The Process

Designing a custom home can be daunting.

At Lucid Design Studio, I'm committed to making this journey as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Every step is clear, collaborative, and tailored to your needs.

I provide the necessary guidance and support throughout the process, ensuring your dream home becomes a reality without the unnecessery stress.

Initial Enquiry

First, I will ask you to fill out the Project Enquiry Form. Then, we'll have a brief phone call or in-person meeting to assess your project's feasibility and see if we're a good fit to work together. If everything aligns, I'll provide you with a fixed fee proposal for the Sketch Design.

Sketch Design

We begin the process with an in-depth consultation to better understand your vision, wants, and needs. From there, I prepare a detailed design brief outlining the project's aspects for the initial design phase. If it hasn't already been done, I arrange for a Feature and Contour Site Survey.

A site visit is conducted to identify notable features or site restrictions that might impact the design. I then review local authority requirements and check for any restrictive covenants or easements on the block.

Based on these investigations, I create a Sketch Design package that usually includes a 3D perspective, site plan, and floor plans featuring room names and sizes, loose furniture locations for key spaces, ceiling heights, dropped ceiling/bulkhead locations, and considerations for services such as air-conditioning and plumbing.

I will present the design and guide you through it, explaining how the plans have evolved and the rationale behind each decision. After our meeting, you'll have time to review the design and consider any modifications needed to ensure the home functions seamlessly with your family dynamic.

Design Development

The Sketch Design is refined based on your feedback. Updated floor plans will include information such as the extent of built-in cabinets, the location of plumbing fixtures and fittings, appliances, and other internal and external services.

To help you better understand and visualise the overall development, external elevations and additional 3D perspectives are generated. We will then arrange a meeting to present the Design Development package and conduct a 3D walkthrough of the entire project, covering both external and internal areas.

Planning Permit

Informal meeting is arranged with the Local Authorities’ planning officer to introduce the project and discuss any requested concessions. From this meeting, we determine if any changes are to be made prior to finalising the Planning Permit drawings. 

Additionally, I prepare a report outlining any variations to the Residential Codes that we aim to justify based on the Design Principles. Acting as your applicant, I lodge the Planning Application with the local council and handle any queries or requests for information on your behalf.

Estimation Package

Planning approval process typically takes between two to three months, therefore we utilise this time to get some cost estimates from potential builders.

I update the drawing and produce a more detailed package suitable for a cost of works estimate by a qualified builder (or quantity surveyor engaged by you). Key features and materials are specified throughout the documents, with additional drawings including cross-sections, a door and window schedule, and 3D perspectives of wet areas and built-in cabinetry.

At this stage, you have the option to:

  • Work with one of our selected builders who may be able to offer a fixed fee contract for documentation and construction

  • Take the drawings to a builder of your choice

  • Engage Lucid Design Studio to produce full working drawings ready for construction