Design Process

Our design process is client centric. It is a mix of design and consulting, brainstorming and collaboration. It is focused on helping our clients discover their unique personal style and create a design vision for their project that is in sync with their lifestyle and budgetary requirements. Our process begins with a collaborative assignment for the client. It is not necessary for the client to invest too much time or thought into the assignment as it is a “brainstorming” exercise. After completion of the collaborative assignment, we schedule our first (of only two) design meeting – the Personal Style Workshop®.

The workshop usually lasts between 2 and 4 hours and is designed to be fun, fast and educational. One or two of our design team members will work together with the client to review their homework. The objective is to identify an overall style, colors, materials, etc. related to the project in order to create a vision for the project. Together, we (client and designer) look for consistencies, and narrow down to selections that best represent the client’s style and vision for their project. We also collect the client’s thoughts and comments as part of the process. All this becomes part of a Personal Style Book® we give to the client and use as our design guide. Then, we get to work designing the project…

In the design phase, we shop for the client to find a selection of products that will fulfill the client’s vision, lifestyle, and budget. We look at flooring, backsplash tile, cabinets, sinks, faucets, color, etc. to create a tailored Design Options Book® — the culmination of all the design work. The Design Options Book® is a fully customized catalogue of designs and products with design renderings, product pictures, and pricing. In it, the client is provided with three options for every item that will be required to build and furnish the project. These (for a kitchen project, as an example) can include but are not limited to:
 

• Overall Design Drawings and sketches showing placement, cabinet door styles, colors (in some cases), wall tile design, flooring, etc.
• Color(s)
• Cabinet options
• Kitchen Island
• Cabinet hardware and handles
• Cabinet specialty items (pull out trash cans, soft-close, full-extension hardware, spice racks, etc.)
• Cabinet pulls and handles
• Sink and Countertop options
• Backsplash options
• Faucets, Pot Fillers
• Lighting (pendant, under-cabinet, ceiling can lights) and
• Flooring… to name a few

 
Each item has “good, better, best” options in style, finish, and pricing (pricing shown includes all applicable taxes, shipping and/or delivery costs). Each option and individual item will also be consistent with the design vision developed in the Personal Style Workshop®, with the added benefit of our interior designers’ and architects’ skills, knowledge, and esthetic sensibilities to ensure the best designs possible.

Once the Design Options Book® is complete, the second and final meeting is scheduled with the client to review the designs and make selections. Usually, samples of many of the materials and finishes (i.e., tile, countertops, cabinet wood finishes, color swatches, etc.) are brought to the meeting to further help with making decisions.
 
Once all product and design decisions have been made, a build date is selected, products are ordered, and the project is placed on the construction calendar.
 
We are very proud of our unique, proprietary design process – it is fast, easy, educational and fun. And, as our testimonials show: our clients love the results.
 
We look forward to collaborating with you on your project… The Design Build 4U Team