Guiding Principles

At HMH, we are passionate about being full-service designers. With past projects ranging from inventive renovations to world-class estates, we take inspiration from knowing every project will be unique based on the collaboration between client and designer.

We believe strongly in the principles that guide our design process:

We approach projects with no preconceived agenda, believing that the finest design arises from a dynamic process of collaboration with the client. Our projects take on a multitude of forms.

We believe in allowing your home’s site to inspire its architecture, unleashing the potential of your property and creating a home that exists in harmony with its surroundings. The varied and spectacular landscape in and around Colorado often presents both challenges and opportunities for design, and we have extensive experience with both conquering the steepest sites and maximizing the most luxurious mountain views.

We embrace the exchange of ideas and collaboration between architects, consultants, and clients to achieve something special. Our process emphasizes listening and open communication to ensure that objectives are clearly defined and our clients’ vision is realized.

Creativity is at the heart of what we do. Our years of education, decades of experience, and superior technical expertise are how we do it. The design and construction process involves many complex realities, and our clients know they can trust us to produce work that is skilled, sound, and meticulous.

At HMH, architecture and design excites and motivates us every day. We seek to inspire our clients and the community at large, through innovative, beautiful design that enhances our collective environment. View what is On the Boards to see what’s inspiring us lately.

Learn more about our process 

Guiding Principles

At HMH, we are passionate about being full-service designers. With past projects ranging from inventive renovations to world-class estates, we take inspiration from knowing every project will be unique based on the collaboration between client and designer.

We believe strongly in the principles that guide our design process:

We approach projects with no preconceived agenda, believing that the finest design arises from a dynamic process of collaboration with the client. Our projects take on a multitude of forms.

We believe in allowing your home’s site to inspire its architecture, unleashing the potential of your property and creating a home that exists in harmony with its surroundings. The varied and spectacular landscape in and around Colorado often presents both challenges and opportunities for design, and we have extensive experience with both conquering the steepest sites and maximizing the most luxurious mountain views.

We embrace the exchange of ideas and collaboration between architects, consultants, and clients to achieve something special. Our process emphasizes listening and open communication to ensure that objectives are clearly defined and our clients’ vision is realized.

Creativity is at the heart of what we do. Our years of education, decades of experience, and superior technical expertise are how we do it. The design and construction process involves many complex realities, and our clients know they can trust us to produce work that is skilled, sound, and meticulous.

At HMH, architecture and design excites and motivates us every day. We seek to inspire our clients and the community at large, through innovative, beautiful design that enhances our collective environment. View what is On the Boards to see what’s inspiring us lately.

Learn more about our process 

Design Process

Our industry has been around for a long time, and with that has come some standards for how we practice. Although technology and codes lead to occasional changes, the general principles stay the same. The most important thing to understand is that getting a project designed and built is a process, it takes time. Decisions are not made all at once, but throughout the course of a project.

Design Process

Our industry has been around for a long time, and with that has come some standards for how we practice. Although technology and codes lead to occasional changes, the general principles stay the same. The most important thing to understand is that getting a project designed and built is a process, it takes time. Decisions are not made all at once, but throughout the course of a project.

ARCHITECT/
INTERIOR DESIGNER

Research

Preliminary
Site Plan

Outline Specs

Technical
Drawing & Specs

Building Permit

Observation

  • Program
  • Budget analysis
  • Zoning Review
  • As-built drawings
  • Interiors concept development
  • Floorplans

  • Contractor recommendation

  • Preliminary cost estimate

  • 3d massing

  • Interior concept imagery

  • 3D model of exterior

  • Reflected ceiling plans

  • Consultant drawings

  • Cost estimate revision by contractor

  • Develop interior finish palette (source materials)

  • Refine interior layout

  • Finishes, fixtures and appliance selections

  • Hardware, lighting & accessory selection

  • Cabinets & built-ins design

  • Detail drawings

  • Contractor to provide final pricing

  • Review shop drawings

  • Work with fabricators

  • Answer contractor questions

  • Provide additional drawings & design

  • Review shop drawings

  • Punchlist

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

CLIENT

  • Client questionnaire
  • Provide imagery
  • Approve Program
  • Floorplan review

  • Contractor selection

  • Budget review

  • Cost estimate review

  • Finishes, fixture, appliance approval
  • Hardware, lighting & accessory approval

  • Cabinets & built-ins approval

  • Contractor contract

  • Site meetings with contractor & designers

Approval of 3D Design

Final Review

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

CLIENT

Client questionnaire
Provide imagery
Approve program

ARCHITECT / INTERIOR DESIGNER

RESEARCH

Program
Budget Analysis
Zoning Review
As-built drawings
Interiors concept development

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

ARCHITECT/
INTERIOR DESIGNER

PRELIMINARY SITE PLAN

Floorplans
Contractor recommendation
Preliminary cost estimate
3d massing
Interior concept imagery

CLIENT

Floorplan review
Contractor selection
Budget review

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

ARCHITECT/
INTERIOR DESIGNER

OUTLINE SPECS

3D model of exterior
Reflected ceiling plans
Consultant drawings
Cost estimate revision by contractor
Develop interior finish palette (source materials)
Refine interior layout
Finishes, fixtures and appliance selections

CLIENT

APPROVAL OF 3D DESIGN

Cost estimate review

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

ARCHITECT/
INTERIOR DESIGNER

TECHNICAL DRAWINGS & SPECS

Hardware, lighting & accessory selection
Cabinets & built-ins design
Detail drawings

CLIENT

Finishes, fixture, appliance approval

ARCHITECT/
INTERIOR DESIGNER

BUILDING PERMIT

Contractor to provide final pricing
Review shop drawings
Work with fabricators
Answer contractor questions

CLIENT

Hardware, lighting & accessory approval
Cabinets & built-ins approval
Contractor contract

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

ARCHITECT/
INTERIOR DESIGNER

OBSERVATION

Provide additional drawings & design
Review shop drawings
Punchlist

CLIENT

FINAL REVIEW

Site meetings with contractor & designers

Standard Phases

Standard phases bring an order to the design process. Each phase has a purpose and a level of expectation. In general the phases are sequential and you will sign off on the completion of each phase, permitting the project to move forward based on the decisions made up to that point. The time frame to complete each phase varies depending on the complexity of your project. Here are the six phases:

Standard Phases

Standard phases bring an order to the design process. Each phase has a purpose and a level of expectation. In general the phases are sequential and you will sign off on the completion of each phase, permitting the project to move forward based on the decisions made up to that point. The time frame to complete each phase varies depending on the complexity of your project. Here are the six phases: