When I was in school, the subject we talked least about, but since being out of school I wished I had known the most about – Specifications, aka “Specs.” These documents literally become binding contracts to the designs we create and if they don’t align with your designs – your designs won’t be created per …
Category Archives: TIDLIC
DESIGN SHADOW: ESTIMATING PROJECT HOURS AND TRACKING ORDERS
TIDLIC. At work we try very hard to be accountable to the hours it takes for a person who is assigned to a project or task. It’s the only responsible thing to do when it comes to keeping employees employed and running a financially sound business. To this end the Project Managers (PMs ) assign …
DESIGN SHADOW: TEST FIT
I received a cold call from a potential client the other day. This company’s executive had been referred to me and our company by a number of individuals. He asked if I could meet with him to explore the expansion of his business into a new commercial space – giving them potentially more square footage …
DESIGN SHADOW: PROJECT DOCUMETATION
Since I have spent the last number of weeks on a job site managing and completing the installation of a project, it’s now time to complete the record keeping part of the project…the part that we never talk about in school. Most commercial clients like a type of product specification and material/finish binder – architectural …
DESIGN SHADOW -“OAC”: A TIDLIC
“OAC” – Owner, Architect and Contractor meeting. I didn’t know that term in school, but it is a acronym thrown around weekly now. There are various types of meetings to get a project concept-ed, off the ground and running – or building – in our line of work. Once a contractor is brought on board, whether …
DESIGN SHADOW: CAULKING – A TIDLIC
Now that we are about a month out from “turn over” – the date that the contractor turns the building over to the Owner I am spending at least one day a week if not two, walking the project and inspecting progress of materials and finishes going in. Today I met with one of the …
DESIGN SHADOW ON ANTIQUES
The current project that I have been working on is a historic renovation and has required me to do a lot of in-depth research into the late 19th century. I specifically have spent a lot of time with the Eastlake, High Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival design movements of the overreaching Victorian aesthetic. I have …
HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA – FURNITURE AND PRODUCT MARKET
Today I awoke in Greensboro, North Carolina. It’s another day at the High Point Furniture Market for me. This is my second full day here and even though I have walked over 9,000 steps each day (plus my 4 mile run today) I am feeling good and have one more day in me. I am …
ARCHITECTURAL/INTERIOR DESIGN PUNCH LIST: A TIDLIC
Today I was out of state on location for a project where we are building student housing for a University. We spent the day inspecting and “punch listing” the site. This usually means a lot of blue tape all over the building…much to the GC’s displeasure. I don’t have any recollection of ever discussing this side …
THEY SAID THE “D” WORD AND THAT IS NOT I.D.E.A.L.
For years I have been telling people that I wanted to write a book called: “They said the D word.” In this instance the “D” word isn’t the typical four letter word; the D word refers to: Decorator. In fact I had thought of using that as the title of this blog. And I am here …
Design Shadow 