Phase 1, Where Every Project Begins

The right level of design.
For your project.

Some projects need a full interior designer with a 60-page spec book. Some need stamped architectural drawings from a licensed architect. Some just need Adam to walk the space, sketch a layout, and get to work. Most projects need some mix of all three. We figure out which one you need in the first conversation, and we coordinate it all so you only deal with one number.

Start the Conversation Call (330) 942-4242

Three paths. We pick the right one together.

Most contractors either bury the design fee in markup and call it free, or hand you off to a designer they have never met and disappear. We do neither. Adam meets with you, walks the space, and we decide on the spot whether the project needs a full design package, a partner architect for structural changes, or just a clean sketch and selections list. The honest answer is usually some combination. You always know who is doing what, and you always have one phone number to call.

Path 1: Light in-house design

Adam handles space planning, layout sketches, selections guidance, and a clear scope of work. Right for straightforward kitchens and baths where the layout is obvious and you have a clear vision. Fastest and lowest cost.

Path 2: Partner interior designer

For projects that need a full design package, finish boards, 3D renderings, and a complete spec book, we route the design phase to a trusted Summit County interior designer we have worked with before. They lead design, we lead the build, you get one coordinated team.

Path 3: Partner architect

For additions, structural changes, and any project that needs stamped drawings or significant engineering, we bring in a licensed architect from our partner network. They produce the construction set, we build to it, and we handle every inspection and approval along the way.

One point of contact. One coordinated team.

Honest scoping conversation

  • In-home walkthrough with Adam
  • Real talk about what your project actually needs
  • No upsell to a design package you do not need
  • No skipping design when the project deserves it
  • Clear recommendation on which path fits
  • Free consultation, takes about an hour

The right design partner

  • Adam directly for light planning
  • Trusted interior designer when you need a full package
  • Licensed architect when drawings need a stamp
  • Mix of any of the above when the project calls for it
  • Partner is selected to fit your style and budget
  • You can also bring your own designer or architect

One coordinated build

  • Adam stays the single point of contact
  • Constructability review before pricing is locked
  • Fixed-price proposal tied to the design package
  • Permits, inspections, and AHJ coordination handled
  • Same crew on every job for finish consistency
  • Designer or architect stays involved through punch list

From first call to the right design partner.

1

Free in-home consultation

Adam walks the space with you, listens to what you want to do, and asks honest questions about budget and timeline. No pitch, no sales script. Most consultations take about an hour.

2

We pick the path together

Based on the scope, your style, and your budget, Adam recommends one of three paths: light in-house design, partner interior designer, or partner architect. Sometimes it is a combination. You decide what fits.

3

Design and build, coordinated

If we are using a design partner, we make the introduction and stay in the loop. Once the design is locked, you get a fixed-price proposal and a build schedule. One contract. One phone number. One team.

You pay for the design you actually need.

Light in-house planning is included in most AK projects. Full interior design packages and architectural drawings are priced separately by the partner doing the work, and we are upfront about what that costs before you commit.

Why honest design pricing matters. Some contractors bury design fees in their markup and call it "free." It is not free, you just cannot see what you are paying for. We split it out so you know exactly what the design phase costs, who is doing the work, and why it is worth it.

After the first consultation, you get a clear recommendation, a written design fee, and a path to a fixed-price construction proposal. Nothing moves forward until you are confident in every number.

Schedule the First Conversation

Common Questions About How Design Works

No, and we are honest about that. Adam handles light design directly: space planning, layouts, selections guidance, scope of work. For projects that need a full design package with finish boards, 3D renderings, and a complete spec book, we partner with trusted Summit County interior designers. For projects that need stamped drawings, we work with licensed architects. Adam stays your single point of contact through all of it.

That is what the first conversation is for. Adam comes to your house, walks the space, asks about your goals, and gives you an honest recommendation. A clean kitchen swap with a clear vision usually only needs Adam. A full first floor reconfiguration with new walls usually needs an interior designer. An addition or anything structural needs an architect. Most projects land somewhere in between.

Absolutely, and it is often the easiest path. If you already have a designer or architect you trust, we partner with them as the build crew. We will read their drawings, return a fixed-price proposal, file written RFIs to them, and protect their design intent through punch list. The first consultation is the same whether you bring a partner or use ours.

You do, directly. We do not mark up design fees or hide them in the construction cost. The interior designer or architect bills you for their work under their own agreement. AK Renovations bills you for construction under ours. Two clean contracts, no games. We coordinate the whole thing so you only have one phone number to call when something needs to move.

It depends on the path. Light in-house planning with Adam usually takes one to two weeks. A full interior designer package usually takes three to six weeks. Architectural drawings for an addition can take six to ten weeks plus permitting time. We give you a real timeline at the end of the first consultation so you can plan your life around it.

No, and we are honest about that too. Our design partners are independent professionals we have built relationships with over years of working together in Summit County. They are not employees of AK Renovations. They run their own practices. We pick the right one for your project based on style fit, scope, and budget.

Let's figure out what your project actually needs.

One free in-home consultation. Adam walks the space, asks honest questions, and tells you what design path fits. No pitch, no obligation.

Schedule Your Consultation

After Design

Our Four Renovation Specialties

Design leads into construction. Here's where every project goes after Phase 1.

Kitchen Transformations

$40K – $150K+

Master Bathroom Renovations

$30K – $85K

First Floor Transformations

$50K – $150K

Home Additions

$150K – $500K+