Are you interested in building a new construction home? While every project is unique, the process tends to follow a similar rhythm. To give you an inside look, I’ll walk you through the steps using the Steel Modern Farmhouse as an example.
Gathering Inspiration
We live in a world of visual communication, and most clients come to me with images that capture the feeling or style they want in their future home. Pinterest boards are a great tool — if a client doesn’t already have one, I’ll set it up and encourage them to start pinning.
These inspiration images help guide early conversations about rooflines, square footage, how the house will sit on the site, and what materials might bring it to life.
Sketching the Discovery Phase
With inspiration in hand, I begin sketching. This step is all about exploring possibilities:
-
Footprint and interior layout
-
Roofline options
-
Elevation sketches to show overall massing
My clients and I go back and forth on these sketches until we land on a direction that feels right. The sketches aren’t final, but they are a crucial foundation for everything that follows.
Moving into CAD and the Schematic Phase
The next step is to model the design in CAD. This is when the project starts to feel real, as we can view the home in 3D during our first meeting. Clients often find this stage exciting as they see their home take shape.
From there, we refine the layout, adjust spaces, and start talking about materials. Inspiration photos are pulled back out, and we review options together. In the case of the Steel Farmhouse, my clients had a detailed list of needs and wants, along with photos of kitchens and bathrooms they admired. We used those resources to create an overall concept and selected cost-efficient tiles and finishes that could be installed in a modern, inspiring way.
At this point, we also sought preliminary pricing from the builder. With that feedback, we edited the plans to improve efficiency and keep costs in line with the budget.
Construction Drawings
Construction drawings (CDs) are the technical backbone of the project. They detail exactly how to build the home and serve as the communication bridge between the homeowner, designer, and builder.
A full CD set typically includes:
-
Scope of the project
-
Floor plans and elevations
-
Sections
-
Electrical and plumbing layouts
-
Framing details
-
Cabinetry drawings
By this stage, we’ve already selected most of the materials. That way, the builder has the information needed to provide accurate pricing, and we can secure permits with confidence. Engineering documents — both structural and civil — are also submitted along with the CD set.
The Timeline and Journey
Designing a new construction home is a journey. Depending on the complexity, the process can take anywhere from six months to a year before breaking ground.
The Steel Farmhouse has been an exciting project, from gathering inspiration to finalizing construction drawings. Now, I’m looking forward to seeing it come to life through the building process.
Credit: Photos are from Pinterest!
