Dumped by your Architect!?
We all know the punch-in-the-guts feeling of being dumped or rejected. But I'm not going to tell you a sad and awkward story from my adolescence. (Thank goodness!) Instead, imagine if that punch happened during the design phase of your dream house project and that the person dumping you was your architect!
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This is what had just happened to Macy* when we first met in 2019.
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"I really couldn't have done it without you."
Macy is incredible. She has persevered and has made a beautiful home for herself and her young adult daughter. And as with most things truly worth achieving, it's been a journey.
After being "let go" by an architect who said they were closing down their office, but have since mysteriously reappeared, (sorry, no names) Macy reached out to another architect suggested by a friend.
But that architect didn't want to take on another designer's work. Oh no! Now what?? That architect** did an amazing thing and referred Macy to me. This was before Architect GP was launched, but as I as getting known in the industry for having a unique consultation-based approach to architectural services.
Over the next year or so, Macy and I worked together on an as-need basis to resolve specific issues, such as:
recapturing the aesthetics she loved about the original design, but that has been lost in the drafting process
changing the bathroom layouts and walk-in-robe
changing ceiling heights and stair direction to improve access to the proposed roof deck
refining window location and design
redesigning the Entry following a tricky complication with the easement
reviewing engineering documents and identifying errors
100 other little questions and "what ifs?"
"I would love to have a champagne with you and show you around!"
(and we sure did enjoy that champagne!)
I think that knowing she had an expert advocate behind the scenes helped Macy through her big build too. It is awful to feel alone in a complex and unfamiliar process. Having support makes all the difference.
With warmth and gratitude,
Founder and Architect
Sarah Hobday-North
*Macy is not her real name because I always get my client's permission and respect their stories (your stories!).
**The helpful architect was Warwick Mihaly. Thanks Warwick.
