‘Collaboration Pays Off’ and More Tips From Design Pros
Design and building professionals share insights gained from recent renovation projects
Even if you think you’re doing your due diligence when it comes to planning a project, something will eventually slip through the cracks. But viewing these slips as learning moments will help solidify your process for future projects. And learning from other design pros on what to look out for can help build up your arsenal of preparedness and minimize mistakes, however minor. Here, six design professionals share their learning experiences from recent renovations.
2. Be Flexible and Partner With Reliable Vendors
Designer: Ashley Martin of Ashley Martin Home
Location: Lake Oconee, Georgia
Project size: 162½ square feet (15 square meters); 12½ by 13 feet
The project. For this new-construction home, the owners wanted a guest room that could fit a king-size bed and feel warm, inviting and fresh to visitors.
The insight. “Flexibility,” designer Ashley Martin says. “Oftentimes an original design has to be altered because of back orders or time lines or last-minute client requests or a variety of other factors, so it’s extremely important to be able to move as quickly as the need arises and to be partnered with strong vendors who can accommodate change.”
Designer: Ashley Martin of Ashley Martin Home
Location: Lake Oconee, Georgia
Project size: 162½ square feet (15 square meters); 12½ by 13 feet
The project. For this new-construction home, the owners wanted a guest room that could fit a king-size bed and feel warm, inviting and fresh to visitors.
The insight. “Flexibility,” designer Ashley Martin says. “Oftentimes an original design has to be altered because of back orders or time lines or last-minute client requests or a variety of other factors, so it’s extremely important to be able to move as quickly as the need arises and to be partnered with strong vendors who can accommodate change.”
3. Be Willing to Push Your Clients, Even if Just a Little Bit
Designer: Lisa Price of Jackson Design Build
Location: Seattle
Project size: 58 square feet (5.4 square meters); 5½ by 10½ feet
The project. “To respect the budget, the bath needed to stay within the existing footprint,” designer Lisa Price says. “The fixtures were relocated to create enough space for two people to be in the bath at the same time and to hide the toilet from view. As this is the only bath in the house currently, and with a baby on the way, they were clear they wanted to keep the shower-tub combo. Having a shower-tub combo is also very much in keeping with the era of the home, which was built in the 1920s.”
The insight. “Always push your clients past their comfort, even if just a bit,” Price says. “Allow time for the clients to sit with those suggestions. Even though sitting through those awkward silences can be difficult, it is vitally important.”
Designer: Lisa Price of Jackson Design Build
Location: Seattle
Project size: 58 square feet (5.4 square meters); 5½ by 10½ feet
The project. “To respect the budget, the bath needed to stay within the existing footprint,” designer Lisa Price says. “The fixtures were relocated to create enough space for two people to be in the bath at the same time and to hide the toilet from view. As this is the only bath in the house currently, and with a baby on the way, they were clear they wanted to keep the shower-tub combo. Having a shower-tub combo is also very much in keeping with the era of the home, which was built in the 1920s.”
The insight. “Always push your clients past their comfort, even if just a bit,” Price says. “Allow time for the clients to sit with those suggestions. Even though sitting through those awkward silences can be difficult, it is vitally important.”
4. Weigh Cost Against Perfection
Designer: Jane-Marie Bloomberg of Embellishments Design Studio
General contractor: Pheasant Run Construction
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Project size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
The project. “The homeowner wanted to modernize the original 1950s bathroom yet still keep it functional for bathing small children,” designer Jane-Marie Bloomberg says. “Due to the size limitations of the bathroom — distance of sink from door, space between toilet and tub — she felt limited in the ways to maximize storage yet still keep some of the original character of the space. This bathroom was the only one in the home with a tub, so it was important to keep that functionality. However, an unsightly shower rod fought with the sloped ceiling and made the room feel even smaller.”
The insight. “I learned that even though there is the perfect answer for a project, the cost may be so prohibitive that it makes sense to provide a different solution,” Bloomberg says.
Designer: Jane-Marie Bloomberg of Embellishments Design Studio
General contractor: Pheasant Run Construction
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Project size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
The project. “The homeowner wanted to modernize the original 1950s bathroom yet still keep it functional for bathing small children,” designer Jane-Marie Bloomberg says. “Due to the size limitations of the bathroom — distance of sink from door, space between toilet and tub — she felt limited in the ways to maximize storage yet still keep some of the original character of the space. This bathroom was the only one in the home with a tub, so it was important to keep that functionality. However, an unsightly shower rod fought with the sloped ceiling and made the room feel even smaller.”
The insight. “I learned that even though there is the perfect answer for a project, the cost may be so prohibitive that it makes sense to provide a different solution,” Bloomberg says.
5. Plan for Lots of Surprises When Dealing With Historic Structures
Designers: Marla Sher Design (interior design) and Justin Pauly Architects
Location: Pebble Beach, California
Project size: 540 square feet (50 square meters); 18 by 30 feet
The project. “If there was a ‘mandate’ for the project, it was to be true to the original design of the house,” architect Justin Pauly says. The residence, which is a listed historic structure, was originally designed in 1926 by Clarence A. Tantau and is considered a prime example of his Spanish Eclectic style, a brand of architecture that permeated much of California’s residential design culture in the early decades of the 20th century. While in need of a significant restoration, the home remained fairly intact, with the exception of a series of minor interior remodels that had been undertaken over the decades.
The insight. “We learned to be patient when dealing with a historic structure,” Pauly says. There were many structural, mechanical and waterproofing issues related to the existing structure that needed to be fixed and would often necessitate delays during construction. Furthermore, sourcing materials and re-creating finishes that were true to the historic nature of the house while also meeting the needs of the current owner often required a lot of work.”
Designers: Marla Sher Design (interior design) and Justin Pauly Architects
Location: Pebble Beach, California
Project size: 540 square feet (50 square meters); 18 by 30 feet
The project. “If there was a ‘mandate’ for the project, it was to be true to the original design of the house,” architect Justin Pauly says. The residence, which is a listed historic structure, was originally designed in 1926 by Clarence A. Tantau and is considered a prime example of his Spanish Eclectic style, a brand of architecture that permeated much of California’s residential design culture in the early decades of the 20th century. While in need of a significant restoration, the home remained fairly intact, with the exception of a series of minor interior remodels that had been undertaken over the decades.
The insight. “We learned to be patient when dealing with a historic structure,” Pauly says. There were many structural, mechanical and waterproofing issues related to the existing structure that needed to be fixed and would often necessitate delays during construction. Furthermore, sourcing materials and re-creating finishes that were true to the historic nature of the house while also meeting the needs of the current owner often required a lot of work.”
6. Explore Design Options During the Planning Stages
Designer: Mary-Beth Oliver of Karen Berkemeyer Home
Location: Rowayton, Connecticut
Project size: 62 square feet (5.8 square meters); 5 feet, 4 inches by 11 feet, 8 inches
The project. Designer Mary-Beth Oliver’s clients wanted a brighter, updated transitional space without relocating the plumbing or moving walls. “The existing vanity console was sitting on a raised platform to hide a plumbing pipe that protruded from the vanity wall,” Oliver says. “This platform needed to be eliminated and the console replaced with a cabinet to create better storage. The homeowner wanted to use white marble in place of the existing ceramic tile to achieve a more ‘master bath’ aesthetic, but we needed to be reasonable with the cost.”
The insight. “My original design had the plumbing controls on the mosaic wall so that the homeowner could turn on the water before stepping into the shower,” Oliver says. “We were not able to achieve this look or function due to plumbing constraints. I would have done an exploratory demo hole during the planning stages prior to finalizing plans. This isn’t always doable, but can answer a lot of questions if done prior.”
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Designer: Mary-Beth Oliver of Karen Berkemeyer Home
Location: Rowayton, Connecticut
Project size: 62 square feet (5.8 square meters); 5 feet, 4 inches by 11 feet, 8 inches
The project. Designer Mary-Beth Oliver’s clients wanted a brighter, updated transitional space without relocating the plumbing or moving walls. “The existing vanity console was sitting on a raised platform to hide a plumbing pipe that protruded from the vanity wall,” Oliver says. “This platform needed to be eliminated and the console replaced with a cabinet to create better storage. The homeowner wanted to use white marble in place of the existing ceramic tile to achieve a more ‘master bath’ aesthetic, but we needed to be reasonable with the cost.”
The insight. “My original design had the plumbing controls on the mosaic wall so that the homeowner could turn on the water before stepping into the shower,” Oliver says. “We were not able to achieve this look or function due to plumbing constraints. I would have done an exploratory demo hole during the planning stages prior to finalizing plans. This isn’t always doable, but can answer a lot of questions if done prior.”
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more articles for home remodeling professionals
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Find out how to join the Houzz Trade Program
Designer: Diana Burton of Drury Design
Location: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Project size: 110½ square feet (10 square meters); 6½ by 17 feet
The project. Designer Diana Burton’s clients requested a spa-inspired, tranquil master bath with a huge walk-in shower. They also wanted a water closet and more counter space. “The solution was to borrow a few feet from the master bedroom in order to enlarge the bath,” Burton says.
The insight. “The most important thing I learned from this project is the value of collaboration,” Burton says. “I had a vision of a floating bench, which I needed lots of help in executing. Our project manager and countertop fabricator worked closely with me and our contractor to ensure that this went off without a hitch. It was so worth the extra effort. The clients love it and it has gotten us a lot of press and generated client interest too.”