Our Process

EVERYTHING WE DO IS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF YOUR BUILD

At Nauta Home Designs, we’ve been creating custom home designs for over 30 years. Our proven process makes designing your home simple, structured, and stress free from start to finish. On our Process page, you’ll get a clear look at how we bring your vision to life and set your project up for a successful build.

Free Initial Consultation

At initial consultation, we meet with you to discuss your property information and your lifestyle requirements. We discuss your photos, notes and ideas and we develop an idea of your dream home.

Sketch & Concepts

We then create conceptual floor plan sketches based on the information we have received. These sketches portray the basic location of rooms and the desired style of the exterior of the home.

Design Proposal And Costs

After the initial consultation and concepts have been discussed we’ll prepare a quote for us to handle the design of your project. All of our quotes are Fixed Fee Contracts that include UNLIMITED design revisions. The quote will also outline various other services we can provide along with their respective pricing.

Our quote is a digital document that requires online signature through a 3rd party program. Once signed an invoice for the deposit will be sent to you, and upon payment we’ll begin working on your project!

Zoning Review & Site Plan

The first step in designing your project is to establish your property’s zoning and buildable footprint.

We get this data from local municipalities and then use a provided survey or online mapping to create a basic site plan. Determining the buildable footprint at the start of a design let’s us know up front what we’re dealing with and eliminates surprises at the end of a project. If zoning is a potential issue we will let you know as soon as we have a site plan drafted. Below are examples of our site plan and what a survey look like.

If your project is an addition/renovation then this is also the stage that we would arrange to measure up the existing building.

First Draft, Starting Point

With the buildable footprint determined, we can proceed with the first draft.

1. We begin the first draft where we take your sketches, photos, notes and ideas and put them o our CAD system as a floor plan concept.

2. We consider required rooms, dimensioning, square footage, width , depth, and exterior style while making sure we fit within your building footprint. Once the first draft is completed we then email it to you for review.

3. After you've had a chance to review , we then have a discussion or meeting to see if any major changes are required before we go further into the design. Please do not hesitate to contact us at this stage of the design with any questions/concerns/revisions you have.

Revisions

Once you have a chance to review the design , please email, call, or set up a meeting with us to discuss what you like, what you don’t like and what your unsure of.

1. That’s it! Simple and easy.

2. We make recommendations and revise the drawings.

3. Once the floor plan begins to take shape, we follow up with single line elevations, so you can see how the exterior of the house looks.

4. This process is repeated until the design, floor plan, elevations, room sizes, traffic flow, layout, room location, gross floor area and cost efficiencies are to yours and our satisfaction.

Detailed Revisions

The design has begun to take shape.

1. We add details to the floor plan such as fireplaces, ceiling styles, posts, decorative archways, stair styles, interior door styles, etc.

2. We add details to the elevations such as materials, trim, door styles, window styles, grill patterns, etc.

3. If the design does not require any further changes, let us know and we will finalize the drawings for permit.

4. Structural design and client budgets are always integrated into the design beginning with the first draft, so there will be no surprises at the end of the process.

5. Your blueprints will look exactly the same as the agreed upon design due to structural and architectural accuracy since the first draft.

Finalizing For Permit

We begin to finalize the drawings for permit.

We add all required structural and architectural notes, details and cross sections necessary for permit approval and construction.

The blueprints are printed and reviewed using our itemized checklist to ensure quality of blueprints for ease of permit approval and construction.

The blueprints are then signed and stamped with our BCIN number for your permit approval.

We provide you with a signed Schedule 1 Designer Form and a signed Energy Efficiency Designer Summary form.

PDF copies of your blueprints and documents are emailed to you.

6. You get 2 printed sets for permit submission and 4 printed sets after the permit is issued.

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Clients Say

I spoke to Hank years prior about a possible addition our family was planning. Hank stood out as honest and approachable. Although our timeliness and plans changed, when we were ready, Hank eagerly took our long awaited phone call.Hank and his entire team were so easy to work with. Hank really listened to what we wanted and talked us through our hesitations and many questions. The team was efficient and delivered on deadlines. We loved the design so much that we accepted their first draft proposal! Designer Justin kindly and quickly made a few adjustments for us a few weeks later without issue and made sure we had different options to choose from. Emily was always a pleasure to deal with in administration and accounting. I can’t thank everyone at Nauta enough for providing a design that will add value and function to our home, we would absolutely use their expertise in the future and highly recommend their service.

The Smith Family.

Hamilton, ON

I just wanted to thank you for providing Chad, Emily, and I with an amazing Project Management Team to help us through this huge venture. Ian and Dan's commitment to ensure quality work is evident in the selection of trades men and their attention to every detail pertaining to the build far exceeded my expectations, further making this undertaking a seamless process. We absolutely love our new home/Granny suite!

Catharine R.

Wainfleet, ON

As we are approaching the end of our renovation / addition, we'd like to pass on our 'thanks for a design very well done'. As you know, success is always based on good design and plans, and by the number of comments we've received, Nauta Home Design shares in those accolades - you have taken a standard 'survey' house and made it our custom home. The great room viewing the Niagara escarpment is most impressive. What we are most pleased with is how NHD was able to take our ideas for our lifestyle, and interpret that into a detailed design that works. The 'creative' process was actually enjoyable, as you helped guide us through and make good choices. Our builder, Homes By Hendriks, had no issues with the plans, and even with the changes we made along the way, you and Hendriks worked well to keep the project moving smoothly. Referrals are always the best method of choosing a designer; its how we found Nauta. We'd be pleased to show our home to any of your clients.

D & R H.

Grimsby, Ontario

We are so happy with our decision to work with you and the Nauta Team on our recent renovation project. Nauta Designs has truly unlocked the full potential of our home while respecting our budget by offering creativity and expertise while ensuring we maximize our return. My wife and I are sincerely grateful for your onsite support while dealing with the Halton Conservation Authority.Your experience and depth of knowledge during our discussion with them made the world of difference in getting the design approved. We would have been so disappointed otherwise. Thank you! True believer that the greatest compliment you can offer a service provider or sales individual is a referral. We have shared our positive experience with various acquaintances and loved ones who can't wait to see the final transformation; a few of which are looking to renovate their homes and plan to give you a call. I am confident that you will take great care of them as you have us!

Robert W.

Burlington, ON

Everything worked out great with our addition. We will send you some photos when we get a chance. We have taken lots along the way. People walking and driving by stop and admire the house often commenting to us on how good the house looks. They ask when are you moving in? No one can believe it is an addition.

J & L M.

I would recommend your firm to anyone building a home. I am still baffled at how many people have probably been declined their dream home because they didn't have your vision and tenacity for you clients.

Shirley E.

Jordan, ON

We are so happy with Nauta Home Design and how they helped transform our home. Hank was professional and had a vision as soon as he stepped on our property. We could not be happier with the end result. Thank you for being a part of the journey!

Maria B.

Beamsville, ON

Nauta Home Design provided quality work and consulting during the design and preparation of our homes garage & patio addition. Justin was great throughout providing continuous updates and tweaks to our drawings, answering questions and preparing us for the permit process. Greatly appreciated his work! I would recommend!

Jon W.

Port Colborne, ON

I’ve done several builds with the Nauta team over the last few years and will likely do several more. Each time Hank and his staff demonstrate a vast knowledge of the OBC, latest design trends, clear communication, offering professional advice and additional engineering when required. Hank has driven hours to meet myself and clients several times. Justin is always quick to respond and has made me feel backed and well supported throughout design approval/permit application process. Nauta truly designs with site conditions, architectural control guidelines, and client’s best interests in mind, making Nauta Home Designs my go to Architects for Custom home design.

Steve F.

Victoria Harbour, ON

We recently had the pleasure of working with Hank, Justin and the Nauta team.Each interecation we had was wonderful. From the first phone call and with every email or phone call between Hank and Justin. We worked with the Nauta team during Covid and we never felt as if the quality of service wavered. The Nauta team designed the perfect plans for our family and we are very satisfied with every aspect of the design. I think what I appreciated the most was that Hank understood this was our first time building and he always took the time to explain every aspect. He gave me knowledge of home building, defined terminology I did not understand and always listened to my concerns. We even had the team assist us with obtaining our permit which made the process much less stressful. With the help of the Nauta team we are on our way to building our dream home for our family!

Kimberley S.

Jordan, ON

We previously dealt with Justin on a new garage project. He walked us through all the steps from start to finish in designing a new garage to the actual drawings ready for permit. All of our change requests were handled immediately and with positive actions. I truly recommend Nauta Home Designs for all design & drawings you may need.

Sam C.

Thorold, ON

I am a repeat client with Nauta Homes. The did an excellent job with my plans and I thoroughly enjoyed working with Justin and Hank. They are extremely knowledgeable and provide fantastic support. I highly recommend them.

Anthony H.

Welland, ON

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