Whenever you work with a professional—in any field—you want them to be good at what they do. After all, you are paying them for their skill and expertise. But does professionalism have to mean that the service you receive is cold and impersonal? Not necessarily. In many cases, someone can be both professional and approachable. They can provide you with a high level of service and a great outcome, while also giving you a great experience on a personal level.
When working with an architect, it’s important that he or she involve you in the design process. Yes, the architect is the expert when it comes to space planning and design, but at the end of the day, it’s the space you will have to live or work in. You need to make sure that it meets your needs and looks the way you had envisioned. That makes it very important to find a local architect who is approachable—one who you can talk to and who will listen to your needs, wants, and concerns.
Mark Grisafe, owner and lead architect at Grisafe Architecture in Long Beach, CA, is that type of architect. He says, “High-end, quality service from an architecture firm doesn’t have to be stuffy or unapproachable. At Grisafe Architecture, we don’t keep you at arm’s length while we ‘do our thing’ or exclude you from the various decisions that need to be made with regard to the design of your space. We want you to be an integral part of the process.”
Grisafe and his team allow their clients to be as involved as they want to be in the design process. Grisafe says that their residential clients—those for whom they’re designing custom homes or major home remodels—tend to want to be more involved than their commercial clients, but that the firm welcomes all input from every client.
Grisafe explains that some architects tend to get defensive when clients come to them with suggestions or ideas. They take it as a challenge to their authority or expertise. His firm, on the other hand, finds it helpful when clients have an idea about how to solve a problem that is often unique to them. He says, “The suggestion comes from a person who isn’t burdened by knowing the building codes and therefore won’t dismiss creative ideas due to a potential violation. Once the idea has been presented, chances are we can find a code and design exception that allows us to do what we initially may have thought to be impossible.”
Working in collaboration with their clients, Grisafe Architecture produces designs that are beautiful, highly functional, and personalized to their clients’ unique needs. They also give their clients a great experience in the process.
Grisafe says, “We know that being great architects is a lot more than just producing a good set of plans that will get approved by the city. It’s about listening to our clients’ needs, dreaming with them, facilitating the building or remodeling process, and being their advocate. It’s a personal approach that we enjoy, and also one that benefits our clients.”
If you’re looking for an architect in Long Beach, CA or the surrounding areas, consider working with Grisafe Architecture, a firm that completes both residential and commercial design projects.
