Residential design that starts with the right questions.
A new home, a building ready for conversion, or a property that needs rethinking. Each situation begins with a different question about what could work.
McTernan Design | Architectural Design Studio in Solihull and the West Midlands.
A better home begins with a design you can understand
I’m Mark McTernan, an architectural designer working across Birmingham, the West Midlands, Warwickshire and the Cotswolds. I help homeowners, self-builders, landowners, and small developers develop their ideas and create residential proposals for people, buildings, and sites.
You’ll work directly with me throughout each stage of your project. Typically, the process includes:
- Initial consultation to discuss your ideas and understand your needs
- Design development to explore and refine options
- Preparation of planning drawings and submitting planning applications, if required
- Development of technical drawings and information for construction
I will be your point of contact from the first discussion through design review and preparing the drawings needed for the agreed planning and technical stages.
What potential does your property or site have?
You may be considering a custom-built home, looking to replace your current home, or exploring a small housing development. Maybe you would like to convert a barn, renovate an existing house, or gain more space by adding an extension or carrying out a loft conversion.
My first step is to understand your objectives and identify what matters most to you; this could be providing housing for your family, giving the existing building a new purpose, or building homes for future buyers or renters.
The brief gives the design its purpose; the property and its surroundings help you figure out how to achieve it. I look at them together, explore the possibilities, and point out where your first ideas might need to change.
The decisions behind the design
New and replacement homes
Bespoke residential design developed around your site, accommodation requirements and architectural preferences, with 3D modelling throughout the design process.
Small developments
When converting a barn, the existing structure, roof, and opening positions affect where rooms can go; I think about how to include appropriate accommodation without losing the features that make the building worth converting.
House extensions & loft conversions
For an existing house, I look at the rooms you already have, along with any new ones you're considering. You might achieve the same layout improvements by adding floor space, moving a doorway, or rethinking the stairs.
I'll lay out the different options and their consequences so you can choose the one that best responds to your brief.
Barn conversions
When converting a barn, the existing structure, roof, and opening positions affect where rooms can go; I think about how to include appropriate accommodation without losing the features that make the building worth converting.
The decisions behind the design
Drawings and visual presentations offer different ways to review the proposal and help you shape the design direction.
The plans show room layouts and dimensions, and the elevations show views from the street or your rear garden. The 3D model helps you understand the building's shape, roof, and openings, and the photorealistic views and project videos make it easier to discuss the proposed appearance.
During an in-home design review, I will show you the model and the video on your television so everyone involved can see the explanation, ask questions, and discuss any changes as the proposal progresses.
I can use internal modelling to walk you through the room proportions, flow, connections between spaces, and possible furniture arrangements. Optional virtual reality offers another way to explore the model at an almost lifelike scale; the structured fee quotation includes optional modelling and presentation services.
The drawings record your design decisions; the 3D visuals and model are the design tool we use to gather feedback and create the drawings. The video, photorealistic images and in-house design review meeting give you a clear suggestion to respond to, with enough time to consider why I chose a particular layout, window position, or roof shape.
A closer look at one design
In the proposal I prepared to replace a conservatory in Solihull, I set back part of the back wall to create a patio seating area and a matching window seat inside, with a folding window linking the two.
The dining area is situated under the main gable, and a smaller roof outlines the window-seat area without enclosing it. These decisions allow the adjacent spaces to serve different functions while staying connected.
The project video illustrates the proposed design and how the house and garden relate.
Projects designed around real homes
Please take a look at some residential projects McTernan Design has recently completed in Solihull, Birmingham, and Warwickshire, including house extensions, conversions, and custom homes.
You can see how the final designs reflect each property, clients' requirements, and location factors.
"We needed more space, but didn’t want to leave the area. We got the extra bedroom without moving, thanks to the first-floor extension designed by McTernan Design. We were able to see exactly how the spaces would work in 3D."
Sarah & James, Solihull, Householder planning (Side extension)
"If you’re thinking of a renovation, or a new build, or any type of alteration to your property, I would highly recommend Mark to be appointed. He is very professional and very much on the ball, always. Always happy to go through the smallest information with as much as detail as possible, and step to step guide and opinions"
Noorul, Kings Heath, Birmingham, PD & Householder planning (Side & rear extensions)
"Highly recommended. Mark assisted us with the design of a rear extension, garage conversion and redesign of several other interior rooms. Excellent, responsive service which helped us not just narrow down our options but helped us think about things we hadn’t ever even considered."
Tom, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Householder planning (Garage conversion, rear extension and internal renovation)
Carrying the design into the details
As the design progresses, I consider planning and technical requirements and explain how they influence the proposal.
Once the design is agreed, I prepare the drawings and other information required for the relevant planning application, if necessary. I submit the planning applications on your behalf and stay in direct contact with the local planning authority throughout the process, keeping you informed at every stage. At the Building Regulations stage, I produce the technical drawings and specifications, and coordinate the structural engineer’s design information where needed.
The agreed proposal becomes information you can use for assessment, obtaining builder quotations, and construction.
McTernan Design's quotation lists the services and stages involved, giving you a clear basis to decide how to proceed.
For more information on the work carried out through my architectural design services page, please see how the design process works.
Tell me what you have in mind
You don't need a completed design to start our first conversation.
Please send me your property or site address, along with a few lines explaining your objectives. It would be helpful if you have any photographs, rough sketches, or existing drawings.
My free desktop appraisal gives you a first impression of possible approaches, considers the relevant planning issues, and indicates the likely next steps. It also gives you a clear idea of how I could assist with your project before you decide to proceed with any further work.
Once I've completed the appraisal, I will contact you to answer any questions you might have, suggest ways to move forward, and provide a clear proposal or set of options. This way, you will know exactly what to expect if you decide to take the next steps.