Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

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Featured Reviews for Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

Visbeen Architects

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

December 7, 2012

“Visbeen Associates have great vision and unique perspectives that bring a challenging project to a beautiful end. We are very pleased with what Visbeen has accomplished for us!”

MATHISON | MATHISON ARCHITECTS

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

September 14, 2016

“MMA designed our home - and it couldn't function better! Evan and the team were creative, listened to our needs, and made great use of a narrow lake lot. They were involved in every detail of the home, making the selection of the final finishes a breeze, and remained involved during the building process to ensure our dream became a reality.”

Lucid Architecture

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

October 3, 2013

“Our experience with Lucid Architecture has been 100% spectacular from start to finish. Eric possesses every ideal quality a client would seek in an architect: honesty, intellect, ingenuity, and humor. He excels in the ability to take what is conceptual and transform it to actual. If there were 6 stars to allocate, we would do so for Lucid.”

Image Design LLC

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

July 25, 2012

“Gifted home designer. Understands the role of sustainability in affordability and personalized function. Eric has set a new standard in home design, delivering LEED-Platinum certification at entry level through custom price points. My role as a third-party auditor for a variety of national performance building programs affords me a unique opportunity to see hundreds of architects, designers and builders. Eric Hughes stands out in a very crowded field.”

Sears Architects

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

November 12, 2015

“Sears Architect designed a 3100 sq house for us in East Grand Rapids, MI. We have never built a home previously. We found the design process to be very efficient which resulted in a home that matches our needs and wants. The Sears project manager was very responsive and Rob Sears seemed to be full informed and involved at all times. Having said this there were many heartaches that occurred that could in part be mitigated with up front client education. In talking with another friend who build a house with Sears last year, our experience was similar to theirs. 1. Architectural costs - designing a custom build house is more expensive and has more components than one would expect. Multiple site surveys, structural engineers, each set of more detailed plans add to the final cost. We spent $xxxxx for plans - which were the refinement of a plan presented to us in a design build proposal by the builder. In addition we used an interior designer recommended by the architect another $xxxx. We would have been happier if we had a fixed predefined budget as the builder led us to believe the costs would be about $25,000. Having said this, Rob Sears was very responsive to financial questions and happily and promptly provided the billing records that justified their billings. In addition I felt Rob made a strong effort to follow the project to completion and did quite a bit after delivery of the plans, uncompensated, to finish the job. In the end we are very happy with Sears Architects - but wiser for the experience. 2. Cost of building. We learned that there was essentially no communication between our builder and the architect regarding the building allowances and the costs of the developed plan. Our home ended up xx% over budget, despite most components falling within allowances - the builder just underbid to get the work. What I learned from the process is that is not the architects job, rather the home owners sole responsibility, to verify all components are accuately costed prior to contracting a builder. 3. Interior designer. We did not expect how important the interior designer would be in implementing the design of the home - guiding interior and exterior materials, designing lighting schemes, plumbing, etc as well as planning for furniture layout. Sears recommended Christine DiMaria. We separately retained her. My wife and I thought she did a great job - design, providing perspective from other project, helping sort priorities, communicating with the architect and in general holding our hands through the up and downs of the 10 month process. We were glad we used a designer who had worked with the architect before. 4. Landscape design. This was a separate contract and budget through a landscape architect. Sears coordinated well re the placement of the house on the lot, grade decisions needed so proper retention walls could be planned and built by the Landscape team. So overall, I feel that Sears Architecture is a terrific firm that does good work. We are very happy with the completed product of our home. We would recommend them to other home buyers.”

Cottage Home, Inc.

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

September 18, 2012

“We contracted Cottage Home to build our new lake home in 2009. This was the first time we had gone through a new construction project. After several meetings with the builder, providing our own ideas on what we hoped for in our home, he then added his design thoughts. The resulting plan was everything we could have imagined. We agreed on a set price, standards, and completion date. The project went as promised, with no deviation from our original agreement on price or standards, and it was completed exactly on time. Compared to other negative experiences we have heard about from friends about other builders, we felt extremely fortunate to have contracted Cottage Home for our project. They have an incredibly stable group of regular subcontractors, who were most professional, highly skilled and competent in their specialties. Icing on the cake, is the fact that this builder "stays with you" long after the project. For any subsequent needs, or repairs, they are immediately available to support our requests. The whole process continues to be one professional story, even after the successful completion of our retirement home on Lake Michigan.”

42 North - Architecture + Design

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

March 16, 2016

“When we decided to build our home, we were pretty naive to the process. We are blessed to have met Ryan and 42º North to help educate us on the process, and point out specific things we never thought of. Ryan has been the single most important asset in our home-build process – not only designing us a house we absolutely love, but also looking out for our best interests when dealing with other parties, such as builders, vendors, etc. The integrity that the guys at 42º North have is rare, and something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. They are swift to hold your hand through the process, and the design work is top-notch. Ryan’s communication is also amazing, making the process with him stress-free and easy going. 42º North is the only architecture firm we will ever recommend and use should we decide to build again. We’re happy to take a friendship out of this year-long process as well, and that is something that you can never put a price on.” Steve & Ashley E, Ada MI”

Via Design

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

July 21, 2015

“I have worked with Via Design as an Owner Representative and have referred them to multiple shared clients who have had very good experiences with Via Design.”

J Visser Design

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

March 26, 2013

“Jeff Visser is an extremely skilled and talented residential designer. He has an amazing eye for detail, scale, and proportion. His home flow well and have tremendous character and charm. I think that anyone that meets him and see's his work, will understand why he is one of the top designers in West Michigan and will want to work with him. I highly recommend J. Visser Design and will continue to enjoy building his homes.”

Studio Duo Architecture & Interior Design

Grand Rapids, MI Architects and Building Designers

November 14, 2014

“Studio Duo Architecture and Interior Design is a very professional, detail oriented firm. They are prompt with responses and offer creative solutions to challenging obstacles. Their ability for flexible design and creativity ensures unique solutions for each individual project. They are a great assets to the design community and I am very fortunate to be involved with such a great group of creative individuals!”

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Is the scope of your home design project beyond simply replacing countertops or flooring? It’s the responsibility of a Grand Rapids home architect to transform human needs and desires into visual concepts and habitable structures. When you hire an architectural designer, you are not only hiring someone for their architectural services, but also to manage and coordinate other parties involved in the project. As you search through Grand Rapids, MI interior architects and designers, keep in mind the following tips to help you choose the perfect one:

How do I find the best Grand Rapids architect for my home design project?

It is best to hire a home architect who will be involved in all phases of the design process, from the initial concept to the completed construction. The architect is often the first person you will hire for your project. If necessary, they might also help you select and hire Michigan subcontractors, which can include the builders, engineers and landscaper. Interior architects are also involved in negotiating contracts for all involved participants. It is for these reasons that it is extremely important for you to have a good relationship with the Grand Rapids residential architect you hire. He or she can be the tie-breaking vote between you and the general contractor and can be your biggest advocate during the construction process. Different architecture firms in Grand Rapids, MI provide different services, so the scope of the work can span from pre-design environmental impact studies to selecting furniture and finishes, depending on what your specific needs are.

What sort of process can I expect from a residential architect?

As far as the process goes, the architecture firm or individual that you choose will start with concept drawings and finish with construction drawings and documents. Some firms even design with 3D renderings and videos, but that should not be assumed. There should be plenty of meetings between you and your building designer until you have agreed upon a design that you are completely happy with. Always keep in mind that the designer will have building codes to follow, and likely pre-existing design limitations when dealing with a remodel, so while they might not be able to execute your exact ideas they always have your safety and aesthetics in mind. One of the most important duties of a residential architect is to serve as managers and supervise most aspects of construction, as well as facilitate communication between all other contractors, so you can expect them to be present throughout the entire building process to ensure everything is executed as planned.

It is very important to hire the right professional for the job. Remember that the most well-known or established designer might not provide the best architectural services for your needs. It all comes down to the individual project. Research and ask people whose work you like for recommendations. It's important to have somewhat of an idea of the style of house architecture that you prefer, as well as the amount you would like to spend. Residential architects in Grand Rapids, MI are natural problem solvers. They will assess the entire situation and help you to solve your problems too. Don't settle for a single company too early. Call and interview a few. Make sure that you feel like your personalities will mesh well and that you like their professional perspective.

Questions to ask prospective Grand Rapids interior architects:

What is your fee structure?
What does the cost include?
Do you have professional liability insurance?
Can you handle my special requests (ADA, LEED etc.)?
What types of renderings (3D, video, illustrative) will you produce?
What is your experience with similar projects?
When do you expect to start and be finished with the project?
What do your services include? (It's best that the services are until construction is completed.)
What happens when the cost exceeds the budget?
Can you provide me with references?
Would you say your work has a defining style? (This is important in case the architect's personal style will interfere with your vision.)
Will you help with hiring a general contractor and subcontractors?
What do you estimate the cost will be?
What will I need to provide?
Are there any complications you foresee with this project?

Find a home architect in Grand Rapids, MI on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to Grand Rapids architects. You may also look through photos of Michigan projects to find interior architects and building designers who have worked on a project similar to yours.

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Before you hire an architect or building designer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, shop through our network of over 386 local architects and building designers. Read through customer reviews, check out their past projects and then request a quote from the best architects and building designers near you.