iForest Design Build's Process

THE iFOREST PROCESS

From the Beginning to the End, We Take Care of it All

01|DISCOVERy

All of our design relationships begin with a Meet & Inspire: we offer a complimentary video-conferencing session where we develop a rapport to gather an overall feel of the desired space. Discussion includes design inspiration, style, wish-list, scope of work, budgets, timelines, and overall expectations.

02 |Budget

We always do our preliminary budgeting after our first visit and initial discussion, and more comprehensive budgeting after we’ve finalized the design. We will not start work until you’re comfortable and approve the budget.

03|Permits & Inspections

We are constantly upgrading our knowledge and expertise in the latest version of the building codes and zoning by-laws. We have partnered with building professionals who have the necessary skills, experience, licenses, and liability insurance to cover any type of building project – large or small.

04|Magic of Creation

We take care of all communication between designers and contractors so there is no conflict of interest. That’s the biggest benefit of working with a design build company!

05|OUR WARRANTY

We take care of things even after the project finishes! We offer a 2-year warranty on general labor and a 1-year warranty on trade-specific work. All materials are covered under their respective manufacturer warranties.

Success stories

We love your design choices... Your warmth, caring, and sense of humour during the renovation process helped us through the rough spots. We couldn't have done it without you!

- Wendy

Angela and Gillian are not the first interior designers we have worked with but they are, by far, the best. From start to finish, they were always very professional, delivering on time, on budget, and above expectation.

- Ruth & Paul

"We feel so fortunate to have hired Angela and Gillian for our entire ground floor renovation. Let me tell you, renovations can be really tough. But having Gillian and Angela by your side through the whole process really made a world of difference. They are professional, experienced, design super savvy and have a genuine disposition. In no time, you feel like you're working with a good friend who really gets you. They are talented yet humble and really pay close attention to our particular style and taste. They helped us realize our vision for which we are truly grateful. We highly recommend iForest Design and Build and their entire team. We particularly appreciated working with Joe, their contractor who was very responsive and attentive to our needs. You won't be disappointed.

"Gillian and Angela are a delightful pair, they exude warmth and genuine love for their art. As a team they have a unique ability to read people's needs and this shows in their work/results. They are able to turn a house into a beautiful home. Each room offers an experience where you know every detail has been considered. You will feel fully supported. My first interaction with Angela instilled confidence and trust in me. She is a long time Vancouver resident with years of experience running her own furniture business. Gillian has a unique ability to read people and see beyond their words and yet has this firecracker strength to get things done effectively and efficiently which allows them to work so beautifully as a team. I would highly recommend the entire team at iForest Design and Build."

"Angela and Gillian made our home feel like an oasis, and we couldn't be happier. They have a unique ability to bring together 'old world' charm with modern flair. Given their diverse backgrounds and talents this is a unique and brilliant combination. They were able to integrate the more classic pieces of furniture wth more modern influences using lighting, splashes of colour, and specific design skills that we would never have been able to come up with on our own. Gillian did all the sourcing and running around which made the process effortless, efficient, and very effective. We were delighted with the entire iForest team. Joe, their contractor, is very organized and responsive as well as being incredibly reliable."

"I hired iForest Design and Build to furnish my new townhouse. Angela and Gillian interviewed me to understand my needs and the kind of place I like to live in. They surveyed the new home and designed a set of outcomes for the furnishings. They provided the colour palette for my new home and also picked the furnishings including all the decor, and many other design details... One word: Amazing!!! I love my new place and everyone who visits has commented on how beautifully designed it is. Money well spent!"

"Thanks Angela and Gillian, we really appreciate everything you have done for us. We love your design choices... you warmth, caring, and sense of humour during the renovation process helped up through the rough spots. We couldn't have survived it without you! Joe is very organized and detail-oriented as well as being incredibly reliable. He represents a high level of professionalism both with the quality of work produced as well as on a personal level."

"Hey that's our house! Thanks Joe, Angela, and Gillian. We would highly recommend iForest Design and Build for an amazing job! Well done! We couldn't be happier with the results. Smooth sailing the whole way through and many weeks ahead of schedule. Thanks for accommodating our idiosyncratic tastes and whims along the way, we really appreciate the way you were able to integrate our existing taste and feel while updating the kitchen and bathroom to give a more modern fresh look. Barb and I thoroughly enjoyed your process and the way you kept us updated with detailed progress reports. It was an absolute pleasure dealing with you and we especially love the personal touches. All the best with future projects. Two thumbs up!!"

"Angela and Gillian are not the first interior designers we have worked with but they are, by far, the best. They have a unique ability to hone in their client's design style. They have prepared a layout which they referred to as a 'dream board' that beautifully fused modern with traditional elements, integrated the old with the new, and transformed our home into a welcome statement of who we are. We were amazed at how they were able to find beautiful, unique pieces (elements we would certainly never find on our own) that when brought together always seemed to be "just perfect" and "exactly what we envisioned". From start to finish, Angela and Gillian were always very professional, delivering on time, on budget, and above expectation. I am not a person who is easily impressed, but in this case, I am happy to say my expectations were exceeded and I could not recommend iForest Design and Build highly enough."

Unlock your dream home with a free consultation

From start to finish, our whole process is designed to minimize your expenses and maximize your profit margins.

At iForest, the most important part of any space is YOU. When we look at any kind of budget or pull out a sketch pad, we want to get to know you. How do you see your family spending a rainy day afternoon? What do you do for relaxation after a long day in the office? We want to get to know what makes your home feel like yours.

Why is hiring a designer valuable to a decorating or renovation job?

Sometimes it’s hard to understand the value of a designer when there seems to be so much on the internet that tells homeowners how to do their own design work. Indeed, you can do it yourself, but a designer will:

Determine and design the correct sizing of furniture or built-ins and work out the best room layout.
Offer suggestions or shopping locations you may not have thought of or have heard about.
Provide valuable time management solutions and eliminate slowdowns in decision making.
Create more effective communication between you and the contractor.
Interpret your ‎vision into something achievable.
Bring experience to the table as well as trades, companies, or suppliers that have a good record of service.
Be a calming presence during what can be a difficult time for some people.
A designer is your advocate onsite, making sure you get the best space possible. They can often see things that contractors missed.

What happens in the first meeting?

We will look at your space, examine the current condition of your home, and determine in which direction to move the project forward.

‎In this meeting, you can share your wish list, describe your desires, discuss your design needs and budget. It is really helpful if you have an existing floor plan. Otherwise, we will take measurements for the draft planning and estimate.

How do we charge for the design fee?

Since we are a design-build company, our fees are a percentage of the total cost which includes all design, 3D modelling, project coordination, and management. This includes 3 free functional space plans. We can modify them until you are satisfied and sign off. Also, during the construction, if there are any changes needed to accommodate the structural condition, we will change the design accordingly for free.

If a permit is required, the structural and architectural drawings will be charged separately.

How do I create an accurate budget?

While every project is different, we can give you an estimate of what you will need to spend to achieve your desired outcome. We will also work with you to create and stick to a budget based on your project’s scope of work. Some things to consider when creating a budget include how involved in the design process you want to be and how quickly you can make decisions.

If you want a general idea, go shopping. For instance, go to retailers where you would purchase things from; not the cheapest place. Remember you’re improving your home. Check out the price of a sofa, hardwood furniture (tables, etc.), and bathroom fixtures. This will give you an idea of how to gauge the cost of things realistically.

Frequently Asked Questions

We love our clients and feel that being open and honest right from the start can help us create a strong, collaborative relationship and eliminate confusion. So, as you begin your design journey, we’ve put together some answers to commonly asked questions you may find helpful.

Design-Build vs. Traditional Construction

When you choose between design-build and traditional construction, it helps to have the facts. Fortunately, there are plenty available. Studies conclude that using the design-build method provides superior results from other construction options in terms of:

Time and Money Efficiency

All studies show that having the design and build Team working under one roof allows for efficient and effective communication, thus, minimizing the likelihood in change of orders allowing for much valued time and money saving purposes.

Schedule

Studies prove that design-build projects complete significantly faster (up to 33%) than traditional construction projects. Working with an architect requires waiting for designs to be drawn and approved before bidding with contractors. DESIGN+BUILD employs both designers and project managers to ensure that your project gets started promptly.

Accountability

Since all the team members of your design and build firm are in-house, there is no lack of accountability. When designers and contractors are on the same team, there is no confusion finding the fault source if something goes wrong. This accountability means that project timelines or budgetary conflicts are resolved swiftly.