Woolsey Studio

"You are very good at what you do and we appreciate your efforts and creativity. It is a joy working with you. We are Woolsey fans."

Wally and Liz McClure
Residential Clients

HomeThe WorkThe ExperienceAbout UsContact



Residential FAQs|Commercial FAQs



What is a typical timeline for a custom home?
A: Most projects take 3-6 months for design and creation of construction drawings. Once those drawings are completed and a contractor is selected, construction time ranges from 6-24 months depending on the scale and complexity of the project.

How do you determine fees?
A: For a custom home, our fees include both architecture and interior product specification and you can expect that to run about 10-15% of your cost of construction. Once we understand the specifics of your project, we can estimate the amount of time we need to do a good thorough job, and then give you an exact price.

What is the cost of construction?
This varies widely depending on the scope of work, location of the project, and the level of finishes. In general, a new custom home in Phoenix, Arizona in 2005 will start at about $175 per square foot (psf) with very simple finishes and range to $300 and up per square foot for high end finishes. Most of our homes fall into the $200-$250 psf range. When we meet with you, we can show you examples of the differences in cost per square foot.

Why not save by hiring draftsperson or production architect?
A draftsperson will cost significantly less and a production architect will cost slightly less, but in this case, you get what you pay for. Service providers in these two categories will tend to draw up exactly what you ask for, whether that is the best solution or not. Woolsey Studio will respond to what you ask for but will also contribute their extensive knowledge and design talents. This ensures that your home takes the most advantage of its own unique opportunities and is beautiful. This level of design directly impacts the quality of your life in the home and increases the resale value, generally by more than the additional cost of a design architect.

What services does Woolsey Studio offer?
A: Our basic package includes architectural design, construction drawings, and interior product specifications. We can also provide landscape design, furniture and window covering selection and/or purchasing, construction management, art and accessory selection and installation, and moving or installation coordination.

What should I do to get ready?
Know your lifestyle and your tastes. Start an image file by collecting pictures of spaces and buildings you like. Create a list of the rooms and functions you want accommodated. Write down your dream of the perfect experience in your completed home. Identify your goals for project schedule and budget.

What do I need to know about hiring an architect?
Your architect will translate your dreams into reality. You may not fully understand that reality until it is built so the most important thing is that you trust your architect. You need to be comfortable that they will really listen to you so check with their previous clients and make sure they felt like the architect paid attention to their needs. You want your architect to be able to produce a good set of drawings that work, so make sure they have experience with the type of project (new, remodel, hillside, etc.). For more information, check out the resources at the American Institute of Architects website (www.aia.org) such as the "You and Your Architect" publication.

How do I get started?
Call or email our office to set up a meeting with Kristine Woolsey. Come to that meeting with a good idea of what you want for the project including budget and schedule. Bring your image file so that she gets a good sense of what you are trying to accomplish visually. At that meeting, she can provide you with a more specific timeline and other information that will help you to plan the project.