How we work
Documentation
We document your home and site using Leica LiDAR laser scanners (BLK360 G1 and G2) along with sophisticated software. We can see every bump, crooked wall, sloped floor and angle in your home, so the design starts with accurate data rather than assumptions.
These scanners produce high density laser scans at 1 million points per second providing us with high resolution data of the existing space. We process, clean and register these scans into a single “point cloud” which contains a billion or more individual measured points in space. This is particularly useful on existing structures, as it provides highly accurate documentation.
Evaluation
We review your existing conditions along with your local zoning rules and bylaws to determine what is permissible on your site. We also look at what solutions might require additional approvals from your town.
We assess the existing construction to determine what is most practical in terms of alterations and additions. We understand construction and renovation, so we are well versed in assessing what can be improved and what should be rebuilt.
As Landscape Architects, we evaluate your site for landscape health, construction suitability and drainage.
Design
We are designers at heart. We pride ourselves on creative and appropriate solutions to residential problems. Our practice is centered on a deep understanding of residential living and construction. Our staff includes Architects, Landscape Architects, Interior Designers and Cabinetry Designers.
We practice an approach we call “Total Home.” We view home design across the full spectrum of our expertise. Rather than solving each problem through a single discipline, we use our collective experience to arrive at uniquely holistic solutions. Every part of the house benefits from this broad-based view.
Pricing
We understand that a project can only be built if it can be afforded. Rather than dodge the issue of cost, we engage with it early and often. We draw from a database of recent bids from local contractors for early guidance, then get pricing from local builders as the design develops. That lets us adjust the scheme before fees and effort go into ideas that don’t fit, and gives you a realistic picture of what to expect.
Permitting
Once we understand the cost of the work and have a design that satisfies the need (and the heart!), we work to get your project approved by local boards. We are experienced in navigating local boards, including environmental review boards (e.g. the Conservation Commission), historic review boards, design review boards, zoning boards and planning boards. We speak their language and have a track record of earning approvals from many of them.
Guidance
When construction begins, we are there to answer questions, resolve concerns and develop the fine details that take a project from good to great. Construction can be a daunting and opaque process if you haven’t been through it before. We act as a liaison between you and your builder and help find creative solutions to the unforeseen issues that inevitably come up during construction.
Beyond the process…
Procurement
In addition to designing elements constructed by others, we also sell certain products directly to you. We have vendor partnerships that let us offer interior finishes (tile, flooring, wallpaper), cabinetry, furniture, accessories and lighting. We handle ordering, receiving and installation coordination.
Collaboration
On many projects, we work alongside designers from other firms and disciplines. We play well with others, whether with Interior Designers, Landscape Designers, Millwork Makers or you!
These collaborations have produced some award-winning work. Great ideas come from many places. We can help you make them real.