Custom Design for the Modern Homestead
Bespoke designs for multi-generational living. From detached in-law cottages to master-planned family compounds.
FOR HOMEOWNERS & FAMILIES
Your Family, Your Land, Your Design.
We don't sell "cookie-cutter" plans because no two families—and no two properties—are alike.
Tailored for Use: Whether you need a fully accessible home for aging parents or a shared community for three generations, we design specifically for your family's dynamic.
Tailored for Land: Pennsylvania land is complex. We design around your topography, your views, and your existing infrastructure to create a structure that looks like it belongs there.
Universal Design: We believe a home should serve you at every stage of life. Our designs prioritize accessibility, safety, and ease of living without sacrificing beauty.
Our Custom Services
Service A: The Detached In-Law Cottage
The Goal: "55+ Active Adult" living, right in your backyard.
The Design: We create custom detached structures designed for dignity, independence, and safety.
Single-Level Living: Designed on a concrete slab-on-grade foundation for easy entry (zero steps).
Accessible & Spacious: Features 3-foot wide doors throughout (Universal Design principles), open floor plans with vaulted ceilings to maximize the feeling of space, and bathrooms designed for safety.
Outdoor Connection: Includes sliding or hinged patio doors leading to a private covered or screened-in porch, perfect for enjoying the garden without the bugs.
Low Maintenance: We specify durable exterior materials so you spend your time enjoying family, not painting siding.
Service B: The Family Compound Master Plan
The Goal: A legacy property for multiple households.
The Design: For families purchasing acreage to live together, we provide full site planning and architectural design.
The "Cluster" Approach: We can design homes grouped closely together (like a private cul-de-sac) to foster a village feel with shared amenities, gardens, and play areas for the grandkids.
The "Privacy" Approach: We can design a main entry drive that branches off into long, private driveways, giving each household their own secluded retreat in the woods.
Shared Infrastructure: We plan the site to optimize shared resources (driveways, wells) while maintaining individual privacy.
Feasibility First.
Building a second structure is a legal process as much as a creative one. Like an attorney requires evidence to build a case, we require specific data to begin your design.
Septic Verification: Your local septic engineer must verify if your existing system can handle the additional load of a new bathroom/kitchen. If not, they will design the upgrade. We design the cottage to connect to their specifications.
Zoning & Survey: You must provide a current boundary survey. This document (typically from a Civil Engineer) tells us your "Impervious Coverage" limits and setbacks. We use this data to ensure our design footprint stays within your legal buildable area.
Stormwater & Flood: Adding a new roof triggers stormwater rules. Your Civil Engineer determines if a management system (like a rain garden or pit) is required. We coordinate our downspouts and rooflines to match their plan.
Phase 1: Client Due Diligence
Before hiring us for design, you need to know what you are allowed to build. Contact your local township or hire a Civil Engineer to obtain your Zoning Requirements and Site Survey.
Phase 2: The Feasibility Review (The "Initial Consult")
Confused by the township documents? This is where we step in. For a flat fee, we review the survey and zoning data you've collected. We interpret the constraints and give you a professional "Go/No-Go" assessment on your vision.
Phase 3: Custom Design
Once feasibility is confirmed, we move to a formal design contract. We create a custom layout tailored to your family’s needs, strictly adhering to the boundaries provided by your civil data.
Phase 4: The Blueprint
You receive a complete permit-ready set of Architectural Construction Documents. You hand these to your builder and township for final approval.
Do You Have the Green Light?
Don't spend money on full design drawings until you know the rules of your land. If you have your survey documents but need a professional to interpret them, book a consultation.
The Design Credit: If you proceed with a VANTAGE | Haven design contract, this $499 consultation fee will be fully credited toward your first design invoice.