Small firm. Serious design.
Custom Home Design in Kittitas County
Building a custom home in Kittitas County means designing for a specific kind of place. The trees are tall, the snowfall is substantial and the views are worth protecting. Whether the site is a wooded lot in Suncadia, a hillside above Cle Elum, or a rural parcel near Ellensburg, each one demands something different from a floor plan. Generic house plans don't cut it here.
Henrichsen Design has been producing custom home designs for Kittitas County properties for over 20 years. Every project starts with your site, your lifestyle, and your budget, and works outward from there.
Builder Friendly Design
Most people are surprised to learn that their designer was never a builder. I was. I've framed homes, coordinated trades, and built from the kinds of drawings I now produce. That experience matters when it comes to cost. Elegant design that creates a construction nightmare, or blows your budget in the first framing week, isn't good design. The homes I draw are detailed enough that your builder knows exactly what's expected, and practical enough that no one has to improvise in the field.
Built for Mountain Conditions
Kittitas County homes have to perform. Snow loads across upper Kittitas County range significantly depending on elevation and exposure. A design that works in Ellensburg may need to be rethought entirely for a Suncadia ridgeline. I engineer snow load requirements into every roof design from the start, not as an afterthought. I also factor in wildfire exposure, prevailing wind, solar orientation, and Washington State energy code compliance, all of which affect how your home functions year-round and what it costs to operate.
The Design Process
Step 1 — Site and Program: We start with your site, your wish list, and your realistic budget. I'll ask the right questions so nothing important gets left out.
Step 2 — Schematic Design: I develop initial floor plan options and massing concepts. You'll see 3D views of your home early (not just flat drawings) so design decisions feel real before anything is committed.
Step 3 — Design Development: We refine the plan, lock in the exterior, work through interior layouts, and coordinate with your builder if one is already selected.
Step 4 — Permit-Ready Construction Documents: I produce a full permit set: site plan, floor plans, foundation plan, floor framing plan, roof framing plan, exterior elevations, cross-sections, and construction details. I also handle engineering coordination.
Areas Served:
Cle Elum · South Cle Elum · Roslyn · Ronald · Suncadia · Tumble Creek · Ellensburg · Kittitas · Rural Kittitas County · Eastern Washington and beyond.
Whether your project is a mountain modern retreat in Suncadia, a farmhouse on acreage near Peoh Point, or a year-round home in town, the process is the same: thoughtful design, builder-friendly details, and plans you can actually permit and build.