Beginner’s Blueprint for Home by Tim + Chris!
Did you know that we do architectural, decorating, interior design and landscape drawings as one cohesive project set rather than other design firms that coordinate between 3 different contacts? In this blog we’ll talk about the basics of what we provide under one roof and how we work with you. We’ll also touch on how we work with preferred vendors but remain as one point of contact, while we manage timelines and optimize our creative output!
Our Home by Tim + Chris team consists of architectural designers, interior designers, project managers and drafters. Full service under one roof.
Normally you hire an architect who then takes a cut of your project budget. Then you hire a designer, who takes another cut of your project. Ultimately you then wait and hope your project ends up with all the dots connected. We can’t count the times though that clients have come to us having spent more, had a frustrating time with too many change requests, repetitive steps and that doesn’t even include if the builder is in the same loop!
Integrated design planning from the start means synchronized vision for all involved from builder, to designer to architect.
The big lesson here is, learning that an architect is NOT designing for a custom lifestyle. They are instead designing a custom home. The danger with this scenario is that your home or cottage becomes a separate initiative, more about the design and less to do with the functionality of your lifestyle. The last thing you want is for competing interests to take over your project. When you work with us our role is to listen to your vision and use a multidisciplinary approach to interpret that vision into the most beautiful and functional spaces that we possibly can. The other benefit is that your budget becomes more clear when everything is executed under one roof. The environments we design are not just rooms, but rather representations of where our clients nourish, love, replenish, strengthen and rejuvenate. The foundational make-up of those spaces, from every chair, rug, art piece or wall, is where we build a life in which you and your loved ones, flourish and grow. What started as a saying, has fast become our mantra: “driven by us, highly influenced by you.”
We know how to do form AND function!
Why It’s Beneficial to Use the Same Firm for Architecture, Interior, and Exterior Design
Let’s get down the nuts and bolts of it, when you choose one firm to handle your architectural drawings, interior design, and exterior planning, you’re not just simplifying the process, you’re investing in a more cohesive, efficient, and cost-effective project.
1. Seamless Communication and Coordination
With all design disciplines working together under one roof, communication happens in real time. This eliminates the miscommunication and rework that often happens when different companies handle separate parts of the project. It also ensures that same story is being told when it comes to your wish list and how we represent your lifestyle with design decisions. At Home by Tim + Chris we are interested in how our clients live their lives and the special habits and routines that make their home or cottage unique. With all team members working from the same design mission, we can act cohesively when it comes to planning the various materials, rolling out timelines and communicating revisions to not only design plans but also your budget.
Because we’ve done all the renderings along with the build vision, our clients are consistently in the loop with the same design vision right down to the art we select for the walls.
Example of fireplace rendering with built-ins.
Final renderings which provide client with exact frame of reference!
2. Cohesive Vision and Design Harmony
When one team oversees the entire design, the result is a unified aesthetic. The architectural form, interior style, and exterior character are designed to complement one another. This integrated approach means your home feels intentional from every angle—inside and out. When working in the Kawarthas, there are many considerations when it comes to regionality, landscape and topography and lot size. Being well versed in this whole picture is important when you are selecting a firm to work with. Often, we’ve seen clients try to work with an architect or designer from outside the area. The challenge with this becomes how well do they know and understand the permissions and regulations across the various counties and townships. We live the Kawartha lifestyle ourselves, so we understand best how to integrate all of the requirements that will complement your Kawartha lifestyle.
Elements like custom windows and skywalks add a more complex component to a project. It is essential that the designer and builder are working together to ensure a homeowner’s desired outcome.
For this multi-generational home on Balsam Lake, we worked with our preferred vendor of choice when it came to sourcing a builder. When we work with vendors who think like we do, it makes every detail run all that much smoother!
Project Nahma required extensive communication and cohesive design work which is why when it comes to projects of such magnitude it’s important we work closely with our preferred building partner.
3. Streamlined Project Management and Faster Timelines
An in-house, full-service design team can make decisions faster and resolve issues immediately. There’s no waiting on multiple companies to communicate or coordinate drawings. This efficiency leads to shorter design timelines and smoother construction. This is also why we have our preferred vendors to align with. When we work with other like-minded skilled partners, we already have harmony and experience based on past projects. At Home by Tim + Chris we have built our network of reliable and dependable partners that allow us to bring the benefits of those relationships to our clients.
Our site binders consist of all drawings, permits and required paper work so that the team can refer easily to project details and criteria. We also use on site QR codes containing the same information.
4. Cost Savings Through Efficiency
When all disciplines are aligned, designs are coordinated from the start, reducing costly mistakes, duplicate work, and changes during construction. A unified firm also better understands your budget holistically, making it easier to allocate funds smartly between structure, finishes, and landscaping. The danger of picking different partners and firms for all the tasks, is that each one will be seeking to optimize their percent of earnings over the course of the project. If one firm understands the budget, then they are less territorial about where the focus will be for your project components. They already know that budget from one area not requiring as much budget, will be offset by another area that requires a bigger picture focus. This transparency for you as the client, means you will be less inclined to overspend and efficiencies can be found with timelines.
Halfway through the build process, the home or cottage owner should not be surprised! Things should start looking exactly like the original renderings and plans.
Even exterior design needs the same consideration and careful planning for expected outcomes.
5. Less Stress for the Homeowner
Managing separate teams can be time-consuming and overwhelming. Working with one firm gives you a single point of contact and a trusted partner who handles every design detail, oversees coordination, and keeps the project on track. It’s the smartest way to achieve a cohesive, beautiful, and well-executed home or cottage. Every detail will have been thoughtfully designed by one expert team working toward your vision.
Using 3-D renderings allow us to provide an interactive and real time experience for the client. From walking up their driveway to cooking in their kitchen, we provide an in depth and detailed vision for how their home or cottage will look and function for their lifestyle.
Building a home is one of life’s most exciting and meaningful projects — but it can also be one of the most complex. Between architects, interior designers, and landscape teams, there are countless moving parts, deadlines, and design decisions to juggle. That’s why more home and cottage owners are turning to full-service design firms like Home by Tim + Chris. Companies that bring architecture, interior design, and exterior planning together under one roof bring efficiency and smart design decisions. Shared values are also an important detail in the process.
From plans to perfection.
Whether, it’s combining functionality with aesthetics, delivering on impactful architecture or crafting bespoke furniture, the Home by Tim + Chris team uphold shared values. These shared values are what make us unique and stand out in the design category. And we’ll make YOUR home or cottage stand out as a result!
For more images and background on project Nahma visit our Project Portfolio and our previous blog posts: https://www.homebytc.ca/project-nahma
Projects: https://www.homebytc.ca/projects
Project Nahma as featured in Our Homes Magazine: https://issuu.com/ourhomesmagazine/docs/mid-summer_2025_-_peterborough_kawartha_lakes_/42
