--- title: Why Integrated Design Build Works description: In the design build approach to remodeling, changes and revisions aren't cause for anxiety or finger pointing. They are part of a smooth, coherent renovation process image: https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/McDaniels-0.jpg --- [![Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/theme2021/images/gilday-logo-white.png) ](https://www.gilday.com/) [ 301.565.4600 ](tel:301.565.4600) - [About Us](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [About](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [Architects & Designers](https://www.gilday.com/architects-designers) - [Administration](https://www.gilday.com/administration) - [Production & Construction](https://www.gilday.com/production-team) - [Careers](https://www.gilday.com/careers) - [Awards](https://www.gilday.com/awards) - [What Our Clients Say](https://www.gilday.com/gilday-renovation-reviews) - [Press](https://www.gilday.com/press) - Service Area - [Arlington VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-arlington-va) - [Alexandria VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-alexandria-va) - [Bethesda MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-bethesda-md) - 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[Whole-Home Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/whole-home-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Kitchen Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/kitchen-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Bathroom Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/bathroom-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Home Additions](https://www.gilday.com/home-additions-gilday-renovations) - [Pricing & Budgeting](https://www.gilday.com/how-to-budget-for-a-home-renovation-project) - [For Realtors - Pre-Purchase Evaluation](https://www.gilday.com/for-realtors-pre-purchase-evaluation) - [Resources](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-resource-center) - [Renovation Articles](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.gilday.com/contact) x Search the site # Why Integrated Design Build Works [Kevin Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/author/kevin-gilday) ![Why Integrated Design Build Works](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/McDaniels-0.jpg) Here is a perfect example of the high quality of collaboration that occurs daily in a truly integrated design build remodeling firm.  Kitchen designer Ellen Gilday Witts and renovation architect Dan Morales are developing design plans for a [kitchen addition](https://www.gilday.com/dc-gray-kitchen) to a Washington DC home located in Cleveland Park.  In this particular project, the homeowners want to explore all the options for their kitchen design. ## A Design Build Approach to Kitchen Design The interior designer and residential have developed a kitchen design plan that follows a basic L-shaped layout with four options in terms of how the kitchen will relate to the rest of the room.  The options shown in the photo below are: 1) a short rectangular island 2) a curved  island on the diagonal 3) a long rectacular island with seating 4) no island (replaced by table seating). ![design plan showing four options](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/McDaniels-0.jpg?width=1200&name=McDaniels-0.jpg "KITCHEN DESIGN OPTIONS ONE THROUGH FOUR GILDAY RENOVATIONS") *Ellen and Dan presented four kitchen layout options to the clients.*   Once Dan has drawn the structure and preliminary interior layout of the room, he hands it off to Ellen so she can finesse the details of the interior.   This is very easy to do because Ellen's office at Gilday Renovations is just across the hall from Dan's.  This is a perfect example of how an integrated design build approach works in kitchen remodeling.  The easy collaboration begins during the earliest stages of design (and will continue in the construction phase). ![kitchen design plan showings designers mark ups](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/McDaniels-2-2.jpg?width=1200&name=McDaniels-2-2.jpg "kitchen addition architect plans with mark up by interior designer") *The kitchen designer marks up the architect's plan to finesse furniture placement on the interior. * ## Exploring All Options Since the house is a duplex, it shares a party wall with its neighbor.  There are only two walls (rear facing and side) for views of the yard.  Dan is showing sets of four and three over-sized windows on the rear and side walls.  He and Ellen are trying to determine the best orientation for the kitchen, one that is advantageous to those views and integrates functionally with the rest of the interior. At this point, Ellen's primary focus for the kitchen design is on optimizing furniture placement in relationship to use areas and circulation corridors.  She is trying to balance the space so that it  will work exactly the way the clients want to use it. In the kitchen design plan shown above, for example, Ellen indicates (with a red line) that the clients want to have their flat screen television on the left side wall.  That means Dan will have to adjust his window placement on the rear wall of the addition and that the furniture will have to orient in that direction.  The ability to smoothly work out solutions and make revisions as ideas evolve is probably the single most valuable effect of design build.  Changes and revisions aren't a cause of anxiety or finger pointing.  They part of a smooth, coherent development process.  No big deal. The ultimate decision is of course up to the client.  In the next post we'll look a little more closely at the four design options and show the one that the client chose after all. 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