OUR DESIGN PROCESS | MAINE RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE
We design homes in unconventional places.
We specialize in homes that occupy challenging sites: coastal properties, steep terrain, and shoreland zones where environmental constraints, setback limitations, and local regulations require a different kind of expertise.
Designing in these environments means understanding how architecture, permitting, and construction intersect, and working closely with homeowners, contractors, and municipalities to get it right. Our phased approach is how we keep that work organized, transparent, and anchored to your vision from the first conversation to the final walkthrough.
Curious what’s possible on your site? Let’s talk. →
01
PRE-DESIGN
Before a single line is drawn, we do our homework. We gather everything that shapes your project: site conditions, shoreland zoning, setback requirements, codes, utilities, budget, and schedule, so that when design begins, it begins with intention.
02
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
This is where ideas take shape. We develop a few distinct design concepts, each rooted in a guiding idea that keeps every decision anchored to your vision. We present these in sketch and digital model form, then refine together toward one direction.
03
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
The preferred concept becomes a building. We work to define floor plans, exterior character, and the material palette inside and out, alongside the building systems that make it all function. By the end of this phase, your home exists in precise, considered detail.
04
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
Think of this as the instruction manual for your builder. We produce a comprehensive set of drawings and specifications used for permitting, pricing, and construction, crafted in close collaboration with your general contractor.
05
CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION
We stay involved through the build. As your advocate on-site, we review progress, approve payments, and make sure what gets built reflects what we designed, down to the details that can’t always be drawn or anticipated.
Ready to start the conversation?
We work with a limited number of clients each year to ensure every project gets the attention it deserves. If you’re planning a project in Maine, we’d love to hear about it.
MAINE ARCHITECTS | CUSTOM HOME DESIGN
We work with homeowners across the state. From southern Maine to the mid-coast, down east, MDI, and the mountains and lakes of western Maine.
