Designing a Home in Star Valley, Wyoming
- unshakeablecustomh
- Apr 12
- 5 min read
Home design is hard. You have an idea in your head, but how do you put that on paper and, ultimately build it?
So you buy a beautiful wooded lot on Redwood Road, in Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming. The lot is filled with Spruce, Doug Fir, Aspen, Oregon Grape, maybe even a couple Maples. You have this beautiful canvas and think, “I know exactly what’ll go here”. How do you transform that vision into something tangible, something that fits in the surroundings? How would you even start designing a home in Star Valley, Wyoming?
No doubt that we live in a beautiful area. Streets are named Redwood, Star Peaks, Vista, Walnut, and each invokes a vision of… what exactly?
When it comes down to it, that's up to you. I can explain our process, I can show you other homes we’ve built, you can browse Pinterest until your battery dies, but you have to figure out what aesthetic you like.
If you’re like me, you have a decent eye for design and you know what type of design you like…
But you can’t put it on paper for someone else. This is the conundrum, and it's why I rely so heavily on design professionals.
What is a “design professional”?
Most simply a design professional is someone who went to school to study building design. They learned about proportion, scale, layout, design software, and have a base knowledge of building codes and construction itself.
The three types of design professionals I use regularly, and are the three that most everyone has probably heard of, are: architects, drafters, and engineers. These three fill different roles, some of which overlap and some of which are unique to their trade.
Let's break down the three I mentioned, below.
Architects
Most people hear the word “architect” and dollar signs flash in front of their eyes - they think highbrow, stuck up designer-types in skinny jeans and glasses. And, yeah, architects can be expensive. And, yeah, architects can be highbrow. But in terms of a design professional, an architect is the best. This is in NO WAY meant to disregard a drafter (drafters don’t kill me please).
Think of it as filing your taxes with the Walmart H&R Block pro behind the desk versus finding an accountant with a 4 year degree. The accountant’s experience will probably be better, the accountant will probably save you more money in the long run, but the accountant will cost you more.
An architect goes to school for five to six years for their degree, studies design theory, project management (to a certain degree), structural engineering and building technology. They’re taught to make unique design decisions and think outside the box.
Generally an architect is involved throughout an entire project (however sometimes just help with design and floor plan layout). Because of this, they usually charge a percentage of the project cost - from my experience, this can range from 8-15% of the total project cost. They make sure certain design details are being executed correctly, make material selections, and work with builders to coordinate projects.
Drafters
Drafters fulfill a similar design role as an architect, and many of them I’ve worked with have a fantastic eye for design and what looks good. For 95% of people building a home, they do a fantastic job of bringing a client's vision to life on paper.
And the nice part is, they charge less than an architect. If you’re trying to design a home on a budget, or the project is standard or doesn’t include any funky design details, a Drafter does an amazing job. I’ve found that they generally charge per square foot - if you have a 2,000 square foot home, they charge their rate times 2,000. They’re trained in CAD software and design fundamentals.
Just about every job I’ve ever done has involved a Drafter in charge of the floor plan layout and home design, and they’ve brought the vision to life perfectly.
Engineers
An engineer designs the structural components of your home - the foundation and the framing. They run the complicated span tables and specify what types of lumber, sheathing, nailing patterns, and truss design is needed to keep your house standing in all but the most serious disasters.
Engineers deal mainly in math, and have a deep understanding of physics; they know the most up-to-date code requirements, strongest materials, and apply the most appropriate structural materials to each home.
There are a few types of engineers that may be involved in a residential home project: structural engineers, civil engineers, geo-technical engineers and mechanical engineers. Depending on the scope and complexity of the systems involved in your home one or many of these may be involved.
“So now that I know three of the most common design professionals, which one do I need?”
For most residential home projects, a drafter and a structural engineer are the two that you’ll use. An architect comes into play when you have a highly complex project or if you have design details that need a higher attention to detail.
After you work with a Drafter and Structural Engineer, you’ll have a set of permit-ready drawings, meaning you’ll have enough detail for the Town of Star Valley Ranch to approve a set of construction blueprints for a building permit, and enough detail for a builder to turn that set of drawings into a home.
Again, if budget is important to you, a Drafter/Structural Engineer combo will be the best bang for your buck. If project complexity and design are more important to you, an Architect will be able to execute flawlessly.
I’m getting a bit off topic, so let’s get back to designing your home.
Ever seen a fancy home design magazine, or real estate brochure in a mountain town? What do those homes look like? Do they have low ceilings? Small windows? Small floor plan layouts?
NO!
They have vaulted ceilings with exposed, rough sawn beams, large single-glazed windows, open plan living - they incorporate lots of natural materials like wood, stone, tile. The emphasis is bringing the nature around you, inside. You want to see the views, hear the leaves rustling, smell the air outside. The home isn’t necessarily the focus, it's what's surrounding it.
I’m not at all saying you have to design some avant-garde steel and glass architectural masterpiece, but part of the draw of living here is actually being here. It’s enjoying a cup of coffee on a frigid winter morning, your wood stove roaring and the mule deer bedded down outside.
And on the flip side, you wouldn’t design a log cabin to get placed in downtown Boston…
I’ll say it again: I’m not a design professional. But when I’m building a home or project in Star Valley Ranch, I try to incorporate wood siding, rich oil stains, and rough sawn lumber. It’s an ode to the natural world outside.
Colors are important as well. The rich oil stains, the natural wood and the muted colors blend the home into its natural surroundings.
Yes, Hardie siding is cheaper, and yes, so are smaller windows. There’s always compromises to be made, no matter the budget.
But there’s always ways to balance budget and aesthetic. Working with a builder alongside a design professional is key to bringing any design to life.
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