Building Designer & Architectural Drafting FAQs 

Clients choose Distinct Innovations because we combine high-quality design, accurate documentation, practical advice and genuine care. As a family-based business that has designed and built several of our own homes, we understand the pressure, cost and decision-making involved in a residential project. Before design work begins, we carefully review the site, budget, planning controls, council rules and client brief. Where required, we also liaise early with council and consultants to identify potential hurdles, helping reduce avoidable redesign, delays and unnecessary costs.

No. We operate as an Accredited Building Design practice (Building Designers Association of Australia BDAA No. 6164, Low Rise). Our qualifications include a Master of Sustainable Design from the University of Sydney, as well as formal qualifications in technical architectural drafting. With over 30 years of experience, we have designed, drafted and navigated the complexities of DCP and LEP requirements, preparing DA and CDC documentation for NSW Councils across Greater Sydney. We are also award-winning building designers, having received over 25 design awards for custom new homes, extensions and heritage extensions.

No, we are not builders. We are your design and planning partners. Our job is to prepare the high-detail plans and technical documentation you need for council approvals and construction. Keeping the design and build phases separate gives you full control. Once the design is complete, you can take the plans to multiple builders to compare quotes, ensuring you find a contractor that fits your style, budget and quality expectations..

We provide building design and architectural drafting services throughout Greater Sydney and Regional NSW. We work regularly across: The Hills District: Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, Bella Vista, Dural, Kenthurst The North Shore: Mosman, Wahroonga, Turramurra, Beecroft, Lane Cove, Gordon, Lindfield The Inner West: Haberfield, Concord, Leichhardt, Stanmore, Strathfield, Burwood, Annandale, Marrickville Greater Sydney: Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, the Blue Mountains Coastal and Regional NSW: Newcastle, the Central Coast, Wollongong, the Illawarra If you are unsure whether we cover your area, get in touch. If your project is the right fit, we will travel to you.

Yes. Dual occupancy and duplex design is a significant part of our work and one we find particularly rewarding. These projects require careful planning from the start: understanding how the block can be subdivided, what each dwelling needs to achieve individually, and how both homes relate to each other and the streetscape. A recent example is a large block in Beecroft where we managed a full subdivision, designing a single-storey > home on one lot and a double-storey > home on the adjoining lot. Each was tailored to its orientation, outlook, and planning controls. For that project, we also produced a complete Schedule of Finishes for each of the homes giving the developer a full project portfolio to hand to their builder covering exactly how every finish, fixture, and fitting should be specified and installed. This meant the builder could quote and work from a single, authoritative document. We handle the complete design and documentation for DA or CDC submission across Sydney and Regional NSW.

Yes. Done well, a custom-designed granny flat can add meaningful value to your property and provide flexible accommodation for family members or rental income. The key to a good outcome is design that genuinely integrates with your existing home in materials, scale, and layout rather than feeling like a bolt-on addition. We handle the full design and documentation for custom secondary dwellings, including CDC and DA submissions, designing for compliance with the Housing SEPP and your local council's requirements from the start. If you are considering a granny flat, get in touch and we can assess whether your block is eligible and what is realistically achievable.

Yes. We have extensive experience achieving council approvals for heritage projects all over Sydney, particularly in Epping, Leichhardt, Concord, Strathfield, and Burwood. We specialise in preserving the character of Federation and Victorian homes while adding seamless, modern rear extensions. Our heritage work has been recognised with multiple national and state awards: Salt St House (2025) > Winner, Best Heritage and Finalist, Alterations & Additions, BDAA National Design Awards Strathfield House (2017) > Winner, Residential Interiors and Commendation, Alterations & Additions $500k & Over, BDAA National Awards Creewood House (2013) > Winner, Heritage/Adaptive Reuse; Winner, Alterations & Additions up to $250K; Winner, Paul Dass Memorial Award (the highest award achievable at BDA) BDA NSW. Winner, Best New Development Involving Heritage Canada Bay City Council Design Awards. Featured in The Daily Telegraph Home Magazine. Excelsior St House (2012) > Winner, Residential Alterations and Additions over $250K, BDA NSW. Featured in Winning Design Magazine.

Yes. We have extensive experience designing bushfire resilient homes across all risk levels, from standard requirements up to the extreme Flame Zone ratings. We specialise in homes that are safe and aesthetically pleasing, and we understand how to navigate RFS requirements using non-combustible materials. Our expertise is demonstrated by our work on: Mt Riverview House >: A National Award-winning home designed to strict BAL-40 standards. Mulgoa House >: A custom home specifically designed for Flame Zone, the highest level of bushfire risk. Merealba House (Lake Macquarie) >: A developer project expertly navigating BAL-29 constraints on a sloping block. Malton Road Dual Development (Beecroft) >: A two-home subdivision balancing bushfire compliance with strict heritage restrictions.

It depends on your site, planning controls, and whether the proposed design complies with NSW planning standards. A CDC (Complying Development Certificate) is a fast-track approval for projects that meet strict state planning rules under the NSW Housing Code. It is typically assessed by a private certifier and can often be approved within 2 to 5 weeks. A DA (Development Application) is a merit-based assessment lodged through the NSW Planning Portal and assessed by your local council. It allows more flexibility in design but usually takes longer, commonly 2 to 4 months or more depending on council workload.

Yes, we handle both Development Applications (DA) and Complying Development Certificates (CDC). We prepare the architectural plans and coordinate all supporting documentation required for the NSW Planning Portal. Whether your project requires a standard DA approval or qualifies for a CDC fast-track approval, we design your project to comply with local LEPs and DCPs from the start. We can navigate the portal and lodge the application on your behalf, or we can hand over the complete package for you to lodge yourself. We have extensive experience in councils right across Sydney including The Hills District, Hornsby, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, the Inner West, Canada Bay and the Blue Mountains. While we cannot guarantee approval, we are committed to providing the highest care and quality work to avoid costly delays and resubmissions.

Most residential projects in Sydney typically take around 3 to 6 months to progress from initial concept design through to final assessment. The design and drafting phase usually takes around 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the home and how quickly design decisions are finalised. Once the drawings are complete, the application is lodged through the NSW Planning Portal and assessed by either a private certifier (for CDC applications) or the local council (for DA applications). Assessment timeframes can vary, but generally range from 2 to 12 weeks or more, depending on the pathway chosen and the workload of the relevant local council or certifier. Please note that these timeframes can extend if the council or certifier requests amendments or additional information during their review.

We combine luxury custom home design with proven sustainability principles to deliver visually exceptional results. Our expertise in this space is long-standing; just one example is our award-winning work on: Verandah House | Twin Creeks Estate, Luddenham > This project was one of the first homes in the region to achieve a 7-star energy rating back in 2009. Reaching 7 stars over a decade before it became the legal minimum was incredibly rare and required advanced sustainable design. Having been granted full design freedom on this project, we demonstrated that a home can seamlessly balance high-end, resort-style luxury with rigorous environmental performance.

No professional designer or architect can ethically guarantee a decision by a Council or certifier, but we are committed to giving your project the best possible pathway to success. As a family business, we value your time and capital as much as our own. We prioritise rigorous pre-site analysis to determine the true feasibility of a project. If we believe a proposal is not viable, we will tell you honestly before we begin any work. For complex projects, a core part of our process includes pre-lodgement meetings with Council. This allows us to get an early feel for their desired outcomes, restrictions and concerns before we even put pen to paper. We operate with professional integrity. We do not take on projects and just hope for the best. Instead, we apply 30 years of industry experience to prepare robust, compliant applications. Ultimately, we cannot know or predict if a Council or certifier will find something they do not like during their assessment. However, our thorough approach is designed to minimise risk and give your project the highest chance of a positive outcome.