Why DeFalco Home Design?

Your situation is unique, so we want to know about your ideas, how you live, and what is important to you.  Our collaborative design process will result in a unique design solution that is custom fit to your needs.

DeFalco Home Design will guide you through the entire design and construction process, acting as your advocate from concept to completion. We let you sleep at night by helping you hire your contractor, observing project progress, and resolving on-site construction issues.

DeFalco Home Design is a small firm by choice. You’ll work directly with the owner, and receive personalized attention and commitment for the life of the project.

Owner Tripp DeFalco is a licensed Architect, a member of the American Institute of Architects, and is nationally certified by NCARB.  He has practiced architecture for 30 years, and also spent 13 years as a Class A contractor – building what he designed.

Our Process

01  

Define Your Goals

Before creating a design solution for your project, DeFalco Home Design must have a clear definition of what your goals are:

  • Project Questionnaire – This document helps us understand why you want to build or renovate, how you really live, and what look and feel you desire.
  • Site Visit | Field Survey – We walk the building site and/or measure and photograph the existing house, documenting the conditions that serve as the starting point for the creative process.

02  

Design Your Home

This process is both creative and linear – decisions made early in the project have the most impact on cost and schedule.  The collaborative relationship between us is paramount:

  • Programming – Development of a quantitative list of your desired functions and spaces, with approximate sizes for each. The goal is to check the list against the Project Questionnaire, and to ensure we both understand the scope of the entire project before proceeding with design.
  • Schematic Design – Presentation of up to two Design Options, consisting of schematic floor plans, exterior views, and a Preliminary Cost Opinion for each Option. If required, a land surveyor may be contracted with during this phase to prepare a topography survey.

03 

Prepare Your Drawings

Based on the approved Design Option, and reflecting your comments and requested changes, further drawing iterations add detail and complexity.

  • Design Development – Drawings shall be prepared with 3D CAD modeling software, and shall include floor plans, elevations, and three dimensional views. Civil engineering and/or structural engineering consultants are retained during this phase.
  • Construction Documents – Detailed drawings and specifications will be completed; suitable for contractor pricing, building permit submission, and construction by a general contractor.

04  

Build Your Project

Unlike some other architects, DeFalco Home Design provides you with valuable assistance throughout the entire duration of the project:

  • Contractor Selection – At an appropriate point during the design process, we provide assistance with the selection of a general contractor, review of cost estimates and/or bid pricing, and negotiation of the Owner/Contractor Agreement.
  • Construction Administration – We will assist the contractor to apply for the building permit, and provide prompt responses to reviewer’s comments. During construction we will attend regular on-site meetings, review contractor’s invoices and change orders, interpret the construction documents, and assist with the resolution of construction issues.
  • Project Closeout – As construction finishes, we will prepare the final ‘punch-list’ and the certificate of Substantial Completion, signifying the completion of the project and the start of the general contractor’s warranty period.

Would you like to discuss a project?

We’d love to hear from you! Give us a call, send us an e-mail, or fill out the form below.