About Carma Design Group

Carma Design Group is a residential design studio based in Victoria, BC, creating permit-ready residential design and home floor plans for homeowners and developers across Vancouver Island and beyond. We turn the spark of an idea into thoughtful, buildable custom house plans — through collaboration, education, and a genuinely human design experience.

Our story

Carma Design Group was founded on the belief that home should be the one place you can truly be yourself.

After years of experience in home building and design, the Carma Design Group team understands how overwhelming the process can feel for clients. Navigating design decisions, permit requirements, and coordination with multiple professionals often leaves people feeling rushed or uncertain.

Our practice is built around listening, supporting, and guiding clients through every stage of the design process. We bring focus, resilience, and care to each project, helping turn tentative ideas into thoughtful, functional, and truly livable homes.

photo-realistic rendering of modern farmhouse meets scandinavian architecture

photo-realistic rendering of modern scandinavian-style cabin in the woods

What began as a desire to help families create peaceful, personal spaces has grown into a close-knit team with:

18+ years of experience in the residential building and design industry

300+ projects completed across Vancouver Island and BC

A reputation for clear communication, fast turnarounds, and reliable permit-ready drawings

Today, we partner with homeowners, builders, and developers to deliver custom home design, floor plans, 3D rendering, and zoning & buildability studies — making the journey from vision to permit as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Our Mission & values

Our mission is to create spaces where people can be completely themselves — making dream homes a reality through collaborative design, educational guidance, and guaranteed results.

Everything we do is grounded in our core values:

Authenticity

Homes should feel like the people who live in them, not the designer who drew them.

We take the time to understand how you live day to day — the quiet routines, the chaos, the hobbies, the non-negotiables — and let those details guide your custom home design. No copying and pasting. No cookie-cutter layouts.

Collaboration

We design with you, not for you.

You’re involved in key decisions from the start, and we facilitate open communication with your team of builders, trades, engineers, developers, and other professionals.

This collaborative design approach means fewer surprises, smoother builds, and homes that truly reflect a shared vision.

Empowerment

We believe in lifting voices — especially women's — and equipping clients with the knowledge to make confident decisions.

We explain the home design process in simple, clear terms, so you always know what stage your project is at, what’s ahead, and what your options are and why they matter.

Our goal: that you feel informed, respected, and empowered from first sketch to permit submission, with direct owner involvement in all projects.

Responsiveness

Design and permits move quickly. So do we.

We prioritize fast, clear responses to your questions, proactive updates as your project progresses, and practical guidance when decisions need to be made.

You never have to wonder if your email got lost or your project is on hold. We stay on top of the details so you don’t have to.

Education

Custom home design shouldn’t be a mystery.

We walk you through: how your site, zoning, and bylaws affect what you can build, why certain structural or planning decisions are needed, and how to interpret your drawings, elevations, and 3D renderings.

By the time your permit-ready plans are complete, you’ll understand your home inside and out and be equipped to make informed decisions.

Transparency

No hidden agendas. No sugarcoating.

We’re open about pricing and scope, timelines and expectations, and what’s possible (and what isn’t) on your specific lot.

If something will impact cost, schedule, or approvals, you’ll hear it directly from us early enough to make the right choices for you.

Why trust carma design group?

Choosing a design partner is a big decision. We know you’re trusting us with your home, your investment, and your dream. Here’s why clients across Vancouver Island and British Columbia feel confident putting their projects in our hands.

01Proven experience and results

Operating as Carma Design Group since 2021
18+ years in the residential building & design industry
Over 300 residential projects successfully completed
Extensive experience with local codes, zoning, and permit processes

From compact infill homes to larger custom builds and full renovations, we bring a strong technical foundation and a calm, organized approach to every project.

02Permit-ready from day one

We focus on:

Accurate, coordinated home floor plans and elevations
Thoughtful structural and code considerations
Details that municipalities expect to see up front

We offer practical guidance through the approval process, and collaborate closely with engineers and other professionals—helping you and your builder move through reviews with greater confidence and fewer delays.

03Personal, human-centered service

Clients often tell us the same things:

“You actually listened.”
“You explained everything.”
“We never felt rushed or dismissed.”

As cliché as it sounds, we don’t just deliver drawings, we build relationships. You’ll work directly with designers who know your project, understand your priorities, and genuinely care about the outcome.

04Trusted by homeowners and developers

Whether you’re a family planning your forever home or a developer assessing a new lot, we’re focused on:

Quality and reliability
Clear communication
Speed and efficiency
Strong return on investment

We have always found Carma to be attentive, professional, and efficient. Our clients have been thrilled with the level of service and the speed both Norah and Crystal are able to put the ideas discussed onto paper. We would recommend Carma Design to anyone.

Stu Hopewell

Home Builder

I found Carma to be extremely helpful, easy to work with, turnaround times were some of the best I have had and the quality of work and renderings exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend Carma and will definitely be using them in the future.

D. Benoit

Carma extracts all the right information from you to design a home or space that is exactly what you need. I get the feeling that all their clients are made to feel as if they are their number one priority. Their creativity, value and service are unmatched.

Mike Holstein

Home Builder

Seeing our vision come to light was an amazing process. They deliver a superior product with personalized attention and guided us through the complex design issues and local permit requirements. We highly recommend Carma Design Group.

Wesley Wood

Crystal and Norah are extremely knowledgeable and take the time to help their clients understand the design process. They are super easy to work with and deliver a high quality product in a timely and professional way.

Christine Bonney

Crystal and Norah were fantastic to work with - took initiative, were thoughtful and responsive throughout. Made my process much simpler. Highly recommended.

Jesse MacLeod

Meet our team

Behind every set of custom house plans is a team of designers who care deeply about the people who will live in the spaces we create.

Crystal Southwell

Owner/Architectural Designer

Crystal is the founder of Carma Design Group and the driving force behind its refined, client-centered approach to residential design.

With over a decade of experience in custom home building and architectural design, Crystal brings a blend of creativity and intuition to every project. She is known for her ability to listen deeply — translating even the most abstract ideas into homes that feel intentional, timeless, and effortlessly livable.

As a mother of two daughters, Crystal approaches both life and design with discipline, resilience, and grace. She understands that building a home is an emotional investment as much as a financial one, and she guides clients through the process with calm leadership, clarity, and unwavering support.

Crystal is especially passionate about:

Elevating clients' voices and ensuring they are confidently represented throughout the design and construction process
Creating homes that feel serene, grounded, and deeply reflective of the people who live in them
Transforming uncertainty into confidence — and vision into something truly extraordinary

Her role spans strategic client guidance, design direction and solutions, technical drafting, proposals and maintaining the elevated standards that define Carma Design Group.

Norah Holloway

Senior Architectural Designer

Norah brings over 18 years of experience in the residential building industry, combining refined interior sensibility with strong technical expertise in architectural design.

A native of Haida Gwaii and an artist at heart, Norah’s creative foundation spans watercolors, painting, charcoal, and drawing — disciplines that inform her intuitive understanding of proportion, balance, and spatial flow. This artistic perspective is paired with a deep technical knowledge gained through years of hands-on experience, including owning her own interior design firm and working with one of the largest residential builders on Vancouver Island.

Norah is known for her ability to bridge vision and execution. She approaches every project with a clear understanding of building codes, construction methods, and material coordination, ensuring that each design is not only beautiful but also efficient, compliant, and buildable.

Norah is driven by:

The belief that homes are the setting for a lifetime of meaningful moments
The collaborative process of working closely with clients, builders, and trades to deliver refined, well-resolved homes
The responsibility of designing spaces that are technically sound, highly functional, and timelessly elegant

At Carma Design Group, Norah’s technical expertise is seen in concept creation and detailed plan drafting. Her role ensures that every home is thoughtfully resolved — where creative intent, technical precision, and construction realities align seamlessly.

Our Impact

Browse our portfolio for a glimpse into the homes and lives we’ve helped shape through thoughtful custom home design across Victoria, Vancouver Island, and beyond.

View Portfolio