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Home Design Guide

One of the first questions people ask an architect is how do I get started? How do I begin to articulate what I want in my project? The process of designing a new home or addition can be overwhelming. There are so many decisions to make that it may be hard to know where to begin. At Chris Doehrmann Architect we start at the beginning. We first get to know who you are and what is important to you. To assist in that process we have developed our Home Design Guide. The Home Design Guide is a series of questions aimed at helping you communicate your hopes and dreams for your project. Step by step, space by space, room by room you will be able to start communicating the styles you like, the features you want, and how you see yourself living in your new home.

We also encourage you to keep a binder of clippings from magazines of different features you like and even of some you don’t. As we go through the design guide with you and see the things that you like, we begin to formulate a vision of your style and priorities. The guide helps us to ask the right questions so we can design a home that compliments your lifestyle and reflects your personal tastes. Download the Home Design Guide with our compliments or fill out our online form fill out our online form to start your journey today.

Services Brochure

No two clients or projects are alike. To respond to your unique needs, our services and fee structures are flexible: hourly or fixed fee based on your project’s scope and the level of service you need. Take a look at our Services Brochure and you can determine what level of service that is most appropriate for your project: Design, Builder Set, or Bid Set. Read More… Hide

Our Services

Chris Doehrmann Architect is a residential architecture studio founded on the belief that home design is more about the individual client than the architect they hire. For us it is not simply a diversion from our commercial work. It is our passion. Chris personally designs each home, lake home, cabin, addition, and renovation providing the individual service that makes creating a vision for your project fun and exciting.

Our Process

Designing a home is a process whose success pivots on communication between owner and architect. Through a series of conversations, your dreams will be transformed into reality. Step by step, you will see a new vision of your home develop as Chris guides you from concept through construction.

Flexible Services

No two clients or projects are alike. To respond to your unique needs, our services and fee structures are flexible: hourly or fixed fee based on your project’s scope and the level of service you need. We can help you determine the level of service that is most appropriate for your project.

Design – What To Build

Design provides you with the assistance you need to define what your project will include, but not the detail required to build it. As your architect, we will help you identify your unique characteristics, priorities and style, translating them into space, function and form.

Through a series of conversations, using sketches and models, you will see your dreams evolve into a design that exceeds your expectations.

Builder Set – Basic Construction Drawings

The Builder Set provides the same services as Design, but in addition it offers the basic construction drawings required to obtain a building permit and communicate the design intent to the contractor.

This option requires your significant involvement during construction to make decisions and answer questions from your contractor as they arise.

Bid Set – Detailed Construction Documents

The Bid Set, in addition to Design and basic construction drawings, provides the detailed construction documents needed to fully communicate the design and specific construction details to the contractor.

The Bid Set also allows you to obtain accurate and comparable bids from multiple contractors. If necessary, we can assist you in selecting a reputable builder that is best suited for your type of project.

Architectural Fees

We’ll work initially at an hourly rate or on a fixed-fee basis depending upon your project parameters and service level required. Before you start your project, you will receive a detailed proposal outlining the level of service you have requested and the fees associated with that service level. Many firms base their fees on a percentage of construction cost. Although our fees are initially based on estimated construction costs, usually 7-12%, once established, your fee will not change if the scope of your project and level of service remain the same.

Additional Services

In addition to architectural design and construction documentation, there are Additional Services that you may want or need to accomplish the vision for your home. We can provide or coordinate services in the following areas: construction observation, interior design, landscape architecture, lighting design and structural engineering.

Our Mission…

is to assist you in creating the home that is uniquely you. We believe a home should compliment your lifestyle and reflect your personal tastes. We will help you create new life in your existing home or envision a dream that becomes reality in your new home, and walk with you along the way to make the process fun and effective.

Your Home…

is one of the most important investments you will ever make. Your decisions will not only impact its future value, but more importantly your present quality of life. The design process should be fun and the results rewarding. Make the most of your investment and call us today!

How to Avoid Renovation Mistakes

No one wants to make mistakes that can be avoided especially when it comes to your home improvement project. Your home is the one of the most important investments you will ever make. The wrong decisions can affect your home’s value and your family’s quality of life. Don’t take any chances. View our complimentary Guide For Avoiding Renovation Mistakes, to help you through the process, and Contact Chris to put our experience to work for you today.

How to Start a New Home Build in Minneapolis

Designing and starting a custom new home build in Minneapolis, or another metropolitan area, is like no other purchase you will make. You can’t just point to what you want and order it. Instead, you need to engage in a creative process with a team of professionals, including a custom home architect and custom home builder, to help you design and complete a custom new home build that responds to your lifestyle and reflects your personal tastes. You will also need to navigate through the increasingly more complex process of working with the City of Minneapolis for zoning and building permit approval. View our complimentary Guide For Building a New Home in Minneapolis to get a better understanding of the process. Or Contact Chris to talk to Chris about the best path forward on your project today.

Contractor Selection Guide

Hiring a contractor without references or a referral from someone you know and trust can end in disaster. Whether the economy is boom or bust, start up construction companies are everywhere, some with little more than a pickup truck and a business card. A contractor can take your money without performing the work or simply do a bad job that will require you to hire someone else to fix it. Always check a contractor’s references and see some of the work he has completed before hiring him.

You should look for a contractor who has experience in the type and size of project you are planning. You may know a contractor who does wonderful kitchen and bathroom renovations but has little experience adding a second level to an existing rambler. You want a contractor who does what you want to do. If you value quality design and hire an architect to design your addition or renovation, you should look for a contractor who has experience working with architects or architecturally designed homes. You want to make sure that the contractor you hire can actually build what you and your architect have designed. Use the Contractor Selection Guide to help you determine if a specific contractor is right for you.