Extensive renovation novices

[Anonymous]

Our home needs extensive renovations, and we are terrible at this! We do have a great contractor we like, but when it comes to designing spaces and making decisions, it’s really not our strength.

We tried contacting a full-service firm, but their quote was so incredibly expensive — we could have bought a whole other house with that money!

Do people sometimes just hire a designer and/or an architect if they already have their own contractor? Some of our projects are more cosmetic (like fixing up a powder room), but we also have some bigger ones where an architect might actually come in handy (a bedroom conversion, redesigning the front entrance, etc.).

If you’ve gone this route, we’d love to hear how it worked for you — and if you have any recommendations for designers or architects, we’d be so grateful!

[Anonymous]

Did you ask your contractor to recommend an architect they have worked with before?

[Anonymous]

Your project is far too small for a design-build to make sense.

Your contractor can help you with the powder room.

Even though an architect would come in handy, with your bedroom conversion that doesn't mean it's an "extensive rennovation."

I do think that you'll need to pay up for a designer or maybe architect (depending). But then, I really don't see why your contractor can't handle the work itself.

[Anonymous]

Your project sounds like it could benefit from a designer. We hired a design firm and I wish I could recommend them to you, but we aren’t in dmv and they only do local work. Can you ask around your friends and neighbors who have done a remodel? I agree, it’s hard to know where to start when areas are being gutted, and having the guidance of a designer is helpful when it comes to making sure the space looks and functions well.

[Anonymous]

Where are you?

[Anonymous]

A designer can do this.

[Anonymous]

I could never see a need for an architect or designer for rennovations.
A new build that is different and unique, unlike most anything ever built before, perhaps then so.

[Anonymous]

Our designer worked together with our contractor on our renovations.

[Anonymous]

You need an architect. Get one.

[Anonymous]

Why do you need renovations?