Coach & Carriage House Design & Drafting Services

Refined Designs, Fully Vetted Coach & Carriage House Design Services
Craftsman styled two-storey carriage house with garage

Small Projects…Big Experience

Our carriage house design & drafting services leverage our vast experience as residential designers in Vancouver during the original evolution of laneway housing.

Over the years we’ve worked on all scales of residential design but have transitioned to a more focused approach on designing carriage homes, cottages and small single-family homes.

Carriage House Limits

Unlike the design of residential homes and their range of potential options, carriage homes fall into a couple options.

Primarily dictated by lot setbacks, the number of storeys allowed and overall building height, carriage homes in Canada are limited to <968sf (90m2) of finished interior space.

3D section of craftsman styled one-storey carriage house plan
3D section of craftsman styled one-storey carriage house plan

Carriage House Limits

Unlike the design of residential homes and their range of potential options, carriage homes fall into a couple options.

Primarily dictated by lot setbacks, the number of storeys allowed and overall building height, carriage homes in Canada are limited to <968sf (90m2) of finished interior space.

craftsman style one-storey carriage house plan

Any Style or Scale Carriage House

Whether you’re looking for a small carriage house or want to maximize every available square foot, we here to assist.

Our carriage house design & drafting process hones in on what you can & can’t build on your lot and then fully develops a number or options for you to choose from.

Custom Carriage House Design Services

Refined Designs, Fully Vetted Coach & Carriage House Design Services

Each carriage house project (Coach Home or Garden Suite) presents it’s own unique set of circumstances. Thus our approach is to complete a custom design that’s driven by your program and site conditions. Depending on your municipality, the following services are typical of carriage house projects.

  • Site Master Planning
  • Schematic Design
  • 3D Modeling
  • Design Development
  • Architectural drafting
  • Development Drawings
  • Architectural Rendering
  • Building Permit Documents
  • Construction Drawings

Our Approach & Process

Carriage House Design & Drafting Services

Whether you know exactly what you want in your carriage house or need assistance figuring out what you can and can’t build, we’re here to guide you from the beginning. Our carriage house design process looks something like this:

  • 1. First Conversation

    Via email or telephone, an initial conversation is typical to get the ball rolling on our carriage house design services. We’ll tell you a little bit about how we work, give you an idea of fees and get a flavor for what it is you’re looking for.

  • 2. Zoning Research

    Each municipality and lot is different. We work our way through your zoning bylaw & lot conditions to determine the scope of your potential carriage house options.

  • 3. Free Consultation

    While not necessary, many people find value in meeting face-to-face on site to discuss your project. We’ll review your property, discuss your ideas and give you a taste for what can be done for your budget.

  • 4. Prepare Proposal

    We’ll prepare a fee proposal containing all the important details of project delivery, including project timeline, fees involved & a couple examples of similar projects.

  • 5. Define Program

    Every carriage house project is different and our approach will shift depending on your project goals. We start by getting you to complete a carriage house design questionnaire that will help to define your goals and provide a road map to success.

  • 6. Schematic Design

    Starting at 10,000ft in the air, we work through a series of schematic sketches and overlays demonstrating preliminary floor plan ideas and conceptual massing sketches. As the project develops, we get closer to the ground and into deeper detail.

  • 7. Design Development

    With the concepts and iterations narrowed down to one principal direction, we’ll go back to the working drawings and develop all the details and assemblies. We’ll make sure that each adjustment meets or exceeds the requirements of your local zoning by-law & building code.

  • 8. Building Permits

    With a preliminary planning review meeting under our belts, the structural design and the assembly of all the required drawings & documents for permit submission can take place. The creation of construction drawings and contractor tender documents also takes place at this point.

Questions about your process?

Take a Tour on YouTube

We use the latest design and media software to deliver an exceptional design experience. From first initial steps, we provide a deeper dive into your design decisions.

Will a three bedroom carriage house work without compromising livability? Will that window give a direct view into my kitchen? Will your new carriage house come in under budget? Our design process reflects a thorough and conscientious approach that addresses these concerns. Join us and together we’ll show you just how well a carriage could fit into your plans.

Take a Tour on YouTube

We use the latest design and media software to deliver an exceptional design experience. From first initial steps, we provide a deeper dive into your design decisions.

Will a three bedroom carriage house work without compromising livability? Will that window give a direct view into my kitchen? Will your new carriage house come in under budget? Our design process reflects a thorough and conscientious approach that addresses these concerns. Join us and together we’ll show you just how well a carriage could fit into your plans.

Selection of Recent Carriage House Projects:

Ready to talk about your carriage house?…Call Now