Project Types

• Kitchen Design & Remodel
• Bathroom Design & Remodel
• Residential Interior Design
• Residential Remodel
• Fine Home Furnishings
• Selection & Purchasing
• Commercial Interior Design

Our Services

• Kitchen & Bathroom Design and Construction
• Additions and Remodel
• Fine Home Furnishings Selection and Purchasing
• Custom Furniture & Cabinet Design
• Interior Architectural Drawings and Specifications
• Interior Detailing of Background Elements
• Window Treatments
• Materials, Finishes & Color Specification
• Selection of Appliances, Fixtures and Flooring Materials
• Programming
• Space Planning
• National, State and Local Building Codes
• Safety and Accessibility
• Conservation and “Green” Design
• Coordination with Architects, Consultants, Contractors and Vendors
• Project Coordination & Observation

Our Project Design Process

We have found that some people don’t quite understand what a professional interior designer actually does to execute a project. They probably know that we help select products, colors, materials, finishes, artwork, etc. but they may not know the process of how these selections ended up in their final, installed and completed state.

Whether the project is a Kitchen or Bathroom remodel or a corporate office, the process will be similar to the following outline.

Of course, the larger and/or more complex project will need to follow this outline more assiduously than a simpler project, but this process occurs most of the time in the design world, either formally or loosely. This outline is simplified. The actual detail of the process would be more involved for a large project.

Except for very small projects, all of our projects are based upon the procedure outlined below. Our services are detailed, comprehensive and responsive to our clients. As we have stated more than once, “we are with our clients from the inception of the project to the successful completion.”

• Phase 1 Site Assessment– Verify field-measurements, photograph the existing conditions and determine the scope of the project.
• Phase 2 Programming– Ascertain the requirements and desires that the client has for the project. Programming can be simple and quick or extremely involved and time consuming for a large project.
• Phase 3 Schematic Design– Develop an initial Space Plan with alternative layouts; determine potential products, custom products, colors, materials and finishes. In addition, determine potential lighting/electrical products and layouts; appliances and fixtures.
• Phase 4 Design Development– Finalize all selections and develop drawings and specifications required for all elements of the project.
• Phase 5 Construction Drawings– Develop final drawings and specifications required for the project, i.e. demo plan, partition plan, lighting/electrical plan, finish plan, construction detail plan, appliances, cabinets, fixtures, etc. Plans and specifications ready to submit to the Building Department for plan review and permit, as required.
• Phase 6 Construction Observation– Make periodic visits to the job site during construction of the project for observation and clarification. Coordinate with the project architect, engineer, general contractor and other consultants, as required, to assist in insuring proper and timely installation and completion of the project.

The Client’s Role in The Design Process

Before contacting us, take some time to think about what you want and what you need. Consider just a few of the questions that we may ask regarding your project. Typically, we will ask more questions than we have listed here. Such questions as these will not only help us understand you and your project, but are also meant to help you think through some of the issues you may not have considered or thought about.

• Why are you interested in working with me and my company?
• How long do you plan to occupy the space?
• When do you want to start work and when does the job need to be completed?
• Is there a particular deadline or event that is coming up that we should know about?
• Do you have a sense of what you are willing to invest in your project right now?
• If this is a remodeling project, will you relocate or reside in the space during remodeling?
• What image do you want the space to project?
• Are you thinking of doing some or all of your own purchasing?
• Are you interested in purchasing at retail, or are you interested in customizing your interior?

• Do you have furniture, artwork, collectibles, heirlooms or other objects that will be part of the design?
• Have you worked with an interior designer before and what was that experience like for you?
• Who will be the decision maker(s) for the project?
• Who else will be involved, i.e. architect, general contractor, etc.?
• What is your expectation of perfection, on a scale of 1-10?
• How easy is it for you to make decisions, on a scale of 1-10?
• If disagreements regarding selections arise between you and other decision makers, how will you resolve this?
• Who will be your “go to” person for the project?
• What is the most important for you, budget or result?

We know that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. The best way for a client to convey to us what they want in terms of design, is to do a little homework and gather pictures of things that they like or are interested in.

Design and shelter magazines are a great resource for this. Just place a self-stick note on the picture that you like. It may be an item, an architectural feature, a concept, a color, a material or finish, etc. By reviewing what you have selected, we can usually readily understand what direction you would like to take for your project.

ADDED VALUE from Spectrum West

In the Profile section, we mentioned that due to the new era we live in, we have changed to provide added value for our clients.

We have initiated three, new, free services.

CONSULTATION – We now offer an initial, free on-site consultation to potential clients.

COST ESTIMATE – We will now, at no cost to the potential client, provide a cost estimate so that the client will have the benefit of knowing what is involved and how to plan accordingly.

VALUE ENGINEERING - If, during the design phase of the project, our client feels that the cost of the project is too high, we will develop design alternatives to lower the cost, at no charge.

Green Design

We are sensitive to these issues and are able to incorporate “Green Design” concepts and products into our projects.

Homes and Offices account for about half of the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. This is a staggering number when compared to cars' and light trucks' percentage, which is only 9 percent. The traditional methods used to build and operate our homes contribute to smog, acid rain and global warming.

Rating systems like Build It Green, Energy Star and LEED are becoming more popular, as people begin to realize the economic, environmental and health benefits of building green structures.

Green is a term used to describe products or practices that have little or no harmful effects to the environment or human health. Products that we utilize have an effect on the environment from the point of extraction to manufacturing, shipping, packaging, use and finally disposal. Green companies seek to find products that are derived from renewable sources with minimal impact on the location of extraction.

The goals of a green product or manufacturer are to preserve and protect air, water, soil, wildlife, waterways and food supplies by being conservative with natural resources and producing less toxins and waste.