The past couple of years have been a hard go for many businesses; reduced spending as a result of a recession can have a tough impact on all industries. So when the going gets tough, the tough get creative and innovative! In times like these it is ever more important to set your business apart and attract the attention of new customers and clients, as well as maintain the interest of your existing ones.
Ultra Supper Club, Toronto, Ontario. Designed by Castor.
»There’s more! Read on…
There are a number of General Contractors out there, but they aren’t all equal by comparison. Hiring the right contractor takes some careful research and due diligence. If you have hired an Interior Designer or Architect, part of their scope of work should be to aid you in the quest to find the right General Contractor for your project.
Both Architects and Interior Designers have established relationships with a variety of Contractors who can participate in the project tender. Additionally they are able to recognize contractors who will best fit your project goals allowing you to obtain the best combination of pricing, quality, and scheduling.
 Sovereign Cycle Under Construction - Week 2 |
That being said, whether you are working with an design consultant or not, you (the Client and Owner), will be the one hiring the General Contractor, so it is extremely important to make sure you do your homework. Read on for a few tips to make the process of hiring a General Contractor a little less daunting. We’ll touch on:
- Licenses and Permits
- Insurance
- References
- Contract Terms
- and More.
»There’s more! Read on…
Part 1 of our ‘How-to’ series, ‘How to Select an Interior Designer’, provided some advice to those in search of the right Interior Designer for their commercial project. Here, part 2 of the series, we describe in more detail how to put together an effective Request For Proposal (RFP). An RFP outlines important information for designers to ensure that they fully understand the parameters of your project and are able to provide an appropriate proposal. It also aids in the proposal review process making it more likely that you are comparing apples to apples. Putting together the necessary information for a complete RFP may also be an exercise that you find valuable in evaluating the goals, objectives, and boundaries of your project.
The more information you can provide, the better. A well thought out and accurate RFP will save time for both you and your designer, and will also save you money in the long run. You may not have information to provide regarding all of the items listed below (there may be some that are revealed during the design process), but any insight you can provide from the get-go is beneficial to your project and to the designers you’ve invited to prepare proposals.
»There’s more! Read on…
 How Do You Choose? |
If you are moving your business into a new space or renovating your existing space you will most likely be looking for professional Interior Design help. There are many Designers out there so, how do you know who to choose? We’ll arm you with the information you need to make an informed decision by explaining:
- Why all Designers are not created equal,
- How a qualified Designer can benefit you, and
- The steps for finding a qualified Designer.
»There’s more! Read on…
Vignette series by Teknion
As Interior Designers, we often find that little space or money are allocated to waiting areas in the space plans for office settings. Often, when budgets are tight, one of the first areas to suffer in commercial design projects include waiting areas. Makes sense right? Well, in our opinion, it doesn’t.
»Find out why, read on…
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