Driving around today's Mercer Island, I see a number of "builder-designed" homes being built on nice "infill" lots. I've worked for many years with many first rate builders who'd be the first to admit they're not designers. Here's one of my many PatchBlogs on the subject of expert architectural professional home design and why it's so important in the creating of workable homes as well as attractive ones. JG-
http://mercerisland.patch.com/groups/jerry-gropp-architect-aias-blog/p/bp--mercer-island-homes-should-be-special-and-often-are