We have two parts to our business.  Under Planning we draw anything from garden features to shopping centers.  Our planning projects take us into graphic design, landscape architecture, urban planning, and beyond.

Under Architecture we design new houses and residential remodels, occasionally a commercial project, occasionally a multi-family residence.

We provide thorough and comprehensive working drawings of what goes into a project up through sheetrock.  From that point forward our services are somewhat negotiable.  For example, we call out the type and location of lights in an electrical plan, but we do not normally include a lighting fixture schedule.  We specify the manufacturer and model number of each door but don’t usually specify hardware.

In general, we take on the responsibility of detailing interior design where interior design is integral to the project.  Most of our clients want to pick out on their own things like appliances, door hardware, flooring, colors, and cabinetry.

THE DESIGN-BUILD TEAM

Many designers and builders prefer to keep design and construction separate and discrete.  Then there are designer-builders and architects who want to control both.

We believe these two extremes make no sense for the client.  The designer and builder best serve the client if they represent independent voices and have overlapping roles.  The point of overlap is the shared goal of putting all the pieces together in the finished plan.

SELECTING A BUILDER

A good designer saves you money.  A good builder protects your investment.  Don’t ask the builder to do both.

When you have identified the builders you can trust shop them on compatibility, availability,, and fee.  Your builder should have a transparent contract which puts him on your side of the table for planning purposes.

Here are the builders we work with frequently.