Answered honestly,
before you reach out.

We start with understanding — not with drawings. Before a line is sketched, we spend time learning how you actually live, what you value, and what you want your home to support. Through our Discovery Workbook and an in-depth pre-design conversation, we surface what matters most — including the things you may not yet have the words for. That understanding becomes the foundation for every design decision that follows. Most clients say this early stage is where the project becomes theirs.

You work directly with Jesse at every stage. We are intentionally a small practice — no hand-offs to junior staff, no disappearing after permit submission. The person you meet in the discovery call is the person who draws your home, manages your permit, and walks your project during construction. That's a deliberate choice, not a limitation.

Our primary service area is Boulder County and the Front Range — Lafayette, Louisville, Boulder, Superior, Longmont, Broomfield, Erie, and surrounding communities. We know these municipalities deeply: their building departments, permit timelines, contractor networks, wildfire concerns, and Front Range climate conditions. We consider projects outside this area on a case-by-case basis.

We work across custom homes, whole-home renovations and additions, ADUs, and high-performance design. We also take select commercial projects with a strong community dimension — see the Lafayette North Public Market as an example. We bring the same level of care and design intelligence to every scale. We are best suited for clients who value a thoughtful process, clear communication, and a higher level of design and documentation.

Many ADUs in Boulder County and nearby Front Range communities benefit from architectural oversight because zoning, setbacks, parking, utilities, energy code, and neighborhood context can quickly become complex. An architect can help determine what is feasible before you invest heavily in drawings, engineering, or permitting — and can design an ADU that genuinely adds livability and long-term value to your property.

A licensed architect is legally qualified to design, coordinate, and stamp architectural drawings for projects that require professional oversight. Designers and draftspeople may help with layouts or drawings but do not carry the same licensure, training, or responsibility. For custom homes, additions, ADUs, and complex renovations in Colorado, working with an architect typically means stronger design direction, clearer documentation, and better coordination through permitting and construction.

Yes. The discovery call is 30 minutes, costs nothing, and carries no obligation. We use it to understand your project, give you an honest picture of what's possible, and determine together whether we're the right fit.

Architectural fees for custom homes typically range from 5–10% of construction cost, depending on scope, complexity, and the services included. Renovations and smaller projects are often structured as a flat fee or hourly rate. We discuss fees openly during the discovery call and provide a clear proposal before any engagement begins. No surprises.

In our experience, yes — and for reasons beyond the design. Thorough architectural documents reduce contractor ambiguity, which directly reduces change orders and cost overruns during construction. An architect who stays involved through construction catches problems before they become expensive. A well-designed, well-documented home is also easier for contractors to price accurately, easier to build, and more likely to hold long-term value.

Construction costs in Boulder County currently run approximately $350–$600+ per square foot for custom residential work, depending on materials, finishes, and site conditions. High-performance or Passive House construction adds roughly 5–15% to that baseline but recovers costs over time through energy savings and durability.

Absolutely — and we'd rather do it early than late. One of the most valuable things we do in the discovery call is give clients an honest read on whether their budget, goals, and timeline are aligned. If they're not, we tell you clearly and help you understand what's achievable.

You don't need to have a contractor selected before beginning with us. On many projects, we intentionally help clients bring the right builder into the process early — so that design, budget, constructability, and decision-making evolve together rather than sequentially. Early contractor involvement often produces better outcomes and fewer surprises. If you've already selected someone you trust, we're glad to work with them. If you haven't, we can help you identify, interview, and evaluate builders whose work and values align with the project.

As involved as you want to be. Our process begins with a Discovery Workbook that draws out your lifestyle, values, and priorities — surfacing what matters most before a single line is drawn. We present ideas collaboratively, not as finished pronouncements. Some clients want to review every detail; others prefer to trust the process and make key decisions at milestones. We adapt to how you work best.

Changes during construction are normal — they're just more expensive than changes during design. Our process is specifically structured to make as many decisions as possible before construction begins, which dramatically reduces the frequency and cost of changes. When changes do arise, we review them quickly and help you decide whether they're worth making.

Passive House is a rigorous building performance standard focused on superior insulation, airtightness, high-quality windows, and mechanical ventilation — resulting in a home that uses 60–90% less energy than a conventional build. Jesse is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson (CPHT) — trained across the full spectrum from code compliance through full Passive House certification. You don't need full certification to benefit from these principles — we integrate them at whatever level makes sense for your goals and budget.

Full Passive House certification typically adds 5–15% to construction cost upfront — recovering through dramatically lower operating costs, better durability, and higher resale value. In Colorado's climate, high-performance construction also provides real resilience against wildfire smoke, temperature swings, and rising energy costs.

Yes, and increasingly this is a critical consideration for Front Range projects. Wildfire-resilient design involves material choices (non-combustible siding and roofing, tempered glass), strategic landscaping setbacks, ember-resistant vents, and careful attention to deck and eave details. We integrate these considerations from the earliest design stages.

Yes. We prepare and submit all permit documentation, respond to plan review comments, coordinate with the municipality, and track the permit through to issuance. Permitting in Boulder County can be complex — each municipality has different requirements, timelines, and review processes. We know them well and handle the complexity so you don't have to. See our full seven-phase process.

Yes. We have relationships with builders throughout Boulder County whose work, communication, and craftsmanship we know well, and we're happy to recommend contractors who we believe are a good fit for your project.

You don't need to have a contractor selected before beginning with us. In fact, we often help clients bring the right builder into the process during design rather than waiting until the drawings are complete. Early collaboration allows design, budget, constructability, and scheduling to evolve together, resulting in better decisions and fewer surprises during construction.

For some projects, a competitive bid process is still the right approach, and we're happy to guide clients through contractor selection and bid review when that best serves the project.

We remain actively involved through construction: visiting the site regularly, reviewing work, answering contractor RFIs, and checking that the design intent is being honored. When issues arise — and they will — we respond quickly with clear direction. Our construction background means we understand both the design and the buildability of every solution we propose. See how we handle construction administration.