House Whisperer FAQ
Here we answer some common questions. If yours isn't here, just ask us.-
Yes (minus the cool music). The walkthrough in the video comes straight from our 3D CAD design software, and because we are so committed to collaborating with you it’s essential to our process. A floor plan asks you to look at a set of lines and somehow know how the living room feels when you walk in from the entry. Most people aren't able to do that. So they nod along, approve the plans, and then discover what they agreed to only after it’s built, when changes cost real money. 3D allows us all to see the things drawings hide, and your contractor pricing will be tighter from bidding something unambiguous.
Beyond Blueprints
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We do custom residential design — new homes, remodels, additions, ADUs, landscape and site design, interiors, decor — anything you need from the property line in. We prefer to design “holistically.” Meaning, we take into account the way a room meets the yard, how light plays in a room at 6 in the morning and 6 at night. How the kitchen island relates to the tree outside the window. When all the factors aren’t considered together, opportunities for magic are missed.
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No, we are custom home designers with a rare set of skills that encompass multiple disciplines. Dean is an artist as well as a licensed general contractor (CSLB Lic. #592455) with decades of custom residential experience from luxury estates to humble cottages. Tina is a fine artist, an Art Center College of Design alumna, and a member of the American Society of Interior Designers. We’re here to do the creative heavy lifting. Our CAD deliverables become the foundation for any engineering and construction documents that follow.
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We design. We could also build, but we don’t. We think you're better served when the people designing your home aren’t the ones estimating the work. Those two roles have opposite incentives, and putting them in the same hands quietly costs homeowners a lot of money. Instead, what Dean’s contractor license gives you is a designer who speaks “builder” to advocate on your behalf and hold contractors to account.
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We design for any style — meticulously researched, and thoughtfully executed. Our specialty is not about the style of our homes but rather the style of our approach. We listen to you … carefully. Then every project is custom fit to how you actually live, or aspire to live. Style is simply a decision that naturally flows from your house, your property, and ultimately your life.
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That happens more often than you might imagine. People come to us with doubts about drawings that aren't quite working but can't put their finger on why. We'll look at what you have and tell you honestly whether it needs a fresh start, a focused fix, or just confirmation of a good design from a third party.
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Yes, we design homes all across the country. In the 21st century the design process can work remotely — shared 3D models, screen-to-screen sessions, and video site visits. And we travel for on-site visits when a project needs it. Since codes and review processes are local to the site, we coordinate with licensed professionals in your jurisdiction. Distance changes the logistics, not the work.
Services & Fit
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We like to think working with us is a wonderful experience! This process is all about you, so we take collaborating with you seriously. You’ll see the design early and often. We’ll talk options, including ones we end up rejecting. Iteration is built into the process, not charged as a penalty. The goal is to arrive at the dream together. Clients regularly tell us the design process was the part they didn't expect to enjoy.
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Yes. Both of us, on every project. Despite our large public exposure — broadcast, podcast, YouTube, etc. — we are a small and specialized boutique firm. We love what we do and always want to be hands on with every project. It also means we take on a limited number of projects at a time, so there's occasionally a wait.
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A design consult is a stand alone session — and more often than not, a pretty magical experience. We get to know you, look at your property, your plans, your problem, and cast vision for what’s possible. For a lot of people it’s all they need to get headed in the right direction.
A design project is when you contract with us for full creative engagement. From discovery to concept to realization and the CAD files that will serve as the foundation for all that comes after. The consult usually comes first and helps both of us decide whether the full project makes sense.
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If you want us to, yes. We call it shepherding the build, and it's some of the most valuable work we do. Drawings don't build houses. Hundreds of small decisions on site do, and that's often where good design gets quietly eroded — a substitution here, a framing shortcut there, none of them big enough to argue about individually. We stay reachable, review submittals, advocate for you and the design, shop the best resources and materials, and walk the site at the moments that matter. It’s billed hourly, so you use us as much or as little as you need.
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Carefully, and it's the most consequential decision you'll make after the design itself. It deserves a more detailed answer than we can give here, so we’ve put together a guide that we’re happy to share with you. Just send us an email and it’s yours.
Working Together
Fees
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First, how we NEVER charge:
Never a percentage of construction cost. We’re not going to be the people whose fee goes up when your project gets more expensive.
We never mark up materials. In fact, the opposite: if our standing as designers or contractors unlocks a trade discount, that discount goes to you in full. No cut, no rebate, no kickback from a vendor. Our fee is our fee and it's on the page you signed. Quiet markups are one of the main ways this industry takes money from homeowners without telling them, and we don't participate.
Our fees come in three forms, depending on what you need:
An initial consult is a flat fee.
A full design project is contracted as a flat fee once we understand the scope. It doesn't move unless the scope does.
Ongoing involvement after the design is complete is billed hourly.
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Sure, send an email and let us know what you have in mind.
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Smarter and more adorable. Dean wrote this answer.
A Couple More Things
