Design Your Straw Bale Home With Confidence

Get expert guidance, clear drawings, and field-tested details for a smooth path from design to permit.

Partner with Timbo to turn ideas into a buildable straw bale home tailored to your site, climate, and budget.

Paid 60-minute session

We loved Timbo's design sense. He listened thoughtfully and honored our ideas. Sometimes he pushed us gently to consider other ideas (which were invariably better).

Nicolas W. - Buena Vista, CO
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Choose Your Path

Get hands-on skills, solve real problems, design your home.

Custom Home Design

Get a home shaped to your site, climate, and life. Clear steps, one guide, buildable drawings. Learn more

Pre-Designed House Plans

Ready-made designs by straw bale pros. Modify if needed. Instant access to plan packages. Learn more

Custom Home Design

 Work directly with Timbo

    • Real-world expertise from designing and building straw bale homes, so the drawings reflect what actually works on site.

    • Field-tested details for straw bale walls, openings, and moisture control

    • Passive solar and climate-smart thinking from day one

    • Clear communication and predictable steps from first call to permit

    • Discovery and fit

    • Schematic design and layout

    • Energy and climate strategies

    • Coordinate with your local engineer for review and stamp

    • Permit-level drawings and submittal guidance

    • Optional construction-phase consulting for design questions

    • Detailed 3D model

    • Scaled floor plans and elevations

    • Wall sections and key details for straw bale construction

    • Door and window schedules

    • Basic site plan guidance

    • Structural drawings coordinated with your local engineer

    • Coordination notes for local engineering and energy compliance

Cutom Design Intake Form

Tell us about your project. We’ll review and reply within 1–2 business days.

Pre-Designed House Plans

currated Designs by proven straw bale professionals

Ready-made straw bale layouts with field-tested details. Plans are informational and not site-specific. Most projects require local adaptation and engineering before permit.

Modern Farmhouse plan, 1,850 sq ft, 3 bed 2 bath, 45 by 30 ft footprint. Upstairs bedrooms open to a covered balcony, with a large covered porch below.

    • Faster start and lower upfront cost than fully custom

    • Proven straw bale layouts and details

    • Most plans can be modified by the original designer

    • Floor plans and elevations

    • Basic sections and typical straw bale details

    • Door and window sizes

    • Basic electrical layout notes where applicable

    • General notes for build approach

    • Site-specific engineering or calculations

    • Local code compliance documents and permit submittals

    • Mechanical and plumbing design

    • Interior framing specs if not part of the plan scope

    • Truss or TJI engineering

    • Materials list unless specifically stated

    • Review and approval by a locally licensed designer or engineer

    • Site plan, soils or geotechnical report if required

    • Structural engineering and truss or TJI calcs

    • Energy code documentation and any jurisdiction-specific forms

  • Your purchase grants a limited, non-transferable, one-time build license. You may reproduce or modify the plans only as needed for your project and local requirements. Reuse or resale is not permitted.

  • All plan sales are final. Returns are not accepted.

  • Many plans can be modified by the original designer for a fee. Or, start a Custom Design if your site, codes, or goals require deeper changes.

Popular House Plans

See a plan you like, but would like to make changes?

Custom Home Design vs. Pre-Designed House Plans 

See when a ready-made plan or custom design wins

If you want

Choose

Fastest path and lower upfront cost

✅ House Plans

Tailored layout for site, budget, and climate

✅ Custom Design

Complex site or strict local codes

✅ Custom Design

Minor changes to a proven layout

✅ Plan Modification

Read What Our Happy Design Clients Are Saying

  • Lindy M.

    What can I say about Timbo? First and foremost, he’s GOOD! Other words come to mind – honest, sincere, dependable, patient, trustworthy, understanding, creative, flexible, adaptable…


  • Nicolas W.

    We loved Timbo's design sense. He listened thoughtfully and honored our ideas. Sometimes he pushed us gently to consider other ideas (which were invariably better).

  • Susan L.

    Everything was done to make the house as weather-tight, energy-efficient, and functional as possible. I am really enjoying my new house.

  • Diane B.

    Timbo’s positive attitude, enthusiasm, and confidence put us right at ease.

Find Answers To Common Design Questions

Common questions on custom design, pre-designed plans, and build support.
Everything you need to know to move from idea to permit.

  • Often yes. Plans are not site-specific, and most jurisdictions require review and stamps from locally licensed professionals. Your local team is responsible for final code compliance.

  • Yes. I advise on climate-smart strategies and documentation needs, then coordinate what your local pros must stamp or submit.

  • Timelines vary by scope, decisions, and jurisdiction. After a consult, we set milestones. Many projects move through schematic design in weeks, then into permit drawings based on your local process. Budget more time than less.

  • Start with a design consult or submit the intake form. If you are just exploring, review our beginner resources and codes overview, then we can shape a concept around your site and goals.

  • Include: floor plans, elevations, basic sections and straw bale details, door and window sizes, general notes, and basic electrical notes where applicable.

    Not included: site-specific engineering, local code submittals, mechanical and plumbing design, interior framing specs if not part of the plan scope, truss or TJI engineering, and a materials list unless stated.

  • Yes. Many plans can be modified by the original designer for a fee. If your site or codes require deeper changes, consider starting a custom design.

  • Yes, as a separate service. I provide hourly consulting, plan reviews, and optional on-site training to answer design questions and keep the build on track.

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