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Reading through this page (though a little more copy-intensive) will help you " – whether you choose to work with me–or "click through" to the next site. It's very useful information about "going custom".
Building your custom home--the thrill of a lifetime. But before the first swing of a hammer is heard, the organization of your ideas, dreams and preferences, aligned with your lifestyle and budget, into a complete set of workable building plans, requires the assistance of an experienced home designer. We can see possibilities, find solutions and anticipate your needs - even when you have difficulty expressing them.
The wonderful homes you see on tv and in print are likely the custom creations of professional designers who have the experience to explore unexpected possibilities.
If your dreams are more modest, and your tastes, traditional, the builder you choose may offer to design your home. You will be asked to select house styles, floor plans and even appliances from a catalog. Other details like lighting and plumbing fixtures, moldings, windows and other elements will be chosen from a menu of options. Your home will be pieced together from these standard resources. Going this route will save you the cost of a designer and may simplify the building process. The results, however, may be disappointing. The builder may be unwilling or unable to accommodate special requests and is often unlikely to suggest interesting ideas or features. He may even try to talk you out of yours.
The alternative is to hire a professional home designer. We specialize in private homes – not office buildings or shopping centers. For this reason, a home designer may actually have more experience designing houses than some licensed architects. A good home designer can create a customized home well suited just for your family. Even if you are working within a tight budget, it never pays to cut corners on design.
People vary greatly–your home should fit your needs and lifestyle, as well as the site. Lifestyles, family sizes, present and future plans, activity preferences, tastes and style choices–all contribute to the need for an individual design. When laying out your home visualize yourself actually living in the plan. At first, think only about space layout and use. When a workable plan emerges, it is finally joined to a style such as Rustic, Victorian, European, Southwest, Caribbean, Contemporary and so on. The more "homework" you do on your own, the easier it will be to proceed into a good design solution. My design experience will help you to make decisions and choices that you may otherwise not consider. My job is to make your home as enjoyable and usable as possible...and, do it within your budget.
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