IF SOMEONE WOULD JUST LISTEN

Have you ever felt that someone trying to get your business is just going to "tell you what you want to hear."?

We know the reasoning. The easy way to a sale is to pigeon hole a client, size them up, put them in a standard bracket and tell them what they need. Its sooo simple. And it takes so much less time than finding out what they really need.

At DAKOTA DAWN, we take a different approach. Instead of "telling you what you want to hear" we "hear what you want to tell". Listening is the key to our design process.

We hear our clients out. Our entire design philosophy is built around finding out the little things that will make a client's day brighter. We look for the textures, smells, lights and shades of color that mean something to the individual. We enjoy breaking out of the standards and opening up opportunities for every DAKOTA DAWN client to create their own special place.

If we talk, it is to press for more details or present cautions about materials or layouts. We never say "You should..." or "You can't..." We find a way. And the way is the client's way.

We do what our clients ask. Ask one. They will tell you.

For a client list, e-mail us at...

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YOU HAVE A BUDGET? NO PROBLEM!

We would love nothing more than to have a client tell us to "spend whatever it takes." Oh! The things we could build!

But in the real world, real clients have limits. They want to spend only so much. The neighborhood will only support an investment of a certain amount. There is simply a point where no more can be spent. A client wants to stop at that point and trust that there will be no surprises when the price comes in or, more annoyingly, during construction.

An architect, operating independent of a contractor, can make no promises about price. He has two big obstacles. First, he simply cannot afford to spend the time it takes to keep up on the ever changing cost of construction. More importantly, though, he has no means of assurance... no ability to stand behind his budget and commit to it as the price.

At DAKOTA DAWN, the price is the price. When the design is finished, the design budget that has been reviewed with the client throughout the process and used to guide the design decisions is the price of the work. Period.

And by the way, our clients can always check that price if they want. Competitive bidding is an option that we insist every client consider.

Firm prices.

Price checks.

How can you lose?

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Oh Yes! Design

It is often said in architecture that there is nothing more difficult than a design problem with no pre-established style constraints. If we viewed our design work from a purely business perspective, that might be the case.

Working with traditional styles can definitely be challenging. Clients often desire contemporary features and conveniences that have no basis in traditional forms. We have to consider concepts that adopt the new elements to the style or juxtapose them in a way that is harmonious and pleasing.

We truly love opportunities for contemporary statements. With no overriding style concern, we can focus entirely on the needs of the client and the opportunities presented by the site. Even with the open pallet, we look for features that suite our clients needs.

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Innovative Design

In the design process, who we are is important. You want to work with someone with the right skills to get the job done.

But WHO YOU ARE is critical.

What your home becomes should be all about who you are and how you want to live. Our design process focuses on uncovering your needs and how to focus the work on your highest priorities.

We have one goal that is foremost in our work. We want satisfied clients.

For nearly twenty years, DDD has prospered based on satisfied clients telling friends and business associates about us. No glitzy advertising, just happy clients.

And we have a system for this. It is a simple one. There is no big mystery. It just takes time, and we are willing to put in as much as it takes.

Our secrets. . . . . ? We listen (link to "Listening"), we work with the clients budget (link to "Budget" and, oh yes, we DESIGN.

We meet with our clients regularly during the design process. We use the latest CAD software to provide vivid three dimensional presentations of the proposed work. As we proceed through the process we obtain firm pricing from suppliers and subcontractors and make required adjustments to meet ALL the needs of each client.

At DAKOTA DAWN, we strive to apply this highest level of creativity to the dreams and needs of our clients. We do not just build things. We use our training and experience to guide our clients through a maze of technicalities and to create spaces that bring light and warmth and satisfaction to everyday living. Our target is the complete satisfaction of each and every client. We have developed a creative process that allows our clients to jump in and get involved. To make their dreams come true.

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INNOVATIVE DESIGN

It is often said in architecture that there is nothing more difficult than a design problem with no pre-established style constraints. If we viewed our design work from a purely business perspective, that might be the case.

Working with traditional styles can definitely be challenging. Clients often desire contemporary features and conveniences that have no basis in traditional forms. We have to consider concepts that adopt the new elements to the style or juxtapose them in a way that is harmonious and pleasing.

We truly love opportunities for contemporary statements. With no overriding style concern, we can focus entirely on the needs of the client and the opportunities presented by the site. Even with the open pallet, we look for features that suite our clients needs.

Go Back