House Plan Designers in Woodbine, MD

“They did a good job quality wise. They were not always on time, but a job well done. They built my house and I would recommend them.”

“We bought a tear down and had Natelli Homes build a custom home. All of the employees are very easy to work with and handled the project with ease. The house was completed exactly on time and I couldn't be happier with the quality of work that was provided.”

“I recently completed a successful journey in having my old home torn down and having a custom new house built in its place. I consider myself to be one of the lucky few who navigated this terrain with a fabulous outcome thanks to having made the right choice in both the architect and builder that I used. The Architect: Ponte Mellor Architects, Ltd (Bethesda, MD) www.ponte-mellor.com The Builder: Edgemoor Custom Builders (Bethesda, MD) www.edgemoorcustombuilders.com The first order of business was to select the right architect. SHOULD I USE A DESIGN / BUILD FIRM: In researching the right architect, I began realizing the benefits of using a design/build firm - i.e., a firm that could provide both the services of both the architect and the builder. IF YOU DO NOT USE A DESIGN / BUILD FIRM: Let's say you are in the middle of a project and you change your mind about how you want something done. If the architect and builder are not under the same roof, then you first have to call the architect to get the blue prints altered. The architect will most likely be busy and you will have to wait for him or her to review the situation, come up with the new plans and blue-prints, get those revisions to the builder, so that the builder can proceed. This can cause huge (read "expensive" delays). IF YOU DO USE A DESIGN / BUILD FIRM: If you use a firm that is handling both the design AND build, then they can do it all "in house" thereby minimizing the delay (and cost) to you. In interviewing different architects, I found architect Rui Ponte, AIA/LEED AP with Ponte Mellor Architects, to be the one who most clearly and enthusiastically understood my vision and ideas. His firm turned out to be the perfect choice for the architectural work. And since he and his partner Brad Mellor, AIA/LEED AP also have a construction company called Edgemoor Custom Builders, they fit the bill as a "Design / Build" firm. I WENT TO SEE SOME OTHER PROJECTS THEY HAD DONE: I asked Mr. Rui Ponte if I could go inspect some of the homes they had designed and built. He said certainly, and arrangements were made with the various home-owners for me to come take a look. I went to see 5 of them. The homes were beautiful, warm, and classy. But I did not just walk around the main portions of the houses. I also went into the basements and up into the attics, so that I could examine the unfinished portions of the house. What I saw was outstanding, solid craftsmanship in every beam, joint, and installation. I THEN EDUCATED MYSELF ON CONTRACTS: Once I decided who to use, I asked Ponte Mellor Architects and Edgemoor Custom Builders for a copy of the contracts they use. They use the standard AIA (American Institute of Architects) contracts, but these contracts have many different options in them. The next step was to pay an hourly rate to another architect to advise me on what all these variables meant, and to do some research on-line. I then had further discussions with Ponte Mellor Architects and Edgemoor Custom Builders about my ideas regarding the contract, which resulted in an agreement that I thought was fair to all parties. I FOUND PHOTOS ON-LINE OF IDEAS I LIKED: One of the biggest challenges in any creative process is the ability to communicate an idea to another. So how does one communicate to an architect an idea that one wants incorporated into the build? The answer is with photographs taken from the internet. I spent hours combing through the internet taking "screen-shots" of ideas that I liked from architectural sites. These photos were invaluable in this creative process. I INTERVIEWED SUB-CONTRACTORS MYSELF: For decisions on the major subcontractors (HVAC system, Electric, etc) I found it helpful for Edgemoor Custom Builders to get several bids, for them to make a recommendation to me, and then for me to be able to speak to the sub-contractor myself to make a final decision. Edgemoor Custom Builders was very supportive of my involvement with this and we worked together as a team in making the right selections EXPECTATIONS: I often hear people who have been through a renovation or a build be extremely critical of their builder, architect, and/or contractor. Sometimes I wonder how many of these people had unrealistic expectations going in? REALITY CHECK: There is no way you are going to go through a renovation or home build without there being some snafus. In the rare instance when a problem would arise in the building of my home, I was able to speak openly to my architect and builder and together we would find the best solution and move on. FINAL PRODUCT: I now have my dream house where I live with my family. It is amazing. I am very grateful to the folks at Ponte Mellor Architects and Edgemoor Custom Builders, and heartily recommend their services to anyone considering a renovation or a build.”

“Over the past year,I have worked closely with Van Sant Construction as their electrician. I have worked side by side with the Van Sant brothers during the construction of the custom homes they are building in Mt Airy, Frederick, Maryland. Even during this short period of time, I have come to know that their commitment to quality and attention to detail is outstanding. From working with their customers to their interaction with subcontractors, Van Sant Construction succeeds in delivering a true, custom home experience. Their hands on approach to building homes and satisfying their clients needs, sets them apart from other so called custom builders. I highly recommend Van Sant Construction as a top notch home builder.”

“We just finished two bathroom remodels and both bathrooms turned out wonderful. Mark, Mark Jr., and Shawn started and finished this job on time. Everyday my home was left clean and in order. The quality of work exceeded my expectation. They treated my house as if it was theirs. I would hire this team again. Thank you guys again”

“Working with the team at Niroo Construction, Inc and Haleh Design, Inc to design and build our custom dream home was an amazing experience from start to finish! We’ve seen many beautiful custom homes that were built and designed by their team and knew they were the ones to make our dream home turn into a reality. They are a talented company and we couldn’t wait to begin building our very own custom home with the Niroo team. They helped us with the house location, detailed design of the layout of the floors as how we intended to use with their professional expertise, the exterior layout of our dream home, and create the perfect Architectural and structural drawings needed for county approval. The most important thing was helping us plan an estimated budget. Overall our experience with them has been great especially their professionalism in this particular project. Our home was built using sound heavy structures along with a high-quality architectural design. Haleh helped us to use beautiful materials throughout the project as well as designing the interior finishes to picking out the furniture. Her team and herself designed the interior of the home from the flooring to the ceiling to create flawless finishing touches envisioned by us and the team at Haleh Design, Inc. Her expertise is very outstanding she goes above and beyond for everything she does and we had a fantastic time working with her and the team. Mr. Niroo was able to get all required items at the best possible prices, the entire project cost was transparent with integrity. We are thrilled to create new memories with our family in our new custom home!”

“Armstrong Construction's level of professionalism, attention to detail and high quality of work made for a successful and beautiful project. From start to finish they listened to us and were thoughtful in executing the design. The team is communicative and collaborative, and I look forward to working with them again.”

“Cgc did a great job in our 2nd story addition. Work was done on time and was of highest quality.”

“Penza Bailey Architects has had the pleasure of working with Delbert Adams and his team of professionals on many, many wonderful projects over the past 25 years. Delbert is very professional and his team works diligently to maintain a high level of craftsmanship. DACG understands older structures, and take the time to manage a construction project thoroughly. If you want a job well done, we highly recommend Delbert Adams Construction Group.”

“Matt and his team are top-notch! I did a major renovation with them taking a small 1000 sq ft rambler and added a second floor. We gutted the whole house and it has a whole new floor plan. Now just under 5000 sq ft. it is an amazing home thanks to his keen eye for design. Matt being a father himself was also very helpful in making decisions on how to make the home functional for a family. His work ethic and craftsmanship are beyond anyone else I have ever worked with. I highly recommend Sycamore DB.”