Led by Ashley, our in-house design team seamlessly integrates design and construction from the outset, ensuring every client’s vision is both functional and achievable. With meticulous attention to detail, we provide comprehensive design specifications and drawings, eliminating guesswork and ensuring every element is thoughtfully aligned with the building process.
We believe in collaboration at every stage. By involving clients early in the decision-making process, we guide them through design selections and architectural decisions with clarity and care. This partnership ensures their vision is brought to life with precision, leaving them confident and inspired at every step.
Through advanced tools like Buildertrend, we provide clients with real-time updates, detailed specifications, and clear scheduling. This transparency ensures the process remains organized, eliminates uncertainty, and keeps the project running smoothly from start to finish.
Ashley’s discerning eye and industry connections give clients access to exclusive materials and furnishings. From selecting finishes that elevate each space to sourcing products from trade-only lines, we simplify the decision-making process while ensuring every choice reflects refined quality and style.
With decades of experience, we anticipate challenges before they arise and address them with expertise and efficiency. From refining designs to fit site constraints to recommending alternative materials that align with budget and vision, we ensure a seamless process that avoids delays and costly missteps.
Our design and construction phases work in harmony, ensuring the home’s structural integrity and visual impact are perfectly aligned. From foundational layouts to finishing touches, we deliver homes that are as stunning as they are enduring, with every element thoughtfully coordinated.
The Ashtin Group stands out as a premier luxury custom home builder because of our unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and unmatched expertise. With over 45 years of combined experience, Justin and Ashley bring a deep understanding of construction and design to every project, ensuring every home is built to the highest standards.
We prioritize structure and organization, using Buildertrend to keep clients informed with real-time updates, design specifications, schedules, and streamlined change orders. This system ensures transparency and efficiency throughout the process. Additionally, our in-house interior design services seamlessly integrate aesthetics and functionality, elevating the luxury experience.
Unlike many builders, we have the experience, dedication, and qualifications to deliver exceptional results. At the Ashtin Group, we don’t just build houses—we create timeless homes with precision, passion, and care.
Our starting cost per square foot is typically around $350; however, this is a baseline figure and can vary greatly depending on several factors. The overall cost is influenced by the price of your lot, your architectural design, the selections you make for the interior finishes, and the features of your outdoor spaces. Each of these components can significantly impact the final cost.
To help our clients make the most of their budget, we take a reverse-engineered approach. First, we look at the total budget and subtract the lot cost and the anticipated cost of landscaping and outdoor features. What remains is then divided by the cost per square foot to determine how many square feet you can afford to build.
We also take the time to educate our clients on how their design selections affect the cost per square foot. For example, custom cabinetry, high-end finishes, or specialty materials can increase the price. By breaking down these elements, we empower clients to make informed decisions that align with their vision and budget.
Ultimately, the cost per square foot depends on your specific needs and priorities. We’re here to guide you through the process, ensuring your home is a true reflection of your style while staying within your financial goals.
The timeframe for building a custom home depends on several factors and how quickly the early developmental stages are completed. This includes acquiring a lot, working with an architectural designer to finalize plans, navigating city approvals (including addressing any red lines), and making interior design selections to finalize the budget.
While the speed of these steps depends on the client’s ability to make decisions and work collaboratively, the Ashtin Group has a streamlined process and clearly defined timelines to keep projects on track. Clients are expected to meet key milestones to ensure progress, as we manage a limited number of design and build slots.
Once the plans are approved and the build begins, the average time to complete a custom home is approximately 14 months. However, this timeframe can vary based on the complexity of the design and the scope of the project.
We work closely with our clients to guide them through every stage of the process, ensuring a smooth experience from start to finish. Overall, from start to finish (purchasing land to closing) it can take 18-24 months.
Acquiring the right piece of land is the first and most critical step in building a custom home. Before anything else can happen, the lot must be purchased, as it will significantly influence the design and construction of the home. Key factors to consider include lot setbacks, whether the property is on septic or sewer, and whether utilities like gas and electricity are already available. These details can impact the feasibility and cost of your build.
It’s essential to consult with your home builder before purchasing a lot. While a real estate agent can provide valuable insights, a builder has the expertise to identify potential challenges or confirm critical details about the property. This ensures that the lot is suitable for your plans and prevents costly surprises down the line.
Once the land is secured, the developmental stages, including architectural planning, can begin. However, starting home plans before purchasing the lot is strongly discouraged. A lot’s unique characteristics must guide the design to ensure the home will fit properly and adhere to local regulations.
Working closely with the Ashtin Group during the lot acquisition phase ensures a smoother transition into planning and ultimately helps you make the most of your investment.
At the Ashtin Group, we believe that interior design is an essential component of a luxury custom home. For this reason, we require an interior designer to be involved in every project, and we do not build homes without one.
Without an experienced designer, clients often face challenges such as:
Our interior designers work hand-in-hand with clients and the construction team to ensure every element of the home is thoughtfully selected and seamlessly integrated. This collaboration allows us to maintain the quality, functionality, and luxury that define an Ashtin Group home. Ultimately, involving a skilled designer ensures the process is efficient, the results are stunning, and the home truly reflects the client’s vision.
No, the Ashtin Group requires a qualified interior designer who provides detailed specifications and comprehensive CAD drawings for essential design elements. This includes plans for structures like fireplaces and oven hoods, wall designs, trim details, mirror placements, and lighting layouts with precise heights and locations.
Some designers only provide inspiration pictures without detailed plans, which creates significant challenges for the builder. Without accurate drawings, it’s impossible to obtain precise pricing from suppliers or ensure the design is executed correctly. This leaves too much open to interpretation, leading to delays, miscommunication, and potential design flaws.
We require designers who collaborate fully with our team, providing the technical details necessary to maintain the high standards of a luxury custom home. This ensures a smooth building process, accurate execution, and a final product that aligns with the client’s vision. Designers who fall short of these requirements can disrupt the project and create unnecessary challenges, which is why we are selective about who we work with.
The earlier, the better! It’s always ideal to bring a designer on board at the start of your project, ideally alongside your architect and builder. Early collaboration ensures your vision is fully realized while keeping the process streamlined and efficient. Hiring a designer from the outset can save you time, money, and stress, helping you avoid missed details or costly design adjustments later on. It also ensures your design aligns with your budget and overall goals. While it’s never too late to bring a designer into the process—even if your plans are already in place—we can still bring fresh, creative solutions to make your home exactly what you envision. Ultimately, starting with the entire team on the same page is the key to achieving a seamless and successful project.
Our design fees are based on the total square footage of your home, and we offer a straightforward flat-rate pricing structure, making it easy for you to budget alongside your construction costs. We pride ourselves on offering competitive rates while providing exceptional value—our design services include detailed specification sheets and design slides, setting us apart from the competition.
In the case you wish to furnish and decorate your home, we require a deposit, which is applied directly to your purchases. Once selections are made, you’ll be responsible for covering the costs of your furnishings and decor before we proceed with any orders. This approach ensures full transparency and allows you to maintain control over your budget while we help bring your vision to life.
Absolutely! We specialize in the art of furniture and home decor, and we believe it has the power to transform a space, making it feel truly special. Our team at Ashtin Homes is highly experienced in furnishing existing homes, and we’re passionate about creating beautiful, functional interiors. Whether you’re looking to refresh a single room or furnish an entire home, we can help you select the most stylish and up-to-date pieces that perfectly complement your space.
While we’d love to collaborate with you, we do not offer design services for projects where you are working with another builder. We firmly believe the best results come from having a cohesive team working together from the start. For this reason, we encourage you to consider the Ashtin Homes Build Team, as we work closely with our own builders to ensure the design and construction processes align perfectly.
Additionally, we place a high value on integrity in all our business relationships. If a builder does not share the same commitment to quality and trust, we prefer not to be involved. We only want to partner with professionals who align with our values and who we can fully trust to deliver the best outcome for you. If you choose to work with us for both design and construction, you’ll benefit from a seamless, transparent process where your vision is prioritized every step of the way. Let us show you how a unified team can create the home of your dreams.
The key difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator lies in their level of expertise and scope of work. An interior designer is a trained professional with a deep understanding of interior architecture. They are educated in design principles and work closely with architects to plan and execute the layout and functionality of a space, from structural elements to aesthetics. Interior designers are involved from the very beginning of the project, ensuring the design aligns with your vision, budget, and practical needs.
On the other hand, interior decorators focus on enhancing the beauty of an already finished space. They are experts in selecting and arranging furniture, accessories, and decor to create a stylish atmosphere, but they do not engage in structural design or work with architects. Decorators come in after the building process is complete to add the final touches.
In short, while interior designers can also decorate, interior decorators do not provide the comprehensive design expertise that an interior designer offers. When hiring a professional, it’s crucial to understand the
difference—especially if you’re building or remodeling your home. An experienced interior designer will guide you through the complexities of the process, preventing costly mistakes and ensuring a cohesive and functional result.
This is an excellent question! Hiring an interior designer can save you valuable time, energy, and stress.
Self-designing a space can be incredibly time-consuming and mentally exhausting—making endless decisions, sourcing materials, and juggling the details can quickly become overwhelming. Additionally, mistakes are often made, which can lead to costly rework and frustration. Without the expertise of a designer, the contractor-owner relationship may also suffer due to miscommunications or misaligned expectations.
An interior designer brings not only creativity but also a deep understanding of design principles, budgeting, and project management. By hiring a professional, you’ll avoid costly errors, streamline decision-making, and keep your project on track. The result is a smoother build process, a cohesive design vision, and ultimately, a space that truly reflects your style and needs. A designer ensures that every detail is carefully considered, leaving you with a beautiful, functional space—without the stress and headaches that can come from doing it all yourself.
Hiring a designer for furnishings is especially beneficial when you’re building a new home. Once the major design decisions for the home—such as finishes, flooring, and layout—are finalized, it’s the perfect time to begin selecting furnishings and accessories. The earlier we start, the smoother the process will be, ensuring that everything is ordered and ready to be installed as soon as your home is complete. This timing allows us to work seamlessly with the construction schedule, so your new space is beautifully furnished without delay.
For existing homes, the process may take a bit more time, as some items may need to be custom-ordered or shipped. However, we work diligently to ensure that we install everything we can as soon as it arrives, helping you enjoy your newly refreshed space as quickly as possible. Whether you’re starting fresh or updating your current home, our team ensures a hassle-free experience, transforming your vision into a cohesive, stylish reality.
Working with a designer who offers their own exclusive lines of furnishings and decor provides you with a wealth of benefits. First and foremost, these curated pieces are carefully selected to complement the unique style and vision of your home, ensuring a cohesive, tailored look. With the added advantage of CAD (Computer-Aided Design) technology, your designer can precisely scale and plan every item to fit your space, making sure everything works together seamlessly.
Our designer lines offer a vast range of options that go far beyond what’s available in local retail stores, giving you access to exclusive, high-quality pieces that can’t be found elsewhere. These collections are carefully crafted to meet the highest standards of design and craftsmanship, creating luxurious, one-of-a-kind interiors. When you choose to furnish your home through a designer’s lines, you’re not only investing in superior quality, but also ensuring your space is filled with pieces that are as unique as your vision.
Timing is crucial when it comes to ordering furniture for a new build, especially if you have a specific move-in deadline. Because many items can take several months or more to arrive—depending on availability—it’s important to make selections and place orders as early as possible. This allows us to account for any potential backordered items or delays.
Additionally, we factor in the possibility of discontinued items, ensuring that we have enough time to make alternative selections and keep your design on track. Once we finalize the entire design, we place the orders and securely store your furniture until installation, ensuring everything is ready to go when your home is complete. By planning ahead, we can avoid any last-minute surprises and ensure a smooth, seamless process, so your furnishings are in place right when you need them.
Working together as a husband-and-wife team at the Ashtin Group is both enjoyable and rewarding. Justin focuses entirely on the build side, overseeing every aspect of the construction process, while Ashley manages the design side, handling all design-related decisions. Where their roles overlap is when they meet with clients to discuss any elements that bridge the build and design.
Within the Ashtin Group, Justin runs Ashtin Homes, focusing on the construction and project management, while Ashley runs Ashley Nichol Design, dedicated to the interior design and furnishings. This clear division of responsibilities allows them to work efficiently without stepping on each other’s toes, and it ensures that clients always know exactly who to contact for specific questions.
Overall, Justin and Ashley have learned to balance their personal and professional lives, which has allowed them to develop a strong partnership that brings both their passions together. Their separate yet unified approach makes working as a team not only successful but also fun and fulfilling.
