Sonoma Design is a design-to-build brokerage. We design your architectural home to your brief and budget, then hand the finished design to one of our network of custom builders to construct. You get architect-calibre design without carrying the risk of a design that can't actually be built for what you can afford.

Most custom builders are exactly that — builders. Construction is what they're set up to do well, and design is often handled in-house by a small team of draftsperson working from standard templates and modifications.

Most custom builders' websites, do not have a gallery of their original architectural design work

Sonoma have created hundreds of bespoke home designs, with many of them achieving record prices in their suburbs when sold.

If you are considering engaging a custom builder to design your home, ask to see a folio of their best work. We are very proud of ours.

Volume builders work from a fixed catalogue of house designs. We design your home specifically for your site, brief and lifestyle from a blank page, then match that bespoke design with a builder who can construct it at the agreed price — you get a genuinely custom result without the open-ended cost risk that often comes with fully custom architectural builds.

We select three builders from our panel that operate in your area and are suited to your home's construction methods and your budget. We manage a tender process with these builders for your project.

Once we have received initial pricing, for your concept plans we discuss this with you and make a recommendation of a builder for your project.

We then arrange a meet and greet with the preferred builder at their offices so you can make sure that you are comfortable with them before we proceed further.

Once you are happy with the price and your nominated builder, you then pay Sonoma's second preliminary fee and we engage the builder on your behalf to prepare detailed plans and specifications and a fixed price building contract.