Who the heck am I?

An ex-architect who is tired of seeing friends, neighbors, and coworkers—innocent homeowners—in trouble. I have nothing no connection to your architect or your contractor. My job, my committment is to you.   I am 100% on your side, and I'll tell you what you should know. You should get clear drawings, designs you completely understand. You should get comprehensive specs. What am I, some kind of angel? No, this is my business. 

Do I have the experience?

Experience: 10 years as an architect on projects large and small. Residential and commercial. My job was to prepare a complete set of construction documents and make sure they were carefully followed throughout construction. As Job Captain, I managed the Contractor, and all consultants, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing. I worked for a lot of great firms including Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Robert Venturi, and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.

Some projects:

• NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC
• Shearson-Lehman data center, New York, NY
• Canary Wharf, London, UK
• Restoration of Soho historic Cast Iron building, New York, NY
• Residential, Nantucket, MA

Do I have the educational background?

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Yeah, I went to Harvard—got an M.Arch. degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) in Cambridge, MA in 1983. That doesn't mean I'm not a "regular guy!"  Okay, I went to Yale undergrad, too. But remember:  book-smart doesn't mean street-smart... that's something I had to learn on the job. Plus, I'm from New Jersey, so how bright can I be?

Watch out for fakes and phonies

I'm talking about too-slick architects and contractors.  Warning signs:  If you find yourself saying, "But he's the nicest guy!!" or, "His daughter is in Heather's preschool " or, "I know his wife from that fund raiser" or, "He's so nice," beware.  Well, of course he's nice.  He's a businessman.  If he was a shivering, unshaven lout who hungrily eyed your wallet, you probably wouldn't hire him.  Nope, this guy's got a nice haircut, he's nicely dressed, he has a nice demeanor. What's wrong with that?  Nothing!   It doesn't mean he's a fake, it just means be very careful when that little voice inside tells you, "Gosh, that sounds sort of expensive..." and "I don't really understand what he's talking about..."  Always ask questions!  Always keep asking until you understand what he's talking about.  Design and construction should always make common sense.  If they keep trying to make you feel like a "layman," don't buy it.

The man or women who seems so "nice" and relatable is really doint what any good salesperson does.  He/she's "mirroring" you. If you live in Pasadena, she'll show up in a LaCoste shirt with a khaki skirt. If he's tapping the Silverlake market, he'll wear a flannel shirt and hang out at The Coffee Table with is black Lab. He's the wolf in sheep's clothing. You're the sheep. And I'm your favorite Border Collie.

In the old days, these relationships were easy to understand —you were the middle-class homeowner, and he was the working-class guy. His collar was blue and yours was white. Now you're wearing the jeans, and he's the guy in the suit. Confusing?  There's a good chance his income is twice yours.

Call me Remodeling Coach or Building Coach or whatever you like.  The main thing is, I'm your project advocate.

Project phases: (check)

The Contract should state that the architect will provide specs. Now, spec writers treat project specifications like it's a Chinese menu. They use computer programs which enable them to pick and choose from the various categories, all carefully coded and in boilerplate format.  That's fine.  However they came up with them, we will still go over it with a fine tooth comb.

I have lived or worked in: Short Hills, NJ, New Haven, CT, Cambridge, MA, Philadelphia, PA, New York City, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Nantucket, MA, Martha's Vineyard, MA, Westchester County, NY, Westhampton, NY.

I am available for work in and around Los Angeles, CA, including Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Santa Monica, Burbank, Silverlake, Los Feliz, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Studio City, Echo Park, Brentwood, Westwood, West LA, Culver City, Reseda, Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, Malibu, Venice, Marina del Rey.

Note: these services are also called Remodeling Coach, Renovation Coach, Construction Coach. There is a recent New York Times article about our profession and growing need for it.