Let’s Shape Your New Reality.
Our architecture and design practice is a problem-solving pursuit dedicated to answering two questions, “What is worth building and who is it for?”
A completed home or business that supports your unique needs is our ultimate goal.
It’s not about dreaming, it’s not about hoping, it’s about taking the steps necessary to design and plan a project that is ready for your contractor to build. You don’t need to have it all figured out, you just need to know what’s not working. We embrace the challenge and complexity of reviving old homes and buildings throughout Boston and the surrounding communities.
Who We Work With.
People who care about the details and are ready to invest in getting it right.
Homeowners
You are a busy professional who wants your home to function as well as you do. It’s a place that you rely on each day to support the life you have built and to adapt as your needs change over time. Whether it is a whole-home remodel, a substantial renovation or an addition, you value a clear and creative process that results in a project ready for construction.
Business Owners
You are a business owner who is passionate about your products and services and want the customer experience designed with the same level of dedication. Whether you are opening a new location or renovating an existing one, you are looking for an architect with the creative sensibility and logistical understanding to bring your vision to life.
What We Do.
-
Architectural Design
Every project begins by understanding the existing architecture. Its relationship to the site, its geometric hierarchy, proportion and overall balance provide clues to how our improvements can positively impact the way people interact within and around the structure. Often clients call us because their experience inside the spaces tells them it’s no longer working. We solve the puzzle in a way that responds to their needs while respecting the existing architectural volume as we make changes. The result should feel as though it was always meant to be there.
-
Interior Design
Material selection on a project is not only an important part of making a space your own, it is also key to smoother execution during construction. Our process is designed so that 98% of the decisions that need to be made are done prior to a single hammer being swung. Creative, curated and coordinated spaces are far better discovered away from the pressure of construction, when time, cost and functionality are most at stake. During the design phase, we explore fixtures and finishes through collaborative evaluation and calibration, tailoring each selection to your personality and style.
-
Construction Administration & Advocacy
Construction administration is part of every project. Turning a design into a built space is a process of translation in which contractors, subcontractors and suppliers each interpret the drawings through their own expertise. As a team, we work through shop drawings, product substitutions and conditions uncovered in the field to keep the work aligned with the design intent. For clients wanting more support, advocacy builds on that foundation with a systematic and responsive approach that keeps your needs and the project’s at the forefront as goals and circumstances change.
Before a single line is drawn…
The Foundation of Every Project.
-
At the start of every project, clients come with different levels of direction. Some have a specific idea of how their project could be achieved, others simply know what is not working for them. Before any solutions are considered, my professional filter separates those preconceived notions from what the space is actually capable of. Looking at every variable through an objective and open-minded lens allows us to arrive at an optimal solution rather than the solution that seems easiest to visualize.
-
I learn a lot about a prospective client and their project during a feasibility walkthrough. As we move through a home or building, clients often share casual observations we did not discuss on our consultation call. Those moments matter. A throwaway comment about a space that was never part of the original inquiry can open up a whole new dimension of problem solving that makes the original project and the overall investment significantly more worthwhile.
-
Every building and site has its own rhythm, scale, proportion and hierarchy. In those early moments, I am already reading that language, noticing what the space seems to want, where the natural alignments are, and where the friction is. Some constraints quietly point toward the solution. Others suggest that a more significant intervention might be warranted. These early observations tell us where to focus next.
-
Budget is one of the most important variables in any project. Acknowledging it early and honestly allows us to shape a design strategy around what is actually possible. My goal is not simply to design within a number but to present you with options that give you control over where your investment has the most impact. Some decisions are worth spending more on, others are not. Understanding that difference is where good design thinking earns its value.
Where It Started.
It was two weeks before the world shut down in 2020 when I quit my job and started Tact & Grit Design Co., convinced that the key to a successful project was a little bit of tact and a whole lot of grit. Like most things, that idea has grown with time, practice and experience. The words tact and grit each have their own definitions, but when we put them together they mean more than saying the right thing and doing the hard stuff. They are a reminder of what it takes to shape the life we want to live. The life I live requires a balance of the two. What about you?
What Clients Are Saying.
“She pushed us to drill down on the reasons for our design choices which ultimately led to a better final product - we’d definitely recommend her to anyone looking for an architect and designer!”
- Residential Client Testimonial
Newton, MA
“She answered all our questions with patience and professionalism, and worked closely with us to create a space that was functional, beautiful and met our specific needs.”
- Residential Client Testimonial
Hamilton, MA
“She was an advocate for us when we needed her to be and listened closely to our vision. Thank you for helping us bring our dreams to reality and we hope to work with you again in the future.”
- Commercial Client Testimonial
Boston, MA
“Olivia’s knowledge of building codes and her design ideas played a major role in the success of the project. I absolutely plan on using Tact & Grit on future projects.”
- Commercial Client Testimonial
Woburn, MA