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Custom Home Design & Project Management Services in the Atlanta Metro Area

By Delano Designs

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The Lot Decides More Than the Floor Plan 

Building new removes the constraints of an existing structure and replaces them with the constraints of a site.

Grade, drainage, setbacks, tree protection, utility access, and orientation all shape what belongs on the lot before a floor plan means anything.

We develop the design against those realities, produce the complete construction document set, and coordinate the engineering, survey, and civil work the project requires.

It's the same principal-led process we bring to renovations, applied to a project where every decision is still open. And because Delano Designs isn't the builder, we're the party evaluating construction pricing on your behalf rather than submitting it.

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The Team a New Build Requires

  • Structural engineers:
    Foundation, framing, and load path design stamped for permit.

  • Surveyors:
    Boundary and topographic surveys establishing what the lot actually is before design commits to anything.

  • Civil and site engineers:
    Grading, drainage, stormwater, and driveway access, which on sloped Atlanta lots can drive the entire design.

  • Arborists:
    Tree protection and removal review, required by many metro jurisdictions and capable of relocating a house on its lot.

  • MEP consultants:
    Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design on projects where intent-level layouts aren't sufficient.

  • Permit reviewers and inspectors:
    Ongoing coordination through plan review, filing, and inspection.

Engineering, survey, civil work, permit filing, and permit fees are billed separately from design. Our pricing page breaks that down.

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Questions About Custom Home Design & Project Management

Do you build the house, or only design it?expand_more

Design and documentation only. You hire your builder directly, which keeps us independent when it's time to compare construction bids and review the work in the field.

Can you design a house for a lot we haven't bought yet?expand_more

We'd rather help you evaluate the lot first. Grade, drainage, tree coverage, setbacks, and utility access determine what's buildable and what it costs to build, and those factors are worth understanding before closing rather than after.

What does Delano Designs charge to design a custom home?expand_more

Custom home design starts at $17 per designed square foot with a $25,000 minimum, and every project gets a custom proposal based on size, design complexity, site conditions, consultant coordination, and final deliverables.

Design is the smallest line item on a custom home and the one that governs every other line.

How long does it take to create design drawings for a custom home?expand_more

For a custom home, expect the design drawings to take 12 to 16 weeks.

This timeframe allows for thoughtful space planning, design development, material and finish selections, revisions, and the creation of detailed drawings needed to prepare your remodeling project for construction.

After those are complete, expect the municipal review to take 4 to 12 weeks, depending on your jurisdiction.

A remodeled open-concept kitchen with blue cabinetry and bright lighting.
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Our Process

1 | CONNECT
We begin with a free fit call to talk through your home, your timeline, and the investment you have in mind. If your project is a match, we'll schedule a Design Jumpstart: a paid working visit where we walk the space with you, document your priorities, and surface the feasibility questions early. 
2 | DESIGN & DOCUMENT
We measure your home as it actually exists, then develop the layout and design with you. Once it's right, we produce the complete construction document set, coordinate any engineers or surveyors your project needs, and manage the permit filing with your jurisdiction from submittal through approval. 
3 | PRICING & BUILD
Your drawings go out for contractor pricing, and we compare the bids side by side and explain what the differences mean. We'll negotiate on your behalf and help you choose. Then we stay on through construction, answering questions from the field and keeping you updated until the punch list is closed. 

What's Included in Our Custom Home Design Services:

select_check_boxSite and program analysis
select_check_boxFloor plan design
select_check_boxExterior elevations and sections
select_check_boxFull construction documents
select_check_boxConsultant team coordination
select_check_boxPermit filing support

Our Work

Delano Design Services Cost Guide

Design & Project Management Cost Guide

Your project deserves the highest quality of design and expert management. To start your planning process off the right way, access our comprehensive cost guide today!

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Where We Work

We design remodels throughout metro Atlanta, with a concentration in intown neighborhoods where the homes have real architectural character and owners are investing to stay rather than move. Older housing stock takes more planning, and that's the work we're built for. If your home is outside the areas below, reach out anyway and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit. 

Our Service Area

  • Chastain Park
  • Decatur
  • Druid Hills
  • Dunwoody
  • Inman Park
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Hear From Your Neighbors

Ryan Delano has an incredible eye for design. Every project by Delano Designs is thoughtfully curated, stylish, and polished from start to finish. His professionalism and attention to detail truly set him apart. You can instantly recognize his work by how seamlessly it blends creativity with function. Highly recommend!

Nini L.

I had the pleasure of working with Ryan at Delano Designs, and I can't say enough about the exceptional experience. Ryan's phenomenal design work and thoughtful floor plans truly brought my vision to life. From the start, Ryan's ability to understand my ideas and translate them into creative and practical layouts for my basement was impressive. The process was not only efficient and well-organized but also incredibly inspiring. Ryan's expertise made it easy to explore new possibilities I hadn't even considered. I highly recommend Delano Designs for anyone looking to turn their space into something special!

Brett A.

Great experience working with a talented designer and orchestrator of the project . Came up with ideas / plans that not only turned out beautifully but also added value to the property- definitely recommend him and will call again as he made it effortless for me .

Henry

Ryan not only exceeded expectations but completely pulled off the unimaginable when designing our 8,000 ft² Brookhaven property. Trying to craft ideas out of nothing for such a large space becomes a daunting task, especially when trying to keep the flow and consistency of the designs throughout the house. However Ryan pulled it off flawlessly and efficiently

Ty H.

Ryan has been great! He really helped us understand our proposed layout with 3D modeling and executed it flawlessly. His visualization tools really helped us understand what we were going to get before any construction took place. Highly recommended!

Taha A.

Start Your Custom Home With a Solid Plan

Book a New Construction Fit Call

Delano Designs handles the design, documentation, and consultant coordination for building new, then keeps you independent from the contractor pricing it. Tell us about the lot and what you want to build.

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