SPACE PLANNING & PLAN REVIEW
A thoughtful second look at your floor plans
The best time to improve a floor plan is before anything is built.
If you’re planning a new home, addition, or renovation, I’ll help you look beyond the lines on the page and consider how your home will actually feel and function day to day. We’ll look at room sizes, furniture placement, walkways, storage, and how each space connects to the next.
You’ll receive clear, thoughtful recommendations that you can discuss with your architect or builder, helping you move forward with greater confidence before the plans are finalized.
THE PROCESS
The space planning process is structured in three phases.
PHASE 1
DISCOVERY & DESIGN KICKOFF
We’ll begin with a complimentary discovery call so I can learn a little about your home, where you are in the planning process, and what is making you question the current layout.
After taking a brief look at your floor plans, I’ll prepare a proposal outlining the areas I recommend reviewing, the anticipated number of hours, and the initial retainer.
Once you’re ready to move forward, we’ll meet virtually to talk through your wish list, daily routines, priorities, and inspiration. I want to understand not only how you want your home to look, but how you want it to feel and function for the people who live there.
PHASE 2
PLAN REVIEW & RECOMMENDATIONS
Next, I’ll take time to thoughtfully study your plans and imagine how your home will work in everyday life.
I’ll consider questions such as:
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Are the rooms appropriately sized and proportioned?
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Will your furniture fit comfortably?
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Do the walkways feel open and natural?
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Is there enough storage where you will actually need it?
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Will the doors, windows, and openings work with the way each room is furnished?
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Do the spaces connect in a way that feels comfortable and intentional?
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Are there opportunities for built-ins or millwork that would make the home more functional?
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Do important spaces like the kitchen, pantry, bathrooms, mudroom, and laundry room support your routines?
You’ll receive annotated plans and clear recommendations showing what is working, what may be worth reconsidering, and which questions should be addressed before your plans are finalized.
PHASE 3
PRESENTATION & NEXT STEPS
We’ll meet virtually to walk through everything together. I’ll explain what I noticed, why I’m recommending certain changes, and which decisions are most important to address before your plans are finalized.
You’ll leave the meeting with a clear understanding of the recommendations and annotated plans you can take back to your architect or builder for further discussion. They can then evaluate the proposed changes and determine how to incorporate the approved updates into the official plans.
If you decide you would like additional help developing the interiors or making detailed selections, we can also discuss the best way to continue working together.
IS THIS SPACE PLANNING SERVICE FOR YOU?
THIS SERVICE IS FOR YOU IF:
FOR HOMEOWNERS:
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You’re planning a new home, addition, or renovation and already have preliminary floor plans.
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You want to make sure your home will function as beautifully as it looks.
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You’re unsure whether the rooms are appropriately sized or how your furniture will fit.
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You have questions about walkways, storage, door locations, or how adjoining spaces connect.
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You would feel more confident having an interior designer review the plans before they are finalized.
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You already have an architect or builder who can evaluate the recommendations and incorporate approved changes into the official plans.
FOR ARCHITECTS & BUILDERS:
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Your client would benefit from additional guidance on how the interiors will function and furnish.
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You want to resolve questions about room proportions, furniture placement, storage, or flow before the plans are finalized.
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You would value an interior designer’s perspective during the early planning process.
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You’re looking for collaborative design support within a clearly defined scope.
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Your client wants professional interior guidance without committing to full-service interior design.
THIS SERVICE IS NOT FOR YOU IF:
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You need someone to create architectural floor plans from the ground up.
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You want comprehensive layout development rather than a review of existing plans.
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You need detailed kitchen, bathroom, cabinetry, or millwork design.
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You would like help selecting finishes, fixtures, lighting, or furnishings.
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You want ongoing design guidance and collaboration throughout construction.
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You need architectural, engineering, permitting, code-compliance, or construction documents.
If you would like support developing every detail of your home and carrying the design into construction, Full-Service Interior Design may be the better fit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is the best time to begin this service?
The ideal time is after your preliminary floor plans have been created but before the layout and construction drawings are finalized. This gives us an opportunity to identify questions and consider meaningful changes while your plans are still evolving.
What do I need before we begin?
You will need a current floor plan for me to review. This may come from your architect, residential designer, builder, or another qualified professional.
For a new home, addition, or significant renovation, you should also have a professional responsible for developing the official plans and construction details. If you are planning a smaller renovation, contact me to discuss what you currently have and whether it is enough to begin the review.
Will you communicate directly with my architect or builder?
You will receive annotated plans and clear recommendations that you can take back to your architect or builder for further discussion. They can then evaluate the proposed changes and determine how to incorporate the approved updates into the official plans.
If your architect or builder has a specific question about one of my recommendations, I am happy to provide clarification. Any additional meetings, emails, or professional coordination will be billed at my hourly rate and completed with your approval.
What will I receive?
Your deliverables will be tailored to the areas and questions included in your proposal.
Depending on the scope, you may receive:
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Annotated copies of your existing floor plans
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Conceptual furniture layouts
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Written observations and recommendations
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A virtual presentation and review meeting
My recommendations will explain what is working, what may be worth reconsidering, and which decisions should be discussed with your architect or builder before the plans are finalized.
How is this service billed?
Space Planning & Plan Review is billed at $150 per hour. After our complimentary discovery call, I will briefly review your plans, the areas you would like included, and the level of guidance needed. I will then provide an estimated range of hours and determine an appropriate initial advance retainer.
The retainer is applied to time spent preparing for and leading our virtual kickoff meeting, reviewing your plans, developing recommendations, preparing annotated drawings, and presenting the completed review.
You will be notified before work exceeds the approved estimate. If the review is completed for less than the advance retainer, any unused balance will be refunded according to the terms of your agreement.
What if my plans do not need many changes?
Not every review should result in a long list of changes. Sometimes the most valuable outcome is knowing your plans are already well considered and feeling confident moving forward.
I’ll explain what is working and focus my recommendations on the areas that genuinely deserve further consideration. Because the service is billed hourly, you pay for the professional time used rather than for a predetermined number of changes.
Can you review only one floor or a few rooms?
Yes. Your review may focus on one floor, an addition, or a specific group of rooms. I will review the plans and your priorities before confirming the scope and initial retainer.
Are renderings included?
Photorealistic renderings are not automatically included. If a three-dimensional view would be particularly helpful in understanding a proposed layout, we can discuss adding it to the hourly scope.
Any rendering provided through this service is intended to communicate the overall layout and spatial relationships. It does not represent final selections or construction documentation.
Are these construction drawings?
No. The annotated plans and recommendations I provide are conceptual and intended to support planning and conversation with your design team.
Your architect, builder, engineer, cabinet professional, and other qualified trades remain responsible for verifying measurements, addressing structural and code requirements, developing construction details, and preparing the official drawings needed to build the home.
Is this service available outside the Lancaster area?
Yes. Space Planning & Plan Review is a virtual service available regardless of location. Our kickoff meeting and final presentation will take place over Zoom, and you’ll receive digital plans and recommendations to share with your architect or builder.
If your home is located in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area and you need more comprehensive support, including detailed interior design, selections, sourcing, and implementation, Full-Service Interior Design may be a better fit.
MEET RACHEL
I design homes that feel finished, function well, and support the way you live day to day. My background as a home health physical therapist continues to shape how I approach design, with a strong focus on how a space works, not just how it looks.
