This week has been so much better here at DFR, not that it was ever THAT bad! Courtney is back, which helps give me a heavier work load-its a lot easier to be occupied with 2 designers, then just one. I have been busy running from meetings, helping design new projects, picking out selections, researching materials and options for clients, and today I worked on tutorials for a program they use often-20/20. I am so much happier helping design, and learning a new program and really feeling more like a designer!
20/20 is a program which is fabulous for remodelers to use. It allows them to insert the cabinets and countertops they chose and it is easy for specs and helping give visual aids for the clients. I have found it is a lot like CAD/3D CAD it has just been a bit difficult to learn the cabinet sizes, depths and all of the add-ons they require. I will be working on more of it tomorrow and rendering some tile options for a large kitchen Alison has been designing. As for today we are ending it at the office and headed over to America's Floor Source to learn about client interaction and communication! Should really help everyone here and it will certainly benefit me in the long run as well as here and at West Elm.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Collaboration+Design
Friday was a fun-day here at DFR, we had a pie contest and lunch brought in, and it was nice to hang out with all of the employees and have some down time, while eating 8 different pies and voting on the best one! It was a slow day however, Courtney was out of the office at a BKBG (Bath and Kitchen Buying Group) conference, and Alison only had one meeting for the day, which was after lunch, so we spent some time watching a webinar and learning about different designs from the past that have helped create the designs we see today. Friday I also had a chance to discuss with Alison a little bit of how I felt about interning at DFR, which has thus far been a wonderful learning experience, but how I was a little discouraged that I hadnt been able to help design yet or really understand the way the designers here at DFR approach their design process. She understood and in return, I have recieved/granted a bit of partnership on a bathroom uplift/renovation project. I sketched out some of my ideas on Friday and today her, keith and I really focused on it and were able to nail some ideas and plans down. Below are some of the sketches, of the floor plan and perspective.
The perspective below we have chosen not to go foward with because we feel the client will have felt there was little change from their previous bathroom. The crucial points in this design, is the couple wants to keep their commode room as well as their same vanity, same wood color. So in a nutshell we are creating a new "wetzone" updating the tile, paint and countertops.
It was nice to collaborate with Alison today and to get more of a feel of how she designs and the way she approaches a design.
We meet with the clients on Thursday at 10 am to discuss options, and to further discuss their desires with their new bathroom, it will be nice to meet the clients to understand more about them and the design they desire. We will see how it goes!
The perspective below we have chosen not to go foward with because we feel the client will have felt there was little change from their previous bathroom. The crucial points in this design, is the couple wants to keep their commode room as well as their same vanity, same wood color. So in a nutshell we are creating a new "wetzone" updating the tile, paint and countertops.
It was nice to collaborate with Alison today and to get more of a feel of how she designs and the way she approaches a design. 
We meet with the clients on Thursday at 10 am to discuss options, and to further discuss their desires with their new bathroom, it will be nice to meet the clients to understand more about them and the design they desire. We will see how it goes!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Is it Friday Yet?
Is it Friday Yet? Since I have been interning at DFR and working at West Elm, I can never seem to keep my days straight, last week I thought it was weds all the way till 3 oclock, when I was finally told it was actually Thursday. Working 40+ hours at DFR and 20 hours at West Elm seems to be taking a toll on my brain!
Anyway, I yesterday was a very eye opening experience. I was able to sit in on a all staff/employee meeting to discuss roles and to discuss opportunities to discuss possible tweaks that could help and to in a round about manner discuss their passions and why they are at DFR. I always found the grey area here at DFR to be the line in the sand between the sales people and the ID department. It is a Relay effect where it begins in sales, gets handed to ID, then to PM and to the men in the field, cohesively they stay in touch with what is happening on the project as it continues, but none the less a relay effect. Last week I asked Alison (ID department) how they distinguish who gets to "really design" and basically it depends on what sales person you have working with you. It was interesting listening in on the meeting because you realize that not only are the women who work in ID are designers, but so are the people who work in sales (minus keith). So there is a struggle and some what of a tug-a-war about the design issues. As a designer myself, I would want to strictly be the designer on the project, to be able to utilize my creativity at its maximum capacity and not have to end what someone in the sales department may have already began-and maybe, this is the pure reason as to why I wouldnt be as successful and happy as I could be at DFR.
Together as a unit, DFR seems to be a well oiled machine, one that supports each other within the grey area, and are willing to try to find a new solution and maybe a better solution to keep the machine oiled and moving. The managers of the deparments and head hauncho's of the company are hoping to make some decisions and moves soon to make sure everyone on staff is happy and satisfied.
After the meeting I asked Michelle who is trained and studied Design for school, but is working at the ID assistant and support person, about how she felt in a company like this. Ironically, it works for her, she eventually wants to work in residential and believes that learning how the machine of DFR works and paper work happens will help her-true story. However, I always feel in the back of my head taking on a role such as hers would, for a lack of better words, loose her design touch/drive. Who knows, I suppose it works differently for everyone, I think I just expect and dream to graduate and walk into an architecture firm at an entry level position and began to further my knowledge that way working on commercial designs, but as far as future goes-the path is undefined and I am fully aware it is likely to have many surprises.
Anyway, I yesterday was a very eye opening experience. I was able to sit in on a all staff/employee meeting to discuss roles and to discuss opportunities to discuss possible tweaks that could help and to in a round about manner discuss their passions and why they are at DFR. I always found the grey area here at DFR to be the line in the sand between the sales people and the ID department. It is a Relay effect where it begins in sales, gets handed to ID, then to PM and to the men in the field, cohesively they stay in touch with what is happening on the project as it continues, but none the less a relay effect. Last week I asked Alison (ID department) how they distinguish who gets to "really design" and basically it depends on what sales person you have working with you. It was interesting listening in on the meeting because you realize that not only are the women who work in ID are designers, but so are the people who work in sales (minus keith). So there is a struggle and some what of a tug-a-war about the design issues. As a designer myself, I would want to strictly be the designer on the project, to be able to utilize my creativity at its maximum capacity and not have to end what someone in the sales department may have already began-and maybe, this is the pure reason as to why I wouldnt be as successful and happy as I could be at DFR.
Together as a unit, DFR seems to be a well oiled machine, one that supports each other within the grey area, and are willing to try to find a new solution and maybe a better solution to keep the machine oiled and moving. The managers of the deparments and head hauncho's of the company are hoping to make some decisions and moves soon to make sure everyone on staff is happy and satisfied.
After the meeting I asked Michelle who is trained and studied Design for school, but is working at the ID assistant and support person, about how she felt in a company like this. Ironically, it works for her, she eventually wants to work in residential and believes that learning how the machine of DFR works and paper work happens will help her-true story. However, I always feel in the back of my head taking on a role such as hers would, for a lack of better words, loose her design touch/drive. Who knows, I suppose it works differently for everyone, I think I just expect and dream to graduate and walk into an architecture firm at an entry level position and began to further my knowledge that way working on commercial designs, but as far as future goes-the path is undefined and I am fully aware it is likely to have many surprises.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Week 3
I have been feeling much more useful around DFR, and feeling more comfortable with their design process, the way they handle things and with the people. I find that it is always difficult to adjust to a new environment, but this time for me it seemed a bit more difficult. Yes, it is a world of design, however, it is completely different to the world in which I had been living in for the past 4 years of my life. Now I am learning to work within someones budgets, someones taste, someones pre-existing space, and someone elses emotions. It is practically a whole new ball game, especially since I have yet to design :-( . Sometimes I feel as if I may be loosing my design touch and talent (which I know isn't true) but I feel like I haven't had the creative mindset for awhile, because I have been occupying myself with PO forms, estimates, researching products, meeting with clients and running random errands for the designers here. It has certainly been a change of pace for me and a reality check. Neither one particularly bad, just different.
This week I felt really busy, except for today. Today is quiet in the office, Courtney is out of town, Alison is at an appointment and Michelle is in her office plugging away, so here I am, after changing light bulbs, and sweeping the showroom floor, I am hoping something grand will be passed on to me, so I can stop writing my blog and start working with design. I am really hoping next week I can start getting knee deep in learning 20/20 their design program which allows the designers to insert the particular cabinetry they are using so they can get a real sense of what the space will look like, plus it will be easier for the designers to spec the space and estimate the cost.
I guess today can be a quiet day, we have been busy all week, it's friday and its nasty here in Ohio. I am hoping soon to be posting pictures of some of the work they have done as well as some projects I have been aiding on!
This week I felt really busy, except for today. Today is quiet in the office, Courtney is out of town, Alison is at an appointment and Michelle is in her office plugging away, so here I am, after changing light bulbs, and sweeping the showroom floor, I am hoping something grand will be passed on to me, so I can stop writing my blog and start working with design. I am really hoping next week I can start getting knee deep in learning 20/20 their design program which allows the designers to insert the particular cabinetry they are using so they can get a real sense of what the space will look like, plus it will be easier for the designers to spec the space and estimate the cost.
I guess today can be a quiet day, we have been busy all week, it's friday and its nasty here in Ohio. I am hoping soon to be posting pictures of some of the work they have done as well as some projects I have been aiding on!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Hubbard House
So last week, was a little hectic, little crazy and a lot of manual labor. For a couple years now everyone at Dave Fox Remodeling have been remodeling a house in Victorian Village in Columbus, OH and last week on Thursday was the new logo launching and showcase of the house. The first week I was working we went to visit the Hubbard House and with all of the dubris and unfinished work you could already tell it was a beautiful home, but last week right before it was finished and even during the cleansing process it was amazing to see all of their hardwork and design adventures finally be on display for people to see, and for a potential buyer to love and live in.
On Monday, I spent the day doing the usual, tagging along to meet with clients, discussing potential designs, visiting flooring and lighting companies and even doing a final walk through. We had a meeting on Monday with all of Dave Fox employees, which was very interesting listening to the dynamics of the company and everything that gets spoken about, the best thing about the meeting was as important as most of the topics were there seemed to be laughter at most points. Which is something I have am so found of at this business-there always seems to be laughs even when times are frustrating and/or complicated. Tagging along with Alison in a final walk thru was interesting, it is basically just signing paperwork, going over the space and making sure everything is okay, went smoothly and/or making changes (switching out electrical plates, helping the customer pick out paint, etc.)
The rest of the week I spent most of the time getting ready and helping with the Hubbard House, which was sometimes or mostly frustrating and tiring. We scrubbed floors, cabinets, shelves, the kitchen, the bathroom-Everything on the first day. The second day we arrived at 8:30 am and started to move furniture, which can be difficult when its all women and you have mattresses and dressers to move, but we did it, through the sweat, the frustration and the heat we moved it and spent lots of time trying to plan and decide the best arrangements for the furniture regarding egress for the 100 visitors on thursday night as well as the best set up for the house to sell. By 3pm that day we were all spent, and definately ready to leave the Hubbard house. Thursday the next day, a couple of the girls went to finish accessorizing and do touch up's while I stayed at the office with Michelle and helped do some quoting, warranty books and random paper work-type jobs. I took a half day that day to head to North Carolina for Homecoming and unfortunately missed the Logo Launching + Hubbard House Grand Opening. However, I did hear it went great and that the response from the clients were remarkable, it really does show that Dave Fox is the "Mac Daddy" of remodeling here in Columbus, OH and interning here has made me realize that first hand.
On Monday, I spent the day doing the usual, tagging along to meet with clients, discussing potential designs, visiting flooring and lighting companies and even doing a final walk through. We had a meeting on Monday with all of Dave Fox employees, which was very interesting listening to the dynamics of the company and everything that gets spoken about, the best thing about the meeting was as important as most of the topics were there seemed to be laughter at most points. Which is something I have am so found of at this business-there always seems to be laughs even when times are frustrating and/or complicated. Tagging along with Alison in a final walk thru was interesting, it is basically just signing paperwork, going over the space and making sure everything is okay, went smoothly and/or making changes (switching out electrical plates, helping the customer pick out paint, etc.)
The rest of the week I spent most of the time getting ready and helping with the Hubbard House, which was sometimes or mostly frustrating and tiring. We scrubbed floors, cabinets, shelves, the kitchen, the bathroom-Everything on the first day. The second day we arrived at 8:30 am and started to move furniture, which can be difficult when its all women and you have mattresses and dressers to move, but we did it, through the sweat, the frustration and the heat we moved it and spent lots of time trying to plan and decide the best arrangements for the furniture regarding egress for the 100 visitors on thursday night as well as the best set up for the house to sell. By 3pm that day we were all spent, and definately ready to leave the Hubbard house. Thursday the next day, a couple of the girls went to finish accessorizing and do touch up's while I stayed at the office with Michelle and helped do some quoting, warranty books and random paper work-type jobs. I took a half day that day to head to North Carolina for Homecoming and unfortunately missed the Logo Launching + Hubbard House Grand Opening. However, I did hear it went great and that the response from the clients were remarkable, it really does show that Dave Fox is the "Mac Daddy" of remodeling here in Columbus, OH and interning here has made me realize that first hand.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Starting to get a feel for it- September 14-16
As I write this blog entry, my eyes are slowly closing, and my face is plush with my down comforter - I am starting to realize, I need to go to bed a bit earlier, and that 1 or 2 am doesn't cut it anymore, my i.arc stamina is running out...
Anyways, I have begun my internship! YEY! The first day was a little slow, and I was a little uncomfortable, I think like any other newbie at a firm would be. I met the girls, got situated at my new station, ( i have my own desk and own phone and everything! although, I am terrified to pick up the phone), walked through the showroom with Michelle, to help me learn placement of materials and cleaning/random supplies that I might need and went to a meeting and just got use to the fact that I am now a working (unpaid) girl now at a design firm. Oh! and the cool thing for the day was visiting the :Hubbard House: a big redesign project they have been working on and must be complete, cleaned and set up by next Friday. It is beautiful and was so nice to see one of their finish products. The second day was more exciting. I became more comfortable with myself in my new surroundings and with the other designers, they are all so nice there and its nice to have young fresh faces like mine that understand the world I just walked out of and helping me to adjust to the world I am stepping into.
Courtney is technically my mentor, she is the interior design manager, as well as a designer, shes uber sweet and easy to get along with and so far have learned a lot of great useful knowledge from her. Courtney is so knowledgeable and within these first 3 days I cant quite comprehend how she does all that she does, and knows all that she knows.
Alison is another interior designer, she is well read, studied at CCAD here in Columbus, and after todays adventures her and I have really started to get to know each other. I admire her confidence in the work that she does, dealing with vendors and clients.
Michelle is super nice, I think I have asked her and everyone else her job title about 100 times, and honestly I never remember it, but she is super important in the smoothing process between the sales department, the shipments, the vendors and Alison and Courtney. She works a lot on specs and making sure that all of the paper work and shipments are where they are suppose to be, as well as knowing about design.
Back to my second day-I thought I needed to share with you the people who I will be talking about for the next several months-Courtney and I visited 2 clients. The first lady was renovating 2 of her bathrooms and Courtney and I pulled some samples and met with her to see the existing spaces and to get more of a feel for what she wanted. She was a nice lady and super easy to work with, she wasnt super confident in knowing what she wanted so she relied a lot on our design opinions which was nice. Our next stop was to a lady name Phyllis and her husband Dick, they renovated their kitchen, front room, dinning room and downstairs bathroom, and although they had to tear our the back-splash 3 times because she didn't like it, her and her husband are wonderful people and their kitchen is just beautiful. Courtney and I helped the crew hang the chandeliers and pendant lighting.
Today we met at American Flooring where the four of us were introduced with their company a possible rep for Dave Fox Remodeling and shown around their showroom. Basically they want to be a vendor for Dave Fox and gave us the pro's and con's of their business. Besides it being super cold in the showroom and guy talking our ear off instead of "ooooooing and awwwing" the products it was a great learning experience. After, we all met up at the office except for Courtney. I have to say I twiddled my thumbs for a hot flash there, but then Alison wanted me and Michelle to go with her to visit a house that she had designed the renovation for and was in the beginning stages of the building. It is going to be an amazing space and I really cant wait to see the final project. After lunch I learned from Michelle how to make a warranty book, and besides my lack of knowledge on excel, I picked it up fairly quickly and now I have something I can contribute to! Then Alison took me to meet with two of her clients, one is updating her kitchen to a contemporary feel to go with the rest of her house, so Alison went over several design things with her while keith and I measured out the space to double check for the documents and final drawings.
Then, Alison realized she locked her keys in her car. Whoops! So her and I sat on the curb of meditation blvd (ironic) and Jessup. It was a beautiful day and to be honest it was nice to get to know Alison better, I think she understands me well, my goals my dreams and everything in between. The last client we met with was simply to pick out a chandelier. I learned a lot about different light vendors, and lighting products.
Overall, its been a great three days, and I know that within the next few days/weeks I will be doing a lot more and will be a lot more comfortable attributing my efforts and working on individual tasks.
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