Custom Design

Architectural drawing of a modern house with stone and wood exterior, multiple gabled roofs, large windows, and surrounding trees.
Living room area with a workspace, kitchen cabinets, countertop, refrigerator, and seating.

Our specialty is custom residential design. Cedar + Steel prides itself in being hands-on, through a rigorous, personalized approach. We care about creating strong designs, but invite our clients to care about what we create together. When you work with Cedar + Steel, you can expect beautiful, buildable design that’s tailored to you.

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Our Process


PHASE 1

PREDESIGN

Person using a stylus on a digital tablet with architectural floor plans, surrounded by notebooks and office supplies.

Collaboration: one of the most important steps we will go through during the design of your home. In the pre-design phase, you can expect a 1-1 conversation, where we’ll discuss your needs (layouts, bedroom and bath count, design options, etc.), desires (bonus room, primary bath features, walk-in closet spaces, etc.) and style. During this time, we’ll  also cover pertinent site requirements, benefits and/or restrictions (views, existing vegetation, topography, municipal ordinances). 

We invite our clients to bring as many ideas and as much information regarding their building lot as possible. The more clarity we have, the better we will be able to project your vision onto the space.

PHASE 2

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

Drawing on information from our pre-design meeting, we’ll be able to develop a preliminary site plan, floor plans, and exterior elevations. Keep in mind – these aren't set in stone, and some ideas are likely still fluid. One of our top priorities is to work with you, refining the plans to meet your satisfaction.

PHASE 3

CONSTRUCTION/BID DRAWINGS

Architectural blueprint and floor plan of a building with detailed measurements, annotations, and sketches in red and blue ink.

Once the preliminary plan is approved, we will begin developing plans for building your home. At this time, your plans are reviewed by expert engineers for structural purposes, and, once approved, are stamped and ready for bidding and permitting.

A house under construction with wooden framing and OSB sheathing, situated on a dirt lot with construction scaffolding and building materials around.

PHASE 4

BUILDING

Let’s get building! The paperwork is signed and the Cedar + Steel team is ready to go. We’re with you every step of the way, so don’t hesitate to ask any questions or express any concerns. We are committed to tackling any and all bumps in the road, and seeing the project through to completion. Are you ready to see your vision come to life?

Work With C+S