If you have a million to build, then I would hire a few different designers to help. No reason to diy the design if you have the funds.

Get an Architect. Be clear on the budget. Think long and hard on interior wish list, number of bedrooms, baths, etc. A million dollars almost ANYWHERE..... will not go nearly as far as you think it will, in a new build.

That is a sad fact. But a good architect can go a long way to make your dreams come true. You however have to be realistic about what are your wants but above all what are your needs as you move forward. Do you already own the plot the house will sit on? If not that will be the first step since homes are designed often to fit a certain plot of land .

Stop dreaming and start doing. Hire architect.

One $mil wouldn't even buy the lot for my dream house... everyone's dream is different. Hire an architect.

I sure wish we could help you, we've done some projects in BC, but not in Washington state. I'd start by looking at Olson Kundig's website and focusing on the beautiful, raw aesthetic he creates in his homes. You probably won't afford them, but lots of great firms in your area will be plenty cognizant of their work and familiar with working in such materials - board-formed concrete, steel, etc...

Look here on Houzz at architects work - that are local to YOUR area. Once you see 3 you like then interview all of them. Find out about their process, past work, look up articles here about the questions to ask, you will know who you want to work with after you go through that first part of the process.

As everyone is saying, this really depends on where you live. A million bucks here in brooklyn would barely buy you a 20x100' lot.

A million won't buy you a lot in Vancouver! Sad state of affairs. But depending on what you want to build and where a million would work.

A Tiny Home, maybe? But not the lot to park it on. :-/

I think it all depends on where you want to build . I live in a beautiful small town in B.C. Canada where you could build your dream home for a million no problem.

In Vancouver BC, $1M buys you a "tear down" ($900,000 for a 100 year old condemned home in East Vancouver...I ain't lyin' here!)...and then you still have to spend money to tear it down. The purchase + rebuild = $2.4M- $3Mby the time you sign the last cheque.

Find the architect that you LIKE and then start with your budget and a wish list. An architect will cost UP FRONT...but they will save the same amount in fees by the end of the build. Yes. It hurts to sign over $100K to them...but they will SAVE YOU the same (if not a snick more) by the end of the build. It's like getting their services for free.

Good luck. And congratulations on your up coming project.

Cancork one million won't even buy you a tear down anymore! More like 1.4 and up.