Understanding what architects wish you knew before building a home can transform the design process from a daunting series of decisions into a considered collaboration. For The Up Studio, an architecture and interior design practice specialising in custom modern homes, the process begins with an open conversation. Rather than expecting clients to arrive with every detail resolved, the studio seeks to understand how a family lives, what they value and what they hope their home might enable.
This personal approach extends beyond conventional briefs. The Up Studio uses a card game called Personal Space to uncover identities and aspirations that clients may not immediately associate with architecture. These conversations can reveal overlooked priorities, from wellness and daily routines to the qualities that make an existing home feel comfortable. In projects such as Sight Sea Residence, these insights inform home design decisions including expansive glazing, connections to nature and dedicated spaces for wellbeing. As a design masterclass in client collaboration, the process demonstrates how deeply personal information can provide a foundation for a custom home.
Central to what architects wish you knew before building a home is the understanding that not every decision needs to be made at once. Through a process called Clarity of Design, The Up Studio introduces questions as they become relevant, allowing ideas to develop iteratively. Instead of arriving with thousands of reference images, clients are encouraged to identify a small selection of spaces they love and dislike, then explain why. For anyone considering hiring an architect, this approach shows the value of communicating preferences without attempting to prescribe the final outcome.
Trust is equally important when building a home. Custom residential design is not an off-the-shelf product, and an architect’s role involves proposing possibilities a client may not have considered. At Harbor Hideaway, careful storage planning allows a 2800-square-foot home to feel more generous. For Brick Breaker, a townhouse project in New York, the existing footprint could not accommodate everything required, leading the team to explore an addition above. Both demonstrate what architects wish you knew before building a home: function, spatial experience and considered architecture can be more meaningful than a predetermined size.
Budget is another conversation best addressed early. A clearly defined figure gives the architecture and interior design team parameters within which to explore what is achievable. The Up Studio uses cost calculators to help clients understand potential expenditure across the custom home and its furnishings.
Time requires similar flexibility. Weather, construction restrictions and unforeseen conditions can alter a project’s schedule. At Twisted Ridge and other Hudson Valley projects, snow and frozen ground affect when construction can proceed, while beachfront communities may impose seasonal building moratoriums. Recognising these variables is part of what architects wish you knew before building a home, allowing alternative plans to be considered without tying the project to an inflexible completion date.
Ultimately, what architects wish you knew before building a home is that preparation does not mean having every answer. From navigating budget and timelines to trusting an architect to introduce unexpected ideas, the process relies on communication and an openness to evolution.
00:00 – Introduction To What Architects Wish You Knew Before Building A Home
01:06 – No. 1: Open Communication Is Vital
03:25 – No. 2: Designing Is An Open Process
05:10 – No. 3: You Need An Architect You Can Trust
06:52 – No. 4: Begin With A Well-Defined Budget
08:17 – No. 5: The Timeline Will Likely Change
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Photography by Julian Bracero, Van Sarki, Alan Tansey and Conor Harrigan.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Location: United States
