Yep. Been designing for others for 13 years now. I have gotten to the point where I can do as well just clicking a mouse by myself as I did when I had many people working for me. It also means A LOT less headaches! This is a home I just designed that is currently under construction. It is the for the head of a major auto maker who is in change of their NASCAR division. It is a 4 mil dollar home. Good people. VERY challenging lot which limited the width. It is being framed right now.








So like many things, I earned my stripes by proving I could do it. I built my home and then was building homes as a GC in the early 2000's when I was approached by a Dr to design his house. He was a Nigerian guy. Very shrewd. He knew hiring an architect for his project would have been 75k or more. I just wanted a chance to express my self and push what I could do so I told him I would design it for 15k. But I also got the build out of the job and back 20 years ago, it was a 2.5mil house build.

It ended up being about 18,000 heated feet. Nice home and it has just been like that at steps along the way. His home was my first real client. All the others I designed, I did for my own projects or my own home.

Here are some pics from back in the day. To give you an idea of size, that is a 30 ton rough terrain crane on the right of the pic (It was one of my toys). The boom on it was 130' long. This was a big home and certainly got me on the radar and was something I could always say I did. It was featured in a few magazines etc. Not all that bad for my first home I designed for a client.

The renderings from back then were much more crude. Got to remember, this was designed in 2002.

So like many things in my life, I was young and hungry and had something to prove to the world. I got out there and hustled and made things happen. I saved the guy probably 60k on his design, but I got a huge build out of it. I put myself out there and lived and died by my own sword. I have been self employed since 23 and always had to make my own way. My success is really the result of others believing in me and giving me the chance to do what it is I do. Never underestimate the importance of others in your success. I have just always had a confidence that struck people and they believe in me when I talk.

Hard to explain over a keyboard...but I am a pretty sharp guy. Most people who meet me come away understanding that I can really back up what I say. I have never failed at anything I have ever attempted in life. I carried that same mentality to the gym with me.

Or....maybe I am just lucky.I know I am VERY grateful to all those who have over the years taken a chance on me. Life has always found a way of working out.

Swimming is the only form of cardio that I can put up with doing week in and week out. I do 2 miles 3x a week.

So basically just rip off the shining?

the pool might spill onto the stairs after jumping in, no? can it be an infinity pool design there?

I've been playing with chief architect. Actually designed my kitchen with it and am having it built now. Next project will be a studio above my garage. Then I'll see about designing a whole house. Hardest thing about the whole process is finding quality labor.

My wife is an architect. Looks fun AF, as if she's playing the sims all day.

I like it OP. Not my style, but after developing a discerning eye over two years of marriage, i can definitely tell you've got a good sense for aesthetic and design.

I wanted to put a second story on my ranch, with 300k as a budget. The second story would only have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The contractors quoted 450k. Now I just want to redesign the outside of the house so it looks better. Not easy with only one story. The architect I hired wants to put brick and paint it white. I hate that painted brick look.

Your house looks nice, though.

Nice work as always OP . Love your designs , and I bet your jobs interesting , and you’re always experiencing something new .
This style isn’t something I’d go with , but you have to cater to different people obviously.
It would be a dream come true to have the resources to build a new house to my specks someday .
I may have to reach out to you if I win the lottery lol . I won’t hold my breath though

How long did it take to build that first home? And how could you afford it in your 20s? That house is massive.

OP is one of the good dudes on here, self made millionaire and pretty humble

That guy Samsbolton is always hating on you.

Do most of your clients end up wanting basic/plain looking designs? Nothing wrong with them but I wonder why they don't choose a more beautiful aesthetic like colonial, Italianate etc if they're going to spend millions on a custom house?

This. Goddamn op

Mirin physique and tradie talent

I like most of your designs but this one is a little creepy. It feels like it has eyes like the Amityville horror house.

In some kind of catastrophe would this be safe from invaders?

Good software. Been using it since 98 and many many versions on from there. All things have their advantages and disadvantages. The key is understanding what you are designing and the practicality of said design.
Kind of like the principle, 'garbage in, garbage out'. Pretty pictures are one thing, but understanding structure is something even many architects fail at.From what I have seen, being an architect can be a challenge 'climbing the ladder'. Almost like being a lawyer. Lots of grinding underneath people trying to build a name for yourself. Very few ever achieve more than a modest living except the ones that make a name. Kind of like being a chef, but with a LOT more education involved. I wish her much success and hope she can pursue her own visions!This is something that a builder is probably a better resource than an architect. The issue with most architects is they are too removed from the cost of their ideas. I think the stat is 75% of homes designed by architects never get built. Contrast that with what I do, I have almost 100% build rate. (except for the few over the years that got a divorce mid way through design or lost a job...etc). I make my living by understanding all the sides of design. Not only the aesthetics and layout, but as important the construction and cost/value of each design decision. I am lucky to have been on all sides of the equation.I have designed and built two homes for myself over the years. It is very rewarding, but equally challenging. There are times where I wonder is all the stress of doing it worth it. My wife and I were talking about building another home. Moving way out on some acreage. Our current home will be so empty when the kids are gone and it is way more than what we need. Was just talking about this with the wife last night....and I dont know that I want the life chaos right now to build another.

I cant help it but to be too involved. I am the type that will go out and buy more equipment, start knocking down trees, and basically be involved in every part of it. I just cant help get my hands dirty. I am careful what I decide to do. I am a person that develops blinders once I make my mind up. And I will stop at nothing to get the job complete or reach the goal. So I have learned to be careful of what I decide I want to do.

That home took just under a year. I worked very hard when I was younger. Starting from 23, when all my friends were out partying, I was working 6 days+ a week. I saw an opportunity and ran with it and never stopped. I took all the money I had and risked it floating payroll for my first job I was able to secure. Then I just kept going. I went from having a crew of 4 guys to a crew of 20+ in about a year. I got bigger and bigger jobs. I went from floating 6k a week payroll to floating 100k at any one time. I just got up every day and led by my own example. Looking back, I am amazed at how driven I was. I guess I felt like I had something to prove.

But that was also a bad part of my personality which I did not realize till later on in life. I was never happy nor satisfied with anything. I went from a college drop out packing all my clothes into garbage bags and moving out one my own, to have a 9000 sqft home, cars, helicopters.... and never once stopped to enjoy it. I had the most perfect wife, and I did not give her the companionship or support she needed. I had beautiful young kids and could not even calm my brain for 15 min to sit and watch them play. I was NEVER in the present and always focused on what I could do next. (not a good thing).

As life would have it, at 34 I almost got killed. The year recovery from my broken neck and TBI taught me what was important in life. Money and pursuit of meant nothing. All my 'stuff' was meaningless. It was my wife and family that I lived for and I learned to enjoy each day as it came. Dont get me wrong, money is good. It is nice to not stress. My wife an I have never had a fight over money or how to spend it. That is nice. But beyond a certain point, more does not come with more happiness.

There has never been a thing that I have bought or owned that by itself has brought me true happiness or fulfillment. Material things no longer hold meaning for me. I enjoy fun things. I like cars a lot lately. But what I enjoy the most is I got up at 9 today with my wife. I am sitting in my office, drinking my second cup of coffee with my two dogs and deciding what I want to do today.

My only advice that I can give is learn what it is that will make you happy and go for it. Money aint it.Clients like what they like. I tend to feel I am more a 'translator' that brings their vision to life. I often design things that I dont love. That is cool too. At the end of the day each home I designed is for someone. If they are happy I have done my job.

I just hope you did not recommend low flow toilets I mean what with the trajectory of HTC culture these days that is just too much of a gamble and nothing would ruin one of these homes faster than waking up every day and groggily lifting the toilet lid only to be greeted by an absolutely revolting four foot long mahogany fart trout that some porky lass beefed into the toilet and after one look back shrugged her shoulders and feebly touched the flush lever knowing full well it would do no good and now you are set for yet another late arrival at work because it will be several hours of aggressive plungering with your bugatti be kidding me tshirt pulled up over your nose just to get that thing jammed deeply somewhere in your plumbing system

Get good low flow toilets then not cheap onesIf you are really nervous, put in pressure assist.....aint nothing going to keep your sh!t from going down then!

Great design. I liked a lot of decorative elements. However, I noticed that you did not use railings in your interior. If you're interested, I can recommend an excellent informative article abouthow to use a dado rail in your roomfor greater functionality in your space. This is not only a functional element of the interior, but also a stylish solution to give the room a special charm. However, remember that the choice of Dado railings depends on your personal style, preferences and interior design concept. Experiment with different options to find the best combination for your space.