Authority, Niagara Escarpment Committee, Ministry of Natural Resources, Long Point Conservation Authority etc.) If you do not feel comfortable obtaining this info we can do it for you for a small consult fee.

Once that is done, then the house design can begin!

a. We have a consultation, preferably here at our offices or via video conferencing, or at your present home (on-site for additions designs only) to discern the client’s wants & need.
b. We establish your present and future lifestyle
i. Establish what you like & don’t like
ii. What you really want, just want & don’t want (needs vs. wants)
iii. Distinguish form & function
c. We listen to your priorities, design styles, goals & budget so we can come up with a house design solution.
d. We determine design constraints such as view, privacy, sun direction, building envelope, setbacks, restrictions (zoning info)
e. Client presents any photos, house plans, sketches of their inspiration and desired outcomes

Typically at this point we draft up bubble/circle sketches with you as shown to left to help get a sense of “wants”

Step One

Design Consultation Meeting

a. We have a consultation, preferably here at our offices or via video conferencing, (or at your present home for additions) to discern the client’s wants & need.
b. We establish your present and future lifestyle
i. Establish what you like & don’t like
ii. What you want & don’t want
iii. Distinguish form & function
c. We listen to your priorities, design styles, goals & budget and design a solution.
d. We determine design constraints such as view, privacy, sun direction, building envelope, setbacks & restrictions (zoning info)
e. Client presents any photos, house plans, sketches of their inspiration and desired outcomes

Typically at this point we draft up bubble/circle sketches with you as shown to left to help get a sense of “wants”

Step Two

Preliminary Home Design Concepts

Typically arrive (based on work loads and design complexity), 2-3 weeks after our initial consultation meeting or receiving of deposit

From the information we obtained, we create and send the client a concept floor plan, a “starting point” to get the ball rolling. These preliminary concepts quickly help establish size, shape, scale and structure of your new home. These conceptual house floor plans are rough and therefore we expect revisions. Please note; we do not send basement plans, and exterior views at the same time as this initial floor plan. Since the floor plan/layout greatly affects the roof & exterior design, we like to arrive at the perfect dream floor plan before we move on to other aspects of the design.

Step Three

Revisions & Re-Draft (Back & Forth)

We take the clients response to our initial concepts floor plans and begin to change & revise the floor plans as the client has wished.

We send back the revised floor plan to the client and this process gets repeated over again till the floor plan is “just right”. Then we move on to other floor levels and exterior design (roof & exterior finishes)

Depending on the amount of revisions requested by client, this step can be the longest in the design process. Some clients know exactly what they want and only need a few days to make revisions, where others take months to firm up what they want and see all their options. No one-size fits all during this stage.

During this step we discuss different details, ideas, layout possibilities, room sizes and locations, windows etc. We will assist you with items as listed (but not limited to); design of space & function for each room, room layout & traffic areas, exterior finish details, roof & window styles, recommend optional structural components, future space planning etc, all while keeping in mind certain elements such as; natural light, possible furniture layouts and cost effectiveness.

This is the time that we recommend the client to come in and sit with us while we make changes/revisions and create ideas right before your eyes. Alternatively we can meet virtually and share our desktop with you. These meetings are very important in working out the kinks of the design with discussion and help the process move fast. An hour meeting can save weeks worth of emails. Please contact us when you want to have a meeting.

We also suggest during this step the client take out a measuring tape and compare their new room sizes with sizes of the current home they live in.
We ask that you give us sizes of any important pieces of furniture that you currently own that are to be incorporated in the design.

Step Four

Prepare Code Compliant Permit House Plans

At this point with the clients final approval of the house plans we began to work over/review the entire house plans so they are ready for building permit. We complete structure, add all pertinent Ontario Building code specs/notes & details, finishing touches to the elevations and cross sections. At the same time we are collaborating with mechanical designer for HVAC design if you wish to have us facilitate that.

When the permit ready house plans are complete, we send one final copy to the client to make sure there are not any last minute changes they want to make or overlooked.

Step 4 varies in time based on our current work load, but on average is anywhere from 3-6 weeks +/- from the time we are notified from client to finalize, to the completion of the full set of permit ready working house plans.

Step 5

Pick-up or Shipment of Final House Plans

With the house plans for your new dream home complete including signed BCIN stamp – we now arrange a time for pick-up, or ship the final set of house plans.

Final house plans will not be released without final payment.

*Please note (if desired our entire start to finish process can be performed in rush/accelerated manor for an additional fee – call to discuss)*

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