Architectural floorplans are (typically) the first thing you will do for your home extension or renovation. If the entire design and build journey is a marathon, you are just leaving the ‘start-line’ and beginning your run. In London and Brighton, you have probably already discovered that there are hundreds of companies that cover the design and build process and all of them are unique from one another. There is no right way to go about things, it all comes down to your personal preferences and budget. We have perfected our process to keep things flexible for you, offering a spilt design and build phase. This gives you all the benefits of having a builder there (if you want them), while maintaining the ability to get comparative costs for the build phase. 

With so many different companies out there with such different service scope, we thought we would explain more about what we include within our architectural floorplans and why. We came up with this topic because one of our recent clients came to us having gone through the architectural design phase and planning permission stage with another company. She wasn’t happy with her design and wanted to re-start with a company that really ‘designed’ the home – enter – Home Tales.

We offer two crucial items within our architectural design phase which we feel really drive our successful designs.

The first is unlimited amendments. We offer unlimited amendments within our service because it is crucial you do not rush or feel limited in the designs that you want to explore. Ideas are very abstract in your mind and it’s only once we get them on paper that you can understand if they work or not. Our clients frequently experiment with different sizes too – for example – we had a client who initially thought they wanted to extend to the side and rear, creating a wraparound extension. We showed the client various design options which included both the side and rear extension, but also just the side extension. Once on paper, it became clear to them that the side extension gave them plenty of room and encompassed everything they needed, which meant they could keep that valuable outdoor space and keep the budget down.

The second of our crucial items is the details that we show in your floorplans. We believe it’s critical to understand how the space is going to work and that requires details on the floorplans. We show your kitchen, oven, island, dining table, sofa, cupboards – you name it. We have put dressing areas, bedside tables, lights and dog beds on floorplans. No detail is too small! It’s really helpful to have these details drawn in as you can understand how the space will flow and function in reality. If there is a gap that looks too narrow or an awkward space that isn’t being used utilised properly this can be identified and fixed before finalising the design. This also helps further down the line as it reduces the risk of changing your mind. If you change your mind during the build phase that can have hefty consequences for your budget and it could potentially delay the build phase too.

3D Renders

You can go a step further and use our 3D render service. 3D renders are incredible and basically show you a finished photo of your future extension. This can be handy if you are struggling to visualise the 2D floorplan and want to understand how the project will look in its final form. These 3D renders are a bolt-on to our standard design package.

In addition to our architectural design phase we also offer a planning service and a building regulations pack. Our typical bundle encompasses all three stages, but you can select them individually too. The planning stage gains the relevant approval from your local council. The building regulations pack includes your detailed drawings which show the structural elements and details of the proposal. This is important for your builder and building control officer.

If you would like to discuss your project in more detail we would be delighted to speak to you. Our initial consultations enable us to understand more about your project and explain how we work. Following the consultation we issue you with a quote for the work. Get in touch with our team on 0207 043 2378 or email us at hello@hometales.co.uk. Alternatively we do have a fab live diary which enables you to book a consult instantly.