DESIGN FREEDOM, INC.


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YOUR FOREVER HOME ARCHITECT



RETIREMENT IS ON THE HORIZON.



Your life's next chapter is in sight. You are already making plans for how you want to live after you retire.



THE HOUSE YOU COULD AFFORD 'THEN' DOESN'T FIT YOU ANYMORE.



It's in a good location. It just doesn't have all the features you really wanted.



IT'S TIME FOR THE HOME YOU DESERVE.



How do you know what can be done, should be done, to your home?



Your FOREVER HOME





Your Forever Home may be a new home, or an addition/remodel to your own home, or to a home you have recently purchased. A Forever Home will fit you and your lifestyle for the rest of your life!


Design Freedom, inc. is a full-service boutique architectural firm focusing on Homeowners. We want you to love your home more!



Commitment to details ... one of a kind picturesque lakefront home design



Bill D., courtesy of Houzz.com 8/10/2012



What we VALUE





ONE STORY LIVING



No steps design is best for everyone. Owner's Suite on the first floor of multi-level homes. Or install an elevator or dedicated closets for a future one. Ramp or no step entrances, including into the Garage. No sunken living rooms!​



CONNECTION TO OUTDOORS



French or sliding glass doors to connect indoor & outdoor entertaining areas. At least one window in each room, with borrowed views where available. Natural light without glare. Clerestory windows to see the sky and treetops!



MULTIPLE GENERATIONS



More than one or two generations in a home has its own challenges and rewards. Privacy and independence are important, while spaces to come together are, too.​



GREEN AND/OR ENERGY EFFICIENT



Use vernacular, historic details and modern, new ideas based on building science. Follow Best Practices for the local climate instead of Building Code minimums. Upgrade to certifications including Florida Green Building Coalition, EnergyStar, LEED for Homes, and others.



LOW MAINTENANCE



Choose durable products and materials wisely, based on a long-term approach. Weigh the energy costs over the next 10 years. Minimize the need for cleaning or replacing items too soon.



AGING-GRACEFULLY-IN-PLACE



Because none of us are getting any younger! No-step showers, grab bars and extra handrails, thoughtful lighting, wider doorways and hallways.



QUALITY NOT QUANTITY



Because you shouldn't really heat or clean a bigger home than you have to. Good storage solutions. Understanding how you really live. Putting your money where you will most enjoy it.



RESILIENT DESIGN



Florida is home to hurricanes, storm surges, flooding, daily thunderstorms, tornadoes, wildfires, termites, sinkholes! Let's build with care and caution.



Your FOREVER HOME






Are you looking for what we provide?



What do you really want? What does a Forever Home mean to you?



Right now, you should be in the Research Phase. This is where you are gathering information and playing around with ideas. At the point you want to get serious, you will want to check the feasibility of your ideas and understand what the project constraints are.



If you work with Design Freedom, inc., we will move to the Analysis Phase by conducting an Initial Consultation to eliminate assumptions, identify constraints and find your best options.






Our clients focus on green or energy efficient projects - homeowners who want to save money and think long term. They subscribe to the thought that bigger is not necessarily better - that quality wins over quantity every time. And our clients plan on staying in their home for a long time, with low maintenance, durability, and one level living integrated into every design.


Every project is different, but every project is a puzzle. My job is to figure out what is needed, what is wanted, and the best possible way to get there. We like to listen to the clients, weigh all the options, and bring out the best ideas. If we figure things out carefully at each step, the end product will go together more smoothly, and seem to be the best and only solution to the problem.



Cathy Svercl, Architect





Cathy Svercl, RA, is a registered architect licensed in Florida and Virginia with over 20 years of experience. In 6th Grade, her teacher gave her class a project to think about what they would do with their lives, including drawing up the house they wanted to live in. Cathy has been drawing homes ever since!


READ MORE

Very professional ... She understood the emotional aspect we went through....



​Anita R., courtesy of Houzz.com 4/1/2019



THE NEXT STEPS





1. Take a little time to get to know us through the projects on our website. Read our Blog articles on topics that you value in your Forever Home.


2. Download a Project Planning Pack to help you prepare for the design & construction process.


3. Sign up for our newsletter if you are not quite ready yet.


4. Once you are ready to move forward, Schedule a Call to talk to us directly.



VIEW PROJECTS



Select a project to view more information about individual remodels, additions & new homes, including in-law-suites. Locations: Tampa Bay & beyond & Northern Virginia.


PROJECTS

PROJECT PLANNING PACK



Sign up for our PPP which includes checklists, cost worksheet, and a road map that shows you the design and construction process from start to finish


PPP

NEWSLETTER



Sign up for our Newsletter to receive our Project Idea of the Month and other features


NEWSLETTER

SCHEDULE A CALL



Request an appointment to talk directly to an Architect about your project, if it's the size, location and type of project that we offer. Sign up to select a 30-minute timeslot


SCHEDULE

WERE YOU AFFECTED BY STORM SURGE OR FLOODING RECENTLY?



Download our FEMA Primer pamphlet to learn more about the FEMA 50% Rule (Substantial Improvement/Damage).


Know what the regulations say, what facts you need to know, and what your options and alternatives might be.


FEMA PRIMER



DESIGN FREEDOM, INC.



CLEARWATER, FL
Phone/Voicemail (Seven 2 Seven) Seven 35 - Nine 223
FL#AR93491 (formerly AA26001283) VA#0407 005832