What is the most common barrier to any home renovation? It is called “doubt” and inaction.
Several of our clients have gone through this figure-figure state of mind for years, trying to plan their home remodels. They know that they need it, but somehow never start. We’ve had clients state that the project started 5 years ago, but what they really mean is that they started thinking about it and making hesitant moves towards it 5 summers ago, resulting in nothing but an intention and a shared Pinterest board.
Here’s the thing, Design is meant to solve that for you. A good designer should be able to understand your needs and serve as a stable person that you can consult on ideas, resources and the project that you need and want. Good design is not only about the looks and functionality, but about speed. Dragging a decision like this kills the momentum behind the project and something that you once wanted becomes an attention sucker and raised construction prices.
This was the case when we received the phone call for this project, a waterfront residence on Davis Islands. The client had a crazy timeline that almost no firms would take or even consider doing.
The conversation started like this: Hey, you were recommended by our cabinet supplier and he said that you could help us out… - sure, when are you planning to start?…
The unexpected answer: well, demolition starts in 5 days so we’d have to have everything ready in no more than 2 weeks to get it going. And sure thing, we knew that if someone could help them it was us.
Let’s put this into perspective; in order to deliver this project we’d have to make the site visit, scan the whole house, 3D model it, make the as-built floor plans, while understanding the challenge, designing the solutions and representing everything in proposed floor plans, 3D diagrams, interior details and renderings in only 10 work days. At that time we had another 14 projects running, but hey, this is (or was) Tom Brady’s neighbor so let’s give it a shot.
(Click to expand).
And it started. There was no margin for error, no having design meetings and no waiting for the inspiration to arrive. We had to nail it. The main problem that they were trying to solve was about where to display their (all around the world) art collection, but the vision was to have a clean and modern space. Wow, talk about opposite statements.
On any project this is where your world starts and ends, the Ying and the Yang that creates that hesitation if handled incorrectly. The husband says one thing and the wife another thing, and just having 2 opposite concepts the project goes astray. Design will be your “3rd” and will align both your problems and your vision. No more direct opposites and it goes well.
(Wine cellar).
(Concept rendering).
(Wall framing).
(Arie Levy and Ron from Ron Francis Fine Art by the completed wall and flooring).
I’m happy to say that the project was delivered in 8 business days and the result was beyond what they expected it to be in such a short notice. Unique design elements were created and built, experts were called and the project ended up in a clinking sound out of the custom wine cellar space.
And of course we could never have done this without a great team both inside and outside of our company.
If in doubt about your project just start.