Q&A: What It’s Really Like to Work with Alair

Q: Before this project, what wasn’t working for you in your home?

The mudroom — our back entrance — was a problem. It was crowded and made it hard to get two kids ready and out the door in the morning. We were also maxed out on bedrooms, so if we wanted someone to stay over, we didn’t have space.

Bathrooms were becoming an issue too. We knew we’d eventually need more. One of our kids’ bedrooms was on the main floor while we were upstairs, and we didn’t like that.

We didn’t realize how big of an issue the kitchen was until we saw what the space could be. It was cramped, very limited counter space.

And then the outdoor patio — we had done that years ago to give ourselves a little more space for grilling, hanging out, and parking, but we were never really satisfied with it. We wanted an outdoor entertaining space that flowed naturally from the back of the house.

Q: What were you hoping life would feel like in your home once the project was done?

We really wanted to keep the character of the home. We love the 1920s feel and all the unique touches, and we wanted the addition to match that.

We wanted it to feel natural, like everything had been there for years — comfortable, homey, relaxing. And we wanted the new spaces to flow effortlessly with the old ones.

Q: Walk me through what it was like to work with the Alair team.

From start to finish, it felt very easy. We developed a good rhythm, and communication was excellent. We could ask something and usually get a response within an hour.

One of the biggest challenges for us was having to move our whole family out for a while, and we only had the apartment for a set period of time. We made that clear, and you really worked to accommodate us — getting us back into parts of the house while other work continued.

The timeline was unreal. Everyone told me I’d be frustrated seeing nothing happening on certain days, but I can probably count those days on one hand. Even factoring in holidays and a few really cold days, someone was almost always working.

There were days when you had people on every level — ductwork in the basement, kitchen on the main floor, work upstairs — all planned so people weren’t in each other’s way. It all got done in the order it needed to be, and within the timeline we were given.

Q: Was there a moment when you thought, “Wow, this is different from other contractors”?

Honestly, nothing turned out differently than what we expected — and that was because you always made sure we had a clear vision. The designs and plans were so detailed.

The monthly walkthroughs with you and Laura helped a ton, and all the contractors were great about us coming through almost daily with the kids. It was fun to look back at photos of each stage.

When changes came up — like figuring out how the ductwork would run from the mudroom to the second floor — it was always clear what our options were. We could ask questions, explore ideas, or look at alternatives, like the deck heaters or switching to smart lights in the kitchen. Little suggestions like that were really appreciated.

Q: How did the team handle communication and updates?

Communication was excellent. Quick responses, clear updates, and regular walkthroughs. Everyone on the team was great about letting us see the progress.

Q: Did Alair do anything that made the renovation process easier or less stressful?

Yes — working around our temporary living situation was huge. You adjusted things so we could move back into parts of the house while work continued.

The steady progress and clear communication also helped a lot. We always knew what was happening and what to expect.

Q: How did Alair’s open‑book budgeting and transparency feel compared to what you expected?

We didn’t really know what to expect since we’d never done something like this, but we appreciated being able to check in regularly and see everything clearly.

We started with one budget and it expanded as the project evolved into more of a “forever home” plan. Being able to see everything detailed out helped us understand those changes.

The entire team did a great job communicating where things stood. Toward the end, when the bank and appraisals got stressful, you helped connect those dots, which took pressure off us.

Q: Were there moments around budget or changes where the transparency stood out?

Yes — especially near the end when we had to understand what might come out of pocket and what we could still include. Seeing the full picture made it easier to make decisions.

For example, we didn’t originally plan to redo the kitchen, but once we saw what was possible and how much value it would add, it made sense. And now we spend most of our time there.