The Gunther Project: Part 1- What It Takes to Start a Project

Your project is going to be as great as your arsenal, formerly known as a Rolodex, of the specialists you bring in. So when I planned my kitchen slash addition slash bathrooms slash screened porch, I knew the first person I needed in my rolodex would be the very talented and locally famous (did I mention my office is in his building) architect Neal Hoffman, of Hoffman Grayson. My kitchen space is dramatic, with a soaring ceiling, gigantic walls of clutter-free glass, and the exact aura I wanted, because Neal “got me” and created that volume, that structure, that I had in mind. He was able to walk us artfully through the tricky task of getting village approvals and permits. Someone who really understands the idiosyncrasies of the local building department is a requirement for your arsenal. 

If you think a good builder is next, you are half right. If you want to get accurate bids, first you need detailed design plans, so that the contractors are all in line with your to do list. Without a detailed kitchen plan, (or interior design plan for the other rooms), there is far too much room for miscommunication, which leads to inaccurate labor quotes. A good contractor’s bid will give you a detailed list of what is included, and that list is derived not just from verbal convos, but off of a very detailed “schedule” of items on your kitchen / interior design plans. For instance, if you are planning on a wall oven, a steam oven and a rangetop, your plans should reflect that because install cost will be higher than if you are just installing a full range and no wall ovens. A tile backsplash will cost less in product, but more in labor, than a full marble slab. The more detail you can get into your design plans, the more accurate your contractor bids will be.

Lastly, and most importantly 😁 I hired a highly experienced and talented kitchen designer. Oh wait.. that’s me. Humble too. Anyway, you’ve probably seen a picture or two of our work so you get the point. An experienced designer needs to be in your Rolodex.

I imagine if you are planning a reno with or without an addition, you have given lots of though to what the interior should look like. Always plan for the outside too. Long before I gave any thought to the interior aesthetic, I stood and sat, and sat and stood, all over my back yard. If you are adding on, you need to plan for how that structure is going to affect your yard, your view, the sun coming into the home, the shade the structure will create, where the BBQ will go… a lot to consider outside.

So next time we can chat about how to plan for the dogs and pets. That’s a very real concern. My first day on a new job just out of design school, I heard the project manager yelling, “what do you mean, you lost the dog???”.  We’ll chat…