Thinking About Renovating or Building? Here’s What the Design Process Actually Looks Like

Jun 10

8 min read

A renovation, alteration or new build usually starts with a mix of ideas, questions and unknowns.

You might know you need more space. You might want to add income with a minor dwelling or granny flat. You might be trying to make an existing home work better for your family. Or you might have a site and want to understand what can realistically be built on it.

The design process is what turns those early thoughts into something clear, considered and buildable.

At MAV Studio, we work with homeowners across renovations, alterations, new homes, minor dwellings and build-ready home designs. Every project is different, but the process follows a similar path: understand the site, test what is possible, shape the design, prepare the right drawings, move through consent, and support the next stage of the build.

Here is what that usually looks like.

1. The first conversation

The first step is simply understanding what you are trying to do.

This is where we talk through the property, your goals, your budget expectations, your timeframe and any obvious issues. You do not need to have everything worked out before speaking with an architect or designer. In fact, it is often better if you do not rush too far ahead before checking what is realistic.

For a renovation, this might include what is not working in the current home, what spaces need to change, whether you want to add another bedroom, improve flow, create indoor-outdoor connection, update a kitchen or bathroom, or rework tired areas of the house.

For a new home, it might include the size of the home, how you want to live, the site, views, sun, privacy, access, planning rules and how the house needs to work now and in the future.

For a minor dwelling or granny flat, it may include whether the site can support another building, where services might go, how access could work and whether the project is likely to stack up financially.

This early conversation helps decide the best next step. Sometimes that is a feasibility assessment. Sometimes it is moving into concept design. Sometimes it is pausing to gather more information before spending money on drawings.

2. Feasibility and site review

Before a design is developed properly, the site needs to be understood.

This is one of the most important parts of the process because it helps avoid making decisions based on guesswork. A good idea still needs to work with the property, planning rules, existing house, services, slope, access, sun, privacy, budget and council requirements.

At this stage, an architect or designer may review things like:

the property file
existing plans, if available
the site layout
zoning and planning rules
height, boundary and site coverage considerations
driveway and access issues
existing services
likely consent requirements
whether consultants may be needed, such as a surveyor, planner, engineer or geotechnical engineer

For renovations and alterations, this stage may also involve looking at the existing house and identifying what can be changed easily, what may involve structural work, and what could trigger extra cost or consent requirements.

For new homes or minor dwellings, feasibility helps test what the site can realistically support before you commit to a bigger design process.

This stage is not about locking in every detail. It is about getting enough clarity to make a better decision.

3. The brief

The brief is the foundation for the design.

It sets out what the project needs to achieve, what matters most, what constraints need to be worked around and what the budget needs to support.

A brief might cover:

how many bedrooms and bathrooms are needed
whether spaces need to be flexible
where you want morning or afternoon sun
how much storage is needed
whether the home needs to support children, ageing parents, guests or rental income
how private or open the home should feel
what materials or styles you are drawn to
what needs to be practical, durable and easy to maintain
what you do not want repeated from your current home

This is where honest conversations matter. If the budget is tight, say that early. If the project needs to be staged, that should be part of the brief. If you care more about space and function than high-end finishes, that needs to be understood before design work gets too far along.

A clear brief gives the architect or designer something solid to respond to. It also gives you something to come back to when decisions start to multiply.

4. Concept design

Concept design is where the project starts to take shape.

This is usually when you first see the design idea translated into drawings. Depending on the project, this may include floor plans, site plans, elevations, simple 3D views or other visual material that helps you understand the direction.

At this stage, the design is still being tested. The goal is not to resolve every detail. It is to establish the overall layout, form, relationship to the site, key spaces and general direction.

For a renovation, concept design might explore how to open up the house, where an extension could sit, how to improve flow, or how to make better use of the existing footprint.

For a new home, it might look at how the house sits on the land, where the living spaces go, how the home responds to sun and wind, how bedrooms are arranged, and how the building feels from the street or landscape.

For a minor dwelling or granny flat, it may test where the building can go, how it connects to the existing home, how privacy is handled and whether the design supports income, family use or future flexibility.

Concept design is also the stage where it is much easier to make changes. Moving rooms, adjusting the size, changing the layout or simplifying the form is far more efficient now than later in the process.

5. Developed design

Developed design is where the preferred concept is refined.

The design becomes more resolved. The drawings become more detailed. Decisions start to move from broad ideas into actual design choices.

This may include:

refining the floor plan
confirming the building form
working through windows, doors and openings
considering cladding and roofing
checking key dimensions
coordinating early input from consultants
thinking more carefully about structure, services and buildability
reviewing the likely consent path
checking whether the design still aligns with the budget and brief

This is an important stage because it connects the creative idea with the practical reality of building in New Zealand.

A beautiful concept still needs to stand up to council requirements, structural logic, weather, site conditions, cost and construction sequencing. Developed design is where those conversations become more serious.

It is also where clients often need to make more decisions. Not every product or finish needs to be finalised, but the overall direction needs to become clear enough to move into more technical documentation.

6. Resource consent, if required

Not every project needs resource consent.

Resource consent is usually about planning rules and how a project affects the site, neighbouring properties or the surrounding environment. This is different from building consent, which is about whether the building work complies with the New Zealand Building Code.

A project may need resource consent if it does not meet certain District Plan rules. This could relate to height, recession planes, site coverage, boundary setbacks, earthworks, heritage, character areas, protected trees, parking, access or other planning controls.

If resource consent is needed, your architect or designer may work with a planner and other consultants to prepare the required information.

The important thing is to identify this as early as possible. A resource consent requirement can affect timing, cost and the level of information needed. It does not necessarily mean a project cannot happen, but it does need to be planned for properly.

7. Detailed design and building consent documentation

Once the design direction is agreed, the project moves into more detailed drawings and documentation.

This is the technical stage. The drawings need to explain how the project will be built and provide the information required for a building consent application.

Depending on the project, this may include:

floor plans
elevations
sections
construction details
window and door information
cladding and roofing details
insulation and weathertightness details
foundation information
structural coordination
specifications
supporting consultant information

This stage often involves other consultants. For example, a structural engineer may be needed for foundations, beams, retaining walls or structural changes. A geotechnical engineer may be required for sloping, unstable or complex ground. A planner may be needed if resource consent is involved.

Building consent is council approval that the proposed building work complies with the Building Code. The council reviews the documentation and may ask questions before granting consent.

For clients, this stage can feel less exciting than concept design because the work becomes more technical. But it is one of the most important parts of the process. Good documentation helps reduce confusion, supports better pricing and gives the builder a clearer set of information to work from.

8. Pricing and builder conversations

Some clients come to MAV Studio with a builder already in mind. Others need help understanding when to speak with builders and what information they need before pricing properly.

Early builder input can be useful, especially if budget is a concern. However, a builder usually needs enough detail to price the project meaningfully. A rough concept may only allow for a rough estimate. More developed drawings and specifications allow for better pricing.

This is where the design process can help protect the client. If the drawings are too vague, pricing can be unclear. If the design has not been tested properly, the project can drift beyond budget. If decisions are delayed, costs can become harder to control.

The aim is to create enough clarity so that builder conversations are grounded in real information.

9. Construction support

Not every client needs the same level of support during the build.

Some projects require light-touch involvement from the architect or designer. Others benefit from regular site observation, builder coordination, answering questions, reviewing changes and helping resolve issues as they come up.

During construction, questions can arise around details, materials, substitutions, site conditions or interpretation of drawings. Having the architect or designer available can help keep the project aligned with the original design intent.

This does not replace the builder’s role. The builder is responsible for carrying out the work. But the architect or designer can help protect the design quality and assist with decisions that affect the final outcome.

10. Completion

The final stage is about finishing the project properly.

This may include final site checks, resolving outstanding items, supporting council sign-off where required, and making sure the completed work reflects the approved design and consent documentation.

For homeowners, this is the point where the drawings, decisions, meetings and approvals become something real: a home that works better, adds value, supports family life, creates income or gives the site a stronger future.

Why the process matters

The design process is not there to make things complicated.

It exists because building and renovating involve a lot of moving parts. There are design decisions, council rules, consultants, builders, budgets, site constraints, product choices and construction realities. Without a clear process, it is easy to spend money in the wrong order or make decisions before the right information is available.

A good process helps you understand:

what is possible
what may be difficult
what needs consent
what consultants may be required
what decisions need to be made now
what can wait until later
where the main risks are
whether the project is worth pursuing

For MAV Studio, the process is about making design more accessible and less overwhelming. We work with real homes, real sites and real budgets, and we know that most clients want straight answers before they commit to a major project.

The right process gives you clarity before momentum takes over.

Not sure where to start?

If you are thinking about renovating, altering, adding a minor dwelling or designing a new home, the best first step is usually a conversation.

You may be ready for design. You may need a feasibility assessment first. Or you may simply need to understand what your site, budget and council rules are likely to allow.

Starting well can save time, cost and stress later.

At MAV Studio, we help homeowners turn early ideas into clear, considered and buildable design pathways.