Guide to Getting Started

With over 20 years of experience in residential design as a foundation, we have developed a guide to help in the planning of your new home or home renovation. There are many important factors that go into the design and construction of any new home. To help you prepare for our first meeting, the following is a list of some items that will help us provide you with the best possible home design:

  • Keep a journal to note features you have found appealing. List or describe spaces that make you feel comfortable. List by room, the items or features you would like to have. (Flooring, Fixtures, Cabinets, etc…)
  • Your lifestyle will affect how you plan for your new home. Below are some items to consider when beginning the design process.
    • Do you entertain often
    • Family.
      • The ages of any children living at home
      • Are you empty nesters
      • Caring for elderly parents
    • Family activities
    • Leisure activities
    • Hobbies
    • Need for accessible design
  • Meet with your lender and set your budget, this will help us determine the size of your home and what amenities we can include.
  • Choose your building site. This will allow us to plan for your site and take advantage of any unique features available.
  • Determine the type and style of the home you would like. An example would be a two story plan with a colonial exterior. Keep in mind that some designs are more cost effective than others: a two story saltbox will cost less per square foot than a 1½ story of the same size.
  • List the rooms or spaces required including, kitchen-dining areas, living spaces, the number of bedrooms and baths, etc...
  • Note any specialty areas such as a media room, office, sunroom, etc...
  • List the features and appliances you would like included in the kitchen-dining areas.
  • List the features desired in the Master Bedroom/Bath
  • Create a file where you can save photos, sketches, magazine articles and other items that will help you convey what you would like included in your home design.

It is our goal to provide you with a design that will meet the needs of your lifestyle and budget. We can incorporate features into your design that will be friendly to the environment and energy efficient.  Above all, we want to provide you with a design that is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.