Design idea & Would involving architect be too costly?
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi All,
I am excited and grateful to participate in this exciting houzz forum - Hoping to transform to my dream home and having looked at ideabooks and project photos of some, it gives me amazing excitement
Got the current floor plan of our 3 bed semi-detached house (1958 built - Twyford, Berkshire) and just wanted to seek advise from others experience about employing architects for redesign / extension - would it be too expensive or would be good to think about what we want and go straight to builder?
Would be also good to get some re-design thoughts for our desires below and some rough range on costs and timeline (With and Without architect)
I like the idea of taking our ideas to an architect and then taking their revised options - but as we are first time buyers not sure on how much its going to cost us
Our main desires is,
a. To have a bigger lounge
b. Bigger kitchen with open plan & dinning
c. Ensuite Bedroom in the 1st floor
d. Kid playroom / nursery
e. Meditation / Pooja room
f. Have a ground floor shower room
Potential in the house being garage conversion and then making the conservatory / utility into a proper extension and then take it to the 1st floor? - As the adjoining semi have done the conservatory to proper extension and 1st floor built so I don't think planning permission will be a problem
I am excited and grateful to participate in this exciting houzz forum - Hoping to transform to my dream home and having looked at ideabooks and project photos of some, it gives me amazing excitement
Got the current floor plan of our 3 bed semi-detached house (1958 built - Twyford, Berkshire) and just wanted to seek advise from others experience about employing architects for redesign / extension - would it be too expensive or would be good to think about what we want and go straight to builder?
Would be also good to get some re-design thoughts for our desires below and some rough range on costs and timeline (With and Without architect)
I like the idea of taking our ideas to an architect and then taking their revised options - but as we are first time buyers not sure on how much its going to cost us
Our main desires is,
a. To have a bigger lounge
b. Bigger kitchen with open plan & dinning
c. Ensuite Bedroom in the 1st floor
d. Kid playroom / nursery
e. Meditation / Pooja room
f. Have a ground floor shower room
Potential in the house being garage conversion and then making the conservatory / utility into a proper extension and then take it to the 1st floor? - As the adjoining semi have done the conservatory to proper extension and 1st floor built so I don't think planning permission will be a problem
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Comments (17)Hi new house It looks like you are doing a really nice project and definitely as OnePlan has suggested you really need to see a professional kitchen designer. To be honest it looks like you have left it rather late! As a professional kitchen designer I suggest you go and visit 2 or 3 independent kitchen specialists, have a chat with them, see if this is the sort of project they often do. Now this is the important bit - be honest with them, tell them you want the space designed properly then get the design costed by 2 or 3 other suppliers. If they are sensible then they will suggest you pay a reasonable fee to cover their time and advice, and you get a design that's right for you and can get like for like costings - well as much as you can. You will also save a lot of time and repeating processes. In fact I had a customer in last week, they are building a beautiful German timber frame home, very modern, and they said money is tight for the internals so want to get several costings for the kitchen and other rooms. I suggested we design the space for them for a reasonable fee, they get all the alternative costs they want and then hopefully they will come back to us in the end so they will get their design fee back on the order. They emailed me yesterday and are coming in this afternoon with their house plans to discuss their requirements! New house where abouts are you in the UK? I might be able to suggest / recommend someone or company. CK...See MoreNew kitchen remodeling - architect or designer? SW11 London
Comments (12)Hi Paula, Wow loads of great advice already ! I'd suggest you ask your builder if he can recommend a structural engineer, that he's worked with previously, to come and view the stack - it may be that by extending the thick nub on bottom left of that area marked, that you can then put one beam across to support above? ( but I'm not a SE - so you will need on site advice for this !!) I'm the concept planner that Minnie added the link for ( thank you Minnie !!) We sell purely design, no product. So charge for our services, rather than making a mark up on what you buy, like a showroom would. (We have a few types of service - the most expensive, for a project this size, is about the same cost as a good dishwasher) But that does mean you get a PDF with all the plans/elevations/colour perspectives, panoramics and item listing to shop around with, which means you can compare like for like and negotiate great deals with showrooms/studios/even online suppliers of kitchen furniture and appliances etc. We can even supply colour A3 prints, if you want, too ! So we are a bit different to a free studio service - but can work well for busy people who want an input into the design stage ( we have a service that involves you throughout the design process over a five day period) and those who want to approach a few different studios or online suppliers to quote, but that don't have the time to deal with several site visits from several designers and to sit through several presentations that are all different - so it becomes a bit confusing to see who's offering the best deal ! You simply email them your design PDF - or drop them in a printed copy, ask for their best price as you are shopping around. All they need to do initially is price it - so much easier for the studios too ! Anyway enough of the 'sales pitch' from me ! Best wishes for your project, which ever route you choose ! :-)...See Morearchitect design & specifications Vs builders
Comments (5)I agree with both. Plans can be very important and can save on massive things like time, costly mistakes and mis-communications. However.. this doesn't seem like very complex project (as Jonathon says) so I wouldn't think they would be required / be essential. I would look at what is involved in the job with the builder first, how well you work together and judge if they are needed to ensure it run smoothly - i.e have you worked with the builder before? does he usually work from plans? Lastly, even if you do need plans the normal fee's of an architect are not always the cheapest. If you know what you require and what is involved and purely need them for measurements for contractors to work to (to ensure door positions are as you would like and so on) and to ensure you ideas are put across correctly.... then an architect technician or concept planner (like me) would be cheaper. It then comes down to how good the 'mates rates' are that they have offered you. Best of luck with your project, Gina...See MoreArchitect or designer
Comments (6)There are different types of Architects and different types of Designers. I would talk to a few people and get their rates along with idea of how they work. Some will see their job in a very practical way, at the other end of the scale sometimes Designers can be all about the look without due consideration for the way you will be living the space. An Architect might well have ideas about how to arrange the main structure and windows, doors etc. more usefully than the current plan. That's not to say that a Designer wouldn't also look at that but most of them, I suspect, would just work with the proposal you have for the building. Small changes might make a big difference though. Anyone will be happy to talk on the phone. Some will charge for a consultation and others won't, some might decide about that whilst you are telling them about the project!! If the consultation fee isn't huge it might be worth talking to one or two 'onsite'. Fees can vary a huge amount, as can the experience, knowledge and qualifications of the person you are dealing with. We tend to expect these things to be on proportion to each other but very often they are not at all. I recall speaking to a winner of 'Best in Show' at the Chelsea Flower Show who said that after winning he found that one client had gone to someone else, believing that he would be too expensive and actually paid more than he would have charged. That was for a garden design of course but the two scenarios are becoming increasingly similar. It is worth asking about insurance. A professional should carry Professional Indemnity Insurance. Everyone tends to assume that all professionals do. Unfortunately this is not the case. It pleases me when clients ask about this....See MoreUser
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