Designer/Architect/Builder Collaborations

Designer/Architect/Builder Collaborations

Here at CullenBuilding Group, we regularly collaborate with designers and architects to ensure a high quality, well-designed end product. For this blog post, we asked one of our collaborators, Cranberry Design, to explain the benefits of working together.

Custom builds and renovations are a big part of our business. We do a lot of work designing interiors for renovations with a team of architects and designers to get it right before the build begins.

It’s the on-site collaboration we have with our builders and tradesmen, throughout the entire project, that ensures an amazing end result. Working with Cullen Building Group has taught us that collaborating before the build even begins is a huge advantage to the client.

There are a few key phases in a building project where collaboration is really important. Obviously, the first one is the designing. We feel it is really important to have the whole team on board early in this phase, as this ensures optimum constructability, correct budgets and that client needs will be met.

We have always worked very closely with our builders and contractors right from the start of the process. This is no different with Cullen – in fact, we work together before the contracts have even been signed. During the tender process, the Cullen team works hard to provide an accurate and thorough quote, to ensure there are no surprises along the way. One of the biggest challenges for clients looking for fixed price quoting is the PC items. These are the finishes and selections that are generally made further down the line and are very hard to estimate unless the client knows exactly what they are going to choose.

That’s where we come in. To negate or lessen this uncertainty, Cullen engages us to complete a complimentary consultation with the client. This helps to narrow down what is wanted, with decisions like 2 pac or laminate, marble or engineered stone, flooring, tapware selections and tiles. The costs vary hugely and depending on the selection, the actual tiling price also changes dramatically. We meet clients at Beaumont Tiles for a two-hour meeting, where we help them select everything from flooring, carpet, tiles, benchtops and joinery finishes so that Cullen can quote effectively.

It’s a fantastic service and so far, has proved to be of great benefit. It demonstrates how small changes to finishes can affect budgets and allows time to change choices if the cost comes in at too high or too low.

From that point on, we are also available to clients on an hourly rate, assisting with other decorative selections like window furnishings, lighting and outdoor spaces – all of which need to be made early on in the project and in collaboration with the builder so that changes don’t need to be made to the construction in the middle of the project.

That’s not where our collaboration ends though. Cranberry Design is also available during the build process to answer any questions the client and builder may have. The builder is the one who literally makes ideas, visions and drawings come to life and the reality is details come up during the build process.

Read more about building with Cullen and additional Cranberry Design articles via the following link: Cullen Building Group

Author: Wendy Davey | Interior Designer and Stylist Cranberry Design