PROJECT STRATEGY & OVERSIGHT

What is your approach to budgeting and cost control?

Our approach is focused on making smart decisions, avoiding costly mistakes, and optimizing resources to deliver the highest-quality results. However, it’s not just about meticulous cost control—it’s about efficiency, value, and practicality.

We strive to keep designs simple when possible, meaning creating solutions that look stunning but are also easy to execute, reliable, and cost-efficient. Value is a priority when selecting vendors, suppliers, and materials. For instance, take a modern home’s lighting schedule: instead of relying on architects to select items from catalogs with unknown pricing, we ensure selections are readily available, cost-effective, and often of higher quality. We actively collaborate with architects to check the cost, quality, and suitability of every design element, replacing overly expensive or impractical choices with better alternatives.

That being said, our selectiveness does not mean we avoid using premium or fine-quality materials. In fact, we thrive on working with high-end suppliers, including premium European brands, to create truly exceptional results. Our goal is to achieve the highest quality possible for the best price—not medium quality at a high price. Through thoughtful planning, collaboration, and a focus on sourcing the right materials, we ensure that every element of the project delivers outstanding value while maintaining impeccable standards.

We also focus on reducing unnecessary complexity. Overly intricate designs may look impressive on paper but can be challenging and expensive to execute, shrinking the pool of contractors qualified to deliver the result. By eliminating or minimizing unnecessary complexity, we open up a larger pool of capable professionals, often at more competitive pricing.

Every decision we make is informed by your goals and the long-term success of the project. We consider factors such as maintenance, reliability, and sourcing to ensure that the final product not only meets your expectations but also represents the best possible value. Our role is to look at the project from all perspectives, always with the owner’s best interests in mind.

Can you work with an architect or contractor I’ve already hired?

Yes, we can collaborate with your existing team to provide creative oversight and ensure alignment with your vision. Our role is to enhance the process and improve outcomes, no matter where you are in your project.

How are you different from a construction manager or project manager?

While construction managers focus on scheduling, hiring workers, and managing site logistics, and project managers coordinate details, we focus on creative oversight, strategic decision-making, and ensuring the owner’s goals are met. Think of us as the owner’s advocate, focusing on quality, cost efficiency, and design excellence.

How are you different from an owner’s representative?

While there are some overlaps, our role goes far beyond the traditional scope of an owner’s representative. Owner’s representatives typically focus on logistical coordination, managing timelines, budgets, and communications between parties.

We, however, take a more strategic and creative leadership role. Our primary focus is on improving the overall product by making impactful design and team selection decisions. We advocate for the owner’s vision, ensure alignment across all parties, and work collaboratively with architects, designers, and contractors to elevate the project’s quality.

Rather than simply overseeing the process, we actively engage in key decisions that affect the end product, such as architect and contractor selection, material choices, and ensuring designs are practical, cost-effective, and aligned with the owner’s goals. We view ourselves as more than coordinators—we are creative problem solvers and strategic leaders committed to delivering exceptional results.

How does your role differ from an architect’s role?

Architects are essential for crafting the technical design and overall vision of a project, but their focus is primarily on creating plans and managing their execution. Our role goes beyond design to act as the owner’s advocate and creative leader, ensuring all decisions reflect the owner’s vision and priorities.

Here’s how we differ:

Smaller Projects: On remodels or smaller-scale work, where a full-service architect may not be necessary, we can take on many of their responsibilities, such as spatial planning, vendor selection, and project oversight. This approach saves money without sacrificing quality.

Larger Projects: When working with full-service architectural firms, we focus on advocating for the owner’s vision, managing creative input, and ensuring execution aligns with defined requirements and goals.

What is your role when the architect makes all design and supplier decisions?

Optimally, we collaborate with the architect rather than deferring to them entirely. Our role is to lead the design process on behalf of the owner, ensuring all creative decisions align with their vision and goals. This includes regular design reviews, tracking progress, and providing meaningful input.

While we respect an architect’s expertise, there are instances where they may prefer full creative control. If the owner wants the architect to handle everything with minimal collaboration, our ability to add value is limited, and such projects may not be a good fit for us.

However, in most cases, our preferred role includes:

1.      Collaborative Oversight: Ensuring alignment across all parties (owner, architect, designer, contractors).

2.      Vision Management: Acting as the owner’s advocate to define requirements and creative constraints that guide the architect’s work.

3.      Regular Progress Tracking: Conducting weekly or bi-weekly meetings during the design phase to ensure the project stays on track and meets expectations.

Our goal is to complement the architect’s expertise while ensuring the owner’s vision remains the guiding force.

How do you add value to smaller projects?

Smaller projects, such as remodels or single-room upgrades, often don’t require a full-service architect. We can step in to:

·         Handle spatial planning, vendor selection, and project oversight.

·         Use cost-effective architectural services for drafting and technical plans.

·         Manage design and execution, providing both creative input and technical leadership.

For example, in a kitchen remodel, we might oversee layout optimization and the selection of premium suppliers while ensuring the entire project stays aligned with the client’s goals and budget.

What is your preferred role in larger projects?

On larger projects, especially those involving full-service architectural firms, we serve as product managers with oversight rather than traditional project managers. This means we:

·         Lead creative decisions in collaboration with architects, ensuring the owner’s goals drive the project.

·         Oversee weekly or bi-weekly progress meetings to make decisions, resolve conflicts, and maintain alignment across all stakeholders.

·         Verify that the design and execution meet the agreed-upon requirements, ensuring quality and accountability.

This proactive involvement ensures that the owner’s vision is not diluted, and the final product reflects their unique needs and expectations.

What type of projects are you best suited for?

We excel in projects where:

·         The client values collaboration and creative leadership.

·         The project involves modern, high-end design elements.

·         The owner wants a trusted partner to manage decisions and advocate for their goals.

·         There’s room for innovation and custom solutions rather than copy-paste designs.

Summary of Our Role:

We thrive in projects where we can lead the creative vision, provide strategic oversight, and act as the owner’s advocate. Whether collaborating with architects or taking on smaller-scale projects directly, we focus on delivering exceptional results that reflect the client’s goals while ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.