Our Renovation & Addition Design Process

Date Published: July 21, 2025

Our 5-step design process is specifically structured to navigate these complexities. We blend creative design with technical precision to ensure your new space feels like it was always meant to be there. This guide explains our approach in detail, showing you how we bring clarity and confidence to every renovation project.

Step 1: Discovering the Reality

In any renovation, we must begin with the truth. Before we can design the future of your home, we have to perfectly understand its present. This discovery phase is the single most important step to prevent unexpected costs and delays down the line.

What We Do:

• Creating the As-Built Drawings: We cannot overstate the importance of this step. We conduct a meticulous on-site visit to measure your home as it stands today. Using precise tools like Lidar scanners, we capture the exact dimensions of every wall, window, and door. From this data, we create a fresh set of "As-Built" drawings. These drawings become our accurate, reliable starting point for the entire project.
• In-Depth Zoning & Code Review: We analyze municipal bylaws to determine exactly what you're allowed to change. This is critical for additions, as it tells us the maximum permitted footprint and height. For interior renovations, it informs us of any new requirements triggered by the work, such as the need for fire sprinklers or egress window upgrades.
• Identifying Hidden Hurdles: We investigate potential constraints that could impact the project. This includes checking for rights-of-way on your property survey, determining if an asbestos report is required (for homes built before 1990), and flagging other site-specific issues that need to be addressed in the design.
• Thorough Site Analysis: A building must respond to its environment. We analyze property surveys for easements, covenants, and rights-of-way. We also coordinate a geotechnical report to understand the soil conditions, which is essential for a safe and cost-effective foundation design and for determining the optimal location and depth for a basement. In parallel, we perform a sun path analysis to strategically design windows, decks, and living spaces for optimal daylight and energy efficiency. If there are significant trees on or near the property, we identify if an arborist report is required to assess their health and ensure compliance with municipal tree protection bylaws. If the property is in a DPA, our analysis will include all specific guidelines and required professional assessments.

Why this matters: This phase replaces assumptions with facts. Relying on old blueprints or city records is risky, as they rarely reflect small changes made over the years. Our As-Built process ensures every design decision is based on the true state of your home, preventing major on-site problems during construction.

Step 2: Designing the Transformation

This is the collaborative heart of the project. With the As-Built drawings as our canvas, we work with you to design a space that solves existing problems and introduces new possibilities.

Key Activities:

• Schematic Floor Plan Design: We explore different layout options to achieve your goals. This could mean removing walls to create an open-concept living area, reconfiguring a floor plan for better flow, or designing a multi-story addition that seamlessly connects to the existing home.
• Exterior Elevation Design: For additions, we carefully design the new exterior to complement your home's original architectural style. Our goal is to make the new space look like a natural extension of the old, not a tacked-on box. This includes matching rooflines, window styles, and exterior finishes.
• Dedicated Client Collaboration: Your vision guides our work. Our contracts include dedicated hours for your review and feedback, ensuring the final concept is a perfect reflection of your goals.

Step 3: Visualizing Your New Space

It can be difficult to visualize how removing a wall or adding a room will truly feel. Our 3D modeling services bridge the gap between a 2D floor plan and reality, giving you the confidence to move forward.

• 3D Model & Virtual Walk-Through: We create a detailed 3D model that allows you to virtually stand in your newly renovated space. You can experience the new open-concept kitchen or walk from your existing bedroom into the new master suite addition. This is the best way to confirm that the layout, scale, and flow are exactly what you want.

Step 4: The Technical Renovation Blueprint

With the design approved, we create the detailed technical drawings that your contractor needs to build and the city requires for a permit. For renovations, these plans are highly specific.

• Demolition & Construction Plans: Our drawings clearly distinguish between what stays, what gets removed (demolition), and what is new (construction).
• Structural Integration Details: We create detailed cross-sections showing exactly how new structures (like an addition's foundation or a new beam) connect to the existing home. This is essential for structural integrity.
• Building Envelope & Code Details: The plans specify any required upgrades to the building envelope for energy efficiency and detail all construction methods needed to comply with the BC Building Code.

Step 5: Navigating the Permit Process

The permit process for renovations can be complex. We act as your technical liaison to make it as smooth as possible.

• Consultant Coordination: Renovations that involve structural changes always require a Structural Engineer. We manage this crucial relationship, sending our plans for their review and seamlessly integrating their stamped engineering drawings into the final permit set.

• Application Assistance: We simplify the paperwork by helping you fill out the required application forms for the city.

• Revisions Are Part of the Plan: It’s common for a city’s plan reviewer to have questions. Our service includes revising the drawings to address their comments, ensuring a path to approval without unexpected design fees.

  Our 5-Step Process at a Glance

  To give you a clear overview, this table summarizes the key activities and the primary deliverable you'll receive at each stage of our design process.

  Step	Key Activities	Primary Deliverable
  1. Discovering Reality	On-site measurement (Lidar), zoning & code review, identifying constraints.	Accurate "As-Built" Drawings
  2. Designing the Transformation	Collaborative floor plan design, exterior elevation concepts, feedback sessions.	Conceptual Design & Floor Plans
  3. 3D Visualization	Creating a detailed 3D model and providing a virtual walk-through.	Immersive 3D Model
  4. Technical Blueprint	Drafting construction plans, structural integration, code compliance.	Permit-Ready Technical Drawings
  5. Permit Navigation	Engineer coordination, application assistance, addressing city feedback.	Approved Building Permit

Post-Permit: Support During Construction

Our commitment doesn’t end when the permit is issued. Unforeseen questions can arise during construction. We remain available on an hourly basis for Construction Consultation to provide clarity for you and your builder, ensuring the vision we created together is executed perfectly.