is there a minimum budget of projects that you work on?

Many clients come to us because they love our work's quality, feel, and experience. We believe there is a minimum scale of projects that can capture these aspirations and allow us to give our clients and their projects the attention and time to deliver the quality of projects we’re known for. The minimum project budget for architecture and interior design projects is usually $500k, but most of our renovations are around the 2 million dollar mark.

How much do new homes and renovations cost?

It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. A typical bathroom or kitchen renovation in NYC starts at about $400/SF and light cosmetic changes, like finish swaps start around $30/SF. We live by the mantra of quality of quantity, and longevity over trends and we are skilled in designing spaces that you will use and enjoy for many years to come. We help you refine your brief so your home is just the right size for you (and your things).

See our budget tools here

What value does an architect/interior designer add?

You can eliminate guesswork by working with an experienced, qualified architect or interior designer; you can focus on what you do so you can do what you do and save yourself the trouble of learning the ins and outs of a renovation. If you recall from the earlier sections, those agencies and authorities have their own processes that sometimes come together but usually overlap—so even before you remove a tile or build a wall, you have to go through those first.

How do you manage the project budget?

The project budget is a key element of your brief. We will help guide you in setting the budget and working towards it is a crucial part of our work. At the start of your project, we will ask about your budget goal and relationship to your budget. This means that we ask you to consider the following three elements and put them in your personal priority: The brief/wishlist, the quality of spaces and details, and the budget. How you prioritise these three elements will help us make informed decisions and assist us with how best to advise you throughout the project. For example, if your budget is your number one priority, we will not show you options that sit outside your budget, such as lans for options for services, appliances, or finishes that aren’t within it.

How long does a project take?

Every project is unique, but we generally suggest two months for the Design and Planning Permit stages. We know that sounds like a lot but anyone that has done a renovation (whether doing it themselves or with an architect) how much bureaucracy is involved as the standard. The good news is whether you’re building from scratch or starting from an existing space, the bureaucratic process is the same, so if you’re going through all this effort to hurry up and wait, it may be advantageous to do more so you get a higher, quicker return on your investment.

Do you have builders that you recommend?

I have worked with honestly hundreds of contractors and subcontractors over the years and we prefer to work with builders who share our values of honest, transparency, excellence, teamwork, respect and a passion for their craft as well as a can-do approach. There is nothing a contractor wants more than a happy client who has enjoyed the overall process. With that said, we don’t recommend selecting a contractor without going first receiving bids from each and then completing what is known as the bid-levelling process. From there we can assess which contractor best fits your needs.

I have already chosen a builder, will you work with them?

We can work with them, but what we cannot do if you’ve already signed with a contractor is renegotiate the terms. Hiring a contractor before you have construction documents available is a terrible idea, as nothing is solidifying what you’ve agreed to. You may have a fine marble in mind for your kitchen, and your contractor may have a solid surface hidden in the cost.

How do you charge?

For full architectural design, interior design and documentation services, we charge a percentage based on the budget and then the project's final cost. Once a building contract is underway and construction commences, we follow the build, support the building team, and support you using a monthly retainer model. We charge as a percentage because, throughout our years in practice, we have found that the cost of the project is the clearest reflection of the quantum of work we are known for. Fixed fees may be the mark of a less experienced architect (we have been guilty of this when we first started). Hourly fees can work for certain projects, but how does a client determine whether the hired designer uses their skill/time wisely on a design?  - It is very uncommon for our clients to know how much they want (or need) to spend to achieve their vision at the beginning of the journey. As such, we start every project with an initial stage called the Pre-Design Process. This is a lump sum fee that will be credited back to you if we continue. -The package will help you understand how the project might take shape, allow you to get excited about it, and help us determine the project’s scope and budget. We find this a great way to start a project and get to know one another; there is no obligation for you to proceed with us beyond this stage; if you choose to continue the journey, we can agree with you on a project budget that we can base our fees on. - The total architectural fee for the design and documentation is broken into each stage of the architectural journey. When the final build cost is known, our fee is adjusted to be based on this figure if it differs. We invoice monthly based on the progress of the stage underway. - For interior-only projects under $1M, furniture selection, assistance with artwork acquisition and window coverage, we leverage our “trade discount” + 20% of procurement cost to provide maximum value. What this translates to is you end up spending around the same amount you would if you went out and purchased it directly from the manufacturer with the assurance of a qualified design professional and procurement company.

Do you have a waitlist?

As a studio, we have decided to take on one new project per month. This allows us to give our clients the undivided attention we are known for. It also makes us proud to deliver a smooth architectural journey that your clients enjoy. As a result, we usually have a waiting period of at least a month.

We haven’t worked with an architect before; how does the process work?

All architects and designers work in a series of stages; it starts with a client’s dream to create something bespoke and ends in a final completed project. About 80% of the architect’s work happens before the sledgehammer is slung, at Havard Cooper Architect we call this the Design Phases. Each of the design phases adds a layer of refinement and detail until the project can be built by an experienced general contractor using our set of drawings and documents. - While most of our work is done before the construction, we liaise between you and the general contractor to monitor, correct when necessary and guide as the vision comes to life.