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Why Having a Guardian on Your Side Changes Everything

18 Years of Inside Knowledge — Now Working for You

We’ve spent 18 years inside the building industry — reviewing land, drafting homes, managing builds, and solving problems before they become disasters. Now, that experience works for one person only — you.

Designed to Be Built, Not Just Dreamed

A huge number of custom plans fall apart when it’s time to price or build. We design with builder systems and real budgets in mind — so what you plan is what gets built.

Designed for Real Sites, Not Hypotheticals

From setbacks to slopes, we factor in the realities of your land — so your dream design doesn’t hit a wall when the builder gets involved.

One Point of Contact — From Sketch to Site

No bouncing between drafters, sales reps, and builders. We handle your concept, match you with the right builder, and guide you through every major decision.

Tailored to You, Not a Template

This isn’t just drafting. It’s a personalised concept — built around your block, your lifestyle, and your budget — then matched to the builder who can bring it to life.

Your Budget Isn’t a Guess

We work backwards from what you’re comfortable spending — so the design supports the build, not fights against it. No more blind quoting or design reworks.

You’re Never Left Chasing Answers

Permits, planning, selections — we’re in your corner. We explain what matters, what’s coming next, and what to watch out for along the way.

Beautiful Outcomes Without the Burnout

You want a stunning result — not a stressful guessing game. We align every step to your budget, timeline, and vision — so you can enjoy the process, not fear it.

The Process That Shapes Your Plan, Your Builder — and Your Outcome.

Step 1:
Meet and Understand

We begin with a deep dive into how you want to live — your goals, your lifestyle, your land, and your budget — so the design that follows is grounded in your reality.

Lifestyle Vision

  • Future plans — family, work, guests, or retirement
  • What rooms matter most — and why
  • Outdoor space priorities and how you entertain
  • Any anxieties or unknowns around the build

Budget Realism

  • Set a working range based on actual build costs
  • Clarify what you’re comfortable spending — not just what’s possible

Site Context

  • Orientation, slope, size, overlays, covenants
  • Developer requirements and build zone constraints
  • On-site review where possible to plan from the ground up

By the end of this step, we know who you are, how you want to live, and what we’re really working with — so the rest of the process runs smooth.

Step 2:
Match with the Right Builder

Before we design anything, we confirm who can actually build it. You’ll be matched with a shortlist of builders who suit your land, budget, style and priorities — then walk through real display homes and review early cost estimates together.

Builder Shortlist

  • 2–3 builders chosen based on your scope and site
  • Key floorplans and façade examples presented
  • Advice on build method, inclusions, flexibility and finish

Display Walkthroughs

  • Walk through select displays aligned to your brief
  • Evaluate room proportions, layout flow and functionality
  • Discuss facade, zoning, and upgrade options on-site

Preliminary Pricing

  • Ballpark cost estimate based on builder feedback
  • Allows us to anchor the design to a realistic spend
  • Confidence that your next step won’t blow the budget

By the end of this step, we’ve matched your priorities with real-world builder capabilities — and know exactly what kind of design we’re targeting next.

Step 3:
Design Your Perfect Concept

Now that we’ve chosen your builder and budget range, I’ll personally draft a concept design — tailored to your lifestyle, land, and build constraints. We then update your pricing based on this concept, so you can move forward with clarity.

Concept Design

  • Personally drawn concept based on your goals, site, and style
  • Layout zones that match how you live — not just what fits
  • Designed with your builder’s capabilities and standards in mind

Updated Cost Estimate

  • We reprice your concept based on builder feedback
  • You see the financial impact of layout decisions now — not later
  • Ready to begin tender or submit to drafting (if moving forward)

Functional Refinement

  • Walkthrough the layout — zoning, light, flow, facade shaping
  • Minor adjustments made to improve cost or usability
  • Any future changes after this point may incur additional fees

By the end of this step, you’ll have a personalised concept — shaped around your builder and your budget — with a clear path to move forward confidently.

Step 4:
Guiding You Through the Admin
(if selected)

From tenders to contracts and colour selections, this is where most people feel overwhelmed. If selected, I’ll stay involved to make sure what we designed is what gets built — no hidden costs, no rushed decisions, no missed details.

Tender & Contract Review

  • Line-by-line review of tender to spot gaps or upsells
  • Ensure contract reflects the plan — and protect your rights
  • Flag clauses to raise with your solicitor

Colours, Electrical & Inclusions

  • Room-by-room selection walkthrough before appointments
  • Clarify what’s standard vs upgraded — and what’s worth it
  • Match finishes and fittings to your lifestyle and flow

Permits & Planning

  • Guide you through overlays, easements and MCP requirements
  • Coordinate planning approvals (if required)
  • Ensure your build is compliant before site works begin

By the end of this step, you’ll have confidence that your design, your pricing, and your paperwork are aligned — with no surprises down the track.

Step 5:
Protect the Build
(if selected)

When construction starts, most consultants disappear. I don’t. If selected, I’ll stay involved through key milestones — helping you monitor quality, flag risks early, and stay informed every step of the way.

Site Milestone Checks

  • Site visits at key stages (base, frame, lockup, final)
  • Review workmanship and build alignment to contract
  • Photos and reports shared after each visit

Independent Quality Inspections

  • Coordinate third-party inspections at key build stages
  • Ensure structural integrity and NCC compliance
  • Flag any defects that require rectification before payment

Handover & Warranty

  • Assist with final walkthrough and defect reporting
  • Guidance on handover documents and next steps
  • Support understanding your warranty period and process

By the end of this step, you’ll know someone’s got your back — even when the build gets messy. It’s not just peace of mind — it’s accountability on-site.

Pitfalls We Help You Avoid.

Whether it’s your first build or your fifth, most people don’t know what to ask — or when to push back.
With over 500 builds in our tenior, we've seen where it goes wrong.
Here’s what we help you avoid from day one:

Tender Gaps

Wrong Builder Fit

Unrealistic Budgets

Poor Layout Flow

Missed Natural Light

Land Misalignment

Covenants & Overlays

Regretful Selections

Contract Surprises

Construction Defects

Which Design Package is Right for You?

Your Questions, Answered

Can you modify a floor plan from a builder I’ve already chosen?

Design Guardian is designed for clients building from scratch — where we create or develop a unique plan that suits your land and lifestyle.

If you’re working from a builder’s existing floor plan, we may be able to help with layout advice or suggested tweaks — but the design remains their intellectual property and must be built through them.

This would fall under an individual service rather than a full design package. Get in touch and we’ll see how we can support your specific situation.

I’m unsure if custom design will fall outside my budget

That’s exactly what Design Guardian is here to protect you from.

We don’t just create plans — we pair you with the right builder before going down the design path.

This ensures your plan is achievable, not just ideal.

Everything we do is shaped by your budget, your block, and your goals — so you get a design that works in the real world.

Do you work with both estate and knockdown rebuild sites?

Yes — we work across both.

For estate blocks, we ensure your plan suits developer guidelines, orientation, and lot dimensions.

For knockdown rebuilds, we assess access, fall, and overlay constraints before recommending a design approach.

Can I use your design with any builder?

If you're just looking for a design and plan to find your own builder, we offer that as an individual service — available on our Services page.

Design Guardian, on the other hand, is built to help you pair a custom design with the right builder from the beginning.

This protects you from ending up with a beautiful plan that falls outside your build budget or scope.

It’s about designing smart — not just designing well.

What if I’ve already got a floor plan I like?

If it’s a builder’s copyrighted plan, we legally can’t use it as a base or draw from it — even if changes have been made.

However, if you’ve created your own sketch or concept, we can absolutely develop that into a custom, buildable design.

With nearly 20 years in the industry, I bring the expertise to guide you toward a solution that fits your goals, your block, and your budget — without needing to copy someone else’s plan.

The safest path is to start fresh — and get it right from the beginning.

What’s the difference between working with you and an architect?

An architect is a fully licensed design professional, and many produce incredible work.

But the reality is — most architects don’t deal with actual build costs.

A huge percentage of architectural designs created each year never get built because they were never going to meet budget.

That’s exactly why Design Guardian exists.

We protect you from investing in a design that looks great on paper but can’t realistically be delivered.

If you're building a high-end or engineering-heavy home, an architect may be the right fit.

But for most residential projects, the priority is functionality, flow, aesthetics — and making sure it comes in on budget so it can actually be built.

Just Want a Concept Design?

Need expert design help without the full package?

Discovery Guardian is perfect for clients looking for a full-service approach, but if you’re just after a concept design and don’t need the full package, we’ve got you covered:

Explore our concept design service

Still have questions?

Get in touch — whether it’s a quick question or something you want us to review, we’re here to help.

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