A Dueck Builders prep guide for crafting “Spaces That Speak Your Story.”
What this is: A simple, high‑impact guide to help you arrive confident and prepared for our first design meeting—without pre‑filling our internal design brief. Read this, gather a few items, and we’ll lead you through the rest.
Quick‑Read Checklist (bring or think about these)
1) Start With Outcomes: Your “Afters” & Your “Gold”
Afters: What do you want life to feel like after move‑in? Quiet mornings with sunlight, room for teens and friends, a mudroom that actually works.
Gold: Name your top 3 non‑negotiables. Everything else we can trade around; your gold is what we defend in value‑engineering.
Tip: Write your “before → after” in one sentence. We’ll use it as a north star for design decisions.
2) People & Lifestyle
- Who lives here now—and later? Kids’ ages, potential aging parents/long‑term guests, pets.
- Work/learn at home: Zoom privacy, acoustics, natural light, dual‑purpose rooms.
- Entertaining: How many for seated dinners? Summer BBQ flow? Need a prep pantry/back kitchen?
- Storage pain points: Seasonal gear, bulk shopping, sports, musical instruments.
- Accessibility/aging‑in‑place: Step‑free entries, stacked closets for future elevator, wider doors, curbless showers.
Estate‑level lens: Consider a service entry, delivery drop, secure package room, and back‑of‑house circulation.
3) Your Land & Lot
Bring what you have: recent survey, developer agreements, title/covenants/architectural guidelines, and any geotech or developer info.
On site strategy we’ll discuss:
- Orientation & views: Morning/evening light, privacy, prevailing winds.
- Setbacks & guidelines: HOA/AR guidelines, height limits, easements.
- Water & resilience: Drainage, grading, sump/discharge planning, flood considerations.
- Solar & snow: Roof forms for solar‑ready, snow shedding at entries.
- Landscape: Trees to keep, outdoor rooms, drive court, storage for trash/recycling.
4) Investment, Timing & Contingency
- All‑in budget: Land + site + permits/design + build + landscaping + appliances/furnishings + 10–15% contingency.
- What moves the needle: Envelope performance, window/door package, millwork complexity, mechanical system type, exterior materials.
- Timeline: Desired move‑in; decision availability; travel schedules. We’ll map lead times and sequence milestones.
Pro move: Think of contingency as budget breathing room. For example, you may believe you’re fine with basic taps now—but when you’re standing in front of the beautiful fixtures at The Ensuite, it’s hard not to upgrade. A contingency buffer means you can make those in‑the‑moment decisions without blowing the budget.
5) Design Direction: Give Us a Target, Not a Script
Curate 10–20 images of spaces you love. Add 3–5 style words (e.g., warm modern, natural, tailored, quiet). Tell us why each image works: light, texture, proportion.
What to avoid:
- Endless Pinterest dumps (we lose the signal).
- Pre‑sketching every room (can box us in too early).
- Buying fixtures before design (costly re‑work risk).
Include:
- Aspirational rooms: Kitchen, great room, primary suite, kid zones, entries.
- Sightlines & sequences: How you want the home to unfold as you move through it.
- Special spaces: Library, studio, gym/spa, wine, safe room, dog wash, sport storage.
6) Performance, Comfort & Sustainability
We specialize in high‑performance homes. Consider your appetite for:
- Energy targets: Code‑plus to Passive House‑level performance.
- Envelope: Airtightness goal, insulation strategy, thermal bridge control.
- Windows/doors: U‑values, solar gain strategy, daylight vs. glare.
- Healthy air: Balanced ventilation (HRV/ERV), filtration, humidity control, low‑VOC finishes.
- Resilience: Backup power, stormwater planning, cold‑climate detailing, durable materials.
- Future‑proofing: EV charging, solar‑ready conduit, radon rough‑in, smart home backbone.
We’ll translate goals into details: wall assemblies, mechanical systems, and specs that meet Manitoba’s climate demands.
7) Technology, Security & Networks
Plan the backbone now: hard‑wired network where it matters, Wi‑Fi coverage, AV zones, security and access control, cameras, window/door contacts, and shades. Consider wellness items like circadian lighting and quiet HVAC.
8) Early Selections (No SKUs Required)
You do not need product numbers. But it helps to know your preferences:
- Exterior palette (metal/stone/wood, light vs. dark).
- Roofing family (metal vs. shingle) and snow/ice strategy.
- Interior floors (wood/tile), countertop family (quartz/natural stone), plumbing lines you’re drawn to.
- Lighting philosophy: general vs. accent, dimming, feature moments.
- Millwork style & organization: pantry, mudroom, laundry, built‑ins.
9) Decision‑Making & Communication
- Roles: Who is point contact? Who all needs to be included?
- Cadence: Preferred channels, response windows, meeting rhythm.
- Change policy: Changes are normal—what matters is how we capture scope, time, and cost impacts promptly.
Tip: Some couples have found it helpful to have a fresh home-building email address to track design conversations and be prime point of contact for the build.
10) What to Bring to the Kickoff
- Survey, developer agreements, title/covenants/guidelines (if available).
- Inspiration folder (10–20 images) with captions.
- A short list of must‑haves, nice‑to‑haves, and dealbreakers.
- Big items/furniture you already own with dimensions (piano, sectional, king bed).
- Any constraints (heirlooms, religious/cultural needs, accessibility requirements).
11) What Not to Do Before We Meet
- Don’t pre‑buy fixtures or appliances.
- Don’t lock onto a floor plan from the internet.
- Don’t feel pressure to answer a long questionnaire—we’ll guide you.
12) What Happens After Kickoff
- Discovery → Concept: Translate goals into test‑fit plans and massing.
- Schematic Design: Floor plans, elevations, core assemblies.
- Design Development: Systems, envelope, windows/doors, millwork intent.
- Pricing & Value Alignment: Transparent pricing, option sets, update drawings.
- Permit & Construction Documents: Approvals and build‑ready details.
- Construction: Craft meets coordination; site meetings at key milestones.
A Final Word
Show up with clarity, not certainty. The right questions beat rushed answers. We’ll bring the process, craft, and sustainable building expertise to turn your “afters” into a home that performs for Manitoba’s climate and your life for decades.
Ready to begin? Contact us today to book your Design Kickoff.