Our Process

Stage 1 of the custom design process –
Concept Design 

Congratulations, your project is underway. While this is an exciting time, you may feel it is a daunting process ahead. Rest assured, Graham Jones Design have a team of qualified professionals with extensive experience in all phases of the building industry. We are ready to assist you every step of the way and make this stage, and the entire custom design process that lies ahead into an enjoyable one. This initial stage, the Concept Design stage, includes the following;  

• Inspection of your project site and provision of an assessment of the site conditions and constraints that will be utilised throughout the concept design process.  

• Design briefing meeting with you to discuss your wants, wishes and needs  

• Develop the preliminary client brief into concept design solution, with drawings at an appropriate scale and other details or documents to adequately explain the design. This will include;  

+ Floor plan layout and room sizes to your desired floor plan layout 

+ Façade elevations to see how the external design looks like 

+ 3D perspective views to further illustrate and understand the concept design  

• Co-ordinate the design work undertaken by relevant consultants with the architectural design.  

• Provide concept design options and amended concept design options as required by you until we reach the design of your dreams. 

At this stage, an estimate will be provided by our in-house building consultant. We can also arrange for estimates to be arranged from a pool of builders that have previously successfully constructed homes for our clients (these builders do not receive any payment from GJD and are totally independent of us). Alternatively, you may already have your own builder provide a written estimate. 

Stage 1 of the custom design process –
Concept Design 

Congratulations, your project is underway. While this is an exciting time, you may feel it is a daunting process ahead. Rest assured, Graham Jones Design have a team of qualified professionals with extensive experience in all phases of the building industry. We are ready to assist you every step of the way and make this stage, and the entire custom design process that lies ahead into an enjoyable one. This initial stage, the Concept Design stage, includes the following;  

• Inspection of your project site and provision of an assessment of the site conditions and constraints that will be utilised throughout the concept design process.  

• Design briefing meeting with you to discuss your wants, wishes and needs  

• Develop the preliminary client brief into concept design solution, with drawings at an appropriate scale and other details or documents to adequately explain the design. This will include;  

+ Floor plan layout and room sizes to your desired floor plan layout 

+ Façade elevations to see how the external design looks like 

+ 3D perspective views to further illustrate and understand the concept design  

• Co-ordinate the design work undertaken by relevant consultants with the architectural design.  

• Provide concept design options and amended concept design options as required by you until we reach the design of your dreams. 

At this stage, an estimate will be provided by our in-house building consultant. We can also arrange for estimates to be arranged from a pool of builders that have previously successfully constructed homes for our clients (these builders do not receive any payment from GJD and are totally independent of us). Alternatively, you may already have your own builder provide a written estimate. 

Stage 2 of the custom design process –
Town Planning Documentation  

Final amendments to your plans have now occurred and it is now time to obtain your planning permit by engaging in the services of our planning consultant. The custom design process involves getting a permit from the council for the design to be approved for construction. In getting this permit, our planning consultant will deal directly with council throughout your planning application. Professional advice from the planning consultant will be provided on the preliminary plans we have already made with you. Based on the experience the planning council has with the council they will give advice on what we may need to amend to your plans so it will be favoured by council. Their expertise and experience with councils may assist in a more successful outcome for your project. During this stage, Graham Jones Design will; 

• Integrate the design solution into our town-planning package to allow pre-application discussions with your local council. 

• Put together the necessary documents for, arrange and attend the pre-application meeting with council.

• Prepare the necessary documents to lodge a town planning application. This includes the following documents: neighbourhood and site description/design response, floor plans & elevations, and shadow diagrams. 

• Assist in the assessment and implementation of materials and finishes within the design. 

• Upon lodgement, provide the full set of Town Planning documentation drawings to the council and one full set for you.  

Once submitted, we will monitor your project’s progress through planning and keep you updated with any council feedback. The council will come back with required additional information in all cases. This may include additional notations required to plans or even amendments to the design. Rest assured, we will work with you, our planning consultant and council to create the best outcome for everyone. 

Stage 3 of the custom design process –
Working Drawings Documentation  

Once you reach this stage, you have received the planning permit for your project, congratulations! We are now ready to commence documentation for your building permit and will use the planning permit as part of your building permit application. These working drawings are extensively detailed so that they can be used to construct your project after the custom design process. During this stage Graham Jones Design will; 

• Prepare the necessary working drawings to sufficiently lodge for a building permit application under your direction. 

• Recommend consultants and will co-ordinate and integrate the work of all consultants with the architectural drawings. 

• Co-ordinate the required documentation work undertaken by consultants such as; structural engineers; energy raters; and building surveyors, to achieve the building permit with our architectural documentation.  

At the conclusion of this stage, you will receive your issued building permit and your project can commence with your selected builder. During construction, we are here ready to assist you and able to answer any queries that arise and make any design adjustments that may be required. Keep in touch with us once your project has completed, we would love to see the finish product and have the opportunity to photograph you home to add it to the gallery of beautiful professional photographs of our many previous projects. 

Stage 3 of the custom design process –
Working Drawings Documentation  

Once you reach this stage, you have received the planning permit for your project, congratulations! We are now ready to commence documentation for your building permit and will use the planning permit as part of your building permit application. These working drawings are extensively detailed so that they can be used to construct your project after the custom design process. During this stage Graham Jones Design will; 

• Prepare the necessary working drawings to sufficiently lodge for a building permit application under your direction. 

• Recommend consultants and will co-ordinate and integrate the work of all consultants with the architectural drawings. 

• Co-ordinate the required documentation work undertaken by consultants such as; structural engineers; energy raters; and building surveyors, to achieve the building permit with our architectural documentation.  

At the conclusion of this stage, you will receive your issued building permit and your project can commence with your selected builder. During construction, we are here ready to assist you and able to answer any queries that arise and make any design adjustments that may be required. Keep in touch with us once your project has completed, we would love to see the finish product and have the opportunity to photograph you home to add it to the gallery of beautiful professional photographs of our many previous projects. 

Stage 4 of the custom design process –
Interior Design  

Our interior designer will guide you through every step of the way with your interior selections and finishes. This can also be a daunting task, but we are here to guide and assist you with everything along the way of this custom design process. If you have a vision, we will help it come to fruition and if you are looking for inspiration, we will assist you in discovering something very special for your new design. However, you go about the design process, we are sure the finished product that we create will proudly represent you. During this stage, Graham Jones Design will; 

Assist with Interior Design i.e. interior colour selection, floor coverings, tiles, joinery design and cabinet finishes, fixtures and fittings etc.  

• Make amendments until we have reached your envisioned design. 

• Supply the cabinetry elevations drawings. 

• If requested, prepare a colour board & the relevant schedules to assist in envisioning how the materials will all come together.