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On today's podcast I have the privilage of interviewing Bobby Tone, owner of Studio B Elements, who has dual degrees in interior design and architecture and founded her design business almost 15 years ago. She now focuses most of her work on residential renovations for clients.

When she meets a new client, "First, I give them a little bit of an education on the design process and how I work and I want to get into their heads. Like what do they want, waht are their desires, what are their needs, what kind of style are they going with, what is their budget? I just really need to get to know them because the sooner I can get into their heads and understand what they're wanting at the end, then I can design that environment for them so they can walk in to the house every day and they're happy."

I was thrilled to hear that Bobby loves to work with Architects because they're such a strong "support system." She enjoys developing the conceptual design and palsnand the honing in on the details from there. Bobby appreciates that architects can tackle the technical drawings, particularly on larger projects when structural changes and engineering are involved. She enjoys working on everything from lighting schemes to wall texture, from window to fireplaces, to determining what kind of water heaters a client will use. THanks to her backgroun in architecture, she can go deeper and share her understanding of structural issues, flooring, grout,  and more with clients.

As far as trends, she appreciates the simplicity of open floor lans for communication and overall flow. These allow for easier upkeep and better usage of square footage while keeping families connected. Bobby concluded that " I love to take apart a house that really needs some tender loving care and create a wonderful, custom environment for my clients."

Client Question: What does remodeling cost per square foot?

I hear this question a lot and people generally think I will give than a specific dollar amount that they can then multiply based on their potential project and think \u201cOh, there\u2019s my budget.\u201d However, that is only one piece of the remodeling puzzle.

Typically, with an addition, you are blending the old and the new, which often involves blending and remodeling the old to go with the new. When I provide a number estimate, I am talking about the addition, but you need to add more on for the remodel. When it comes to new construction, projects generally run between $250-350 per square foot, depending on the complexity of the site. What you\u2019re adding on will influence the price as well \u2013 bathrooms, for example, entail plumbing and electrical, so the price will be higher than that of an updated great room.

If you have questions about a specific project or anything in general, you can find me at Mike@mIchaelSmithArchitect.com

In Summary

Thanks again to Bobby Tone from Studio B Elements for her time and insights. We also covered ADUs and costs related to home-remodeling projects. You can always reach out with questions at Mike@mIchaelSmithArchitect.com or leave a review on iTunes.

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