Virtual Consulting

How does a virtual consultation with The Ancon Group work?

A virtual consultation works the same way an in-person consultation does, except we use video instead of walking a space together. Before our call, I review whatever materials you send — floor plans, photos, drawings, measurements, or a combination. By the time we get on the call, I've already done the work of evaluating your project. The session itself is direct: I tell you what I'm seeing, what concerns me, and what I'd recommend changing. Most clients find that a single 60-to-90-minute session is enough to give them clear direction. For larger or more complex projects, we may schedule follow-up time.

Do I need to be local to work with The Ancon Group?

No. All consulting services are available virtually, nationwide. The Ancon Group is based in Dallas and has been operating there since 1989, but the virtual consulting practice was built specifically to serve homeowners who don't have access to experienced design-build professionals in their area. If you have a good internet connection and can share your project materials digitally, location is not a factor.

What types of projects qualify for virtual consulting?

Custom new construction, full gut renovations, room additions, and cosmetic renovations all qualify. The service is designed for residential projects — single-family homes, primary residences, and vacation homes. Multi-family or commercial projects are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you're not sure whether your project qualifies, reach out and describe it briefly. I'll tell you honestly whether I can add value.

How do I prepare for a virtual consultation?

Send whatever you have before the call — floor plans, architectural drawings, photos of the existing space, inspiration images, or a written description of your project and the decisions you're trying to make. The more context I have going in, the more useful the session will be. You don't need a professional presentation. A clear PDF of your plans and a paragraph describing your situation is enough to get started.

Floor Plan Reviews

What is a virtual floor plan review?

A virtual floor plan review is a professional evaluation of your residential floor plan — for new construction or renovation — conducted remotely before construction begins. During a floor plan review, I analyze the layout for traffic flow, room adjacency, kitchen and bath functionality, storage, natural light, and overall livability. The goal is to identify problems in the plan while there's still time and budget to fix them. Changes to a floor plan cost almost nothing before framing. After framing, they can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Why should I get a second opinion on my floor plan?

Architects design to code and for construction efficiency. Interior designers and design-build professionals evaluate how people actually live in a space — and those are two different skill sets. A floor plan can be structurally sound and code-compliant and still have serious livability problems: a kitchen that doesn't function, a master suite positioned next to a noisy mechanical room, a living area with no workable furniture arrangement. A second opinion from someone who has spent decades watching how people actually use homes catches the things a set of construction documents won't.

What do you look for when reviewing a floor plan?

When reviewing a residential floor plan, I evaluate: traffic flow and circulation (how people move through the home day-to-day); room adjacency (whether rooms that need to be close to each other actually are); kitchen functionality (appliance placement, counter sequence, the work triangle, door swing conflicts); bathroom placement and plumbing logic; natural light and solar orientation; storage adequacy; and overall proportion and livability. I'm not checking structural calculations — I'm reading the plan the way someone who has to live there would.

Can you review plans that are already in construction?

Yes, though options narrow as construction progresses. If framing is underway but not complete, there may still be meaningful changes available. If the home is drywalled, changes become significantly more expensive and disruptive. Earlier is always better. That said, even late-stage reviews can be valuable for identifying issues that are easier to address now than after finishes are installed. If you're mid-construction and something doesn't feel right, it's worth a conversation.

What file formats do you accept for a floor plan review?

PDF is preferred. CAD file exports, JPEG or PNG image sets, and scanned drawings are also acceptable. If you have only hand-drawn sketches, send them — clarity matters more than format. If you're not sure whether what you have is usable, send it and I'll tell you.

Services & Pricing

What does a consultation with The Ancon Group cost?

Advisory calls are $300 per hour. Floor plan reviews are typically completed in one 60-to-90-minute session. Full custom home design services are priced at $4.50 per square foot. Floor-plan-only and add-on services are available at flat fees. A written report add-on is available for floor plan reviews upon request. For a full breakdown of services and pricing, see the Services page or reach out directly.

What is included in a full custom home design engagement?

A full custom home design engagement with The Ancon Group covers the interior design and construction consulting scope for a new home from layout evaluation through finish selection. This includes floor plan review and recommendations, space planning, interior architecture decisions (ceiling heights, built-ins, millwork), material and finish specification, and construction coordination consulting. It does not include architectural or engineering stamped drawings, which are provided by your architect of record.

Do you work with builders and contractors, or only directly with homeowners?

Both. Many clients are homeowners who bring their builder or architect into the process after we've established a design direction. Others are builders who bring me in as a design resource for their clients. Either arrangement works. The important thing is that everyone involved understands my role: I'm the design and livability advocate, not the construction manager.

Experience & Approach

How long has The Ancon Group been in business?

The Ancon Group was founded in 1989. That's 35-plus years of residential interior design and construction consulting, exclusively focused on homes. In that time, the practice has worked on new construction, full gut renovations, historic restorations, and everything in between.

What makes your approach different from a standard interior designer?

Most interior designers specialize in finish selection — furniture, fabrics, color, accessories. That's valuable work, but it's the final layer. The Ancon Group operates at an earlier stage: evaluating the architecture of the space, the layout decisions, the relationship between structure and livability. The background here is design-build, which means understanding construction from the inside out — not just what looks right, but what actually works, what costs more than it should, and what creates problems ten years after the project is complete. That's a different kind of expertise, and it's the one that has the highest impact on whether a home functions well for the people who live in it.

Do you take on every project that comes in?

No. The consulting practice is deliberately limited in size to protect the quality of attention each client receives. If I don't think I can add meaningful value to a project, I'll say so directly. If a project is outside the scope of what I do well, I'd rather tell you that upfront than take a fee for something that doesn't serve you.

General FAQs

  • Yes. Every client works with Alexander Dahlgren-Jawad directly. This is his practice and these are his clients. You will never be handed off to an assistant or a less experienced designer.

  • Yes. Both services are conducted virtually. Geography is never a limitation.

  • A traditional interior designer typically manages your project from start to finish and charges accordingly. What we offer is different — expert guidance that puts you in the driver’s seat. You make the decisions. We make sure they’re the right ones. Alexander’s background spans architecture, construction, and interior design simultaneously, which means he can see your project the way your contractor sees it and the way a designer sees it at the same time. That combination is rare and it prevents a lot of expensive mistakes.

  • It’s never too soon. In fact the earlier we talk the more we can help. Early guidance prevents the kind of cascading mistakes that happen when decisions get made in the wrong order.

  • Absolutely — and this is one of the most valuable moments to bring in an outside eye. Having an experienced independent review before anything is built can save you from decisions that are difficult or impossible to undo.

  • Yes. Regularly. That’s part of what you’re paying for. There’s no value in a consultant who simply validates every decision you’ve already made. If something isn’t going to work, or if there’s a better way, we’ll tell you — clearly, respectfully, and with an explanation of why.