Finding the Right Balance: What to Consider Before You Build

When a client comes to me ready to start a new architectural project — whether it’s a home, an addition, or a community space — one of the first conversations we have isn’t about paint colors or cabinet styles. It’s about balance.

Because at the heart of every successful project are two simple, but crucial factors:
size and quality.

The Size-Quality Equation

The truth is, you can make almost any project work if you carefully balance those two elements. You can design a small home with a generous budget and create something exquisitely crafted and enduring. Or you can design a sprawling house on a tighter budget, but you’ll likely need to make compromises on materials, finishes, or long-term durability.

The art of good design isn’t about having unlimited resources — it’s about knowing what matters most to you and investing where it counts.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Begin

When you’re thinking of building a new home (or any architectural project, really), start by asking yourself two simple but powerful questions:

• How big does this home really need to be?
  Not how big do you dream it might be someday, but how much space do you actually need to live comfortably, gather with the people you love, and enjoy your everyday routines.

• What level of quality matters to you?
  Are you someone who values high-performance windows, handcrafted millwork, and sustainable materials? Or are you more flexible, preferring to allocate resources elsewhere, like outdoor living spaces or a dream kitchen?

Once you’ve thought about these two elements, you can start to play with the numbers. Shrink the footprint, and you might free up the budget for better materials. Increase the size, and you might need to simplify finishes. The formula isn’t fixed — it’s about finding the right combination that works for your priorities and your life.

It’s Not About Bigger, It’s About Better

One of the myths we often face in architecture is that bigger is better. But some of the most beautiful, life-giving homes I’ve seen weren’t the largest or the most extravagant — they were thoughtful, intentional, and tailored to the way their owners lived.

A small, light-filled room can feel more expansive and peaceful than a vast, impersonal one. A well-made front door that feels solid in your hand will quietly affirm your sense of home every day. Quality lives in the details.

And those details don’t always require a bigger budget — just clarity about what matters most to you.

The Formula for a Good Project

At the end of the day, every project comes down to this balancing act. Size and quality.
Play with those two variables, and you’ll discover the version of your project that fits your vision, your values, and your resources.

As an architect, my role isn’t just to draw beautiful plans — it’s to help clients navigate these decisions, weigh their options, and build spaces that feel just right for the way they want to live.

Because good design isn’t about having it all — it’s about having what matters.