MOUNTAIN SHELTER DESIGN INSTITUTE is a residential design service specializing in the "modern mountain rustic vernacular."  This mean stone, timbers and natural materials that harmonize with the environment.  We adhere to Sarah Susanka's "not so big" philosophy that well designed homes don't have to be (and perhaps shouldn't be) McMansions.   We support green building and are Certfied Green Builder.  We previously operated as a design-build firm and have been buiding green since 1985.  With training in architectures and experience as a general contractor, MSDI offers a unique mix of practicality and maximizing potential.

Design services are divided into three main functions: CONCEPT DESIGN, DESIGN DEVELOPMENT and CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION.

Each design is custom and unique.   Design charges are typically based on the actual time incurred in the process.  A projection of costs may be available prior to any agreement and is generated by a computer program utilizing historical date based on five components: heated square fottage, number of levels, number of corners, complexity of structure, and the level of data provided by the client.