Randi, have you searched houzz's "find pros" for builders in your area?

I agree that you should meet with some kitchen and bath certified specialists. On the positive side, you have knowledge of what not to do, or not to have happen again. I researched as much as I could ahead of our bath remodel and questioned everything. I still had a couple issues where I did not expect things to happen, but had some little damages. I drove the GC crazy, but hey, it was our money and we wanted it all done right.

Being an architect myself, this is going to be a biased opinion, but of course I think that hiring an architect is the best way to go. An architect is someone who can help you through the whole process of your building project - design, permitting and construction - keeping the whole project in mind from design intent, to your scope and to your budget. They can help you hire the contractor and make sure things are being built right during construction too. Of course, you have to find the right architect, with the right kind of experience to help you. Look for someone who has done work in your city, on a residential remodel project who is going to be hands on with your project. Also, when you interview them, pay attention to how well they listen to you and how well you're getting along with them. It's always better to hire someone who you can get along with well and who really wants to help you get the house of your dreams. Best of luck!

Listen to cancork Floors! Take his advice! I'm in the middle of a renovation that appears to have no end in sight because I did NOT pay attention to my ABCs :-(

Oh, thiamom! I'm so sorry! Sigh. I hope everything works out for you. It might not be too late...to bring in a high-end professional...but it won't be "cost effective". Not like at the beginning. So sorry this has happened. Keep your spirits up! It will be over soon even though it feels like you are in reno time warp.

You could choose a Certified Interior Designer that specializes in space planning and/or kitchens and baths. Then, you will get a space that functions well and has all the foundational materials, as well as the softer goods chosen from an overall cohesive plan. They also work with the contractors for timelines and keep them in check. And, as mentioned above, there is usually a large upfront fee but you do need to get what you pay for in this case! I hope you project goes well and is not a nightmare but something doable and appreciated by you, your family and friends when it is through. No matter what anyone says, add at least 10% over what is estimated and possibly 6 months. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

Inchoate may be biase, but she's right.

Not within my purview to interject... but I will.

Speaking from a position which is usually at the "tail end" of the project, I can't stress how much easier it is to work under conditions that were well outlined in advance, rather than sidestepping architectural input. Over the years, I've had the "pleasure"(?) of working under various conditions... and I'll choose planning & forethought as opposed to a procedure of "throwing numbers at the wall hoping something sticks" approach, which is followed by too many builders left to their own design. (IMHO)

Agree with Select Hardwood--developing a comprehensive plan forces the thinking that otherwise comes up mid-project when the pressures of time, availability/competencies of trades and budget get in the way. Whether local or remote, I like communication in writing supported by meetings/chats. This enables each party to focus on what is proposed and agreed. Too often I see that verbal exploration of ideas are differently interpreted leading to errors and a loss of trust. That's one reason I was brought into a project in the Mediterranean where the owner, contractor and architect needed to be brought back into an effective collaboration. As a project designer, I form a bridge to facilitate the result and a design-oriented eyes when the architect is more engineer than artist.

The right professional is the one that you can talk openly and freely with, that does not make you feel stupid or inadequate for asking questions, that does ALL of the planning and research up front with you before a permit is pulled or a hammer gets used. It is the person/firm that can truly help you understand your budget and then how to get the design to meet your budget - you may or may not choose to afford everything you could possibly dream of in a project. You need help to understand which things really affect cost. As a design/build firm, we believe that is the best business model for renovations - but we are also biased. We just know that we see plans all the time that are beautiful - and 4x more expensive than the client can afford. We also see plans all the time and NO engineering has been done - the plan is not feasible at an affordable price or the engineering modifications spoil the whole vision the customer originally had. It all needs to come together at the same time before you pay for your plans.

With all do respect to the design professionals, I'm going to insert my two cents as a contractor.

Trades are treated rather shabbily here on Houzz. Why is it we are treated as the unwashed, knuckle - draggers who don't have two brain cells to rub together and might be capable of acceptable work only if we have an over--zealous home owner or design pro micromanaging every move?

Granted, some of us might fit the description of "knuckle dragger", but there are some contractors perfectly capable of running such a project.

Oh, and FYI...Cancork's name is Stephanie.

@River Valley...

The comments regarding the use of an architect or someone who is capable of "engineering" the project in advance, are by no means made on a "blanket statement" basis.

Being one of the unwashed masses who is also a knuckle dragging tradesman, I can, however, readily confirm that there are too many individuals in the construction industry, who will jump in with the idea that "winging it" is possible, simply because they have the ability to bob & weave when a problem occurs. Sometimes it works... other times there is a lot of head scratching & navel gazing that ensues.

Some are DEFINITELY better equipped than others to handle this scenario... but how many people in the industry consider themselves "craftsmen" and can't even spell the word.

I've worked with too many guys in the biz, who thought they were "artisans" simply because they had built a doghouse that didn't fall down. Often, they get into the project elbow deep, and pass the responsibility off to the applicable trade, figuring it's THEIR responsibility to make it work.

Sort of like many people who sit at the bar for a substantial amount of time, and suddenly feel "equipped" to become a bar owner.

For the record... I've also seen plenty of instances that resulted in chaos simply because the "drawings" had shown it possible, when in reality, there was no easy way to translate what was on paper to a 3 dimensional state.

Due diligence on the part of the Homeowner rules the day when deciding who will ultimately "run the show" for them.

You're right Select. Some people think walking through the same employers door every day for twenty years makes for twenty years of experience.

Up front design doesn't always work. You still need brains on both ends.

http://wonderfulengineering.com/31-engineering-mistakes-that-make-you-wonder-who-gave-them-engineering-degrees/

Okay...sooooo, either someone photo-shopped those or some were taken after renovation?

EEK! I am sooo glad to be married to an MAE with 36 years of serious building experience! Over all the years most trade craftmen we have hired were masters at their craft. We had one really bad GC that I could have gone to jail over for murder. (The husband had just been transfered and we needed to finish the house to sell.) Do your homework and actually go to see completed work no matter who you hire. Put everything in writing and take pictures all the way through. Should you ever have to sue I highly recommend Wachter and Associates based out of PA to pull apart your contract and assess blame for nasty construction. Expensive as hell...but in that case you really would be getting what you paid for.

@River, Yea I'm sure most are photoshopped. But I will tell a story, well two now that I think about it, at the risk of getting long winded like Select.

When I was in college I was in a co-op program. Alternated school and working. I had a job working for an architectural engineering firm. Sometimes I got to go out with the field engineers to survey projects under construction. That was the fun part.

We went to a 20+ story office complex series of buildings. The plumbers and tin knockers were having a pissing contest (unions you know). There was a mistake on the drawings that resulted in a 12" water line running through the center of some not much bigger duct work. The duct work was installed first where the drawings showed the plumbing was to go. The plumbers cut some very nice round tight holes and put their pipe where the drawings said to. All 20+ stories.

I also have a relationship with an architect that when he (as he puts it) "has a special job that requires thinking", I get it. He brought me a job once for a very large drop finial for the outside of a building. When he was leaving he said, you know this is square right? The last guy made it round.

Oh Al... so hurtful!

Et tu, Brute?

"Long winded", indeed.

Bad furnituremaker... BAD!

While we're sharing angst...large house project, drainage pipes installed with the build up somehow did not align with the drainage pipes from the roof down... the cavity between cement floors filled with rain that found it's way out of chandeliers and recessed lighting on the middle floor of the house. Not pretty. Very hard to believe the team did not know this had occurred when the pipes (much like that bridge, photoshopped or not) did not quite connect.

Projects require good planning, management, communication, skill sets and a team culture in which people actually care about the outcome as much as the paycheque. The relationships need to be managed to foster trust and commitment--on all sides.

@Al- Yep, that's one way to teach the engineer/architect a lesson.

Consider a Design/Build firm. More efficient use of your dollars and most expeditious planning and coordination.