Why do architects charge for their TIME instead of their VALUE?

A client recently requested some quick conceptual design ideas to convert a plain boxy building into a Spanish style building.  I knew my father was the right architect for the task since he has 50 years of experience designing Spanish style buildings.  I, on the other hand, have only designed about 10 Spanish style buildings in my career, and guessed that it would take me about three times longer than it would take him.  My father whipped out a few sketches of each elevation in 15 minutes.  They looked great.  I let him know I’d show it to the client, and asked him how much he’d charge for the concepts (since he’s a subcontractor).  He said, “Well, let’s see, it took me about 15 minutes, so at my hourly rate of $200, that’ll be $50.”  I responded, “Well, that doesn’t seem right.  A surgeon doesn’t charge their patients for the amount of time it takes to complete a surgery.  A surgeon charges based on the type of surgery and his expertise, his years of experience, his know-how, and so should you!”  These sketches would have taken another architect many hours to complete, and they still wouldn’t have been as good.  Another architect would have charged hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for these.  My dad responded, “Well what do you think I should charge then?”  I decided, “Charge $300…..the client is getting an amazing deal and you’ll get 6 times more than you expected!”

Dirt Cheap BIG Wall Art Idea #4

These 32" x 48" "Acurio" lattice panels from Home Depot (there are several designs to choose from) would look especially beautiful if  painted.

At $32 each, they cover a good amount of square footage for the price.  Install 4 of them next to each other to create a 5' x 8' rectangle for $128.  Add two more for a total of 6 to create an 8' x 8' square for $192.  Mount them to the wall at the corners with screws and float them off the wall with washers about 1" to create depth and shadows on the wall.

Dirt Cheap BIG Wall Art Idea #3

10" x 10" Ikea "Malma" mirrors for only $1.99 each!

Spend $200 and install 100 of them side by side to create an appox. 8' x 8' wall feature.  Use mounting tape instead of nails to make installation easy.  There are 4 color options.  Use all one color or use several colors. The mirror portion is very small, so you won't end up with an '80's aesthetic.

Dirt Cheap BIG Wall Art Idea #2

This fun 12" x 12" "Adele" mirror is currently on sale at Bed Bath & Beyond for only $5.

Install 64 of them in a square pattern with 1" in between each for a total dimension of about 9' x 9'.  Just make sure they are installed squarely and evenly.  Use a yard stick as a spacer in between each mirror and have another person assist.

Cost of mirrors = $320 + tax.  Cost of heavy-duty 10 lb. mounting tape = $20.

Dirt Cheap BIG Wall Art Idea #1

Hang four of these 3' Ikea canvases adjacent to each other so they are touching to make a large square approximately 6' x 6'.

Total cost = $160.  High drama for a very low cost!

For only $360, you could do the same with nine of these 3' canvases for a 9' x 9' masterpiece.

DIY interior feature walls or large-scale wall art

Take almost any ordinary object, and turn it into a beautiful feature wall or art.  Anything in MULTIPLES makes a statement.  Paint an object the right color, and transform it.  Have an outdated tacky bronze-colored bust of David sitting in the attic?  Paint it hot pink, and voila, instant chic!  In the picture below, we took $7 Walmart mirrors that had a terribly tacky faux gold finish, and we painted them sloppily in matte white to achieve a rustic finish.  Then we installed 42 of them on a wall for a custom look that looks like it cost thousands of dollars.

The Best Place to Spend a Limited Budget in an Office Space

Many business clients come to me with a limited budget and a list of upgrades they want to make to their office space.  Invariably, the cost of the upgrades will exceed their budget.  At our first meeting, I typically give the client a rough estimate of each of the desired upgrades.  Then I help the client prioritize which upgrades will have the most impact and value depending on what their overall needs and goals are.  Often, the reception area is one of the best places to spend money, because it provides the first impression of the business to both customers and employees.  Many times, clients will tell me they want to change out all of the carpet or the entire acoustical tile ceiling, but those are very expensive upgrades depending on the size of the space.  Assuming those items are just in mediocre condition and not in terrible condition, there are ways to draw attention away from those items and spend the limited budget elsewhere where the impact will be more significant.