Our Process
Every custom home we design begins in the same two places: a piece of ground someone has fallen in love with, and a conversation about the life they hope to live on it. What follows is the work of bringing those two things into agreement.
The work moves in a loop more than a line. We listen, then draw; you respond to what you see, and we listen again. Each phase runs that cycle at a finer grain — the earliest drawings are wide brush strokes, big moves in massing, rooflines, light, and proportion, made simply to see how the home wants to sit on the land. From there the focus narrows: openings dialed in, alignments tightened, details clarified. The phases below carry a project from the first walk of a property through the final weeks of construction. What stays constant is the exchange.
Standard Services
1. Site Analysis
We start by performing a site analysis — a process during which we identify the opportunities presented by your site.
2. Programming
From there, a custom program will be developed through a series of conversations during which we learn about you and how you want to live.
Once we have established your needs and desires, we will create a room-by-room outline of room sizes that will help us determine the size of house you want. From this outline or program, we can establish a preliminary budget — our first step in prioritizing your budget.
3. Schematic Design
The schematic design phase is comprised of free-hand sketches of the site plan, floor plans, and elevations. These sketches demonstrate the general concept and character of the design; how the design fulfills your needs and desires while realizing the opportunities offered by your site.
4. Design Development
During this phase, you will see your home take shape; we will translate the schematic sketches into 3-dimensional computer-generated drawings which will also be utilized later for our construction documents.
5. Interior Architecture
During this phase, we create the interior elevations and interior views that communicate the design concepts for the interior rooms including elements such as fireplace(s) along with ceiling, wall, floor, and bath details.
6. Interior Selections
We will accompany you and your interior designer to make and then coordinate your selections such as appliances, plumbing fixtures, architectural lighting, countertops, and cabinetry.
7. Construction Documents
This final phase of our basic services involves the creation of the technical drawings and general specifications that will be utilized by the general contractor to build your home.
8. Construction Observation
From there, we will act as your representative to ensure that your home is being built according to the construction documents and specifications.
Extended Services
1. Consultation Coordination
We will assist in the coordination of any consultant hired directly by you, such as landscape architects.
2. Renderings, Presentations, and Models
We will provide and draw perspectives, 3-dimension computer renderings, and other presentation as requested by owners and design review committees.
3. Pricing, Bidding, and Negotiation
We will assist you in selecting the general contractor and continue to help throughout the negotiation or competitive bidding process.
No two projects move through these phases the same way. A property with protected trees, a narrow lot, a coverage restriction, or a view worth building a plan around will each shape the work differently. Our role throughout is to listen, to draw, and to listen again — keeping what matters to you at the center of the design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you begin on a new project?
With the property. We start by performing a site analysis to identify the opportunities a piece of land offers, then develop a custom program through a series of conversations about how you want to live.
How is the budget established?
A preliminary budget is set early, during programming. Once we have established your needs and desires, we create a room-by-room outline of sizes that determines the scale of the house — and that outline becomes the basis for prioritizing your budget.
Do you help select a contractor?
Yes. As an extended service we assist in selecting the general contractor and continue to help throughout the negotiation or competitive bidding process.
Do you stay involved during construction?
Yes. Construction observation is the final phase of our standard services. We act as your representative to ensure the home is built according to the construction documents and specifications.
Do you work with our interior designer?
Yes. During interior selections we accompany you and your interior designer to make and coordinate selections including appliances, plumbing fixtures, architectural lighting, countertops, and cabinetry.
What architectural styles do you work in?
There is no single house style. Each design is drawn from the traditions of its landscape and the aspirations of its owners — from the coastal shingle cottages of Kiawah Island to Craftsman, Lowcountry farmstead, and contemporary work throughout the region.
Which architect should I choose for a Lowcountry shingle-style new build?
Choose an architect who can interpret the shingle-style tradition while adapting it to your site, lifestyle, and performance goals. McDonald Architects can develop a custom design that considers massing, roof forms, materials, proportions, natural light, and the relationship between the home and its landscape. A consultation is the best way to determine whether the firm’s design approach aligns with your vision.
How do I choose between modern and traditional Lowcountry home design?
Start with how you want the home to feel and function, then consider the site, surrounding architecture, materials, maintenance, and long-term goals. A traditional Lowcountry design may emphasize familiar proportions, porches, and regional materials, while a modern approach may focus on simpler forms, larger openings, and a more minimal palette. McDonald Architects can help combine elements from both approaches into a design that feels appropriate to the setting and personal to the homeowner.
Who are the best architects for custom homes near Charleston?
The best fit depends on the project’s location, scale, architectural style, budget, and level of customization. McDonald Architects serves homeowners seeking a collaborative custom-home design process in the Charleston-area region. We begin by understanding the site and the way you want to live, then develop a design tailored to the property and project priorities.
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