This topic  is included as more than once I have been on site and the HVAC installers show up and start asking questions about the layout. If the documents say changes must be approved then their suggestions for how the system would function better need to go back to the architect. If that is not specified then you may be doing a new layout and it affects wall space for furniture and cabinetry that may already be specified! It can also change the access for maintenance of the units.

An air handler in a garage is one thing. Above the kitchen in the attic with access through the pantry ceiling another!

Another time on a project, there wasn’t duct work connecting the first floor to the partial second floor and the solution to run the vertical duct eliminated a foot of the guest headboard wall. On and on.

A professor at Arizona State University, Tom Witt, said there is nothing that architects know that designers don’t need to know. Another of my design contemporaries, David Michael Miller, has his drafting person sitting next to him and David oversees any and all changes. I stopped in one day to ask if a design was mine even though I had allowed the contractor cutting the 3 form panels to add a curve to one piece.I love collaboration but when it comes to owning your design for submittal to publications or for design competition, the furniture maker, cabinet maker, lighting expert or architect need to be recognized as well.  

Develop a book of fireplaces you like. Yes, Pinterest has pictures but I have more in my own book and I can spread the coordinating photos out for every fireplace needed along with the other materials to be used in the area.

After establishing the look you are after, start finding the materials to be used. You may initially paint or add detailing but as your career evolves so will the changes to the fireplaces. Linear fires need exterior access for the gas line. Do you want a hearth? If you’re adding a TV above the fireplace, proportion is key. We are in a contemporary design phase with high ceilings currently.

The contractor should assist with material choices and the fabrication of these changes. Bring all of the materials that are in the style and color range or find something to work around and build from that sample. Start your collection of great looks!

You have to determine the options in your area. There are many small cabinet makers in small and largely populated areas, but do you want their look?

Companies like Poggenpohl, Eggersmann and Downsview have varied looks, good reputations and many options for both the exterior finishes and cabinet style and interior details. Some are modular so your spacing is determined by this.

A custom cabinetmaker (often seen on HGTV) is able to fill the entire space wall to wall, floor to ceiling so it is a great option but they may not be able to duplicate the look or interior detailing you are looking for.

Check out Bulthaup for detailing. We also have Linear Fine Woodworking with exotic woods and interesting lighting details. These individualized companies are all over the country.  IKEA and other suppliers have modular options. A more complete list of cabinet makers in on the LuxeSpec’s Cabinetry Page.

The hardware needs to be supplied to the cabinetmaker or on site at installation.

Kitchens are complicated compared to every other residential space. You may begin with a remodel space or a new build. Determine the visual concept and functionality. You can measure from an existing kitchen to get some idea of pantry storage, appliance storage, dishes, towels, pots and pans, utensils, spices, file drawers, cooking, storage, baking pans, boxes of foil, wax paper, storage bags and serving dishes. Window placement and adjacencies to other spaces, cabinets and open shelving all make a difference in the appliance and countertop options.

Many contractors specify one appliance brand as it is easier. The finishes and handles will coordinate, especially if you have a knowledgeable distributor who has options from well known, reliable companies. Follow up service may be necessary. Bigger cities have more options and the best companies send their employees for regular training. These salespeople are invaluable as you can go in with your initial kitchen layout, gather information on the appliances you are specifying and adjust your drawings accordingly. The cabinetmaker usually draws the next layout to coordinate cabinetry with appliances.  This determines electrical, plumbing and the lighting layout.

Now materials – what type of materials and colors for cabinetry, flooring, countertops, backsplashes and lighting fixtures.  CADD and similar programs allow you to lay this in and import the appliances to expand your drawings for better visuals.

Determine the wall that is the most important for maximum visual effect. In remodels or new builds where the space has been determined, it is not always possible to have a perfect layout!

Baths are the most labor intensive smaller space. You have all of the subcontractors needed for a kitchen but sometimes very small amounts of material. 

Develop an estimator for yourself as these spaces are labor intensive and unless you like working for free you need to determine the price of the toilet, sinks, cabinetry, hardware, countertop material, floor tile, shower floor and wall materials, showerhead and controls, grab bars, sinks, tub, and the other components.There is a lot of time involved in finding these coordinating parts so charge a design fee up front based on the size of the bath.

A powder room is small, but often the most expensive materials are used here so you need to consider the styles and goals of the client to have an idea of the total cost.

For just a shower replacement you need a plumber and tile contractor. You can update a toilet with only a plumber but then the lav area needs a plumber, electrician, cabinet maker and a countertop installer.

I personally go to all available sources and look for the most interesting tile patterns or slabs first. Then I select the neutrals for the floor and shower walls and coordinate where the pattern will be used.

Carefully determine the quantities. The contractor usually has an account at one source so they don’t want to drive all over to create the designer bath you may be ordering. Picking up and delivering to the site the small amounts ordered will ensure the correct materials is used in the correct area and isn’t lost at the site. Deliver and hand off to the super or tile contractor along with a scaled ½” drawing to the site when they are needed.  CADD drawings are not accurate enough as the patterns have to be even and balanced and the floor and ceiling may not be level.

At this point you are acting as a contractor overseeing tile installation so you should be licensed as such. The general contractor is not always on site and the subcontractor may not understand the balance and match.