Our Dream Project

Clients have come to us many times with comments like, “I’m not sure if this is something you’d even be interested in,” and others that boast about the multiple quick-flip properties they assume we would be thrilled to take on. In actuality, those assumptions are usually far from the truth.

Each designer and field employee has a different idea of what our dream project is, but there are certainly similarities that tie us all together and keep us going as a design & build firm:

Passion.

 Everyone at our firm loves what we do. We have chosen this career path because it fuels our enjoyment and fun. One of the first things we look for in a client is “will we have fun together?” If the answer is yes, we’re on our way to a successful project full of passion!

Sustainability.

The future of this planet truly matters to us and we try to incorporate sustainability strategies at every scale. We can lower energy/fuel consumption by incorporating passive heating and cooling strategies alongside maximizing daylighting for example. We seriously consider our carbon footprint when selecting materials, while other material selections contribute to a healthy indoor environment. Potable water is another limited resource, especially on Vashon Island, and we have experience incorporating systems to capture roof and site rainwater for reuse in things like toilet-flushing and landscape irrigation. One item that we’ve become increasingly sensitive to is the amount of construction waste headed to landfills.

We have held meetings with King County, Zero-Waste Vashon, Second Use, and Earthwise and worked to establish solutions with other contractors to try to make waste a minimum for our projects. It’s an absolute challenge on our island and we are faced with hefty financial barriers to reducing the amount of waste that comes with construction. We are motivated and determined to continue our sustainability goal and will continue to search for creative and effective solutions to waste management.

We look forward to working with clients who have a similar passion for sustainability and are open to hearing alternative solutions to the products and approaches that may be accepted as the norm but may not serve us as environmentally conscious stewards.

Teamwork.

Great design comes from great collaboration and while, as a design-build team, we bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the table, we’re well aware that we don’t know everything. We know that you do not want your design dictated to you, just as we do not want your design dictated to us.

The best ideas can come from anywhere and we love working with people who are eager to collaborate, and share ideas and thoughts while staying open and flexible to the unexpected. Just as in life, we bring our passion, thoughtfulness, and experience to help us navigate the unexpected as we work on projects – we hope our entire team, inclusive of our clients, shares the goal of reaching the best possible outcome while remaining open to change.

Quality.

We pride ourselves on custom design expertise including the years of experience fine-tuning the reps and products we work with. Our specialty is in custom design, providing specialized functions for your home that simply cannot be store-bought.

We are not well equipped to work with store-bought/retail products, including but not limited to, ready-made cabinetry (Ikea, Home Depot, etc), and are not comfortable with the quality of these products, because we do provide warranties and want to be able to stand behind our work, for you!

When we meet with clients, we are interested in discussing the quality of products that will go into the space, and sometimes this includes conversation around the willingness to cut some items to ensure quality is met.

Mutual Respect.

We honor your space as something precious to you. You’ve worked hard for it and it means a lot to you. We understand that there are important aspects of your design that are the “must-haves,” and we pride ourselves on the ability to incorporate your top priorities gracefully, holistically, and efficiently.

The design and construction process is not a small investment, and we understand that. We are honest upfront about cost expectations, providing average pricing and expectations for your project.

We look for clients who listen to us when we share this expertise.

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Our dream projects are not “modern kitchen renovations” or “deck rebuilds.” They are energetic, fun, open, and respectful relationships that lead to the end result of beautiful spaces. They are paced projects and sustainable spaces that incorporate design quality for longevity.

 When it comes down to it, there’s no “type” of project we love or hate. The ground-up new home build could be dreary while the deck addition could be thrilling (and, thinking on it, vice versa) so, when considering our dream projects, we’re really thinking about our dream process and partners. We’re passionate about what we do and we hope to create and foster an environment in which you share that passion with us!

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