Both/neither. And so much more. We pull on multi-disciplinary team models that include wholistic thinking/being/doing. Our management is a skilled orchestration, with strong accountability. Our design facilitation is informed by many decades of combined experience. Mya’s design and management approach is informed by over 30 years in the theatre/event production arts. Her coaching approach is informed by many therapuetic and healing modalities that she has immersed herself in since 2009; she considers the investment of a home makeover sacred work.
We have integrity with our word and our work. We are transparent about the budget and costs. We work and communicate as a team, with shared responsibility for the decisions, the change-orders, and the outcome. We FINISH the project! We come back if something needs to be adjusted/repaired. We don’t work for kickbacks or commission, and we pass along our professional discounts. We aren’t beholden to any line or shop of designed components, so we can mix and match design choices as we see fit. We don’t outsource our labor or subcontractors. We pay a living wage and only work with a crew of people who are trustworthy, respectful, and good team players. We communicate appropriately and regularly, to keep the project on-track. As managers, we spend considerable time on-site to make sure the installation is going properly. Often we are the designers and installers (at least for some components).
Beyond the design/build/management focus of our work, Mya adds an intuitive, therapuetic dimension. Design and check-in meetings are structured to be honest, address whatever resistance might be coming up, and make adjustments, without drama or delay. Her goal is to keep everyone in the boat, at our established pace, and feeling good about the ride.
If you care about functionality and feels, you want a designer - at least on some level…and you want at least some of the key installers to think like designers, too. A team of design-thinking makes for a more cohesive project, that actually meets your needs & wants.
Ideally, the designers you consult with, also think like installers and end-users, or have good council to those ends… because the devil is in those installation and maintenance details! A good designer is someone who understands how to bring the vision of an idea, into fully-functional and beautiful fruition, including when all those pesky details get in the way of a beautiful install, including the plan for taking care of it. Ideally they are working with a team of installers, are in-the-field seeing the constraints, and can advise intelligently about what changes can be made.
Design, as The Metamorphosis Group holds it, is full-bodied and multi-disciplinary. Because of the house-therapeutics we offer, particularly in the realm of decluttering, Mya is able to really understand how you live, and how you want to be living with more freedom and inspiration in your home. We work with the skeletons in the closet, often, long before “breaking ground” on a remodel. When we do start putting the design together, using and maintaining the space is the deeper/central layer of consideration that we always address, in every situation. We make sure our team understands the objectives, and invite their expertise to refine the design/installation. Coordinated, collaborative team-design always makes for a better, more satisfying project.
From each ceiling joist, down to each drawer, we are designing a space from the bones, out. Getting the structure correct, getting what’s behind the walls to match up with all the other components. Making sure the dance of installation doesn’t forgo important details, in the rush to get done. Making sure the space is functional and beautiful and properly accommodating. Making sure the vision is achievable. Working with the installers to get it right.
Excellent question. It’s a chunk of the project cost to have one (anywhere between 15 and 40% on the market, depending on the situation), and it’s a big way people try to save money, by running the project themselves. The cost is relative. A skillful management team can efficiently march through the work plan, as designed, close to the budget and the timeline. Without such coordination, a two-week bathroom might take six months; a four-month kitchen could be a year or longer. There are so many many project details, that if one falls through the cracks of life, it could add weeks and months of delay. If you work a full time job, be prepared for things to take a lot longer. Harder to make timely design decisions, order ALL product at the right timing, coordinate the work weeks of contractors, and stay on top of your own deadlines. Not impossible, but usually not quick. Moonlighting on the weekends greatly extends the timeline. It’s a serious tradeoff to consider.
If you like the idea of scheduling, running the crew, learning all about what it takes, and dealing with product orders/returns/mishaps, then you might be well-suited to run your own job. If you already know something about this business, you could probably run your own job. If you want complete and satisfying results, it IS a job that requires consistent (daily) attention, sometimes for many months (when under full-time project management)— or much longer (when it’s DIY). Failure to keep the train moving can make for a very drawn-out journey, indeed. It depends how much you can tolerate the extended disruption. While it’s not as consuming as a new home build, a remodel can be a very disruptive process, especially if it’s in a key location, like the kitchen or bathroom. Lengthy delays can have serious impacts on family/home/work life, including mental health and personal wellness. While you might be saving money, from a certain perspective, you could be paying in other ways. Smart management will show the areas where you might DIY… and where it’s probably more efficient to bring in a good pro.
A lot of people, when they do the math, really just want to wrap it up after a certain point, and get back to a civilized and undisturbed house. They want to trust the project was done right/well, and that there won’t be any major issues, and that the finishing details are completed with timely follow-through.
Hiring good contracting/management can be tricky. Not all general or project-managing contractors are created equal, so be clear about what the agreement is, how design is decided, what the installation should involve (and at what level of quality- be specific!), how the money is going to flow, and how to deal with changes and delays.
It’s all in how you look at it, and what your expectations are. You can always DIY, which requires a much longer timeline to complete, for all the obvious reasons. Some people can tolerate an open-ended construction-zone; some would like to move on with their lives. DIY does mean learning/knowing about every little detail, and DIY design means intuitively sitting with every linear foot of your space, to consider how best it wants to be laid out, decided-upon, and coordinated.
In our minds, design, technical coordination & project management go hand-in-hand. We design and manage, as a team. It’s part of what you get when you work with us.
Because good design work isn’t free. When that service is “complimentary,” it’s usually b/c you have to buy all the kitchen cabinets or countertops or flooring or furniture from the design group. Unfortunately, with the way the industry is set up, there aren’t very many freelance designers, willing to work on, say, a small kitchen space layout, even for a consultation fee, unless it’s tied to big product purchase. We just don’t operate that way. Design and management are part of our facilitation package and we indicate as such in our invoice.
Yes! Small businesses and studio/healing spaces are also direct reflections of the Sacred Domestic. We love working in dynamic situations with creative businesses/entrepreneurs that are looking for full-functionality and maximum impact on their customer base. Work-Showcase and Immersive Experiential situations are the most fun!
Unique and boutique, generally speaking. Not the cheapest, definitely custom & quality, in service and product. Fair prices for quality work, and we pay our people living wages, in an expensive city. Since the pandemic, prices on materials and labor have skyrocketed, which is something we’re all still adjusting to. Our goal is more about making right livelihood than getting rich. We do not look to take advantage; we are open to adjusting the scope so that it fits in a better budget. Generally speaking, if foundational/structural issues want/need to be addressed, those costs (at a quality & fair threshold) are more fixed. Design finishes & special projects offer more flexibility for a creative budget. It can be hard to afford everything we want in a project. We prioritize what’s most essential, and then see if there’s a realistic budget to match. Many projects can be done in phases (that make sense), although that does not necessary bring cost-savings in the long-run. Every project circumstance is unique, and we consult as such, and work with that.
Because we don’t cut safety corners and maintain a baseline of quality expectations on our work & deliverables, most of our costs reflect a quality product/experience. We will not specify or implement methods that are unsafe or poorly done. We only work with professionals who do good work, and work well, together; who have a well-recommended track-record of service. Because we are a collaboration of small businesses, we do not have excessive overhead to build into our invoices. Our final invoice might be higher than what the other guys initially quoted, but it’s done right the first time, in a way that is build to last. And we guarantee our work, so we come back for adjustments and repairs in the year after the project is completed. We also know there’s always scope-creep, with things costing more than we hoped/anticipated, or we discover we want more or different… and we factor that into the budget, so we aren’t leaving ourselves high and dry when trying to wrap-it-up. At the end of the day, a bargain-bid will likely cost more in the long-run, such that the final invoice could far surpass the initial estimate, once mistakes, damages, poor orchestration, unrealistic budget expectations, and delays are factored. We respect the profound disruption we are making in your home, and our aim is to be as efficient with our work plan & schedule as possible. Related, we view site-protection and site-restoration as very important elements to do well, while working in your home. We make every reasonable effort (and special efforts!) to protect your furnishings, art, floors etc. while we do our work. So much extra effort is wasted, and often things and finishes are damaged, when crews don’t properly site-protect, so we clean as we go, every day.
Of course, it depends on the project: How far we want to take it, and to what degree we can. If you haven’t remodeled in awhile, you’ll likely be shocked at what things are going for, these days. Which is why preliminary exploration of a project, well in-advance, is so important. We recommend a 3-to-6 month runway to sort out the project details & budget, before “breaking ground.” When the project is clearly conceived and managed well, the budget is going to be in better shape. A master bathroom remodel could easily be $40k; a full kitchen easily $200k and more. Premium appliances and extensive custom cabinetry can tip the scales well over $300k. HVAC and electrical projects might be $15K each, or higher. Plumbing fixtures can be pricier than you expect/initially budget for, as you discover that what you really want is a faucet that won’t break down as you start using it. The more complex the tile layout, the more elaborate the color plan, the more it adds to the budget; and so on. Structural fixes are often expensive and the most important to do right/well. The liability of going with a cheap(er) hack is potentially significant. Learn what you are taking risks on, as you make certain decisions. Hopefully your contracting company, and trusted others, can help you understand the landscape. When it comes to finishes, there are a lot of creative solutions, some of which can be quite affordable, if you can dedicate the time to doing the research, finding the tricks and good deals, and be willing to DIY certain things, across an extended timeline.
Can you do it for cheaper? Usually, yes. Will it be a good experience / quality product / inspiring outcome? Maybe, it depends on a lot of factors. Good design and quality/efficient installation are significant components in the “cost” conversation. Our budget usually incorporates thoughtful & unique-by-you design, often with flamboyant or “special projects.” A significantly lower budget will usually get you basic and ubiquitous finishes, cheap and easily or already-damaged materials, mediocre/incomplete installation, little attention paid to protecting, respecting, and restoring the space, and very little wiggle room for exceptions or requests.
There’s a meme in our industry: a project can be GOOD / FAST / CHEAP. Pick two; you can’t get all three. If you want it cheap and fast, it ain’t gonna be good. If you want it fast and good, it ain’t gonna be cheap. And if you want it to be cheap and good, it ain’t gonna be fast (often this is where moonlighting, friend deals, and apprentices come into play). This can be a helpful lens as you consider what home makeover path is right for you.
We ask that you think about a starting budget, or a budget range, before we consult deeply about a possible project. It doesn’t have to be accurate, but we want to see where your expectations and perceived constraints are. And, of course, the budget is only one measure of the scale/quality of the project itself. When we create a project proposal — and you’ve wondered what it costs to have the moon— that is how we will price it… so you know. Whether you can make that budget is another matter. We always think about our projects and how we might do them in several iterations of scale/completion. For us, we aren’t thinking about the budget as the bottom-line indicator of how quality a project might be; we estimate the most reasonable numbers for the work we think we want to do… and dial it back from there, in subsequent conversations. Better to know the possible ceiling, than be sold on a magically low number that goes up and up and up, b/c of all the hidden and unexpected, unconsidered costs.
A hard bid is how some people estimate their work, and keep contracts & record-keeping minimized/obscured. It usually means it’s a fixed number, based on a formulaic guess at the labor/materials, and ideal profit margin. There is a lot of incentive to maximize profit and minimize the costs of delivery, so this is where corners can get cut. This is how people can loose their shirts: a homeowner whose paying through the nose, but for garbage work; a contractor who significantly underbid/underestimated the actual work required, and after a certain point, is less and less motivated to “keep up the good work.” We feel it’s not the most honest way to represent the work.
Instead, we submit budget numbers as estimates - with a range - always contingent on the actual project choices we make. We approach our budget with flex, knowing that some reallocation will be needed, depending on how it shakes out. We then report on actual costs, as they compare to the overall estimated budget. We do agree to a project budget, before we “break ground,” and wait to green-light any change-orders until after the budget has been revisited and approved.
So many obvious reasons. It goes both ways, contractors and clients both are full of horror stories of things going sideways. Unfortunately it’s a common scenario. Why? Homeowners don’t necessarily know too much about what to look for or ask, but are paying (and not too clear about what for). Contractors aren’t necessarily explicit about the scope, under-estimate their bid, aren’t upfront about their capacity, can’t stick to project timelines, or don’t have great management. Maybe folks are more non-confrontational or ill-at-ease having hard conversations. There’s often a lot of deflection, passing the buck, not taking responsibility. With serious money on-the-line, it is really helpful to know something about the landscape you will be signing up (and paying for). Which is why we spend so much time upfront assessing whether and how your project could work. Because we build relationship with all our people, we have the integrity to make things right, all along the way.
We are all about knowing what you’re getting yourself into! Also know: there is a tremendous range of what contractors will be able offer. The Metamorphosis Group is NOT an apples-to-apples or even oranges comparison to MOST general contracting or design outfits. We are very particular about the service we offer, and we work with a range of economic constraints, depending on the project. If it resonates, you know! If it’s a mutual fit, then we can make great magic together! You’ll feel good about the process and investment you’re making. Your home will truly be transformed, fully-functional, and inspiring.
That said, it’s important to have perspective. Knowing what to even look for, or ask, is very very helpful.
It is helpful to get referrals from a trusted source, as a starting point. It is helpful to have good, consistent questions that you ask everyone you interview. Helpful to sleep on it before making decisions. Helpful to check in with your intuition and whether there were any green/red flags about the person being considered.
The person/outfit running your project should be someone you can trust, who can answer your questions to satisfaction, and feels right being in your home. It’s very helpful to have researched something about what it takes to take on a home makeover project. Contracting outfits vary widely and are NOT made equally (by a long shot)! They way they speak with and treat you (and their workers) says a lot.
We have the necessarily liability insurance to operate at the level we do. We require our sub-contractors to be sufficiently competent and properly insured. We are not licensed as official “general contractors,” for reasons we could get into. We are most properly regarded as “project managers.”
Permits are both logistical and a state of mind. It is an issue to explore upfront. Denver county is significantly more challenging when it comes to permits. You, as the homeowner, are able to pull project permits yourself, sometimes more expediently. Certain trades, such as plumbing and electrical, can pull their own permits. Just know that permits involve extra steps, sometimes more official plans (drawn up by an architect or engineering firm), more cost, and more time to the timeline. Sometimes huge delays.
Our people work at industry standards and are well aware of the code in their respective field. When planning a project, we always talk about the code standard, and what it means to variate. We come up with a plan that everyone can agree to. We do not just say “yes” to any project idea; we always look for the best/most proper & safe way.
Deposits can be a heavily disputed topic, if you track NextDoor! Most small businesses need deposits to keep everything flowing. If you have a contract in writing, outlining the scope, budget, timeline, deliverables, and payment plan, you have something to leverage in court, later, if need be. This is why gut-feelings about who you hire is essential. Deposits have been known to run out of town, unfortunately. And— they are necessary. Everyone does business differently, so there’s a range of how deposits will look. Often deposits are needed for materials upfront. Sometimes for labor, especially if the project goes longer than a week, and there’s a crew of folks. Some contractors have a lot of up-front overhead with materials. Sometimes the labor push is heavy on the front end, and/or heavy on the back end, weeks or months later. Make sure the deposit plan seems reasonable to the scope & flow of work and potential for call-back/adjustments. Deposits for an individual sub-contractor is different than deposits to your project management company. Ask questions about how the money will be collected, tracked and reported.