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 experience, 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 - and one to pass down to your children and grandchildren.

We listen first, and always. Our Whisperer Method™ weaves together energy, emotion, and environment to create homes that are 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.

We work primarily from our home office in Downers Grove, Illinois. We can also be found at the lake in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, and in the desert river valley of St. George, Utah. As we all learned from COVID lockdown, the 'where' no longer matters as much—and we are fully mobile to work from anywhere.

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

Many smaller or rural municipalities, and some states as a whole, allow design and construction of residential projects without an architectural stamp (in-state or otherwise). If your project requires a local license, we will secure reciprocity through our National Council of Architectural Registration Boards record. Please reach out, and we’ll secure the necessary requirements for your location.

Yes. Over the past 20+ years, our reputation and process led us to create Legacy Homes™ beyond the Illinois and Wisconsin, at lakes, rivers, mountains and other scenic areas from coast to coast. For discerning families with unique properties in other states, we welcome a discussion to see how we might bring our bespoke services to you.

Every Legacy Home™ begins on the land itself, and begins with The Story Session™. Over the course of four immersive hours, we walk your site together—reading its light, views, and character—while exploring your goals and priorities. The result is a written summary and applicable sketches that capture how your home could take shape, marking the first chapter of your family’s story.

The Story Session™ is where every project begins—and can also serve as a stand-alone introduction to your home. It may be repeated for multiple properties or potential sites. The insights and concepts developed during this session are the foundation for your custom Legacy Home™ design. The Story Session™ is completed under a fixed-fee Agreement, determined by project location and scope. See more about the process here.

The earlier, the better—especially if you’re still exploring sites or thinking about remodeling an existing home. We can help you look at views, access, and local permitting before you buy. Starting the conversation early simply means more time to design with intention and fewer surprises along the way.

Designing and building a custom home takes time—and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. Most new Legacy Homes™ take 12 to 30 months from first sketch to move-in, depending on the site, scope, and team availability. Larger renovations often take 9 to 18 months. Taking the time to design thoughtfully means fewer surprises during construction and a smoother, more enjoyable experience from start to finish.

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

Yes. Thoughtful design anticipates the future. We incorporate elements of "visitability" and universal design into every home, including wider halls and doors, space and blocking for grab bars, generous turning radii, and other subtle safety features. When needed, we include barrier-free entries, main-floor suites, elevators or ramps, or additional features ensuring your home adapts gracefully as your needs evolve.

Absolutely. Every Legacy Home™ is custom-tailored to its site and climate. We use orientation, materials, and building systems to balance comfort and performance—often exceeding energy-code standards. It’s important to remember that building and energy-efficiency codes represent only the legal minimum. True sustainability goes beyond compliance; for us, efficiency and beauty are inseparable parts of the same design philosophy.

Yes, we love designing smaller, purpose-driven spaces. 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 typically design the architectural features of the outdoor living areas, including pool houses, outdoor kitchens, covered decks or patios. We work with out trusted team of landscape architects and pool designers for the details of plant selection and water features. These spaces extend your living experience—connecting the home to its land, water, and sky.

Yes, when clients prefer a fully integrated design. We have a select list of preferred interior designers to work with, or will collaborate with your chosen interior designer to ensure seamless transitions from structure to finish.

No. The Construction Budget covers the visible, physical work—materials, labor, as well as the general contractor's general conditions, contingency, profit , and overhead. The Project Budget goes a bit further, including land, entitlements, permits, bonds, architect fees, interior design fees, specialty systems, hazardous materials removal, landscaping and outdoor areas (may be included in Construction Budget depending upon your contract), temporary housing or relocation costs, furnishings, and all the finishing touches that make the house a home.

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

Our fee structure reflects a complete, end-to-end design partnership. We serve as your advocates from the first concept sketch to the final construction walk-through.

After our initial consultation and Story Session™ service is complete, we’ll provide a detailed Letter of Agreement outlining our full-service architectural design fees. This transparent approach keeps the process seamless, so you can focus on the creative experience.

For clarity and simplicity, our full-service architectural fees are billed as a fixed design fee, determined by the project’s scope and complexity, and detailed in our Agreement. While not based on a percentage of construction cost, our fixed fees generally represent approximately 9–15% of the construction budget.

The short answer: we can’t say for sure.

Every project is unique—its size, complexity, and location all affect costs. Fees also differ depending on whether you’re building new, adding on, or renovating. 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. However, as a rough guide, here’s how a typical budget might break down:

Professional Fees:

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

These numbers can shift based on site conditions, finishes, and the level of service you choose—but they offer a helpful starting point for planning. Using these rough percentages, a new custom home with a $1,000,000 Construction Budget could have professional and soft costs ranging from 25–50% of that amount—approximately $250,000 to $500,000—resulting in a total Project Budget of up to $1,500,000.

No. The first 45-minute Google Meet is complimentary—an opportunity for you to get to know us and explore whether we’re a good fit.

We request that you that you send any applicable documents at least 24 hours advance of the Google Meet. If you have a site, please send us the plat of survey, existing plans, or other related documents. If you’re still looking for the right location, think about your list of priorities for both location and home, and we’ll help you identify what to look for.

If it feels like the right fit, we’ll follow up with an email outlining the next steps, and an Agreement for your on-site Story Session™. This marks the official start of designing your custom Legacy Home™. Click Let’s Connect to get started!