PROCESS / WORKING WITH DOUGLAS
Your home begins with you.
You are the key ingredient in the design process. Your experiences, priorities, and feedback shape the home we create together.
Design develops through an ongoing exchange of ideas. We explore possibilities, review them together, and refine the design as we learn. I ask plenty of questions and encourage you to do the same. From the beginning, we establish simple, efficient ways to communicate so sharing ideas, asking questions, and making decisions feels natural.
You work directly with me throughout—a collaborative relationship grounded in understanding your life and the character of your site.
Getting to know you
We begin with a conversation about your wish list—and the life behind it. Your goals, dreams, daily routines, and long-term plans help establish what matters most. Together, we consider how your ideas align with your priorities and circumstances, creating a shared direction for the design.
Understanding the site
Architecture always exists in context. A site visit reveals opportunities and challenges: sunlight, views, weather, terrain, and neighboring activity. I like to ask what drew you to this particular place and where you most enjoy spending time. Spending time on the property helps me understand how its character changes throughout the day.
Exploring possibilities
Early diagrams explore how spaces relate to one another and which connections matter most. Site studies and conceptual sketches then begin to place those relationships on the land. A site survey, including topography, provides an essential foundation. I can help you find a surveyor or coordinate that service if needed.
Shaping the design
Through hand sketches and three-dimensional modeling, the home begins to take shape. We explore its layout, form, relationship to the site, and overall material character. Before moving forward, you can visualize the proposed home and understand how its spaces work together.
Developing the details
With the overall design established, we refine the materials and building systems that bring it to life. This includes the building envelope, structural approach, and mechanical and electrical systems, with attention to performance, comfort, and how the parts work together.
Preparing for construction
I prepare a coordinated set of drawings and specifications for contractor pricing, permit review, and construction. These documents communicate the design and the details needed to carry it forward.
Following through on site
During construction, I visit the site at agreed intervals to observe the work’s general progress and its alignment with the design intent. I also help address questions and offer guidance as conditions and decisions arise, supporting continuity from the drawings to the finished home.