Dear Ross

Until one commissions one's first "dream" or "ideal", house, one is unlikely to be aware of the detail involved. An "original" work is even more of an experience.

Now that our designated site has a permit for your realisation of our idea and waits only for the builder to begin, we have reflected on the experience. We did think once that we might not want to repeat it, now we wonder if we might enjoy it!

We decided to begin the process nearly 13 months ago. Had we chosen something "off the floor" that process would possibly be today a fading memory. However we drew up our detailed specification to suit our needs and the location and sought the necessary expertise. We were turned down flat in Rodney; too busy with problems and new regulations; no possibility of a start before 2005.

We consulted a large Auckland company, were welcomed, sent them our brief and it was passed to Whangarei. Their man gave it to an architect and he refused it on the grounds our brief did not allow him to design his house for us.

And he passed it on to you, to take on already frustrated clients wanting something a bit different.

We were quite charmed by the computer generated views which were invaluable aids to our thinking.

It would be untrue to say that the ensuing nine months were without frustration . However we became aware that we were in the middle of a difficult period with changes to regulations, consultant engineers necessary for the project were neither immediately available nor apparently interested in applying imagination to the design: a potential supplier of vital importance was no longer performing to expectation and had to be replaced.

However our impatience was treated with unfailing courtesy and good humour by the Staff. It became apparent that we were in good hands and once more on a solid track as we were, for example, introduced to alternative suppliers and found some reasonable production lead times.

What was most important was that we became increasingly confident that our project was receiving constantly painstaking and careful attention to detail culminating in your lodging it with the Council and their approval. We also appreciate the enormous amount of "legwork" which has gone on behind the scenes to get details settled.

We are happy to be contacted by any of your prospective clients wanting references.

Yours sincerely
Lyn & Robin G Franklin

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Dear Ross

Just a note to say how pleased we are with our new home.

We found the 3D images and preliminary plans at the start of the project to be a huge help in understanding what the finished project would be like, before it was built!

We were impressed by the way you had taken our ideas, sketches and pictures of what we liked and turned them into a reality, and that you and Janine were happy to discuss change and other design options.

We found the service provided to be of a good standard and do realise that time delays had occurred due to obtaining the structural engineering, effluent design and council consents. Your staff were always helpful and conscientious.

We would certainly recommend Ford Design to our friends, we liked the one stop service offered. On completion of the preliminary plans, you also organised and lodged the Project Information Memorandum, Surveyor, Structural Engineering, Effluent Design, and Building Consent on our behalf.

We were also impressed with the prompt way you handled our queries during the construction of our home, thus minimising delays.

Many thanks to you and your team for a job well I done.

Kind regards
Murray A Carolyn McLean

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Dear Ross

This is a belated note to say thank you so much for the wonderful contribution you and your team made to the planning and final result of our fabulous new home!

We found the whole process from our initial consultation and the way you took our ideas and put them to paper and to the 3D images and preliminary plans which made it all a reality and much easier concept to visualise, an enlightening experience! You and your team were always available for any queries and David was especially grateful when you drove the many miles out to the site to help him with measurements and angles etc when he had a stumbling block in the initial setup and the many times he rang for confirmation of some aspect of the building process right throughout the project, thus minimising delays and forwarding the whole construction.

The service your business provides in organising and lodging the Project Information Memorandum, Surveyor, Structural engineering, effluent design and Building consent on our behalf is invaluable. We have done and can certainly recommend Ford Design to our friends. Being involved in building and lighting ourselves we can recommend Ross and his team as innovative, thorough, fresh‑thinking, environmentally sensitive designers attuned to our Northland culture and locality.

The standard of service, designs, plans, the conscientious staff, and office situation of outstanding quality and one which we are proud to have been associated with. We thank you all again for the time and support you gave us in building our house!

Yours sincerely
David and Maureen Clarkson

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