Process: How We Work
A successful project depends on a great process: careful listening, clear communication, and respect for the project team.
Listen
After an initial phone call or email conversation, we like to start with an in-person visit to your home or property to: meet you, hear about your ideas, and see the space we will be working with. The goal is to understand your project: your vision, your goals, your budget, and the existing home and site. We can also evaluate your ideas against the existing conditions, your budget goals, and regulations to offer an idea of what is possible early on.
Ahead of the visit we do a basic study of zoning and land use regulations that will inform design options. We will evaluate your goals against these regulations early to make sure the ideas we pursue are possible.
If the project seems like a good fit for both of us, we prepare a proposal and contract for design services and offer a timeline for getting started.
Design
An effective design process relies on accurate, thorough documentation of the existing home and site. For remodel work, we measure and photograph the home to create accurate as-built drawings. For new construction, we spend time at the site to understand views, sounds, vegetation, solar exposure, basic topography, access, and all the other factors that will inspire and inform the design.
We also will work to clearly define the project goals. For smaller projects this is a simple conversation, and for larger, more complex projects we work with you to develop a written program that defines the project spaces and relationships. From there, design moves into spatial planning and massing: exploring how spaces relate to each other, to the site, to light and views, and how the home looks at a basic level.
As the design develops you can expect legible floor plans, site diagrams, and 3D imagery showing design ideas. The process is flexible and collaborative: you see options, we discuss how they address your goals, and we adjust to find the best solution. As the design becomes more fully defined, we continue to show you drawings and renderings to clearly illustrate design choices. Specifically, along with more detailed floor plans, you will see detailed renderings showing materials, light, and the overall space. We also create drawings and diagrams to help you understand technical choices.
Throughout the design process, we will have formed a general sense of interior design direction. We offer full interior design services to help with the details. We can work with you to define, select, and track the specific finish selections needed for your project: plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, appliances, flooring, countertops, paint colors, and all of the other finish materials that complete the project. This typically includes: a comprehensive finish schedule shared with your contractor, showroom visits, and guidance on the selection process. Our understanding of the project timeline, budget, and overall design vision informs the process. These services can be shaped to your needs.
Document
Once the design is well-defined, the focus shifts to documentation, where we create the construction documents. These are the detailed, technical drawings that are needed to communicate the design to your contractor and for jurisdictional review. They define precisely how the project will be built, performance targets, and include code language necessary for jurisdictional approvals. As we develop the drawings we coordinate with a structural engineer and other consultants to make sure their design work is aligned with the project.
Permit
We typically submit drawings and manage permitting on your behalf. We have the experience to move efficiently through these reviews. In Portland, most residential contractors work under the FIR program where residential remodels, additions, and similar projects qualify for a streamlined permitting process handled by the contractor with our support. Most jurisdictions outside Portland follow a similar standard process. Additionally, many projects require other jurisdictional reviews such as land use and historic reviews. Early in the process, we can identify any other reviews required and offer an estimate of how long these might take.
Guide
We offer guidance in selecting contractors and throughout construction. We have a reliable network of contractors we can share, and we are always happy to work with new contractors. In both cases we can guide the project through construction on your behalf.
Common construction services include: reviewing bids to make sure the full scope is covered, reviewing contracts, working with you and your contractor to adjust scope or design to manage costs, and site visits. During construction, we can visit the site at critical points to observe progress and overall quality. We help with design changes that come up due to unknown conditions or new information, and review shop drawings to make sure the details are right.
Considering a project?
We usually start with a conversation to see if it's the right fit. If it seems right, we'll arrange a visit to your home or property to learn more.
Discuss Your Project