Design
Measurements, collaborative concepts and 3D renderings give shape to your ideas.
Stock inspirationBuild on your lot in Indiana, starting with your land
You have a lot, or you are close to buying one, and the house is still an idea. 1874 Design Studio offers custom on-your-lot new construction, with the design and the build held together as one engagement.
A division of Knapp Supply Co.Full-service remodelingStructural remodels & additionsDesign, selections & 3D renderings
You do not need a first step figured out
Building from nothing is the part that stops people. There is no room to walk into, no wall to point at, and no obvious place to begin.
So begin with a conversation instead. Tell us about the land, what drew you to it, and the house you keep picturing on it. That is enough to start.
What to know about your lot before we meet
Your lot will shape the house, so it helps to gather what you know about it before we meet. Note the address or parcel, bring a survey if you have one, and find out whether the lot can connect to city water and sewer or would rely on a well and a septic system. Notice which way the land slopes and where the morning and evening light falls.
If your lot is beyond the reach of a sewer line, a septic system will be part of the plan. In Indiana, local health departments issue the permits for new onsite sewage systems.
If you do not know some of this yet, that is fine. Bring what you have. We can visit the lot with you, though a visit is not usually needed before design starts.
Describe the life the house should hold
A custom home is easier to design when you talk about days rather than rooms. Where does the morning happen? Where does everyone end up in the evening? What do you want to see when you look out the window while doing something ordinary?
Bring the things you would like to leave behind, too. The house you live in now is useful information, even when you are building somewhere else.
Designed and built by the same people
Everything we do is design build. We do not offer design on its own, and a custom home is the clearest example of why. The decisions made on paper are the decisions someone has to build, and keeping those in one place keeps them honest.
Our approach includes space planning, interior architecture, collaborative design concepts and 3D renderings, so you can see the home taking shape while the choices are still open.
Where we build
We build on lots in the same area where we remodel: Delaware, Randolph and Madison counties around Muncie, and Hamilton and Boone counties north of Indianapolis. Keeping to this area means we can build with the trade professionals we already work alongside.
Collect what you are drawn to
Look through the project gallery. Notice the finishes, the proportions and the small details that hold your attention, and save the ones you would want in a home of your own.
Screenshots and saved images are welcome at the consultation. They often say more than a description does.
Follow the project through its four phases
Design, Discover, Deliver and Difference carry the project from measurements and concepts through selections, project review and the build. Starting from a bare lot, Design is where the house first takes a shape you can look at.
Discover
Explore material selections, including name brands and boutique lines, with guidance on finishes.
Deliver
Review the project details and proposed total cost.
Difference
Design, project management and trade professionals come together for the build.
3D renderings
See your space before it’s built
Still deciding between building and staying
Plenty of people weigh a new home against changing the one they have. If that is where you are, explore whole-home renovations and structural remodels for changes inside your current house. If your house needs more room rather than a replacement, a home addition adds space to the home you already own, while building on your lot starts a new house on land with no home on it yet. Bring both options into the same conversation with us.
Building on your lot across our service area
1874 Design Studio works with homeowners in Delaware, Randolph, Madison, Hamilton and Boone counties. Choose a city to start there.
Which space is on your mind?
Tell us what you love about your kitchen, what you would change and the look you are drawn to.
Begin with the bathroom you have and the changes you would like to make.
When your ideas reach across several rooms, start with the home as a whole.
What would make you want to spend more time downstairs? Picture the activities you’d like to make room for.
Walk through laundry day in your mind. What would you most like to change about the space?
Think about arriving home with your hands full. Where would you like everything to go?
Picture your ideal workday at home. What would you want around you—and what would you leave outside the door?
Considering built-ins or a fireplace remodel? Share the room and the changes you have in mind.
What would you change about the way your home is laid out? Picture the wall you would move if you could.
Stock inspirationWhere does your house run out of room? Picture the space you wish were on the other side of that wall.
Questions about building on your lot
I own the land but have no plans. Where do I start?
Start with the consultation. Tell us about the lot and the home you have in mind, and ask what the Design phase would look for first.
I have not bought the lot yet. Is it too early to talk?
No. Tell us where you are in the process and what you are considering. It is a reasonable time to ask questions.
Can you design the house if I have my own builder?
No. Anything we do is design build, so the design and the construction stay with us together. Describe the full project when you get in touch.
How do cost and timing get discussed?
Deliver is the project-review phase, where the details and proposed total cost are reviewed. The consultation form asks for your expected project investment and desired completion date, which are preferences to discuss rather than a quoted price or a promised date.
Who will I work with?
Laura Sherrell-Miller, the studio's Director, leads our design team, and during the build our design and project management teams work alongside trade professionals. You can meet the team before your first conversation.
Can you build from plans I already have?
No. We only build from our own plans. Because we are design-build, we build what we design and design what we build. If you have a set of plans you love, bring them as inspiration. We can take a similar direction and revise it so the house is tailored to you and your style.
Can you help me find land or arrange financing?
No. Finding land and arranging construction financing are not part of what we do. A construction loan often works differently from a standard mortgage, so it helps to talk with a lender early. Once you have a lot, or are close to buying one, we are ready to talk about the house.
What happens at the first consultation?
It is a conversation about your land and the house you picture, held at our Muncie showroom or in your current home. Bring what you know about the lot and any images you have saved.
Tell us about your lot
Share where the land is, what you picture on it, and the questions you would most like answered first.
(765) 288-1874420 S Ohio Ave, Suite 1874Muncie, IN 47302