Design Process

At Regan Baker Design, we pride ourselves on our rigorous and practiced Design Process. Our process has been developed to deliver thoughtful, personal, and strategically sequenced project planning and decision making. We look forward to guiding you and your project on an efficient and inspiring design journey.

Project & Budget Planning & Management

Communication. Transparency. Process.

We are a service-driven firm, committed to transparent and consistent communication throughout the course of your project. We pride ourselves on our rigorous dedication to managing the details of both the project’s execution, but also its cost. Budget is addressed from the start, reviewed following the completion of schematic design, and tracked through to installation. Project schedules, weekly status updates, budget planning and management, and vendor and consultant coordination are all deeply embedded in our practiced process. We love the details.

INITIAL DESIGN STUDY

Mood. Programming. Consultant Collaboration.

During the Initial Design Study we work to get to know you, your project team, and your space. In tandem with the project’s consultants (architects, contractors, and engineers), we develop a program to understand both the existing and new/proposed spaces. We create a Mood presentation with your input and inspiration to ensure the style and overall concept for the home is understood. With approval, we use this to anchor the design direction for your project. Our team confirms measurements (as needed), documents as-builts and existing art, furniture, and accessories, (as applicable) and inputs into Designer’s drawing program.

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

Space Planning. Floor Plans. Scope Definition.

With an initial design direction established, we begin to translate ideas into possible solutions that incorporate space planning, furniture layouts, materials and finishes, and color palettes for each room. In this phase we seek to understand your lifestyle preferences and develop programmatic requirements accordingly. If scope hasn’t been defined, this phase is usually where it’s finalized through proof of concept studies and feasibility exploration.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Finishes. Fixtures. Equipment. Furniture.

In Design Development, furniture floor plans and elevations evolve to finalize scale and finish direction. We select, revise, develop and finalize furniture, fixtures, finishes, fittings, accessories, and equipment for each room. We present samples, elevations, and renderings as needed. Millwork and built-in furniture are custom designed to ensure the utmost functionality of the space. We work with local vendors to design and build custom furniture, and source locally and globally for one-of-a-kind pieces that we know resonate personally with each one of our clients.

PERSONAL SHOPPING, STYLING, ART PLACEMENT

Sourcing. Selecting. Styling.

If you don’t like to shop, read on and fear not, we have you completely covered! For those clients that do, once the design development is underway, we plan and schedule personal shopping trips to evaluate plumbing, appliances, furniture, art, and accessories in person. We use this time to gather insight into your style preferences and really bring the project vision and stylistic direction to life. Many of our clients are already budding art collectors, but for those who are not, we love assisting with art selection, procurement and placement.

SPECIFICATIONS & PROPOSALS

Budget Planning. Timelines. Proposals.

As we finalize the details of our client’s selections, formal quotes, lead-times and availability are requested from vendors. Proposals are sent for your approval. Our team tracks all items from order to delivery through to installation.

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

Bids. Specifications. Schedules. Submission.

As the design direction is completed for each room, we begin construction documentation. We share an initial bid set with the purpose of gathering pricing estimates for your project during the contractor selection process. A 50% CD package is issued, followed by a 100% package in which finishes, heights, and details are specified and developed for implementation by the construction team. We love to collaborate - Schedules and specifications are shared with your architect (when relevant) to integrate into their document set.

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

Site Visits. Reviews & Revisions. Collaboration.

Once construction is underway, we collaborate with the general contractor to create schedules, identify critical path items, revise and update design documents, and attend on-site meetings to oversee design implementation. We love the technical details and work closely with your contractor to ensure accurate implementation of the design intent.

STYLING, INSTALLATION, & REVEAL

Styling. Logistics. Welcome Home.

We coordinate the warehousing, delivery, and installation of every item for your home and personally oversee art, window treatment and furniture placement at the conclusion of construction. We finalize our accessories shopping and manage the placement of every item to achieve our collective design intent.

At last, the reveal — our favorite part. We present your exceptionally personal, thoughtfully refined home.