Architectural Design + Drafting

House Plans | Blueprints + Visualization | Custom Design | Drafting | Consulting

Designer: Stuart Yoder

Philosophy

As with many aspects of life, the greatest designs unify form with function. More than warm fuzzy feelings. More than cold hard logic. Well considered symbiosis between artistry and pragmatism creates something far better than either could ever achieve individually.

I’ve often heard owners lament feeling like their input was undervalued during the design process. Unfortunately, it is easy for professionals to allow ego and personal preference to dominate, rather than the client’s desires – leading to expensive redesigns and dissatisfaction.

My commitment to you is this: I listen. Design ought to be a conversation, not a monologue.

My goal is to create something that meets your unique needs according to your tastes. I’m happy to offer my opinion or suggest better solutions. However, it is YOUR project, not mine. While some “purists” might disagree, I’ve discovered that the best designs, both practically and aesthetically, are often greatly modified from the original concepts by client input.

Background

For most of my life I have been directly involved or connected to the residential construction industry. Growing up as the son of a general contractor/remodeler my experience began early and covers nearly every trade discipline. By my late teens I had most of the skills needed to take on any project. Even as a professional designer, I’ve kept a hand (literally) in the practical realm with various projects, including building my own custom home from the ground up in 2021-2022. This practical experience provides me with a substantive understanding of “real world” construction.

My earliest attempt at “CAD” drafting was somewhere around age 15 when I used Windows Paint (yes, that Paint!) to draw a side elevation of a house my father and I were remodeling. Soon afterward I started learning proper drafting and using AutoCAD. This eventually led me to explore my artistic ability in graphic design and finally came full circle with residential design – now with advanced 3D software.

Professional Experience

I was the primary architectural draftsman and BIM manager at Caribou Creek Log Homes (cariboucreek.com) from 2015-2024. Some projects were my own designs, others were simply adaptations from existing house plans. Nearly every job from that time period passed through my workstation. I’ve designed and been involved with dozens of projects ranging from multi-million dollar luxury log homes to budget cabins and spec houses – often coordinating with architects, engineers, contractors, and others throughout the process.

Log homes require specialized shop drawings, as well. While employed at Caribou Creek, I continually improved our design and documentation methods. Caribou Creek’s shop drawings are now second to none in their industry in terms of visualization and clear communication.

My design flow utilizes ARCHICAD – a top tier 3D BIM program specifically created for custom architecture. With this software I can build an exact virtual model of any building’s design for enhanced visualization, problem solving, and optimization. Having the ability to process issues with clarity in advance always saves time, money, and frustration in the long run.

Money spent on GOOD design and documentation is never wasted.

Please email info@stonytrailcreative.com if you’d like to talk.