Every project begins with a conversation.
The process of designing your home should feel as considered as the outcome. That means clear communication, honest advice, and a collaborative approach from the very first call through to construction. Below is a breakdown of how we work, so you always know what to expect, and what comes next.
Getting Started
Before design begins, we take the time to understand your project, your goals and whether we're the right fit for each other. These early steps set the foundation for everything that follows.
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Discovery Call
A free, no-obligation phone or video call to talk through your ideas, understand your space and get a feel for what you're hoping to achieve. It's informal and honest, a chance for you to ask questions, and for us to understand whether your project is something we'd be well suited to take on. There's no pressure and no commitment.
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Site Visit
If the discovery call leaves you keen to progress the conversation, the next step is bringing us on site. This isn't the detailed measure-up, that comes later. It's a walkthrough. We move through the spaces together, talk through your brief in context and get a sense of the scope, the constraints and the opportunities before we put a fee to anything. It's where the project starts to feel real for both of us.
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Fee Proposal
Once we've walked through your home and confirmed the scope together, we put together your fee proposal. Our fees are fixed price per stage, so you know exactly what you're committing to before you move forward. Because the proposal comes after the site visit, it reflects the actual scope of your project rather than assumptions made over the phone.
Laying the groundwork
Once your proposal is accepted, we prepare the foundations for design. We return to measure your home and document the existing conditions, producing the accurate as-built drawings everything is designed on. We'll send through our pre-design questionnaire to understand how you live and what you need, and commission a feature and levels survey from a licensed land surveyor so we're working with precise information from day one. This stage typically runs three to four weeks, and then design begins. You can read more about what happens before design begins in our guide.
Curious about fees before booking a call? Get in touch by email and we're happy to share how we typically structure fees for projects like yours.
Our Design Process
Once we're underway, your project moves through three design phases. Each stage builds on the last, shaping the big picture, refining the details, and preparing everything your builder needs to bring the design to life. For a deeper look, read our guide to the three design phases.
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Schematic Design (SD)
This is where ideas take shape. We explore layout options, spatial relationships and overall direction for the project, presenting concepts for your review and feedback. The goal at this stage is to find an approach that feels right, one that responds to how you live and what you're hoping to create. We work through ideas together until we land on a direction you're confident in.
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Design Development (DD)
With the concept confirmed, we begin to resolve the details. Materials, finishes, joinery, and technical requirements all get worked through in this phase. Where needed, we coordinate with structural engineers and other consultants to ensure the design is considered from every angle. By the end of this stage, you'll have a clear and fully resolved design to take forward.
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Construction Documentation (CD)
The final design is translated into a complete set of drawings and documentation that your builder can price and build from. This is a detailed and precise phase. The drawings produced here form the legal and technical basis for construction, and we take care to ensure they leave nothing to interpretation.
Design decisions don't stop once construction starts. Questions come up on site, and small choices along the way shape the final result. We can stay involved through the build, working alongside your builder and the wider team to help things run smoothly.
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Once construction begins, we stay involved to help maintain the intent of the design. This includes regular site visits, reviewing progress against the documentation, and responding to questions from your builder as they come up. Decisions on site happen quickly, and having us there means they can be resolved with the design in mind, not just the easiest option in the moment.
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As the build nears completion, we carry out a final walkthrough to check the work against the design and identify anything that still needs attention. It's a meaningful point in the process, the design coming together as a finished home, and we make sure nothing is overlooked before it's handed back to you.
Common Questions
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Depending on the nature and scale of your project, a planning permit may be required from your local council. We assess this early so it doesn't come as a surprise, and manage the process on your behalf if it's needed.
Town planning applications in Victoria typically take two to three months in straightforward cases, and longer where council requests further information or objections are raised. We'll keep you informed throughout and liaise directly with council so you're not left navigating it alone. Where a planning consultant is required, we can facilitate that engagement on your behalf.
Read more about the Town Planning process in our guides -
Once your construction documentation is complete, these drawings are submitted for your building permit. We engage and manage the building surveyor on your behalf. This is separate from the town planning process, if your project requires a planning permit, that's assessed earlier and covered above.
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Not every project requires an architect, but if you're planning a significant renovation, an extension, or a new build, and you care about how the result looks, feels and functions, then working with one is usually worth it. An architect brings both design thinking and technical knowledge to a project, and can help you avoid costly decisions early on. A discovery call is a good place to start, we'll give you an honest answer about whether your project needs one.
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We're a small studio, which means you work directly with us from the first conversation to the last. We keep communication clear and consistent, and we're straightforward about what's possible within your brief and budget. Our process is collaborative by design, we want you to feel confident and informed at every stage, not handed a result at the end.tion text goes here
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Architect fees in Melbourne vary depending on the scope of your project and the level of service you need. For a full renovation or extension, fees are typically calculated as a percentage of the construction cost, or as a fixed fee per stage. We outline our fees clearly in your proposal before any work begins, so there are no surprises. If you'd like a rough sense of what's involved before booking a call, feel free to reach out by email and we'll point you in the right direction.
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Timeframes vary depending on the size and complexity of your project, but as a general guide: the three design phases together typically take four to eight months. If a town planning permit is required, allow an additional three to five months. We'll always give you a clear indicative timeline in your proposal, and keep you updated if anything changes.
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We're based in Collingwood, Melbourne, and work primarily across Melbourne and surrounds. We consider regional work on a case-by-case basis, anywhere we can drive to. Day to day communication happens by phone, email and video call, so the process stays easy whether you're nearby or further out.