The porch ceiling is up! We chose to go with vertical grain fir tongue and groove boards. Now, we’re not typically ones to geek out on grain patterns, but these boards are. gorgeous. We still need to apply the finish, but wanted to get them up so we could continue trimming out the rest of the space. […]
According to the chezerbey master plan, the kitchen (and the rest of the main floor) is the project of 2010. The design is done and our goal for the next 6 months or so is to finalize materials, products, and all the nitty-gritty details that will ideally ensure a smooth(ish) construction process. One of the biggest […]
One of the things that attracted us to our house was its inherent simplicity. Despite its cosmetic lacking, the overall form had not been botched too much over the years. Living in Seattle we’ve also come to realize the importance of an entry space, somewhere to unload muddy shoes and rain gear as well as serving […]
The remaining task for 2009 is to finish the interior of the front porch/mudroom. First, we need to insulate the vaulted ceiling and install the vertical grain fir tongue and groove boards. We’ll also put up the rest of the cedar siding on the “exterior wall” portion and install the interior light. That’s our goal for this weekend and next week. […]
A few people have asked about various materials used on our recent exterior project so we put together a synopsis of the main elements and how they were treated or finished. This project was a lot of work and we don’t want to think about maintenance anytime soon, so we paid careful attention to selecting and […]
An architect is a qualified professional that not only designs your home or remodel but acts as your advocate throughout the entire process. A good architect will listen, they’ll be honest about how much things cost and how long things take and they’ll use their years of expertise to navigate an onerous permitting process, help vet potential contractors and be there for you during construction. If you don’t have an architect, that work is either done by you or the builder and compromises and sacrifices will inevitably happen.
This depends largely on the size and scope of the project and where you’re located. In some jurisdictions it’s easy and straightforward to get a permit, in others it can take 6 months to a year or longer. We usually advise clients to budget 3 -6 months for design for smaller projects and 12 months for larger projects. Permitting timelines can extend those estimates. Construction can take 4-6 months for small remodels or 16-18 months for custom homes.
Absolutely! We love to see what clients like (or don’t like!) and we’re used to gleaning the important info from all sorts of media – photos, sketches, diagrams – we’ve seen it all!
Maybe – this really depends on the housing market and how much time you have before you make an offer. It also depends on the property itself. If you’re looking at a house with a steep slope, we may advise that a geotechnical and structural engineer make their own evaluation. This can add more time based on people’s ability. We can usually make some basic recommendations based on our knowledge of the local codes, but it’s not a replacement for a more thorough feasibility study. If possible, we usually recommend that people make an offer contingent on a more thorough analysis. What we don’t want to do is give you a rosier outlook only to find that there were some unexpected issues with the property.
Depending on the scope of the project, phasing can be a practical approach. However, we usually advise that homeowners do everything in one phase if possible – this not only takes less time but simplifies the permitting process and is a more appealing process to contractors. When you phase a project, you have repeat mobilization costs that create a more expensive project in the end than doing it all at once. We’re happy to talk through phasing options though as each project is unique and sometimes it does make sense.
Yes! For us, interior design is an integral part of our process. We enjoy working with homeowners to think about their homes holistically and have extensive experience in all aspects of the design process.
In our experience, successful projects have homeowners that are engaged but trust us and the process. They ask questions and are clear communicators. They make timely decisions and speak up if something doesn’t feel right. They’re transparent about budget and schedule constraints so there aren’t missed expectations.
Say hello. Tell us about your project.