Construction document floor plan by Daniel Allen Designs

How We Work

Our Design Process

Four clear phases. Defined deliverables. Your approval before we move forward. From first conversation to construction documents in 8 to 16 weeks.

Structure Creates Freedom

Custom home design can feel overwhelming. There are thousands of decisions, competing priorities, and — without structure — a tendency for scope to expand, timelines to drift, and budgets to blur.

Our process is designed to prevent that. Each phase has a defined scope, clear deliverables, and a formal approval milestone before we move to the next stage. You always know where you are, what comes next, and what each step costs.

This structure does not limit creativity. It channels it. When the boundaries are clear, the design work becomes sharper, more focused, and more efficient.

Four Phases

From Conversation to Construction Documents

01Weeks 1–2

Discovery & Programming

We begin with a deep conversation about how you live — not just what you want your house to look like. Room-by-room needs, daily routines, entertaining patterns, storage requirements, outdoor living priorities. We also assess your site: topography, orientation, setbacks, views, utilities, and code constraints.

This phase produces a written design program — a comprehensive brief that captures your priorities, budget parameters, and site conditions. It becomes the foundation for every design decision that follows.

Deliverables: Design Program Document, Site Analysis, Preliminary Budget Discussion

02Weeks 2–5

Schematic Design

This is where the floor plan takes shape. We develop initial concepts based on the design program, exploring options for layout, massing, and spatial relationships. You will see floor plans, preliminary elevations, and 3D visualizations that give you a clear sense of how the home will feel.

We typically present two to three concepts, discuss the strengths and trade-offs of each, and refine your preferred direction through a series of review sessions. This phase ends with a single, approved schematic design.

Deliverables: Concept Floor Plans, Preliminary Elevations, 3D Visualizations, Approved Schematic Direction

03Weeks 5–10

Design Development

The approved schematic is developed into a fully detailed design. Dimensions are finalized. Material selections are made. Interior elevations are drawn for kitchens, bathrooms, and key spaces. Structural, mechanical, and electrical systems are coordinated. This is also when we recommend engaging your builder for preliminary pricing — a step that prevents budget surprises later.

The Builder's Eye review is applied throughout this phase, evaluating every design decision through the lens of constructability, cost, and coordination.

Deliverables: Detailed Floor Plans, Exterior Elevations, Interior Elevations, Material Specifications, Engineering Coordination, Builder Pricing Review

04Weeks 10–16

Construction Documents

The final phase produces the complete drawing package that goes to your builder for bidding and to your jurisdiction for permitting. This includes detailed floor plans, sections, construction details, door and window schedules, finish schedules, electrical plans, specification notes, and all engineering coordination.

These documents are produced by someone who spent two decades receiving, reading, and building from construction documents — and knows exactly what builders need to see, at what scale, and in what format.

Deliverables: Complete Construction Document Package, Permit-Ready Drawings, Engineering Coordination, Specification Notes

No gaps. No chaos. No expensive surprises.

— Daniel Allen Designs

After Construction Documents

Our involvement does not end when the drawings are complete. We remain available during the bidding and construction phases to answer builder questions, review substitution requests, and provide design clarifications. Many clients also engage us for periodic site visits during construction to ensure the design intent is being faithfully executed.

This continuity — from first sketch through final walkthrough — is part of what makes the Daniel Allen Designs experience distinct.