Distinct Innovations creates bespoke residential architecture that balances creativity with sustainable, practical design.Principal Designer Luke Van Jour leads every project, drawing on 30+ years of experience and over 25 industry awards to ensure precision and care.
Providing seamless transition from concept to council approval
across the Hills District and Greater Sydney
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Custom Home Design
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Luxury Custom Homes Design
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Knowdown Rebuild Plans
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Heritage Extensions Approval Experience
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Custom Home Extensions and Renovations
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DA & CDC Management
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Council and BCA regulations
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Bushfire (BAL) Heritage Approvals
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Complex Site Navigation
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Sustainable Design Expertise
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3D Visualization & Interior Design
On Site or at our Castle Hill Studio
Custom home design and architectural drafting services across Sydney, including renovations, heritage extensions, multi-residential projects, duplexes and bushfire (BAL) design, delivering tailored, compliant solutions from concept through to construction.
Planning and approvals services across Sydney, including pre-design feasibility, concept design, DA and CDC documentation, construction certificates and BASIX compliance, ensuring a smooth, efficient pathway from initial concept through to approval.
Full Service Advantage
Full-service residential design support including sustainable design, interior detailing, council lodgements, consultant coordination and 3D modelling, with tailored fee proposals based on project scope, complexity and level of detail.
Our Approach
At Distinct Innovations, your ideas are at the centre of everything we do. With 30 years of design experience to guide each decision, taking a hands-on approach to ensure your plans genuinely reflect your vision while remaining practical, buildable, and aligned with your budget.
In Depth Design Consultations
​​​We start with an in-depth 3–4 hour consultation to understand your lifestyle, design preferences, and long-term goals for the home.
Collaborative Approach to Design
You’re encouraged to bring reference images, inspiration folders, or even a simple scrapbook. This helps translate your ideas into a clear, tailored design direction.
Site Specific Planning
Every site is carefully assessed for council controls, zoning, orientation, and natural features to create a sustainable, energy-efficient outcome that works with your land, not against it.​
Concept Design
Initial sketches are prepared to explore ideas and confirm the overall direction before moving into detailed drawings.
Design Review
You’ll be involved at each stage, reviewing and refining the design to ensure it aligns with your expectations.
Council Approvals
I guide you through the entire approval process, including DA or CDC pathways, making what can be a complex process feel straightforward.
Construction Support
Ongoing support can be provided during construction to help ensure the design is delivered as intended, right through to completion.
Award-Winning Principal Designer
Our Designer
Luke Van Jour
Award-Winning Custom Home Designer & Drafting Specialist
Distinct Innovations is a boutique building design and architectural drafting practice led by myself and my wife of 30 years, Albina. We choose to remain a private, specialized studio so that every client receives my direct oversight and three decades of industry expertise.
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Holding a Master’s in Sustainable Design, I focus on high-performance homes and heritage restorations that don't just look good, they work perfectly for the families who live in them.
From the first sketch to final approval, I am personally invested in the success of your project.
Building designer Luke Van Jour receiving a Design Excellence Award from Jamie Durie at the Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA) 2025 Gala.
What Our Client's Say
"I have been fortunate to have worked on several projects with Luke from Distinct Innovations and I must say that of all the Building Designers & Architects I have worked with over the years Luke would be my favourite for his amazing skill & talent in design, his design style and most of all his honest, easy going personality. In my experience I have found that Luke's clients are more than happy with the process and end result and speak very highly of Luke as their chosen Building Designer for their home. For me when I recommend a design professional or contractor to a client (or anyone for that matter) they need to tick 3 boxes, 1. They are very good at what they do 2. Their fees / prices are reasonable 3. They are a nice person and easy to work with. Luke ticks all these boxes for me and I look forward to working on many more amazing Distinct Innovations projects with Luke in the future".
Qualifications & Accreditation
Chartered & Accredited Building Designer (Accred. no. 6164)
Master of Design Science (Sustainable Design), University of Sydney, 2008
Certificate of Architectural Drafting, 1988
Memberships & Appointments
​Chartered & Accredited Member Building Designers Association of NSW (BDA)
BDANSW Appointed Chair of the National Sub-Committee 2012-2015
BDANSW President Sydney Regional Branch 2006-2010
BDANSW State Secretary 2010-2012
Australian Architect ure Association​​
I have been recognised with 25 industry honours from leading Australian organisations, including the Building Designers Association of Australia, Master Builders Association NSW, and local councils across Sydney.
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A number of my designs have broken real estate sales records, highlighting the significant financial value a well-considered design brings to your property.
Publications
My designs have featured a number of times in The Daily Telegraph "Home" section, as well as in Best Australian Architecture Magazine , Winning Design Magazine and Kambridge Quarterly
