Clarifications

A few terms come up often in emails and on site. Here is how they are used in this studio, so a drawing review or a brief does not get stuck on wording.

Drawing set

Means the measured existing plan, the proposed plan, at least one section and the joinery elevations. It is not a permit submission package. Council drawings, engineer's details and energy compliance sit outside this scope and are quoted separately once the layout is settled.

Measured drawings

Taken on site with a laser and a tape, then checked against the title diagram. Older Cape Town stock rarely matches its own plans, so wall thicknesses and ceiling heights are verified before anything is drawn. If a wall must be opened to confirm a beam, that is flagged in writing first.

Material board

A physical sample set, not a mood collage. Timber offcuts, tile pieces, paint patches and hardware are pinned at true scale and kept in the studio for the duration of the job. Photographs of a board are a record, not a substitute for handling the samples.

Budget held

Used in project notes to mean the agreed scope was delivered without a variation that changed the room. It does not mean the lowest tender. Where a saving was made, the note says which item was substituted and what was kept, usually the glazing or the floor.

Studio visit

A sit-down at the drafting table in Observatory with drawings on paper, not a site inspection. Bring the title diagram, any prior plans and a rough list of what is not working. Trade clients and design studios are welcome to bring their own drawing sets for review.

Site photography

Shot for record and for the portfolio, with the client's consent. Images may show joinery details, tile layouts and existing conditions. If a project cannot be published, say so at the start and the notes stay internal.

Anything not covered here, write it down and send it with the brief. Ambiguous wording costs more time than a straight question.

Support and studio contact

Most questions about a renovation, a drawing set or a fit-out come down to timing, scope and what the drawings actually need to show. If you are not sure whether your project is a measured survey, a joinery detail or a full drawing review, start here and we will point you to the right place.

Studio details

Address
60106 Leon Estate Apt. 173
Daviesland, KZN 9212
Phone
+27124681994

Studio hours

  • Monday to Thursday08:30 – 17:00
  • Friday08:30 – 14:00
  • SaturdaySite visits by arrangement
  • Sunday and public holidaysClosed

Drawing reviews are usually booked into a Friday slot. Studio visits in Observatory need a day's notice so the material boards are out.

Email for a drawing review

Send existing plans, a few site photos and a short note on the constraint. PDF or DWG both work.

Phone for site questions

Best for joinery dimensions, tile layouts and anything that needs an answer before a contractor starts.

Trade and studio enquiries

Builders, joiners and design studios can ask about measured drawings, axonometric sets and material boards.

Keep the drawing set moving

Most support requests come from people halfway through a renovation, holding a set of drawings that no longer matches the site. Send a short note and I will point you to the right page, the right drawing or the right next conversation.

If you are a trade client, a homeowner or a studio, say which project in Observatory, Woodstock, Sea Point or the Southern Suburbs you are working from, and what stage you are at.

Where to look first

  • Drawing review Plans, sections and axonometrics that need a second pair of eyes before they go to a builder.
  • Material and joinery questions Timber selection, tile layouts and how a run of cabinetry was detailed on site.
  • Studio visit For trade clients and design studios who want to walk through the boards and the drawing files.

Email is the fastest route. Include the project name and the drawing number if you have one.

Phone

+27124681994

Studio

60106 Leon Estate Apt. 173
Daviesland, KZN 9212

Questions that come up before we start

Most of what people ask is about drawings, timelines and how a renovation actually runs on site. Below are the ones I answer most often. If yours isn't here, the studio inbox is open.

What does a drawing set actually include?
For a residential renovation you get existing and proposed plans, at least one section through the tricky junction, elevations where joinery is involved, and an axonometric when the geometry is hard to read in plan. Small fit-outs follow the same logic but lean harder on services and lighting layouts. Everything is issued as a measured, dimensioned PDF, not a mood board.
Do you work outside Cape Town?
The bulk of the work sits in Observatory, Woodstock, Sea Point and the Southern Suburbs, mostly because site visits and joinery checks need me on the ground. For projects further out I can still take on drawing and detailing packages, provided someone reliable is measuring and photographing on site.
Can I bring my own builder or joiner?
Yes, and it often works well. What matters is that whoever builds from the drawings is comfortable reading a section and asking questions early. I'd rather spend an hour on a detail call than discover a wall in the wrong place. If you don't have a team yet, I can point you toward people I've worked with before.
How do material and timber choices get decided?
Usually in one sitting with samples on the table. We look at how a timber ages, how a tile cuts at the visible edge, and whether a finish survives a kitchen or a rental. Saligna, oak-veneer ply and lime-washed brick come up a lot, but the choice follows the room, not a trend.
What happens if the budget shifts mid-project?
It usually does, so we plan for it. The first move is to protect the wet core and the structure, then decide what can be simplified without wrecking the room. Sometimes that means a plainer joinery run and better glazing. I'll flag the trade-offs in writing before anything is ordered.
How do I request a studio visit or drawing review?
Send a short note with the address, a rough scope and any photos or existing plans you have. Trade clients and design studios can ask for a drawing review directly. Homeowners are welcome to book a studio visit to see material boards and past sets in person. Start at the contact page, and if you want to see how a project is documented first, the resources section has examples.

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