Our Favorite Parts of Any Residential Design and Build Project
With more than 30 years of experience and many more in our future, it’s safe to say that we truly love design-build. We’re passionate about the process, how well it serves our clients, and the end results it creates. While we could cite every single step as one of our favorite things about residential design and build, there are some distinct moments throughout the process that we can’t help but look forward to with each new build we take on.
Getting to Know our Residential Design and Build Clients
While we’re obviously a team of architects, builders, and designers first and foremost, we’re also a team of relationship builders. Getting to know our clients is imperative to designing homes that fit them like a glove. It’s important to us to understand both their lifestyle and desires for ideal living, as well as their stylistic preferences. Not only does this approach produce gorgeous homes, it’s a great excuse to make new friends along the way! During the home build, we’re meeting with our clients every two weeks to provide updates, get feedback and ensure that the process is going smoothly. Every project is completely personal, and our team is highly fond of that.
Site Exploration
Another thing that we love about the residential design build process is site exploration. Once our client has their ideal site nailed down, it’s time for our team to walk it. As we conduct our site exploration, we consider the views, sunlight, topography, soil, surroundings, lot shape, and more to direct the design and guide our team. Not only is it an incredibly functional and instrumental step, it’s also a joy to dream about the future of the lot and the house that will be built where we stand.
Problem Solving
Being a design-build team means we get to tackle challenges at every stage, from imagining the initial concept to working out the smallest technical details on site. We thrive on finding creative solutions, thinking through every possibility, and turning potential roadblocks into opportunities to make the home even better than planned. Creativity, thoughtfulness, and passion go a long way in getting through any issues that pop up, whether they be technical, logistical, or otherwise.
The Collaborative Process
The residential design and build process naturally fosters collaboration; instead of separating architects and builders into silos, we bring them together and let the process unfold. We’re both passionate about and proud of the results this brings about. Our process is defined by collaboration between architects, engineers, interior designers, and contractors, and it’s amazing to see what unfolds when these talented, specialized professionals come together as a single, unified team.
Client Tours: Framing
One of our favorite moments of the residential design and build process is taking our clients on a tour of the property once framing is complete. While 2D and 3D models certainly help, nothing makes a space more real and tangible than seeing it take shape in its framed form. We get to walk through the home, point out where different rooms and features will be, and explain how everything will come together. They get to envision their life in a new, beautiful space precisely designed for them. It’s truly a lightbulb moment for our clients, and one we greatly enjoy.
Move-In Day
As you can imagine, the long-awaited move-in day is hard to put into words. While we’re doing final system checks, cleaning every corner and readying each room, we’re also preparing to hand over the keys and wrap up months of hard work. It’s an absolute joy to see the smiles on our clients’ faces when they realize the home is about to be truly theirs.
“This is a bittersweet day after many, many months and establishing a really close relationship with our clients who now are really more like friends.”
–Amy Berka, Lead Residential Architect
Some additional favorite parts of residential design build from the SSDB team:
Kathleen Henrikson, Partner & CEO of all Things:
The collaboration – so many individuals working towards the same goal.
T.K., Partner:
The people.
T.J. Floyd, Project Manager:
Taking a vision and turning it into reality! Sometimes that’s a Pinterest board, sometimes it’s something seen in a different country on vacation.
With each new project we take on, we look forward to many checkpoints along the way – there’s something about design-build that never gets old. It might be the way we get to know a client and gradually bring their vision to life, step by step. Or the way architects, builders, and designers come together to create something truly exceptional. Every home is different, every process is personal, and every project is a rewarding experience from start to finish.