Architectural services for major home remodels & additions
Transform your house into the home of your dreams
At Studio Z, we specialize in reimagining your home’s potential. Whether expanding your space with a well-planned addition or remodeling it for improved flow and functionality, our goal is designing a home that delights you with a seamless blend of style, comfort, and practicality.
Our approach to architectural services is about creating spaces that enhance what you love about your home while designing to fit your lifestyle and needs now and into the future.
Reshaping space.
Solving challenges.
Preserving character.
Major home remodels often present the unique challenge of blending new additions and upgrades with the character of older homes.
Preserving original charm while transforming the space, style, and functionality of a home to suit modern living requires creativity, technical expertise, and thoughtful design to achieve a balance that feels natural and timeless.
When you choose Studio Z for your home remodel, you'll gain
- A deep understanding of your needs, vision, and home’s unique challenges
- Designs that seamlessly blend your remodel or addition with your home’s character
- A focus on aesthetics and functionality to create beautiful, practical spaces
- A full-service process, from concept to construction oversight
Ready to create a home that reflects you and fits your lifestyle?
Let’s design the remodel or addition that feels truly yours.
Planning, creativity, and expertise
While it may look effortless and seamless, a successful major remodel doesn't happen by chance. It is the result of an in-depth process requiring attention to detail, creative problem-solving, expert knowledge of spatial design and construction, along with clear communications and project management.
Our architectural services guide you through every step:
- Understanding your needs and ideas, and documenting your existing structure
- Crafting initial design concepts for space and flow
- Developing detailed plans and providing interior design direction
- Preparing construction documents and coordinating with your contractor
- Overseeing construction to keep your remodel moving ahead as designed and planned
With Studio Z, you’ll avoid remodeling headaches like mismatched aesthetics and unexpected construction issues. Instead, you’ll enjoy a beautiful, cohesive home designed for you and your future.
Read more about how our thorough process and collaborative approach help you transform your home.
Tell us about your dreams for your home—we’re here to listen and make them a reality.
Start your home remodel journey with Studio Z Architecture
Let's bring your vision of home to life!
Ready to take the first step on your dream home project?
Interior design service to complete your home
For clients working with Studio Z Architecture on a major home remodel or a new home build, our interior design services are available to complete the home.
By collaborating with our in-house interior designer, every architectural decision—from the layout of your living spaces to the placement of windows—works cohesively with the finishes and fixtures, making your home both practical and visually stunning.
Happy clients & collaborators
"The Studio Z team is great. I had a lot of specific changes I wanted to make on our existing home. Dawn took the time to "seek first to understand," which is something I value. Their communication, planning and persistence are notable. Studio Z "gets it" and it's a rare thing to find these days."
“I love being involved in the collaborative team effort with Studio Z from the start!
"Studio Z did such an expert job of matching the existing design and spirit of what was there. They listened and helped us think through how the space would really be used. The result is a space we truly love."
"The Studio Z team is great. I had a lot of specific changes I wanted to make on our existing home. Dawn took the time to "seek first to understand," which is something I value. Their communication, planning and persistence are notable. Studio Z "gets it" and it's a rare thing to find these days."
“I love being involved in the collaborative team effort with Studio Z from the start!
Frequently asked questions
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At what point in my home remodeling project should I involve an architect?
As soon as you decide you want to make major remodeling updates to your existing home!
By starting the process with an architect, they can help you assess the feasibility of your ideas, explore the possibilities, and identify the limitations of your current home.
An architect can also help identify potential remodeling challenges upfront, and help keep them from becoming costly problems later on in your project. When you work with an architect from the very start, you’re also likely to discover new options and design solutions you wouldn't have thought of on your own.
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How do I know if I need an architect for my home remodeling?
Not everyone needs an architect for the home remodeling they have in mind. And, in Michigan, not every home design project needs an architect.
As you consider taking on a remodeling project for your existing home, start by answering a few questions:
- How clear you are about what you want and need?
- How much time you have to oversee and coordinate the project?
- Do you have the experience or knowledge for the scale of the project?
By honestly answering these questions, you'll be better able to decide what's right for you.
For smaller remodeling projects—especially if you have a very clear idea of what you want—you may find a home designer or a draftsperson can be the right choice when you are looking for someone to simply draw up your plan.
If your remodeling ideas include more than one existing space or involve creating an addition to your home—or you just aren't sure what's possible or what will solve your problems—the professional expertise of an architect may be your best starting point.
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Can Studio Z help me design and build a project over several years?
We often work with clients who, for various reasons, choose to build their project in phases. The best way to start thinking about a phased project is to imagine how you’d like your home to be in 5 or 10 years, for example:
- If you have children, how old will they be?
- Will you entertain frequently?
- Do you plan to work from home?
We’ll take these ideas and come up with a master plan – a set of plans for your future home.
Once the master plan is designed, we work with you to determine the best sequence for constructing the various phases based on your needs and budget, and according to construction best practices.
Read more about the pros and cons of phasing your major home remodel.
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Why do I need an architect to design my home remodel?
By hiring an architect, you get a project designed for you and your specific desires and needs. An architect is skilled in making the best use of your existing home and the property, light, space, and materials to create a home remodel that fits you and your lifestyle.
One of the greatest risks of working on a major home remodel without an architect is making costly and time-consuming mistakes, running into delays caused by unexpected construction revisions, and living with results that don't work for you.
Your architect can also do regular site visits and report on progress while construction is underway on your home remodel. Think of your architect as your watchful eyes and clear voice on the project site.
By staying engaged throughout the process, your architect is able to answer questions that come up during the build and help guide the project so the finished result is built to match your design plan. This level of service is especially helpful if you are not able to be on site yourself.
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Does Studio Z provide construction services as well?
Studio Z does not provide construction services. However, we are happy to provide you with names and contact information for contractors who have worked successfully with our clients in the past.
We will work very closely with your chosen contractor throughout the entire design and build process, and do our best to support you and help make the construction process as smooth as possible.
