A reader named Jeff needs some help!
Do you know any landscape designer/architects who can design a cool layout of plants and furniture for our condo deck? We’ve contacted a handful in the Seattle area and haven’t found anyone who will work in a condo…houses only.
I’m also on the hunt for some help. I need an electrician to wire in two overhead electrical sockets for some lights and I need a carpenter to put a windowsill in my living room.
If anyone has recommendations I think Jeff and I would both appreciate them :).
Popularity: 15% [?]
16 responses so far ↓
1 Dan C. // Apr 17, 2008 at 6:13 am
How about he just buy some furniture and a table/chairs for his deck and put them there himself?
Plus, is your deck that large that you have the space for “layout”?
Do you really desire to pay someone else $100s of dollars to tell you what you should like?
2 CG // Apr 17, 2008 at 6:27 am
I can provide an enthusiastic recommendation for:
David Swanson
“Work in Progress” Contractors
206-683-9699
Swanson works on condos exclusively. He is both an expert construction guy and an artist. Two neighbors in my condo have used Swanson for complete makeovers. We’ve used him just for small stuff. Once we have the funds for a kitchen and bath remodel, we’ll use him too.
Re the exterior terrace design, I presume Swanson can do that too — he often collaborates with a French guy who’s a formally trained artist. Their stuff is really good.
3 Sarah // Apr 17, 2008 at 8:55 am
Check out City People on Madison. I went to a free container class there and the woman presenting it also does work with individual home and condo owners focused specifically on container gardens.
4 EconE // Apr 17, 2008 at 11:21 am
I’d be willing to bet that there are enough design enthusiasts that read Matt’s blog, that if we knew more about the dimensions of the deck and what type of door opens out to it that Jeff could come up with some great ideas without having to pay some artsy foreign designer.
5 EconE // Apr 17, 2008 at 11:22 am
Bath remodel CG?
What’s up with that? I thought you were in love with the gold wallpaper!
6 stacie // Apr 17, 2008 at 11:59 am
I have a great landscape designer who has incorporated great aesthics and “green thumb” as well as several pieces of sculpture that are stunning and unusual — perfect for a terrace.
7 Nick S. // Apr 17, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’ve used Prime Electric at my place at 5th and Madison. I also needed new j-boxes put in for wall lamps and they were able to easily do that in a few hours.
Interesting to note, thought, that I wasn’t given a choice. 5th and Madison told me that I had to use Prime Electric for the first 6 or 12 months or I’d void the warranty on the original electric work.
8 Holly // Apr 17, 2008 at 4:41 pm
For the landscaping, I’d try Lynn Johnson — she likes oddball projects. Her web site is at http://www.johnsonassociatesdesign.com/
For electrical work, I have had great luck with Rich Cole. His number is 425-823-7444
9 Jeff // Apr 18, 2008 at 11:45 am
Hi. Thanks to Matt for posting my question on his blog and thanks to all of you for taking the time to comment. We did schedule a few consultations and, hopefully, will have something set in a few months.
Thanks again,
Jeff
10 newbuyer // Apr 19, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Matt, are your ceilings concrete? Our new condo has concrete ceilings and was built without a j box for a light over the dining table. We are trying to come up with ideas on how to solve this problem and add the dining room fixture. So far, no good ones. Need your help, people!
11 kent // Apr 19, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Had the same situation at our condo. Looked at the floor lamp with the heavy base that came up and over to the middle of the table area, kind of. We opted for having a J Box put in…cost about $450. We like this option better.
12 Phil // Apr 20, 2008 at 3:00 pm
newbuyer,
Have you looked at those low voltage systems that use bare wires? Seen them in restaurants and they look great for table lighting.
Otherwise you could drop the ceiling a bit over the dining area (which can look good or even in some cases, great),
or use surface conduit wiring (a raceway - see wiremold.com) designed to be run on the exposed side of walls (never looks very good).
There’s always the old fashioned swag chains.
13 newbuyer // Apr 20, 2008 at 5:50 pm
WOW… thank you for the tips, Phil. I will look into these for sure. I really appreciate your help!
14 newbuyer // Apr 20, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Phil, can you give me an example of a place that has used the bare wires that you are referring to? It sounds interesting and I would love to see it in person (or on the net).
You are right. The exposed raceway doesn’t look too good. But the site you gave made it look better than what I was expecting.
Thanks again.
15 Phil // Apr 21, 2008 at 2:27 pm
newbuyer,
This company has a few examples, also several rail systems that look pretty good.
http://www.lightology.com/index.cfm/method-light.techindex
I’d check out some of the local high-end lighting stores to get a better idea of what’s available.
16 Matt // Apr 21, 2008 at 8:05 pm
No concrete ceiling here. It’s exposed wood. My living room plan is to put in a j box in using some flexible metal conduit tubing to keep up the exposed warehouse-y look and then get an overhead light or two.
Since I don’t have my window sills in yet I might also put some lighting in the window sill to illuminate some of the expose features.
Leave a Comment