ARCHITECTURAL & INTERIOR DESIGN CONSULTING
architectural consultation:
Architectural consultation is one of my favorite things! I designed for years but found that I much prefer consulting to designing. This is because I excel at problem-solving, communication, listening and organization. I love to space plan and oversee the design process from conception to closeout, but it is not the highest and best use of my time to do architectural drawings or get sucked into the super fine detail, I am much better at managing architects to bring a client’s vision to life. It is with great pleasure and efficiency that I am able to manage other designers since I worked in Architectural offices for years. I understand what needs to happen, how long it takes, when it needs to happen and why. I am very familiar with codes and am also very good at navigating bureaucracy and permitting offices. I am also a great go-between for clients, designers and contractors since I speak all three ‘languages’ as well as possess a deep construction, design and budgeting/ scheduling knowledge.
interior design consultation:
I love working with Interior Designers to help them bring their ideas to life. In my work, I have found that Interior Designers are not as familiar with codes, construction or reading drawings - this is where I come in. I offer a grounded perspective to guide the designer to work within and understand the constraints of the specific space. I have had great success working with Interior Designers over the past nine years on all sorts of projects. I have avoided a lot of mistakes, headaches and costs with my ability to bridge the gap between design and construction because I speak ‘design’ and I speak ‘construction’. Designers feel heard by me because I started out my architectural journey in theoretical design! Notable instances where I saved time, money, and stress include helping designers understand the MEP so that required head heights could be met in luxury residential spaces, aiding designers in the layout of furniture and lighting so codes are met, helping design front desks and kitchens to meet all code requirements in commercial spaces across the United States and sitting in on design meetings as a go-between for the client, contractor and designer.
peer review:
Peer review or construction documentation review is an amazing and highly cost-effective way to save money, time and stress. Ideally, my review of the drawings takes place when design documents are around 95% complete, or if you are a contractor or developer, before you send the drawings to bid, even better would be before the contract with the contractor.
Generally, 2% of the overall project cost goes to errors and omissions. this can be a staggering amount, and can easily skyrocket the cost of a project. The best and most efficient way to reduce this cost is to catch inconsistencies, constructability issues, general questions and omissions before the drawings are issued to the contractor. Of course, not all errors can be caught, but any reduction in change orders at this early phase compounds the savings, not to mention the time and stress Change Orders and Requests for Information eat up. Catching issues early in the project also helps limit changes to the schedule.
I strongly believe it is important to have a third-party review drawings. This way, it is a whole new set of eyes and understanding. In my review, I am not constrained to the way the original designer/firm thought and I am laser focused on just this portion of the project, unlike Project Managers on the Development/ construction side of things who are busy with countless other tasks.
sunline studio is perfectly positioned for this type of work. Not only do I highly enjoy it, I have the background required; having worked on all sides of the Architecture and Construction business, from real estate, design, construction, owner’s representation and business owner. Years of working in Architectural offices has taught me how to read Architectural, Interior Design and Engineering drawings as well as think, communicate and understand designers and what their design intent is. Years in construction have provided me the understanding of how contractors and subcontractors think, how they understand drawings, how buildings go together and where issues commonly pop up. Years working closely with Developers and as an Owner Representative, has given me unique perspective into what is valuable to a project.
My work as an Owner’s Rep for a leader in the psychedelic therapy space, has sharpened my ability to manage complex amounts of information simultaneously. My ability to take in vast amounts of diverse information, comb through it and organize and understand it in rapidly quick time-frames directly corresponds to my ability to perform a robust, concise and considered peer review product.
Because of this, I bring a thorough and well-rounded approach to Peer Review; understanding multiple angles of the business allows for a better, more efficient, cost-effective review. All of my years of experience looking at the industry from multiple sides allow for a review that is sympathetic and respectful to both design, constructability and owner perspectives.
One of my favorite things to do is to help make projects run more smoothly, cost less and cause fewer headaches.