Design Build
Design and construction under one roof.
The model that connects how a renovation is designed to how it gets built, and the difference it makes to the finished result.
What Design Build Means
Design build brings planning and construction into one coordinated service. At ScaleBig, the designer and construction team develop the project together, so layout, materials, budget and build requirements are considered from the start.
Design build means design and construction happen under the same roof, by people who work together every day. At ScaleBig, our in house designer and construction team work together in a family run firm, in continuous conversation throughout every project. A dedicated project manager runs your job from start to handover, with one point of contact throughout. The approved drawings, selections and practical details remain connected as the project moves into construction.
Design and construction work together to resolve details early and carry the approved selections into the finished space.
Why Design Build Changes the Result
The benefits of design build aren't theoretical. They show up in concrete ways across every project.
Faster Decision Making
When a design question comes up mid build, a layout adjustment, a finish substitution, a structural workaround, the answer comes from the same firm that designed the project. Questions are reviewed by the team responsible for both design and construction, helping decisions move forward with the project details in view.
Fewer Surprises in Construction
Design and construction review layouts, materials and practical requirements together before drawings reach the site. This helps identify details that affect the scope, budget and sequence of work.
One Accountable Team
One firm coordinates the design and construction scope. You have a clear point of contact for decisions, questions and any issues that need to be resolved.
Renderings That Guide the Build
Photorealistic 3D renderings help you review the proposed layout, materials and finishes. The approved design package guides construction, with practical details reviewed by the team responsible for the build.
Tighter Cost Control
Design decisions drive most of the budget. When design and construction are in conversation from the start, cost implications are flagged as decisions are being made, not discovered when bids come back from contractors weeks later. Homeowners can adjust the design before it's locked, when adjustments are still inexpensive.
Coherent Material Selection
Tile, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, fixtures, hardware, lighting, and paint are selected together as one cohesive palette. The home reads as one designed space, not a collection of separately specified components.
What We Design
The scope of design at ScaleBig depends on the project. The items below are what the design phase typically includes, scaled to the size of the work.
Layout Development
Floor plans, space planning, and circulation. Multiple options developed and compared, with trade offs discussed openly so homeowners understand what each layout prioritizes.
Photorealistic 3D Renderings
Renderings of major spaces from multiple angles, showing material selections, lighting, and finishes to help you review the proposed space.
Architectural Drawings
Floor plans, elevations, sections, and details, produced at the level required for permit submission and trades coordination.
Engineering Coordination
For structural work, we coordinate with licensed Professional Engineers for stamped drawings and structural design.
Finish Selection
Flooring, tile, paint, countertops, backsplashes, hardware, fixtures, and lighting selected as a coordinated palette.
Cabinetry & Millwork Specification
Cabinet style, configuration, interior storage, custom millwork, built ins, and panel details specified before construction begins.
Fixture & Appliance Specification
Plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, appliances, and specialty hardware specified and confirmed for dimensions, connections, and lead times.
Lighting Plans
Recessed, accent, and feature lighting layouts coordinated with ceiling design, switch placement, and circuit planning.
Material Sourcing
Trusted supplier relationships for cabinetry, countertops, tile, flooring, and specialty materials, with quality and lead time managed through the design phase.
Construction Documentation
The complete design package that becomes the working reference for construction, drawings, specifications, schedules, and finish boards.
The Design Phase Process
Every design build project at ScaleBig follows the same design process. Timelines and depth vary by project scale.
- 01
Site Assessment
We meet with the homeowner to understand the project, the space, and what they're trying to achieve. We discuss how the space is used today, what isn't working, what's wanted, and the realistic scope of change.
- 02
Site Measure & Existing Conditions
Detailed measurements of the existing space, documentation of structural and mechanical conditions, and identification of opportunities and constraints that will shape the design.
- 03
Layout & Concept Development
Our in house designer develops initial layout options. These are discussed and refined with the homeowner before any rendering work begins. Layout is settled at the floor-plan level before moving to 3D.
- 04
Renderings & Finish Selection
Once layout is finalized, photorealistic 3D renderings are produced and finishes are selected, flooring, tile, cabinetry, countertops, fixtures, lighting, paint. The renderings are reviewed, adjusted, and approved.
- 05
Documentation & Drawings
Architectural drawings produced for permits and construction. Engineering drawings coordinated where required. Final specifications documented as the working construction package.
- 06
Construction Handoff
The design package transitions into construction without information loss, because the same firm is building from it. Construction begins from the same documents the homeowner approved.
How We Approach the Design Phase
The design scope, professional fees and responsibilities are explained before work begins.
Free Design Work
Design takes the full professional attention of our in house designer. Design consultations, renderings, and the full design package are offered as paid services with associated fees. Where homeowners proceed with construction, design fees are credited toward the project. The design fee covers professional planning, selections, renderings and documentation for the agreed scope.
Showroom Driven Selection
We don't send homeowners on multiple weekend trips to showrooms to make material decisions in isolation. Selection happens with our in house designer, in coordination, as part of the design package, so the choices read as one cohesive design rather than a collection of individually picked items.
Construction from the Approved Design
The approved design package guides construction. If site conditions or an approved change require an adjustment, we review its effect on the design, price and schedule before proceeding.
Rendering as Marketing
Renderings are a working tool for design decisions, not a marketing tool to win contracts. We produce them at the quality required for the homeowner to make confident decisions, not at a level intended to impress.
In House Design Coordination
Our in house designer is part of the firm and works directly with the construction team throughout the project.
Design Fees & How They Work
Premium design takes time, expertise, and tools. We're transparent about how design is priced and how the fees work.
Design Fees Are Quoted Per Project
Design fees are scoped against the project, its size, the number of rooms involved, the level of rendering required, and the documentation depth. They are presented as a fixed fee, not hourly.
Fees Are Credited Against Construction
When homeowners proceed with ScaleBig for construction, the design fees paid during the design phase are credited toward the final construction agreement. Homeowners who proceed are not paying twice.
Design Without Construction Is Available
Homeowners who want a complete design package without committing to ScaleBig for construction can purchase the design phase as a standalone service. In that case, design fees are not credited, they're the cost of the work delivered.
Design Fees Are Discussed Upfront
The design fee for a specific project is established during the site assessment, based on the scope being discussed. There are no surprise fees mid process.
Renderings Belong to ScaleBig Until Construction Signs
Drawings, renderings, and the design package are intellectual property of ScaleBig Construction until a construction agreement is signed. This protects the work from being taken to another contractor for execution, which is industry standard practice for design build firms.
When Design Build Is the Right Fit
Design build isn't always the right approach. It's worth being honest about when it fits and when it doesn't.
Renovations That Need Real Design
Projects where layout, finish coordination, and material selection meaningfully affect the result, kitchens, full bathrooms, basement apartments, full home renovations. Early design helps resolve layout, material and construction decisions before work begins.
Homeowners Who Want a Single Team
When the homeowner doesn't want to manage multiple firms, designer, architect, contractor, and prefers one accountable team handling the entire arc of the project.
Projects with Structural or Code Complexity
Projects involving load bearing changes, basement legalization, additions, or significant mechanical work benefit from design build coordination because design decisions affect engineering, which affects construction. The faster that feedback loop, the better the outcome.
When Design Build Is Not the Right Fit
For very small projects, like for like replacements with no layout change, or homeowners who already have completed architectural drawings from another firm, design build is typically more than the project requires. We're happy to discuss this honestly during the site assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with a site assessment.
Every project begins with a conversation, to understand what you're considering, review the space, and discuss whether design build is the right approach for your renovation.
Book a Free ConsultationOr call us at 647-289-2823