What is your typical process for working with a new client?
We start with design and specifications to assure the right feel for the project. Then we revisit the budget to align all of the costs, finally we bid out to various contractors and verify fees and scope of work. After we have awarded the contract and have started construction, then we monitor the progress of construction keeping a sharp eye on quality and deadlines.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Master of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture 2006
15+ Years experience in design and architecture
20 years experience in business management
Historical Preservation Award 2014, City of Pasadena, Ca.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? Our fees are calculated on percentage of the project construction costs. For this fee we provide a 3-part service.
1. Design, permits and engineering
2. Contractor and vendor selection to align with the budget
3. Construction support during the building period
How did you get started in this business? For 20 years I worked for large restaurant companies to design and manage the build-outs of new restaurants in Los Angeles, after that I was helping new developers get their projects off the ground.
What types of clients have you worked with? We work with private clients who have recently purchased a home which may need work, real estate developers and agents, and business owners who need to make a change. We are often referred by real estate agents for support before and during the escrow phase.
Describe two recent projects which you are fond of.
We just broke ground on a mid-century, post and beam, Ranch-Styled home in Ladera Heights, Los Angeles. It is a sprawling one story with tall ceilings, original fireplace, and terrazzo flooring. We will be removing a large dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room to open up the space and create more natural light.
Also, our project which is now finishing on West Blvd in Culver City. It is a typical Los Angeles, Spanish-Mediterranean-mission style home with thick plaster walls and arched openings. To preserve the architectural spirit of the house we are using terra cotta and period black and white hexagon tiles with matte black plumbing fixtures and lighting accents.
What advice would you give a potential new client?
1. Have a budget
2. Make a list of questions and priorities
3. Look at the previous work and see if it resonates with your tastes, otherwise you'll be bumping heads.
4. Be flexible, trust your hiring decisions and listen to what is being asked of you ask how you can be a good client.
What questions should clients think through before talking to professionals in the industry about their needs?
1. Know what it is that you want out of your project, what is it that you would like to have done.
2. Formulate a realistic budget and discuss it early in the discussions.
3. Be ready to think about when you would like to start construction and consider variables such as holidays, vacations, and possible relocation during construction.
How does your service stand out?
What we do is special. We are great designers, but we are also extraordinary at managing project costs, details and deadlines. Of course you want a beautiful project, which is completed on budget and on time. We manage all of the little details around every project, with nothing left out.
What do you enjoy about the work you do?
I enjoy the diversity in the clientele and projects. Our clients are often engaged in the field of design and contribute greatly to the process and outcome of the project. We are not a heavy-handed design firm bent on doing things the same way in every project. Quite the opposite is true and we value change and evolution in our design approach and collaboration with each client.