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Pro Spotlight: 3 Factors to Set Your Home Remodel Up for Success
A San Jose designer shares tips to save yourself stress during your home renovation
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Who: Sarah Gaffney of Next Stage Design + Build
Where: San Jose, California
In her own words: “I love improving the way people live in and experience their home.”
If you live and work in the bustling Bay Area, you’re likely too busy to manage another major project such as a home renovation. By working with a design-build firm, you can rely on one team to efficiently handle the entire process. “A predictable and transparent approach is our hallmark,” says Sarah Gaffney, the design and development director of Next Stage Design + Build. “We put together the entire project team and work in complete alignment toward your goals.”
Where: San Jose, California
In her own words: “I love improving the way people live in and experience their home.”
If you live and work in the bustling Bay Area, you’re likely too busy to manage another major project such as a home renovation. By working with a design-build firm, you can rely on one team to efficiently handle the entire process. “A predictable and transparent approach is our hallmark,” says Sarah Gaffney, the design and development director of Next Stage Design + Build. “We put together the entire project team and work in complete alignment toward your goals.”
A natural career progression. Even while she pursued other interests, design was ever-present in Gaffney’s career. “I always wanted to be an advertising copywriter,” she says. “I majored in advertising and then in my first job out of college I worked for a graphic design studio that created content for Shea Homes.” Gaffney would join all-day brainstorming sessions as each project kicked off. “My favorite part was when the interior designers would present all their beautiful materials and describe the persona they were designing for,” she says. “I was starstruck.” Her interest in design progressed to Sunset magazine, where she built show homes throughout the Western United States before she joined Next Stage Design + Build as its design and development director.
A smarter way to renovate. It can be a mind shift for many homeowners to design and detail every element of their home remodel before work begins, but Gaffney shares the benefits of this approach. “Design-build just makes sense,” she says. “You plan first, you have a team to help you establish your budget, understand your space, select materials and price out each step.” By doing all your homework during the design phase — from having electricians and plumbers out to assess your home to ordering appliances as early as possible — you ensure your project won’t drag out needlessly or be disrupted by the unexpected. “It’s the smart way to do things,” Gaffney says.
Looking to get your ducks in a row for a remodel? Gaffney shares her advice below.
Looking to get your ducks in a row for a remodel? Gaffney shares her advice below.
1. Comprehensive Planning as Early as Possible Is Key
“The most critical piece of information to start with is your budget,” Gaffney says. “It’s natural to want to hold that information close to the chest, but the team needs a clear understanding of how much money you’re investing in your home.” Timeline-wise, you may be concerned about the construction start date, but it’s more important to share when you need to be back in your home — for a holiday, a graduation party, etc. “Budget, calendar, then concept,” Gaffney says. “Once we know what the floor plan will be, we’ll dive into materials. Solidifying your design and materials prior to construction will substantially minimize delays to the schedule.”
This Saratoga home is a perfect example of early planning. “It was a complex, whole-home project,” Gaffney says. “We put together a project team with engineers, architects, designers and our production team and spent eight months on the design.” Like a choreographed dance, each team member was aligned on the final design, which allowed them to deliver exactly what was promised within budget.
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“The most critical piece of information to start with is your budget,” Gaffney says. “It’s natural to want to hold that information close to the chest, but the team needs a clear understanding of how much money you’re investing in your home.” Timeline-wise, you may be concerned about the construction start date, but it’s more important to share when you need to be back in your home — for a holiday, a graduation party, etc. “Budget, calendar, then concept,” Gaffney says. “Once we know what the floor plan will be, we’ll dive into materials. Solidifying your design and materials prior to construction will substantially minimize delays to the schedule.”
This Saratoga home is a perfect example of early planning. “It was a complex, whole-home project,” Gaffney says. “We put together a project team with engineers, architects, designers and our production team and spent eight months on the design.” Like a choreographed dance, each team member was aligned on the final design, which allowed them to deliver exactly what was promised within budget.
See more of this project
2. Rely on a Designer to Create a Cohesive Space
“Hire a designer to help you plan your space and create a cohesive palette of materials and colors,” Gaffney says. When it comes to space planning, designers help homeowners avoid common pitfalls — like a refrigerator door that blocks your entry when open or a kitchen island that doesn’t have enough clearance for comfortable traffic flow. On the aesthetic side, designers can take your choice of features, such as a certain tile or backsplash, and make sure they transition naturally into the rest of the space. “We put together the puzzle to make your space look super polished,” Gaffney says.
This Mountain View homeowner had several bold design ideas. “She loves blue and wanted to really turn the volume up,” says Gaffney, whose team used 3D modeling to help the homeowner visualize what all that color would look like. “Ultimately, we opted for a more tempered, timeless blue paired with white,” Gaffney says. “The designer’s role is to embrace what you love while also editing the design in a tasteful, cohesive way.”
See more of this project
“Hire a designer to help you plan your space and create a cohesive palette of materials and colors,” Gaffney says. When it comes to space planning, designers help homeowners avoid common pitfalls — like a refrigerator door that blocks your entry when open or a kitchen island that doesn’t have enough clearance for comfortable traffic flow. On the aesthetic side, designers can take your choice of features, such as a certain tile or backsplash, and make sure they transition naturally into the rest of the space. “We put together the puzzle to make your space look super polished,” Gaffney says.
This Mountain View homeowner had several bold design ideas. “She loves blue and wanted to really turn the volume up,” says Gaffney, whose team used 3D modeling to help the homeowner visualize what all that color would look like. “Ultimately, we opted for a more tempered, timeless blue paired with white,” Gaffney says. “The designer’s role is to embrace what you love while also editing the design in a tasteful, cohesive way.”
See more of this project
3. Hire a Team You’ll Genuinely Enjoy Collaborating With
Even with plenty of planning, the smoothest renovations take time. “Hire people that you like and feel comfortable with,” Gaffney says. “You’ll be spending a lot of time with them designing and building your remodel.” Not every designer will be the right choice for you. Make sure you share how you’d like to work together, if you like to see renderings, if you love going to showrooms or if you’ll be too busy to check in multiple times a week. “Above all, you need to feel like you’re being heard,” Gaffney says.
For this whole-home remodel in Sunnyvale, the homeowners said they wanted their home to give them the feeling of vacations they’d taken. “They love to travel and picked up design ideas from the places they had been,” Gaffney says. “We built a palette around these bold tiles that they loved — a flowery bathroom floor tile to represent Hawaii, a graphic black tile inspired by Italy.” Your designer should embrace what inspires you while still curating a cohesive and timeless design.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Sarah Gaffney and examples of her team’s work, visit Next Stage Design + Build’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Even with plenty of planning, the smoothest renovations take time. “Hire people that you like and feel comfortable with,” Gaffney says. “You’ll be spending a lot of time with them designing and building your remodel.” Not every designer will be the right choice for you. Make sure you share how you’d like to work together, if you like to see renderings, if you love going to showrooms or if you’ll be too busy to check in multiple times a week. “Above all, you need to feel like you’re being heard,” Gaffney says.
For this whole-home remodel in Sunnyvale, the homeowners said they wanted their home to give them the feeling of vacations they’d taken. “They love to travel and picked up design ideas from the places they had been,” Gaffney says. “We built a palette around these bold tiles that they loved — a flowery bathroom floor tile to represent Hawaii, a graphic black tile inspired by Italy.” Your designer should embrace what inspires you while still curating a cohesive and timeless design.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Sarah Gaffney and examples of her team’s work, visit Next Stage Design + Build’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
At Next Stage Design + Build, we provide a seamless, predictable, and transparent remodeling experience for... Leer más
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