Full construction document sets, site plans, landscape design, and everything in between — from first sketch to detailed drawings.
Full construction document sets for single-family homes. Scaled to the level of detail your project needs.
As-built documentation of existing conditions, then full design drawings for your new square footage.
As-built documentation first, then design drawings for the spaces being reconfigured.
On-site measurements and CAD documentation of existing structures. Required before addition or remodel design begins.
If you're looking for a residential building designer in Northern Michigan — whether that's a home designer in Traverse City, a building designer in Grand Traverse County, or a residential designer serving Leelanau, Antrim, or Benzie County — you're in the right place. Empyreal Home Design is a residential building design firm serving homeowners, builders, and survey firms across the region. We produce construction documents, site plans, as-built drawings, landscape design, 3D renderings, CAD drafting, and materials lists for projects of every size.
Call anytime and our team will pick up. We will answer general questions and talk through your project to make sure we're a good fit for you and your future build.
A dedicated sit down session with our design team to define your project — goals, site, program, budget, and total scope. We'll gather everything we need before design work begins.
Every project is quoted individually based on scope and complexity. New home design has a $4,000 minimum design fee, even if the home is small. We produce a written fee estimate based on what we learn during your design discovery. Your actual fee may vary depending on the final scope of the project, and is established in writing after a 50% deposit is collected, the layout approved, and a full set of rough drawings released.
Call anytime and our team will pick up. We will answer general questions and talk through your project to make sure we're a good fit for you and your future build.
A dedicated sit down session with our design team to define your project — goals, site, program, budget, and total scope. Required before design begins.
Initial drawings used to establish the layout and confirm the project scope.
Your full drawing set delivered digitally — ready for your builder. Files released on receipt of final payment.
Full construction document sets for single-family homes of every size and style — from floor plans and elevations to foundation details and electrical layouts.
As-built documentation of the existing structure first, then full design drawings for the new area — primary suite additions, second stories, garages, in-law suites, and more.
As-built documentation first, then design drawings for the spaces being reconfigured — kitchens, bathrooms, open-concept conversions, basement finishing, and more.
On-site measurement and CAD documentation of existing structures. Required before addition or remodel design begins.
Residential site plans built from your survey data — building placement, setbacks, driveway layout, and other site details.
Planting plans, hardscape layout, outdoor living space design, and material specifications — scoped to your property and goals.
Standalone CAD drafting — hand sketches and PDFs converted to clean drawings, plans redrawn, and redlines picked up.
Photorealistic 3D exterior and interior renderings — for homeowners, builders, and real estate, from our plans or yours.
Itemized finish materials tied back to your drawings — flooring, siding, roofing, windows, doors, and more. Keeps contractor bids accurate and comparable.
Mood boards, material and color palettes, and kitchen and interior wall elevations that turn the look you want into decisions your builder can price.
Attached and freestanding decks with full construction drawings, and material specifications.
CAD drafting for licensed land surveyors — boundary surveys, ALTA/NSPS surveys, property divisions, mortgage surveys, topographic surveys, and site plans drafted from your field data.
We work with homeowners, builders, developers, real estate professionals, and survey firms across Northern Michigan.
Building a new home, adding on, remodeling, or just needing drawings. We work directly with you from first call to final drawing set.
Need a design partner for spec builds, client homes, or projects that come without drawings? We produce drawing sets your crews can actually build from.
As-built documentation, feasibility drawings, and design work for properties you're buying, selling, or developing. Fast turnaround when the deal requires it.
CAD drafting for licensed survey firms — boundary surveys, ALTA/NSPS surveys, property divisions, topographic surveys, and more drafted from your field data.
We're based in Traverse City and serve residential projects throughout the region — Grand Traverse County, Leelanau County, Antrim County, Benzie County, and Kalkaska County are our primary service area. We regularly work in Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Suttons Bay, Glen Arbor, Bellaire, Kingsley, Williamsburg, Honor, Interlochen, Acme, Central Lake, Kalkaska, and Mancelona, as well as surrounding townships and rural parcels throughout Northern Michigan. If you're outside this area and need drawings, reach out — we'll let you know whether we can make it work.
In Michigan, most single-family residential projects don't require a licensed architect. The state's residential design exemption allows non-licensed building designers to produce drawings for detached 1- and 2-family homes under 3,500 sq ft of calculated floor area.
Every project is quoted individually based on scope and complexity. Pricing is discussed during the design discovery consultation — we produce a written fee estimate based on what we learn before any design work begins.
Architects are licensed professionals with a specific educational and examination path. Building designers operate under a state exemption for residential work. For most single-family homes in Michigan, a building designer produces the same drawings at a lower cost.
Timeline depends on project scope and how quickly decisions get made. New homes, additions, remodels, and as-built drawings typically take 8–13 weeks from discovery to a completed drawing set, depending on size and complexity. We discuss realistic timelines at consultation.
Use the contact form and we'll get back with you.