Fein Designs since 2004 has been designing and renovating homes, preserving and rejuvenating historic properties and making valuable contributions to the community. The firm's principal Deborah Fein-Brug PA, enjoys working on a diversity of projects from small renovations or additions to new home designs. Another mainstay of her practice is the restoration and preservation of historic buildings, including homes, public properties and places of worship. She has Bachelors degree in Architecture from the University of Detroit and a graduate certificate in historic preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to starting Fein Designs she worked for the City of Detroit and several architectural firms in Maryland. In these positions she guided the restoration of public buildings, designed new commercial properties and private residences. Deborah received her registration as an architect in 1991 and is currently licensed in Maryland and Massachusetts.
"Worked with us to develop preliminary designs for a new house. Very conscientious and professional. Took the time to consider all of the technical and people issues related to the design package."
JOHN F on August 2021
Fein Designs since 2004 has been designing and renovating homes, preserving and rejuvenating historic properties and making valuable contributions to the community. The firm's principal Deborah Fein-Brug PA, enjoys working on a diversity of projects from small renovations or additions to new home designs. Another mainstay of her practice is the restoration and preservation of historic buildings, including homes, public properties and places of worship. She has Bachelors degree in Architecture from the University of Detroit and a graduate certificate in historic preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to starting Fein Designs she worked for the City of Detroit and several architectural firms in Maryland. In these positions she guided the restoration of public buildings, designed new commercial properties and private residences. Deborah received her registration as an architect in 1991 and is currently licensed in Maryland and Massachusetts.
"Worked with us to develop preliminary designs for a new house. Very conscientious and professional. Took the time to consider all of the technical and people issues related to the design package."
JOHN F on August 2021
My practice focuses on residential and small commercial building architectural design. I am a licensed architect with 40 years of experience, both in new buildings and additions/renovations. I am a small owner operated office, striving to keep fees affordable for my clients. No charge to client for initial meeting and fee proposal preparation. I am looking forward to working with you! For more information, see my web site: https//: christopherpyzik.com
"Chris has a wealth of knowledge! He is super professional and timely. We are thrilled we found him through Angis list and would 100% recommend him for residential architectural work!"
Lindsey J on November 2024
My practice focuses on residential and small commercial building architectural design. I am a licensed architect with 40 years of experience, both in new buildings and additions/renovations. I am a small owner operated office, striving to keep fees affordable for my clients. No charge to client for initial meeting and fee proposal preparation. I am looking forward to working with you! For more information, see my web site: https//: christopherpyzik.com
"Chris has a wealth of knowledge! He is super professional and timely. We are thrilled we found him through Angis list and would 100% recommend him for residential architectural work!"
Lindsey J on November 2024
Dwight M. Herdrich, AIA Architect is a multi-disciplinary design firm with over 25 years experience in Architecture, Site Planning, Interior Design, Acoustic Design, Graphic Design, Kitchen Cabinetry and Furniture Design. Projects completed over the years include everything from small home additions, to 100,000 square foot Worship Centers, and many varieties in between. A native of Michigan, Dwight moved to Maine in 1993 following a few years in San Diego, California, where he moved upon completion of his Masters of Architecture at the University of Michigan. After working for a few mid-sized architectural firms in Portland, Maine, Dwight joined Houses & Barns by John Libby in 1998, designing many of the beautiful homes that they have built. After an extended hiatus of pursuing projects on his own in Sarasota, Florida, Dwight returned to Maine in 2011, and continued his passion for innovating the New England vernacular, basing his firm in the Portland, Maine region. Dwight moved back to his home state of Michigan in 2019, where he established the firm, and has done several commercial renovation projects and residential projects in the state, as well as still working on projects in Maine. He lives with his wife and three children in Ann Arbor.
"Dwight is great to work with. He’s always positive and has great design aesthetics."
Joshua L on May 2024
Dwight M. Herdrich, AIA Architect is a multi-disciplinary design firm with over 25 years experience in Architecture, Site Planning, Interior Design, Acoustic Design, Graphic Design, Kitchen Cabinetry and Furniture Design. Projects completed over the years include everything from small home additions, to 100,000 square foot Worship Centers, and many varieties in between. A native of Michigan, Dwight moved to Maine in 1993 following a few years in San Diego, California, where he moved upon completion of his Masters of Architecture at the University of Michigan. After working for a few mid-sized architectural firms in Portland, Maine, Dwight joined Houses & Barns by John Libby in 1998, designing many of the beautiful homes that they have built. After an extended hiatus of pursuing projects on his own in Sarasota, Florida, Dwight returned to Maine in 2011, and continued his passion for innovating the New England vernacular, basing his firm in the Portland, Maine region. Dwight moved back to his home state of Michigan in 2019, where he established the firm, and has done several commercial renovation projects and residential projects in the state, as well as still working on projects in Maine. He lives with his wife and three children in Ann Arbor.
"Dwight is great to work with. He’s always positive and has great design aesthetics."
Joshua L on May 2024
While you might think that architects only draw blueprints for buildings, they are much more involved in the overall construction process than you might realize. While they aren’t the ones swinging the hammers, architects do the following:
Communicate with the homeowner on the project request, including assistance when exact plans aren’t known
Develop computer-aided models and blueprints of the requested design
Ensure that the design incorporates form, function, and safety features
Provide the contractor with the agreed-upon design
Supervise the general contractor and any subcontractors throughout the project
Communicate any needed changes to the project with the homeowner and draw new plans accordingly
Before settling on and hiring an architect, it’s beneficial to you as a homeowner to ask some questions to familiarize yourself with their work. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend time and resources on a professional that doesn’t specialize in exactly what you want in a house. Some questions to ask your architect include:
How do you charge for services? Is it on an hourly basis, based on square footage, or based on project size?
How do we work together to stay on budget for this project?
Do you anticipate any future challenges with this project? How are these communicated?
What is your project management style? If you are not handling the day-to-day details, who is my point of contact?
Can I see previous similar projects that you’ve completed?
Do you have any specialty experience, like working on historic homes or using sustainable building materials?
The average cost to hire an architect for your home project ranges between $2,200 and $10,500. However, depending on location and project type, you might end up paying as little as $600 or as much as $45,000 or more. For example, the average cost of hiring an architect in North Carolina is between $1,800 and $2,000, but in California, that price tag jumps to $3,600 to $15,200.
The price you pay for your architect also depends on their experience level. For example, a principal architect, the firm's owner, typically charges $150 to $250 per hour. However, an intern architect with three to five years of experience usually only charges $45 per hour.
After you’ve spoken with your contractor and agreed on a project, they’ll draw up blueprints, or plans, that the construction crew will use. The blueprint process can take between four and six months to complete. While this can seem like a long time, remember that the architect must communicate with your municipality to determine codes, communicate with you as the homeowner with any changes or adjustments, and coordinate with the construction crew.
If you simply remodel your home or add an addition, the time to draw up the plans will be shorter since fewer permits and surveys are required. Even still, it’s best to plan for a few months for the architect to complete this part of the project.
Knowing if you need an architect for your project can be tricky, especially if you've never worked with one before. In general, small remodeling projects like replacing fixtures typically don't require the expertise of an architect. However, larger projects, like moving walls or adding an addition to your home, should include an architect to ensure the project is structurally sound.