Every good remodel starts with a clear plan. Whether you’re redesigning a kitchen, a primary bathroom, a home office or a whole floor of your home, our design-build process takes you from the first conversation to the final walkthrough with one team, one plan and one fixed price.
Here’s what to expect at every step.
1. A free consultation, on Zoom and in your home
Every remodel starts with a conversation. We begin with a free Zoom call to talk through your goals, your scope and how you want to live in the new space, and to make sure we’re a good fit for each other.
Next, we visit your home at no charge. Seeing your space in person lets us confirm the project is within our capabilities. Because we can see the quality of your existing finishes, we can often give you a ballpark range for a remodel that matches them.
2. Your design agreement
When you’re ready to move forward, we sign a Professional Services Agreement that covers the full design and bidding process. Fees start at around $1,500, depending on your project’s scope.
Revisions are included, with no hourly billing and no time limit. If you build with us, the fee is applied to your construction contract. If you decide not to, the drawings, 3D renderings and specifications are yours to take to any contractor.
3. Lidar scanning and as-built plans
Precision starts with an accurate picture of what’s there today. For most projects, we begin with a Lidar scan of your existing kitchen, bath or living area, especially where walls, floors and ceilings meet in complex ways. The scan creates a detailed 3D model of your space, measured to within a quarter inch, which we use to draw accurate as-built floor plans and elevations. Good measurements now mean fewer surprises later. For a simple like-for-like swap, such as replacing a vanity with one the same size, a scan would be more detail than the job needs, so we measure by hand.
4. Concepts and materials at our West Seattle studio
Next, we invite you to our design studio in West Seattle. We’ll walk through several floor plan layouts and elevation options together, then start pulling materials: countertops, cabinets, tile, flooring, lighting and fixtures. Seeing and touching real samples side by side is where your remodel starts to feel real.
5. Photo-realistic 3D renderings
With a layout and materials chosen, we create photo-realistic 3D renderings of your new space. You’ll see exactly how your kitchen or bath will look, with cabinets, appliances, lighting and hardware in place, before any construction begins.
This is the time to refine. Adjustments are normal, and we encourage them. By the end of this step, every fixed finish is selected, down to the grout color.
6. Your fixed bid
With every selection made, we price your entire project and give you a fixed bid: one number for materials and labor, with a construction schedule. You won’t see surprise change orders unless you decide to make a change.
Because every finish is priced, you set the budget. Want to bring the number down? Choose a different countertop or adjust the scope. Want to splurge on the tile you love? You’ll know exactly what it adds.
7. Planning, permits and materials
Once your bid is approved, we plan construction in detail. We build a schedule so every trade knows what to do and when, and we prepare construction documents that guide the work on site.
We handle the permit filings with your local jurisdiction. And because every finish is already selected, we order all of your materials in advance and have them on hand before we start. No waiting on back-ordered cabinets halfway through your project.
8. Construction, on a schedule you’ve already seen
Because every finish is selected and every material is on site before demolition starts, construction typically takes:
- Kitchen: 8 to 14 weeks
- Primary bathroom: 6 to 12 weeks
That’s measured from demolition to a completed punch list. Day one is floor protection, dust control and demolition. As soon as demo is done, we move straight into framing and installation.
NOR employees handle the framing, installation and on-site management, coordinating licensed electricians and plumbers who have worked with Jessica for over two decades. The team you meet on day one is the team that finishes your project. We keep the job site clean and organized throughout, and we give you a lock box so you don’t need to be home for most of the work.
We can’t see through walls. If we open one up and find something hidden, like water damage, mold or wiring that isn’t up to code, we’ll stop, show you what we found and price the fix before moving forward.
When construction wraps up, we do a professional deep clean so your space is ready to use, then a final walkthrough together. With your permission, we’ll also photograph your finished space, with a professional camera and lighting and a little light staging, so it looks its best.
9. Support long after the dust settles
Our relationship doesn’t end at the final walkthrough. During your warranty period and beyond, our Handyman and Service Team can help you care for your new space, from adjusting a cabinet door to seasonal maintenance and small repairs.
Our design team is here for the future too, whether you want help choosing artwork, refreshing accessories or adapting a room as your needs change.
Ready to get started?
Our design studio is in West Seattle, and we work throughout the greater Seattle area, including Burien and Normandy Park.
Call us at 206.979.3420 or request a free consultation. Curious about cost first? Read What Will My Remodel Cost?
FAQ
How long will I be under construction?
Because every detail is designed and every finish selected before we start, construction typically takes 8 to 14 weeks for a kitchen and 6 to 12 weeks for a primary bathroom, from demolition to completed punch list. Whole-home projects run longer, depending on scope. You’ll see the schedule before day one.
How are payments structured?
You pay in stages as your project moves forward: a deposit to get started, a payment at our planning measure, which lets us order the materials with the longest lead times (cabinets can easily take 12 to 14 weeks), a payment when construction starts, and a final payment when your project is complete.
Does the fixed bid include engineering and permit fees?
The fixed bid covers the materials and labor to build your design. If your project needs structural engineering, that work is done by our engineering partner and billed to you directly. Permit fees are set by your city and are also separate. Neither applies to every project, and when they apply to yours, we’ll tell you up front so there are no surprises.
Do I need a permit?
It depends on your project. If it includes electrical, plumbing, mechanical or structural work, the answer is yes, and that work is done by licensed professionals. We handle the permit filings for you.
Do I have to choose every finish before construction starts?
Yes, and it’s the reason we can give you a fixed bid and a real schedule. Every countertop, tile, fixture and finish is selected and priced during design, then ordered and on hand before demolition. Decisions made before day one are decisions that don’t stop work later.
What happens if you find a problem behind a wall?
We stop, show you what we found, and price the fix before moving forward. Hidden conditions like water damage, mold or wiring that isn’t up to code are the one thing a fixed bid can’t see in advance, so we handle them in the open rather than folding them into a change order.
Who will be working in my home?
NOR employees handle the framing, installation and on-site management, working with licensed electricians and plumbers who have worked with Jessica for over two decades. The team you meet on day one is the team that finishes your project.
Do I need to be home during the remodel?
Mostly no. We provide a lock box for access while we work. We’ll ask you to be available for three moments: a walkthrough on the first day, countertop template day, and the final walkthrough on the last day of your project.
What if I decide not to build after the design is done?
The drawings, 3D renderings and specifications are yours to keep and take to any contractor. If you build with us, your design fee is applied to your construction contract.
What areas do you serve?
Our design studio is in West Seattle, and we work throughout the greater Seattle area, including Burien and Normandy Park.
