THINGS WE GO THROUGH!!
Oh you’re are designer!!! That must be soooo much FUN!!!
Well it is… Most of the time…
I hear things like that a lot, and I realize it is great having a career so many people think about longingly. But like any “dream job” (and “dream guy,” for that matter!!), it’s got its baggage. It really gets stressful when you are working on a new construction or a remodeling project with a very tight deadline. REALLY stressful…
Take now for instance. We are working on a remodel in an older high-rise in Las Vegas called Regency Towers. Our clients are repeat clients and repeat buyers of condos in this tower! The building is “old” by Las Vegas standards (…the 60’s). So most of the fixtures, finishes and inhabitants are a tad…well… OLD!
So a minor refresh and update will not do the trick. This is a major gut and remodel project.
I should emphasize that we are not general contractors – but we do work with an excellent one on all of these types of projects – even one with a Super Bowl Party deadline in EIGHT short days. Needless to say… this place is a zoo!!!
But that’s not to say the clients are unreasonable. To be fair, the clients just signed the GC contract in October, so for a major remodel of all surfaces, a new kitchen, and two new bathrooms, we are working very speedily!
Here Are a Few Surprises That Are Keeping Me up at Night
Three days ago, the kitchen backsplash came in and looked NOTHING like the sample we had – so we had to reorder. To get the credit for the old one we had to select from the same company, and the only tile that was anywhere CLOSE to the look we wanted is in Florida. Yes, I had it sent overnight from several thousand miles away, and that cost us an extra $645 dollars! Just think of what wonderful things that could have been spent on instead!!
But the tile issues weren’t over. The kitchen countertops had been cut for the other tile (which was thicker), and so now it is too thin to meet the wall. So my very patient GC had to add an extra layer of drywall to the entire backsplash area to make it flush with the countertop. WHEW!!
Some Other “Challenges”
We discovered after the master bath countertop was put in that the under-mount sinks were bisque-colored… and the tub and the toilet are white!
How did this happen??!!
They were ordered by a “former” Insidestyle design assistant. (That pretty much makes me feel better about that decision! If you are not detail-oriented as a designer, it can cost you a lot of money!!)
So that had to be replaced, but the painter then refused to work in the unit with so many other workers, so he will be starting on Monday… 5 days before move-in!!!
Plus… the CLIENT wants to come in on Wednesday before the final reveal and hang televisions right in the middle of this organized chaos!
And to top it all off… it’s Market week, which means I need to be two places at once because I have make client appointments at market!!
Stay tuned and see if I keep my sanity!
