Frequently Asked Questions
What services do you provide?
We are a full-service architecture firm that provides thoughtful, ambitious and creative solutions for a diverse scope of projects; including homes, wineries, restaurants, guest houses/accessory dwelling units. We provide a wide range of services from initial site selection and conceptual design through detailed permit and construction drawings, and construction administration.
Other services we enjoy are landscape design, master plans, development/feasibility studies, custom fabrication and historic modernization.
How many people are on your team?
We are a two man show, and hire consultants part-time. The three consultants we typically work with are friends from college who we’ve worked with for many years and understand their dedicated work ethic.
Will Ryan and Maddie both be working on my project?
Yes. We believe that it’s important to bounce ideas off of one another, learn from each other and double check each other’s work. Usually there is a lead on the project who is the main point of contact and does the majority of the drafting and coordination.
What if I don’t know anything about the design and building process?
That’s what we’re here for! Our job is to walk you through every step of the process. From choosing a building site, to getting necessary consultants on board, being the interface with the city/county, and beyond – we serve as the general project manager and never expect our clients to know the ins and outs of our profession.
What if I already know a lot about the design and building process?
That’s okay too! We understand that some of our clients know exactly what they want and have been through this process before. Or maybe you are a contractor or extremely familiar with the industry; whatever the situation, we work with your skill set to provide the services that are required for the project at hand.
What does the starting process look like?
After we receive a website inquiry, we start with a phone call to go over more specific details. Typically we would then do a site visit and code research on the specific property. Please note we charge a $200.00 consultation fee which covers our time to research, drive time, and then later write up a proposal. Meeting with a potential client on site allows us to understand the project goals and site constraints and opportunities, while also helping to understand if we will make a good team for each other. After the site visit, we will draft up a proposal with our understanding of the scope and our estimated professional fees. Upon written approval of the proposal we then write up a formal agreement to be signed.
How long does the designing process usually take?
Well that depends on what your project is. New construction for a large residential project typically takes a year to a year and a half, from the time we start your project to the time you have permit. For smaller residential projects an estimated 6 months -1 year.
Remodels (depending on type); 4 months – 1 year
Accessory Dwelling Units: 6 months
Landscape design and feasibility studies may take less time depending on the scope and extents of the particular project.
Keep in mind these timelines are also dependent on how busy we are and the timelines of consultants (structural engineers etc.) and the city/county review process.
What areas do you service and work in?
Majority of our work is in Napa County and its incorporated cities. We also do a lot of work in Sonoma County. Other areas where we have worked are San Francisco, San Bruno, Marin, Tiburon and other Bay Area locations. Regardless of where your project is located, we are happy to have a conversation about your project.