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42 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | September 2015 Proftable Partnerships together a group of people where each has his or her own individual specialty so that everyone can focus on their part, yet work together to make all of the spaces cohesive. "Having others involved in a proj- ect also creates a nice 'checks and balances' for a project. If you only have one person in charge of every- thing, who is checking the work? Collaboration is also often what makes a space beautiful. If one person is doing something extraordinary, it pushes others to step up." Tips for successful collaborations: "The number one thing I've learned through the years is that, sometimes, people successfully do things a cer- tain way. Then someone else comes into the mix and sees a diferent way of doing things. That person may not want to change. But be open to every- one else's ideas. You don't necessarily have to do them, but you have to be willing to discuss them and hear what other people say. "Don't be so set in your ways that you aren't open to new ideas. That's how we all learn and grow. When someone else brings an idea to the table and you try it, it may become your new way of doing something. You end up getting pushed further, getting pushed outside of your comfort zone. At Design Galleria, we push ourselves, but we also welcome the opportunity to work with others to stay ahead of the game, to bring something new and special to each project. Our trade, as a whole, needs to be pushed, to allow others to be involved to take a project to a higher level." Paul Dybdahl DESIGNER/PRINCIPAL DYBDAHL DESIGN GROUP MIDDLETON, WI Most frequent collaborative partners: "When we collaborate with other in- dustry professionals, it is most often with architects. We also enjoy working with independent interior designers who bring clients to us. We fnd that, many times, people have been work- ing with a designer for years, and their projects come to fruition much more quickly when we work with that designer because he or she already knows what the client likes, which can narrow down the selection process. "I'm working on a project right now with an interior designer who we've collaborated with for years. They are great professionals to work with, but they don't always know the detailed workings of a kitchen." Benefits of collaboration: "Col- laborating with others helps make a project move along more quickly, because, as I mentioned, if we've been brought into the project by another professional, they already know what the client likes so we will only show them certain product selections. "Collaborating also brings cohe- sion between a kitchen and/or bath and other areas of the home. For example, if an interior designer has worked on a dining room that is open to the kitchen, they can help us make sure the kitchen has some of the same appeal. It's about putting together a comprehensive, cohesive package so everything works together. You wouldn't want to order a Ferrari with Mac truck tires or a Dodge bumper. Elements don't need to match, but they should complement each other." Tips for successful collaborations: "Ask opinions of others, then listen. Some designers don't necessarily want to share, but sharing can make a proj- ect run much more smoothly." Paul Dybdahl worked with Bouril Design Studio (architect) on this whole- home remodel that involved a new kitchen as well as reconfguring three upstairs bedrooms to include a large master bedroom and spacious master bath. The homeowner, an artist, had a big infuence in the freplace and stonework. "There was some roof work that needed to be done, so I involved an architect who could make sure my concept would work and, when everything was completed, make it look like it had always been there. This project was defnitely a collaboration between the homeowner, the architect and our design frm." Photos: Inda Reid