Begin Your Legacy Home Journey

Every design begins with a story. Share your vision and property details, and we will guide you through our Story Session™ process to create a fully custom home shaped around your life and land.

Schedule Your Story Session™
Story-Led Luxury Design
1212 Hero Split View Frame

Design A Legacy Home Built Around Your Story

Your land, lifestyle, and long-term vision deserve a fully custom design. We create Legacy Homes™ shaped by your story and crafted to last for generations.

Call For Home Designs

Build Timeless Custom Home Design Service In Elkhorn, WI, and Scenic Regions Nationwide

At 12/12 Architects & Planners, we provide custom home design services in Elkhorn, WI, and Scenic Regions Nationwide, creating fully tailored Legacy Homes™. Since opening in August 2003, our family-led team has delivered residential architectural design rooted in listening first and designing with long-term reliability.

Elkhorn, WI
 (630) 346-1620

A Family Of Architectural Storytellers

At 12/12, we are a family of architects dedicated to designing custom Legacy Homes™ that fit your family now, and for generations to come. Every design begins with a story: we walk your land, study light and views, and learn how your family truly lives before drawing a single line. From mudroom chaos to holiday gatherings and teen hangouts, we translate everyday life into timeless, lasting spaces.

From brand-new one-of-a-kind retreats to legacy-level renovations, we stay involved from concept through construction, providing dependable architectural leadership every step of the way. One-on-one. 100% custom. Always.

  • Legacy Homes™: Types and Budgets
  • New Homes: starting at $1,500,000
  • Additions: starting at $400,000
  • Interior Renovations: starting at $300,000
  • Exterior Improvements: starting at $100,000

We also welcome smaller projects, including curb appeal upgrades, historic restoration, aging-in-place (accessibility) solutions, and “Not So Big” homes, on a case-by-case basis.

Learn About Our Story
Content 1

Start Designing A Home That Lasts

Custom Architectural Planning Begins Here
Talk To Us

Fully Custom Luxury Homes Designed For Real Life

We design homes that fit the way you actually live, whether on suburban lots, lakefront shores, or scenic mountain landscapes across Illinois, Wisconsin, Utah, and beyond.

Our process starts with the Story Session™, where we explore your property’s natural light, topography, orientation, and unique character before shaping concepts into detailed architectural plans.

Our services include:

From everyday routines to special gatherings, our designs focus on flow, livability, and spaces that feel both practical and timeless.

Schedule Your Story Session™
Content 2

Create A Home That Reflects Your Legacy

A home should support the way you live, not just look impressive on paper. In Elkhorn, WI, and scenic regions nationwide, our approach begins with listening, understanding your needs, your land, and your lifestyle, while building trust through clear, consistent communication.

With our Story Session™, we translate your goals into architectural plans that respond to light, topography, and everyday life. From concept through construction, we guide each step with dependable design leadership, ensuring your home is both functional and timeless.

Give Us A Call
Content 3

Custom Home Design Across States

From Illinois estates to Wisconsin lakefront retreats and Utah mountain homes, we create fully custom residences shaped by both the land and the way you live. Each project begins with understanding your story, and our architectural planning process ensures your home reflects it thoughtfully at every stage.

Custom Luxury Home Design in Illinois

Design a fully custom residence tailored to Illinois climate, context, and lifestyle needs with site-driven architectural planning.

Explore Illinois Design
1212 Image Content Slider Frame 1

Custom Luxury Home Design in Wisconsin

Create lakefront and wooded residences shaped by shoreline views, solar orientation, and year-round living.

Discover Wisconsin Homes
1212 Image Content Slider Frame 2

Custom Luxury Home Design in Utah

Plan modern mountain and scenic homes that respond to slope, sun exposure, and expansive views.

Understand Utah Design
1212 Image Content Slider Frame 3

Waterfront & Scenic Landscape Luxury Home Design

Frame water views and natural terrain with refined architectural planning that connects indoor and outdoor living.

Read Learn About Waterfront Design
1212 Image Content Slider Frame 4

Our Works

Cover Image Elegant Estate

New Homes

New Homes

See More
Cover Image Island Inspiration

Additions

Additions

See More
Cover Image Transitional Transformation

Renovations

Renovations

See More
Cover Image Contemporary Lakefront Residence

Lake

Lake

See More

Client Experiences

M

Megan Moulden

We loved working with Cinda! She really went above and beyond to make our remodeling experience a great one. She listened to all our requests and needs and offered options of how to make them work with our floor plan. Cinda even called the city (many times) to get our questions answered. We are so happy with our finished “new” home. It feels so natural in the space, like it should have always been this way. Thank you so much for all your hard work and patience. I have already recommended your services to friends and will reach out if we ever need more work done.

Google Reviews

K

Kimberley Walter

12/12 Architects were so wonderful to work with. They gave us so many options and ideas that we hadn’t thought of, and helped us achieve a whole house renovation that really works for us. We love the results! Cinda also recommended our contractor, which made the process smooth and easy. I would recommend 12/12 Architects to anyone looking to come up with ideas for their home and who wants a functional, stylish design. They really listen and try to come up with designs that work for your project and family.

Google Reviews

S

Shelley Strasser

I was very happy with the results of my 2020 home addition designed by 12/12 Architects.. From the initial consultation to the final plans, their professionalism, attention to detail, and creative vision were evident every step of the way.

Google Reviews

L

Lisa Brown Geiger

Working with Cinda was a great experience. We were renovating a Chicago-style bungalow that had been loved for ages, by the previous owner. The home was thoughtfully opened and updated and kept the spirit of the house intact. Cinda and her team worked with our budget, were extremely patient, and always a step ahead of us. We can’t wait to work with 12/12 again, for further updates!

Google Reviews

T

Tanya Marquez

Cinda and 12/12 Architects did an amazing job on our addition! They did a fantastic job integrating a in law suite into our space. They were conscientious and helped us with ADA considerations and even helped us address specific alzheimers disease progression and accessibility concerns. They were amazing and we will absolutely use them again!

Google Reviews

R

Rita Brezina

We interviewed 3 architects for our project. While I’m sure all of them could have done the job, from the start, Cinda listened to us, wanted us to get just what we wanted. She made sure our vision was taken from paper to reality by talking to our contractor. We were so happy with our project, we have used her services for all projects since and would wholeheartedly use her again.

Google Reviews

K

Kimberley Walter

12/12 Architects were so wonderful to work with. They gave us so many options and ideas that we hadn’t thought of, and helped us achieve a whole house renovation that really works for us. We love the results! Cinda also recommended our contractor, which made the process smooth and easy. I would recommend 12/12 Architects to anyone looking to come up with ideas for their home and who wants a functional, stylish design. They really listen and try to come up with designs that work for your project and family.

Houzz

M

Mike

Cinda demonstrated the value inherent to hiring a profession by taking my ideas and desires and iterating on them and making suggestions that I never would have thought of. Ultimately the final design much better than my original vision.

Houzz

B

Bill & Laura Rehling

Cinda offered great design ideas and was very patient with us while we worked through multiple design reviews and our own financial issues. We also hired her recommended builder who sat in on several design meetings offering construction and pricing advice, which was very helpful.

Houzz

K

Kimeri Swanson-Beck

We are pleased with the expertise, designs, and personal touch provided for us before and during our construction project addition to our home of 35 years. They were flexible with the demands of our village and creative in creating what we desired and how to make it happen. It was Cinda’s tenacity that finally got us our permits…and we are about halfway through the construction process. Kudos to 12/12 Architects.

Houzz

M

Megan M

We loved working with Cinda! She really went above and beyond to make our remodeling experience a great one. She listened to all our requests and needs and offered options of how to make them work with our floor plan. Cinda even called the city (many times) to get our questions answered. We are so happy with our finished “new” home. It feels so natural in the space, like it should have always been this way. Thank you so much for all your hard work and patience. I have already recommended your services to friends and will reach out if we ever need more work done.

Houzz

W

Wendi Nelson

Our project was completed in 2023 and was not only exactly what we wanted, but exactly what we didn’t know we needed. Cinda took the time to understand our projects and our needs, kept us in the loop, was eager to hear our ideas and really bring this vision of pinterest ideas and vague feelings into a final product we can’t just rave enough about. I cannot say enough good things about Cinda. Her professionalism and ability to see our vision is unparalleled.

Houzz

Where To Start

Icons Project

Tell us about your project

Icons google

Schedule a google meet consultation

Icons review

Review and approve agreement

Icons schedule

Schedule your on-site story session™

Icons home

Begin your legacy home™ journey

See our Process

Frequently Asked Questions

We help homeowners navigate every step of creating a custom home, from understanding the site and planning the architecture to coordinating with builders. Below are answers to some common questions about how our design process works.

  • What makes your custom home design service different?

    We begin with an on-site Story Session™ where we analyze land conditions, light, and lifestyle needs before design starts. This ensures each home is fully site-specific and family-specific rather than adapted from a template.

  • Do you design in multiple states?

    Yes. While based in Elkhorn, WI, serving the Scenic Regions Nationwide, we provide residential architectural design in Illinois, Wisconsin, Utah, and waterfront locations across the country

  • Are you involved during construction?

    Yes. We provide permit documentation, consultant coordination, and ongoing collaboration with builders to maintain architectural intent throughout construction.

  • Do you offer pre-designed plans?

    No. Every project is 100% custom and tailored to your aesthetic preferences, property conditions, and long-term goals.

  • How do we begin?

    Start by sharing your property location and goals. From there, we schedule a conversation to determine alignment before launching the Story Session™ process.

Service Areas

Serving Elkhorn, WI, Scenic Regions Nationwide, and residential clients across Illinois, Wisconsin, Utah, and waterfront properties nationwide.

MAP big

  • Illinois

    • DuPage County, IL
    • Lake County, IL
    • Cook County, IL
    • McHenry County, IL
    • Kane County, IL
    • Kendall County, IL
    • Will Counties and Communities

  • Wisconsin

    • Walworth County, WI

  • Utah

    • Washington, WA
    • Salt Lake County

Let’s Start Designing Your Home

Headquarters

Elkhorn, WI

Phone

(630) 346-1620

We Are on Social

Share Your Property And Vision

Tell us about your land, goals, and timeline. Our team will review your details and guide you through the next step of our custom home design service process.

    Assistive text
    100% Custom Story-Led Design Site-Responsive