The term “Design Build” gets thrown around a lot in the residential renovation world but what does it really mean? And what does it mean for you, the homeowner?

It sounds simple at first glance; essentially, a company refers to themselves as Design Build when they have a team that designs and then builds your space. However, the term can be interpreted in a few different ways depending on who you ask. Let’s compare it to the traditional mode of project delivery and explore the different ways design build firms can structure their services to serve you.

Traditionally, projects are designed by an architect or interior designer and then passed to a contractor to complete the build. The contractor hires and manages the sub-trades, and takes care of estimating, assessing, engineering, constructing, and finishing the project. The problem with this project management system is that without the designer involved in the build the client’s vision can get lost. That’s not a point against the contractor; if they aren’t involved in the early discussions during the design process they may not understand how the design evolved and what you consider critical design elements. If they’re simply stepping in once there’s a set of construction plans in place how are they to know that certain details have been discussed at length and have been concluded in such a way that you’re getting exactly what you want? Without that information they’re coming to the project with their knowledge about a typical build instead of in the know about your specific project.

We often advise clients that they should have us involved in their project to manage design intention should they want to go the traditional renovation route. This would mean that the designer designs the project and then is kept on during the build to advocate on the client’s behalf, ensuring that the design and client intent is fulfilled. In this scenario the designer would check in on the project during key construction times such as demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing, tile install, and finishing. While construction drawings are the instruction manual for your project, we find having the designer involved ensures that things are framed correctly, that lighting and plumbing fixtures are in the noted locations, and that there is an extra set of eyes on the finishing touches at the end. Having us, your designers, involved throughout the project is especially beneficial when something unexpected happens and we can discuss solutions with the contractor and help you make the best decision for that situation.

In a typical Design Build process the accountability is solely on one firm and they are responsible for everything from designing the space, to pricing, confirming availability, scheduling, and construction. This is a very efficient method as both parties, designer, and builder, are one in the same. We often adopt this form of Design Build with our smaller projects such as kitchens, bathrooms, and individual condo units. In this scenario we act as the general contractors, taking care of permits, and structural engineering, and bringing in trusted tradespeople that we’ve worked with time and time again that we know will provide the very best service to you, the client. We’ve built strong relationships with quality trades and we only work with tradespeople that have exceeded our expectations in the past. You hire us and we take care of everything from design to completion.

Another form of Design Build, and the one we prefer for our larger, more complex, projects, is partnering from the beginning of a project with a trusted construction colleague. In this case the client will have approached either us or the construction company and we will partner to help bring the client’s project to fruition. In this scenario the designer initiates the project while having the contractor close at hand to answer questions, price the project, and give expert advice on how to best complete the build. The contractor has input on the design, resulting in shorter overall project timelines, fewer change orders, and better building solutions. When there is an issue that needs solving, the designer and contractor work together to find the solution which is then jointly presented to the client, reducing stress and miscommunication. Designers and contractors that use this Design Build system work together repeatedly because they’ve established a strong working relationship advocating for the client’s best interests. Basically, your Design Build team has your back.

This Design Build concept allows designers and builders to work together towards a greater goal, providing creative solutions to problems that would not have materialized if not for this team approach. Often, designers don’t know how much certain details will cost to build, or if they can be built at all. Sometimes builders discard designed pieces altogether because of a lack of understanding of the end goal or because it costs too much. By working together throughout the design process, designers and builders work out the kinks in a project before starting the build to ensure that the construction process goes smoothly and is as stress free as possible.

Design Build can help you adhere to your budget. As designers, we want you to have everything on your wish list, however if you haven’t done a renovation recently you may not be aware of the costs to set a realistic budget. By working collaboratively with a contractor, we can provide you with real project costs and not ballpark costs. If you want to add to the project scope, we, along with the contractor, can tell you exactly how much it will cost, giving you the ability to make an educated decision. The Design Build process avoids budget surprises at the end of the design work allowing you peace of mind in moving forward with construction. Ultimately, Design Build saves time and money by encouraging transparency, innovation, and collaboration.

At Bungalow Interior Design we take pride in offering a collaborative Design Build project management delivery. We align ourselves with trusted contractors and trades that allow us to have a strong collaborative process throughout the design and build development.

Let’s talk about your project. Our team is here to guide you through your project and provide best-value solutions for any challenge you may face.

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