Designers From Hell/Heaven

After posting a couple of the plan drawings, I started to remember the path we took to get there.

We started out pretty confident. We just had an architect uncle draw up some replacement cabinets in basically the same arrangement as what we had. I did some tweaks on that using a scientific combination of Adobe Illustrator and pencil scribblings. Then we tossed the half-baked ideas out to some contractors and project managers to bid on.

We got back all kinds of stuff. Some contractors went cheap and showed us how to get it done really efficiently. Some told us our plan was stupid and we should start over.

Actually, only one person told us that. Apparently Ms. Design Goddess felt her ideas were to be worshipped and the homeowners never listened to. This jacktard actually had the nerve to tell us it was ok to have our opinions, but she was going to fight us on all of them. WTF?! What kind of teamwork is that crap?

So we sent her back some revised plans and said that was what we wanted. And we never heard from her again.

Fortunately, we ended up with a great General Contractor/Craftsman that rocks. He costs a bit more, but it's worth it, cuz the experience has been wonderfully collaborative thus far. And he's way on top of his shit. And only subcontracts craftsmen like himself, with high standards.

It was an easy call to make, going with this guy. Cuz rather than get all the proper competitive bids on the new plan, I used the Justin Theory.

It's named after my former creative director partner, Justin, who used our guy and swore by him.

And my logic went something like this: Justin's one of the most detail-oriented, hands-on art directors I know. So you know he's picky about construction details. Check. But Justin is also the only creative at Chiat who brings a bag lunch to work every day. And I've seen him park in the cheap satellite lot at LAX instead of using spendy short-term like the rest of us. So I know he's picky about the dollars too. So they way i figured, anyone who passed the Justin test, would certainly pass mine.

Hmmm...I probably should tell Justin i just called him a cheap, anal guy in the blogosphere...