Designing Your Home with dSPACE Studio
A clear, collaborative design process, from early concept through construction—shaped around how you live.
dSPACE Studio's Architectural Process
PRELIMINARY DESIGN
exploring
Learning how you live and want to live
Studying site, climate, and context
Architectural ideas and spatial relationships
Project tours and exploring options
Setting a design and budget framework
shaping
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
Refining design direction
Floor plans and spatial studies
3D models to visualize the home
Showroom visits
Budget alignment
refining
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Advancing the design through iteration
Detailed renderings and visual studies
Finish, fixture, and material selections
General contractor (GC) pricing and analysis
GC selection and coordination
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
finalizing
Permit documentation and approvals
Produce the technical drawing set
Consultant and engineer coordination
Cost optimization and finalizing construction cost
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Pre-construction planning​
building
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
GC meetings and site visits
Observing work in progress
Submittals and shop drawing reviews
GC Payment application reviews
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Punch list and project closeout
The Value of Working with dSPACE Studio
Thoughtful planning. Clear expectations. Confident decisions.
Designing a home is a significant investment. One of our primary goals is to bring clarity to the process. Through careful planning and detailed documentation, we help clients understand their home long before construction begins, so important decisions are made thoughtfully rather than under pressure.
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By working closely with our clients to resolve key design decisions early, we develop comprehensive construction drawings that support accurate pricing, effective bid comparisons, and proactive cost management before construction begins. This approach provides greater confidence in both budget and schedule.
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The result is a home designed around your priorities, delivered through a smoother, more predictable building process. Our role is to guide clients through each step with transparency, expertise, and open communication—helping transform a complex undertaking into an experience that feels clear, collaborative, and rewarding.
We chose dSPACE because of their experience with complex projects, attention to detail, and unique modern style. We were confident that no stones would be left unturned.
Client, Lakewood Residence
Phase 1 Pre-Design
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We begin by exploring your vision for the home—its character, aesthetic, and how it supports the way you live. We walk the site to understand the landscape, views, solar orientation, and opportunities for siting the home. This is the time to dream.
You may share precedent images to help us understand your aesthetic. dSPACE Studio may arrange home tours to gauge your response to spatial qualities, materials, and design elements.
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Pre-Design concludes with an emerging design direction and budget framework.
Phase 2 Schematic Design
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Schematic Design translates the ideas developed in Pre-Design into architectural form. Through a series of collaborative meetings, we explore alternative layouts, massing, and spatial relationships. We develop 3D models and early design drawings—including site plans, floor plans, sections, and elevations—to help you understand how the home will look, feel, and function.
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Schematic Design concludes with an aligned architectural concept—where the layout, form, site, and budget come together, and the home begins to take shape.
Phase 3 Design Development
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In Design Development, your home is brought into sharper focus. We develop detailed drawings—including plans, elevations, and sections—and work with you to select exterior and interior materials, finishes, and key design elements.
This process may include showroom tours for hands-on exploration of details. A detailed 3D model allows you to virtually walk through the home, helping you understand how spaces connect and ensuring the home feels right before construction begins.
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Design Development concludes with a drawing set used to obtain permits and preliminary construction pricing from contractors.
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They have the talent and expertise of a big firm and the personalized attention and focus of a boutique firm.
Client, Brickyard Residence
Phase 4 Construction Documents
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This is when final decisions are made and the design is documented for construction. We prepare detailed architectural drawings that contractors use to establish actual construction costs and to build your home.
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During this phase, a contractor is selected. You may already have one, or dSPACE can help guide the selection. A contractor may join the team early to participate in the design process, or we can conduct a formal bidding process and assist you in evaluating proposals.
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The CD phase concludes when permits are approved and a contractor is engaged—enabling construction to begin with clarity and confidence.
​​​​Phase 5 Construction Administration
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This is when your home is built. During construction, dSPACE as your architect and advocate, makes regular site visits to confirm that the work is crafted with care and conforms with the design intent. We review contractor payment requests, respond to questions, and keep you informed of progress.
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At completion, dSPACE conducts a thorough project closeout, including a punch list and a detailed review of the contractor’s final payment request—helping ensure everything is complete, accurate, and resolved.
​​​​Welcome home.
Construction is complete. It’s time to begin living in your new home.
