Wendy Zhang

The cost of an architect-designed home can be quite different from a volume builder’s advertised price. For homeowners beginning their building journey, that difference can be difficult to understand. Both homes might offer four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a double garage, yet their budgets can sit far apart. The explanation lies in how each home is designed, priced and built. Repetition, site conditions, professional services, construction details and inclusions all influence the final...

Many design mistakes after homes are built only become apparent once people start living in the space. On paper, everything looked fine. The house met the brief, the drawings made sense, and the finishes were well chosen. But over time, certain frustrations begin to surface — spaces that feel awkward, rooms that aren’t used, or areas that are uncomfortable at different times of day. In our experience, these problems are rarely about construction quality. They almost always trace back to...