Architecture & tech planning
The stack decided based on what the site needs to do, not defaulted to whatever's trendiest this year.
Overview
For when the right answer isn't a CMS at all
Not every site needs a CMS. Some need one and it's the wrong one for the job, some need a headless setup pulling from an API or a data source that isn't content at all, and some just need to be fast and simple without a plugin ecosystem underneath them.
We build these fully custom: modern frameworks, clean architecture planned around what the site actually needs to do, and no page builder or plugin stack you didn't ask for. Where the site is really an application — accounts, workflows, a database of its own — we build that layer in PHP with Laravel or CakePHP, and where it's a fast marketing or content site we stay on the JavaScript side. If a headless CMS makes sense for whoever's managing content, we'll wire that in too. If it doesn't, we won't add one just to have one.
Tools & platforms we use
- Next.js
- Astro
- Node.js
- Laravel
- CakePHP
- Sanity
- Contentful
- Vercel
What's included
Planned, built and documented around your actual requirements
Custom frontend build
Hand-coded to your designs with a modern framework, no plugin stack or page builder underneath it.
Headless CMS or API integration
Content or data pulled from wherever it actually lives, whether that's a headless CMS, an internal API, or a third-party data source.
Deployment & handoff documentation
A clear record of how the site is built and deployed, so it doesn't depend on us specifically to maintain.
Questions
Common questions about custom builds
4 questions
When does a custom build make more sense than WordPress or Webflow?
When the site needs to do something a CMS or page builder makes awkward: pulling data from a non-content source, hitting specific performance targets, or handling an information architecture that doesn't map to pages and posts. If a CMS would genuinely work fine, we'll usually recommend that instead since it's cheaper to build and maintain.
Do we need a CMS at all?
Not always. If content rarely changes or changes through a process that isn't really "editing a webpage," a CMS can add maintenance overhead without adding much value. We'll ask about your update workflow before assuming you need one.
Who maintains a custom site after launch?
Whoever you want. We hand over clean, documented code that doesn't require us specifically, and we're also available for ongoing support if you'd rather not hire for it internally.
Can a custom site still be editable by a non-technical team?
Yes, usually by pairing it with a headless CMS that handles the content editing while the custom frontend handles rendering and performance. It's not an either-or between custom and editable.
Quick question?
Ask us about Custom Website Development
Not ready for a full brief? Send a question and a developer who works on this will answer it, usually within one business day. No sales call, no obligation.
Already have designs or a scope? Send a full project brief instead.
Ready to get started?
Tell us what the site needs to do.
Send the requirements or existing designs and we'll come back with an architecture recommendation and a fixed estimate before any code gets written.
If the first milestone doesn't match the brief, we'll revise it at no extra cost.
NDA signed before we see anything. Delivered under your brand.