DESIGN SOLUTIONS

A NYC client had a vacation home upstate that was under renovation and she needed an onsite project manager to supervise its completion. This client was an extremely busy professional who was entrusting us with oversight responsibility in a complex situation. Leslie and I had worked together several times in the past, and being comfortable with her experience and skills, I decided to put her in charge of managing this project. In Order to Succeed® recommended a new General Contractor after it was determined that the previous GC would not be able to complete the job to our client’s satisfaction. Leslie first created a methodical, organized (and massive) task list that was coordinated with the client’s goals, timelines and requirements for the construction loan from the bank. This not only served as the guiding plan for the entire project but also as a basis for all estimates and proposals from the contractors. In addition, Leslie was responsible for obtaining all necessary permits, meeting with building inspectors to qualify for the certificate of occupancy, and meeting with bank inspectors for approvals. Since the client was not onsite for most of the week, Leslie maintained detailed daily communication about every aspect of the work, and then met with the client bi-weekly to inspect the work completed and set the next goals. All major decisions were approved with the client’s input. Her responsibilities included: coordinating the work of several contractors, juggling multiple appointments and deliveries, researching local contractors and resources for comparative bids, coordinating diverse decisions with the stone mason, the electrician, the plumber, the fireplace installer, the well and pump contractor, and the general contractor. Leslie’s ability to go all out for her client was evidenced every day in the responsible way she handled every aspect of this project, always expecting a high standard of service of herself and everyone she supervised. Her meticulous attention to detail was crucial to making this project exceed the client’s expectations. The client relied upon Leslie’s excellent design and space planning expertise for many issues such as: designing closet organizers, working with the electrician to create a new lighting plan for the kitchen and foyer, designing the two story rear deck, advising on the styles of light fixtures throughout the house, choosing exterior paint colors and shutters, and working with the stone mason on all aspects of design and materials for the new chimney, entrance, fireplace, and front and backyard patios. In addition, all the client’s possessions were being stored in the garage (filling most of it!) until the interior renovations were completed. First, Leslie supervised the cleaners to thoroughly clean every inch of the house particularly given all the construction dust that had gathered over many months. She supervised the movers regarding furniture placement and then worked with the cleaners to unpack and organize all the pertinent household items. Many additional boxes of personal items and records were then organized in the garage into categories to make it easier for the client to review and make decisions about. Two years later, this client returned and requested Leslie's services again to design and supervise the complete renovation of a large attached garage, to be transformed into a family room. Working closely with the client and the contractor, Leslie planned the placement of new french sliding doors, skylights, and windows, as well as a full wall of storage closets. The mudroom was expanded, a large pantry closet planned and flooring treatments researched. In summary, Leslie is a consummate organizing professional who I would unquestionably recommend for any project management job—from renovations, to space planning and design, and supervision of staff.