ASSEMBLE YOUR DREAM TEAM
WHY YOU NEED AN ARCHITECT, BUILDER AND INTERIOR DESIGNER FOR YOUR CUSTOM HOME BUILD AND HOW TO FIND THEM
Let’s catch you up: If you’ve been following our home building journey, then you know we bought ourselves a fabulous lot in the middle of Houston, complete with a forest in the backyard (aka, 21 trees! YAY! Folks, that IS a forest in the middle of the city, don’t you think?). If you missed that post, read all about it here.
Just so we’re on the same page, I’m sort of a newbie to this process in that I’ve never built a house for myself. But because I’m an interior designer, I’ve been a part of the Home Building process many times, but always from the client point of view.
Because of my experience in working on new builds with clients, I know and have worked with many architects and builders, which gave me a distinct advantage. But I don’t like to mix my business and personal life, so I knew that I didn’t want to lean on my professional relationships for my personal build.
So, just like you, I was starting from square one.
You may never have built a house before or worked with professionals in the building industry, so you might be flying blind here. And if you’re in a big city like I am, an internet search will yield you – oh, I don’t know – about a billion results.
And right now, you may be thinking ‘oh-my-God-what-have-i-gotten-myself-into?’
Welcome to overwhelm
Get used to this place and settle in.
There will be many things you don’t know, and many rabbit holes you’ll go down. Take a deep breath, honey. You’ll get there.
But just like you wouldn’t try to climb Mount Everest without a Sherpa, or try to sail across the Atlantic Ocean without a sailor with experience, building a house is a helluva lot easier when you have the right guides.
You need to assemble
your Dream Team.
Who is in your Dream Team?
In an ideal world, a Dream Team has an Architect, a Builder and an Interior Designer. While Architects, Builders and Interior Designers often work together, what they do is fundamentally different.
Of course, there are many different ways of doing things - including building a house - and these roles can be called something else or combined in certain firms. But the basic roles that these three perform are integral to a successful home build. And while you CAN build a home without them, it will take a LOT longer, cause you a LOT more headaches and cost a lot more money.
An easy way to remember who you need in your Dream Team?
B-A-D
(Builder, Architect, Designer)
– as in, if you don’t hire these three professionals, you’ll have a BAD time building!
BUILDERS
A Builder reads the final blueprints (design plans) of the house that your Architect designs and builds you the physical structure, including both the inside and the outside. They do everything from helping you obtain the necessary surveys and engineering documents you need to helping you with permitting. Once construction is approved, they can handle everything from breaking ground to laying the foundation, from building the interior and exterior of the house to installing the last light bulb. In short, they turn the architectural plans for your house into a physical reality. A good builder – in my opinion – will be involved with you from the design stage and advise you on how design features affect your home build pricing, as some architectural features can affect your bottom line substantially. We’ll talk about that more in another post.
ARCHITECTS
An Architect designs your house and produces blueprints (plans) that will serve first as the starting point for design decisions you make together, and then serve many other functions from informing safety and engineering to permitting and building.
They are MAGICAL in thinking three-dimensionally and spatial relationships. They take all your dreams, visions and ideas, and what you say you want in your new home and translate that into a design of your new house. A house that considers the shape and size of your lot, as well as the size and needs of your family. They design the number and size of storeys, the number and size of rooms, the outdoor spaces, roof details, exterior design and the flow of your space. Their design makes the first impression – the exterior of your new home – but because they also design how things flow, they also dictate how your house functions for you as a family. They are responsible for ensuring that the blueprints meet the correct building standards for safety that exist in your city, state or local government.
INTERIOR DESIGNERS
An Interior Designer is the most beneficial team player you can have when building. We spend the most time with you and know you well, so we can advise on whether every aspect of the design or construction will work for you. We can ‘see’ the project as Architects are designing and consider both aesthetics and function. Our advice on interior layout, floor plan, entertainment spaces, and how your family needs may change are second to none. We handle it all, from the design of your kitchen cabinets to ceiling treatments, from furniture to lighting. We make the endless decision-making easy, instead of overwhelming. We take care of every last detail, and touch every single space. Our extensive planning and processes ensure everything goes smoothly and nothing is overlooked. In this way, we save you money, time. We start and end the project with you, and are fully vested in making sure you are THRILLED when you finally open the door to your new luxury home.
There are, of course, MANY more people and parts to the build process and I will take you through them all in this series of posts. But if you get these three – your Dream Team – right, then you’ll be golden.
OUR DREAM TEAM SEARCH
So what did we do in this beginning stage of our build process? Well, most of my new build clients are very, very, VERY high end – the kind who I sign non-disclosure agreements with and whose pictures I cannot show on my website. So, while the builders I have worked with are AMAZING and one day, I hope to hire them for my own home (hello, La Jolla!), we’d have much less house because their price was SO much higher than what we wanted to spend right now.
So I started at square one. I did an internet search for Houston builders “inside the loop” (the area we live in) and read reviews. I posted on Facebook community and moms groups for recommendations. And I asked friends and acquaintances. I ended up with a list of about 20 builders and 20 architects. I visited all their websites and eliminated the ones that had a vibe I didn’t like.
Yup, I am SUPER judgmental. (And you should be too – this is a relationship you’ll have for a LONG time). And here’s my reasoning - if you cannot spend time designing a website that is fabulous, how are you going to spend time designing a home that is fabulous for me? Make sense? The details matter…
I was left with about 10 that I loved. So I called them and applied my ‘BORE’ theory. I use this theory in my business to decide what clients I will work with, and it works a charm for me every time! You ready for this simple, life-changing, separate-the-fabulous-from-the-meh, strategy? Here we go…
The BORE Theory
My BORE theory is simple and magic if you’re about to enter a long relationship. ‘BORE’ stands for ‘Bottle of Rose Everytime’.
As in: can I see myself having a bottle of rose with this person (or client or team or company) every time because they are such a riot, and so much fun, to hang out with? As in, could I see myself being their friend?
You may wonder why that is important in a client and/or a Dream Team, but I’ll tell you, it’s SUPER important. Because if I can’t imagine hanging out with them, then I can’t tell them what I want in the home I want to be myself in (and as my clients, they can’t tell me what they want in their dream home). And if I can’t imagine being their friend, then can I really trust them? Or is my gut trying to tell me something? And if I don’t trust them, do I really want to build a million dollar home with them? Do I really want to spend a year or more working with them?
Yup. The BORE theory.
Sounds whacked, but it works.
Occam’s razor, baby. The simplest things really are the most brilliant.
THE ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS THAT LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON ME
I called a bunch of Architects and Builders and ended up with a few that I loved. If you’re in Houston, these are the ones that impressed me. Keep in mind, I didn’t work with most of them, so if you do call them, please do your due diligence to ensure the right fit for you and your project. And if you do use them, tell them who sent you.* Oh, and if you DO decide to work with any of them, and you need an interior designer, I’d LOVE to work with them too. So give me a call - if we’re a good fit, we could be a match made in heaven! :)
Architects
Kristin Schuster came recommended from a premier Houston builder, Southampton Builders. Once I talked to her, she quickly became my TOP choice. Not only did this woman and I get along like a house on fire, (so I knew it would work) she was able to communicate her unique viewpoint and architecture style within the first 5 minutes of conversation. Most people never get their elevator pitch down. She knew her raison d’etre and that’s powerful stuff. The only reason we didn’t work with her is because the builder we chose had an architect he worked with, and in the end, we LOVED them. If we ever built again though, I would definitely try her, just because I have a bit of a professional girl crush and want to see what magic she can weave. I have no doubt that I would LOVE the result.
Todd Rice’s name kept coming up when I asked friends for architect recommendations. He is well-known for his clear understanding of what clients want and being able to translate that into design. One look at his portfolio and it is apparent that he is a versatile designer, with the ability to handle everything from traditional to modern styles. He also offers a ‘book’ of readymade designs to choose from, should you want to go semi-custom and don’t need to reinvent the wheel, which makes the process much faster, easier and allows you access to a premier, luxury architect at a fabulous price point. A ready design also cuts out some of the overwhelm that comes from a blank canvas. Like I said, there are many ways to build a house!
When the Doc and I went for a walk in our new ‘hood, an old Indian man in his yard who was thrilled ‘desis’ (Indians) were moving into the area. He showed us his gorgeous house, and gushed about his architect, Brett Zamore. I couldn’t agree more. His home was gorgeous. Of course, I looked him up and loved his work. I especially loved his unique, sustainable pre-planned kit homes, which I thought were brilliant. I would have loved to use something like this in theory, but alas, my selfish need to design every single detail won the battle and I decided not to explore this avenue. His other work looks outstanding though and if you’re looking for a contemporary or modern space, I think he would rock.
I prefer people who tell it like it is. David Cox was a straight shooter from our very first conversation and I loved that. I never felt ‘sold’ to, and that my friends, is a rare commodity in this day and age. Instead, I felt like I was enjoying a beautiful espresso with a friend who was sharing his knowledge about how to go about designing a house with me. His gentle demeanor and his stunning designs would work well for anyone looking to design a transitional to modern home. IMHO, his designs are softer - not as stark/cold as some contem-porary architects - and that makes them feel more inviting. I would LOVE to work with him and if we build again, I’d have to toss a coin between him and Inflection Architecture above!
Brad Hollenbeck and Paulina Diaz are the real deal. These were our architects and I will forever sing their praises. Brad is a master architect, period. Paulina is the most intuitive spatial designer and seemed to read my mind. I have never experienced an architect that appreciated interiors as much as Paulina did and she was tireless in her effort to see things through an interior design lens as I was doing. She was also incredibly imaginative in her solutions. Brad’s attention to detail was unsurpassed, and his quiet command of his craft left me speechless as each week he added yet another layer of perfection. The doc and I rarely had changes to make to their design or additions, because their ability to translate our vision was simply magic.
BUILDERS
I called David first, primarily because I was two degrees removed from him. Our kids were in a playgroup together almost a decade ago and I remembered that he built houses. And I happened to have coffee with the incredible photographer Kerry Kirk that week and she highly recommended him. David’s work (*kissing my fingers*) OH MY GOODNESS, WOW! And, unfortunately, out of our budget this round. But he deserves his luxury price tag. His homes are VERY high caliber and in the company of The Southampton Group. If you’re looking for super luxury, go to him or them – it’ll be a hard choice and you’ll be in excellent hands either way.
#GOALS. I’ve known Mary and Marcel Barone forever, ever since their grandkids became my girls’ best friends in pre-school. And one day, they will build our forever home. But again, out of our budget this round. The Barones BUILD THE STUFF OF DREAMS. If you love old world, traditional, ethereal homes, they can create magic. Most ‘custom’ builders source things off the shelf and put it together for you. But with the Barones, their work is truly custom and they go the extra mile to bring true artistry into the spaces they create. Every one of their homes is a masterpiece and completely different from another - and that, ladies and gentlemen - is what custom really is.
Ashwood is a design/build firm, so it effectively combines the architectural and building process together. This eliminates the balancing act between design and cost and simplifies the whole process. They work with you on your house design or have plans you can start from, then they build your house. You may not get the most unique design, but I’ve seen homes they’ve built and they’re GORGEOUS. And you are much more involved in the design process. If you are going this route, I would DEFINITELY take your interior designer with you, so you can plan the flow of your rooms and think through how your family functions now and in the future better.
In hindsight, this is who we should have gone with. He had a blunt, no-nonsense, no-time-wasting style that I liked. That straight-shooting style might have been too much for some, but with a builder, you need to be able to talk numbers and problems in a clear way – because if something can go wrong, it will – and this guy was not going to beat around the bush. This is who my gut said to go with. But he couldn’t start for a little while longer than the builder we finally went with, so I didn’t choose him. If you want to talk numbers in a very clear way, and the house you’re envisioning isn’t some complicated designer project, but a simple floor plan for you and your family to enjoy, then this is your guy.
PIB is a big setup, but the rep for our area is superb. You give them your ideal square footage, style, and budget, and PIB starts you off with a house plan. You then work with an in-house designer to customize it to your liking. They have luxury upgrades, or if you prefer, they can advise on how to maximize your investment. Overall, this is a tried-and-true process and an easier, if a little uninspired, solution to build a house. PIB is semi-custom, so your home won’t be super unique. But if you’re working with an interior designer, there are many ways they can suggest to customize your plan - both inside and out - that will set you apart from other PIB builds and ensure no trace of a ‘cookie cutter’ feel.
Y’all, I LOVE this guy. Curtis Young is the most honest, upstanding builder/contractor you’ll ever meet. Also a straight-shooter, but in a much gentler way, Curtis makes his living and never cheats anyone out of anything. While he is the epitome of professional, at the end of the build, he ends up your friend and is frequently helping with things that are really not his problem. His second, Julie, is a mine of knowledge and information, and makes the build part of the process seamless. THIS is the builder I would build my house with every time and who I wholeheartedly recommend. And no, I don’t get a commission on this. I do work with Ironstone on client projects - that’s how much faith I have in their work.
interior designers
I don’t have a section for interior designers because, well, I’m the Interior Designer on this build. So in this series of posts on Custom Home Builds, I’ll talk you through my process and how I worked with the Architect and Builder. And don’t worry, you’ll get the inside look on my full interior design process.
And if you’re building, definitely hire an interior designer to help you. I have clients who spend weeks stressing over which dining table to pick, so I know firsthand that choosing EVERY single thing for their new build can drive someone to a nervous breakdown. And truly, building a house is not for everyone. There are 896 selections to make and you’ll be exhausted just thinking about it!
Okay, not 896 - maybe more…
Want to know what the selections are and which builder and architect we chose for our build? Well, stick around for my next blog post - Assemble Your Dream Team - Part 2 - coming up next week. If you’re signed up for our newsletter or follow me on Instagram, you’ll know exactly when it comes out. If not, sign up below.
Phew! That was a long one!
If you read this far, well done! You have the patience that it takes to build your custom home. Because honey, you’re going to need to dig deep and find that patience! Everything else, I’ll help you with…
Until next time, remember the goal:
ALWAYS Tell A Story with your Home.
Love you, mean it!
xxx Tash *Taashki Studio LLC and Natasha Shamdasani does not accept responsibility for any experience that you might have with any businesses or vendors mentioned on this website. Please do your due diligence in researching these companies and consult your lawyer and/or financial advisor for advice and to ensure proper contracts are in place prior to doing business with them.
Loved reading this and want to turn your home into a space you absolutely adore? Follow @taashkistudios on Instagram and join the Taashki Tribe newsletter below! Write and tell me what you struggle with in your home design and I’ll help you through your design woes!
WANT SOME HELP WITH THE HOME BUILDING PROCESS?Building a custom home is exhilarating, but it can also be overwhelming and time-consuming. There are SO many decisions to make, and sometimes, you just don’t want to go at it alone. If you want a partner in this process who can steer you towards options that work best for your family, life and style; a knowledgeable guide to take you from ‘dream’ to ‘done’ and who can hold your hand every step of the way, our Custom Home Interior Design Services might be just what you need. Find out more about Tash or Schedule a Discovery Call to learn more about our process. We can’t wait to come on your journey with you!