Home Is Where The Heart Is, And All Your Other Important Things Too

It isn’t just Dorothy who thinks there’s “no place like home.” Having a safe, comfortable space to live is one of the most important parts of our daily lives — and something we should never take for granted. We do spend most of our lives at home, after all!

What makes a house into a home? It might seem like a cliché question, but it’s an important one. OA Design + Build + Architecture, a small, award-winning design-build-architecture firm devoted to green, client-focused building, is dedicated to answering just that.

Michelle Little, the general manager of OA Design + Build + Architecture works every day to make clients’ perfect home dreams come true. In her own words, her job is to “oversee the company from the design team to the production crew in the field, ensuring smooth coordination with every trade partner in between.” She says “For 30 years we’ve strived to bring creative and unique architecture solutions to homes that reveal the potential for form and function and an environment our clients will thrive in.”

When clients come to OA Design + Build + Architecture, they know they’re getting the absolute best service around. Little says, “It is our job to understand your aesthetic as well as the architectural style of both your home and the community it is part of.”

In other words, you get to tell the design team exactly what you want, and they’ll work to make it happen for you! Little continues, “The designer is the filter between what you want, what your house wants, and what constitutes exceptional design. They have both the knowledge and experience to create a functional and amazing space you will love.”

OA Design loves a good challenge, too. They’ve got experience designing and building totally one-of-a-kind homes because they form real relationships with their clients. Little says, “We often work with clients who bring us unique, challenging spaces. Our design team possesses some of the most creative and artistic mindsets, transforming dysfunctional spaces into ones that are not only functional but also inspiring, engaging, and uniquely tailored to our clients’ needs!”

Whether clients are looking for contemporary styles, Victorian aesthetics, modern craftsman vibes, or anything in between or beyond, OA Design can create your perfect home for you.

Little says the best part of her job at OA Design is “to witness a vision come to life and see the joy on our clients’ faces during the final reveal.”

The creation of a home — what could be more beautiful?

Not only will OA work tirelessly to ensure your home is exactly what you want, but when you go to OA Design + Build + Architecture, you can expect to be treated with the utmost respect too. This includes full transparency with pricing, timelines, and what’s possible to achieve with your home.

Little says, “We are fully transparent with our pricing! At OA, having separate design and build contracts is integral to our company’s process. Design costs money and it is its own project for a good reason.”

Because they separate their design and building teams, you can rest assured that the design team isn’t just rushing you into construction, and the construction team will handle your designs with deep care and respect. Little adds, “You will know exactly what the cost is and why!”

OA takes a lot of pride in being upfront with customers, and this only helps to further build great relationships between clients, designers, and builders.

When it comes time to build your home, OA has a very straightforward process. They build it!

Little says, “When construction starts, materials have been ordered, dates have been set, permits have been pulled. Your project is assigned a project manager and a lead carpenter who will visit your site frequently. You will have bi-weekly meetings with your project manager to address any concerns and offer updates throughout the project.”

This method will help you feel connected to your home’s construction the entire time.

Not only is OA Design + Build + Architecture client-focused and dedicated to delivering the best possible home for you, but they’re devoted to green living and sustainability as well.

Little explains, “We use certified lumber, arsenic-free material, recycled and engineered lumber, composite decking, metal roofing, and insulation. All debris (except asphalt roofing) generated from the project is sorted through for recyclable material. We install energy-efficient heating systems, like radiant in-floor heating, hybrid baseboard radiators, and energy re-capturing systems. Advanced framing techniques means we consume less lumber. Better insulation methods means that you need less energy to heat and cool your home.”

So, back to the original question: what makes a house into a home? Easy. OA Design’s answer, in its simplest form, is that you do.

Little words it beautifully: she says, “When I consider what we’re doing, I realize that we are entering some of the most intimate spaces in people’s lives — bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens. These are spaces where countless memories have been made and will continue to be created, spaces that hold deep emotional significance. These are some of the most treasured places in people’s lives. When we approach our work with the mindset that we are crafting spaces where people will create their most cherished memories — a space where they’ll bring their newborn home, gather with grandparents, celebrate birthdays, or enjoy family dinners every Saturday — we elevate our purpose. These projects aren’t just project #589; they are special endeavors for very special families, we are helping them build their legacy.”

Basically, you don’t go to OA Design just to construct a house, you go to them to build a home.