Franklin Report Report Card for DHD, LLC in New York City
★ Franklin Report Card
DHD, LLC
200 Park Avenue South
Suite 1401
New York, NY 10003
(212) 477-7700
www.davidhowell.net
info@dhd.nyc
Main Contact: David Howell
Categories
Interior Design
Architects

Services & Specialties
Creative, contemporary, unique residential architecture

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FR Review:
David Howell designs lively, contemporary homes that tickle the imagination. Many of his projects are downtown and undeniably urban. Still, Howell's use of large windows, raw stone and unpainted wood gives his work an open, rustic quality even in the urban canyons of New York. In this and in a certain "elemental optimism," the warmth of his native country––New Zealand--shines through.

An active collaborator who likes strong ideas, Howell works best with clients who view the architectural process as a chance to exercise creative muscle, not a chore. Howell returns the favor with extreme focus and attention to detail. In the early nineties, Howell came to New York on a research grant to study the relationship between artisans and architects. Among other findings, he discovered that he wanted to stay. After working for Clodagh Design International for three years, he founded his own firm in 1995. Currently, Howell fields a staff of twelve, taking on between 20 and 25 projects in various stages at a time. Sources report that Howell is most involved at the front and back ends; he guides the design phase carefully, allows associates to handle planning details, then returns to make sure construction goes smoothly. He considers the surrounding environment paramount and will turn down commissions (say, a Park Avenue lobby in Tribeca) that don't match his aesthetic.

Though Howell himself has a relaxed professional style, the firm's process is designed to satisfy obsessives. The staff sets up individual websites for each project, so clients can download schematics and track progress. Weekly meetings keep things moving, and references report that budgets are followed closely. Howell's jobs range from $500,000 on up, though a unique creative challenge can lower that bar. Fees are also flexible, ranging from an hourly charge to a slightly-higher-than-standard percentage over construction. Clients, many of whom have worked with Howell multiple times, report that he is the best of both worlds: a true talent without the accompanying artistic temperament. They recommend him wholeheartedly for unique, design-oriented architecture.

Representative Client Comments:
"He's a Modernist, but he gives things warmth by really listening to what the client wants. It always feels like a home, not a gallery." "DHD recently helped me renovate my new apartment. Attention to detail was excellent, and the quality of service was first-class." "Very contemporary designs, but they were also able to adapt to my own preferences." "When I had found my new office it was a blank canvas. Of the six designers I brought in, only David Howell 'got it'. He instinctively understood what I was after and was the only designer to exceed my expectations." "He's almost too nice!" "There were some mistakes, as there always are. The difference is that David knew how to deal with them." "He continued to be a great support to me even after the offices were finished." "He's neither the most expensive, nor the cheapest." "David turned what would have been a stressful and difficult process into an exiting and fun one." "I had to rein him in due to budgetary constraints, and he dealt with this in the same calm, responsible manner that he displayed throughout the project." "I'm a real estate professional, and I've been involved in 25 projects with David over the past decade. He's the only person I'd hire." "I have recommended David to three different clients – all to rave reviews!"

 
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