We are often asked to evaluate what’s achievable or practical in a restoration interior. Every client has their own needs and desires, but these won’t necessarily coincide with what will actually work there in terms of space, feasibility, or budget.
Many architects are so focused on the structure itself that they don’t take the time to translate the client’s wishes into the specific materials, finishes, and products that will work—and that their client can afford. They just call the cabinet contractor and say, “Here’s your space. You figure out what kind of vanity fits here, how that kitchen operates, and where to put the cabinets,” with no coordination between the plumbing and electrical and gas. We’re different. We take a holistic view of the entire project, so everything works together in our plans.
We always start by thoroughly picking the client’s brain: How do you want to store things in the kitchen? Drawers? Lazy Susans? Do you prefer a wood finish? Laminate? Granite? Most important, we find them satisfying replacements for what they lost, in the budget they have. Then we include these specific products in our drawings, so they can actually be bid out. This makes all the difference to a client who is already reeling from a catastrophe.
