Should I Hire An Architect?

Yeah, it’s in our best interest that you hire us. But the pros and cons listed here come from our client’s own comments... not us! We want you to succeed, and here’s a few ideas of how to do so!

Why hire an accountant to file a complex return?
Why hire an attorney to represent you in court?
Why hire a dentist to fix your tooth?

Building your dream home is the most complex, expensive, and long-lasting endeavour you’re likely to undertake... ever! Why would you attempt something so important alone? A design pro works for a flat fee and their reputation lives and dies on the success of your project. Yet so many people trade a small short-term savings for the long-term benefits of a major project done well. “The bitterness of low quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten...”

But think about comparable professionals- a great accountant can save you thousands in time and taxes, a bad one will earn you a date with the IRS. A great attorney can prove you innocent of a false accusation... a bad one can cost you your very freedom. A great dentist knows his way around Novocaine and Nitrous Oxide- and leaves you with no memory of his awesome skill. A bad one? Ouch.

An awesome Design Pro is just as valuable! Like the Accountant, Attorney, and Dentist, the upfront cost is far outweighed by the long-lasting returns. Let’s look at what exactly you get when you trust an architect to help you succeed:

	Without a Design Pro	With a Design Pro
Design + Build Experience	Once you buy the plans... you’re on your own	You have an advocate helping you succeed to the last day
Short Term Savings	Save 4-5% Total	3-12% of Total Project Cost
Long-Term Savings	No. Stock designs are for up-front savings, not longevity	A design that’s made for your site will pay for itself many times over
Cost Recovery	0% - One size fits none	Great custom design can pay for itself in lower ownership and higher resale
Cost Control	0% - What you see is what you get	Complete - Your budget is the law
Sustainability	Minimal	Huge! - The home is designed to utilize natural assets such as light, weather, etc.
Ease of Construction	Minimal - One size fits all	Design fits the site for easier construction
Adapted to local environment	Minimal	Very High - One of the biggest advantages is a home that works with its surroundings
Ease of Maintenance	Minimal Consideration	Very High - materials and designs are selected to fit your local conditions
Custom Design Experience	Minimal to None	Complete - you create lasting relationship
Permitting	??? - Stock plans are kept as simple and boring as possible to make the design “universal”	You don’t have to worry. Your advocate is responsible for helping you clear permitting
Match local aesthetics	No. One plan fits all sites	Your designer will use all the assets your property offers to make the home work well
Maximize views & other assets	Minimal	If you have a view or other asset, your entire home will work to utilize that asset
Personalized Experience	None	A good designer listens to you first- then makes your ideas into a reality
Technology & products best suited for your site	None	Your designer will use local materials that cost less, last longer, and enhance your environment
Future expansion friendly	None	Got plans? Your designer will make future additions or changes easy
Personalized functionality	Minimal	Your home is 100% based on your lifestyle
Design for durability	Low	Whether you have hurricanes or hot sun, your designer designs for your unique locale
Design for energy savings	moderate	Just the angle of your home can save 17% in utilities. Custom design is efficient!
Personal Aesthetics	Low - one size fits all	It’s all you. Your home is based on your tastes, not everyone else’s
Personal Advocate	None	You’re never alone. You’re designer spearheads the process so you can relax
Visual Design Process	None	Deontology lets you see your home as it forms, complete with real views.

So there you have it. As with any pro, their job is to help you succeed. That’s why architects train for about a decade just to be called an architect. It’s all about making your dreams real. So yes, it truly makes sense.

If you’re ready to design and build a dream... just let us know! We’re here for you.  

How To Make Custom Affordable

Are you under the false impression that custom=expensive? My mission here is to prove that custom beats conventional any day (with both hands tied behind his back). I’m the prosecutor and you’re the judge (and jury, bailiff, and clerk for that matter...) So hear my case, and please let me know your verdict!

1. Great Design Makes Cents

What better way to start an article than with a pun? But it’s true that when you go custom, you have total control of the budget. If you tell your (qualified) designer your budget up front, he’ll use that information to create the perfect value for your individual budget!

Really Big Side-note: Be careful to hire a qualified designer. Too many designers make up for their lack of skill by adding copious (and useless) gables, dormers, roof-lines, rooms, nooks, etc. Their drawings look like variations on a theme rather than customized to each client! Great architecture is great because it works! (in this case, for you.)

Certified homes (LEED, Energy Star, etc) sell for an average of 17% more than their conventional counterparts. So after your years of tiny utility bills, lack of repair bills, and comfortable living... you’ll probably get your entire investment back... plus interest!
Even more important than investment is how the home fits. A true custom home compliments your lifestyle. It keeps laundry in it’s place, helps keep dishes clean, and makes you feel warm and relaxed when your stressed. It’s warm where it’s supposed to be warm, light where you want light, and lets you fall in love with your home. As soon as you can put a price tag on having a home that you can be truly happy in... please let me know!

2. Smart Space, not Bulk Space

What’s better: 5,000 square feet of bluntly allocated space (with a trendy façade), or 1,500 square feet that fits your needs to the “T”? Blindly adding square footage solves NO problems. It’s how that square footage is designed. Too many clients come to us frustrated by a move to a larger home that actually made things worse!
Your designer will help identify your needs and design solutions, not just spaces. If it’s just two of you, he won’t design a formal dining room and a breakfast nook and six stools at the bar, and....

3. Smart Building Materials - Zero Waste

We mean no disrespect, but there is a better way to build than with 2x4’s. There’s a reason they’re called “stick-frame” houses. Remember the “Three Little Pigs”? What happened to the house built with sticks? Ouch.
Build, therefore, with the right materials for your project rather than the default stick-frame!  A talented designer will take the time to find the right materials for you.

4. Spend where it counts most

Conventional builders make their money on bulk, one-size-fits-all design. If you vary from that model, they lose $$$. But with custom, your talented designer will help you spend your money on granite in the kitchen, but he might pull the crown molding and designer faucets from the kids’ bathroom.

Trust me. They won’t mind.

5. Design to Last

Modern construction is often designed to fail. You’ll get a fantastic deal on a conventional house because they know you’ll have to buy a new roof, windows, carpet, furnace, and more... much earlier than you think. They get a lifetime client, and you end up wondering where all your money is going...

6. Lower your Energy Bills

Not to sound like a broken record, but this is huge! Remember the frog in boiling water analogy? Drop him in hot water and he’ll jump out (alive); heat the water with him inside and... delicious frog legs. Utilities are the same way. They will make frog legs out of you. Rates have been increasing much faster than inflation for years and will continue to do so. It’s almost literally money to burn...
Simply orienting your home in the right direction can shave 5 - 6% off your heating bill automatically, something you can’t do with conventional construction. Great design can take it down a full 50% without paying extra! Go really green and the utility company will send you a check every month instead of a bill (seriously). It’s responsible and intelligent. You get your cake and get to eat it, too!

Plan For Success

It sounds trite, but it’s true. The custom-home horror stories you heard about from your depressed in-law resulted from bad planning. The happy homeowner had a great designer, quality materials, and moved in as promised... on-time and with some cash left over.

Now to blow our own horn. Deontology creates incredibly high-quality designs. You get a stronger structure that’s laid out perfectly to fit your needs. At the end of the day... you will pay less in cash (and stress) when you do custom... and do it right.

So what’s your verdict? Feel free to let me know badams@deonllc.com.

Excellent Idea Resource!

Engineers call it "Benchmarking." Markerters call it "Collaboration." At the end of the day, it's just snagging another person's great idea. Immitation is the greatest from of flattery... right?

That's why we've found www.houzz.com. It's a great place for people worldwide to share pictures of their own designs and ideas. Feel free to check it out. 

Personally, we're thrilled with all the ideas on how to make for an awesome shower! Check out the slideshow below to see why!

Your Shower: Make Room for the Bench

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More»

Pro-Bono Building Design For The Holidays!

The design/build staff at Deontology Design + Build, a premier Sustainable Building design firm in Tacoma, Washington, is seeking a non-profit or similar for whom to prepare buldingl plans free of charge.

We would also provide the build portion of the project, if desired, at a discounted rate. Please keep in mind that the Design + Build model is unsurpassed in overall value. You will get more value for you money with this model than with any other method.

The intent of this offer is to provide a positive and valuable opportunity to our community. Interested organizations or individuals should be:

• Non-profit
• Dedicated to sustainable design
• Religious organizations, museums, charities, educational, performing arts, etc.
• Already planning to build within the next year (we want the plans to be useful)

Applications will be evaluated according to:

• Scope of influence
• Artistic value
• Quantifiable need of the organization
• Size of the project (How big a project we can do will be determined by our overall workload)
• Sustainability (LEED Certified?)
• Location relative to Tacoma
• Design only or Design + Build

Interested parties should email Blake at badams@deonllc.com with a simple description of the project, timeline, and relevant financing details.

Engineering and consulting firms interested in joining us in this pro-bono effort are encouraged to volunteer to keep costs down!

The 5 questions I most like to answer

By Ryan Cornwall

#5  “What does good design cost?“

Choosing the right architect can save you at least 15 to 20% off the cost of a green home.  If he’s specialized in “smart design” and believes that it’s not business as usual then you could actually see an immediate savings. I love working with clients who are open to sustainable design ideas. Those ideas can pay for themselves in just 2 to 3 years, cut down the construction time line, and put your project dollars back into your home!  I guess anything slathered with enough solar panels is eventually “green”, but could another strategy actually accomplish even more?  

#4 “How can I do more with less?”
“Less is more,” said one of the founding fathers of the modern skyscraper.  Interesting thought, when you stop to consider that Architect Mies van der Rohe was primarily concerned with creating flexible spaces that let in lots and lots of natural light. Sounds beautiful to me! I’ll let you in on the big secret; its LIGHT.  Lighting is often the last kid picked for dodge ball- but he is also the star player. Lighting design brings drama, subtlety, mood, and emotion to architecture. It’s cost? Forethought. I love sitting down with a client and answering this question: “Have you considered natural daylight?”  Its free, its warm, its memorable.

#3  “How do you get to the heart of what is important to me, your client?”
I asked something similar to this when I interviewed as an intern for design positions fresh out of college.  “Tell me; what are this company’s client sessions like?” Having studied good design processes for years- I’ve come to the realization that a good Architect is a good scientist for his client; discovering the real needs that lie just below the surface.   When I sit down with my clients I like to discover the potential of their dream with them!  I’ll use cardboard models, napkin sketches, magazine clippings, computer renderings, field trips to show rooms, and anything else that gets to the heart of the matter.

#2  “What is your design philosophy?“
“Form follows function”   What you need it to be and do should not be at odds with its aesthetics, to the contrary, it is the key to unlocking the project’s full beauty and potential.  A beautiful project that doesn’t meet its client’s basic functional needs is a failure. When I listen to what you really need, the true beauty of your project will grow. Every great architectural style of the past grew by being in tune with then-current technology and social needs. They were so useful and beautiful that they became iconic- frozen in time as  examples of simple, quiet elegance. Today’s successful designs build on the wisdom of those architectural styles.

#1  “Zoinks!...I hadn’t thought of that!  What would that cost?”
An ‘ah-ha!’ moment can change a project. Trust me, I’ve seen it.  I’m in this business partially because I love to discover your project along with you but also because I know that every project, no matter its budget, has a jewel buried somewhere deep inside.  Finding that potential is thrilling, tantalizing, and just plain fun. He's not only innovating on my project, he’s working within my budget! ”

Inside/Out: Bringing the beauty of the outdoors to the comfort of indoors

A new design from Ryan Cornwall

How To Use Green To Save Green

By Blake Adams

While you probably have a few (million) less square feet than does the iconic tower... the differences might just stop there. The 80-year-old tower wasn’t exactly an example of energy efficiency- it leaked like the Federal Government’s Treasury. And despite it’s art-deco charm, it was looking more and more... old.

Sound familiar?

The owner’s response: total remodel- in much the same way we’d remodel your house. They also chose to go “green,” gaining a coveted LEED Gold certification.  

Why go “green?”

Why spring for the extra investment?? The tower’s owners will now save as much as half on it’s utility bill. And when your utility bill exceeds $1,000,000 per month... that’s a very big deal. And the best part? They, like you, make all their money back in less than three years.

Let me show you why a client from Port Orchard is going “green:”
The goals:

• 1,391 square foot home which will be 1,837 when we’re done
• Utility costs to drop by more than half, or about $1,100 per year at least.
• Total remodel of the interior will take the home from old to awesome
• The addition was designed green, so the additional cost is minimal

How our Port Orchard client (and the Empire State Building) went “green:”

• Refurbished (High efficiency windows)
• Improved insulation on outer walls
• Motion sensors that automatically adjust lights
• Thermostats that adjust temperature when not in use
• New HVAC
• Low-flow fixtures in the restrooms
• Low-VOC paints and adhesives
• Use of LED lights

Want to remodel? Are you not already going to upgrade all these items? Why not work with a pro who will help you find just the right balance of great new tech and cut your power bills by 50-100%? You’re guaranteed a fantastic return... and have zero to loose.

Go green to save green

Washington energy prices have risen by about 50% since 2003. Energy infrastructure is old and outdated and getting older. We’re not building new plants, there’s talk of shuttering the Columbia River plants, and global demand is increasing... and where does this all lead? It leads to even greater benefit to those with green homes. They’ll still be taking vacations while the rest struggle to pay their rising utilities.

Get Help

Both Port Orchard and the Empire hired a qualified professional to make it work- and both were very successful. Our experts spend months and years studying all the options and how to use them most effectively. Hiring an expert will save you thousands in cash, time, and frustration.

Financing is also available for green remodels and new construction. The discounts you get on these loans can even offset the extra investment!

Deontology exists because we know that going “green” will work for you. It saves huge amounts of cash. It makes for a physically healthier you. It adds to the community and environment. It feels good to live in. And it’s the right thing to do.

From Drab to Green

Design by Ryan Cornwall

This Lake Stickney project is currently in the design phase. The home has a beautiful water view but the home was damaged by a broken water line. Rather than just re-paint, Deontology design/build is re-building the home to be worthy of its excellent location. 

The existing tract-home style is being re-designed as modern-cottage style. Beyond pure aesthetics, the design increases functionality, allows for easier and more comfortable entry, and utilizes natural light. The porch becomes its own micro-climate, making this little retreat into part of the home as a whole.  

Greenwashed!

By Ryan Cornwall

You choose to build green because you know that green construction and design means increased comfort, durability, and over all- a healthier home or business.

But just because a product purports to be green doesn’t guarantee you any of these things. The term “green washing” is generally used to describe a company that  portrays the image of being environmentally friendly,  but in reality does little to nothing to be green.  

So how do you know a product or service is truly green?   In the case of your home and the products you choose to use in it; make sure you include a Deontology design professional who has experience and certifications in the green industry that can steer you away from the counterfeit products out there.  We can help you get the kind of genuinely green performance you're looking for.

For some of you, ‘green’ means long-lasting and durable.  For others, it means saving energy.  What ever your goals, working with Deontology will guarantee you get what you pay for.  Another help that is available to you is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (ie LEED). The design professionals at Deontology can orchestrate your home design using LEED to meet any one of the graduating levels; from basic certification to Platinum grade green.  What sort of green do you want it to be?  Customize your project in all the ways that matter most to you and your family. You’ll be happy you went green, because it just makes sense.  

Written By Ryan Cornwall

Dream. Design. Build.

Written By Blake Adams, Director of Business Development, DEON Design/Build

I ascended to the 76th floor of Seattle's Columbia Tower to seek inspiration for this article. What I found there was fascinating.

Seattle architecture has always intrigued me. I see the elegance and pride of workmanship of the 1914 Smith Tower next to a series of buildings of all sizes that strike me as enormous cargo containers... with windows.

The Smith Tower was ‘dreamed up’ by Burns Lyman Smith. The architects had never designed anything taller than a few stories. There were no similar towers outside of Manhattan and plenty of cheaper options locally. Even the Smiths almost gave into mediocrity... the original design was just 14 stories tall!

But Burns saw the building as more than a place to handle the business of Typewriter manufacture. He saw it as an expression of himself, his company, and his ambitions. The result was the neoclassical jewel that has helped form Seattle’s personality and reputation for over a century.

We at Deontology don’t need to land a contract for the next “Smith Tower” to have such an impact on a community. Rather, we just have to treat every project, of any size, like Burns Smith would have done... with pride and creativity meant to inspire and endear. We can dream, design, and build even the simplest or most utilitarian spaces to make life better and more enjoyable and the great rooms and lobbies into places we want to be.

The point is: Start dreaming! Building the home or business of your dreams is more than just possible... it’s essential. Spend your time inside a home that is an expression of you not an expression of tract-home mass-production. Let the building you do business in increase your bottom-line by encouraging better health, efficiency, and productivity. Even if your project is in the earliest planning phases, start dreaming...

… and you’ll end up with a “Smith Tower” of your own!

What does your dream building look like? Feel free to comment below!

Photo by Christopher S. Maloney & The Seattle Engineering Department