Achieving Your Vision In Phases

​There are many reasons why a large project might have to be approached incrementally.   The most obvious, of course, may be funding.  However, while arranging the financing for a design project can be time-consuming, frustrating and require many compromises, other considerations also contribute to the wisdom of dividing a project into two or three manageable phases with breathing space between.
 
Your designer will help you assess the complexities of the design vision you have in mind.  Often a client feels they must abandon the vision they want or make undesirable compromises, because they cannot afford the time or money to do it all at once.   Accomplishing that vision in reasonably spaced phases is one solution.
 
While some rationales are similar for both residential and commercial projects, each has very specific challenges that are characteristic of their category.
 
There is the important consideration of whether or not a home or business will be occupied while the design project is taking place.  For financial pacing as well as periods of relief from disruption, timed phases are a smart consideration.

A residential environment may need to make improvements in phases while maintaining some semblance of “order”.

​When a commercial design project involves an existing, functioning business, there is the important reality that business must continue productively while the design project takes place.  That situation presents a good opportunity for incremental phases – perhaps allowing operations to vacate one portion of the facility and move to another area while work is being done, then reverse the process.
 
Drastic renovation of a vintage home is an excellent example of where and when it might be wise to approach the project in spaced phases.  Older buildings are full of surprises, and may fall under certain modern building compliances.  Such circumstances can create more design considerations than the remodel of a newer building.  Often there is demolition involved before new configurations and improvements can go forward.  And, the project may become larger than was originally expected.  Breaking it into spaced increments may be the answer.
 
Accomplishing a design project when the building – residence or business – is vacant is vastly different than when occupied.  However, there may still be reasons to divide the project into separate design and installation phases.
 
Consider a building that is intended for medical, dental or other professional occupancy.   The client may wish to create an integrated and compatible design and personality for the building, but may wish initially to only finish specific areas, leaving others until additional occupancy is determined.
 
Your designer will work with you to develop a projected plan that is paced to suit both budget, function and use strategies.
 
When preparing a phased design project, your designer will want to work with you on the big picture, and the full desired end product.  When you are able to envision the whole, the paced increments can be logically developed, and will not feel like fragments, but rather part of an exciting whole which you will accomplish in stages.