What SweisKloss Says About…

by SweisKloss
July 09, 2021

Having a moment. You know that moment when you are working on something, and it all comes together and clicks into place, which is usually accompanied by a huge smile and an “aha!” Maybe high-fives all around. You get what we’re talking about. For us, when those priceless times involve a design or build moment, it’s the best and reminds us why we do what we do. This prompted us to ask our SweisKloss team about their favorite design moments, and here’s what they had to say.

Abeer: You can imagine in the 20+ years I’ve been doing this that I have had a lot of great design moments. If I were to give a more recent one, it would be designing a green roof for one of our ADUs. This was totally new for us. The roof bends at an angle and turns into a green wall, which is a nice way to complete the building extension and connect it to the ground. I love the movement and flow of the design. This is the same project that the client wanted something special for the barbeque area, so we added accents of orange. I was inspired by the client’s old orange surfboard that once hung in the same spot.

Franziska: We construct ideas in our heads with the aid of computer modeling. The best moments are seeing these designs translated into the “real” thing and look just as imagined. I had an inspiring brainstorming session the other day with some of the designers, and we came up with great solutions to a particular design challenge.

Amanda: Walking out to the back patio for the first time after the pavers were down, pool tile was finally in place, and wood ceiling was complete above. It was my first time experiencing the space as it was meant to be and getting a glimpse of what the backyard oasis will feel like once finished. That moment made me feel very excited for the client and very proud of our talented team.

Taylor: My exciting design moments have been about creating connections to the outdoors. On multiple projects we’ve been able to incorporate amazing door and window layouts for clients. I also have to give credit to the manufacturers we use for creating such cool, innovative products that allow for seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, whether it be from space to space or through a simple door opening. Additionally, we’ve had the opportunity to add in custom furniture design to our projects, which opens up so many possibilities.

Patricia: I worked on a comprehensive site project—the main home, ADU, and landscape. It was an amazing experience to not only be a part of the design and construction team but to help the client select some beautiful light fixtures and furniture. I also realized how much I enjoy landscape design. We re-used a lot of existing plants that were saved during demo. I love how everything turned out.

Erin: During a lighting coordination meeting, our client was excited to envision how the cool lighting fixtures would complement and enliven all the different areas. It was gratifying for both of us to envision how the spaces were coming together and turning into her dream home.

Annie: One standout moment was working with a resource who was able to produce tiles that we custom designed. The design was Art Deco inspired, and the vendor was able to create a tile with the perfect combination of color, texture, and pattern, which completely transformed an outdated bathroom. The process made me appreciate even more the craftsmanship that goes into the products we specify.

Mia: A meaningful design moment recently happened when we had a team meetup to define the overall approach to a remodel. After exchanging many ideas, we came up with two options. One would be an easier path while still meeting the expectations of the client. The other would require small yet unexpected changes but would far surpass their expectations. Going for the latter of the two scenarios reinforced our firm’s mission. I really enjoyed this “team design moment” and reaching the true potential of the project.

Yuki: I have enjoyed the creative process of designing façade iterations. It was so much fun playing with massing, proportion and scale. This pushed me to resolve some design challenges early on the process.

Andy: I’ve been working on a ground-up and love the large-scale scope of the project. We just finished leveling the old house and started construction of the foundation, including 26' deep soldier piles. I’m amazed at the amount of strength needed to build a home that has to support two stories. The building process has always been intriguing to me, and it will always make me excited for what’s to come.