• Howie’s Place

    Down-sloped Modern House Plan for Tricky Lots This down-sloped modern house plan is sure to appeal to those wanting a modern home with lots of natural light, a spacious open layout, and lots of bedroom options. This home is best suited for a site with a view to the rear. Look carefully and be excited […]

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    Howie’s Place
  • Pringle Creek

    Modern Rustic Farmhouse Style with Killer Floor Plan We’re very happy to present you with this deluxe rustic farmhouse. The floor plan has been very thoughtfully laid out and we’ve made sure to include all the stylistic elements that make farmhouses so desirable. Walking up to the home, you’ll see the delightful, inviting front deck […]

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    Pringle Creek
  • Jasper

    Single Story Modern House Plan Sometimes a home just works – this single story modern house plan has everything you need all on one floor. A grand and luxurious porte-cochere sets the tone for the rest of the home and it only gets better from there. After you park, walk up to the french doors […]

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    Jasper
  • Pringle Creek

    Modern Rustic Farmhouse Style with Killer Floor Plan We’re very happy to present you with this deluxe rustic farmhouse. The floor plan has been very thoughtfully laid out and we’ve made sure to include all the stylistic elements that make farmhouses so desirable. Walking up to the home, you’ll see the delightful, inviting front deck […]

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    Pringle Creek
  • Pendleton

    Modern Farmhouse Plan Guarantees Comfort, Style, and Charm Modern Farmhouse Home Design is here to stay. This beautiful rustic and lively  modern farmhouse plan is part of a brand new collection of these designs. This style is marked by rustic materials, comfortable and functional floor plans, and traditional exteriors and roof lines. This home is […]

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    Pendleton
  • Modern Frontier

    Gorgeous Two Story Farmhouse Built for a View Marvel at  this stunning farmhouse that is just as beautiful on the outside  as the interior. Discover the beautiful front of this home, inviting and strong, and the rear of the home  perfect for any lot with a beautiful view. Discover the dramatic covered outdoor living area […]

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    Modern Frontier
  • Posey Creek

    Beautiful Farm Plan Sized Just Right This a wonderful farm plan for those that know exactly how much space they need from their home. We’ve made sure every space is carefully thought out to maximize efficiency and comfort. You’ll enter the home next to the kitchen, looking out over the open and airy great room […]

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    Posey Creek
  • Haus 3

    This May Be Just the 2 Story Modern House You’re Looking For When you think of your dream home, what do you picture? Three, maybe four bedrooms? Outdoor entertaining? Flexible bonus spaces that work for your family? If this sounds like you, you’re likely looking at your next home. Haus 3 is a 2 story […]

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    Haus 3

Custom Design Process


Introduction

The following tutorial illustrates the process of designing your one-of-a-kind  home with Mark Stewart Custom Home Design. The experience of watching your dream home become a reality begins here.


Initial Input Session

Bring or send us any of your preliminary dreams, thoughts, ideas, sketches and photos. We’ve had clients share everything from sketches on napkins to pages torn from magazines. Together, we’ll work through your vision and your wish list to produce a “program” for your design. Throughout this process we exchange ideas and ask questions of one another until we have mutually agreed upon the direction of floor plans and elevation.


Price Quote & Scheduling

Once we establish a very clear direction and understanding of your wants and needs, we can then produce a firm price quote and schedule your project. Although pricing can vary widely depending on several factors, a typical custom design will cost between $4 and $8.00 per square foot of habitable space.  Some locations such as The City of Portland and many cities in California and New York State may  have fees up to $9-$10 per sq. foot due to increased layers of approval and technical requirements.. To facilitate the process, we will need materials and information such as the address of the building site, plat map, topography, local building jurisdiction, building budget, architectural elements, etc.


Agreement, Deposit & Deliverables

After we provide you with an acceptable quote, list of deliverables and proposed schedule, we ask that you sign a design agreement and pay a deposit of one-third of the quoted fee . Mark himself then begins the design of your custom home. Deliverables on a custom design project include design sketches (including floor plan, elevation , drawings, site plan and sometimes renderings), final approved design drawings (including floor plan, elevations, and site plan), complete working drawings and engineering.


Initial Design Concept

At the initial design phase we produce sketches, or renderings, of your design. This usually takes approximately two weeks. We then meet with you in person (or remotely by phone, or online if it’s more convenient) to present the initial design and review it with you. Quite often at this meeting very minor modifications are made as the process moves forward into working drawings. Sometimes further design reviews and modifications are needed during the Custom Home Design process .


Preliminary Design Approval

When a preliminary design is finalized, approved, and agreed upon, we move into production of working drawings. At this time we receive the second 1/3 payment of the design fee. Our staff takes tremendous pride in our work and will insist on timely, accurate, and cost effective design and drafting.


Final Review

We offer you another review session after your floor plans, elevations, and site plan are firmed up and drafted. Any minor revisions can be made at this point without incurring further expense. At this point, we can also provide your financial institution with enough detail for loan processing and appraisal. Once confirmed, we move ahead to finish your working drawings. Creating your Custom Home Design is an art that we all look forward to. Your satisfaction is our goal.


Working Drawings

Working drawings include the following detailed plans:

  • Site plan
  • Elevations
  • Floor plans
  • Foundation plan
  • Roof framing plan(s)
  • Floor framing plan
  • Cross sections
  • Electrical schematic

If needed, we also provide:

  • Structural engineering
  • Lateral engineering
  • Foundation engineering

Any site survey or soils engineering are usually a separate cost, and if required, should be delivered to us near the beginning of the project.


Engineering

During and sometimes after working drawings are complete, we order any necessary engineering for your project. Required engineering is provided with the final construction documents package prior to building permit application. Often final engineering details follow working drawing completion by two or three weeks.

Construction documents typically include six final copies of your plans and/or computer files as needed. Final payment is due when working drawings are completed. If any changes are made after completion of working drawings, additional fees may be billed, based on time needed to make necessary changes. We can also deliver a completed photo realistic rendering of your design within three to four weeks of working drawing completion.


Technical Support

After delivery of your project we remain available to answer questions that may come up during the permit process. We will also make ourselves available for any routine questions or clarifications needed during construction of your home. It is our sincere goal and desire to provide you with a friction-free experience and the most outstanding and creative design work available anywhere.


Final Completion

Mark Stewart’s designs have been used to create thousands of custom homes across North America. Once your dream home is complete, you’ll take pride in knowing that it’s a one-of-a-kind masterpiece crafted by a world-renown designer. You can also feel secure in knowing that homes designed by Mark Stewart typically appreciate far beyond the average plan.