Frequently Asked Questions

A CPBD is a professional credential issued by the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD). It means your designer has demonstrated verified experience, technical competency, and professional standards in residential design.

For you, it translates to a high level of design skill and building knowledge, along with a structured approach to creating clear, builder-ready plans.

A LEED Green Associate is a credential awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that recognizes training in sustainable building practices.

If energy performance and long-term comfort matter to you, LEED knowledge helps support smarter decisions around insulation, windows, HVAC coordination, orientation, daylighting, and healthy material selections.

Our process is designed to feel clear, calm, and well guided. Most projects follow these steps:

Consultation & Project Clarity

• We identify your goals, priorities, and the right next step.

Feasibility & Site Planning

• We evaluate constraints early so you don’t discover costly issues later.

Concept Design & 3D Modeling

• We develop a design that matches your lifestyle, land, and style.

Design Development

• We refine layout, exterior, and key details so the design is cohesive.

Construction Documents

• You receive builder-ready drawings for pricing, permitting, and construction.

Optional Construction Observation

• This is a limited service to help ensure your new home is built according to the design intent. It's not meant to be a substitute for the builder's management or for inspections.

If you want, we can also integrate aging-in-place planning, sustainability, and passive solar principles where they make sense for your site.

Yes. You’ll be able to see your home in 3D before construction begins, which helps you make confident decisions early.

This step reduces uncertainty, supports smoother builder pricing, and helps prevent costly changes once construction starts.

Fees are typically structured as a fixed fee based on scope, with clear deliverables and milestones. Your fee depends on factors like home size, complexity, site conditions, and service level.

You’ll know what’s included before work begins, and you’ll have a defined process from start to finish.

Yes. The earlier budget is integrated into the design process, the better.

We help you stay on track by:

• Clarifying scope before design goes too far
• Designing for efficient structure and practical construction
• Producing detailed plans that support accurate builder pricing
• Offering RSMeans-based cost estimating support when appropriate

Good design protects your budget by preventing expensive surprises later.

We design with long-term value in mind, not short-term trends. 

That includes:

• Timeless architecture and balanced proportions
• Smart layout planning that supports real life
• Strong curb appeal and thoughtful exterior composition
• Natural light, views, and indoor-outdoor connection
• Energy performance when appropriate
• Aging-in-place strategies that increase long-term usability

Even if you never sell, these choices improve how the home lives and how it holds value over time.

Yes. We design renovations, additions, ADUs, and outdoor living projects, as well as full custom homes.

Renovations require careful planning, so we focus on uncovering constraints early and producing detailed drawings that help your builder execute cleanly.

Yes. When the site and scope support it, we incorporate strategies that improve comfort and reduce energy demand, including:

• Passive solar orientation principles
• Efficient windows and insulation coordination
• Shading strategies and daylighting
• Smart material choices for durability and indoor air quality

Sustainable design should feel comfortable and timeless, not complicated.

We’re based in Greer, South Carolina, and primarily serve:

• Upstate South Carolina
• the South Carolina Midlands
• Western North Carolina

Depending on scope and jurisdiction, some services can be provided remotely. If you’re outside our primary area, reach out and we’ll discuss feasibility.

Yes. Sloped lots and complex terrain are a specialty.

We evaluate grading, access, drainage, orientation, views, and layout efficiency early, so your design fits the land naturally and avoids expensive surprises later.

This is one reason many clients start with a Feasibility Study.

Yes, limited construction support may be available depending on your service tier.

This can include answering builder questions, reviewing key site conditions, and helping protect design intent through the build. The goal is to reduce confusion and keep the project moving smoothly.

Yes. If you don’t already have a builder, we can help you identify qualified candidates and guide you on what to look for.

If you do have a builder, we’ll coordinate to support accurate pricing and a smoother construction process.

You get professional residential design expertise and builder-ready documentation, without paying for layers of overhead that don’t improve your outcome.

Our focus is to deliver clarity, detail, and a process that protects your vision and budget.

Your home isn’t just designed to look good. It’s designed to be built well.

With decades of hands-on construction experience, we design with real-world buildability in mind, which helps improve pricing accuracy, reduce friction, and prevent expensive midstream revisions.

You’re not buying a generic plan.

We design homes around your land, lifestyle, and long-term needs, including:

• View-driven planning and indoor-outdoor living
• Long-term livability and aging-in-place options
• Energy performance and passive solar principles when appropriate
• Cohesive architecture inside and out

The goal is a home that feels personal, timeless, and effortless to live in.