HELLO! IT’S NICE TO MEET YOU.
We’re Home Designers ready to listen and
deliver spaces that truly feel and function like YOU.
There isn’t a design challenge or complexity that we aren't up for.
From compact homes on narrow city lots to expansive 20,000 square foot estate homes on properties throughout the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland, we’ve done it all.
Over the years we have evolved into one of the highest reputed home design firms in the Fraser Valley and beyond, known among the trades for quality detailed plans and stunningly functional concepts.
Custom home design is where we excel. Maybe you’ve noticed our signs around town. We also specialize in large scale home renovations and additions, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) like carriage houses and garden suites, barns and shops, office buildings and tenant improvements, and multifamily housing.
People are our highest priority and we pride ourselves in excellent communication and honing into our clients’ needs. We listen well and love to ask the right questions that allow us to unleash our creativity and develop vision on any project. Working within constraints of local building codes and drawing on our deep understanding of the ALR and ALC, we create showstopper designs that are highly functional and customed to our clients’ wish list.
Sound like you want to work with us? We’d love to meet with you.
Who We Work With
Homeowners
Most of our clients are home owners who come directly to us looking to build their dream home. But not every one of our clients is at that stage in life – we also design starter homes and renovation plans. Many of our clients own property in the ALR zone and need special expertise from us to meet ALC requirements. Whether or not you've already teamed up with a Builder, we'd love to get on board and guide the design process.
Builders & Developers
We work together with a number of reputable home builders who bring their clients to us. As design technologists we have an innate understanding of building science and structural design, employing a more practical approach and making us a preferred choice by most contractors and builders. Our close relationships and mutual respect for quality plans and stunning design makes us a great team if we do say so ourselves.
Additional Professionals We Work With:
We happily work with all of the Professionals needed to bring your home or building project to life, including:
- Interior Designers
- Engineering Consultants
- Architects
- Building Officials
- City Planners
- Energy Consultants
WOVEN IN OUR HISTORY A Legacy of Great Design
The year was 1943 - the war in Europe began to turn the Allies’ way, America started to see its first food rationing, the slinky entered our homes, and Earl Willson embarked on a journey of design and construction in Abbotsford that would set the trajectory for future generations.
When his son followed in his footsteps they officially founded Willson Design in 1959. Over the years, Willson Design expanded its reach and formed a partnership to establish Willson Reimer & Associates. This collaboration significantly broadened their influence on the design and building landscape.
Jim Willson (grandson to Earle and current owner and President) joined the company in 1981 and worked alongside his father James until his father passed in 1998. Under Jim’s leadership the company has continued to grow and flourish through changing economies, markets, and trends. Their reputation in the industry is second to none.
Today, Willson Design upholds the values of creativity, integrity, and excellence, honouring their rich heritage. It remains a symbol of quality and innovation in Abbotsford and beyond, and we are grateful for the support of all who have been a part of our ongoing story
Meet the Team
As Home Designers we are always learning and growing in order to stay at the top of the building industry. With our reputation of hard work, integrity, and respect on the line our Designers go above and beyond in all that we do. We are full of passion and creativity, and strive to combine beauty with function while working within the boundaries of due diligence. We're also down to earth and easy to work with!
Our Approach to Design
We recognize that there are plenty of talented Home Designers to choose from. This is why we focus on a superior and seamless design experience, high quality and detailed building plans, magazine worthy designs to even the most discerning eye, and approachable yet confident attitudes. Get to know us more and see what truly sets us apart (and a glimpse into what it’ll be like working with us).
The Design Process
With 65 years under our belt we have developed a well-exercised design process that is proven time and again. Styles and trends come and go but the steps on the journey to give our clients their dream home remain virtually the same. From our first meeting full of dreaming to designing and modifying, we'll walk you through each step to ensure that the finished product is much more than you ever expected.
GLAD YOU ASKED! What People Often Ask Us...
While both Building Designers and Architects share similarities in tasks, such as crafting designs and producing building permit drawings, there are nuanced differences. The Architects Regulation, governed by the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC), reserves titles like Architectural Designer or Architectural Technologists for its members only.
Building Designers, on the other hand, offer comprehensive design and drafting services for various projects, including single-family dwellings, duplexes, small townhouses, and certain commercial and industrial buildings. While there are some limitations based on building size and purpose, Building Designers work within the bounds of Part 9 of the BC Building Code, navigating the existing regulatory landscape.
Opting for a Building Designer comes with numerous benefits, which is why the majority of single-family residences and various other buildings use our services. While the most apparent advantage lies in cost savings, it's important to note that affordability doesn't compromise creativity, knowledge, or accomplishment.
Beyond cost-effectiveness, Building Designers stand out for their profound understanding of building science and structural design. Our approach to design is notably practical, emphasizing structural considerations alongside aesthetics, often resulting in more detailed construction documents. This practicality makes us a preferred choice for contractors and builders.
Building Designers possess the versatility to handle projects of all scales, from simple additions to beautiful and sophisticated homes and buildings. Our expertise fills a crucial role in the construction landscape of BC, ensuring our clients receive not just cost savings but also innovative, structurally sound designs.
Certainly! We invite you to explore our extensive portfolio on our website, showcasing a diverse range of our completed projects. For the latest updates and projects currently under construction, check us out on Instagram. You can also visit us in person and check out all the projects we have displayed on our walls. Additionally, keep an eye out for our signs on various construction projects around town.
We are proud members of the Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) and the BC Association of Building Designers (BCABD). These affiliations reflect our commitment to professional excellence, ongoing education, and staying at the forefront of industry standards. Being part of these esteemed associations is one aspect of ensuring that our clients receive the highest quality of service backed by a strong foundation of expertise and adherence to industry best practices.
Still have questions that we haven't answered yet? Send us a message and we'd be happy to help!
WHAT BUILDERS & HOMEOWNERS ARE SAYING We Love Our Clients And They Love Us Too!
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Attention to our projects (now on our 2nd one), the communication along the way, and the timely manner that everything is handled in getting the drawings completed is impressive.
— Kim Pereira
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Remarkable patience and creativity. Communication was clear, timely, and always in tune with our needs and concerns.
— Marlee Bassani
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Helped us throughout the whole process and was always quick in responding to our requests. Everything turned out so great.
— Hardeep Dhindsa
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Listened well and asked great questions as we began to share the vision for our home … ideas were creative and well thought out.
— Brad and Donna Willems
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Extremely professional and pleasant to deal with, took a general idea and turned it into our dream house.
— Ross Belansky
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Everything we talked about that we wanted in our new design they were able to create into our renovation. We loved what he came up with and we made very few changes.
— Marlene Kielstra
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Took all of our ideas and made them work in a design that is perfect for our family. I would definitely recommend Wilson design!
— Robert W
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Seemingly innate ability to translate the design constraints of the City Bylaws to something truly creative, unique and functional for our family.
— Fred Tewfik
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Engaged us with patience, attentiveness, collaboration, attention to detail, and a master’s skill. The result is a showstopper!
— Todd Johnston
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They were able to take differing styles and a long list of preferences that we had and turn it into a forever home for our family.
— Sara Searle
Discover More About Us on Instagram
Committed to quality plans, style that 'wows', and a design experience that's smooth and enjoyable.
(NO PRESSURE, NO EGOS, JUST GOOD IDEAS)
