Process
Our Journey Together
The road to #NothingOrdinary
Karr Bick will Guide the Way
While there are seemingly endless choices and decisions to be made, we guide you through the myriad of possibilities and take the fear out of missing a step or wasting time and money. We leave no detail to chance which allows you to focus on your vision for the space and put your energy where it's needed. We listen and guide you to the next step making a clear path from inspiration to installation.
Timeframe: How long it takes for you to get from your couch to our showroom or through our virtual showroom tour
Start dreaming by signing up for our "real-life" remodel process series called "How to Create Nothing Ordinary." It’s a 5-part video series packed with free downloads to help you with everything you need to know from initial inspiration through final installation of your project.
These remodel resources will get you started on the path to a beautiful new space.
Timeframe: However long it takes us to find the plan you love, could be 2 weeks, could be 3 months
Engage with a designer sooner rather than later. It saves you time and many times money. A Karr Bick designer helps you translate your dream into a realistic plan that’s within your budget and then...
- your contractor can give real numbers based on real specs rather than general estimates.
- your bank knows exactly how much you need for a loan.
- you know whether to involve an architect.
It’s a much better way.
Don’t walk into the unknown alone. It's our job to be your guide through the myriad of possibilities and decisions. We love to take the scare out of it and let you enjoy the journey.
Whether it's a kitchen remodel or a bathroom renovation, here are some steps for this phase of the process:
1) Project Consultation (1st meeting)
- discuss your needs/wants for the space
- discuss initial budget, timeframes, & project scope
- review our planning resources
- view tour inspiration photos
2) Design Consultation (2nd meeting often in space to be designed)
- designer proposes initial concepts & ideas
- discuss flow of the space & usage of space
- discuss the Karr Bick process
- refine project scope
- determine priorities
Assuming you like our ideas, then the real fun begins!
3) Hire Karr Bick
- measure the space
- plentiful collaboration with a designer for design resources
- review drawings/plans from builder/architect (if any)
- space planning (we draw several plans of the space to discuss)
4) Discuss Budget Considerations
- present floor plan design options (high/med/low)
- involve construction/installation team
- floor plan
- discuss "good, better, best" material selection
5) You approve floor plan design
6) Build out elevations, so we can begin to select materials
Warning: When the ideas start flowing, remodel projects tend to expand very quickly. Renovating one space can easily lead to wanting others included. Trust your Karr Bick designer to help you determine and stick to your priorities so your project doesn’t spin out of control and beyond your budget parameters.
Timeframe: One to four meetings, typically in our showroom
Get ready to exercise your decision-making superpower! This phase moves as quickly as you can make decisions. This is where you are making choices that will determine actual costs. Because those choices don’t always fit into the budget, it is not uncommon to see lots of changes in this phase. Changing your mind is ok. That’s sometimes part of the journey.
Once you have floor plan, elevations, and material selection completed, you can get a really firm idea of the cost of the project.
Here are some of the steps we will go through in this phase:
1) Material Selection
- cabinets
- countertops
- appliances
- tile
- plumbing fixtures
- lighting fixtures
- hardware
2) Quotes
- present material quote
- present install quote
- reorder priorities
- revise quotations
3) Finalize
- agree upon a final design
- finalize materials budget
- finalize installation budget
Timeframe: Depends on materials lead times, 8-24 weeks
Finalize your decisions. Now you have to turn in your pencil for a pen. From this point forward, changes cost money. The more decisions you make ahead of construction and stick with, the smoother the project will run.
How is your life going to be altered while this space is remodeled? It will be hardest on you. The kids and the dog will have a blast. Where will you eat? Food prep? Do laundry? Take showers? Store clothes? Keep dishes? Think through how to temporarily accommodate these activities to avoid stress and unrealistic expectations.
Once you sign the agreement, don't be surprised if you don't hear from us for a while. The silence just means we are really busy - ordering materials, preparing the construction schedule, obtaining permits, lining up installers, and fine-tuning all the little details to get us to to the installation phase.
Here are some of the steps we will go through in this phase:
1) Purchase
- agreements signed
- material deposit
- finalize construction documents
- final field measurements
- materials ordered
- installation schedule prepared
2) Prep
- prepare for temporary loss of your space
- this is a great time for you to purge
- get temporary storage for all your stuff
- pick your paint colors
- choose furniture and fabrics
Timeframe: Depends on the scope of work, on average 2-6 months
Anticipate a flurry of activity. Do things you don’t normally do. Wash dishes in the bathtub. Eat in the bedroom. Invite yourself over to your friend’s house for dinner. Everyone thinks it’s fun except Mom. Kids have great stories to tell at school. The dog is never lonely.
Now you see the big changes as your space starts to take shape. Have grace for the difficulties, because no project is ever flawless. There will be potholes in the road. You hired us, and we are first and foremost your problem-solvers. We have your back and will do whatever it takes to work through come what may.
Here are some things to remember as we go through in this phase:
1) Your construction crew
- learn everyone’s name
- welcome them into your family
- give them occasional treats
2) Embrace the mess as we go through:
- demolition
- structural changes
- rough-in and framing
- painting
- flooring install
- cabinet install
- countertop measure
- hardware install
- countertop install
- appliance install prep
- lighting install
- countertop fabrication
- countertop install
- backsplash Install
- fixture and appliance install
- finishing touches (carpentry/painting/etc. )
Now is the time to take it all in. All of your hard work and planning will have been worth it. The mess will be gone and the beautiful space revealed. Now is the time to:
- throw a party
- enjoy with your family and friends
- invite us to see it finished
- let the neighbors see
- take a bath
- relax
