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Ok, anyone getting tired of framing yet? We didn’t have time to do much during the week, but a rainy weekend turned into a fairly productive two days. 1. The loft framing is done! Here’s a quick stitched-together (and slightly distorted) panoramic photo. Here’s the opposite view looking back into the rest of the […]
Had we not decided to add the loft, I think this week’s post would have shown us finishing up the framing. But alas, that’s not the case. The good news is, we did make some major headway converting the west part of our attic into a cozy 200 SF loft space. 1. First though, we […]
We have some pretty amazing neighbors. Not only did they help paint our house last summer (in the rush to beat the rainy season), but last night Kyle and I came home to this: True, it may be just the same ol’ mulch we’ve been rocking for the last few years…but you should have seen […]
Last week’s to-do list took a bit of a detour from framing, but we still made some good progress. It was definitely one of those weeks where the tasks were more detail-oriented and thus took more time. Also, thanks to our recent decision to add the loft, there was a good deal of thinking, designing […]
There are still a few decisions left to be made, but this is how the kitchen is shaping up in terms of materials and products. And as I sit here in the basement, typing at a vinyl-covered folding table, I cannot wait for this new kitchen to happen!
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.