Getting Started

After some research and several recommendations, the architect I selected was, Bob Schatz and with him I went over what I needed: one more room, and a more convenient arrangement of the space; and what I wanted; an entry that didn't dump directly into my living room, and a porch. I also talked to Bob at some length about what my ideal house would have. The big restriction was that no space could be taken out of my already small back yard which meant extending either forward or up.

In choosing a contractor, I started with Hal Slater of Slater Construction who was recommended by my architect. I talked to several others, got a couple of bids, and checked the credentials of some, but after looking at examples in my area that each designed or built, I ended up choosing Hal because he was the ones I felt the best connection with. Not very scientific I know, but there you go.

This gave me the advantage of having an architect and contractor who already had a solid working relationship with each other. For that reason, I chose them virtually at the same time.

I had them out together to look at the property and the possibilities before I had any plans at all and to discuss briefly some of my ideas about what I wanted and got good input from both of them. What I liked especially on this project, was the fact that they listened to me and my ideas without simply caving in to what I wanted. If what I wanted wasn't possible, or feasible, or practical, they each have explained to my why it wouldn't work or shouldn't be done. Sometimes an alternative was suggested, or a compromise reached, and sometimes they didn't convince me, but my remodel is a collaborative process that eventually involved many people and I'd be a fool not to listen to the professionals. I'm often pig headed, but I try not to be an actual fool.

I would have to say that we did not stay within the original budget I set, but that was as much my fault as anyone. I set it at the beginning but did not keep it in mind as I played with the design and added details that I wanted. By the time I realized that I was way over the budget I wanted to stick to, I was in love with what I had and didn't want to give anything up.

If I had it to do again I would stay on top of the budget earlier in the process. The architect came up with several options that were very beneficial improvements, but they added substantially to the original budget. If I had kept that budget firmly in the forefront, it might have been possible to adjust the design in to offset those increases. However, by the construction phase, most of those adjustments would cost as much as they would save.

In the end I reevaluated my budget upward -- in some cases, because it was reasonable and cost effective to do things now or in a certain way, and other times because I'm stubborn. Then I sat down with the contractor and started stripping things out of the project that I could either live without, scale back or could take on myself. I also started identifying those new materials I could legitimately downgrade or replace with salvaged ones (doors, bathroom vanity, fixtures, etc.) I began haunting The Rebuilding Center, Hippo Hardware, and Rejuvenation House Parts, looking for the materials I had on my list.

The hardwood floor I wanted became parquet, still wood but I can lay it myself and it's prefinished, saving installation costs. The bathroom floor and counter top will (hopefully) be made from salvaged marble and granite and I will learn to lay them myself. I will do the final inside trim and paint the outside myself. The trim will be MDF instead of wood unless I can find what I want through salvage, etc. We'll see what else I can finesse.

The Plans