Schematic Design: Where Your Custom Home Vision Begins
August 20, 2025
Following up on our post about why you should hire an architect, we’re diving into the first formal step in the custom home design process: Schematic Design.
At Jaffe Architecture, schematic design is where insight, creativity, and livability converge. It’s more than early sketches—it’s where we uncover how you live, what matters most, and how to shape a home that’s both functional and beautiful.
What Is Schematic Design?
Schematic design is the master planning phase of any architectural project—whether it’s a new custom home, a whole-house renovation, or an interiors-focused remodel.
It’s where we define the project’s scope, layout, and design direction—laying the foundation for every decision that follows.
While some may think of it as “drawing the plans,” schematic design is about discovery, analysis, and problem-solving. We identify opportunities, study site constraints, and begin to shape how your home will support your life.
Getting to Know How You Live: The Client Interview
The heart of schematic design is understanding how you move through your day—and how your home can better support those routines.
We begin by walking through your current residence together. Whether it’s the front door or the garage entry, we ask:
What’s the first thing you do when you come home?
Where do your shoes, keys, or mail land?
Do you have enough storage for art, hobbies, or daily gear?
We take notes, measure furniture you’d like to reuse, and listen closely. This process helps us design homes that reflect real life—not just floor plans.
Common outcomes include:
Expanding or reorganizing closet space
Designing drop zones near entrances
Creating rooms that serve multiple functions
Integrating storage in places you may not expect
These early insights ensure the layout works on both a practical and emotional level.
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Fieldwork: Insights Beyond the Obvious
During this phase, we often uncover small design opportunities that deliver big impact.
One couple’s bathroom had a stack of books on the toilet tank—a subtle but clear signal. In the new design, we added shelving in the private toilet room, alongside extra storage.
For another family, we created a small niche near the garage entrance—just enough room for keys and mail—to solve a daily frustration.
In tighter homes or vintage renovations, we often use pocket doors, flexible room layouts, or integrated millwork to make spaces work harder. Guest rooms, offices, and playrooms are often designed to serve multiple purposes without sacrificing comfort.
If you’d like to see how these discoveries translate into built form, visit our Pure Michigaas project—a custom home shaped by schematic design from the ground up.
From Sketch to Solution: Functional and Beautiful
After fieldwork and interviews, we return to the studio and begin translating what we’ve learned into early drawings.
We balance:
Zoning and building code requirements
Budget alignment
Aesthetic and material direction
Lifestyle goals—both current and future
Our team explores multiple floor plan options, each one thoughtfully shaped by site conditions, sunlight, family dynamics, and long-term flexibility.
These drawings don’t capture every last detail—but they do establish the framework for a home that will grow with you. We’ll fine-tune materials, details, and cabinetry later during Design Development.
This phase is highly collaborative. Some clients feel aligned after one round. Others explore several iterations. Either way, our goal is to ensure your home reflects your priorities and supports your vision.
What Comes Next
The schematic design phase typically represents about 20% of an architect’s work, yet it’s where the most important ideas are formed.
In future posts, we’ll guide you through the next phase: Design Development, where your home begins to take on material texture, architectural detail, and spatial richness.
Planning a new custom home or renovation in Chicago, the North Shore, Lake Geneva, or Harbor Country? Let’s bring your vision to life—from the very first sketch.