Well Designed, Finely Crafted

The first element of a successful remodeling project is a beautiful and functional design, the second, fine craftsmanship. An innovative well tailored design will result in a space that delights the senses with its beauty and livability. You should expect nothing less from your designer or architect. Above all, this requires good communication between designer and client. When interviewing potential designers whether independent or part of a design-build firm, pay close attention to their communication skills. Ask to see examples of their work and to talk to references. Find out if their clients received all they had hoped for. Did the designer meet or exceed their expectations? It’s the designers role to draw out the clients needs, desires and tastes and then tailor the design to meet those requirements. You don’t have to know how to achieve the results you want. That’s why you hire a professional designer.

Once you have the design, the next step is to finely craft the components of that design. That’s where the build team comes in. A good reliable general contractor with an established track record is vital. He/she will have a team of well qualified trades people ready to craft your project. Once again seeing their projects and checking references is important. Further on, I will give a list of recommended questions to ask of references. Keep in mind that skilled and experienced crafts people demand higher wages than less skilled inexperienced labor. Therefore choosing a contractor or any other professional primarily on the basis of price is against your best interest. There’s an old saying, “It’s the cheap person that spends the most money”. That’s especially true of remodeling. More on that later.

To sum up, I can best say it this way: You can have the finest design, poorly crafted and you won’t be happy with the result, or you can have the finest craftsmanship but if it’s a poor design you won’t be happy. A well designed, finely crafted project will give you the results you desire.