It means we listen to your story—your family, your traditions, your dreams—and translate it into architecture. Every home we design is a reflection of that narrative. A Legacy Home™ isn’t just a structure; it’s the setting for your life, crafted with intention, meaning, and beauty that feels entirely you.

We work best with clients who value timeless design, craftsmanship, and collaboration. You appreciate an architect’s expertise and understand that great design takes time, care, and intention. You’re not focused on building the cheapest home—you’re focused on building the right one, crafted to last for generations.

A Legacy Home™ is rooted in the land, crafted for your family, and built to tell a lasting story—one to be shared and passed down through generations.

We listen first, and always. Our Whisperers Method™ weaves together energy, emotion, and environment to create homes that feel natural, grounded, and deeply personal.

Yes. While new homes are our specialty, we also take on legacy-level renovations when the site, structure, and story align with our philosophy.

Our main office is in Downers Grove, Illinois, with additional workspaces in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, and St. George, Utah. As a fully mobile studio, we collaborate easily with clients anywhere.

Cinda and Henri are licensed in Illinois; Cinda is also licensed in Wisconsin.

Many smaller municipalities and rural areas allow residential projects without an in-state architectural stamp. If your project requires local licensure, we can obtain reciprocity through our NCARB record to meet your state’s requirements.

Yes. Over the past 20 years, our process and reputation have led us to design Legacy Homes™ nationwide—along lakes, rivers, mountains, and other scenic destinations. For unique properties beyond our home states, we welcome a conversation about bringing our services to you.

Every Legacy Home™ begins with a Story Session™—an in-depth on-site design exploration where we walk your property together, studying its light, views, and character while discussing your goals. The result is a document with written summary and sketches that capture how your home might take shape—the first chapter of your story.

The Story Session™ can also serve as a stand-alone introduction to your home or be repeated for multiple properties. It’s completed under a fixed-fee agreement based on location and scope.

The earlier, the better—especially if you’re still exploring sites or considering a remodel. We can help you evaluate views, access, and permitting before you buy. Early collaboration means more thoughtful design and fewer surprises later.

Most new Legacy Homes™ take 12–30 months from concept to move-in, depending on site conditions, scope, and team availability. Large renovations typically take 9–18 months. A deliberate pace ensures every detail is right—and results in a smoother, more enjoyable experience.

Yes. We maintain trusted relationships with vetted builders and can help you interview, bid, and select the right team for your project.

Not at all. We believe true luxury has more to do with how a home feels than with its size or the brand names behind it. A well-designed space—no matter its square footage—offers comfort, beauty, and ease in everyday living. Whether it’s a cozy cottage, a lakeside retreat, a suburban home, or a multi-generation estate, every Legacy Home™ is crafted with the same care, intention, and artistic attention to detail.

Thoughtful design anticipates the future. We integrate universal design features into every home—wider halls and doors, grab-bar blocking, generous turning radii, and barrier-free entries when needed. Main-floor suites, elevators, and ramps can be added to ensure your home adapts gracefully as your needs evolve.

We understand neurodiversity—including autism and ADHD—on a personal level. We take pride in designing spaces that support focus, comfort, and calm for every family member. Whether that means a climbing wall in the playroom, a sensory-friendly retreat, or a quiet “away room,” we’ll tailor your Legacy Home™ to your family’s unique rhythms and needs.

We often create homes that bring generations together while maintaining privacy, comfort, and independence. Whether it’s a main-floor suite for parents, a private wing for grandparents, or connected quarters for adult children, we design thoughtful layouts that adapt as families evolve.

Absolutely. Pets are family too, and every Legacy Home™ can reflect that. From built-in feeding stations and durable flooring to mudroom pet showers, stables, or custom coops, we design for every creature that shares your home.

Every Legacy Home™ is tailored to its site and climate. We balance comfort and performance through orientation, materials, and systems—often exceeding energy-code standards. Building codes define the legal minimum; we design for more. For us, sustainability and beauty are inseparable.

We love designing smaller, purpose-driven spaces, and believe that better doesn't necessarily mean bigger. A well-designed compact home or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) can be just as refined and meaningful as a large residence—often more so, because every inch is intentional.

Yes. We design the architectural components—pool houses, outdoor kitchens, covered decks and patios—and collaborate with trusted landscape architects for plantings and water features. These spaces extend daily living into nature, connecting home to land, water, and sky.

Through our Whisperers Method™, we design homes that nurture both body and mind. Each Legacy Home™ integrates natural light, clean air, sensory balance, and views that connect you to nature. Using biophilic design principles, we create spaces that feel restorative, grounded, and deeply personal.

We love homes that celebrate what you collect and cherish. Whether it’s fine art, sculpture, photography, or a lifelong library, we design spaces that display and protect them beautifully—with gallery lighting, custom shelving, and climate-conscious detailing. Your Legacy Home™ should reflect your story—and your collections are part of that story.

Some of our favorite projects include custom features—hidden rooms, safe rooms, built-in safes, secret staircases, slides, or tucked-away reading nooks (ask us about the Speakeasy). These details make a home truly personal. Whether for play, privacy, or protection, your Legacy Home™ can include anything your imagination allows.

Yes. We offer integrated design for clients seeking a cohesive approach. We also collaborate seamlessly with your interior designer or recommend trusted partners from our network.

No. The construction budget includes visible, physical work—materials, labor, contractor fees, and contingencies. The project budget includes soft costs—architectural, engineering, and design fees, permits, furnishings, and amenities beyond the physical structure.

In many cases, the Construction Budget is approximately two-thirds of the total Project Budget.

Our fee reflects a complete, end-to-end design partnership. Following your Story Session™ (under separate Agreement, starting at $2,500), we’ll provide a detailed Letter of Agreement outlining our architectural process and fixed design fee. This transparency ensures confidence as we begin your creative journey.

Our services are billed as a fixed design fee, based on project scope and complexity. While not tied directly to construction cost, our fees typically represent about 9–15% of that amount.

For most projects, we divide the design fee into three equal payments: the first at signing, the second at completion of schematic design and preliminary pricing, and the final at delivery of permit-ready drawings. Any Additional Services required after completion of permit drawings—including those during permitting or construction—bill separately, as outlined in the Agreement.

Every project is unique—its size, scope, and location influence costs. Fees also differ depending on whether you’re building new, adding on, or renovating. In addition, not every professional bills as a percentage of construction cost—some structure their fees as hourly, cost-plus, cost per square foot, or fixed-rate agreements.

As a general guide:

• Architect: 9–15%
• Engineers: 1–5%
• Interior Designer: 3-8%
• General contractor: 15–25%
• Permits: 1–5%

Professional and soft costs together typically equal 30–50% of construction cost. For example, a $1 million build might result in a total project investment of $1.5 million.

No. The first 45-minute Google Meet is complimentary—an opportunity to connect, ask questions, and see if we’re the right fit.

Please send any relevant documents—such as a existing plat of survey, plans or other drawings, as well as any inspiration images—at least 24 hours in advance. If you’re still exploring locations, think about your priorities for both site and home; we’ll help you refine what to look for.

If it feels like the right fit, we’ll follow up with an email outlining next steps and an agreement for your on-site Story Session™—the first official step in designing your custom Legacy Home™.