My job is to take the uncertainty & stress out of the planning & building of your new space. I am your partner & collaborator. I help you with your vision & explain to you the process & options. I am responsible for the technical details. Often a client will start with tile or fixtures – if you think that is overwhelming, imagine how the load increases when you add measurements, planning, specifying & installation! When I take on that responsibility we all avoid spendy mistakes, & you are free to dream, while I handle the details.
We will schedule an appointment & then I will gauge what the project entails; your style, budget & the scope of the work. The first meeting is a consultation – I offer my perspective & potential solutions which can include sketches.
It is a little like dating! You & I must be a good fit. If you don’t feel I share your vision, look somewhere else. In addition, not every project is a good fit for me. If you're just looking for a counter top or flooring, for example, I would probably refer you to a showroom.
Our interview will include the following questions:
- Have you designed/built/remodeled before?
- What do you like/dislike about your space?
- What space and amenities do you need/want that you don't currently have?
- What is your general style—contemporary, traditional, or eclectic? What is the style of your home?
- What are some of the styles and products that you like, either in the showroom or that you’ve seen on the Internet, in publications, or elsewhere? Pictures are the greatest shortcut there is!
- Do you have an idea of how much you want to spend?
- When do you want the new space to be ready?
If you want to proceed I will draw up a scope of work as part of a Letter of Agreement. My fees will be included in a range and I will collect a retainer to get started. Next I will:
- Visit your home to take measurements.
- Create design plans that contain both a "plan view" (looking from the ceiling down) & "elevations" (looking straight on). Plans will include locations of doors & windows. You can't get prices for the work without a complete plan.
- Plumbing, electrical & lighting plans.
- Help with the selection of appliances, fixtures & finishes such as counter tops, tile & flooring.
- Create a detailed set of specifications.
- Order products & materials (optional)
- Coordinate bids.
- Suggest contractors.
- Oversee the installation & placement of the cabinets and other design elements.
I am trained to execute the technical aspects as well as offer practical experience that may be outside your sphere. For instance, knowing that the walls in vintage homes are lathe & plaster and the electrical may be knob & tube – vital information that affects the costs of the contractor. Or you might think an island is not feasible, for example, but you can’t quite figure out how it can fit so you decide to go without it. Because of my experience with similar kitchens and my training, I might be able to reconfigure the space to accommodate it.
Some things to think about:
- Be prepared to change your mind! You will learn things you didn’t know especially about cost – & real time-frames.
- Be prepared to change your tastes. My job is to bring you a fresh perspective and my knowledge – play with ideas.
- Take your time. Nothing about this process is fast, from design to completion. The more legwork and study you do, the better (and less expensive) it will be in the end.
- Put function over form. If the kitchen doesn't work well for you, you won't care how pretty it is when you have to walk 20 feet to put your dishes away.
- Expect to get several drafts of a plan. This process is to get to the best – not fastest – solution!
- Once you have a plan, don’t second-guess it. Every change - even a minor one - is an expense and a delay.
- Trust me & the process! When your project is being built – remember that we designed it & questions should come to us about details and execution. That way our vision is intact and executed to perfection!
