This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Getting to "Wow"

See how a 1950's ranch house was expanded and remodeled to get the "wow" factor the owners wanted.

Every client desires to get the “WOW” factor!  In fact, clients seem to expect it.

This lesson came home a few years back when I was walking a new client, John, through a recently completed project.  We were walking through this project so John could see how we had resolved certain design issues that were also of concern to him as well as previous clients.  When we walked into the kitchen and breakfast room, John said “Wow!” and then turned to me and said “My house will have this kind of wow factor, won’t it?”

I had to reassure John right then and there that his new home would also have the “wow factor.”  I had to remind John that his would be a different home with a different site and different requirements, so the wow factor would be different but certainly there.  Of course John wanted to know where and how and what would give him the wow he wanted.  As we developed the design over the next few months, I produced several drawings and models to assure John that his project would have all the “wow” and then some that he desired.

Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 After almost 24 months of design and construction, John’s house transformation is complete.  By his own admission, John is delighted with the wow factor and how he has gotten “wow‘s” from friends and family.    

 Since this incident I’ve focused on making sure my clients get their share of “wow.”  To do this requires that we explore their dreams and desires in addition to their needs and wants.  We explore where their ideal home is and what they would be doing there.  We explore in depth what they truly like and dislike about their current living conditions.  We have to explore every possibility of the existing house and site.  And we have to be attuned to the possibilities that are before us.  We shouldn’t rush the design process nor should we let it stagnate.  We shouldn’t spend money like drunken sailors nor should we be so parsimonious that we loose out on possibilities.  Like Goldilocks, we need to find what’s not too hot nor too cold.

Find out what's happening in Bloomingdale-Riverviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Potential clients come to an architect expecting and wanting the wow factor.  We, as architects, should be accommodating and get them the wow of their dreams!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?