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It took way longer than expected, but the bathroom art project is finally done! [Which means the bathroom is finally DONE!] Inspired by a post on Apartment Therapy last fall, we put together a little project constructed of “on site”, post-consumer recycled content. First we waited several weeks until we had used, collected enough material. Then […]
Three months ago we purchased a box of Vida cork flooring and installed a test piece in our bedroom. We soon moved the test area (3′ wide by 5′ long) to the kitchen to be sure it received not only paw traffic but foot traffic as well. The results? We’re sold! It’s hard to tell from the […]
Despite our cloudy winter skies, I went ahead and took a few more exterior shots to add to our “after” pile. [You can also find them on the exterior page as part of the overall start to finish process.] And a few new detail shots… I never thought I’d love the aesthetics of a dryer vent so much. […]
While our style is certainly modern, we’re not crazy about uber minimalistic kitchens that look like they’ve never been used. To us, there is a balance between simplicity and the use of light, color, texture and layers to make a space feel comfortable and inviting. For the kitchen, I have always been drawn to the […]
This week we have focused our energy on a few different things… 1. Finishing the bathroom art project (we’re getting there!) 2. Making progress on the porch (the ceiling is finally finished!) 3. Creating a master budget spreadsheet for the 2010 project. We have used spreadsheets in the past to help determine quantities of materials and compare […]
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.