Frequently Asked Questions

Until you find yourself lost in the maze of design options, building codes, zoning laws, contractors, and so on – it’s difficult to imagine just how complicated it is to build. No two building projects are exactly alike, so there is no single, clear-cut path to follow.

Architects are trained to solve problems in creative ways. Whether you need room for a growing family or for a growing business, by employing an architect you can save money on your project, make life easier, and end up with a result that meets your needs and your budget.

Architecture, unlike interior design or construction, is a licensed profession. To become an architect, an individual must obtain a five-year professional bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from an accredited college, participate in at least a three-year internship program, and pass a rigorous exam that covers a comprehensive range of issues faced in the building process. 

- Reprinted from AIA Triangle website

1. Peace of mind

Your decision to embark on a project can be smooth, well planned, and thoughtfully executed, if guided by a professional who can help you navigate the rough and uncertain terrain. Knowing that every journey has its unexpected bumps and turns, no one would disagree that having the right professional to help you navigate the process is common sense. Just as you would not expect your doctor to prescribe a medication for you without first diagnosing your illness, likewise it is very risky to begin design without first choosing an architect who knows how to establish your project’s unique objectives and parameters. 

2. Investment

You invest in things that are important to you. Your home is probably the largest financial investment you will make. Why would you spend thousands of dollars on a project without engaging a professional who knows how to maximize your investment? That is just silly. Architecturally designed homes have been proven to command more money and possess more value than homes created without architects. 

When you look at the fees of an architect, you are not paying for a quickly achieved skill. The depth of knowledge that architects have carefully and intentionally developed through many rigorous years of training results in our ability to craft your project’s function, engineering, and artistry into a fully integrated solution. A well-designed project maintains its value over time. On the contrary, a poorly thought out design solution will cost you more in the long run than hiring a professional that knows the right means and methods to skillfully and successfully navigate the road of a new build project or a high-quality renovation. 

“If you think hiring an expert is expensive, wait till you hire an amateur.” – Red Adair

3. Distinction and being distinguished

Architecturally designed homes possess unique features that give distinction to each client’s unique needs and aesthetic tastes. The architecture can be inspired by the client’s favorite piece of art or it can be inspired by their favorite hobby or sport. The design can be inspired by location or capturing certain views. For some clients, their home is a status symbol that reflects their personality. Careful consideration must be given to the look and feel of the home including the curb appeal, the interior flow of the home, and its relationship to the outdoor space.

Working with a licensed architect means elevating your project from basic design to expert execution. Unlike self-proclaimed “designers,” a licensed architect has completed a rigorous 5+ year accredited architectural degree, fulfilled a multi-year apprenticeship, and passed extensive licensing exams. These credentials ensure expertise in design, construction systems, structural principles, and health and safety regulations.

As a licensed architect, Dawn Christine brings not only artistic vision but also deep technical knowledge, professional responsibility, and the legal authority to seal drawings for permits and construction. This level of professional accountability and education sets us apart and ensures your home is both beautiful and well constructed.

At Dawn Christine, Architect PLLC, we believe that exceptional homes are born from a thoughtful, layered journey. Our DCA Signature Design Process is a curated, multi-phase approach that guides each project from initial inspiration to final construction with clarity, creativity, and precision.

This proprietary process unfolds in a series of well-defined stages, beginning with high-level visioning and progressively zooming into the fine details—just as an artist builds a canvas, layer by layer. We consider structure, space, light, materiality, and meaning at every turn, ensuring each layer is cohesively integrated with the next.

Collaboration is at the heart of this process. Your input isn’t just welcomed—it’s essential. We design each home as if it were our own, and when our clients light up with excitement, we know we’ve done our job.

A comprehensive overview of our DCA Signature Design Process is shared upon booking your Initial Consultation.

There are many variables that effect how long the process takes, therefore we cannot give an exact timeline. However, a fast-track project can be ready for construction in 2-3 months, and the quicker you can make decisions on the design options and information we present to you, the faster the process usually goes.

Initial Consultation: We offer a $200 initial in-office or virtual consultation. On-site consultations start at $400 and vary based on location. Schedule your consultation.

A thoughtful touch—when you join us for your in-person consultation, you’ll receive a special gift as a token of appreciation from Dawn. It’s our way of welcoming you into the design experience and celebrating the beginning of something truly personal and inspired.

Professional Service: After the initial consultation, we bill our clients on an hourly basis. Therefore, the total cost will depend upon the overall scope of your project. Some cost estimates can be given at your initial consultation with Dawn once she has been able to review the specifics of your project. 

Pre-Designed Home Plans: We have a small amount of pre-designed home plans are also available with a starting cost of $5,500 per set. We can also alter any of our stock plans in order to customize them for you at an additional cost on an hourly fee basis, but this often costs more than expected due the ripple effects of design changes. Custom design creates a seamless design and design experience that results in a far superior finished product.

1. You should have a basic idea of the general cost of construction in your local area. You can talk to contractors and ask them to give you a ballpark idea of the costs associated with construction.

2. You should determine a comfortable budget for your project which should include construction costs, design fees, landscaping, and furniture as well as an extra 10%-15% for contingency costs. Contingency costs can be unexpected items like soil conditions being different than expected, buried debris can be found requiring extra excavation and clearing, an undisclosed waterline could be hit, etc. Other types of contingency costs can be upgrades. You may decide you need additional systems, security systems, smart home features, land irrigation, etc.

Yes, we can! Dawn works on a consulting basis to give general recommendations for design possibilities, space layout, material selection and more. Schedule a consultation to get the specific answers you need to move forward with your project.

Yes, we do! Please schedule an in-office initial consultation to review our available pre-designed plans. If you end up purchasing a set of our plans, we will credit the $200 initial consultation fee towards the cost of your plans.

We can review plans by others to help determine your needs and wants, however, we are unable to alter your existing plans due to copyright and legal issues. If this is something you desire, we highly recommend you consider one of our own pre-designed home plans which we are able to alter in order to customize it for your specific needs and desires, however, we have a limited number of designs and they are site specific requiring a lot of changes to fit your needs and wants.

Please note: We specialize in full-service architectural design for new construction and transformative renovations with build budgets of $600,000 or more. We are not currently accepting small-scale projects with minimal design scope unless they meet our high-design interior standards.

A good architect will not simply translate a client’s sketch into final architectural drawings. An experienced architect who cares about giving their client the best project possible, will analyze and evaluate the client’s sketch to get a better understanding of what their client wants or needs. This analysis and evaluation is imperative to laying a good foundation for design. Most often, a client does not have the experience of an architect who is well practiced in harmonizing various conflicting elements into a successful whole. If the architect simply translates a client’s sketch, the project will be based on how the client understands form, function, structure, geometry, and spatial integration instead of the architect. This will limit the architect from producing the best possible solution for their client.

Yes, we do have some contactors, engineers and consultants that we have worked with on a regular basis. Once we develop a preliminary drawing set for you, we will connect you to our network to obtain preliminary estimates for your project. We are also willing to work with contractors and engineers that you have already selected.