3-D Views Can Save Your Plans

Fitzpatrick-Okay Koontz, you say, “The idea is not to be too wed to ‘the plan.’” To quote Kyle’s mom on SouthPark, “What, what, what???!!!

What about “the plan” you turned into the city and pulled the permit on, showing the exact locations of all electrical outlets, vents and drains and possibly stamped by an engineer for structural and thermal calculations for certain window and wall locations?

What about “the plan” that had tiles laid out for an 18-inch-on-center backsplash pattern on a wall that you now think should be extended 11 inches?

What about “the plan” with the light fixtures chosen for a ceiling that on second thought looks like it should be two feet higher?

What about “the plan” where plumbing was jack hammered for an island sink that now seems better suited to the peninsula?

Peg pulls down a wall and you see new possibilities. Beg pardon, but that’s sort of a Neanderthal method of visualization. Ideally, you should get a 3-D image from your architect, designer or contractor before all the dust.

Architectural software programs such as 20/20, made primarily for kitchen and bath designers and cabinet dealerships, Chief Architect, used by many small remodelers, and of course, Autocad, the lingua franca of commercial architects, all have the capacity to render three-dimensional views of a project, in color and with varying lighting schemes. These pictures go a long way toward bridging the visual communication gap that can occur between clients who have a hard time “seeing it,” and those of us who make our living imagining spaces that don’t yet exist. Without having to knock down a wall as a demonstration.

These programs are also helpful for envisioning color; I was able to convince a client’s husband to go with denim blue-stained cabinets when I could demonstrate how a whole kitchen of them would look. Imagine if they’d ordered 10,000 dollars-worth of those groovy things and hated them.

Rarely discussed when talking about changes on a remodeling project is the eroding effect that time has on a plan that everyone, from the architect to the client to the construction team has agreed upon as rock solid. Weeks go by, permits are pulled, demolition begun, cabinetry and plumbing fixtures ordered. You pass a magazine rack at Ye Olde Home Centre; hmmm, would that be a better sink? Your sister-in-law arrives for a visit that morphs rapidly into a critique. What, your kitchen doesn’t have the warming drawer that she and all her friends have? Yet more reasons not to hurry the design process, and to document your decisions to the point that you remember the labor it took to arrive at your choices and the reasoning behind them.

The heat of actual demolition can have an alchemical effect on plans. If you think the mid-project change will yield gold, by all means, go to the trouble and expense of implementing it. This remodeling stuff is pricey and permanent; you don’t want to look at a window everyday and wish it was larger or somewhere else. Or worse, hate it so much you have to have it redone. Not all can be planned for, even with my beloved 3-D software.

So Peg, you wanna talk about Change Orders?

Electrical nightmares

Koontz - It's Wednesday now and the electrical problems on the current job were happily resolved yesterday. So I can say in one sense that it's been a productive week. On the other hand, both the problem and the resolution were unplanned for events, so I lost a day working to resolve the issue, when I should have been working on what I bid on.

That's both the joy and the frustration with remodeling.

My partner and I always tell clients' that regardless of their plans, once walls start to come down, ideas may start to change. The client has perhaps thought about this remodel for years; has it all down as to what she/he wants, and then we rip out the first wall and the perspective is so different, that new and sometimes better ideas start to develop. The idea is not to be too wed to "the plan". Let yourself have room to change and adapt.

We also make sure that clients don't try to shorcut their jobs in the interest of the budget. They want new counter-tops but they want to keep the old sink. That's a no! I can guarantee that the new counter will look like it was never replaced if we don't also change out the materials around it. That is not the place to scrimp on your budget.

What we sometimes forget to tell the client, because we actually forget about it, is that working on older homes can sometimes cause problems in areas close-to, but technically out of the area of the remodel project.

That's a bit of the problem we had on this job this week.
The electrical problems I spoke of in my last post were caused by wires shorting out against each other in a sub-panel box not involved in the remodel. It turned out there was a problem brewing there though that demanded to be addressed, and it was actually lucky for all of us that the problems came to a head while we were on site. Although this box was not in the scope of work we were dealing with, it reminded me of something my Dad once told me about working on cars. "You fix one thing, and the part next to it starts acting up".

It seems there's always at least one thing that comes up on a job that was unexpected. A new design concept, an unplanned repair, a cat that goes under the house through that hole I cut in the floor, (really, I've just heard stories...). When you hear your contractor say, "Oh, oh", you might want to start practicing your deep breathing, and remember, it might be a discovery that saves your life down the road.

Speaking of Accidents...

Koontz - Nice post on floors Jodi! I think I'm going with buffed concrete and replaceable rugs from now on! Because accidents do happen when you live with pets-or when you work on a job. Which brings me to another Monday story.

I left my client today with half of the electrical in her house inoperable. Unbelieveable, even to me-but things happen on every job that you can't predict or control or necessarily fix in the most timely manner. Added to that list, it was a 100 degree plus MONDAY. I should be glad these things happen on Mondays rather than Fridays I guess-that could really be a bother for everyone concerned!

Truely though, things happen on jobs, even for the experts, that seem to have either a touch of magic or a touch of sadism to them. When you tear into an older home, sometimes things go awry, even for the one who knows what they're doing. Typically problems are resolved quickly with a bit of thought, a little investigation and a fresh perspective. On really hot Mondays it seems that isn't the case and my only out today was that this client happens to be a friend. Speaks alot about my concept of friendship you say? Hey, I made sure the air-condtitioner was not on the affected circuit!

Today's escapade in fact was an electrical area not even involved in the remodel. But strange things happen on jobs, and because it happened while I was there, it becomes my problem. Not to mention an aggravation for my client that was unanticipated. I will be highly peeved when I find out that by my correction of one thing, I jacked up someone else's wrong thing just enough to make it malfunction-and that's exactly what I expect to find tomorrow. But in the meantime, my client has an evening of inconvenience which I regret and though I know she will deal with it with grace, it annoys me to add to the upheaval already going on in her home because I'm in there, tearing things apart.

So to the clients who do deal with the accidents, malfunctions, unexpected delays on their jobs-thank-you. As contractors', we make the claims of knowledge, and be assured we will eventually figure things out, (or get that tile in, or kill that sheetrock guy who hasn't shown up, and do the job ourselves), but it may take a day or two of suffering all around before it's resolved, and we really do appreciate your patience.

Flooring for Living With Pets

Fitzpatrick-I’m still pondering my husband and his Chow and leopard print rug choices. But I digress.

Follow these guidelines when choosing carpet or area rugs for a home that you share with pets:

• Medium value. (Value refers to a color’s darkness. Squint your eyes down to where all colors turn gray. Some are lighter and some darker).
• Multi-colored or flecked.
• Patterned.
• Multi-level, for instance, some cut pile and some looped
  100% nylon yarn. (It doesn’t have to be a brand). This fiber stand up to water and cleaning as opposed to some like olefin, which will mat as flat as a pancake under moisture and never spring back.

Horrors. The perfect carpet for pets is the good old landlord staple; the brown hi-low atrocity. But no; please. No.

Better yet, don’t put wall-to-wall carpet in your house at all. Hard surfaces like tile or hardwood with area rugs are much better for households with pets. The hard surfaces are easier to clean, less damaged by accidents and traffic, and the area rugs can be replaced when soiled, chewed or clawed at a more reasonable cost. Besides carpet is:

• Hands down the most unsanitary material to use as flooring.
• All pets dribble, even those who are housebroken.
• Pet urine is almost impossible to remove from carpet backing and immediately begins to breed bacteria at the site.
• Most people do not vacuum often enough or with the correct equipment (a machine with a HEPA filter that is washed and changed frequently) to prevent their carpet from becoming a blizzard of dust mites and animal dander.

Tile is a great surface for pets

• Use the same aesthetic guidelines for picking pet-friendly carpet; medium value, mottled or multi-colored neutrals, texture.
• Select porcelain tile not ceramic. It’s harder and therefore more scratch resistant and the color is all the way through the body, unlike ceramic tile, which has a glaze on top of a different colored body.
• Beware of wide grout joints. The texture traps hair during mopping.
• Beware of too much texture or pits in the tile surface, for the same reason.
• Use a tile with a coefficient of friction of greater than .06. That’s a commercial specification that ensures that the surface will be slightly abrasive and not contribute to the slips and falls of any creatures.

Laminate is a good surface for pets:

• It’s difficult to scratch.
• A medium value wood grain or stone look hides dirt and hair.
• Accidents must be cleaned promptly or urine can seep into the subfloor through the joints.

Hardwood can be a good surface for pets.

• Remember though, all wood can be scratched by a dog’s claws.
  Some woods are harder than others. (Morrisey fans, cue up). Maple, oak and bamboo are less likely to be gouged than the softer American cherry, poplar and pine, which dent easily.
• The lighter the wood color value, the easier it will hide scratches. Our home has natural and white-glazed maple floors. It’s been pretty well gouged in the inevitable traffic patterns, but it’s not too visible.
• Dark woods will show scratches, dust and light-colored hair.

Natural stone can be a good surface for pets.

• Some stones are softer than other stones. (Is he dead yet?) Igneous stones like granite are harder. Sedimentary stones like marble, travertine and limestone are softer and more porous and prone to scratching, gouging and retaining odors in their pores if not sealed often.
• A very rustic stone in a medium value color can be a good choice for a homeowner with pets who doesn’t mind the surface becoming even more authentic.
• Never use a polished stone on floors. I know, everyone does, but it’s simply too slick and dangerous for all, especially when wet. And our poor creatures just spin out on them like hot rods trying to get a footing. Use a matter sealer or a stone with honed surface; one that is semi-unfinished and gently abrasive.

Vinyl can work.

• I hate most vinyl, and the stuff I do like costs as much as tile or hardwood, so why bother, I say.
• Some patterns can hide claw marks, dirt and hair.
• Purchase a commercial thickness, to provide greater durability.
• Accidents can seep into joints and seams.

Linoleum, Cork and Rubber can work also.

• Observe the same style and color guidelines for hiding hair and dirt.
• Purchase commercial thicknesses.
• Accidents can seep into joints and seams.

My husband and I are part-owners and operators of a commercial flooring company, but you’d never know it by the floors in our house. If you are expecting a new member of the family, four-or two-footed, don’t bother replacing old floors. Let them be thrashed and replaced later when the puppies, kittens, piglets or kiddies are older.

Our flooring replacement choices will be either porcelain tile or commercial-grade cork, with area rugs.

With hope, we’ll still have the Chow, but maybe by then my husband will have outgrown his leopard print stage.

Living With Pets, Too

Fitzpatrick-Yep. Just finished the most joyful task of puppy training; wiping up the piddle and disinfecting and deodorizing. Lucky for us, Lu, our six-week-old Chow, is only on his third mistake in the two weeks we’ve had him. Lucky for us also, that we have mostly hard surface floors in the house. The carpet we do have, the site of his last insult, is a ten-year-old leopard print area rug, so not much harm done.

(At this juncture I feel compelled to clarify for our readers that the Chow and the leopard print rug were both my husband’s choices. Really. I ain’t that type of chick.)

(Come to think of it, my husband isn't that type of chick either. Looking at him, you’d guess Pit Bull and woven leather throw or perhaps the new Chilewich woven vinly mats-see www.dwr.com.)

If you live with pets, the things to remember when selecting materials for flooring, cabinetry, wainscoting, upholstery and bedding are:

MEDIUM VALUE
PATTERNED
TEXTURED
MULTI-COLORED
NEUTRALS, I.E., DIRT AND HAIR COLORS; YOUR LOCAL DIRT AND YOUR PET’S HAIR COLOR. (Chances are that you’ll end up with different-colored pets over time or at the same time; that’s where the MULTI-COLORED comes in).

Yes, I’m afraid partner Peg did make just about the worst possible choice for her carpet for accommodating creatures. Her rug is:

A dark value.
A solid color.
All one texture.
All one height.

This is not only bad for pets, it’s difficult for anyone besides Martha Stewart and Staff to keep clean. Peg makes a valiant attempt, though; her place is always tidy when I visit, and I can’t think she does that just for my benefit.

Living with pets

Koontz - Jodi emailed me today regarding business, but in the note she mentioned that her time has been filled lately with the antics of a new puppy in the house. Both Jodi and I have had dogs die this year, so any mention of dogs sends a conversation right off track and into the wonderful world of dogdom.

My first dog spent his youth traveling to work with me. I fell in love hard and fast and frankly, could not imagine leaving this guy on his own each day, so he got bundled up in the truck and he became my construction dog. Unbeknowst to me, this turned out to be a great benefit when Fourth of July came around. My dog napped under the saw table, so a few fireworks didn't even make him flinch. I've been lucky with clients too, and can only remember one in the past many years who did not have a pet that the crew took to heart. Often I remember the pets' names before I can recall the clients' names. I think that speaks well of my priorities.

A house with four-legged inhabitants can still accommodate style. It has to to with making the right choices. I for instance, made a hideous choice when I recarpeted. I chose a reddish carpet, which I still love; But I lived with three dogs who all had black and white hair. (Is it hair or fur on a dog? What's the distinction?). The color of my carpet shows up only for that five minute interval before one of the dogs lies down in the path I've just vacuumed. And it's a close cropped carpet, which I think now was also a mistake. Everything they drop, track or bring me is glaringly obvious.

My couch though was a touch of genius. Courduroy is one of the most forgiving fabrics I've ever seen. I can't wear the pants, but it works great if you live with animals. Research tells me that velvet, oddly enough, is just about as good with your animals. It just always recovers and it looks good far beyond it's years would decree.

Because I am an oh so indulgent flat mate, one of the first things I did for my dogs was install a doggie door. I was able to actually put it in one of my backyard doors, but access can also be installed in walls leading to your yard and often the location is better for style considerations. I recently installed a dog door for a friend in the office room wall and built a ramp from the dog door to the yard drop. By then my dogs were of an age where I'd begun to notice the issue with landings and stairs, so I planned ahead for this pup. There are plenty of other style choices now for those of us that live with our friends in close quarters. In fact if I'd listened to my vet, I would have installed the dog bowls in a cabinet that I could close off during the day...

Keep in mind that living with your pets doesn't mean you can't upgrade your home or style. As we continually say in these articles-it just takes a bit of research to find what will work for all concerned.

Shoot, Shoot, Sh#@$%***

Fitzpatrick-Peg had a good point a post back about photography as a record of what was done to a building before the walls were closed up and as a documentary of the overall devastation that occurs during a remodel. We tend to forget the pain of the ordeal a few years later; perhaps like childbirth, they tell me. It’s good to haul those pix out again as you contemplate your next project.

Let’s talk about glamour photography. (I watched Napoleon Dynamite this weekend. It’s a great film, and one of the characters does door-to-door glamour shots.). When you look at any design magazine, what you are seeing is a glamour shot of a space. Giselle Bundschen and Laetitia Casta look good, but THEY NEVER LOOK LIKE THAT IN REAL LIFE. During a photo session there is one person whose sole object in life for those few hours is to make sure every strand of their hair is in place. (Don’t you wish he’d follow us around all day?) Another whose job it is to ensure their skin glints in precisely the right spot. And let’s not even start with the computer graphics pro who will digitally erase every untoward dimple. Those goddesses can’t possibly suffer cellulite?

The same is true of interior spaces. Even projects in Metropolitan Home NEVER, EVER, LOOK THAT WAY IN REAL LIFE. Okay, maybe. But only if the household employs a full-time maid and flower service, and someone is standing in the garden holding that light reflector just so. Often, the accessories and artwork aren’t even the ones that are actually in the space from day to day, but are imported, especially for the shot.

An interior design photo shoot is a day-long or longer work of drudgery, sweat and neurosis. I have to do one next week, and I’m dreading it. On a shoot for the big magazines, dozens of people may be on site to prep and preen every detail; photographer, art director, stylist, floral designer, and assorted grunts and gofers will insure no speck of dust shows on a countertop or water spots on a window. On my shoot, there will be two people; Tamela Ryatt of Ryatt Photo, architectural photographer extraordinaire and my trusted interiors documentarian, and me, acting as harried art director, stylist and all those other minions in one.

Now with digital photography and Photoshop, things are more forgiving, but it doesn’t change the fact that, even if you spend seven figures, YOUR HOUSE WILL NEVER LOOK LIKE THAT IN REAL LIFE.

Giselle and Laetitia are there to sell us drawerfuls of lingerie and skin creams. The airbrushed gals in Playboy and Maxim are there to sell men beer, hairplugs and more porn. The super-styled interiors that we all drop our jaws over are to sell us thousand-dollar toilets, fifty-dollar-a square-foot tile and a complete x-number-of-dollars kitchen, bath or whole house.

Become aware of what is being sold to you. Look hard at those photos. Then examine what you really need for your remodel.