Our Design Process
Providing Everything You Need To Know
PHASE 1 | PROJECT INQUIRY
Introduce yourself & provide your project details on our client questionnaire, found on our CONNECT page. Please don’t hold back as you complete this form to the best of your ability. This will help bring invaluable context to your project needs during our 1-hour complimentary video-call consultation. A member of our team will reach out to you within 1-2 business days to schedule this discovery call with our Principal Designer/ owner, Katelyn.
We encourage anyone with veto-power surrounding your project to be present during this in-depth conversation. This will streamline getting us up to speed with your project requirements & help avoid duplicative conversations. After discussing your project requirements, we will also discuss our design process, our team & how we would approach your project.
The next step would be a paid in-person consultation.
PHASE 2 | IN-PERSON CONSULTATION & DESIGN AGREEMENT
During this consultation, we do a more in-depth walk of your home with you, review your project goals & pain-points, discuss your household routines, assess aesthetic preferences, and ask all sorts of site-specific questions. Seeing how the home is currently functioning (or not), gives us invaluable insight on where we can provide design solutions for you.
After that, we compose your design agreement which itemizes the scope of your project, defines your design deposit and locks-in your project’s hourly rate ($230-$250). Spoiler-alert, the average billable hours spent on a whole-house project ranges from 350-700+ hours.
Phase 1 & 2 typically takes ~4-6 weeks to complete, depending on availability. Paid consultations are a non-refundable flat fee of $500.
PHASE 3 | CLIENT ON-BOARDING & PROJECT KICK-OFF
Upon receipt of your signed agreement & paid deposit, we officially kick-off your project! We introduce you to the whole KBG team, send all relevant on-boarding materials & outline next steps, gather client’s inspo (Pinterest, Houzz, Instagram, etc) and schedule the site measure as-needed.
PHASE 4 | CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
With you & your needs at top of mind, we develop proposed layout reconfigurations - in a sliding scale of complexity & therefore cost - for your project. We gather concept images & create 3D renderings to thoroughly convey all of our designs. After detailed review & discussion, we combine your most-loved features from each layout to create the final proposed layout.
This phase typically takes ~6-8 weeks to complete.
PHASE 5 | DETAILED DESIGN
This is where all the magic happens! During this phase, we procure & finalize all your finish design materials, fixtures, cabinetry, millwork, appliances, etc - basically any material that gets professionally affixed to your home. Simultaneously, our team is drafting all the associated CAD drawings - inside & out - as necessary for permits & later construction. All finishes are depicted in detail within our plans & specification package.
This phase typically takes ~12-14 weeks to complete.
PHASE 6 | PERMITS
Fun fact, we will provide two sets of plans for your project; a Permit Set & a Build Set. The Permit Set provides the minimal data required for permit submission & later issuance, while your Build Set is what truly guides your Builder/ GC/ Trade partners in the field throughout construction. Build Sets are what hold everyone accountable to our designs.
Your project scope & municipality will determine the permit requirements. We then procure all required supplemental reports, intake forms, surveys & engineering plans needed for permits. Once submitted & intake fees are paid, we track & expedite your project through to issuance. Another spoiler alert, the permit process can take anywhere between 3-10 months. I know, it’s a lot, but this is the ideal time for us to send your project out for construction bids, interview potential GCs, review their bids & lock-in your GC. If you don’t have a GC, we have a stellar list of preferred partners that we’re happy to share with you.
Good news, smaller projects do qualify for faster permit turnarounds. We do everything in our power to expedite & navigate your project through this unglamorous & daunting process.
PHASE 7 | MATERIAL PRICING/PURCHASING
In-parallel with your permit submission, we gather material pricing & lead times for all your approved selections. Depending on lead times or availability, we might need to kick-off some purchasing.
Some material purchasing & quantity verifications will continue into the construction phase to ensure materials arrive at the time they are needed & to not over-spend on quantities.
Procurement & review of new furnishings, window treatments, art, etc, starts now! PRO-TIP, we have found that it’s best to finalize all affixed materials & details before the softgoods or casegoods come into the mix.
PHASE 8 | PROJECT COORDINATION & CONSTRUCTION
Congrats, you have your permit & your general contractor - construction can officially begin! Yay!
During this phase, we work closely with your GC & trade-partners to ensure our designs are executed according to our Build Set & our Specifications Package. We make regular site visits throughout construction, reviewing for accuracy, troubleshooting as-needed & addressing trade-partner questions. We are always at-the-ready to address and resolve any design-pivots caused by unforeseen or limiting site conditions.
The timeline for the construction phase is dependent on the GC and the scope of work, however, there are circumstances that are beyond anyone’s control that could affect the final construction timeline.
PHASE 9 | INSTALLATION & PHOTOSHOOT
Installation of your new furnishings & accessories will be scheduled after your final inspections & whole-house cleanings. Our team is present on-site for deliveries & installations to ensure your home is truly ready for you & your family to enjoy for years to come!
We strive for all our projects to be professionally photographed and/or filmed to be showcased within our design portfolio or social media presence. After all, these finished project photos are probably why you’re here reading so much about us and our process. ;-)
