Overview of Pippin's Renovation Services
Every renovation project is as unique as the homeowners living in it!
The following outlines the methods that have guided our 92+ award-winning homes over the past four decades.
Discovery Call – Let’s Talk
We begin each project with a conversation. During this call, we learn about your vision for your renovation, answer your initial questions, and share our decades of experience to help guide you confidently forward on your design journey.
Site Visit Consultation – Let’s Meet
Every renovation begins with a clear understanding of how your home can better support your life. During the Site Visit, Jenny meets with you at your home for a focused, collaborative Consultation to identify the specific areas of the home to be renovated and/or added onto to clarify how you want the space to function, feel, and support you moving forward.
She will walk through the home with you, discussing what is and isn’t working, how spaces are currently used, and where improvements can enhance daily living. Together, you will explore layout opportunities and challenges, access to natural light and views, and opportunities to improve flow, comfort, and functionality. Jenny also evaluates site conditions, potential structural considerations, and constraints that may influence design decisions.
This conversation goes beyond aesthetics. Jenny seeks to understand your lifestyle, routines, and long-term needs so the renovated home supports how you live today and in the future. Topics may include wellness, accessibility & aging-in-place considerations, and ways your home can be improved to foster ease & comfort, connection, and overall wellbeing.
With more than 40 years of experience, Jenny offers real-time insights and possibilities while taking detailed notes to guide the design process. This on-site meeting typically lasts 1.5 – 2hrs. and provides valuable clarity, helping you understand what is possible and setting a strong foundation for the design ahead.
Design Questionnaire – Let’s Learn
After your Site Visit, we’ll send a link to our Design Questionnaire. This in-depth discovery tool helps us understand how you live, what matters most in your daily routines, and how you want your home to function over time. It allows us to align early on priorities, preferences, and investment goals – creating a clear foundation for a focused, intentional, and highly personalized design process.
Agreement – Let’s Make it Official
Once your Design Questionnaire has been submitted, we’ll send a detailed agreement outlining the scope and fees for your project. This contract will also explain all terms of our agreement. Once the contract is signed and your Phase I retainer is received, we’ll add your project to our design queue.
All agreements differ greatly due to the nature of each individual custom project scope, therefore the potential fees for our services vary based on your unique project requirements.
Note: Agreements do not include drawings. Much more information is needed before we’re able to begin designing your home.
Design Phases – Let’s Start Design
PHASE I: AS-BUILT DRAWINGS
The As-Built Drawings process involves two distinct stages that document the existing structure accurately before the Conceptual Design Phase begins:
Stage 1 – Laser Scan / Field Measurement
This stage captures precise measurements of the existing home using a 3D laser scanning company to collect the field data. The laser scanner collects and records millions of measurements of all visible structural and architectural details, ensuring we have an exact representation of current conditions.
Stage 2 – CAD Drafting / As-Built Drawings
The data collected from the scans is then used to create detailed As-Built Drawings in CAD. These drawings represent the home as it currently exists and typically include all structures scanned:
- Floor Plan(s)
- Exterior Elevations
- Roof Plan
- 3D Model of the Exterior
These As-Built Drawings become the foundation for all subsequent Design Development and Construction Drawings phases, allowing us and the construction team to work from an accurate set of base drawings representing the existing home as it is currently built.
PHASE II: SITE ASSESSMENT & CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
With your As-Built Drawings complete, we begin the creative conceptual design process. This phase defines the overall direction of your renovation or addition, aligning your vision, lifestyle, and investment goals with the realities of the existing structure and site.
Services Include:
- Evaluation of As-Built drawings, environmental, and regulatory factors
- Master planning for current and future improvements
- Conceptual floor plans and site plan
- One conceptual exterior elevation
- Client and Team review meetings
Conceptual Designs include initial floor plans and a site plan to explore layout, flow, and how the renovation/addition integrates with your existing home and property.
After you review and provide feedback, we refine the floor plan and create one conceptual exterior elevation to establish the architectural character.
These Conceptual Designs establish the overall design direction and support early planning and investment decisions.
PHASE III: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
This phase ensures your design is well refined, visually clear, and aligned with both your aesthetic vision and investment goals.
Services Include:
- Detailed CAD floor plans, exterior elevations, roof plan, and site plan
- 3D exterior perspective views for visualization
- Review of interior and exterior finish materials
- Design review meetings with you and Team Members as needed
- Revision time to refine and align the design
In Phase III, the approved Conceptual Design is developed into a comprehensive set of CAD drawings that illustrate the project in greater detail. This stage transforms the initial ideas into a clear and cohesive design, allowing you to fully visualize your future home and understand its scope.
Collaboration with your Builder and other Team members during this phase can support coordination and early decision-making.
While these drawings are not final construction documents, they present a more complete picture of the project and can be used by Builders to prepare preliminary cost estimates for discussion around your investment goals.
PHASE IV: CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS
This phase transforms your vision into precise, build-ready plans your building Team needs to price, permit, and build your home.
Construction Drawing Set Includes
- Cover sheet and project overview
- Site plan (based on current survey)
- Demolition Plans for the existing structure
- Foundation/slab plan with dimensions and notes
- Fully dimensioned floor plans
- Roof plan(s)
- Exterior elevations (minimum of four per structure)
- 3D exterior perspective views
- Building and wall sections as required
- Electrical plan(s) for each level
- Window, door, and skylight schedules
- Kitchen cabinet elevations
- Details for specialty features (e.g., elevator, retractable screens, sealed crawl space) if applicable
- Healthy home material and resource recommendations
Based on the approved Design Development drawings, Phase IV produces a comprehensive set of Construction Drawings that serve as the blueprint for construction and unify your entire Build Team. These documents provide the technical detail required for builder pricing, permitting, coordination with a Structural Engineer, and the successful execution of your home.
Collaboration with your Builder and key Team Members during this stage helps finalize remaining details and ensures the plans are coordinated, clear, and ready for construction.
Structural Engineering
Structural engineering is not included in our services. However, we coordinate with your selected Structural Engineer and provide the Construction Drawings to ensure seamless integration before plans are released to the Builder. Engineering fees are separate and paid directly to your Engineer.
Additional Services
For clients who want a more immersive and technology-driven experience, we offer a range of optional services such as color fly-around animations, interior renderings, and Walk-Thru Plans® – a full-scale floor plan projection that allows you to physically walk through your home’s layout, experience room sizes, and better understand how the spaces will function and flow when built. This provides you enhanced comfort in knowing that everything has been considered prior to construction.
Be sure to visit our Gallery to see many of our completed custom Renovations.
