Remodeling a home that is almost right
Most remodel clients do not dislike their house. They like the setting, the neighborhood or the bones, and they are tired of working around the parts that were never planned well. The kitchen has no landing space. The primary bath was laid out in 1998. The dining room is too formal to use and the living room is too small to host in.
A good remodel starts by naming the actual problem, which is usually about how the home lives, not about what color the cabinets are.
At a glance
Book a discovery call- Who it is for
Homeowners remodeling a primary, vacation or second home that is close to right but does not live well.
- Project type
Whole-home and multi-room remodels, major kitchen and primary suite projects, and thoughtful layout design.
- Service area
Prescott, Prescott Valley, Talking Rock, Sedona, Williams, Northern Arizona and select Phoenix and Scottsdale projects.
- What is included
Existing plan review, layout and design concepts, cabinetry, lighting coordination, selections, renderings and site visits.
- When to involve me
Before the contractor prices the work, so the bid reflects a settled plan.
- Investment
Scoped per project based on the number of rooms, drawings and construction involvement.
Plan the layout before you redecorate
I review the existing floor plan for flow, clearances, sightlines, storage and natural light before a single finish is discussed. Layout and design concepts are coordinated with your builder and licensed professionals where applicable, so the possibilities are understood before work begins.
In Daybreak at Ponderosa, relocating one spiral staircase opened the main living space more than any new cabinetry could have. In The Heart of the Home, the whole kitchen plan came down to holding roughly sixty inches between the range wall and the island.
Kitchens and primary suites
These two rooms carry the majority of remodel budgets and the majority of daily frustration. Kitchens are planned around how you cook and how many people are in the room while you do it. Primary suites are planned around the morning sequence: closet, vanity, shower, dressing, and where the light lands.
- Kitchen layout, cabinetry and appliance planning
- Primary suite and bath reconfiguration
- Storage, pantry and closet design
- Millwork, paneling and ceiling detail
Selections that hold together
Remodels go wrong when rooms get selected one at a time. Every finish is chosen against the whole house so that new work relates to what is staying, whether that is original hardwood, existing timber, or a stone fireplace you are not touching.
Living through it
Remodels are disruptive, and pretending otherwise helps nobody. Clear sequencing, documented selections and a designer who answers trade questions are what keep the schedule honest and the surprises small.
Who a whole-home remodel is for
Owners who love where they live and are tired of how the house works. Often that means a home bought for its setting or its bones, a family home that needs to fit a different stage of life, or a property purchased in Northern Arizona that needs to be brought up to the owner's standard before they move in.
It is also a good fit for people who already have a contractor and need someone to own the design decisions, document them and keep the builder supplied with answers.
When to bring a designer into a remodel
Before the contractor prices the job. Layout and design concepts coordinated with your builder and licensed professionals where applicable, along with the level of finish, inform the bid, and pricing a remodel before the plan is settled usually means pricing it twice. Early involvement also lets the cabinetry, lighting and plumbing layouts be drawn together, which is where most remodel change orders come from.
Remodel design process and drawings
The process starts with measuring and reviewing the existing home, then moves to layout and design concepts coordinated with your builder, cabinetry and lighting design, selections, and a written specification. Renderings and elevations show how new work meets what is staying, which matters in older homes with original timber, hardwood or stonework. During construction I answer trade questions, review specifications and make site visits.
- Existing conditions review and measurements
- Layout and design concepts coordinated with your builder
- Cabinetry, millwork and lighting plans
- Selections and written specifications
- Renderings, elevations and cross sections
- Construction support and site visits
Luxury Whole-Home & Major Remodeling across Northern Arizona
Based in Prescott, I work in Prescott Valley, Talking Rock, Sedona, Williams and the surrounding Northern Arizona communities, with select projects in Phoenix and Scottsdale. See areas served or the full design process.
What is included
- Existing floor plan review and thoughtful space planning
- Layout and design concepts coordinated with your builder
- Kitchen, bath and whole-home selections
- Custom cabinetry and millwork design
- Lighting and electrical coordination
- Detailed design drawings, elevations, and 3D renderings
- Vendor and bidding assistance
- Site visits and contractor coordination
Serving Prescott, Prescott Valley, Talking Rock, Sedona, Williams, Northern Arizona and select Phoenix and Scottsdale projects.
Questions about this service
- Do you take single-room decorating projects?
- My work is focused on whole-home and multi-room remodels, major kitchen and primary suite projects, and custom new construction. Small decorating or styling-only projects are usually a better fit with another designer.
- Can you help us decide what is worth changing?
- That is often the first conversation. Some homes need a plan change, some need finishes, and some need a smaller scope than the owner assumed. I would rather tell you that early than sell you square footage you do not need.
- Do you work with our contractor or recommend one?
- Both happen. I regularly work with builders and general contractors already hired by the client, and I can assist with bidding when you are still choosing.
- What affects the cost of remodel design?
- The number of rooms involved, whether walls or structure are changing, how much existing documentation exists, the drawings and renderings needed, and how involved I am during construction. A consultation comes first, then a tailored estimate.
- Can you design a remodel if we live out of state?
- Yes. Selections and drawings are reviewed digitally on your schedule, and site visits and trade questions are handled locally.
Planning a custom home or major renovation?
Send the location, the type of project and where you are in the process. If it is a fit, we will talk through what the design work would look like.