Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Free Consultation Meeting include and not include?

We’ll discuss the project(s) you have in mind and will look at your house to see if there are any limitations (including time and budget) or site conditions that may impede achieving your ideas. Gregory will ask lots of questions about your ideas and your home. He will confirm that he has the right skills, design expertise and availability to take on your project. We’ll discuss if you have the time and energy to meet our expectations for your participation in the project. We’ll discuss your experience with previous design projects. You’ll have an idea of Gregory’s personality and his communication skills. The consultation will not include specific design solutions.

Do both members of a couple need to attend the Free Consultation Meeting?

Yes, it’s imperative that all decision makers are present.

What about design meetings along the way?

It’s best if both members attend design meetings to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.

If I live outside the Eugene vicinity, will the meeting be at my home?

Depending on the size of your project, it may be best to have a FaceTime or similar call. A bigger project may warrant the travel time. Let’s discuss.

What do you expect from me as a client?

We expect that you’ll have the characteristics of our best clients (see below).

Who are your best clients?

Engaged clients who 1) share well-defined pain-points, needs and goals; 2) make themselves available to attend all meetings and shopping trips (e.g. finishes, doors and windows, etc.) whenever possible; 3) complete their assigned homework; 4) work together as a couple to come to acceptable decisions in a timely way; 5) are open to suggestions and collaboration and allow us to guide the design; 6) are flexible and adaptable as the design evolves, willing to embrace changes and new ideas; and 7) have a clear understanding of their budget and how it impacts design choices. It’s also best if their budget expectations match their intended scope of work, but we understand that’s a calculation that’s impossible to determine before starting a project.

Can you work with my sketches or mood boards?

Yes, but we’ll be honest if any ideas aren’t workable or may be a detriment to the value of your home. We’d love to incorporate your ideas and inspirations as much as possible.

Can my project be designed to be cheap, fast and good?

The reality is that materials and labor may be more costly than expected, thoughtful design and construction takes time, and quality design takes money and time to achieve. At most, only two of these descriptors can be achieved in any project. An inexpensive project will necessarily use cheaper materials. A project that is done quickly will likely cost more than one done in a typical time period. A quality project will start at a certain cost threshold because of the cost of materials and good craftsmanship. We’ll work together to achieve the best balance of cost, time and quality as we collaborate with you and your contractor to arrive at your design solutions. Our concern is helping you use your money wisely.

Are you a fast, cheap or good architect?

We are best at projects that require thoughtful, detailed documentation, and so we aren’t fast, but try to be as efficient as possible. We’d like to think we land on the good side of this equation, working efficiently to move projects forward in an organized fashion, as quickly as is reasonable.

How big is your practice?

We are essentially two people at present as we begin this new practice and will take on only as much work as we can give proper attention to. Gregory works directly with clients on the design, does project research and interacts with consultants, code officials and contractors. He creates the details for the design and manages materials and selections. Marcelo works with Gregory to provide CAD (Computer Aided Design) construction drawings and, if desired, basic 3D modeling on the computer. We have more than 20 years experience in working together. We will both communicate with you as we move through the process. If needed, Gregory has relationships with other CAD draftspersons who are available.

How do you charge for design services?

We charge hourly ($100/hour for Gregory, $70/hour for Marcelo) for the design phases (programming, schematic design and design development) but will give you a flat fee for the construction documents (drawings and specifications) phase once a contractor is on board and has provided a construction estimate for the scope of the project. The flat fee will be a percentage of the cost of construction, and appropriate to the complexity and scope of the design. Changes during construction will be billed hourly. We endeavor to be as efficient as possible during any hourly work. We will ask for a $4,000 retainer for most projects to begin work.

When should we bring you as the architect into the picture?

As early as possible. We can help you define your project in every respect and can be retained to also do site studies, assist in securing planning and zoning approvals, and provide a variety of other predesign services.

Can you design an addition or remodel that will fit well with my existing home?

Gregory’s training as an architect began with work at a renowned Philadelphia firm known for its ability to sensitively remodel and add on to significant historic structures. Their charge in these projects was to set their architect egos aside and do the right thing in the particular context they found themselves in. (This type of posture doesn’t suit every architect, it should be said.) Gregory’s experience includes remodeling or adding on to almost every type of home — Queen Anne Victorians, craftsman homes, bungalows, mid-century moderns, ranch homes and more. We can work to make your dream project blend in or, alternatively, can make it contrast with your home — whatever is your desire.

What particular expertise do you have?

Gregory has extensive experience especially in additions, whole house remodels, kitchens and bathrooms (he is an Allied Member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association), outdoor living projects and garden structures.

If Gregory is relatively new to Eugene or other areas, will I have to pay for his getting up to speed on any codes?

Gregory previously worked on projects in Eugene, Corvallis and Philomath, and has some experience with those codes. We will not charge for basic zoning, energy efficiency and building code research for any particular jurisdiction. We will charge for planning and zoning approvals, HOA approvals, historic review requirements, energy/code compliance modeling and meetings with code officials to obtain clarifications on particular local interpretations.

Is engineering required for my project, and is that cost part of your fee?

Structural engineering may be required for certain structural changes in remodels and definitely for additions or new buildings. Geotechnical engineering may be required by Structural Engineers for foundation design of remodels, additions and new buildings. These costs (and that of any other engineering or consultants, e.g. acoustical, arborist) are not included in our fee but will be passed on directly to you without markup. We will solicit engineering or other contracts and get your approval before moving forward.

Is a survey required for my project?

If you have a survey from your closing, we can sometimes get the files from the surveyor and use it for projects containing additions or new buildings. However, some projects may require more detail (e.g. trees or topography) than one prepared for real estate transactions. So, we may need to commission a new survey. If it’s required, we will solicit proposals addressed to you for your approval and payment.

Will you obtain permits?

We prepare permit-ready drawings and coordinate with permitting authorities. We typically will submit these for plan review. Once approved, the contractor will purchase the permits.

Do you have a particular style?

Gregory’s experience includes work on a wide range of exterior design styles and is comfortable with most. (If he were to build his own dream house, it would be a contemporary, minimalist Northwest style emphasizing the use of native materials, with large glass walls to enhance natural light and views to the surrounding environment…) As for interiors, he does not have extensive experience with very traditional designs but rather has such with both transitional and fresh, contemporary interiors. If you are after a very traditional interior with lots of moldings, it may be best to bring on an interior designer who specializes in this style.

Can you help us select finishes, paint, hardware, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures and appliance selections?

Absolutely. Gregory has quite a bit of experience with these selections, given his prior work as a solo architect and working in design-build companies (such as Neil Kelly in Eugene and Powell Construction in Corvallis) where he was responsible for this part of the work. Typically, these will be selected during the construction document phase and would be part of the fixed fee. We’ll schedule shopping trips to showrooms to make selections.

Can we work with our own interior designer?

If they can provide specific finish, paint, hardware, lighting, plumbing and appliance schedules intended for construction, yes. We need specific information so that pricing can be done with suppliers and contractors. If they are more of a decorator, let’s talk.

I worry about being overwhelmed with all the decisions and selections. Can you help me sort out the details?

Gregory says that every project requires thousands of decisions. These should be made in coordination with each other so that they work functionally, aesthetically and with regards to budget. It’s an intense process, without a doubt, but it’s one that we’ve navigated many times. We are built for details and are happy to share our ability to synthesize mountains of information into a complete solution for you. Gregory had a client who was very excited about shopping for countertops, but after just a few minutes in the showroom she was completely overwhelmed: “Why are there so many different options?” Gregory helped her narrow down the field into the best options for what met her goals and expressed aesthetics — crisis averted.

Can we see more projects than the 12 on the website?

If you are interested, we can show a more comprehensive portfolio at the Free Consultation Meeting or can send a link to an online portfolio if needed.

How much does construction cost now?

Gregory is admittedly not up to speed with current Oregon prices, but research is showing that kitchen remodels may cost between $40,000 to $250,000 depending on the scope of work. Cosmetic updates will cost the least, whereas completely custom designs will cost the most. Primary bathrooms may cost between $80,000 and $175,000 depending on scope, complexity and materials used. Hall bath remodels will cost less. The cost of additions and new buildings are a function of scope, home condition (for additions), complexity and selections and can start at roughly $300/SF. In this post-COVID world, prices have risen. It’s best to select a contractor as soon as possible in the process to determine the possible cost of your intended project. We will work with you and your contractor to tailor the design to your budget requirements.

Do you have contractors you can suggest for our project?

Gregory is currently busy introducing himself to a list of possible residential general contractors in the Eugene and Corvallis areas with the intention of finding strong companies he can refer for your consideration. When we meet, let’s discuss what he’s found thus far. If you live further out, we’ll have to work together to find a general contractor.

Do you supervise construction?

We provide construction phase services such as shop drawing review and oversight of change orders. We correspond with the contractor to help provide any additional information needed. We also make regular site visits to act as your representative to ensure construction follows the intent of the Architectural drawings provided to the contractor. Full-time onsite supervision is the contractor’s responsibility.

How are change orders handled?

Changes are documented, priced and require client approval before work proceeds.

How long will my design take?

Timelines depend on the size of the project and the speed with which meetings and decisions can be made. Garden structures can be designed in a month or two. Construction can take 1-3 months depending on size and complexity. Small interior residential remodels can take 3-6 months in design and 3-6 months in construction. New homes, additions and larger projects can take 6-8 months in design and a year or more in construction.

Do you design to energy or green standards?

We will incorporate simple energy-efficient strategies and passive design (the most cost-effective means to saving energy), but Gregory is not certified in green building per se.

How often will we communicate?

Frequency is set in the design agreement. Expect regular design meetings and updates at major milestones.

What do you think of the use of AI in your design work?

We know that AI can be used to generate sexy renderings, but believe that the process of tailoring a project to the particular needs of a client — often a couple with differing/competing tastes and opinions — is a skill that is hard-earned over many years. It’s one thing to have a design image and another to be able to bring that idea into reality. Thousands of decisions made between a team of humans must be pulled together into a design that a contractor can, in turn, build in the real world — with its supply chains, codes, scheduling, craftsmen, building trade and all.

An AI search reveals its own limitations: “AI’s limits in architectural renovations include its inability to fully replace human creativity and intuition, as it operates primarily on data and may produce homogenized designs. Additionally, AI tools can assist with tasks like code research and visualization, but they cannot handle complex decision-making or the nuanced understanding required for unique design challenges.”

How does this work? How do we get started?

Step 1: Complete and send us the form on our contact page.

Step 2: We’ll contact you to schedule an introductory call. During this phone chat you can ask any questions you have about our process, while he assesses that he has both the time and expertise to help with your project. We want you to have the best match as your architect.

Step 3: If you like, we’ll schedule your Free Consultation Meeting as described above.

Step 4: After your Consultation, we will send a design agreement and an invoice for the $4,000 retainer (less for smaller projects). We will apply this retainer to your last design invoices. We will invoice monthly for hours spent in design or for the percentage of work for construction documents or construction phase services.

Step 5: Kick off your design project. After you sign the agreement and pay the invoice, we’ll start the actual design work.

What follows once the project starts?

1. Our first meeting will be to gather more details about your project needs, goals and specific requirements for your particular project. In the industry, we call this ‘programming’. Beforehand, Gregory will send you some programming homework to complete before the meeting. Once together, Gregory will ask questions as needed to define the scope of work — from including type of spaces needed and their functions to materials and style. Gregory will summarize the findings and publish it as your program.

2. From there, Gregory will conduct research on site constraints, and HOA deed restrictions and covenants to ensure the design is feasible and compliant. (Interior remodels won’t require this, of course.)

3. We will also need to document the existing conditions of the site and building, through photographs and measurements. The measurements are used to create CAD ‘as-built’ drawings. These can be done by Gregory and Marcelo, but if the building is large enough it may make sense to hire a local company that specializes in documenting as-built conditions.

4. To the degree possible, we’ll attempt to provide very rough budget projections even before design begins. These must be taken with a grain of salt, knowing that we need a contractor to verify the projections.

5. Depending on the scope of the project (i.e. a kitchen remodel will be less involved than an addition or a new building), schematic design will begin with rough organizational sketches showing rooms in relation to one another and with the site. We’ll discuss construction limitations and code requirements. A general idea of massing (the shape of the addition or building) may be included. We’ll meet to discuss the ideas and options if present.

6. From there, the design goes through one or more iterations with design meetings until we land on the solution that seems to work best. Final deliverables will be floor plans, exterior elevations, appropriate building section drawings and a basis of design document outlining technical assumptions. The drawings will be old-school hand-drawn documents. If needed, we will create a basic 3D “massing model” of the design on the computer. You’ll review the design for your feedback, and we will make necessary adjustments.

7. At this point, you’ll need to connect with a contractor to get their preliminary cost estimate. This critical Schematic Design phase sets the basis for subsequent phases of Design Development and Construction Documents, so at its end the budget must be aligned with the design.

8. From there, we move on to Design Development, Construction Documents and eventually Construction Services. These phases will be described in your Design Agreement.