What LIGHT HOUSE does

1. Why is the company called Light House Design
   No, we don't design lighthouses, although it would be a great project. The name reflects our emphasis on getting natural light into a house, and more generally a recognition of how light defines a building. The secondary meaning is about a quality of lightness, of doing more with less, of seamlessness, that we try to incorporate in our designs, regardless of the style.

2. How long have you been in business?
   The company was founded in 1980. Since that time, we have designed close to three hundred projects, ranging in size (construction cost) from $10k to 2 million dollars.

3. How big is the firm?
   The firm consists of the principal, David Hornstein, and a few associates depending on the project. We work closely with a broad range of professionals including structural engineers, landscape architects, interior designers, mechanical consultants, contractors, and specialty artisans like metal workers, stained-glass artists, stoneworkers, etc.

4. What services do you offer?
   We offer a full range of services from design consultations through all five design phases. In addition, we offer design services for: lighting, cabinetry, furniture, interiors, landscape, and water features. We also occasionally handcraft fixtures out of wood and metal.

5. What type of work do you specialize in?
   In addition to new homes, we often design additions and renovations. A typical project would be a two-story addition with a new kitchen and family room on the first floor, and a master suite above. Living in New England, most projects are in a traditional style, but we do love contemporary work.  We often combine traditional exteriors with more open, contemporary interiors.

6. Where is most of your work?
   Most projects are in Boston, Cambridge, or Metro West, with the highest concentration in Wellesley (in fact, on one street we've designed six houses!). We design the occasional project out of state, with a house on St. John V.I. the furthest afield to date.

7. What are five good reasons to hire your firm?
   
   • Design quality: Great design is what you should be looking for, regardless of your budget. Take a look through our portfolio, or better yet, arrange for a personal tour of projects that you find appealing.
   • Detailing: Before starting his architectural practice, David Hornstein was a master carpenter; he knows from the inside-out how buildings are put together, and what materials can and can't do. This hands-on knowledge allows us to design innovative details that enhance the over-all design intention.
   • Responsive Process: Our entire practice is client-centered. As a small firm, you deal with the principal, not a junior colleague or administrative helper. Your questions are answered today, not next week. Beyond that, we offer 3D computer design to allow our clients to fully participate in the design process. We have also invented two patent-pending technologies, Stylepath and Commonground, to help clients better understand their aesthetic preferences.
   • Experience: Many firms offer residential design services along with commercial and institutional, LHD's sole focus is on residential. For clients, this depth of experience translates into better design and a smoother process.
   • Cost-effectiveness: Technology allows us to offer the services of a larger firm with the low overhead of a small firm. All of the lesser-skilled work that used to be performed by draftsmen and students has been replaced by the computer, freeing us to concentrate on the design work itself. Your dollars go directly to design, not administration or fixing mistakes of less experienced workers.