Establishing the groundwork for your project

Before we even begin, we start a dialogue with our clients. Our goal is to create environments where every design element meets the needs of our collaborators and their target markets. The concept phase sets the foundation for everything that comes after, carrying us through each phase of the design process. Through in-depth research of target markets, project location, and client needs, a presentation is crafted including carefully chosen imagery that depicts the overall look and feel of the space. Floor plans, material selections and furniture selections, are also explored during this phase.

Services:

• Site surveys

• Relevant historical, demographic, market, and programmatic research

• Conceptual branding and interior direction

• Space planning & experiential studies

Concepts become more concrete

This is when our projects start to come to life. Driven by our research and explorations during the concept phase, and in response to client feedback, we provide more detailed floor plans and reflected ceiling plans, as well as 3D sketches and interior elevations. We explore key design elements and begin to locate millwork, lighting, furniture, and material locations that are based on overall concept.

Services:

• Formalization of floor plan layouts

• Formalization of lighting plans

• Initial development of key elevations

• Initial development of finish palette

• Initial FF&E selections where needed with corresponding estimated budget

Digging into the details

Once we receive client approval on overall concept and schematic design direction, we move into design development. For this phase we refine the direction, dig into the details, and provide a well developed presentation of all rendered floor plans indicating furniture and floor finish locations. We render all ceiling plans to demonstrate material finishes and lighting selections, as well as render all key elevations to illustrate the overall project design.

Services:

• Initial coordination with necessary consultants

• Development of formal drawing set

• Final furniture floor plans of all areas indicating furniture, custom millwork, and floor finish patterns

• Final ceiling plans indicating all finishes, lighting selections, and ceiling heights.

• Final key interior elevations demonstrating all furniture, wall finishes, custom millwork, art, etc.

• Final material palette and lighting selections

Overseeing the execution

After all documentation has been submitted and the construction process begins, we continue coordination with the general contractor and other consultants involved to ensure the design is executed as intended. We make sure every design element is carried through to the end of the project by attending site meetings, reviewing all shop drawings, providing clarification with further detail drawings, answering RFI’s, and coordinating final furniture installation and styling.

Services:

• Final coordination with necessary consultants

• RFI correspondence

• Site visits & team meetings, as needed

• Shop drawing review & custom millwork coordination

Adding the finishing touches

To quote Luther Vandrose, “a house is not a home…”

At Variant, we thrive off this final phase. We revel in the process of sharing our work with our clients, their clients, and others. We love passing along the fruits of our labors, and adding the finish touches that make the spaces we design feel polished.

Services:

• Oversight of final furniture installation

• Purchase & placement of accessories, artwork, etc.

• Coordination of professional project photography
  (photography services provided by others)