Architecture-Level Design Build Firm Los Angeles & Pasadena
We are dacotah studioOur architecture-level design build services in Los Angeles and Pasadena are built for homeowners seeking architect-level planning delivered through a designer-led process.
As a designer-led studio, we engage early, guiding planning, scope, and decision-making before pricing and permits are finalized. We provide the strategic thinking, coordination, and oversight typically associated with architecture, delivered through an integrated design build process.This approach ensures complex residential projects are thoughtfully planned, fully aligned, and carried through from idea to plan to build with design leading every step.
from design to buildFor Homeowners Who Want Design to Lead
Our architecture-level design build services are designed for homeowners who want a thoughtful, design-led approach to residential projects, not a contractor-first solution.
This approach is right for you if you:
Want design to lead every decision, from early planning through construction
Are considering an architect or design firm and want the process fully integrated
Are early in the process and want guidance before scope, pricing, or permitting
Are planning a whole-home renovation, addition, or multi-phase project
Value clarity, coordination, and accountability over fragmented handoffs
Your planning and execution partners
Why choose Dacotah Studio
A Designer-Led Studio, Personally Led
Dacotah Studio is a designer-led, husband-and-wife–run design build firm serving Northeast Los Angeles and Pasadena. Clients work directly with Shawn and Christina throughout the process, not passed between layers of project managers.
With over 25 years of combined experience across design, construction, and project management, our studio brings deep practical knowledge to every project. We live and work in Northeast LA, which allows us to approach projects with local insight, responsiveness, and accountability. Our process is built around clarity, trust, and results so clients always understand what’s happening, what comes next, and why decisions are being made.
A Process Built for Clarity and Continuity
Once design is developed and permitting is underway, we don’t rush into construction. Every project moves through a dedicated onboarding phase designed to align scope, timeline, and decision-making before building begins.
Clients are guided through a centralized project platform where timelines, selections, communication, and project history are clearly organized and accessible. This creates transparency early so there are no unknowns when construction starts.
Many firms treat this level of preparation as optional or hand projects off once design is complete. Our process maintains continuity and accountability from planning through construction, keeping clients informed, involved, and supported from start to finish.
Initial Planning Conversation
We begin with a focused planning conversation to understand your goals, constraints, scope, and timeline before design decisions or construction assumptions are made.
Project Alignment & Onboarding
Once we align on the direction, we onboard your project into a centralized system that organizes communication, timelines, and decisions which creates clarity before design work begins.
2
Concept & Spatial Planning
We develop the foundational spatial framework of the home, documenting existing conditions and exploring layout, flow, and program to define what should be built.
3
Design Development
The design is refined into a comprehensive plan, resolving details, systems, and coordination requirements in preparation for permitting and construction.
4
Permitting & Agency Coordination
We manage permitting and coordinate with local agencies to ensure the project is fully approved and aligned with regulatory requirements.
5
Bidding & Cost Validation
With fully developed plans, we establish clear, data-informed cost expectations so pricing reflects the scope of work.
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Design-Led Construction
Construction is executed under continued design leadership, to make sure decisions in the field align with the original intent and approved plans.
7
Completion & Project Closeout
We complete the project with a thorough walkthrough, documentation, and a clear transition into living in the finished space.
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Whole-Home Remodeling & Multi-Phase Residential Services
Our work is best suited for residential projects that require thoughtful planning, coordination, and design leadership across multiple phases.
Rather than treating spaces in isolation, we approach the home as a complete system. Kitchens, bathrooms, and other individual areas are designed as part of a cohesive whole which are guided by an overall plan that aligns design intent, budget, and execution.
This approach allows complex projects to move forward with clarity, continuity, and fewer compromises, reinforcing design as the driver from first concept through completion.
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Whole-home renovations and reconfigurations
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Additions and structural transformations
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Projects requiring permitting, agency coordination, and consultant integration
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Multi-phase projects planned and executed over time
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Homes where layout, flow, and long-term function matter as much as finishes
TESTIMONIALSWhat Our Clients Say
Our Work
Our passion as a full-service design build firm is creating spaces that are not only beautiful and functional, but also deeply meaningful. Whether we're working with an individual, couple, or family, we deeply value the opportunity to work with people who have a unique idea, and need a trusted partner to help them to bring it to life.
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Eagle Rock
Los Angeles, California
This Spanish-style whole home remodel in Eagle Rock features natural materials, warm wood tones, custom cabinetry, new kitchen and bathrooms, ADU garage conversion, and all-electric systems. Dacotah Studio completed full design, permitting, and construction documentation.
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Silver Lake
Los Angeles, California
Blending creativity with structure, this full home remodel in Silver Lake included concept design, structural engineering, material sourcing, project management, and custom cabinetry. The result is a personalized space that reflects the artistic spirit of this Los Angeles neighborhood.
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West Adams
Los Angeles, California
A full remodel of this West Adams craftsman blends original charm with modern living. Featuring custom woodwork, large windows, and a spacious layout, Dacotah Studio managed city submissions, structural plans, schematic design, and design development from start to finish.
our commitment to youTo minimize surprises and foster trust and confidence in our expertise through clear communication. Our unwavering commitment to transparency ensures a strong partnership, allowing you to have peace of mind throughout our entire design and build journey.
Start With Design
The best time to engage our studio is before decisions are locked in when planning, scope, and priorities can still be shaped through design.
If you’re considering an architect, a design build firm, or are early in the process and want a clear path forward, we invite you to start with a planning conversation. This initial discussion helps determine whether our design-led approach is the right fit and how we can guide your project from idea to plan to build.
Dacotah Studio - Contact Us
We're eager to learn about your unique space or project. Send us your details and we’ll be in touch shortly!
626-209-9790
hello@dacotahstudio.com
Monday - Friday 9AM - 5PM
51 West Dayton St.
Suite 200
Pasadena CA 91105
FAQ’s
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For complex residential projects, the most important first step is design and planning. Engaging a design-led studio early allows scope, layout, and priorities to be defined before pricing and building begin. This approach reduces guesswork, limits costly changes later, and ensures the project is thoughtfully planned from the start rather than shaped reactively during construction.
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Permits, zoning, and local regulations play a significant role in shaping what can be built and how a project moves forward. These factors should be considered early, during planning and design. Our process accounts for local requirements from the outset, coordinating planning and approvals as part of a larger, integrated approach to residential projects.
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In a traditional design-bid-build model, design and construction are handled by separate parties, often leading to handoffs, revisions, and misalignment. In a design-build model, design and construction are integrated under one team. At Dacotah Studio, this integration is designer-led, meaning design governs decisions and construction follows the plan, rather than driving it.
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No. Many clients come to us specifically because they want architecture-level planning and coordination handled within a single, integrated process. We provide the planning, spatial design, permitting coordination, and oversight typically associated with architecture, delivered through a designer-led design build model.
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We are not a licensed architecture firm. However, our work operates at the architectural level of planning, coordination, and responsibility. We guide projects through spatial planning, design development, permitting coordination, and execution with the same rigor clients expect from architectural services without fragmenting the process across multiple firms.
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Our work is best suited for whole-home renovations, additions, and multi-phase residential projects that require thoughtful planning and design leadership. We are a good fit for homeowners who want the entire process led from the beginning and value clarity, coordination, and continuity over piecemeal solutions.
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The ideal time to engage our studio is early, before scope is defined, pricing is established, or permits are submitted. Starting with design allows decisions to be made intentionally and creates a clearer, more efficient path from idea to plan to build.
★★★★★
“Dacotah Studio is amazing! Their designs are stunning, and they really know how to bring a space to life. The team is super reliable, easy to work with, and pays attention to every detail. Highly recommend!”
Katie H