Where Can I Find an Architect in Perth for a Custom Home Design?

If you’re asking “Where can I find an architect in Perth for a custom home design?”, you’re likely already past the point of browsing display homes or tweaking a standard plan. You want a home that feels intentional, designed for your lifestyle, your site, your budget expectations, and the long-term value of building well.

Perth has many designers, drafting services and residential builders offering in-house plans. But if you’re planning a truly bespoke home, especially in established, high-value suburbs, working with an architect can make the difference between a house that looks good on day one and a home that performs beautifully for decades.

This guide breaks down what to look for, where to start, and how to choose the right architect for your custom home in Perth.

The Short Answer: Where to Find a Custom Home Architect in Perth

You can find an architect for a custom home design in Perth by:

1. Searching for registered architects in WA

   • Look for a practice with proven residential experience, strong documentation capability, and a portfolio aligned with your taste.

   
   

2. Reviewing architectural studios that specialise in bespoke homes

   • Many Perth architects focus on tailored design in premium suburbs where site constraints, planning requirements and build quality expectations are higher.

   
   

3. Shortlisting architects based on similar projects

   • Find work that matches your desired level of finish, scale, and style — then speak with the architect directly.

   
   

4. Choosing a team who can guide you from concept to construction

   • Great custom homes aren’t just designed well — they’re documented, coordinated and delivered well.

   
   

Why Location Matters: Perth Suburbs Often Define the Brief

Perth is unique because the suburb you’re building in often shapes the architecture more than people expect, through planning controls, block orientation, streetscape character, views, privacy needs and lifestyle.

Clients looking for custom homes often come from or build in prestige suburbs such as:

• Dalkeith

• Peppermint Grove

• Cottesloe

• City Beach

• Mosman Park

• Claremont

• Swanbourne

• Nedlands

• Mount Claremont

• Floreat

• Wembley Downs

• Subiaco

• Shenton Park

• South Perth

• Como

• Applecross

• Mount Pleasant

• Bicton

• Attadale

• East Fremantle

• North Fremantle

• Scarborough

• Trigg

• Karrinyup

Each of these areas tends to come with higher expectations around design quality, privacy, material selection and resale value, and often a greater need for an architect-led approach.

What Does a Custom Home Architect Actually Do?

A custom home architect does far more than create a “nice looking” floor plan.

A good architect will help you:

1) Translate lifestyle into design

Most clients don’t want a “bigger house.” They want:

• better flow

• more natural light

• calm, private bedrooms

• functional storage

• a kitchen that works

• indoor–outdoor living that feels effortless

Architects are trained to turn those outcomes into a layout that works daily, not just on paper.

2) Design for the site (not just the brief)

A custom home should respond to:

• orientation and sun angles

• prevailing breezes

• overlooking and privacy

• slope and drainage

• setbacks and planning constraints

• views (where available)

• the street presence and arrival sequence

This is where “custom” becomes valuable, because the site is doing half the work.

3) Help you avoid expensive mistakes

Common cost blowouts in custom homes come from:

• incomplete documentation

• vague selections

• poor coordination between consultants

• last-minute design changes

• underestimating site complexity

A structured architectural process reduces ambiguity and helps you make decisions early, when they’re easier and cheaper to change.

4) Produce documentation that protects quality

In premium homes, the finish quality is often won or lost in the details:

• junctions and edges

• glazing proportions

• ceiling setouts

• material transitions

• waterproofing zones

• custom joinery design

Architectural documentation helps ensure what’s built matches what you approved.

When Should You Engage an Architect?

Ideally, you should engage an architect:

• before buying a site (if possible)

• before committing to a builder

• once you know you want a custom home rather than a standard plan

Even an early feasibility review can help you avoid a costly purchase mistake — especially in tightly controlled suburbs or complex blocks.

How to Choose the Right Architect in Perth

Look for experience with your type of home

Not all architects specialise in the same work. Some focus on:

• coastal homes

• contemporary minimalism

• heritage-sensitive renovations

• luxury family homes

• tight urban infill sites

Choose someone who has done work similar to what you’re planning.

Ask how they manage cost and buildability

Custom homes can be designed beautifully and still be unbuildable or inefficient to price. A strong practice will:

• design with construction logic in mind

• work with realistic cost expectations

• support you through tendering or builder selection

• refine scope before documentation is finalised

Ask what happens after approvals

A custom home is not finished at planning approval. The real quality comes during:

• construction documentation

• consultant coordination

• site queries and problem solving

• contract administration (if engaged)

Ask whether your architect stays involved through the build, it often improves outcomes.

Perth Custom Homes: New Build vs Renovation vs Rebuild

Many Perth suburbs have established housing stock. That means clients are often choosing between:

A full renovation

Great when the original structure has value, but may include constraints and hidden costs.

A knockdown rebuild

Often preferred in areas like Floreat, City Beach, Wembley Downs, Mount Claremont, Karrinyup, Nedlands and Applecross, where the land value is strong and a new home can better suit modern living.

A new build on a new site

More common in growing pockets, but still benefits from an architect-led approach if the home is bespoke.

An architect helps you decide what’s worth keeping, what should change, and what will deliver the best lifestyle and long-term value.

Why People Choose Architects for High-End Perth Homes

Clients building in Perth’s premium suburbs typically want:

• a home that feels calm, refined and timeless

• privacy without feeling closed off

• natural light and cross ventilation

• a strong connection to outdoor living

• materials that age well

• a design that feels considered, not generic

Architects bring design thinking that balances all of these without sacrificing practicality.

What to Expect in Your First Meeting

A first consultation usually covers:

• your block details (or shortlisted sites)

• planning constraints and opportunities

• your budget range and priorities

• lifestyle requirements (now and future)

• design direction and aesthetic preferences

• timing and process (design → approvals → build)

It’s also where you’ll learn if the relationship feels right — because trust and communication are just as important as design talent.

Ready to Build a Custom Home in Perth?

If you’re searching for an architect in Perth for a custom home design — whether you’re in Dalkeith, Peppermint Grove, Cottesloe, City Beach, Mosman Park, Claremont, Nedlands, Floreat, Applecross, South Perth or East Fremantle, the right next step is a conversation.

At CBD Architects, we design bespoke homes that respond to lifestyle, site and long-term value. Our process is clear, collaborative and focused on creating architecture that feels resolved, from early concept through to documentation and delivery.

Get in touch with CBD Architects to discuss your custom home project.