THE DESIGN PROCESS
1. Conceptual or schematic design:
This phase includes many facets of the construction process. We will discuss the selection of
the building site, utilities(municipal or private) and home location. Orientation of the home (North, South, East or West) is also addressed. Different choices for heating and cooling will be briefly discussed pertaining to utility availability. Budget of home, scope of work and schedule will be reviewed.
This phase is also dedicated to information gathering.
- Lifestyle of homeowners.
- Goals of the homeowners. Hobbies, workshops, entertainment,
privacy etc. - Stage of life and health concerns. Air quality, allergies etc.
- Personal interests of the homeowners and their family members.
2. Defining the needs and wants of your new home.
This is the wish list for your new home. We will discuss numbers of bedrooms, bathrooms and where will they be located. The kitchen and dining area will be reviewed.
Family rooms, living rooms and tv rooms will be touched on. Entries, porches and outdoor living areas are also an integral piece of the wish list. Traffic patterns and floor covering choices are very important in achieving a great flow in your home.
3. Exterior and interior finishes and material choices.
Many materials are available for both the interior and exterior of your home.
Brick, EIFS, cultured stone, Cedar, Cement board in a wide variety of textures and colors are all
available. Painted or stained woodwork in Oak, Maple, Pine, Poplar or any other species are all possible. Many different floor coverings are also available depending on location and function.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE DESIGN
This is when we take all of the information we have gathered and start a concept drawing.
- General layout, form and overall appearance will be determined.
- 3-D views of both interior and exterior will be produced.
- Site changes and infrastructure along with initial landscaping design
will be started.
Once the reviews of initial concepts drawings are complete, we will begin the refinement stage of the design. This includes specifying cabinetry sizes, custom showers and cabinets, built-ins and all door and window openings. This generally takes between 2-6 meetings. At the conclusion of this stage 75% of the design work will be complete.
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION
During the third stage of design we will take the design which is now 75% complete and add the finishing touches. Working drawings will be prepared which define in detail the different material choices and how they will be incorporated into the home. This phase will also define lighting locations, plumbing fixtures, appliances and all visible finishes (tile, paint, carpet, colors etc.) At the conclusion of this phase we will have a complete set of construction documents and will be ready to build. Energy Star certification and Green Built Michigan certifications and requirements will be addressed.
- Lot design, preparation and development.
- Resource efficiency.
- Energy efficiency.
- Indoor environmental quality.
- Operation, Maintenance and Homeowner education.
- Indoor and Outdoor water efficiency.
- Global impact.
