The Design Process in Architecture: A Guide for Coconut Grove and Coral Gables Homeowners by the Best Residential Architecture firm
- Maria Luisa Castellanos
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
How the best residential architecture firm in Miami – with over 30 years of whole-house remodeling experience – guides discerning homeowners through every phase of design, permitting, and construction.
If you own a home in Coconut Grove or Coral Gables, you already understand what it means to invest in a property of distinction. These are two of Miami’s most architecturally significant neighborhoods – places where mature tree canopies, Mediterranean Revival estates, and mid-century modern homes coexist with a refined, unhurried way of life. When it’s time to transform your home – whether through a whole-house remodel or a carefully planned addition – the process demands an architect who understands not just design, but the specific character of the place you call home.
At United Architects, we have spent more than 30 years doing exactly that. We are the best residential architecture firm in Miami for whole-house remodeling and additions, and our work is concentrated in the neighborhoods where design and lifestyle expectations are highest. We also have a well-earned reputation for navigating Miami-Dade permitting – a process that can stop a project cold if not managed by someone who knows the system from the inside.
Ready to explore what’s possible for your home? Visit www.UnitedArchitectsInc.com or call us to schedule a private consultation.
Why Coconut Grove and Coral Gables Homeowners Require a Different Kind of Architect
If you’ve relocated from New York or California, you may be surprised to learn how different the regulatory landscape is in Miami-Dade County. Zoning rules in Coral Gables – a municipality with its own Planning and Zoning department and its own Board of Architects – are unlike anything you’d encounter elsewhere. Additions must be compatible with the original architecture. Exterior materials, window proportions, and rooflines are all subject to review. Coconut Grove, meanwhile, has its own historic overlay district considerations, tree protection ordinances, and setback requirements that can significantly shape what is possible on your lot.
For homeowners accustomed to a simpler permitting environment, this can be daunting. For our clients, it is simply part of the process – one we have managed successfully for over three decades. We know the reviewers, we understand the standards, and we design with approval in mind from the very first sketch. The result is a smoother, faster path from concept to construction.
Our whole-house remodeling and addition work in these neighborhoods includes:
Complete whole-house transformations that honor original architecture while delivering contemporary comfort
Rear additions and second-story additions that maximize lot value without compromising neighborhood character
Kitchen, primary suite, and entertainment space renovations designed for the South Florida lifestyle
Indoor-outdoor living expansions that take full advantage of Miami’s year-round climate
Hurricane-resistant structural upgrades integrated seamlessly into the design
The 5-Phase Design Process: What to Expect When You Work with United Architects, the Best Residential Architecture Firm
Whether you are undertaking a whole-house remodel or a significant addition, the architectural process follows five essential phases. Understanding each phase will help you ask the right questions, make confident decisions, and protect your investment every step of the way.
Phase 1: Schematic Design – Listening Before Drawing
Every project begins with a thorough conversation – not a sales pitch. We tour your home, study your lot, and learn how you actually live: how you entertain, how your family moves through the spaces, what you wish the house did better. We then create what we call your “Must-Have List” before a single line is drawn. Architects are not mind readers, but after 30 years in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, we have become very skilled listeners.
Schematic design includes:
Detailed site analysis, including setbacks, tree preservation requirements, and flood zone considerations specific to your neighborhood
Preliminary concept sketches exploring massing, layout, and the relationship between existing and new construction
Honest budget calibration so you understand what your investment will realistically achieve
Early permitting review – we identify potential zoning or approval hurdles before they become expensive surprises
Phase 2: Design Development – Turning Concept into a Real Plan
Once the schematic concept is approved, we develop it into a fully resolved architectural design. Floor plans, elevations, and key interior details are refined so you can see precisely how the finished spaces will look and function. For whole-house remodels, this phase also addresses how existing conditions – aging infrastructure, non-conforming elements, or structural limitations – will be resolved. In Coral Gables, we coordinate closely with the City’s Board of Architects at this stage to ensure design compatibility. In Coconut Grove, we account for the neighborhood’s mature tree canopy and its impact on siting and massing.
Design development addresses Miami-specific considerations including:
Hurricane-resistant structural systems designed to meet Florida Building Code requirements
Ventilation and moisture management for South Florida’s subtropical humidity. A drainage study will be executed for projects in Coconut Grive.
Seamless indoor-outdoor integration – the defining feature of elevated Miami residential design
Energy efficiency strategies that reduce cooling costs without compromising architectural quality
Phase 3: Construction Documents – The Foundation of a Successful Permit
This is where our 30 years of Miami-Dade permitting experience delivers real value. Construction documents are the complete technical package submitted to the Building Department – architectural drawings, structural engineering, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) coordination, and all required specifications. A poorly prepared permit package is rejected, delayed, or sent through endless cycles of corrections. Ours are prepared to a standard that moves efficiently through the review process. We know what Miami-Dade reviewers look for, and we give it to them clearly, correctly, and the first time.
For homeowners new to South Florida – particularly those coming from states with more straightforward permitting systems – this phase is often the biggest revelation. Permitting in Miami-Dade requires patience and precision. With United Architects managing this process, you can focus on your vision while we navigate the bureaucracy on your behalf.
Phase 4: Contractor Selection – Choosing the Right Builder for Your Neighborhood
Not every contractor is equipped for the standards that Coconut Grove and Coral Gables demand. Whole-house remodels and additions in these neighborhoods require builders with experience in high-end residential construction, familiarity with the local sub-trade network, and the organizational discipline to manage complex, multi-phase projects. After three decades of working in Miami, we have built relationships with contractors who consistently deliver work of the quality our clients expect. We help you evaluate bids, interview candidates, and select a builder whose capabilities match your project.
Phase 5: Construction Oversight – Protecting Your Investment Through Completion
Once construction begins, we can serve as your advocate on site. If you would like this service, we will conduct regular field observations, review submittals and shop drawings, respond to contractor questions, and address any conditions that arise in the field. For whole-house remodels especially – where hidden conditions inside walls and under floors are virtually guaranteed – having an experienced architect actively involved during construction prevents small issues from becoming large, expensive ones. We keep your project aligned with the design intent, on schedule, and on budget.
What Makes a Whole-House Remodel Different from a Simple Renovation
A whole-house remodel is fundamentally different from updating a kitchen or refreshing a bathroom. It requires a comprehensive architectural strategy: understanding how all the systems of the house – structural, mechanical, spatial, aesthetic – interact with each other, and how changes in one area affect the whole. Homes in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove are often 40, 50, or 60 years old. They were built to different codes, with different materials, and for a different era of living. Transforming them into homes that perform beautifully in the 21st century while honoring their original character is exactly the kind of work we do best.
Designing for the South Florida Lifestyle
Miami’s subtropical climate is not a constraint – it is an opportunity. Homeowners who have lived in colder climates often discover, once they settle into Coconut Grove or Coral Gables, that their home can function very differently here. The boundary between inside and outside dissolves. Covered terraces become primary living spaces. Natural light and prevailing breezes can dramatically reduce energy consumption. Pools and gardens are usable year-round. Our work consistently focuses on unlocking these possibilities, while also addressing the technical realities of the Florida climate:
Moisture and humidity management through proper building envelope design and mechanical systems
Wind resistance and impact protection meeting the Florida Building Code’s demanding hurricane standards
Passive solar strategies and shading that reduce cooling loads without sacrificing natural light
Flood-resilient design where lot elevations and FEMA flood zone designations require it.
Why Homeowners Choose United Architects
After 30 years in practice, our reputation rests on a simple foundation: we deliver what we promise, we protect our clients from costly surprises, and we produce design work that genuinely improves the way people live. For homeowners considering a significant investment in their Coconut Grove or Coral Gables property, that foundation matters more than anything else.
30+ years of experience: We have been designing whole-house remodels and additions in Coconut Grove and Coral Gables since before most firms in Miami were established
Permitting expertise: Our construction documents are prepared to a standard that minimizes delays and corrections in Miami-Dade and Coral Gables review processes
Neighborhood knowledge: We understand the specific zoning, design review, and historic overlay requirements that govern what is possible on your property
Full-service guidance: From the first conversation through final inspection, we manage every aspect of the project so you can focus on what matters most.
New to Miami? Here’s What You Need to Know First.
If you’ve recently moved to Coconut Grove or Coral Gables from New York, California, or another major metropolitan area, you may be surprised by how different – and how involved – the residential construction process is here. Florida’s building code is one of the most demanding in the country, shaped by decades of hurricane experience. Miami-Dade County’s permitting infrastructure adds another layer of complexity. And Coral Gables and City of Miami, as autonomous municipalities, add yet another.
We have written extensively about Miami architecture, construction, and public policy for homeowners who want to understand the landscape before they begin. You can explore our full library of guides and articles at www.UnitedArchitectsInc.com/blog-on-architecture-public-policy. It’s a resource we’ve built over many years, and it’s particularly useful for homeowners who are new to the area and want to make informed decisions.
Ready to Begin? Let’s Talk About Your Home.
Whether you have a fully formed vision or are just beginning to think about what your home could become, the best first step is a conversation. We offer private consultations for Coconut Grove and Coral Gables homeowners who are considering a whole-house remodel, addition, or significant renovation. There is no obligation – just an honest, experienced assessment of what is possible for your property.
Take the Next Step:
Schedule a consultation: Contact Maria Luisa Castellanos, the principal of the firm United Architects, at 305-439-7898, or email at MLC@UnitedArchs.com and arrange a private meeting at your home.
View our portfolio: See examples of our whole-house remodeling and addition work at www.unitedarchitectsinc.com/residential-projects-1
Read our blog: Explore our guides on Miami architecture, building regulations, and design at www.UnitedArchitectsInc.com/blog-on-architecture-public-policy
United Architects – the best residential architecture firm in Miami for whole-house remodeling and additions in Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. Over 30 years of experience. Unmatched permitting expertise. Your transformation begins with a single conversation.
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