Why We Chose Plans É-Pur for Our Eco Home Design

A home in harmony with nature begins with a deeply rooted vision.

Designing the architectural plan for your future home can take just as long — if not longer — than finding the right piece of land. Some people already have their plan in hand and are looking for a lot that will suit that vision. Others try to do both at once. And then there are those, like us, who find the land… but are still without a house plan.

We’ve finally found our architectural designer — and it came through a mix of chance, good timing, and some thorough searching. This post shares the process we went through, and why we ultimately decided to work with Plans É-Pur, a small Québec-based firm led by a young female entrepreneure who shares our values and takes a truly human approach to architectural design.

A Few Concepts in Mind

Whenever people around us asked about the “famous house plan,” we didn’t have much to show. But we could share a set of core ideas for our future home: about 1200–1300 square feet, one level, slab-on-grade, natural and durable materials, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a greenhouse, a garage, a four-season room to enjoy the beautiful forest (and to keep the mosquitoes out), and an open-concept living space.

We want a home that is resilient and uses sustainable materials. Just like our non-negotiables for the land, these criteria kept coming back again and again. We're thinking about energy efficiency, home resiliency, and what’s most ecological.

It’s important to define what an ecological home means to you, because we've realized that the definition can be quite broad. For some, it’s all about energy efficiency. For others, it’s more about long-term durability and living in harmony with nature. You can aim for both — but this often comes with its share of compromises, which we’ll share more about later.

Some people may also question our choice of architectural designer or materials, since not everything is locally sourced. We made a conscious choice to stay within Canadian suppliers, but that still meant making certain trade-offs.

The Search for an Architectural Designer

Just like with the land, we spent just as much time searching for the right architectural designer. We often came back to the idea of a passive house, explored options with EkoBuilt and Passive Design Solutions, and spoke with local builders already working in this type of construction.

We started following every micro-home, eco-home, and passive house page we could find on social media to spark ideas and deepen our understanding. We were inspired by what we saw in the prefab world, from the Nordic collection at Maison Suprême to the ecological collection from Drummond House Plans. Our web searches were “remembered” thanks to website cookies, and we kept getting targeted ads from those same sites. We even browsed through local architecture websites and platforms like Etsy. All this research and outreach was necessary — and rich in learning.

Visualizing possibilities. This AI-generated sketch reflects the kind of modest, ecological home we imagined while exploring the right design partner.

When It Finally Clicked

Just as we were starting to feel discouraged in our search for the right plan — and hearing over and over, “So when are you starting construction?” after buying the land — we found what we were looking for.

We had come back once again to the ecological series from Drummond House Plans. We tried speaking with an architectural designer who was assigned to us after we reached out to adapt one of their plans. That conversation didn’t lead anywhere.

Then came one of those moments where luck and timing align. We noticed the ecological collection was developed in partnership with Plans É-Pur. That sparked the idea to look them up and reach out directly.

We found their Facebook page, loved what we saw, and filled out their contact form — only to discover they were already booked up for 2025. That didn’t stop us. We sent them an email on February 22nd, and two days later, we received a reply offering a glimmer of hope:

“Yes, we are fully booked for 2025, but we can schedule a call to explore the overall idea of your project. If it’s not urgent, I’d be happy to work with you.”

A Real Connection

That first call took place later that week — and it was a true coup de cœur. We felt listened to, understood, and supported. There was empathy, a grasp of our vision, and an openness that left us speechless.

While some professionals we had met along the way were indeed attentive and open-minded, there were still limitations — especially budgetary ones. We often felt misunderstood, or that our ideas were being shut down too quickly.

But with Alyson, it was the opposite. There was real openness — not in the sense of “we’ll say yes to anything,” but in the sense of let’s find a way to make it work. It was about defining space differently, rethinking proportions… and we were able to speak entirely in French. What a relief and a pleasure!

We had a second video call all together, and the following steps (including the contract) were handled by email. Alyson has been attentive, available, and responsive throughout. The contract was signed, the first payment made, and on March 12, we received a lovely welcome email titled “Project Launch”, outlining the next steps in four phases.

A Human and Structured Approach

The first step was to create an account on their platform. We found some beautiful and educational video capsules — full of useful information about the design process, materials (interior and exterior), budget, and more. And, of course, some “homework” tasks.

We completed a 9-page questionnaire covering everything from our daily routines to who will live in the house, and what an ecological home means to us. It took us three days to fill out — and it sparked some beautiful reflections.

Where We Are Now

We especially appreciate that Plans É-Pur is led by a young female entrepreneur. Their approach is professional, creative, and deeply human. You can feel that every project matters to them, and that they pour their heart, intention, and expertise into everything they do.

The design process is ongoing, and we’ll share more soon about the choices we’ll make along the way. But we wanted to take a moment to share this:

👉 Choosing an architectural designer who understands you, who shares your values and listens deeply, can make your life so much easier.

You’re not just creating a house plan. You’re imagining a life.