Process

process

“So that is the design process or the creative process. Start with a problem, forget the problem, the problem reveals itself or the solution reveals itself and then you re-evaluate it... ” - Paul Rand

The design process is a very personal experience for most people and it is something that should not be approached lightly. At Balanced Design Inc. we work closely with our clients to fully understand their wants and needs. We provide them with expertise within the design and construction industry to help them make informed decisions and create the best design possible within their particular project constraints. We have a sound understanding of how things are constructed, which allows us to provide practical and buildable solutions for our clients and their contractors while not limiting design creativity.

1. the project

It all starts with you.....Any project must first start with a desire to create something new or make a change or improvement to an existing building, structure or space.
Compiling your ideas and wish-list for your project at the onset can be the most critical step and is key in establishing if the project is viable and if you are ready to meet with a design professional.

We encourage our clients to educate themselves as much as possible and come to our initial consultation with all their ideas on paper and excited to start this process.
While we will do our best to inform the client in all areas of the design and construction process, a few items they should consider prior to our meeting include the following;

Have you established a budget for your project?
What is the timeline for starting / finishing your project?
How much space do you need?
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
Do you prefer open concept living space?
One Storey or Two Storey?
Basement, Crawl Space or Slab-on-grade?
Do you have any other specific wants or needs that should be incorporated?
Do you have a property survey?
Are there any constraints or limitations on the property to consider? (I.e. Conservation, Septic, Well, Soil Conditions, Grading, etc.)

2. consultation

You've done your homework and have all your ideas and wish-list ready to go, now it's time to meet.
Depending on your location, Balanced Design Inc. offers a complimentary in-home consultation to go over your project and discuss our design process with you.
We often recommend meeting at the project specific location wherever possible so we can familiarize ourselves with the orientation of the property and any existing structures or services which may be present at the site.

As the design process is a personal one, we also want to ensure that it is a good fit for both parties and a face-to-face meeting is an excellent way for the client and our team to get to know each other and decide if we wish to work together. It is our goal at Balanced Design Inc. to ensure this process is as enjoyable as possible for our clients and we hope to build long lasting relationships with them.

During our initial consultation we will generally address the following;

Clients ideas and wish-list
Project Budget & Feasibility
Planning Regulations & By-Laws
Design Process & Approval Process
Initial Sketches & Design Development Ideas
Collect any existing information, if applicable

3. proposal

After our initial meeting, Balanced Design Inc. will prepare an initial fee estimate or written fee proposal with a brief summary of all items discussed, we will also outline our detailed scope of work for your particular project and our fee structure to complete this scope.

Once both parties are happy with the agreement, the client will sign a copy of our contract allowing Balanced Design Inc. to proceed.

4. design

We've met, discussed your vision, both parties feel good and wish to proceed, now its time for us to get to work!
We generally start every project with a similar phased approach to ensure no unnecessary costs are incurred by the client.

An example of the typical design phase may include the following steps;

a.       planning review
Balanced Design Inc. will complete a detailed review of the local planning requirements for your particular property and ensure the project will be permitted or outline any further applications which may be required. We will often provide a Planning Summary outlining our findings to keep a record on file for quick reference or future development. Certain projects may also require additional meetings with the municipality and other regulating bodies, which Balanced Design Inc. is more than happy to assist with, or refer an appropriate Planner to assist if necessary.

b.       schematic design
With planning requirements understood, we first develop preliminary floor plans or sketches for your project.
The goal in this earlier stage is to compile your ideas and wish-list on paper and work with you to refine the layout to meet your vision.

c.        conceptual design
Once the layout has been approved by the client will be proceed with the more detailed design work including development of the exterior building elevations and 3D perspectives to help further illustrate the design intent. Once the client is happy with the plans and elevations, they will provide approval of these plans in writing allowing Balanced Design Inc. to proceed with the Construction Drawings.

5. drawings

With the design finalized, Balanced Design Inc. will now complete a detailed construction drawing package for your project with sufficient detail for permit submission and construction. We offer different packages to our clients depending on the level of detail required to build, and always encourage our clients to spend more time in the design and construction document stage in order to work through the details of the build and make every effort to avoid any potential challenges throughout construction.
In our opinion this is time and money well spent upfront which typically will see a return in its investment during construction.

We also encourage the client to source a contractor/builder for their project prior to completing the construction drawing package and submitting for permits, so they can provide their input on the design and also provide an initial estimate for the construction costs. Balanced Design Inc. can also refer local contractors and trades to the client if they wish.

6. permits

Depending on your project and municipality permit submissions can typically be submitted by the client or by Balanced Design Inc. acting as your agent. In normal cases this process is fairly straight forward and can take anywhere between 2-3 weeks to obtain your permits.

All permit application and subsequent permit fees shall be paid directly by the client and/or property Owner.

7. construction

You have your permits in hand and a contractor on board, now it's time to build!
All the information necessary to build will be on the approved construction drawings and documents.
The contractor should now be able to take you through to completion.

Balanced Design Inc. is also here to assist you further throughout the construction process if needed.