Design Discovery Questionnaire
Nykeil Davis Build & Design
The design process begins with an idea. These questions help us understand your vision, needs, and lifestyle — skip anything that doesn't apply, and feel free to add your own insights.
Let's get started...
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Existing Documentation
Please indicate which documents you currently have available:
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Existing Documentation
Part 2 of 2
Special Considerations
Are there obstacles, constraints or special needs that may influence the project, in design, time or cost? Access, occupation during construction, site contamination, special permitting procedures?
Estimated Construction Budget
What resources do you plan to commit to the project? The construction budget typically does not include soft costs — design fees, engineering, or permitting. We'll work on this together to make sure it matches the project goals and space requirements; we'll use this as a starting point.
Do you anticipate this project being negotiated with a single contractor or put out to bid with several different contractors?
☐ Single Contractor (Negotiated directly)
☐ Competitive Bid (Multiple contractors)
☐ Undecided (To be determined)
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Site + Setting
Part 1 of 2
What do you consider special about the place you've chosen to live – your building site?
How do you envision this project relating to your site?
☐ Sits above it
☐ Nestled in it
☐ Combination of both
☐ Defers to site
☐ Dominates site
Are there significant site features the home should orient to or away from?
Views, trees, neighbors, water bodies?
☐ Views — Describe:
☐ Trees — Describe:
☐ Neighbors — Describe:
☐ Water Bodies — Describe:
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Site + Setting
Part 2 of 2
Are there particular interior spaces that should orient to particular exterior views or locations?
Please describe any transition areas between the house and site
Decks, terraces, walks, porches:
Please describe any significant outdoor spaces required or activities to plan for
Lawn, courts, pool, terraces, gardens:
☐ Lawn
☐ Courts
☐ Pool
☐ Terraces
☐ Gardens
☐ Other
Additional notes: ______________________________
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Arrival, Vehicles + Landscape
How do you envision arriving to your home?
Vehicle Requirements
Garage? Carport? Parking spaces, equipment provisions, parking court, turning areas, loop drives?
☐ Garage
☐ Carport
☐ Parking Court
☐ Turning Area
☐ Loop Drive
☐ Equipment Provisions
Number of parking spaces:
Describe your attitude toward vehicles
☐ Hidden
☐ On Display
☐ Indifferent
Describe any site access constraints
Long drive, easements, etc.:
Gardens
☐ Yes — Access to:
☐ No
Landscape Architect
Will you be involving a landscape architect in your project?
☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Undecided
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Lifestyle + How You Live
Who will be living in the home?
What's the purpose? Is it a vacation retreat, family gathering spot, a place to raise your family, a place to entertain clients?
☐ Primary Residence
☐ Vacation Retreat
☐ Family Gathering Spot
☐ Raise a Family
☐ Entertain Clients
☐ Other
Residents: _______________________________________________
If you build it, who will come?
Guests, friends, family? How many at a time?
What leisure activities are important to you?
Do they take place in the house or on the property? Anything special required to accommodate those activities?
What work activities are important to you?
Do they take place at home? In a dedicated space? Anything special required to accommodate those activities? Are work and home compartmentalized and kept separate?
☐ Work from Home
☐ Dedicated Home Office
☐ Work & Home Separate
☐ No Work at Home
Additional notes: _______________________________________________
Do you anticipate an elderly family member living with you in the future?
Should this be provided for in the design?
☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Possibly Notes: _______________________________________________
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Style, Atmosphere + Sensibility
Is there a particular style that you relate to or like?
Are your sensibilities...
Any one you gravitate toward more than another?
☐ Formal
☐ Modern
☐ Casual
☐ Country
☐ Minimalist
☐ Industrial
☐ Eclectic Combination
What feeling should the finished home convey?
☐ Calm
☐ Energizing
☐ Vibrant
☐ Relaxed
☐ High-Energy
☐ Formal
☐ Campy
☐ Other
Your own descriptor: _______________________________________________
What's your predominant color sense?
☐ Bright
☐ Colorful
☐ Muted
☐ Neutral
☐ Earthy
Are you sensitive to sounds?
Should certain spaces be sound isolated from others?
☐ Yes — Please describe:
☐ No
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Interior Spaces + Daily Life
Part 1 of 3
Entertaining
☐ Do you entertain often?
For how many?
☐ Occasionally ☐ Rarely
Dining
☐ Separate formal dining space
☐ Informal dining
Dining table size:
Kitchen
☐ Cooking is a priority
Professional equipment?
☐ Open to other spaces
☐ Enclosed and separate
☐ Place to eat as well
☐ Preparation only
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Interior Spaces + Daily Life
Part 2 of 3
Is TV or movie viewing a focus, occasional, or unimportant? How does it relate to your living spaces (separate space or integrated)?
☐ A Focus
☐ Occasional
☐ Unimportant
☐ Separate Space
☐ Integrated
Is music (playing, listening) a focus? Should it be incorporated into the design? Any large instruments to be accommodated (piano, drums)?
☐ Yes — Instruments:
☐ No
Do you regularly read for pleasure, if so where? Is dedicated book storage important?
☐ Yes — Where:
☐ No
Any special equipment (exercise, tools) to accommodate in the house?
☐ Exercise Equipment
☐ Workshop / Tools
☐ Other
Describe:
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Interior Spaces + Daily Life
Part 3 of 3
Where do you spend most of your time in your current home?
What's the character of that space (cozy, open, bright, dark)?
Are high ceilings important to you or do they seem wasteful?
☐ Important
☐ Wasteful
☐ Indifferent
☐ In certain spaces only
Describe any important adjacencies between rooms
Bedroom must be near the library, etc.:
Is single-level living an important design consideration?
All spaces, or certain ones?
☐ Yes — All spaces ☐ Yes — Certain spaces only:
☐ No
Is there a particular way that you would prefer to work with me?
☐ Phone
☐ In-Person Meetings
☐ Video Calls
☐ Text / Messaging
Additional notes:
Is there anything else I should know about you or your family that might impact the project?
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About the Architecture: Renovations + Additions
Part 1 of 2
If your project is a renovation, should the fundamental character of the space be...
☐ Altered + Reinvented
☐ Reinvigorated
☐ Restored
What do you like about the existing structure?
What would you change about the existing structure?
Does the existing structure adequately meet your space needs?
If not, where specifically is it lacking?
☐ Yes ☐ No — Lacking in:
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About the Architecture: Renovations + Additions
Part 2 of 2
How much time do you spend in the following areas?
Is there a favorite space in the existing house? Why?
Is there something that must be preserved about the existing structure? Something sentimental or otherwise?
☐ Yes — Describe:
☐ No
Are you open to the possibility of demolishing the existing structure and starting from scratch?
☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Open to discussion
If you're considering an addition, what spaces should the addition contain?
What relationship should the addition have to the existing?
☐ Connected
☐ Separate
☐ Similar
☐ Different
☐ Distinguished
Please list any existing liabilities or hazards that you're aware of
☐ Geotechnical
☐ Structural
☐ Mechanical
☐ Energy
☐ Mold
☐ Rot
☐ Envelope Problems
☐ Other
Describe:
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General: New Construction + Additions/Renovations
Part 1 of 3
Please list all of the spaces you'd like in your home (your wish list)
For the major spaces it's useful to list the character of those spaces as well (wood ceilings, cozy, bright, dark, etc.):
Are there any of these spaces that you would deem less important or that could be eliminated if budget were an issue?
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General: New Construction + Additions/Renovations
Part 2 of 3
Do you have an idea of the final size of the home?
SF, # of floors:
Approximate SF:
Number of Floors:
List any critical adjacencies
Office near entry, bathroom away from living, etc.:
Please describe any architectural preferences, inspirations or stylistic predilections that would influence the design
i.e.: you absolutely hate shed roofs, etc.:
Are there special features that should be included in the design?
☐ Fireplace
☐ Bowling Alley
☐ Sunroom
☐ Other
Describe:
Any particular material preferences or dislikes?
Concrete floors, hardwood, plywood, steel, glass, granite, shingles — think both exterior + interior. Do you prefer natural materials to synthetic?
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General: New Construction + Additions/Renovations
Part 3 of 3
Are you interested in alternative energy sources?
☐ Geothermal
☐ Solar
☐ Wind
☐ Not at this time
Will this be a year-round home?
☐ Yes ☐ No — Seasonal use:
Additional Notes / Comments:
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