diff --git a/design_builder/context.py b/design_builder/context.py
index 7c43bcf8..6df67c8f 100644
--- a/design_builder/context.py
+++ b/design_builder/context.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def __init__(self, root: "_Node"):
     def _compare(self, subscripts, other):
         """Compare 'other' to the node's data store."""
         for i in subscripts:
-            value = self.__getitem__(i)
+            value = self[i]
             if value != other[i]:
                 return False
         return True
diff --git a/design_builder/contrib/ext.py b/design_builder/contrib/ext.py
index 6d7dc239..6ac49062 100644
--- a/design_builder/contrib/ext.py
+++ b/design_builder/contrib/ext.py
@@ -7,14 +7,13 @@
 from django.db.models import Q
 
 from nautobot.dcim.models import Cable
-from nautobot.extras.models import Status
 from nautobot.ipam.models import Prefix
 
 import netaddr
 from design_builder.design import Builder
 from design_builder.design import ModelInstance
 
-from design_builder.errors import DesignImplementationError
+from design_builder.errors import DesignImplementationError, MultipleObjectsReturnedError, DoesNotExistError
 from design_builder.ext import Extension
 from design_builder.jinja2 import network_offset
 
@@ -22,6 +21,8 @@
 class LookupMixin:
     """A helper mixin that provides a way to lookup objects."""
 
+    builder: Builder
+
     def lookup_by_content_type(self, app_label, model_name, query):
         """Perform a query on a model.
 
@@ -46,29 +47,31 @@ def lookup_by_content_type(self, app_label, model_name, query):
 
         return self.lookup(queryset, query)
 
-    def lookup(self, queryset, query):  # pylint: disable=R0201
+    def lookup(self, queryset, query, parent=None):
         """Perform a single object lookup from a queryset.
 
         Args:
             queryset: Queryset (e.g. Status.objects.all) from which to query.
             query: Query params to filter by.
+            parent: Optional field used for better error reporting. Set this
+            value to the model instance that is semantically the parent so
+            that DesignModelErrors raised are more easily debugged.
 
         Raises:
-            DesignImplementationError: If either no object is found, or multiple objects are found.
+            DoesNotExistError: If either no object is found.
+            MultipleObjectsReturnedError: if multiple objects are found.
 
         Returns:
             Any: The object matching the query.
         """
-        # TODO: Convert this to lookup via ModelInstance
-        for key, value in query.items():
-            if hasattr(value, "instance"):
-                query[key] = value.instance
+        self.builder.resolve_values(query, unwrap_model_instances=True)
+
         try:
             return queryset.get(**query)
         except ObjectDoesNotExist:
-            raise DesignImplementationError(f"no {queryset.model.__name__} matching {query}")
+            raise DoesNotExistError(queryset.model, query_filter=query, parent=parent)
         except MultipleObjectsReturned:
-            raise DesignImplementationError(f"Multiple {queryset.model.__name__} objects match {query}")
+            raise MultipleObjectsReturnedError(queryset.model, query=query, parent=parent)
 
 
 class LookupExtension(Extension, LookupMixin):
@@ -143,12 +146,13 @@ def attribute(self, value, model_instance) -> None:
         """Connect a cable termination to another cable termination.
 
         Args:
-            value: Query for the `termination_b` side. This dictionary must
-            include a field `status` or `status__<lookup param>` that is either
-            a reference to a status object (former) or a lookup key/value to
-            get a status (latter). The query must also include enough
-            differentiating lookup params to retrieve a single matching termination
-            of the same type as the `termination_a` side.
+            value: Dictionary with details about the cable. At a minimum
+            the dictionary must have a `to` key which includes a query
+            dictionary that will return exactly one object to be added to the
+            `termination_b` side of the cable. All other attributes map
+            directly to the cable attributes. Cables require a status,
+            so the `status` field is mandatory and follows typical design
+            builder query lookup.
 
         Raises:
             DesignImplementationError: If no `status` was provided, or no matching
@@ -172,38 +176,49 @@ def attribute(self, value, model_instance) -> None:
                   status__name: "Active"
                   "!connect_cable":
                     status__name: "Planned"
-                    device: "!ref:device1"
-                    name: "GigabitEthernet1"
+                    to:
+                        device: "!ref:device1"
+                        name: "GigabitEthernet1"
             ```
         """
-        query = {**value}
-        status = query.pop("status", None)
-        if status is None:
-            for key in list(query.keys()):
-                if key.startswith("status__"):
-                    status_lookup = key[len("status__") :]  # noqa: E203
-                    status = Status.objects.get(**{status_lookup: query.pop(key)})
-                    break
-        elif isinstance(status, dict):
-            status = Status.objects.get(**status)
-        elif hasattr(status, "instance"):
-            status = status.instance
-
-        if status is None:
-            raise DesignImplementationError("No status given for cable connection")
-
-        remote_instance = self.lookup(model_instance.model_class.objects, query)
+        if "to" not in value:
+            raise DesignImplementationError(
+                f"`connect_cable` must have a `to` field indicating what to terminate to. {value}"
+            )
+
+        cable_attributes = {**value}
+        termination_query = cable_attributes.pop("to")
+
+        # status = query.pop("status", None)
+        # if status is None:
+        #     for key in list(query.keys()):
+        #         if key.startswith("status__"):
+        #             status_lookup = key[len("status__") :]  # noqa: E203
+        #             status = Status.objects.get(**{status_lookup: query.pop(key)})
+        #             break
+        # elif isinstance(status, dict):
+        #     status = Status.objects.get(**status)
+        # elif hasattr(status, "instance"):
+        #     status = status.instance
+
+        # if status is None:
+        #     raise DesignImplementationError("No status given for cable connection")
+
+        remote_instance = self.lookup(model_instance.model_class.objects, termination_query)
+        cable_attributes.update(
+            {
+                "termination_a": model_instance,
+                "!create_or_update:termination_b_type": ContentType.objects.get_for_model(remote_instance),
+                "!create_or_update:termination_b_id": remote_instance.id,
+            }
+        )
+
         model_instance.deferred.append("cable")
         model_instance.deferred_attributes["cable"] = [
             model_instance.__class__(
-                self.object_creator,
+                self.builder,
                 model_class=Cable,
-                attributes={
-                    "status": status,
-                    "termination_a": model_instance,
-                    "!create_or_update:termination_b_type": ContentType.objects.get_for_model(remote_instance),
-                    "!create_or_update:termination_b_id": remote_instance.id,
-                },
+                attributes=cable_attributes,
             )
         ]
 
@@ -276,7 +291,8 @@ def attribute(self, value: dict, model_instance) -> None:
         prefixes = Prefix.objects.filter(query)
         return "prefix", self._get_next(prefixes, length)
 
-    def _get_next(self, prefixes, length) -> str:  # pylint:disable=no-self-use
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_next(prefixes, length) -> str:
         """Return the next available prefix from a parent prefix.
 
         Args:
@@ -364,7 +380,7 @@ class BGPPeeringExtension(Extension):
 
     attribute_tag = "bgp_peering"
 
-    def __init__(self, object_creator: Builder):
+    def __init__(self, builder: Builder):
         """Initialize the BGPPeeringExtension.
 
         This initializer will import the necessary BGP models. If the
@@ -373,7 +389,7 @@ def __init__(self, object_creator: Builder):
         Raises:
             DesignImplementationError: Raised when the BGP Models Plugin is not installed.
         """
-        super().__init__(object_creator)
+        super().__init__(builder)
         try:
             from nautobot_bgp_models.models import PeerEndpoint, Peering  # pylint:disable=import-outside-toplevel
 
@@ -440,8 +456,8 @@ def attribute(self, value, model_instance) -> None:
         # copy the value so it won't be modified in later
         # use
         retval = {**value}
-        endpoint_a = ModelInstance(self.object_creator, self.PeerEndpoint, retval.pop("endpoint_a"))
-        endpoint_z = ModelInstance(self.object_creator, self.PeerEndpoint, retval.pop("endpoint_z"))
+        endpoint_a = ModelInstance(self.builder, self.PeerEndpoint, retval.pop("endpoint_a"))
+        endpoint_z = ModelInstance(self.builder, self.PeerEndpoint, retval.pop("endpoint_z"))
         peering_a = None
         peering_z = None
         try:
diff --git a/design_builder/contrib/tests/test_ext.py b/design_builder/contrib/tests/test_ext.py
index 5d3594bd..8c01f998 100644
--- a/design_builder/contrib/tests/test_ext.py
+++ b/design_builder/contrib/tests/test_ext.py
@@ -88,8 +88,9 @@ def test_connect_cable(self):
                   status__name: "Active"
                   "!connect_cable":
                     status__name: "Planned"
-                    device: "!ref:device1"
-                    name: "GigabitEthernet1"
+                    to:
+                      device: "!ref:device1"
+                      name: "GigabitEthernet1"
         """
 
         design_template_v2 = """
@@ -134,8 +135,9 @@ def test_connect_cable(self):
                   status__name: "Active"
                   "!connect_cable":
                     status__name: "Planned"
-                    device: "!ref:device1"
-                    name: "GigabitEthernet1"
+                    to:
+                      device: "!ref:device1"
+                      name: "GigabitEthernet1"
         """
 
         if nautobot_version < "2.0.0":
@@ -330,6 +332,7 @@ def test_creation(self):
           bgp_routing_instances:
           - "!create_or_update:autonomous_system__asn": 64500
             "!ref": "device1-instance"
+            "status__name": "Active"
 
         - "!create_or_update:name": "device2"
           status__name: "Active"
@@ -346,6 +349,7 @@ def test_creation(self):
           bgp_routing_instances:
           - "!create_or_update:autonomous_system__asn": 64500
             "!ref": "device2-instance"
+            "status__name": "Active"
 
         bgp_peerings:
         - "!bgp_peering":
diff --git a/design_builder/design.py b/design_builder/design.py
index 9239f377..ce80c263 100644
--- a/design_builder/design.py
+++ b/design_builder/design.py
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ def implement_design(self, design, commit=False):
             self.roll_back()
             raise ex
 
-    def resolve_value(self, value):
+    def resolve_value(self, value, unwrap_model_instance=False):
         """Resolve a value using extensions, if needed."""
         if isinstance(value, str) and value.startswith("!"):
             (action, arg) = value.lstrip("!").split(":", 1)
@@ -480,9 +480,11 @@ def resolve_value(self, value):
                 value = extn.value(arg)
             else:
                 raise errors.DesignImplementationError(f"Unknown attribute extension {value}")
+        if unwrap_model_instance and isinstance(value, ModelInstance):
+            value = value.instance
         return value
 
-    def resolve_values(self, value):
+    def resolve_values(self, value, unwrap_model_instances=False):
         """Resolve a value, or values, using extensions.
 
         Args:
@@ -492,13 +494,13 @@ def resolve_values(self, value):
             Any: The resolved value.
         """
         if isinstance(value, str):
-            value = self.resolve_value(value)
+            value = self.resolve_value(value, unwrap_model_instances)
         elif isinstance(value, list):
             for i, item in enumerate(value):
-                value[i] = self.resolve_value(item)
+                value[i] = self.resolve_value(item, unwrap_model_instances)
         elif isinstance(value, dict):
             for k, item in value.items():
-                value[k] = self.resolve_value(item)
+                value[k] = self.resolve_value(item, unwrap_model_instances)
         return value
 
     def _create_objects(self, model_cls, objects):
diff --git a/design_builder/errors.py b/design_builder/errors.py
index 7082c904..c8ea0cd2 100644
--- a/design_builder/errors.py
+++ b/design_builder/errors.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from inspect import isclass
 
 from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from django.db.models import Model
 
 
 def _error_msg(validation_error):
@@ -33,24 +34,35 @@ def __init__(self, message, model=None):
 class DesignModelError(Exception):
     """Parent class for all model related design errors."""
 
-    def __init__(self, model=None) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, model=None, parent=None) -> None:
         """Initialize a DesignError with optional model_stack.
 
         Args:
             model: The model that generated the error.
+            parent: If model is a django model (as opposed to a design
+            builder ModelInstance) then a parent can be specified
+            in order to better represent the relationship of the
+            model within the design.
         """
         super().__init__()
         self.model = model
+        self.parent = parent
 
     @staticmethod
     def _model_str(model):
         instance_str = None
-        if not hasattr(model, "instance"):
+        if not isinstance(model, Model) and not hasattr(model, "instance"):
             return str(model)
 
-        if model.instance:
-            instance_str = str(model.instance)
-        model_str = model.model_class._meta.verbose_name.capitalize()
+        model_class = model.__class__
+        # if it looks like a duck...
+        if hasattr(model, "instance"):
+            model_class = model.model_class
+            model = model.instance
+
+        if model:
+            instance_str = str(model)
+        model_str = model_class._meta.verbose_name.capitalize()
         if instance_str:
             model_str = f"{model_str} {instance_str}"
         return model_str
@@ -83,6 +95,9 @@ def path_str(self):
             path_msg.insert(0, DesignModelError._model_str(model))
             if hasattr(model, "parent"):
                 model = model.parent
+            elif self.parent:
+                model = self.parent
+                self.parent = None
             else:
                 model = None
         # don't include the top level model in the ancestry
@@ -137,6 +152,16 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
 class DesignQueryError(DesignModelError):
     """Exception indicating design builder could not find the object."""
 
+    def __init__(self, model=None, query_filter=None, **kwargs):
+        """Initialize a design query error.
+
+        Args:
+            model: Model or model class this query error corresponds to.
+            query_filter: Query filter the generated the error.
+        """
+        super().__init__(model=model, **kwargs)
+        self.query_filter = query_filter
+
     def __str__(self) -> str:
         """The string representation of an object of the DoesNotExistError class."""
         msg = []
@@ -146,6 +171,8 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
         msg.append(f"{indentation}- {self.model_str}:")
         if hasattr(self.model, "query_filter"):
             msg.append(DesignModelError._object_to_markdown(self.model.query_filter, indentation=f"{indentation}    "))
+        elif self.query_filter:
+            msg.append(DesignModelError._object_to_markdown(self.query_filter, indentation=f"{indentation}    "))
         else:
             msg.append(DesignModelError._object_to_markdown(self.model.filter, indentation=f"{indentation}    "))
         return "\n".join(msg)
diff --git a/design_builder/ext.py b/design_builder/ext.py
index bc18c959..75b580a3 100644
--- a/design_builder/ext.py
+++ b/design_builder/ext.py
@@ -64,12 +64,12 @@ class Extension(ABC):
     tag matching `tag_name` or `value_name` is encountered.
 
     Args:
-        object_creator (ObjectCreator): The object creator that is implementing the
+        builder (Builder): The object creator that is implementing the
             current design.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, object_creator: "Builder"):  # noqa: D107
-        self.object_creator = object_creator
+    def __init__(self, builder: "Builder"):  # noqa: D107
+        self.builder = builder
 
     def attribute(self, value: Any, model_instance: "ModelInstance") -> None:
         """This method is called when the `attribute_tag` is encountered.
@@ -115,15 +115,15 @@ class ReferenceExtension(Extension):
     stored creator object.
 
     Args:
-        object_creator (ObjectCreator): The object creator that is implementing the
+        builder (Builder): The object creator that is implementing the
             current design.
     """
 
     attribute_tag = "ref"
     value_tag = "ref"
 
-    def __init__(self, object_creator: "Builder"):  # noqa: D107
-        super().__init__(object_creator)
+    def __init__(self, builder: "Builder"):  # noqa: D107
+        super().__init__(builder)
         self._env = {}
 
     def attribute(self, value, model_instance):
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class GitContextExtension(Extension):
     """Provides the "!git_context" attribute extension that will save content to a git repo.
 
     Args:
-        object_creator (ObjectCreator): The object creator that is implementing the
+        builder (Builder): The object creator that is implementing the
             current design.
 
     Example:
@@ -201,14 +201,14 @@ class GitContextExtension(Extension):
 
     attribute_tag = "git_context"
 
-    def __init__(self, object_creator: "Builder"):  # noqa: D107
-        super().__init__(object_creator)
+    def __init__(self, builder: "Builder"):  # noqa: D107
+        super().__init__(builder)
         self._env = {
             "files": [],
             "directories": [],
         }
         slug = DesignBuilderConfig.context_repository
-        self.context_repo = GitRepo(slug, object_creator.job_result)
+        self.context_repo = GitRepo(slug, builder.job_result)
 
     def attribute(self, value, model_instance):
         """Provide the attribute tag functionality for git_context.
diff --git a/design_builder/jinja2.py b/design_builder/jinja2.py
index ad559409..a92733d1 100644
--- a/design_builder/jinja2.py
+++ b/design_builder/jinja2.py
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ def parse(self, parser):
         args = [nodes.TemplateData(whitespace)]
         return nodes.CallBlock(self.call_method("_indent_support", args), [], [], body).set_lineno(lineno)
 
-    def _indent_support(self, indentation, caller):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use
+    @staticmethod
+    def _indent_support(indentation, caller):
         """Perform the block indentation.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/design_builder/tests/__init__.py b/design_builder/tests/__init__.py
index b2d17b00..43e5b3bd 100644
--- a/design_builder/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/design_builder/tests/__init__.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         git_instance_mock.return_value.path = self.git_path
         self.git_mock.side_effect = git_instance_mock
 
-    def get_mocked_job(self, design_class: Type[DesignJob]):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use
+    def get_mocked_job(self, design_class: Type[DesignJob]):
         """Create an instance of design_class and properly mock request and job_result for testing."""
         job = design_class()
         job.job_result = mock.Mock()
diff --git a/design_builder/tests/test_errors.py b/design_builder/tests/test_errors.py
index 6f0bfeb5..37fc7243 100644
--- a/design_builder/tests/test_errors.py
+++ b/design_builder/tests/test_errors.py
@@ -54,6 +54,14 @@ def test_path_str_ancestors(self):
         got = DesignModelError(child).path_str
         self.assertEqual(want, got)
 
+    def test_explicit_parent(self):
+        want = ("        ", "- Verbose name instance grandparent\n    - Verbose name instance parent")
+        grandparent = self.TestModel("instance grandparent")
+        parent = self.TestModel("instance parent", parent=grandparent)
+        child = "instance child"
+        got = DesignModelError(child, parent=parent).path_str
+        self.assertEqual(want, got)
+
 
 class TestDesignValidationError(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_single_string(self):
diff --git a/design_builder/tests/test_ext.py b/design_builder/tests/test_ext.py
index 46115d34..dcf093cb 100644
--- a/design_builder/tests/test_ext.py
+++ b/design_builder/tests/test_ext.py
@@ -4,13 +4,12 @@
 
 from django.test import TestCase
 
-from nautobot.dcim.models import Interface, DeviceType
+from nautobot.dcim.models import DeviceType
 
 from design_builder import ext
-from design_builder.contrib.ext import LookupExtension, CableConnectionExtension
+from design_builder.contrib.ext import LookupExtension
 from design_builder.design import Builder
 from design_builder.ext import DesignImplementationError
-from design_builder.util import nautobot_version
 
 
 class Extension(ext.Extension):
@@ -83,100 +82,3 @@ def test_lookup_by_single_attribute(self):
         builder.implement_design(design, commit=True)
         device_type = DeviceType.objects.get(model="model")
         self.assertEqual("Manufacturer", device_type.manufacturer.name)
-
-
-class TestCableConnectionExtension(TestCase):
-    def test_connect_cable(self):
-        design_template_v1 = """
-        sites:
-          - name: "Site"
-            status__name: "Active"
-        device_roles:
-          - name: "test-role"
-        manufacturers:
-          - name: "test-manufacturer"
-        device_types:
-          - manufacturer__name: "test-manufacturer"
-            model: "test-type"
-        devices:
-            - name: "Device 1"
-              "!ref": "device1"
-              site__name: "Site"
-              status__name: "Active"
-              device_role__name: "test-role"
-              device_type__model: "test-type"
-              interfaces:
-                - name: "GigabitEthernet1"
-                  type: "1000base-t"
-                  status__name: "Active"
-            - name: "Device 2"
-              site__name: "Site"
-              status__name: "Active"
-              device_role__name: "test-role"
-              device_type__model: "test-type"
-              interfaces:
-                - name: "GigabitEthernet1"
-                  type: "1000base-t"
-                  status__name: "Active"
-                  "!connect_cable":
-                    status__name: "Planned"
-                    device: "!ref:device1"
-                    name: "GigabitEthernet1"
-        """
-
-        design_template_v2 = """
-        location_types:
-          - name: "Site"
-            content_types:
-                - "!get:app_label": "dcim"
-                  "!get:model": "device"
-        locations:
-          - location_type__name: "Site"
-            name: "Site"
-            status__name: "Active"
-        roles:
-          - name: "test-role"
-            content_types:
-                - "!get:app_label": "dcim"
-                  "!get:model": "device"
-        manufacturers:
-          - name: "test-manufacturer"
-        device_types:
-          - manufacturer__name: "test-manufacturer"
-            model: "test-type"
-        devices:
-            - name: "Device 1"
-              "!ref": "device1"
-              location__name: "Site"
-              status__name: "Active"
-              role__name: "test-role"
-              device_type__model: "test-type"
-              interfaces:
-                - name: "GigabitEthernet1"
-                  type: "1000base-t"
-                  status__name: "Active"
-            - name: "Device 2"
-              location__name: "Site"
-              status__name: "Active"
-              role__name: "test-role"
-              device_type__model: "test-type"
-              interfaces:
-                - name: "GigabitEthernet1"
-                  type: "1000base-t"
-                  status__name: "Active"
-                  "!connect_cable":
-                    status__name: "Planned"
-                    device: "!ref:device1"
-                    name: "GigabitEthernet1"
-        """
-
-        if nautobot_version < "2.0.0":
-            design = yaml.safe_load(design_template_v1)
-        else:
-            design = yaml.safe_load(design_template_v2)
-
-        builder = Builder(extensions=[CableConnectionExtension])
-        builder.implement_design(design, commit=True)
-        interfaces = Interface.objects.all()
-        self.assertEqual(2, len(interfaces))
-        self.assertEqual(interfaces[0].connected_endpoint, interfaces[1])
diff --git a/development/development.env b/development/development.env
index a082a5eb..b572472e 100644
--- a/development/development.env
+++ b/development/development.env
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ NAUTOBOT_LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG
 NAUTOBOT_METRICS_ENABLED=True
 NAUTOBOT_NAPALM_TIMEOUT=5
 NAUTOBOT_MAX_PAGE_SIZE=0
+NAUTOBOT_INSTALLATION_METRICS_ENABLED = False
 
 # Redis Configuration Environment Variables
 NAUTOBOT_REDIS_HOST=redis
@@ -43,4 +44,4 @@ MYSQL_ROOT_HOST=%
 DESIGN_BUILDER_GIT_SERVER=http://git-server.local:3000
 DESIGN_BUILDER_CONTEXT_REPO_SLUG=config-contexts
 DESIGN_BUILDER_CONTEXT_REPO=config-contexts.git
-DESIGN_BUILDER_DESIGN_REPO=designs.git
\ No newline at end of file
+DESIGN_BUILDER_DESIGN_REPO=designs.git
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 12ffbc7b..93fc2ce5 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "design-builder"
-version = "0.2.1"
+version = "0.3.0"
 description = "A plugin that uses design templates to easily create data objects in Nautobot with minimal input from a user."
 authors = ["Network to Code, LLC <info@networktocode.com>"]
 readme = "README.md"
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@ no-docstring-rgx="^(_|test_|Test|Meta$)"
 # Pylint and Black disagree about how to format multi-line arrays; Black wins.
 disable = """,
     line-too-long,
-    bad-continuation,
     duplicate-code,
     too-many-lines,
     too-many-ancestors,