Our Process

After we take note of your information, we will schedule a time to come to your home & meet with you (typically within 1-2 weeks from the initial phone conversation) & send an email confirmation that tells a little bit more about our company & what to expect.

We are available via phone or e-mail to meet in person, at which point we discuss the overall, basic scope of your project. We like to hear about your home, your project ideas, what kind of vision you have for the finished result & how much you expect to invest in the project.

The purpose of this complimentary consultation is to view the work area & obtain a visual of existing conditions & how they relate to what you would like to do. If possible, please have pictures & ideas of the style you would like to achieve. We ask you to describe the way you envision using the space daily, the overall feeling you want to acquire in the new space, & what you don’t want to change or preserve in the new rooms.

This brainstorming session with you typically brings out broad outlines & small details. We can offer new ideas after we see the space in person. We will take measurements & pictures of the existing home & leave you with an idea of your goals, budget & timeline. At the end of this meeting, we will also discuss the next steps & which design fees would apply should you decide you want us to move forward with designing your project. Each project has a specified Design Fee for Phase One & Phase Two plans by the complexity that comes with each design size & type of remodeling project.

Why sign the Design Authorization Form?

You will need a full set of working drawings to pull a permit & complete construction. Should you decide not to have us perform the construction, the designs (which are necessary for obtaining comparable bids from contractors & obtaining permits from the city or engineering review) are yours to keep & our professional time invested into your project has therefore been compensated.

The Design Authorization Form helps you know that we are just as serious as you are in moving forward with detailed, well-thought-out plans & view your project as an important step in the growth of our relationship together.

After receiving the signed Design Authorization Form & payment, we will come to your home to present you with an existing plan & a few proposed drawings. This initial set of plans is what we call Phase One of the design process. This first set of basic plans shows our company’s attention to detail & commitment to creating a design that fits your specific needs & desires. The initial drawing is what brings an abstract idea to a tangible beginning of your project by letting you visualize the possibilities. The Phase One design includes existing & proposed plan(s)/room layout(s); & various options when applicable. After we present the Phase One plans, some clients take time to review the various possibilities before meeting with us again to finalize Phase One. If necessary, we then make one set of minor revisions to the Phase One plans.

Once the above phase is approved, we move to Phase Two of the design process. (Design Authorization Form) These working drawings may include detailed plans with trade notes, dimensions, structural details, finish details, electrical notes, mechanical notes, interior/exterior elevations & structural sections where applicable. All trades need these to put together a fixed-cost price. Phase Two may include one set of minor revisions, if necessary.

We strongly suggest that you begin choosing flooring materials, plumbing fixtures, appliances, or other aspects of the finished work at this stage of the process. Once you approve a final set of plans, you will take a copy of these with you to make selections. This is done by visiting showrooms from a list that we send you. Here you can check out samples to take home and compare to others that we bring to you. Making your selections at this point ensures that you can take your time in deciding what is out there that fits within your budget & the vision you see for your home while allowing us to define the firm project costs. Doing this also helps expedite your construction timeline when you are ready to proceed.

While the plans will specify materials, some clients prefer our assistance in the actual detailed selection process at showrooms or on-site. That interior design consulting (Interior Design Form) is charged at an additional hourly rate. Services may then include: material, fixture, color, brand, size, & finish recommendations.

After you approve the Phase Two working drawings, we then put together detailed cost specifications (Description of Work) & a contract. The cost specifications (Description of Work) are broken down by each trade, such as drywall, insulation, flooring, etc. & reflect the scope of included & excluded work, optional upgrades, allowances & their associated costs. These are typically listed in the order of construction so that it is easy for you to follow throughout the project.

The contract payment draws are based upon the detailed cost specifications (Description of Work) & are billed upon completion of various stages of work & inspections. We develop a realistic timeline for you to follow throughout the project, giving you expectation deadlines & accommodating your personal schedule & holidays. We pull the permit, order the materials, & prepare for the job to start. We will not start demolition until the major material/fixture selections have been finalized.

During the entire process, we encourage you to ask questions, as we are here to help. We want your finished project to be what you envisioned, down to the last detail, while we execute it with set deadlines, clear communication & daily organization.

Our crews & sub-contractors are not only top in the business, but you’ll also find them personable, professional, & helpful. We know them well, as we have been working with some of them for many years & trust the quality they bring to the job & respect they give to our clients. There will be specified on-site meetings with you during different phases of the construction. We pull all required Mechanical & Building Permits, & meet the city inspectors to make sure that work is progressing properly & in accordance with current building codes.

We are continually in contact with you throughout the project by email, phone & in-person meetings regarding selections, scheduling, & various updates. Respecting your property, family & lifestyle, being organized, meeting timelines, & continually communicating with you is of primary importance to us.

We would like to assure you that Change Orders are a natural part of the process & are necessary to record decisions you make throughout the project that add to, or deduct from, the contract pricing or simply verify the selections. Sometimes it is hard to envision a space when it’s on paper. When it is built during construction, it is easier to see, and then you may decide to add something or take something out. Change orders allow for the natural human right to change your mind & verify that you will be getting what you want in your project.

At this point, some clients take advantage of our industry discounts & professional Interior Design services. That interior design consulting (Interior Design Form) is charged at an additional hourly rate. We arrange to shop for, or with, you either online or on location, for furniture, artwork, floor coverings & other home décor to further complete your new space(s)!