Well said! I have to add this too: Architects don't just design pretty houses or draft plans. We are professional consultants who offer a variety of consultation services in many forms ranging from occasional hourly consults to regular on-site observation and management of construction contracts. Just because you have a stock plan and are on a budget does not mean you don't need an Architect. In fact, the cost over-runs that can occur due to the *lack* of an Architect consultant on your stock plan building project can cost you significantly more than what was "saved" on the Architect's consulting fee or even the costs "savings" for having foregone an Architect's custom design on the plans. And if you are contracting it yourself, the value of an experienced consulting Architect is immeasurable. Architects are not expensive designers. We are primarily thinkers, planners and puzzle solvers, and when it comes to building we are experienced ones!

Asking friends, colleagues and relatives is often the best place to start as you get the warts n'all version. As you note, if the spaces are small then design becomes even more important. The cost of producing drawings and time needed resolving design/technical issues tends to be similar on most jobs (up to a point). This does translate to a fees becoming a higher percentage on a smaller budget job. Remember it is all part of the investment you make in your home so you need to be confident that you are getting both the best physical outcome but also financial outcome. Next weekend is Sustainable House Day, a great opportunity to go and look through some great examples of design that are working on many levels, you may find you designer/architect through that.... Good luck finding your 'one'

I suggest you not only look at architects but also draftsman or a builders that can offer a complete building process from design through to completion.They will be able to guide you from your idea's and help design a plan that will be cost effective and will also be able to navigate the approvals needed to achieve your dream home. Also drive around your local area and see what companies are building in your area. If you like what you see . stop and speak to the builder to see what they can offer. Also speaking to friends,families ,work colleagues for any recommendations of people they have used for their renovations/builds

Clare, you can search on Houzz under heading Find Professionals, then select Architect under subheading and you can further refine your search from there. Then you can go through their sites and read about their particular projects. Good luck!