Homeowner clients

We see ourselves as architects in the traditional sense of being the client’s representative, and will work with you to make the most of the space and budget you have.


In our experience, our homeowner clients are frustrated by some specific problems when starting a project, particularly that it’s not clear how much building work costs, or how long things take. Unclear information at this stage often leads to unachievable expectations in terms of budget or what can be obtained at planning. We find that clients like you are not sure about the potential pitfalls in the process, and more than this, don’t have the time to become experts in every aspect of the process either. This is most acute when homeowners don’t have a trusted network of local builders and reliable consultants. You’ll have heard the stories, or maybe even have personal experience, of how stressful and time consuming the process of managing your own build can be.


This is where we come in, to provide you with honest and realistic information up front. We’ll work with you to make the most of the space and budget you have. You will be working directly with a partner, as we only take on two projects at a time, so you’ll have a single point of contact throughout the process. We have a list of consultants and builders we’ve worked with before, and we manage the tender process to get the best quality and price. During the build, we like to offer a full project management service, and see ourselves as architects in the traditional sense of the client’s representative.


To tell you a little bit more about us, the process we use is set out in three steps:

1. Clarity - We start each project with a Feasibility Study to clearly set out the spatial brief, budget, and timescale for your project, since each home is different. This provides information up front about the process ahead, and gives the project rock solid foundations.
   
   
2. Character - We work closely with our clients to develop options and ideas that make the most of space, time and money to optimise their homes. Through careful consultation and updates, we ensure that the designs are perfectly suited to the way you want to live.
   
   
3. Communication - We stay in close contact with you and all of the members of the team throughout the design and construction process. Our tailored approach carries right the way through the project, ensuring that your completed home is of the best quality possible.
   

This process has resulted in numerous happy clients, award winning homes, and plenty of example projects that we’d love to show you.


If you think we could be a good match, contact us today via catrina@officesandm.com or hugh@officesandm.com to kick off the process of us working with you on your home.

Mo-tel House, for Tamsin and Max


Valetta House, for Rachel and Chris

‘We commissioned Office S&M to oversee the design and build of a ground floor kitchen extension for our house. Hugh and his team were really amazing to work with. They really understood what we were trying to do (even when we didn't!), and came to each meeting with a tonne of creative and innovative ideas for the structure, materials, and the overall feel of the project. They were extremely responsive throughout, offering clear and sensible advice for each step of the process. My wife and I were totally newbies to the whole enterprise of designing and building something like this, but Hugh remained entirely unflappable, patient, and good-humoured. He and his team were an utter joy to work with, and the end results are just fantastic. Couldn't be happier.’

Alan and Keiko, Clients