I pride myself on being a very open-minded and tolerant person, but I have to admit, I am judgmental when it comes to websites. I really have to wonder – if a company cannot put in the effort to create a well-crafted and user-friendly website, are they going to create well-crafted and suitable products?
This is especially important for design companies. Paolo Design Group sees the value in good design – on and offline. Their website is clean, maneuverable and full of useful and interesting information. While I truly appreciate their attention to online aesthetics, I suppose you, dear reader, might want to know more about the content of their website.
Whether your project entails creating the architectural atmosphere of the restaurant you’ve always dreamed of opening, refurbishing a mid-century home to make it 21st century ready or adding an expansion to your home, complete with all the latest high tech media gadgets, to accommodate your growing interest in entertainment, Paolo can make it happen.
Paolo’s online portfolio nicely displays their diversity. One of my favorites is a remodel of the home of an art collector. The homeowner had a collection of hand-carved masks and sculptures from around the world, and wanted a way to integrate these rare pieces into the overall design of his home. Paolo used subtle design elements, such as natural light lures and “peek-a-boo niches” to draw attention to the art. They didn’t just let the art do all the work, either. The other changes, including gorgeous cabinetry and flooring and exactly the right choices in furniture, make the completed project a success. Another project I really liked was a remodel of a loft. Being a loft, this space does not have walls to define areas. Instead, the space is delineated through more subtle means – lighting, texture, adjustable blinds and open structures. The result is a warm and flexible space, full of possibility.
What I especially love about Paolo’s method is how they lay it all out in very clear language. They take their clients through a step-by-step process all the way from stating goals to applying the final touch after construction. The designers create 3-D renderings of the plans so you can be confident in the decisions being made. They even go all the way to the level of fixture and hardware selection to be sure that the completed design is consistent. Paolo is especially respectful of their clients’ cost concerns. At every step of the way, they conduct a cost analysis to ensure that your money is being used as efficiently as possible.
So they’ve proved themselves adept designers who actually care about their clients. Pretty good, eh? Ah, but wait – there’s more! Paolo cares about the environment! Instead of just building however and with whatever works, they actually consider the impact their activities have on our lovely earth. How considerate! They strive to create dwellings that are sustainable and that will pass the test of time. Their website says they “bring passive solar design and site stewardship to each new construction project.” They plan spaces efficiently – focusing on optimizing the functionality of a space, instead of just making the space bigger. This focus on efficiency of course means they do everything they can to make sure the future tenants of their project are consuming energy and water in the way that uses the least amount of resources possible. And if you’re really serious about being green, you can have rainwater/gray-water harvesting systems installed and a vegetative roof.
So, while I was initially won over by the stellar website design, I have come to realize that Paolo is not only beautiful on the outside of their web presence, but they are also beautiful on the inside! Check them out at this year’s Energy Trust Better Living Show or see the site for yourself: www.paolodesigngroup.com.
Originally posted 2009-08-13 12:45:48.
