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m_and_d_in_fl
Joined: 09 Sep 2007
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: How to get started? |
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Hi. I'm hoping you can recommend to us how to get started on our first ever remodeling project.
We have a 2 bed/2 bath home with each bedroom having a private bath. (Interestingly, both bedrooms are identical size - there is no Master Bedroom. But that is another subject...)
We want to remodel one bath to reposition the entrance to be from the living room instead of from within the bedroom. We also plan to repurpose another room into a bedroom so that the two children can each have their own bedroom. Redesigning the bathroom will both children to access the bathroom from the living room.
Like most families, we have a limited budget but fully realize that we need professional help for this job.
My question is: Who should we look for first? Do we first turn to an interior designer...or an architect...or a contractor...or who?
Thanks,
Dianne |
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Pragyana D Mehrotra
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:51 am Post subject: |
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Hi m_and_d_in_fl,
To start, you have to enjoy what you are doing, and have a lot of patience. There are no definite rules in the game of remodelling and one can be overwhelmed by the choices.
I think the right place to start is with the architect, 'cause an architect has understanding of what can or can not be done structurally, plus even if the architect does not do Interior projects, he/she will definately have a better control and understanding of spaces, just by virtue of being trained that way.
Have fun! |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 525
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:19 am Post subject: |
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Being an architect - I am basised and will tell you to work with an architect.
Contractors are mechanics. They wear toolbelts and are the people you want to construct things, but they aren't designers. They understand how to assemble the components necessary to complete the project. Their biggest assest should be the ability to schedule their subcontractors, manage your construction budget, and so on. They are strictly interested in profit and getting your job. They don't care (speaking in broad general terms) about whether the bathroom should open up in the living room or not. Whether the flow of the house is right or wrong. You want a new door here.... yep we can do that.... who cares if everytime some goes to the toilet its a public annoucement 
Interior designers are just that. They are not trained in structural issues (nether are contractors - that's another story) or construction issues. They are concerned with interior finishes and appointments. Furniture selection, placement, wall and floor treatments, paint colors..... not to wrap every interior designer in that mold, but that is the bulk of interior designers/decorators. Just for the record, there are a few interior designers we direct clients to for assistance. They have very good taste and really know how to assist the homeowner in furniture selection, color selections, and so on. They typically make their money selling furniture and doing installs of paint, carpet, window treatments and so on. Sort of half designer/half contractor.
You can hire an architect to assist you and the level of services you obtain will be based on your design budget. You need to find a small firm or a single person firm who does residential work. Call around, other architects know who does this type of work in your area. For example, we recently assisted a homeowner who want to rework the bedrooms and bath as you are alluding. The work was quick and we provided a simple single sheet drawing to guide the work. It wasn't a complete set of drawings, but enough to get a permit and for the homeowner to manage this small project themselves. We worked on an hourly basis not to exceed and our fee was under $1,000. |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1744
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: |
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Well I agree with the previous posts but I guess it depends on your particular situation. If you are sure you know what you want to do than just get a builder. If you want to hear about ideas and options talk to an architect or home designer (not interior designer)
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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m_and_d_in_fl
Joined: 09 Sep 2007
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for your replies!
Pragyana, thank you for your reminders to enjoy the project. I can see how easy it can become a source of frustration.
Phansford, your explanations were very easy to follow and helped clear up the distinctions between the different skill sets. I can certainly see the advantage in getting the professional skills of an architect...I'm just not sure we can afford to hire one.  Remember, I am new at this and so am going to be easily sticker-shocked by the whole process.
And csintexas, you helped me to see that there may not be any one right answer since it depends on the situation at hand. (I drive my husband nuts because I want to do "the right thing" even when many things could be "right things.") Also, what is a "home designer"?
Now a couple more questions:
When you were in school, did your courses ever include real-life projects like this? Would there be any value if I contacted the local college, university, and/or tech schools and offered our design questions as a "practice case" for the students? (Their opinions might help us see options that we hadn't been considering yet.) Or is that just a lame-brain thought?
Also, if we hire an architect, will he/she likely come to our house to look at everything personally or will he/she be doing the work based on the photographs and measurements we supply? Is that initial consultation typically a per-hour charge or is it included in the contracted services? And are there any architect associations/websites to help us find an architect in our area for a small project like this?
Thanks,
Dianne |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 525
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:00 am Post subject: |
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| m_and_d_in_fl wrote: | | what is a "home designer"? |
A person who is not a licensed architect. They could be someone who went through 5 years of architecture school and never got licensed. They could have a 2 yr. degree from a local community college. They could have no formal education. Most states do not require you to be licensed to design single family residences.
The entire "residential designer" v. licensed architect can be a dicey discussion. Some residential designers are good and some are not. With architects, you know there is a minimum standard of knowledge they have to demonstrate to pass the Registration Exam. Plus most states require continuing education to maintain licensure. More of that kind of discussion can be found else where in this forum. Let's not go there.
Most architects do not venture into residential design, but we are out there. There are big national firms doing residential and small local firms.
| m_and_d_in_fl wrote: | | When you were in school, did your courses ever include real-life projects like this? Would there be any value if I contacted the local college, university, and/or tech schools and offered our design questions as a "practice case" for the students? (Their opinions might help us see options that we hadn't been considering yet.) Or is that just a lame-brain thought? |
Yes - in architecture school we had some "real" life clients, but the projects were never going to be built. Miami University (Ohio) has a community outreach program. It provides "design services" typically to non-profits or public entities to show possible solutions. Such as .... urban infill projects for a local urban design center, or housing in urban areas, a small rural church, and so on. You have to have a project that a professor would be interested in pursuing as a class assignement. One of my classes designed housing for Louisville KY and another designed infill buildings in Cincinnati. That particular professor has now developed an outreach center in Cincinnati .
Are they going to look at your bathroom renovation....... highly unlikely.
Same goes for the technical schools. The carpentry class is not going to come to a private home and make improvements to your property. Non-profit organization, yes. Private homeowner..... Highly unlikely.
| m_and_d_in_fl wrote: | | Also, if we hire an architect, will he/she likely come to our house to look at everything personally or will he/she be doing the work based on the photographs and measurements we supply? Is that initial consultation typically a per-hour charge or is it included in the contracted services? And are there any architect associations/websites to help us find an architect in our area for a small project like this? |
I personally come to your house.... some architects won't. If someone only wants to photos and measurements and you want them to come to your house, then do not engage their serivces. If I am asked to come to a house and provide consultation on a project and the client only needs our opinions on a desgin matter, I charge an hourly consultation rate - typically higher than my normal hourly rate. If the project is larger and will involve more time than an hour or two, I don't charge and consider it marketing.
In other words, I provide hourly consultation to full services for the residential side of my practice. What I described in my early post was a limited service we did for a family who is intending to do lots of the work themselves? I think I gave them a range of 12 to 16 hours @ $75 per hour. You need to contact some of the architects in your area. They will know the local architects who are experienced in residential design and can refer you. They might also know a residential designer in the area suited to your project and budget.
Currently I am redesigning four bathrooms in a house for a standing client. I think my fee comes out to about $300 per toilet room. This is mostly a project of new finishes and replacing fixutres in location. The Builder is a known factor (he has worked on my projects for nearly 20 years) and needs little direction.
Then we have projects were our fees are over $10K for large remodel projects. Go figure.
My point being is not to be hired by you to do your project..... you have to be local to do these small projects and still be profitable..... but to assure you that you can obtain professional assistance with your project. You just need to know your design budget and your construction budget. The services you contract will be equal to your design budget.
You mentioned earlier about sticker shock. That seems to be the case on a lot of residential projects. You need to talk to a contractor eventually who can give you some solid cost information. Start with your architect (or residential designer) then ask them to direct you to a contractor they trust and you can start to get a feeling for the project cost. Costs vary from state to state so me telling you a bath reno can cost $7,500 isn't going to help you if you live in LA and the cost there for the same work is $15,000.
Hope that helps..... Oh, and good luck.  |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1744
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:30 am Post subject: |
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That pretty well summed it up, the only thing I might add is that there is value in good design.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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m_and_d_in_fl
Joined: 09 Sep 2007
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:58 am Post subject: |
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Thank you so much. Your comments have truly been valuable!! We now have a lot to think about...
Dianne |
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