Our Design Build Process
We want to make sure you achieve the house of your dreams. We will walk you through a step-by-step process, from design to construction, making sure your new home is everything you had in mind.
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Each new home starts with an introduction and initial project consultation. During your initial project consultation, we’ll discuss project objectives and budget. This allows us to determine the feasibility of your project, your aesthetic vision and finished project goals. We meet with each new Homeowner at the beginning of the process to learn as much as possible about what is important to you in your new custom home. We continue to work with you through each step of the design and build processes. From preconstruction services through design meetings, we stay involved in the entire process.
We generally spend an hour or two with you during an initial consultation to be sure we’ve provided plenty of time for your questions and to properly go over your Project Worksheet.
You may review and submit our Project Worksheet, so that we may prepare for your initial consultation. Please answer as many items as you can, but do not be concerned if there are items you cannot answer. Information about your wish list and new home requirements will provide us with valuable insights into how we may best assist you in your journey to a new dream home.
We are passionate about helping you think through each decision that goes into building your dream home. You’ve worked hard to get to a place where building your dream home is a reality, so we work hard to ensure the process of building is an enjoyable one. Throughout our many years building homes, we’ve developed efficient processes and irreplaceable relationships that we’re confident you’ll grow to value as much as we do as you journey through the custom home building process!
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At Design South Homes, creating individuality in a home is our specialty. We understand what makes your home uniquely yours. Your home is your haven, a sanctuary that complements your lifestyle. We are dedicated to perfecting even the smallest detail, because our signature is on every home.
Good design is about truly understanding how you and your family live in order to create beautiful and functional spaces that are not only practical but reflect you and your family’s personality. As part of our ‘one stop shop’ approach, we see Interior Design as an integral part of the creative design process. Whether you prefer a timeless and sophisticated look, or a modern and contemporary style, as professional designers, we work to ensure the interior and exterior of your new home are expertly created and that will remain practical and timeless.
As a Design/Build company, we provide a full-service experience for our Homeowners. As an award-winning professional designer and master custom builder, we will work with you to create a fine quality and personal custom home. We have developed a process to simplify the custom home building process. From concept to creation, we ensure that your vision will become a reality.
Our Design Phase includes: site evaluation and analysis, conceptual space planning, preliminary site plans, floor plans and elevation designs, 3D cabinet designs, product and finish selections in our fully appointed Design Studio, and finish material finalization, so that the process allows you to remain in budget while meeting the aesthetic and functional requirements for your new home. Our process also makes the Construction Phase of your project proceed smoothly, timely and efficiently.
In order to enter into the Design Phase and engage our full-service custom home design experience, after an initial consultation and project review, a Design Agreement will be provided to you based on the scope of the project and is fully credited in your construction contract. Once the final design plans and project selections and finishes are completed, we will make sure everything is specified and a detailed fixed-cost proposal is prepared. You'll know exactly what your project includes and what it will cost!
Our construction contract documents include:
- Fixed-price construction agreement
- Detailed specifications package
- Illustrated finish and selection package
- 3D Cabinet designs
- Home design including developed floor plan and exterior elevations
- Preliminary Site Plan
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The Pre-Construction Phase begins with the signing of the Construction Contract and encompasses the completion of final construction documents and engineering through permitting and pre-construction planning and preparation. When building permits are received, we are ready to begin construction of your new home and the project enters into the Construction Phase.
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It’s time to make you’re your new home a reality! Your builder is highly experienced and will continue to work tirelessly throughout the completion of your project. We will keep you updated regarding the construction schedule, so you can have peace of mind that you know exactly what is happening with your project.
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Our work isn’t finished once the construction is complete. We include a new home warranty with a checkup after completion, and warranty requests are welcomed at any time during the warranty period.
Studio Homes
Our Design Studio Program
As a Design-Build company, Design South Homes has earned a reputation for outstanding home design. Because of our company’s core emphasis on residential architecture and interior design, we enjoy bringing our Design Studio to life by creating more opportunities for fine design for more homeowners. The Design Studio Program provides clients with a full-service custom home experience, as well as reducing the stress often encountered when building a custom home. Our Design Studio Program saves time during the Design Phase, by alleviating the client’s responsibility to select every aspect of their home’s finishes and details. Our principal residential and interior design professional creates the architectural design statement and color story for your home based on a Preference and Feature consultation. Many of our Homeowners have a preferred design style, but are not confident in creating an entire design collection for their new home. A preliminary and final design concept is presented to you for approval before production of your new home begins. This method also works to keep the home on target with a defined design style statement and within budget. Design South Homes has successfully utilized this method for many of our custom home clients and would be delighted to discuss the advantages of this delivery method in more detail.
Artisan Cottage Home Series
Design South Homes has built a reputation for building larger custom homes with fine finishes, with each custom home designed and carefully chosen for a specific homeowner. We received numerous requests for home plans in a more modest size that incorporated our expertise in creating unique and beautiful spaces, with the same energy efficient construction methods and luxury finishes seen in our estate homes. Over time, we realized that there is a void in our market for “right sized” homes with high-quality construction and well-executed finishes. A “right sized” home plan features open plan living with room sizes that meet the demands of our client’s everyday lifestyles.
Artisan Cottage Home Features
We created our Artisan Cottage Series to feature floor plans that maximize living space and minimize idle spaces, such as long hallways, and feature fresh architectural facades and detailed interior design. The Artisan Cottage Series incorporates Universal Design principles, as well as oversized garages, elegant kitchens and baths, and enhanced storage elements.
Artisan Cottage Home Offerings
As a “Green-Focused Builder,” we search for in-fill lots for our Artisan Cottage Series homes. In-fill lots are developed lots in existing communities or towns. The utilization of in-fill lots creates less impact on local infrastructure by reducing the need for new development, part of our green building commitment as a local custom builder.
Please inquire as to when the next Artisan Cottage Series Home will become available.
Kind Words
“Design South Homes was very professional and trustworthy in building our new home. Everything my family wanted in our new home was provided with a smile plus. We never worried about anything being so far away (Kentucky) during construction. What we requested was completed in a timely manner and there were even extras on the home. Something as simple as a design pattern on the outside of our home sent a tear running down my face; extreme passion, loyalty, and commitment to the customer. We cannot thank Philip and his team enough! We love our custom home that we created with the help from Design South Homes. This is history for our family! Our home will be enjoyed for years to come. Thanks a million!!”