Saba Vakili — Senior Architectural Designer

Projects

Design & Permit Services

From the first design idea to the approved permit, I work directly with homeowners across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

I am an architectural designer with a degree in architecture and 17 years of experience. Because one person handles every step, the process stays simple and the details stay consistent.

01

Home Design

I design new homes, additions, and full renovations. I like to work with luxurious, on-trend materials that are on the market right now, so your home feels current and special.

02

3D Visualization

Before construction starts, you can see your home. I prepare realistic 3D renderings of the design, so you can review the materials, the light, and the details, and make decisions with confidence.

03

Permit-Ready Plans

I prepare complete plan sets for the permit office. I work with licensed engineers in the DMV area, including structural and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), who review and stamp the drawings for each discipline. Your project is then ready to submit for permit.

04

Permit Follow-Up

After submission, I stay involved. I contact the permit office directly, whether DC DOB or the county offices, follow every review, and address comments as fast as possible. An active approach on our side keeps your permit moving.

05

Materials & Sourcing

I follow the current trends in luxury home materials. I work with European distributors for kitchens and finishes, as well as local and US suppliers for tile, stone, and other materials. Local, US-made, or European, I am comfortable with all of them, and I plan the materials around your priorities.

06

Project Management

I coordinate your project from start to finish, so every stage stays organized. This covers the site measurements, the drawings, the site meetings with the structural and MEP engineers, the permit office, and the material orders. You always have one person keeping track of every detail.

From a small permit set to a full home design, you can contact me for all of it.

Contact Me

About

When you work with a large firm, your project passes through many people, and each hand-off adds time and cost. I work differently. I am one senior designer, and I stay involved in every drawing, every rendering, and every permit submission myself.

I have over 17 years of experience and more than 50 residential projects in the DMV area. Since 2012, I have handled the full design process, from site measurements and existing-condition surveys to permit-ready plans.

I have a deep knowledge of local building codes and a proven ability to navigate the complexities of the permit office. My approach combines decades of technical expertise with modern innovation. I am an expert in 3ds Max for high-fidelity architectural visualization, recently incorporating AI to expedite the rendering process and enhance client presentations.

Beyond design, I am a licensed DC Real Estate professional, providing a unique perspective on property value and market feasibility. Whether working with innovative systems like Nudura (ICF) or conducting site visits to ensure design integrity, I am dedicated to bridging the gap between a client's vision and a practical, buildable reality.

Skills & Certifications

DC Real Estate License
AutoCAD
3ds Studio Max Mental Ray / Revit
Procreate (Photo Editing & Digital Sketching)
AI-Enhanced Workflow & Rendering
Architectural Design & Drafting
Permit-Ready Plan Preparation
Site Surveys & Existing Condition Plans
Project Coordination & Site Supervision
Video Editing & Architectural Marketing
Budget Management
Nudura (ICF) Certification

Contact

Tell me about your project, and I will tell you what it takes to design it and get it approved. I give a clear, fixed-fee proposal before we start, so there are no surprises.

saba@sabavakili.com

202.276.4216

Washington, DC Metropolitan Area