Simple Finesse

09/03/2026

ATTENTION: SAVE THE DATE!

Why does design cost $50K+? And what are you actually paying for?

Let’s talk about it.

There are a lot of misconceptions about what architects and designers charge and what you’re actually getting for that investment.

In our upcoming conversation video, we’re pulling back the curtain on **the cost of design**:

→ What industry rates actually look like
→ What your design fee pays for
→ Why a truly custom home costs more
→ What goes into the work you don’t necessarily see
→ And where the value of working with a design professional really comes from

We’re talking about the industry, the process, and the value behind the number.

So tell us: What have you always wanted to know about the cost of design?

Drop your questions below 👇 We’ll answer them in the video.

**Let’s talk about the number everyone wants to know but few people actually understand.**

09/02/2026

The paradox of award winning designs!

09/02/2026

Misconception of what a true custom home is and isn't. A custom home has never been built before, an online floorplan you purchase doesn’t know your site, your soil conditions, your local codes, your climate, your family, or how every system in the house needs to work together.

We actually want clients to bring us their Pinterest boards, stock plans, saved images, and ideas. They help us understand what they love and where they want to go.

But those things are the starting point, not the finished solution.

Our role as your architect and interior designer is to translate inspiration into something structurally sound, code-compliant, buildable, functional, financially responsible, and uniquely suited to the people who will live there.

09/01/2026

WHERE DOES THE MONEY ACTUALLY GO?

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear when someone says, “I want to build a CUSTOM home,” is that their construction budget is the same as their total project investment.

It isn't.

An $850K construction budget is just one piece of the equation. There are design fees, construction management, engineering and other professional services, pre-construction and site costs, permits, and countless other decisions that shape the final investment.

We're sharing this SAMPLE breakdown because understanding the cost of a custom home is an important part of designing one. Before you fall in love with the floor plan, finishes, or square footage, you should understand what it truly takes to bring the entire vision to life.

Save this post if a custom home is somewhere in your future. And stay tuned, we're continuing the conversation with more education around what design actually costs, why it costs what it does, and what you're really paying for.

Because the first step to building well is understanding the investment

08/28/2026

Have you read our latest blog? Come learn all about the cost of a custom home and how design fees are set!

https://thefinessecollective.substack.com/p/why-do-we-question-the-cost-of-design?r=5cah65&utm_medium=ios

08/27/2026

A provocative thought about what we’re willing to pay for in our homes.

We readily accept the cost of the land, the contractor, the materials, the permits, the financing and even the real estate commission. But when it comes to the person responsible for turning an idea into a home through thousands of architectural, technical, and interior design decisions, suddenly the design fee feels expensive.

What if the thing you think is too expensive is actually the thing protecting your entire investment?

Come take a closer look at what it really costs to build a custom home and where that investment actually goes. We break down the numbers, the decisions, the often invisible value of professional design and and asks a bigger question:

Are we actually paying too much for design, or have we simply underestimated its value?

Read the latest blog from The Finesse Collective by clicking the link below:

We don’t question the cost of expertise when we understand its value. So why is architecture and interior design still treated differently?

08/26/2026

HOT TAKE!!

WHAT IF THE THING YOU THINK IS TOO EXPENSIVE IS ACTUALLY THE THING PROTECTING YOUR ENTIRE INVESTMENT?

We're unpacking the true cost of design and why good design can be much easier to see than it is to create.

You may not agree. That's the point.

Coming tomorrow be sure to tune in!

08/25/2026

Home is never just a house. It’s where we exhale, gather, grow, and create the memories that shape our lives and that’s exactly why we started Simple Finesse. In our latest Finesse Collective Journal, we explore why the dream of home means so much more than the walls around us.

Click the link below to read our all about it!

More Than a Place to Live, Home Is Where Our Stories, Memories, and Dreams Take Root.

08/25/2026

PLOT TWIST: WE'RE BACK!!

Hello there !!

It’s been a few months since you’ve heard from us.
Life has thrown us a few curveballs, and like many entrepreneurs, we’ve taken some time to step back, reassess, and get clear on where we’re headed next.

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. There are incredible highs, unexpected lows, and plenty of moments that require you to pause, pivot, and trust the process.
Over the last few months, we’ve taken a much needed break to refocus, not just on the business, but on the vision behind Simple Finesse and what we want to build next.

And now, we’re excited to be back.
We have so much to share from projects and behind-the-scenes moments to new ideas, new goals, and what’s next for Simple Finesse.

We will be sharing more of what we've been up to this week.

Thanks for following along!

06/05/2026

Our project in Lake Tahoe area is coming along well. With our 3D modeling our clients are able to walk through their cabin even before it's built. Stay tuned for more!