OUR PROCESS

Every project begins with a conversation. We offer a complimentary discovery call to understand your goals and share how we work, because fit matters. If we feel aligned, the next step is a paid in-person consultation where we walk through your project in depth, answer your questions, and assess the scope together. From there, we prepare a tailored proposal that outlines scope, process, and investment.

Typically 1 to 3 months, depending on scope

Before any design decision is made, we build a foundation. This phase is about understanding: your lifestyle, the site, the architecture, and the life you want to live in this space. We hold in-depth client meetings, conduct site analysis, coordinate with your consultants (architect, builder, engineers), and review any property restrictions or bylaw considerations. We prepare accurate as-built drawings and work with you to establish the project's budget, schedule, and aesthetic direction.

What emerges is a concept that honours the bones of your home, reflects your personal history, and sets a clear tone for everything that follows. This is where we slow down on purpose. It is the stage that makes every subsequent decision easier.

Typically 4 to 8 months, depending on scope

Here, the design takes shape with precision and purpose. We optimize circulation, layout, and the relationships between spaces. We design custom millwork, integrated lighting, and architectural details that feel considered rather than applied. Materials, finishes, fixtures, and hardware are selected with the whole in mind, not room by room.

Throughout this phase, all proposed work is supported through drawings that describe feeling and through full renderings of the areas that require the most visibility before execution. Not every element needs to be seen to be understood, but where clarity matters most, it will be there. We coordinate closely with your consultants at every step to ensure drawings, decisions, and direction remain aligned.

Typically begins during Design Development and continues through to move-in

For clients who want a fully realized interior, we extend our scope to include the selection and procurement of furniture, art, accessories, and decorative lighting. The furniture scope is not opened until the design development phase has established a clear direction: only once the floor plan is resolved and the concept is confirmed can we write a procurement proposal that truly reflects the requirements of the space and the goals of the project. 

We manage sourcing, purchasing, and delivery logistics, coordinating closely with your construction timeline so that every piece arrives when the space is ready to receive it. This phase connects directly to the final installation.

Typically about 3 months, depending on scope

This is where vision becomes instruction. We produce CAD-drafted construction drawings: plans, elevations, reflected ceilings, and details, alongside complete finish specifications and documentation packages ready for pricing, permitting, and builder execution. Every drawing is prepared with the trades in mind: clear, complete, and buildable. Upon your approval, we hand off to your builder.

The care we put into documentation is one of the most significant ways we protect your investment and your timeline.

Typically 12 to 24 months, depending on scope

During construction, Dashwood works alongside your construction management team as a collaborative partner. We are there to help solve problems, answer questions, and be your advocate when decisions need to be made, while keeping you informed throughout. We conduct regular site visits to maintain fidelity to the design, review shop drawings and finish samples, and issue site instructions and change orders as required. Final inspections and detailed deficiency reports ensure nothing is left unresolved.

Construction is dynamic, and good design lives in the details of how a project is built. Our sustained involvement means the design intent stays active throughout: informing conversations, supporting decisions, and keeping the whole team moving toward the same vision.

Typically 4 to 6 months, often overlapping with construction

The final phase is where a house becomes a home. We install the furnishings, artwork, and objects that complete the space, brought together with the same care as every architectural decision that came before. We manage delivery coordination and are on-site throughout to ensure the finished result feels layered, intentional, and true to the vision.

By the time you walk through the door, every detail has been considered. The space is complete, and it already feels like it belongs to you.