Our Process

You deserve the best. Whether it’s a new building project or a partial renovation, we take care to provide the best design, best service and best materials to suit your space and budget.

Renovations and building projects can be stressful. No matter how smoothly the process goes, you are dealing with workers in your home, piles of building materials, noisy power tools, electricity and water downtime, storage containers, non-existent kitchens and bathrooms, and unforeseen issues that need solving now.

At Luminary Design, we relieve you of as much of that stress as possible, taking the guesswork out of construction projects and handling the pop-up problems that need quick resolution. You can relax, knowing that we’ve got your back.

We can put the pieces in place to get your project up and running – on time, on budget, and in a way that fits your own project management style. If you like to have a finger on the pulse, we will happily include you in the decision-making processes. If you’d rather leave it all to the experts, we’re good with that, too.

We can help. Give us a call and let us show you how.

Take the next step, tell us about your project.

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Our Process

Getting to Know You

During our initial consultation, we ask lots of questions but, more importantly, we listen. We will spend time learning about your current wants and needs, as well as those for the future. Planning ahead is important so you don’t outgrow your space or build more than you need.

Start your planning by completing the Profile questionnaire.

Residential Questionnaire Commercial Questionnaire

Preliminary Sketches

No doubt you’ve seen the words “artist’s concept” on images of future construction. That’s exactly what we do – initial concepts and ideas are presented as 3-D sketches or as markups on existing plans. As the design process evolves, these concepts will be refined until we reach an ideal plan that we can move ahead with.

Space Planning

Do you love your home but wish the kitchen were larger, or that you had an ensuite bath, a ‘great room’ or a home theatre in the basement? Are you running out of room for employees and file storage, wanting to expand but unsure if you can afford more square footage and the renovations that go with it?

That’s what space planning is all about. We look at the overall “bones” of your space and show you how walls could be moved, or extra rooms added, to give you the environment you need – now and into the future.

We also work with clients, realtors and property developers prior to your purchase or lease. We can create feasibility studies for personal space, retail and office layouts so that you will feel confident before leasing or purchasing.

Costings

Horror stories abound about renovation and building costs spiraling out of control. That’s why realistic goal setting is essential – so you don’t spend more than you can reasonably afford.

We can help you set your initial budget, allowing for a contingency value in the case of renovations, and work with you to keep it in line.

Architectural Drawings

Once the concepts are in place and the budget is clarified, we start on the technical drawings and details. The architectural set may include demolition plans, floor and ceiling plans, lighting and power plans, mechanical plans, finishes and schedules, millwork (cabinetry) elevations and details, and structural drawings (in conjunction with the appropriate engineers).

These drawings will be used for obtaining building permits and contractor quotes and, of course, construction.

Lighting

Lighting often falls to the bottom of the ‘priority pile’ when it is actually one of the most important elements in design.

We provide your contractor and electrician with a detailed set of drawings which includes product specifications, positioning of permanent fixtures like pot lights, wall sconces and overhead fixtures, and light switch locations.

Product Selections

No one wants to hold up a project because a product is out of stock or has a long delivery date. Having all the plumbing and electrical fixtures chosen before construction saves you time and money. We provide fully detailed lists of all fixtures required so your contractor can provide you with accurate pricing and get things brought to the site on time.

Finish Selections

Finishes include items such as flooring, moldings, railings, fixtures, brick and siding, and paint colours.

Depending on the scope of work, we can make recommendations on interior and exterior finishes to meet both functional and aesthetic needs, while staying within your budget.

Furniture

While a preliminary furniture plan is included in the major space planning early in the process, the final selections happen later. Just like with other fixtures, we help you get this organized and ready for pricing and ordering.

Project Management & Quality Control

Once the drawings are complete and all fixtures and furniture are selected, the package goes out to contractors for pricing. You may have already selected your contractor, or you may want several to go through a bidding process. We can help you by collecting all the bids and reviewing for apples-to-apples comparisons.

After the project is awarded and construction begins, we are with you until the end, working as your advocate to ensure that you get the results you want.

As part of that commitment, we will:

  • Work hand-in-hand with structural engineers, general contractors and trades people to answer questions, trouble-shoot, and coordinate every step of your renovation – from initial drawings to project completion
  • Ensure that building codes are strictly adhered to by general and sub-contractors
  • Obtain permits if necessary, and ensure that inspections are completed
  • Communicate your questions, concerns and change-orders to keep everyone on the same page
  • Acquire product – ensuring that all the components are on site, on time, to avoid delays
  • Problem-solve –find solutions to pop-up issues, recommend substitutions (if necessary), and catch mistakes before they happen
  • Make sure that all work is performed to the highest standards in the industry
  • Ensure that products are suitable and meet specifications
  • Keep an eye on the fine details

Custom Cabinetry & Millwork

For Home Owners:
Luminary Design has over 14 years’ experience working with all major brands of custom, high-end cabinetry – from local suppliers to Italian manufacturers. We provide cabinetry plans, elevations and details so homeowners can obtain quotes from multiple suppliers without running from shop to shop, having the same discussion and re-selecting products over again.

For Contractors:
Luminary Design can provide you with detailed shop drawings and millwork specifications, and will liaison with out-of-town architectural firms to ensure that you are building what the architect asked for and what the client wants. Let us know how we can help you have a successful project.