We hired David R Smith Design to complete the permit application and design for our basement and main floor renovation to our bungalow. This request included a complete redesign of the existing basement - including load bearing wall demo/structural beam design, underpinning, and a new walkout to the backyard. On the main floor, we required a revised layout for the front half of the house – including a new kitchen layout.
From the initial meeting with David, we were very impressed with his professionalism, experience and ideas, and general customer oriented approach. After taking meticulous measurements of the house, he met with us at a later date to go over different layout options. Even though we were very happy with the initial design, we discussed with friends (one of whom is an interior designer) who recommended some revisions. When we talked to David about these revisions, he gave valid and sound reasons why these suggestions would not work in our space and for our specific needs and wants. We appreciated his candor and felt that his advice came from a genuine desire to fulfill our vision for our space. It was obvious to us that his initial design choices were well thought out and personalized so we went with original suggestions.
The permit application process was completely seamless with David. He prepared all the required forms and permit drawings (site plan, elevation, cross-section, underpinning, details, etc) on our behalf. We received our permit within 8 business days. I have heard from others who have encountered significant delays in obtaining their permits due to re-submissions that were required. It is obvious that David is very familiar with the city’s permit requirements.
We do not have anything negative to say about our experience with David. He was very accommodating (met with us several times after normal working hours) and was always reachable and responsive to any questions that we had. We would recommend David R Smith Design to anyone who requires permit drawings or architectural design for their home.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $3,000.00
- Company Response
To Shawn, Randi & Olive, thank you so much for the kind words and believe me the experience was mutual. You guys had a clear idea of what you were looking for and were open to ideas and suggestions to help make the final result the best it could be. I hope that you love your new space, I know the house will be phenomenal and I wish you all the best. Keep in touch and let me know if there is any other way I can help.