your space, designed around you
Brisbane’s Luxury Home Design Experts
Independent design studio, trusted by homeowners across Brisbane.
25 Years Designing Brisbane Homes
Award-Winning
Studio
BDQ & HIA
Member
QBCC
Licensed
Fixed-Price
Design Fees
In-House VR Design
Technology
Design That Isn't Locked to One Builder
Choose a design and construct company, and you’ve chosen your builder before you’ve even started your design. Choose a traditional design practice, and you’re often handed a finished set of plans with little say along the way. CU Design sits between the two, without the drawbacks of either. We design and document everything in-house, involve you at every stage, and hand you plans that are ready to build with whichever builder you trust.
A Design Process Built Around You, Not Our Portfolio
Nothing here is generic. Every project starts with your brief and your block, not a look we're trying to sell you.
No signature style
Some design studios have a look, and every client gets a version of it. Our team is intentionally diverse, so the result is shaped entirely around your brief, not our aesthetic.
You're in the room for every decision
Face-to-face design meetings run right through your project, not just at the start and the reveal. You'll always know what's being decided, and why.
Fixed price, agreed upfront
Your design fee is fixed before work begins, meaning no surprises down the track and real savings against architects and traditional design firms.
Built for the blocks other designers avoid
Sloping sites, council overlays, tricky access: this is what we do every day, not the exception that scares off a quote.
See it before it's built
Our in-house VR design space lets you walk through your home in detail months before construction starts. Pair that with one of Brisbane's largest interior finishes showrooms, and you'll know exactly what you're building.
Where CU Design Fits In
New Homes
Custom design for your block, your family and the Brisbane climate, from first concept through to build-ready plans.
Renovations & Extensions
Large-scale renovations, house raising and extensions that make the most of what you've already got.
Interior Design
Finishes, layout and specification handled alongside your building design, not as a bolt-on afterthought.
Consultant Coordination & Approvals
We coordinate the consultants and manage council documentation, so you're not chasing anyone yourself.
From First Consultation to Build-Ready Plans
A clear, considered process for new homes, renovations and everything in between.
Stage 01
Initial Consultation
A no-obligation chat with a senior designer about your project. This is where we find out if we’re the right fit for each other.
Stage 02
Concept Design
This is where the real work happens. After measuring your site and hearing your ideas, our team collaborates to develop a design concept tailored to your brief. It’s the most involved stage, because getting this part right sets up everything that follows.
Stage 03
Design Development
We come back together to refine the concept: layout, room sizes, window types, flooring, and how the home looks and feels from the outside in.
Stage 04
Detailed Drawings
Fully detailed working drawings, the level of documentation needed for building approval and handed straight to your builder for construction.
Stage 05
Virtual Reality Walkthrough
Walk through your design in true-to-life detail, every measurement accounted for, before you commit to the next step. It’s the closest thing to standing in your finished home before it exists.
Stage 06
Coordination
An optional service where we coordinate with consultants on your behalf, so your development and building approval documentation comes together without you having to chase anyone.
Stage 07
Interior Design
Finishes, materials and styling refined alongside your building design, so the whole home comes together as one considered result, not two separate jobs.
Stage 08
Start Building
Your plans are yours! We can refer trusted builders, or hand everything straight to the builder you’ve already chosen.
Homes we've helped bring to life
What Our Clients Say
The People Behind Your Design
A diverse team of designers, each bringing their own influences and expertise. You can meet the full team on our website, but here are a few of the key faces you’ll be working with.
Melissa Woodcroft
Director, Licensed Building Designer & Interior Designer.
Melissa has coordinated the design of seven of her own family’s homes, and built CU Design around a simple belief: a project is better with several considered eyes on it, not one. She specialises in challenging blocks and circumstances, including narrow-lot builds.
Brendan Larsen
Senior Technical Drafter / BIM Manager / Building Designer.
With CU Design since 2006, Brendan turns concept sketches into fully detailed, buildable drawings, with a specialty in complex custom componentry. He calls himself a jack of all trades and a lifelong learner, and the team calls him invaluable.
Sam Mason
Lead Building Designer.
Melissa has coordinated the design of seven of her own family’s homes, and built CU Design around a simple belief: a project is better with several considered eyes on it, not one. She specialises in challenging blocks and circumstances, including narrow-lot builds.
Maddie Rogers
Principal Interior Designer.
Maddie has been the driving force behind our studio’s own interior fit-out. She leans into combination styles like Japandi and Moditerranean, believing a home built from many influences lasts longer than one chasing a single trend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own builder?
Yes. Your plans are yours to build with whoever you choose.
What if I don't have a builder in mind?
No problem at all. We work alongside a wide network of trusted builders across Brisbane, and we’ll help match you with one suited to your project, your budget and your block. You’re never left to figure that part out alone.
What's the difference between a building designer and an architect?
It comes down to qualifications and scope. Building designers hold a diploma-level qualification and QBCC licensing to design most residential homes and renovations, and for the vast majority of Brisbane projects, that’s exactly what you need, often at a lower cost than going the architect route.
Do you handle council approvals?
Yes. Documentation and approvals are coordinated on your behalf.
What's included in the VR walkthrough?
A detailed, room-by-room experience of your design, so you know what you’re building before construction starts.
What is the difference between a concept plan and a working drawing?
A Concept Design is the master plan and is often the step that takes the longest to complete. All options are considered to ensure the house has everything you want and is designed to work the way you need it to.
A Working Drawing is a more detailed, accurate drawing that includes all of the measurements and specifications needed to construct the building. We also offer a 3D virtual walkthrough of your future home, where changes can be made on the spot.
Do you help with furniture and styling too?
Yes. Once your interior design is locked in, we can help style the finished space, from mood boards and furniture recommendations through to full custom selections, so your home feels finished, not just built.
Ready to See Your Home Before It's Built?
Book your free discovery call and find out what your block, your budget and your vision can actually become.
- CU Design
- Brisbane, QLD
- © 2026 CU Design
- All rights reserved.