About our custom home design service
Design Evolutions Inc., GA is a full service residential design company. Our specialty is in single family home design which includes custom home design services, townhouse design services, and home builder design services. We offer stock house plans for purchase on our website; however, we realize that a custom home design is sometimes desired, or perhaps, required to capture the essence of your home planning needs.
Your custom designed house plans is a work of art. We tailor the design to fit your family’s one of a kind lifestyle because no two families are alike. We are flexible in our approach to meeting your design needs. Our custom home design service is as diverse as our clients because we work in many different styles of architecture with an unbiased pursuit to create your perfect dream home design.
D.E. Inc., GA has been a partner to many families in the creation of their custom home design. Consider using our residential design services for a unique custom home design.
How do I start the custom home design process?
Before you meet with the building designer, know what you want and have your information in order. It’s okay if you do not have all the answers. Not having all of the answers allow for flexibility in the design when needed. Contact us with the following information so that we can begin the process.
- Square footage and foundation – What is the maximum total heated square footage you would like? Will you need a slab, crawl space, or basement foundation?
- Room requirements – Number of bedrooms, amount of bathrooms, office, dining, entertainment, bonus room, garage, office, etc.
- Architectural style – What style of home are you interested in? Pictures are encouraged if you aren’t sure how to identify a style.
- Architectural Control Committee (ACC) – Will the design need to meet certain guidelines of a neighborhood?
- Building site – It helps to know the size of the lot you will be building your home on. Setbacks play a significant role in the maximum width and depth of your home. Some building sites have a limited amount of room to fit a home when you take into account the setbacks.
After this information is reviewed and discussed, the building designer will prepare and send you a design agreement proposal outlining the design program, design fee, time frame, and the terms of service. With your deposit, we will add your project to our schedule to begin the design of your custom dream home.
What is the next step in the design process?
Schematic Design ($2,000 – up to 5,000 heated sq ft)
The owner’s program and design objectives are established. We take all of the materials you have prepared to help define the overall goal of the design program and create a design concept. The schematic design consist of the 1st & 2nd floor plans plus a front elevation. These drawing are presented to the homeowner for review and approval. The homeowner may use the final approved schematic floor plans and elevation as a study set and for estimating and planning purposes. When you decide to move forward and develop the design so that you can build the home, we will develop the working drawings into a complete set of construction documents.
If you choose to have your construction documents developed using the services of another building designer or architect, that design professional must be granted a license by Design Evolutions to complete the project.
Design Development
We begin to transition into working drawings as we design the remaining elevations (left, right, and rear) along with the roof plan. The remaining elevations are sent to the homeowner to give a complete picture of the overall design and if changes are require, this is the time to make them. After the design is approved, this completes the design phase of the program and we move completely into the working drawings phase.
In the working drawings phase, we develop detailed drawings of the approved design to include the necessary specifications and details for your builder to bid the job and apply for a permit. The finished drawings, known as construction documents, are then ready to be built.
What’s included in a set of custom home designs?
Standard set of Construction Documents – ($1.50 per heated square foot)
- Cover sheet – Includes the page index and a 3D architectural rendering of the home as if it were built.
- Foundation plan – Either a slab, crawl space, or basement.
- Floor plans – Full dimensions with notes and abbreviated floor/ ceiling framing members.
- Window & door schedule – Specify sizes, make and/or model
- Exterior elevations – Indicate floor to ceiling heights, wall & roof materials, and other elements.
- Roof plan overview – Shows a bird’s eye view of the overall layout of the roof, ridges, valleys, and slopes.
- Section details – Wall sections, foundation details, and other misc. details as required.
- Electrical plans – Indicates the location of light fixtures, switches, and outlets, showing the intent of the lighting design layout of the home.
Expanded set of Construction Documents ($2.00 per heated square foot)
- Standard set plus the following…
- Building cross section (s) – Shows the home as if it we cut in half from roof to foundation. Indicate changes in floor/ ceiling levels, plate heights and additional detailing for clarity.
- Interior elevations – Include designs of built-in units, fireplaces, bookcases, and other special interior features.
Drawings in the expanded set provide additional detail and information to help your builder with the budget and construction of your home.
Our Goal for your custom home designs
Our goal is to design a work of art that stands the test of time. We do this by adhering to the age old philosophy “form follows function”. Remaining true to the chosen style of architecture is also important. Addressing your desires to develop custom designed house plans to fit your family’s lifestyle is the ultimate end game.
Overall, combining the aforementioned with the talents of Building Designer, Kirya J. Duncan, you can count on receiving a well thought out floor plan. The finished result is set of custom home designs that will have neighbors and strangers alike admiring your residence for years to come!
Contact us by email to get started on designing your custom home today.