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A residential design firm dedicated to improve home improvement with efficient, effective communication. |
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I’ve been reading more articles, and hearing more advice about where a remodeling project should start. Specifically, these advisors are speaking of the first meeting between a contractor and a homeowner. There are many lamentations throughout the industry that there is not enough time to get to know the client and talk about design during the first meeting. Advice has been given to use that two-hour meeting to talk much about the past projects the contractor has finished or show the client all sorts of financial figures that show them that they can afford the project.
Design Build Solutions, LLC was featured in a prominent remodeling magazine this month. In fact, the magazine is Remodeling Magazine. We are offering homeowners the opportunity to see what one room of their house could be, based upon their wishes and needs. You can read about the fantasy remodeling party online.
This new offering is the American Fantasy Makeover. Ok, it really isn’t new, we’ve been doing these for about a year, but now that it is out in the printed media, we’d like to repeat the opportunity for homeowners can see what their room can look like.
Because of technology, it is possible to remotely model and design your home, and show a client what could be. The rules to the Makeover are simple:
It is important to remember that this is a Fantasy Makeover for a two reasons. First, we do not qualify the dollar figures attached to the project, and, second, it is not structurally qualified. Because we are limited to one room, we haven’t had the chance to ascertain the existing structure of the house.
Here is one testimonial.
I was conversing with a friend yesterday who was talking about the Government energy rebates. There are many resources available for Home Energy & efficiency products. The Department of Energy has a whole section of their website devoted to Consumer Energy Tax Incentives.
I was also doing some searching to see what products and guides are available to help reduce home energy usage. There are, in fact, instructions on how you can CREATE your own energy! Or, use this blueprint to increase home energy efficiency.
…continue reading Improve Home Energy Efficiency »
Remodeling headaches come in many forms: over-budget, taking too long, loss of control, and generally frustration and confusion. 
While a cold headwrap may help the pain, personal experience tells me that it won’t help the remodeling project. So, we look at some ways to help those headaches.
The FamilyEducation.com website, gives an excerpt on How to Spot an “Underground” Contractor, from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Common Household Disasters © 2005 by Paul Hayman and Sonia Weiss. Their article gives us the first point in how to reduce headaches.
…continue reading 5 Tips to Reduce Remodeling Headaches »
From the phone calls that have been coming, people are emerging from their cocoons looking to do some renovations to their house. People have called about green building, kitchen remodeling, attic remodeling, deck additions, bath remodeling – you name it! These aren’t the largest remodeling projects that have ever taken place, and that is ok. Our goal at Design Build Solutions is to provide our highest level of service to any of those projects – and there is no project too small for us. Check out our photo gallery for some ideas of small remodeling projects
Those that are calling are looking for remodeling ideas, but they don’t want to get taken; and they definitely want to save money. Where does one turn when looking for ideas on your home?
May I suggest that if this is you, you can turn to the American Fantasy Makeover
…continue reading Remodeling ideas – where to turn »
Our design/build team recently completed an attic renovation project design. Working with Joe Dellanno (www.mydesignbuildproject.com) and Gerry Dunleavy (www.dunleavyconstruction.com), we were able to give our clients their needs.
Our clients wanted to expand their attic space to include a home office, guest bedroom, a bedroom for their daughter, and a larger bathroom. Considering that the finish level in the attic wasn’t up to the rest of the home, they wanted to also match the details in the rest of the house.
…continue reading Can I get some light in here? »
I’ve been trying to start my days by reading some information. It helps grow my understanding, and I gain a little bit of knowledge and exposure when I interact on those sites. This morning was no exception. Since I work in 3D for most of my work, an article titled, It’s Time to Connect Your Real and Your Virtual Worlds, really piqued my interest. I like working in 3D and making the models mimic the buildings as closely as possible. Sometimes, I’ll take a crop of a digital picture to put details, such as special pictures or decorations, in the client’s model just for fun.
…continue reading Connections – Real and Virtual »
In a poll we recently published, one respondent asked how using a design firm can help save money in the long run. Good question, thanks for asking.
It does seem to be an oxymoron to say that one can save money by spending it. Old adages about saving & earning pennies, getting what you pay for, etc., often lead one to sidestep what could be the most important part of any project: planning. In order to save money on your next remodeling project, I believe we must discuss Proper Planning, Effective Presentation, and Critical Collaboration.
…continue reading Saving money by design »
A recent article about college graduates that have tens of thousands of dollars in student loans stimulated some comparisons and thought regarding professional services. The article, by default, posed the question of where the blame, or responsibility, lies in these cases.
One such party that could take responsibility is the university. For the sake of this article, the university could be likened to a service company – they provide the students with the service of education.
…continue reading The advantages of direct cost service »
With each and every project we start and complete, each one reminds us in its own unique way that communication is vital to the success of every project. Makes sense since each project requires a relationship, and quite often a network of relationships in order to complete it. So, adding to and honing communication is important since our clients want to see more with each year that passes. Thus, we add to our communication skills! If picture is worth a thousand words, how many words equals a video?
…continue reading Adding to communication »
