I believe that every building site has a story to tell. Be it a narrow city lot, a sprawling ranch, or anything in-between. It's my job to draw that story out by listening intently and taking the time to ensure what we create is a beautiful marriage of site and home, that reflects the personality of it's inhabitants.
While I might have my own architectural preferences, I try not to push any one style. I want the client's vision to shine through - even if that's not completely clear from the onset.
A thorough and efficient design process is key turning a vague idea into executable set of construction documents. This generally consists of:
Discovery
Before starting on any sketches, I like to collect all pertinent information and organize it to drive the rest of the design. This is where we:
Recognize your vision, values, and priorities
Establish project goals, timelines, and budgetary constraints
Determine space requirements and functional relationships
Review applicable codes, regulations, and zoning laws
Assess the site conditions, including access, topography, and environmental factors
Schematic Design
The schematic design phase is where the fun really begins. I provide multiple concept iterations in different views to start narrowing down the feel and form of the home. Site placement is considered. There can be a lot of back and forth and experimentation in this phase.
Design Development
This is where we work on refining the plan and adding detail. Components such as doors, windows, cabinets, and plumbing fixtures are placed. Basic material selections begin. Structural elements are considered. Everything is modeled in 3D and Geolocated in order to prevent conflicts and give a much better feel for the space. If you want to see what it will look like sitting in your favorite living room chair, I can put you there.
Construction Documents
The final design stage involves taking the developed design and adding the details, specifics, structural information, etc. to convey necessary information to the building department and contractor. Consultants such as structural engineers, MEP engineers, Interior Designers are brought to the table and their input is incorporated into the final construction documents.
A typical new single-family dwelling Construction Documents Set will include:
Project Data/Cover page
Site Plan with topography if needed
Floor Plans
Roof Plan
Reflected Ceiling Plans
Elevations
Sections
Interior Elevations (including all cabinetry and bathrooms)
Exterior and Interior Perspective Views
Structural Plans/Details
Construction Details
Electric Plans (Lighting, receptacle placement)
Window and Door schedules
Energy code compliance documentation
Two sets of complete, full-size drawings on paper
One set of complete, full-size drawings on Polypropylene (tear and water-resistant)
Digital PDF copy of plans
Post-design site consultation
Click Here for an example
Luke Horning, Owner/Designer
From a young age I have been interested in design and construction. My father was a tradesman, and I have fond memories exploring jobsites with him. This naturally led to careers in construction and design. Soon out of school, I started on the bottom rungs of the construction industry ladder and, over a 20 year span, moved through most every role in the business. While residential design was always a passion for me, I started embracing it more in 2019 with my first complete new home design. Things have grown steadily since then and I now have a large and diverse portfolio of designs I've completed.
By combining my construction expertise with architectural creativity, I am adept at creating home designs that are unique and functional. I passed International Code Council (ICC) National Standard General Builder Contractor (A) testing, so I am very familiar with the building codes and how to work with them. I also serve as Chair of the Lake County Board of Review. I hold an associates degree from Colorado Mountain College.
When I'm not designing I can usually be found exploring the mountains with my wife and four kids. We are happy to have called Leadville our home since 2001 and feel a strong connection to the area.