A lot of architectural companies specialize in multiple architectural disciplines but we have a great passion for residential architecture and provide services only in the residential sector due to that passion. We pride ourselves in creating charming exteriors, attention to the smallest interior details and the intelligent flow of our floor plans that characterize our house designs. A good set of construction drawings is crucial when building a house, while a poorly prepared set can lead to construction delays and costly errors during construction. We help our clients save money by helping them avoid trouble spots and expensive oversights. Our skills and experience lets us bring a broad and extensive knowledge of residential design, construction processes, and materials to every project. We make sure our clients understand the benefits, risks, and implications of the decisions they make. Our clients are involved and guided throughout the process to make informed design decisions based on budget and quality. We are always available on a consultation basis throughout the life span of any project. Clients and their builders know they can call us to help solve design, construction, and cost issues, as well as assist with any unforeseen situations that could arise.
Benefits of Designing Your Home with Us
Experience
Our staff includes CAD operators, building designers, architects, and architectural illustrators that complete over 300 new construction home projects annually in southeastern Wisconsin and over 150 new home construction projects throughout Illinois, North Carolina and Florida areas.
Flexible Service
We provide consulting or complete plans at either an hourly rate or set cost per square foot of living that best fits your project needs. We also provide consultation times that fit around your schedule during mornings, afternoons or evenings throughout the 7 day week.
Reasonable Fees
We combine fixed and hourly rates to insure flexibility and accountability in providing the most cost effective design budget based from the level of service you require.
Expertise
We are knowledgeable in many different architectural styles such as colonial, craftsman, traditional, prairie styles etc; including combining those architectural styles with Green Design to make your home a high efficient or self sustaining home that is value engineered to maximize the value of your investment in constructing a new home. We also are experienced with the demands of people that look for a specialized living environment such as Universal Design, open floor plan concept, Feng Shui design and more.
Technology
All plans are created using Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Computer-aided Design (CAD) software that we custom tailored to our company specifications that gives us an exceptional level of accuracy, speed, and flexibility throughout the design, analysis, visualization and collaboration of your project.
New Home Design Process
Design Consultation Phase
Bring us your ideas, wishes, photos, and sketches of what you want your new home to look like. This phase includes an initial meeting with one of our designers, free of charge, that allows you to discuss your ideas, and for us to get an understanding of what you are looking for in your next home. After we determine the scope of your project, we will provide you with a proposal of design services that includes an estimate of your fees and anticipated schedule of your project.
Preliminary Design Phase
In the preliminary design drawing phase, you will work closely with one of our designers to develop a design concept. Through communicating with you and meeting with you, we will turn your ideas into conceptual plans that include living area floor plans and the front elevation. This process will continue until a design has been developed and approved.
Construction Document Phase
Once the preliminary design drawing phase has been approved, your project moves into the construction document phase. During this phase, your preliminary design drawings are transformed into a set of construction documents, drawn in our CAD (Computer-aided Design) program. Those drawings will allow you to see your plans in a detail at either 1/8” or ¼” scale with dimensions and notes that will allow your builder to bid and construct your house. After any necessary revisions are done, we will complete your set of construction drawings. After completion, you plans will undergo a quality control process to assure the accuracy and quality for which makes our services known. This process will mark the finalization of your project.
Construction Phase
After the finalization of your construction documents, we can at your election, stay involved with you throughout the construction process. We do not provide construction services for building your home, but can help you with everything from the selection of your builder within our builder network, work with a builder you selected to bid and construct your home, to helping you pick out colors, materials and finishes to your home. We also provide onsite inspection of your home throughout the building process to ensure your house was built according to the original design intent.
House Plan Standards
Cover Sheet
Included with all of our plans, the coversheet contains general notes regarding the project, square footages of the project, codes used in the design of the project and at the option of the customer, an artist’s rendering of the exterior of the home. The rendering of the home will give you an idea of how your home will look when it’s completed and landscaped.
Elevations
We provide exterior elevations that provide views of the front, rear and both sides of the home with all details of exterior materials and required dimensions. We also provide interior elevations as needed for views of special elements such as fireplace, kitchen cabinets, built-ins and other complex features of the home.
Roof Plan
The roof plan shows the shape of the roof from a bird’s eye view, it provides roof pitches of the home including dimensions and materials associated with the construction of the roof.
Foundation
The foundation plan shows the layout of the basement, exposed basement, crawl space, footing, slabs and piers. All necessary notations, elevations, and dimensions are included.
Floor Plans
The floor plans show the placement of walls, doors, windows, closets, plumbing fixtures, and appliances for each level of home.
Sections
We show detailed views of the home or portions of the home as if it where sliced from the roof to foundation as needed. This will show important areas such as load bearing walls, stairs, joists, trusses and other structural elements, which are critical for proper construction.
Details
We show how to construct certain components of your home, such as a custom column, stairs, deck etc.
Optional Design Documents
Beam Calculations Reaction Reports Shop Drawings
Engineering Drawings Electrical Layouts HVAC Layouts
Heat Loss Calculations Plumbing Diagrams Breaker Diagrams
Breaker Load Calculations Roof Rafter Drawings Floor Joist Layouts
Engineered Foundations Post Tension Slabs Stem Wall Design
Architectural Sealing Engineer Stamping Material Lists
Blueprint Services Window Load Calculations Cabinetry Drawings
Contact us to setup a meeting with you regarding your new home design project. Also visit us on Facebook, review our recent projects page to see projects in the works and our promotion page for offers we currently are giving our clients.
