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Leah Palmer Johnson (left) meets with clients regularly during the course of a project.
Photo courtesy of Ramsey Engler
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By Marcia Jedd
Few successful general contractors would argue that coordinating the efforts of everyone touching a project is not crucial to its success. Between the initial meeting between builder and client and the end of the project, many other people will be involved in planning it: architect, designer, as well as media, lighting, mechanical systems, landscaping and security specialists. And that's not even counting the crews who make the plans happen.
For custom home builder Kyle Hunt of Deephaven, Minn., it all begins with sitting down with clients as an essential first step. "Understanding the goals of the client for the project is critical," says Kyle. "In our early meetings with clients, we have them identify their three main goals. Sometimes these goals are about them just having fun during the process, or they could center on quality or communications."
Kyle's company, Kyle Hunt & Partners, uses a different approach than some builders by using an outside, independent architect for every home it builds. The practice helps keep a good "balance of input," Kyle says.
"In selecting the project team, the builder and architect should be brought together at the start, to be followed by an interior designer at roughly the point the plans go to one-quarter inch scale," Kyle says. "It is a highly creative and collaborative approach that results in truly one-of-a-kind custom homes. It also brings a balance of input to the project, which our clients appreciate because of the sensibility and value relative to the design/cost relationship."
Kyle says teamwork comes into play even at the initial bidding process. He notes that everybody wins when subcontractors directly apply their knowledge of the latest trends and products in their areas of expertise to the project. "The exchange of ideas and receiving vendor suggestions for alternative methods or materials to maintain or increase quality while holding or reducing costs is very strong."
Big Picture in Mind
Having extra eyes on design elements makes designers invaluable to a project. Lighting, storage, security and home entertainment are just a few critical areas where a designer's experience can enhance the home, influencing all the finer details such as fabric selections, window treatments and lighting fixtures which can make a home go from mediocre to great.
Leah Palmer Johnson, ASID and senior project manager and designer with Ramsey Engler Ltd., an interior design firm in Minneapolis, occasionally works with Kyle on his projects. She is passionate about being brought in early on during projects. "There's always collaboration and communication," she says. "You have to be open with everyone on the project to get the best result."
Meetings with the clients to understand their lifestyles and design preferences are standard for designers, Leah says. "We'll sit down with the clients and architect and ask the clients about their needs for the particular space." Just recently, Leah questioned clients and discovered their desire for a closed pantry, which resulted in a minor design change of moving a wall six inches. She stresses the importance of planning for these customization details as well as lighting and traffic patterns of the home before finer aesthetic choices are made.
Other considerations might include making sure there is enough clearance for a pool table in a room or even, as with one of Leah's projects, ensuring higher-than-standard placement of lighting touchpads in a professional basketball player's custom home.
Marcia Jedd is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer who frequently writes about design and construction.
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