Design First. Build Right.
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN SERVICES — VANCOUVER & GREATER VANCOUVER
Most Vancouver homeowners experience a gap between what was designed and what gets built. At Kerr Design Build, our designers and builders work together from day one — sharing information, resolving details early, and ensuring the construction team fully understands the design before a single wall moves. The result is a finished home that matches the vision you approved — not an approximation of it.
Every Step. Every Detail.
We Start By Listening.
Our first meeting happens at your home. We listen to what you want to change, what you want to keep, and what matters most to you. From there, our design team develops initial floor plans and, where relevant, early 3D concepts — giving you something concrete to react to.
At this stage we stay in black and white. No colours, no textures — just layouts and volumes. We want to confirm the bones of the plan are right before adding detail. We’ll typically present up to three options, and at least one must hit your budget. By the end of Stage 1, you have an agreed layout and a realistic conceptual budget.
Details Locked. Budget Confirmed. Permits Prepared.
In Stage 2 we move from concept to construction-ready design. Our team develops full drawings — including electrical layouts, window and door schedules, and permit documentation if required. Your construction project manager joins at this stage, reviewing every detail before it goes to paper.
We also establish the level of finishes you’re working toward — not the specific tile yet, but whether you’re thinking marble slabs or ceramic, freestanding tub or built-in, heritage floors or modern reveals. These decisions shape the budget accurately, so there are no surprises when we move into construction.
If a Building Permit is required, it’s submitted at the end of this stage.
Every Finish. Every Fixture. Every Detail — Before Construction Begins
With the construction contract signed and budget confirmed, Stage 3 is where your home comes to life visually. Our design team selects the exact materials for your project — flooring, cabinetry, tiles, lighting, fixtures — and presents up to three options within the budget established in Stage 2.
Every selection is rendered in 3D so you can see precisely how your finished spaces will look and feel. We review, refine, and adjust until you love it — then finalize the full interior design package, including all elevations and the final electrical layout, before construction begins.
Our Designers Stay on Site. So Nothing Gets Lost in Translation
Most design firms disappear once construction starts. Ours don’t. Our design team meets with the production crew before construction begins to walk through every detail of the package — and remains involved throughout the build.
When something unexpected comes up inside a wall or under a floor — and it often does in Vancouver’s older homes — our designers are there to resolve it quickly and without compromising the design intent. We verify tiles, cabinetry, lighting placement, and finishing details on site to make sure everything is exactly right.
Explore Projects That Went Through Every Stage
Every project in our portfolio was designed and built using this same four-stage process — from initial sketch to final walkthrough.
The Waterfront Residence
A three-storey custom home on the north shore of Burrard Inlet — designed to rise with the drama of a 34% waterfront slope. A vaulted main living level, sail-inspired roofline, full-height glazed courtyard, and a glass elevator within a sculptural stair. Currently in design development with designer Leo Chester.
The Ucluelet Residence
An oceanfront custom home on one of Vancouver Island’s most spectacular and demanding coastal sites — designed for a couple with two rental suites, a dramatic footbridge entry, a gull-wing cedar roof, and covered decks built for BC’s rainiest corner. Every constraint of the site became the architecture. Currently in design development with designer Leo Chester.
Start With a Design Consultation
Tell us about your home and your goals. Our team will walk you through what the design process looks like for your specific project — and what to expect at every stage.