Design Development

During the Design Development phase, your project drawings will be revised based on feedback from the schematic designs. We work together narrowing down the overwhelming possibilities in as short a time frame as possible so that you can stay in step with your busy life. Some people are very comfortable shopping online, however in-person showroom visits to touch and experience selections before investing, helps in making the best decisions.

            This phase can seem the slowest because of our excitement and readiness to start. It is common to look and make decisions of this nature for three hours at a time in a showroom before the mental walls come down. It is understandable that some are limited to a shorter amount of time due to tight schedules, physical limitations and simply getting a grasp of the impact their choices may have on their design.

After the material decisions are made, we work with showroom associates to pull together the finer details, parts, and pieces which are key to the function of plumbing and electrical fixtures. We create a detailed list with product information, manuals, and pricing, etc. to share with your general contractor so they can have a guide-book for remodeling your home more smoothly. This information is also incorporated into the next phase of drawings for Pre-Construction. These drawings are a draft of the permit drawings. They include dimension details

With the onset of COVID-19 and shelter-in-place restrictions we have modified how we work in order to stay consistent and meet the needs of our clients. Your designer will reference your inspiration images to create a custom Houzz Ideabook for your project. In order to maintain the privacy of our clients, we name these based on city, style and type of room. Example: “El Cerrito Modern Italianate Kitchen” or “Berkeley Thousand Oaks Craftsman Hall Bath”. Your Designer will flood the ideabook with items such as appliances, plumbing fixtures and other materials. Each week they’ll work with you to narrow these options down, do continued research to fine-tune the styles options and answer questions that come up during your conversations.

We find that materials selection Zoom calls should last no more than about 1.5 hours each as they can be overwhelming. We have decided to schedule materials selections as recurring weekly appointments with you for the best experience possible. In order to maintain some of the touchable portions of selecting materials we order samples on a project basis. Over the years photography has improved the way we see colors online; however, it isn’t a substitute for the real thing.

To reduce buyer’s remorse, we order samples of tile, cabinetry and other items that may be color sensitive. Occasionally these have a cost factor to be considered and reimbursed. To reduce multiple deliveries and exposure, our team will deliver the samples to your door or front porch after giving them a sanitizing wipe.

Client Time Commitment: 1-1.5 Zoom Hours per Week

Approximate Timeline: 4-10 Business Weeks