How the Abrigo Home new construction design process works

Are you interested in building a new construction home? While every project is custom and brings its own unique circumstances, we will use the Steel Modern Farmhouse from Amy Dutton Home as an example.

1. Inspiration – since we live in a world of visual communication, most people come to us with images that inspire the end goal. If people still need a Pinterest board before the meeting, we will set one up and encourage our clients to start pinning immediately. Pinterest helps us in the conversation of rooflines, square footage, materials, and the relationship between house and grade. 

2. Sketch (Discovery Phase) – with inspiration at hand, the footprint, interior layout, and rooflines create an elevation so that the clients understand our vision in broad strokes. Then, we will meet with the clients again to review these sketches until we land on something close to working. 

3. CAD (Schematic Phase) – next, the sketch will be put into CAD and modeled in 3D. The first meeting at the office or on zoom with a shared screen is always a fun experience as clients see their homes come to life! Next, we start dialing in on the floor plan layout and then applying materials. This part is when inspiration photos play a huge role as we meet again to review materials. For example, in the Modern Steel Farmhouse, our client sent over a comprehensive list of “needs and wants.” We were able to come up with an overall concept as our client provided photos of the bathrooms and kitchen. After that meeting, we selected cost-efficient tiles and finishes that could be installed modern and inspiringly. 

After getting the initial price from the builder, we edited the house plans to keep the cost down by designing a more efficient build.  

1. Construction Drawings – these are technical drawings that zero in on the details by including; electrical, plumbing, framing, and cabinetry. This is the communication between the homeowner and my vision with the “directions” on how to build it. 

Note: Typically, we have all the materials selected before the construction drawings to secure a builder with this data and the initial cost and design (CD) set. Once the CDs are done, we can get a building permit and final pricing. Also submitted with the CD set are structural and civil engineering documents. 

Long and short, it’s a journey that can take anywhere from 6-12 months. Nevertheless, it’s been a great experience designing the Steel Modern Farmhouse, and we look forward to sharing more of the architectural home design process! Click here to check out the Steel Modern Farmhouse process.