Our Process and Services are

1. Design, engineering and permitting
2. Interior design and specifications
3. Construction support and budgeting

The WHS design process is designed to be a flexible partnership which allows as much or as little involvement as you require. Clear communication and presentation are the foundation to our studio and our client project success.

1. Getting Started
We begin each project with our Project Planning Consultation. This is our way of ensuring that every project is set up for success from the start. As no two projects are the same, we first need to understand your project requirements and also discuss your ambitions and needs. This is where we begin to discuss the variables, strategy and overall engagement needed to undertake your project.

Our Consultation process continues to be an essential element in saving our clients, money, time and it relieves you of the stresses and unknowns associated with designing and building a home, an addition, and ADU or an investment property. During an initial Project Planning Consultation you will learn the following:

•The requirements of your project.
•How to achieve what you are looking to do.
•What consultants your project will need.
•Whether what you are looking to do is feasible.
•Information on permits, engineering and city ordinances based on your location and property

Why is it important to have a Project Planning Consultation?

To avoid wasting valuable time, money and energy trying to speculate what is viable for your project. Our Consultation is the solid foundation on which the success of every project is built. It allows our clients to be free from the stress and fear of making wrong and costly decisions from the very start and throughout. By knowing what to expect and understanding how the whole process works.

Upon completion of the Project Consultation our Studio's aim is to provide you with a clearer understanding of the design process, time frames and project viabilities.

2. Design Process
The design process at WHS includes the following stages:

1.Project Planning Consultation meeting.
2.Needs & Options Review. (Exploring Possible Design Ideas)
3.Schematic Design
4.Design Development (Engage Consultant team)
5.Permits & Planning requirements and Approvals (Project complexity will determine level of engagement required from WHS)
6.Interiors & Specifications
7.Detail design (Preparing drawings for construction)
8.Costs and construction
9.Project Management

The breakdown of these stages allows us to make sure that WHS clients are updated and informed on projects status throughout each phase before proceeding to the next. Our design steps enable you to see your design creatively transition from an initial concept to full set of architectural plans

Why is this important? It helps to establish guidelines for what to expect as you enter into a new project. Depending on the scale or size of the project it is essential to be prepared and informed about what to expect.

Only when a review has taken place and you are happy with your design do we proceed into the next phase. As your project nears the end of the design process, the preparation of clear construction drawings is fundamental for the contractor to price and build your project.

The importance of WHS delivering a full set of Construction drawings to Contractors and/or Project Consultants is a leading factor in project success for all our past & present clients.

City Planning & Permits
Throughout the design process it is our responsibility to take care of the complexities. We will carefully guide you through the planning process and expedite all permits and department clearances.

It is our job to ensure that you have all the necessary permits and requirements, ensuring that upon design completion your project has the necessary certificates and permits so it can be built on time and on budget.

As no two projects are the same, we first need to understand and help you understand what is going to be involved in your project.

Expert Consultants
Having the right consultants is essential to achieving your perfect home. As part of the design process your project may need the support of key expert consultants:

•Structural Engineer
•General Contractor
•Civil Surveyor
•Soils Engineer
•Appliance and plumbing fixture specialist

It is our responsibility to arrange and manage each of these expert consultants throughout the design process and ensure that their work is carefully coordinated into our design.

Lack of expert coordination can lead to costly issues during construction and increased construction time, and potentially compromising changes to your design.

We ensure that the Contractor is provided with the necessary level of detail and information to successfully deliver your project to completion with all the necessary regulations meet.

3. The Build Process
Finding the right Contractor

It is important to us that your project is not only designed well but is also then built well to match. Our eye for detail will ensure that your project is built to the highest construction standard and in line with our design documentation.

We can provide our own recommendations for your project or coordinate with any suggested contractors you may wish to provide, to ensure that your projects is constructed with:

High quality Craft & professional trades
Good communications & problems solving
Client meetings and involvement

Frequently asked questions
What does William Howard Studio do?
Deciding to build a new home or renovate an existing one is a big decision, which will likely be a significant investment for all our potential clients. You will be revealing a lot about your daily routines, habits and preferences, so you need to work with someone you can trust, a professional who not only has expertise in space planning but who can execute a vision for your home. Here are a few key points to how WHS can achieve this:

We are more than just designers: It is our responsibility to manage the design process (our preference is to manage throughout the Construction phase also). Managing the bids and quotation process, obtaining permits and any City requirements, coordinating consultants such as engineers and specialists, monitoring the budget provided by you as clients and assist you with making adjustments or updates to the overall budget when needed, keeping the project on track and managing the scheduling of contractors and trades.

We will come up with a unique design concept that has been tailored to your needs: It is WHS practice to start our projects by conducting a detailed design brief. We achieve this through our Project Planning Consultation meeting, where we discuss in detail what is important to you in the design and what your needs and aspirations are for your home or property.

We will help you establish the right budget for your project: WHS are experienced in determining the level of investment required to fulfill your vision, we establish budgets that reflect the realistic needs our clients.
By choosing to work with WHS to design your home or investment property, you will personally get to experience the pleasure of having a home that has been built or remodeled with a focus on your lifestyle needs and aspirations.

How long will my Project take?
A very commonly asked question is: “when will my project be completed?' This is a reasonable question but there is no straightforward answer. There are many factors that need to be considered in the timeline of project.

The Design process is the first stage of your project and this can take anywhere from 1 month to 12 months, depending on the complexity of the design and the varying planning & permit requirements. Our Studio has a decade of experience working with planning departments in several Cities in Los Angeles and Greater Los Angeles, this expertise enables us to manage this process on your behalf and provide you with timing guidelines to keep you informed with status updates on your Project.

Some common factors that can affect the timeline of your project:

Historic preservation permission & approvals
City Permits & planning approvals
Financing
Size and type of project- small addition or new build
Vendor items such as doors and windows
Weather

Once the design is approved, then the Construction process can commence and this can take anywhere from 3 months to 12 months, depending on the size and complexity of your build. This will be established well before the construction has begun.

WHS role throughout both the Design & Construction process is to provide open communication with our clients with regards to time frames and expectations.