At Story Hill Renovations, every successful project begins long before construction. As a design-build firm, our home renovation process is rooted in intentional planning, collaboration, and clarity. Our design development phase is where ideas are explored, refined, and ultimately transformed into a fully realized plan for your renovation. This critical stage of the renovation timeline ensures your vision, budget, and layout come together seamlessly before construction begins.
Below, we break down each step of our process so you know exactly what to expect.
Step One: Discovery & Measurement
After you sign a design agreement with Story Hill Renovations, your project begins with a deep understanding of your home and how you live. This first step in the renovation process focuses on gathering essential details that will guide your remodeling plans. Our initial design consultation takes place at your home, where we:
- Take detailed measurements
- Document existing conditions
- Review inspiration images you’ve collected
- Learn how you live in your space
- Discuss your priorities, routines, and goals
By grounding the project in how you live day-to-day, we ensure the final result feels effortless and intuitive. This foundational step allows our team to begin crafting design solutions tailored specifically to your lifestyle and home.
Step Two: Schematic Design
With a clear understanding of your needs, our team begins developing initial concepts as part of the design phase of the home renovation process. We guide you through multiple possibilities before narrowing in on a direction. During this phase, we present:
- Multiple floor plan options
- Simple 3D renderings
- Early material direction and mood boards
This is where creativity meets strategy. Exploring multiple layout options allows us to test functionality, optimize space planning, and ensure we’re moving toward a design that aligns with your goals. This phase also helps refine your personal style and overall renovation vision.
Step Three: Plan Refinement
This step is about aligning design, function, and budget, an essential part of keeping your home renovation process on track. You’ll start to see marked-up floor plans, refined layouts with key dimensions, preliminary cabinetry and millwork concepts, and appliance and fixture placement. We conduct ongoing check-ins to ensure the design aligns with your budget expectations and renovation scope.
In this step, we partner with you on:
- Adjusting layouts and dimensions
- Incorporating your feedback into updated plans
- Narrowing down materials and selections
- Showroom visits
Step Four: Defining the Details
At this stage, every detail is thoughtfully considered and clearly defined to help finalize your remodeling vision before construction. It is also an opportunity to review your budget and ensure you feel comfortable with the cost of your selected materials. We finalize:
- Floor plans and elevations
- Material selections (tile, cabinetry, countertops)
- Finish palettes (hardware, plumbing, lighting)
- Detailed cabinetry and millwork drawings
Trade Review
We translate the design into detailed construction documents and coordinate with trade partners to confirm scope, feasibility, and pricing. This is when we obtain bids for installation and construction costs.
Your interior designer leads a trade review to ensure accuracy, minimize surprises, and create a clear roadmap for construction.
During this phase, we:
- Create detailed construction documents
- Coordinate with trade partners
- Confirm feasibility and pricing
- Finalize project scope
Final Design Meeting: Construction Contract Presentation
This meeting is when you sign off on the design and are presented with a Construction Contract. With all details finalized, we present:
- Project Scope
- Construction Plans
- Investment Amount
Once your construction contract is approved and signed, your renovation officially moves into the construction phase. As building begins, your interior designer remains involved, supporting the team and ensuring the design is executed as intended.
Why Our Process Works
What sets Story Hill Renovations apart from other Milwaukee home renovation firms is our integrated design-build approach. By aligning design, budgeting, and construction from the beginning, our home renovation process creates a more streamlined and predictable experience. The result is a home that not only looks beautiful, but works beautifully for the way you live.
Contact us today if you are interested in starting a renovation!
