Cabin Architect
A cozy cottage nestled in the woods, an elegant structure overlooking a lake, a hillside hideaway that puts the heart and mind at ease.
The Cabin You’ve Always Wanted
We all need to get away from it all sometimes. There are occasions where we can make do with renting, or visiting a friend’s place. But there often comes a time when we need a place that we know is there, waiting for us, providing respite. A place to call our own.
Big or Small, Fancy or Simple
Cabins are a prime opportunity to exercise our creative minds. There may be a reason to create a “tiny space” cabin that is designed with space conservation in mind. You may be passionate about having less of an environmental impact and want to incorporate geothermal and solar energies. Or maybe you’ve found the perfect lot and now that you are not working full time want to spend more of your days away from it all in a place that is like a second home. No matter what your needs, I can ensure you understand all of the options you have. Together we can make your conceived cabin a reality.
When you’ve found the spot and are ready to move forward, get in touch. We can schedule a visit to the site and create the drawings you’ll need to get a construction bid. Timelines with remote cabins can vary greatly as materials and skilled labor are limited in these areas. Call 651-210-7042 and have a conversation with me about the process. You can also email me your questions and I will respond. While I do offer bundles, I typically charge by the hour for cabin design. Initial on-site consultation will include travel time to the site and overnight accommodations for sites outside a two-hour radius of the Twin Cities metro area.
Five Phases of Architectural Planning
Predesign Phase:
This includes our initial meeting at your home and the discussion of options, possibilities and budget. We can create a wish list of which spaces are important. Also, an overall bud-get should be put put together in this phase. From there I will collect information from the city such as: what site restrictions there are like, what the setbacks are, what is the height limit, and lot coverage, etc.
Schematic Design Phase:
I will develop conceptual designs. These are preliminary bubble diagram/ rough sketches that incorporate your design ideas and wish list. There might be several different design options for floor plans and location on the site. This process will go back and forth with you until we are happy with the design and have settled on a sketch.
Design Development Phase:
After choosing a design to move forward with, I will refine the floor plans and overall look based on your comments and the reality of building i.e. thinking about small details, light, flow, your lifestyle and any special accommodations (such as using universal design to allow for aging in place).
Construction Documents Phase:
This is the final step for drawing. The CDs will show all the information needed for the builder to construct your new home. Depending on the level of detail we decide to show, the CDs can show just the minimum required to get a building permit or can be more descriptive to show elements such as interior elevations, finish trim and window grids, electrical plan, lighting placement and other facets of design. Having more detailed drawings also enables the builder to give us more accurate pricing. So, instead of a ballpark number that has a span of tens of thousands of dollars, with detailed CDs the builder will know which materials he will need to use and the skill and time required to implement the design features shown. In my experience, the more detailed the drawings are, the less room there is for misunderstanding and error.
Construction Admin Phase:
In this phase, I ensure the home gets built the way the drawings show. I coordinate with the builder regarding timelines, materials and method of installation and finish carpentry. I do site visits as needed (typically once a week for one to two hours) but during the height of construction when things move at a faster rate it might be twice a week. In addition to onsite personal supervision and quality assurance, my presence on site is conducive to improved communication between the builder and me. This also allows me to answer your questions and immediately address any concerns. When builders are unsure of a design feature or misinterpret a plan they typically just move forward based on “the way we’ve always done it.” When I am on site I discuss with the foreman and team member show things should be done to achieve the look that is depicted in the drawings. I have over 40 years of construction experience and have personally built and remodeled 5 of my own homes. I know how a structure is put together, the tools needed and the steps required to do things right. I do not allow for cheaper material substitutions or cut corners. This onsite supervision, client advocacy and flow of communication prevents a loss of time and money and I have found is crucial for overall quality.
Before you sign up with any contractor ensure your best interests are being taken into account. I am working for you and not the bottom line.