New Build + Renovation
FAQ’s

Earlier is almost always better. For renovations, we ideally become involved before architectural plans are finalized or construction begins. For new builds, we prefer to collaborate during the early planning stages alongside the architect and builder. Early involvement allows us to shape layout, sightlines, functionality, architectural detailing, lighting, material continuity, and overall project cohesion from the start — decisions that are far more difficult and costly to revisit later.

Vela specializes in full-service residential renovations, new construction homes, and comprehensive furnishing projects — as well as concept-driven commercial environments including hospitality, luxury retail, wellness spaces, and workplaces designed with a hospitality mindset. Our commercial process is equally rigorous and equally personal to our residential work.

Across both, we partner best with clients who value strong creative direction, thoughtful detailing, and a process that is as considered as the outcome. If you're a homeowner, a brand, or a business looking to make your space do more work — we'd love to talk.

Yes. While Vela is based in Excelsior, Minnesota, we work on select projects nationwide depending on scope and fit.

Our clients are typically busy people who want a deeply considered home without managing every detail themselves. We guide the process, curate options with intention, and streamline decision-making — ensuring clients feel informed and confident without being overwhelmed. Your job is to share your vision and trust the process. Ours is to bring it to life.

Our process is intentionally curated. Rather than presenting an overwhelming number of options, we guide clients toward well-resolved solutions that are aligned with the architecture, lifestyle, and goals of the project. This creates clarity, supports construction momentum, and leads to a more cohesive result than a process built around endless choices.

Every project is different, but high-end residential projects often take significantly longer than clients initially anticipate. New builds commonly span 18–30+ months from planning to completion, while major renovations may take 9–18+ months depending on complexity, permitting, and construction conditions. We believe in setting honest expectations from the start — a well-executed home is worth the time it takes to do it right.

Absolutely. Collaboration is central to how we work. We regularly partner with architects, builders, contractors, and specialty consultants to ensure the design vision is carried through accurately and with care during execution. We deeply value experienced build teams — and we believe the strongest homes are created through clear communication, mutual respect, and shared expertise, not competition between disciplines.

Yes. Depending on project scope, Vela develops detailed drawing packages and specifications to support construction and implementation. These may include finish plans, lighting plans, millwork drawings, elevations, plumbing selections, tile layouts, and decorative detailing. Our drawings are produced in Revit and AutoCAD and are designed to be used in the field — not just presented in a client meeting. We coordinate closely with the builder and consultants throughout to support accurate pricing, efficient decision-making, and clean execution.

Builders, contractors, and architects are essential partners in the success of every project — and we treat them that way. We communicate directly across all parties, show up prepared, and stay genuinely engaged throughout. That means organized documentation, clear specifications, and a team that understands construction realities and meets them head-on.

When challenges arise — and they always do — we work through them together. Whether it's resolving a detail with the architect, coordinating a sequence with the contractor, or problem-solving in the field with the builder, we bring the same rigor and creativity to construction that we bring to design. Our goal is to make collaboration feel effortless: decisions get made, details get resolved, and the project keeps moving forward with clarity and confidence.

Yes — and proactively. Vela remains actively involved from groundbreaking through final walk. We review progress, coordinate with trades, respond to RFIs promptly, and work through shop drawings and submittals with care. We don't wait for problems to surface. We stay close to the process, maintaining continuity between the design intent and the realities of the field as they evolve — so nothing gets lost in translation between what was designed and what gets built.

Yes — and proactively. Vela remains actively involved from groundbreaking through final walk. We structure the design process in phases that support construction timelines, keep selections moving, and minimize avoidable delays. We review progress, coordinate with trades, respond to RFIs promptly, and work through shop drawings and submittals with care.

We don't wait for problems to surface. We stay close to the process — anticipating what's needed next, keeping communication clear across all parties, and maintaining continuity between the design intent and the realities of the field as they evolve. Nothing gets lost in translation between what was designed and what gets built.

Budgets vary widely depending on scope, architecture, location, and level of finish. We discuss investment expectations candidly early in the process to ensure alignment before moving forward. We are not the right fit for every budget — but for the projects we take on, we are fully committed to delivering work that justifies the investment.

Design fees are tailored to project scope and complexity. Depending on the project, fees may be structured as flat fees, square-foot-based fees, hourly billing, or a hybrid approach. We provide clear proposals outlining scope, phases, and expectations prior to engagement — no surprises.

Yes — and for most of our renovation and new build projects, furnishings, lighting, window treatments, and styling are part of the process from the start. We believe architecture and furnishings should feel intentionally connected, not treated as separate phases with separate sensibilities.

In some cases we do take on standalone furnishing scopes, though our strongest work happens when we're involved holistically. The details that make a home feel truly cohesive — ceiling heights, lighting placement, built-in proportions, material transitions — are decisions that shape the furnishing plan long before a single piece arrives.