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Modern house design services in Victoria BC

Thoughtful, permit-ready house design that turns your ideas into a home you can’t wait to live in. Serving Victoria, Vancouver Island, and beyond.

Book your free consultation(250) 858-0779
photo-realistic 3D rendering of houseplex in Victoria BC

You have a dream

Now you need a design that’s beautiful, buildable, and ready for permit.

Carma Design Group specializes in house design in Victoria BC for homeowners and real estate developers who want more than just a set of drawings. We create custom home design solutions that feel deeply personal, while making the permitting and construction process as smooth as possible.

Whether you’re:
  • Planning a new custom build
  • Reimagining an existing home with a major renovation
  • Designing an infill or small lot home
  • Developing a duplex, houseplex, or other residential development project

…we guide you from the first sketch through to full working drawings.

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

Our end-to-end home design services include:

  1. Custom home design and house plans in Victoria, Vancouver Island, and beyond
  2. Complete drawing packages for permit-ready submissions
  3. Code-compliant, detailed residential architecture and drafting
  4. Home renovation design for additions, reconfigurations, and full gut renos
  5. Coordination with engineers, builders, and other professionals
  6. Optional 3D rendering services so you can see your home before it’s built
photo-realistic rendering of modern farmhouse meets scandinavian architecture

We design with real life in mind — kids, pets, hobbies, quiet routines, muddy boots, aging in place, multi-generational living — and translate that into practical, thoughtful layouts that actually work day to day.

Why choose Carma Design Group for your home design?

Designing a home is a big emotional and financial investment. You deserve a design partner who listens closely, explains clearly, and takes your vision seriously.

Here’s what sets our house design services apart:

We don’t squeeze you into a template or push a signature “look.” Instead, we:

  • Spend time understanding how you live and what matters most
  • Involve you in key decisions rather than presenting a single option
  • Encourage questions and explain the “why” behind design choices

The result is a custom home design that feels like you — not like everyone else on the block.

Both homeowners and developers need projects to keep moving.
Our team brings 12+ years in the residential building industry and has completed over 300 projects, which means we know how to keep your design and drafting on track with:
  • Clear timelines from the beginning
  • Responsive communication and proactive updates
  • Organized workflows that prevent bottlenecks
You’ll always know what stage you’re at and what’s coming next.

Permits in Greater Victoria and across Vancouver Island can feel intimidating. We remove as much of that stress as possible.

Our permit-ready drawings are:

  • Detailed and code-compliant
  • Prepared with local zoning and bylaws in mind
  • Created with municipal expectations front and center

We stand behind our work with a guarantee that our drawings will be approved for permit, and we stay available to help you respond to questions or comments from the municipality.

We know cost is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to house design.

Our approach:

  • Transparent pricing and scope before we begin
  • Options that respect your budget and project goals
  • Smart design decisions that reduce costly changes later

We focus on giving you exceptional value: a personalized experience, thorough documentation, and fewer surprises once you’re into construction.

Our all-female leadership team is passionate about lifting voices — especially women’s — and making sure everyone at the table feels heard.

We’ll never drown you in technical jargon or rush your decisions. Instead, we:

  • Educate you on the process, step by step
  • Translate architectural design concepts into everyday language
  • Give you the information you need to make confident choices

We’re here to design a home, yes — but also to make the journey enjoyable, clear, and grounded.

Book your free consultation
image of 2D house drafting exterior plan transitioning into photo-realistic 3D rendering

Explore our design process

Designing a home can feel overwhelming. Our job is to make it feel organized, collaborative, and even a little bit fun. Here’s how our house design process typically works for projects in Victoria BC and beyond.

Still have questions?

Contact us

We start with a conversation — often a free initial consultation.

In this stage, we:

  • Listen to your story, goals, and non-negotiables
  • Talk about your site or lot, budget, and timeline
  • Discuss whether you’re building new or renovating
  • Clarify what’s possible in broad strokes

You don’t need perfect answers or a fully formed plan. We help you sort through ideas and set a clear direction.

Before we fall in love with a design, we make sure it’s realistic.

For many clients, especially developers or those considering a land purchase, we offer Zoning Buildability Studies to:

  • Review zoning, setbacks, height limits, and site constraints
  • Understand what you can and cannot build on a specific lot
  • Flag potential challenges early, before you commit too far
  • Visually show how a structure might fit on the lot

This optional step gives you peace of mind that your dream home or project is grounded in what’s actually permitted.

Next, we translate your vision and site realities into preliminary house plans that homeowners and builders can clearly understand.

We:

  • Explore layout options and general massing
  • Think carefully about natural light, views, and privacy
  • Consider storage, circulation, and how spaces connect
  • Share concept-level floor plans and elevations for review

You’ll see options and variations — not just one idea — so we can figure out what feels right for you.

Once we’re aligned on a concept, we refine the design in more detail. This is where:

  • Room sizes, window locations, and key dimensions are fine-tuned
  • Exterior character and interior flow come into focus
  • We resolve questions around stairs, rooflines, and tricky corners

Many clients choose to add our 3D rendering services at this stage for a deeper look. We offer:

  • Interior and exterior 3D renderings to help you “walk through” your home
  • Realistic visualizations of materials, massing, and light
  • A chance to catch anything that doesn’t feel quite right before construction

These visual tools make decisions easier and help everyone — you, your builder, your trades — get on the same page.

With the design locked in, we develop full working drawings that are ready for permit submission.

This typically includes:

  • Detailed floor plans, elevations, and roof plans
  • Building sections and key construction details
  • Door and window information
  • Code-related notes and requirements expected by local municipalities

We take local codes and permitting seriously, drawing on years of experience in residential architecture and drafting across Victoria BC and Vancouver Island.

We also coordinate with engineers and other professionals as needed, so your structural and architectural design work together smoothly.

Once your drawings are ready for permit, you have options for the next step:

  1. Self-managed: Many clients choose to submit the permit application themselves, using our detailed and organized drawing set. We’re always available to answer questions along the way.
  2. Guided assistance: If you prefer, Carma can directly handle the permit submission for you, or coordinate with your builder throughout the municipal review process. This ensures your application is handled efficiently and nothing falls through the cracks.

Whatever path you choose, we remain available to:

  • Help you (or your builder) understand the permit process
  • Respond to city or district comments or requests for clarification
  • Make minor plan adjustments requested by the municipality

Whether you want to manage approvals on your own, or prefer expert assistance, our goal is for you to feel fully supported — and never left to navigate the process alone.

Real success stories

Clients consistently tell us they feel heard, supported, and excited throughout the house design process.

Carma Design Group helped me with a very difficult project that had a ton of moving parts and needed a high level of attention to detail coupled with some out-of-the-box thinking. I found both Norah and Crystal 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 (and look forward to) using them in the future.

D. Benoit

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Norah & Crystal on designing our dream home for our family. Seeing our vision come to light was an amazing process. The professionalism, creativity design and passion about their work really showed the experience within this company. They deliver a superior product with personalized attention and guided us through the complex design issues and local permit requirements. We highly recommend using Carma Design Group for any project big or small.

Wesley Wood

We had the pleasure of working with both Crystal and Norah. They 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. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again or to recommend them to others. Thank you!

Christine Bonney

I have been working with Crystal and Norah for years and love what they’ve created with Carma Design Group. They provide our project management team and clients with an exceptional experience. They are able to extract 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, and we appreciate all they do.

Mike Holstein
Home Builder

Alair Homes has been working with Crystal and Norah for years on a number of projects. We have always found them 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

Frequently asked questions

Headquartered in Victoria, our work spans Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island, with projects across British Columbia and select international locations.

Many parts of our process can be handled remotely through video calls and digital plan reviews, so if you like our approach, we can likely work together — wherever you are.

Yes. Our home design services cover:

  • New custom homes
  • Additions and major renovations
  • Reconfiguring existing layouts for better flow
  • Secondary suites and infill projects

Renovations often come with unique constraints; we help you understand what’s realistic for your existing structure and local bylaws, then create designs that maximize what you already have.

Timelines vary depending on project size, level of detail, and how quickly decisions are made. For most single-family homes in Victoria, BC, the process typically includes:

  • Initial discovery and concept design: approximately 2–4 weeks
  • Design refinement and 3D visualization (if selected): approximately 2-4weeks
  • Technical drawings and permit-ready set: approximately 1-2 weeks

Once we understand your project in more detail, we’ll provide a tailored timeline and keep you informed at every stage of the process.

Costs vary depending on:

  • Size and complexity of the home
  • Whether it’s a new build or renovation
  • The level of detail and number of revisions required
  • Whether you add services like 3D rendering or Zoning Buildability Studies

We’re committed to transparency. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a clear proposal outlining scope, fees, and what’s included — so there are no surprises later.

We guarantee that our permit-ready drawings will meet municipal requirements when submitted in the intended form. While we can’t control every external factor, our designs are created with local codes and bylaws in mind from day one.

If the municipality requests clarifications or adjustments, we work with you to address them quickly and efficiently.

You don’t need a builder in place to begin custom home design, though it can be helpful to involve one early — especially for budgeting and construction planning.

We’re happy to:

  • Start your design before you’ve selected a builder
  • Collaborate directly with your chosen builder or developer
  • Connect you with trusted industry professionals if needed

Yes. Many of our clients have never seen house plans before.

We help clients navigate the design process with clarity and confidence. This includes:

  • Walking you through the drawings step by step
  • Explaining terminology in everyday language
  • Using 3D rendering services when helpful to make things clearer

By the time your house plans are complete, you’ll feel confident that you understand your future home.

Get Started

Schedule your free consultation

Fill out the form to request your free consultation and start the design journey for your dream home! We will:

Discuss your ideas and goals

Learn what’s possible on your site or in your municipality

Understand timelines, costs, and next steps for your custom home design

Whether you’re sketching on a napkin, exploring lots, or already working with a builder, we’re here to help you move forward with clarity, creativity, and confidence.

Alternatively, give us a call: (250) 858-0779