Studio Introduction

“I should say: the house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace.”

- Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space

 

Who We Are

We aim to positively impact the lives of our clients by helping them create spaces that foster meaningful relationships, further peace of mind and well-being, and embody the spirit of those who reside within them. By bringing together natural materials and balanced interiors, our goal is to design homes that offer meaningful moments throughout. We collaborate with our clients to understand what home means, places that inspire, and feelings that resonate with the vision at hand. This allows their surroundings to not only become practical for their lifestyle, but echo their true inner world. Working alongside each other, we communicate and advocate each step of the way with a process-driven design that allows for peace of mind.

We are based in North County, San Diego, CA, and serve clients from coast to coast.

 

What We Do

We offer comprehensive full-service design. Renovating, building, and furnishing a home from beginning to end allows us to deliver the highest level of the finished product. We work with your preferred architect and contractors to bring the vision to life. In the first phase of the build, we create floor plans, and 3Ds and make finish and fixture selections that coincide with the goals.

We then work with your team to implement the design intention and purchase, track, and coordinate the product deliveries.

In the final phase of your project, we create a furnishings plan that fits seamlessly with the style crafted during the build. This allows for a cohesive flow and a sound delivery and installation process to complete your home.

Our Services

  • Construction Based

    This flat-fee service is determined by the project's required hours during the design and implementation phase. We gather information and inspiration, complete the design during our design sessions with you, and provide detailed drawings for the construction team. We also schedule time to be present on-site during the milestones. Our dedicated team handles purchasing and logistics management.

    Investment: Ranges Around 10-15% of Construction Total

  • Furnishings

    This is a flat-fee service tailored to the scope of each room. We address all the details to make your space feel complete, from furniture and window treatments to final styling and accessories. We offer design sessions, selections, and samples to guide you through the process. Once you finalize the items, we handle the ordering and arrange for the products to be delivered safely to your home.

    Investment: Starts Around $5,350 - $6,500 Per Room

  • Design Only

    This abbreviated design service is scheduled within a week and includes two weeks of support. Selections are completed, and one design session is held to review options, with one remote meeting for any revisions or final feedback. You are provided with a list of products, links to purchase, and installation instructions for you to handle and communicate to your contractor.

    Investment: Starts Around $2,250 Per Room

Design Process

Our Journey Begins

After learning about your goals and vision, we start the collaborative process of understanding what a meaningful space looks and feels like to you. We gather inspiration and walk through a client questionnaire to ensure we are all aligned. Finally, we use lidar scanning technology to capture your existing space and begin the work of transferring this over to the design process.

Design Development

During this phase, we will make thoughtful selections and provide options that start to paint a picture of your surroundings. We work together through shared ideas, so the spaces convey your intention. Once the design is finalized, we draw up plans, often with 3Ds, determine the product pricing, and work through all the details.

Purchasing Product

Behind the scenes, we are dedicated to delivering a positive result with your project's product management. We will order and track the approved items, whether furnishings, fixtures, or finishes. This includes coordinating logistics with suppliers, communicating with storage warehouses, and monitoring the delivery dates. You are also provided with a custom care guide for the products in your home.

Construction Hand Off

At this point, we will finalize all construction plans and specifications and provide your contractor with installation instructions. You and your contractor can access all documents in a shared folder. If any updates or revisions are required during the process, we will reflect this on the plan and notify the team when new drawings are ready. Each specification packet includes hyperlinks for the products for a closer look online and a QR code so the construction team can view the most up-to-date version. We are on-site regularly to meet with contractors, trades, and our homeowners to ensure a smooth process. In construction, unforeseen issues or details always need attention, and we are there to help solve them.

Project Completion

If your project includes installation, this is the big day when your home receives furnishings and is styled and accessorized with artwork, greenery, and finishing touches. Smaller installations may lead up to this if there are window treatments or pieces involving a third party. We also partner with an art installer and stylist who will work with us to bring each detail to life. Most importantly, it’s time to celebrate the final result — a meaningful and spirited space.

 

Timeline

How We Work

This is a snapshot of our approach to your project timeline. The steps are followed to make the most of our time together so we can bring your vision to life. This is a high-level overview of each phase. We capture many nuances for each project and update you during a scheduled “Weekly Wrap” email to keep you informed and involved during full-service construction and furnishings-based scopes.

Meet the Team

  • Erin Handron

    FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

  • Amy Kelly

    PURCHASING & PRODUCT MANAGER

  • Erika Cook

    DRAWING & 3D SPECIALIST

 FAQs

  • We work with your planned project investment. If you do now know what to expect and need to align it, we have a guide to assist you with the build-out of your budget. While there are realities of construction and material costs, and we can’t always speak for the general contractor pricing, we consider ourselves stewards of your investment and are here to help plan accordingly. Here are the items that your project is comprised of:

    Design Fees: A fixed fee amount based on the scope of work and deliverables needed for your project. The time used to create, organize, schedule and coordinate. This is known at the onset and provided by us with your agreement.

    Furnishings/Fixtures Cost: A range determined by whether you prefer economical, mid-grade or high-end product. The budget-building exercise can assist with this early on and is a ballpark cost.

    Contractor Pricing: A separate amount from a licensed contractor to manage trades and purchase materials. Their pricing and invoices will be submitted to you directly.

    Accessories / Final Details: A general range that you set, we purchase the final items and place them accordingly. That allows you to see the space fully come to life. As a general guide, this is usually anywhere from 2-5k per level of your home.

    Additional Costs: Receiving, warehousing, and storage from a third-party receiver for oversized items. This cost is based on how many items, how much storage space, and how long they are stored on your/our behalf. Delivery and installation are part of this service.

  • There are three main phases of a project, with several sub-tasks that we handle during the process. Each step can be broken out into periods:

    1. Planning: [Approx. 4-8 weeks.] This is the design process to prepare your project and make all decisions needed for the proper implementation of your vision. It is done prior to the demo and far enough in advance of the ideal timeline so trades can schedule accordingly.

    2. Implementation: [Determined by the scope, approx. 1-7 months.] This is a quieter phase during your project where everyone will be busy purchasing, tracking, coordinating, and communicating behind the scenes to convey the design intent and advocate for your project goals. This phase could last 1 month to 7 months depending on the scope of work before the physical space starts to take shape. We rarely, if ever, want to demo first to avoid a lengthy upheaval. All products should arrive prior to construction start.

    3. Installation: [Determined by the scope, approx. 1-12 months.] This is the final step where the project is turned over to the contractor for construction to begin and in the end, back to us to arrange for deliveries and placement of all furnishings and accessories. Similar to implementation, this could last 1-2 months for one space, 6 months for a larger scope, or up to a year for a whole home before the finishing touches are complete.

  • Everything we work on together is in a shared Google Drive that you will receive an invite for. This houses your design images (3Ds), product spreadsheet with hyperlinks to the actual items, pricing, tracking, construction drawings, bids, and agreements.

    You will be prompted by us to view this during different periods and can access this anytime you need to reference the items contained here. The button is on this page as well.

    It’s fun to review and share the design, 3D’s and selections with friends and family.

  • We certainly hope that nothing will and spend the majority of our time preparing your project to mitigate the potential risks. But, in fact, even on the smoothest project there are unforeseen issues and setbacks along the way. We want you to know that we will be there when that time comes.

    This could happen during the remodeling process (i.e., what is behind the walls and under the floors) where something is discovered that will require a resolution from the contractor or a pivot in the design. Or plans that are misinterpreted and once caught, a contractor fix is needed and up for discussion to proceed.

    The product could arrive incorrectly or damaged, which we will manage for you and oftentimes you may not even know that this occurs. Delays can also take place, especially in the pandemic era, due to supply chain issues that are outside of our control. We will either accept the delay or re-select (if it is purely product-related).

    Imperfections in the work done could be seen as an issue. Behind the craftsmanship of your project are human hands, which have certain characteristics. Natural materials are also beautiful and in their essence contain variations. We determine if this is embraced as the inherent nature or whether a resolution is needed should it not meet standards.

    This is an incredibly exciting time, especially at the onset of your project. The mid to end of construction is often the most stressful as you will be ready to reclaim your space and start enjoying your labor of love. Good things are worth the wait. And again, when the stressful times arise and things do not go necessarily as planned, know that we are right here by your side.

  • We hope you do! But in this instance, rest assured, we have you covered with a couple of answers! First, we may propose more than one option or design so you have choices in the direction. Sometimes the final design is a blend of what you love most in all of the options.

    Second, there are “rounds of amendments” included in your design. We set up a design review about a week after the initial design session so you can process what you like/dislike and we will discuss any edits needed or if the design is ready for the next phase, which is pricing and purchasing. The reason they are considered “rounds” is to take into consideration the entire design. If edits are requested, we want to look at the design holistically to see if there are additional areas that could benefit from a change to coincide.

    It’s a collaboration and we want you to be pleased with the result, most importantly!

“It has been three years that my husband and I have been working with Erin, and we find that her greatest asset as a designer, is that she listens. Immediately after hearing our feedback, she can shift gears if we need a different price point, a different timeline, or a different material. Often she hits a home run with her initial design plan. But like any creative process, we have ideas and Erin always honors them. Her design touch can be seen in every room in our house; I am deeply grateful for how relaxing and beautiful our little world is.”

— Dina

Let’s Work Together

If you feel Surfside Home Co. would be a good fit for your project and wish to move forward with booking a discovery call, please contact us. Erin will discuss your project goals and provide more insight into how we work and our current availability.

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