Design
TIMELESS
CUSTOM
HOME
DESIGN
At Sensus Design Studio, Jesse Sahlani serves as the lead designer who is well known for his organic process that prioritizes sun studies and sketching to create timeless custom homes. Jesse’s detailed process utilizes his skill as a custom home designer, interior designer, and landscape designer to create unique and cohesively stylish environments no matter where you stand on the grounds. Combining these three disciplines allows him to explore a range of home design styles, far more than custom home designers traditionally would.
However, no matter what design style Jesse is exploring, he approaches each with his unique flare for creating highly refined and timeless spaces by paying careful attention to proportions, natural light, and sprawling layouts. The level of control he has in every category throughout the design process puts him in a position to understand and be responsible for the impact that his exterior aesthetic decisions have on the interior living spaces and vice versa, resulting in well-planned designs that transcend spaces. This is our definition of master planning.
Every project that Jesse commits to is shaped by the belief that each structure we are responsible for designing should be designed to a timeless standard. He scrutinizes every detail and refines aspects of his design that most would never think to question, undertaking a sweeping process that would be commonly considered a daunting task at best. He does this in hopes of each project serving as an aesthetic reference for future generations, characterizing the neighborhoods they are set in for decades.
This approach considers much more than enticing renderings; it is an approach that only a designer who is in control of the entire design process and who feels a sense of stewardship towards the design can meaningfully execute. It is through these principles and approaches that Jesse Sahlani is able to create an environment that you want to experience over and over again, as this feeling is, in his eyes, the truest form of luxury home design.
WHERE
TIMELESS
DESIGN STARTS
WITH A
SKETCH.
FEASIBILITY STUDY &
PRELIMINARY SUN STUDY
At Sensus Design Studio, we believe that a successful custom home design project begins with a thorough feasibility study. John-Luke will walk you through the process, some of Jesse’s latest work, costs, timelines, and zoning by-laws that pertain to the lot in question. Jesse will consider various factors as your custom home designer, including the site's characteristics, topographic features, natural features, local regulations, budgetary restrictions, and your desired level of finish both inside and out. The feasibility study, as well as our initial custom home design consultation, serve as the foundation upon which the rest of the design process is built, ensuring that your project is on the right track from the start.
At Sensus Design Studio, we believe that a successful custom home design project begins with a thorough feasibility study. John-Luke will walk you through the process, some of Jesse’s latest work, costs, timelines, and zoning by-laws that pertain to the lot in question.
SKETCHES & DESIGN EXPLORATION
The exciting stage of sketching and design exploration starts with Jesse Sahlani working closely with you to understand your aesthetic vision and stylistic preferences, as well as your hobbies, family structure, entertaining needs, and unique functionality requirements. As your custom home designer, this information is crucial in molding and shaping your home to your needs, offering Jesse a window into your lifestyle. From there, Jesse will sketch your custom home design piece by piece including site plans, floor plans, and exterior perspective elevations, all while taking the sun's positions at different times of day into consideration in order to maximize natural light. Through a series of collaborative meetings, we develop highly functional and stylistically timeless custom home sketch concepts.
The exciting stage of sketching and design exploration starts with Jesse Sahlani working closely with you to understand your aesthetic vision and stylistic preferences, as well as your hobbies, family structure, entertaining needs, and unique functionality requirements.
PRELIMINARY 3D MODELS AND DIGITAL SUN STUDIES
To provide you with a clear visual representation of the proposed home design, we create detailed preliminary 3D models. These home design models allow you to explore different angles, layouts, and spatial relationships within the design, giving you a glimpse of how your custom home design will look and feel once it's built. Your feedback is crucial during this stage, as we actively refine the home design during this phase to bring Jesse’s initial sketch to life. This phase also allows Jesse to critique, refine, and replace subtle elements of his design that he, as the lead custom home designer, believes fit the mold of a timeless finished product.
To provide you with a clear visual representation of the proposed home design, we create detailed preliminary 3D models. These home design models allow you to explore different angles, layouts, and spatial relationships within the design, giving you a glimpse of how your custom home design will look and feel once it's built.
PHOTO REALISTIC 3D MODELS
As your custom home designer, we are committed to bringing your home design to life beyond sketches and preliminary models. Our rendering technology allows us to create photorealistic 3D models that showcase every detail of your custom home design at different times of day. These immersive visuals provide a realistic preview of the finished project, making it easier for you to make informed decisions and envision your future home. Every detail comes into question, allowing us to weigh the significance and impact of each detail in the grand scheme of the overall environment we are trying to create. These high-quality visualizations also serve as a visual reference of what the final home design will look like for contractors, helping them understand the vision and providing a highly detailed visual reference that they can use to self-regulate their work. These 3D renders offer everyone a clear understanding of the design drawings, whether it is for intentionally detailed or charmingly simple design projects.
As your custom home designer, we are committed to bringing your home design to life beyond sketches and preliminary models. Our rendering technology allows us to create photorealistic 3D models that showcase every detail of your custom home design at different times of day. These immersive visuals provide a realistic preview of the finished project, making it easier for you to make informed decisions and envision your future home.
ZONING & COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENTS
Navigating through zoning regulations and committee approvals strategically is just as important as the timelessness of initial design in our role as custom home designers. Our team is well-versed in local building codes and regulations, and we have made submissions in almost every municipality in Southern Ontario. We'll handle the preparation of zoning drawings and facilitate the necessary interactions with committees to obtain approvals promptly. We work closely with you to optimize your submission and refine it in order to maximize your odds of garnering approval. We have represented over 550 successful zoning applications and 150+ successful Committee of Adjustment applications. Regardless of how many successful applications we have had, nothing beats a simple design that is well-detailed to support clear communication between all involved parties.
Navigating through zoning regulations and committee approvals strategically is just as important as the timelessness of initial design in our role as custom home designers. Our team is well-versed in local building codes and regulations, and we have made submissions in almost every municipality in Southern Ontario.
DETAILED CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS
Our firm will carefully assess the decisions made through the design process to ensure the structural composition of each home is both practical and design-forward. We see our plans as a body of work, reviewed and developed to include standards that make the construction process as smooth as possible. From detailed notes to section details we create to explain the more complex details, we work hand in hand with our engineering teams to ensure the structural design is efficient and respectful of our design vision.
Our firm will carefully assess the decisions made through the design process to ensure the structural composition of each home is both practical and design-forward. We see our plans as a body of work, reviewed and developed to include standards that make the construction process as smooth as possible.
ON-SITE PROJECT MANAGEMENT
When we design a custom home, we feel the responsibility of stewardship as we know that our designs will characterize the surrounding neighbourhood for decades to come. For this reason, we continue our involvement through the construction process to as high of a degree as required to achieve the design vision. We are able to provide everything from simple drawing explanations and clarifications, to site review meetings, as well as additional section details providing sequential construction instructions.
When we design a custom home, we feel the responsibility of stewardship as we know that our designs will characterize the surrounding neighbourhood for decades to come. For this reason, we continue our involvement through the construction process to as high of a degree as required to achieve the design vision.
OUR APPROACH: PAIRING SKETCHING AND 3D RENDERINGS
Jesse Sahlani’s design process starts with a sun study, and sketches of the floor plans, exterior elevations and perspective views, as well as the interior perspective views. His ability to sketch has proven to be the discerning difference in his ability to develop timeless home designs, allowing him to explore a range of diverse design styles creatively and accurately through his own lens. For our clients, sketches create a highly engaging, creative, and collaborative environment that lays a strong base for the rest of the detailed design process.
While Jesse is a great sketch artist, our firm specializes in sophisticated 3D modeling, building on Jesse’s artistic foundation to bring the home to life accurately. This level of detailed visualization allows Jesse and his team to critique, refine, and perfect every detail of the home inside and out. When you approach a home’s design from this perspective, your thoughts about each detail and their weight in the scheme of the total design change significantly. The result is that our firm focuses on the creation of an environment you want to experience over and over, and not just a custom home design.
Jesse Sahlani’s design process starts with a sun study, and sketches of the floor plans, exterior elevations and perspective views, as well as the interior perspective views. His ability to sketch has proven to be the discerning difference in his ability to develop timeless home designs, allowing him to explore a range of diverse design styles creatively and accurately through his own lens.
A
COMMITMENT TO
TIMELESS
DESIGN
The intent behind every project that Jesse commits to is shaped by the belief that every structure we are responsible for designing should be timeless. To achieve this, Jesse focuses on the creation of unique proportions, as well as the use of materials that stand the test of time. Jesse scrutinizes every detail and refines aspects of his design that most would never think to question, but to Jesse this is a sweeping process that has to be undertaken in order to stand out amongst the ranks of custom home designers in hopes of serving as an aesthetic reference for future generations.
This approach considers much more than enticing renderings, it is an approach that only a designer who is in control of the entire design process can execute. It is through these principles that Jesse Sahlani is able to create an environment that you want to experience over and over again, as this, in his eyes, is the truest form of luxury architectural design.
BOOK YOUR
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Made possible by our range of in-house service offerings , this in depth review of your project will give you a clear understanding of costs, timelines, our process, and examples of our work.
Our team will assess and review the following project components with you:
- Zoning Study
- Custom Design Proposal and Process Breakdown
- Interior Design Proposal and Process Breakdown
- Detailed Construction Cost and Scope of Work Breakdown (If Applicable)
- The Role of Sketching, Sun Studies, and 3D Design
- Zoning By-Laws
- Lot Grading and Natural Features
- Custom Home Design Process and Proposal Review
- Interior Design Process and Proposal Review
- Permit Timelines
BEHIND THE DESIGNS: A BLOG
An in depth look at the approach, travel experiences and inspiration that serve as pillars of reference
for Jesse and John-Luke Sahlani, the principles of Sensus Design Studio.
Why every timeless design starts with a sketch?
The benefits and methods of maximizing natural light
THE ROLE OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN CREATING A COHESIVELY LUXURIOUS ENVIRONMENT
OUR FAVOURITE MASONRY MATERIALS, FEATURES, AND DETAILS
The Role of a Multidisciplinary Approach in the Creation of a Cohesive Environment
Design diversity the passion behind a pillar of our our firm
Sat: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Sun: Closed
