Design-minded contractor?

Hello,
We can help you with your project.
We are Brooklyn based design/build company.
Thank you
@vladfinecraft
@geowoodshop
347.424.3553

Guest User | 4 years and 9 months ago

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angelmtompkins | 4 years and 9 months ago

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Hi there, I’m about to close on a single-family house that needs some renovations, but not a gut renovation. The project feels big for us, but seems to be right on the border of whether a contractor could handle it or whether an architect is needed. After talking to a lot of people, it seems like the best solution would be a design-minded contractor. Someone who could do the work nicely without a lot of guidance/drawings. Some examples of the kind of work that needs to be done – refreshing a bathroom (most of the fixtures can stay and we’re not moving any plumbing, but will probably need to redo some tiling and possibly replace sections of wall behind the shower tiles), ripping out some bedroom closets and installing new closets, refinishing wood floors, painting everything, getting a chimney relined and capped, replacing some old/defunct mechanicals, etc. I’d be so grateful for any specific recommendations of contractors that could handle this sort of projec t without an architect, or any other thoughts on how to approach a small/medium project like this. I’ve never owned a house before, much less undertaken a renovation…Thank you!

cate | 4 years and 9 months ago

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An architect provides a lot of hand holding and guidance to the inexperienced, not to mention access to reputable contractors. If you are looking to spend in the neighborhood of, say, $85,000 and up — or even if not — it would be worthwhile to interview/talk to a few architects and see what they say. Another option is to connect with some friends or neighbors who are experienced renovators and see if they would mind walking through and offering some advice and recommendations for contractors. As for a design minded contractor, while I have met exactly one of these in my lifetime, this is not how the process works. While I have sometimes asked contractors for their input, in my opinion it is never wise to allow a contractor to make any design decisions.

brokelin | 4 years and 9 months ago

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Check out the service offered by sweeten dot com. Their blog features projects that is often very like most of what you want to do, and people report that the contractors they match with there often help with design ideas. I’m thinking the chimney liner and capping and the mechanicals might likely best be done by contractors who specialize in such things.

Not a recommendation, I only know of them from their website, but it sounds really interesting to me, an an armchair, vicarious, maybe-future renovator.

restorationcontractor | 4 years and 9 months ago

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Nothing you described requires filing or permits, so you don’t need an architect.
However as you say this is you first renovation it will be worth it to find someone who can help you through the process. As your is a small job not requiring filing you could discuss a flat fee.

Cate, I am sorry you evidently have had bad experience with contractors, but a contractor should not be making design decisions FOR their client. A contractor should work WITH the homeowner to design what the homeowner wants regardless of the contractors personal taste.
I always ask my clients to start with photos of rooms, etc. from the internet, magazines, etc. that they like as a starting point and then work from there.
If I was asked to design something, without any client input if you’re into Craftsman/Mission style were going to be ok, otherwise probably not.

Oh and there are plenty of us craftsman around, a number of which I have personally worked with from this website alone. M any of us are word of mouth, we don’t make a big fuss, we just do our work the way it is supposed to be done. We may be a little self-obsessed and hard headed at times and we expect to be paid what we are worth.