--- title: "B-Squared Design Studio — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/b-squared-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~125955440 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~125955440.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "B-Squared Design Studio" category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/3cd39e7d0eed1a6f_3024-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Shepherd, Michigan 48883, United States" phone: "(989) 560-0986" website: http://www.b-squaredstudio.com rating: 5 review_count: 19 best_of_houzz_awards: 6 followers: 68 last_updated: 2026-09-09 --- # B-Squared Design Studio Original Houzz profile: [B-Squared Design Studio](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/b-squared-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~125955440) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Shepherd, MI - **Serves:** Lansing, Midland, Mount Pleasant, Alma, Saint Louis, Clare, Shepherd, Beaverton, Rosebush, Metro Detroit - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (19 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 6 awards (2016–2023), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves Architectural Design & Planning Services specializing in remodeling, additions and new construction. B-Squared Design Studio offers professional advice and visualization services to help you to "see it before you build it". Powerful 3D computer modeling along with expert advice and personalized service allows homeowners to explore options and make decisions prior to starting a building project. A unique custom "Design Playbook" incorporates a range of design options and enables homeowners to make well planned decisions and better communicate with building professionals. All styles welcome - customized to your project and personal style. Do more with less through creative planning and design with B-Squared Design Studio. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Custom Homes - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Kitchen Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Floor Plans - 3D Rendering - Bathroom Design - Space Planning - Multigenerational Homes - Handicap-Accessible Design - Basement Remodeling - Mudroom Design - Basement Design - Deck Design - Laundry Room Design - Home Gym Design & Construction - 3D Home Design - Design Visualization - Remodeling - Renovation & Additions ### Areas Served - Lansing - Midland - Mount Pleasant - Alma - Saint Louis - Clare - Shepherd - Beaverton - Rosebush - Metro Detroit ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | B-Squared Design Studio | | Address | Shepherd, Michigan 48883, United States | | Phone | (989) 560-0986 | | Website | http://www.b-squaredstudio.com | | Followers on Houzz | 68 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/bsquaredstudio/ - LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-skeel-536a2b1ab/ - Blog — https://www.b-squaredstudio.com/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [B-Squared Design Studio](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/b-squared-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~125955440) - **Website:** http://www.b-squaredstudio.com - **Phone:** (989) 560-0986 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Member: American Institute of Architects - **Best of Houzz:** 6 awards (2016–2023), for Service. **Affiliations** - [National Association of Home Builders](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/national-association-of-home-builders-pfvwus-pf~562065019) - [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471) - [Home Builders Association of Michigan](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/home-builders-association-of-michigan-pfvwus-pf~1477551635) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 19 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Tony Voisin, July 2022** > We took our ideas to Brenda and Ali to put it all together. It was really a great process to work with them to develop our lakehouse and to have them build computer models to “walk through” our plans. > > They were so very helpful through the entire process of designing, building and furnishing our dream house. > > We highly recommend this process to anyone looking to renovate or build their next home. > > They were so great to work with and we have built a friendship with them as well. > > Thank you BSquared Design!!! **★★★★★ — Gina M, May 2022** > Brenda was so great to work with and helped us to prioritize the multiple projects our home needs. She made sure to understand our lifestyle and needs to provide a design that works for us! **★★★★★ — dickybill, Jan. 2022** > We found Brenda on Houzz and were fascinated with her and B-Squared Design's technology. Being that we live in Southern California and building in central Michigan we knew there would be some big challenges. And two and a half years later we are finished and I'm almost sorry this amazing journey with Brenda and her staff of the really talented people has come to fruition. > Starting with a hand drawn floorplan that my wife and I sent to them, what came back was a an electronic model of that floorplan that became the basis for everything that happened from preconstruction to post construction. Being able to virtually walk through our house 2500 miles away throughout the construction was truly an amazing experience. You want to move a wall, a window, let's do it see how it looks. Their incredible ability of listening to our wants an whims however crazy they were, put them in the model, you get immediately a prospective of those ideas and it really helped us avoid some bad decisions. I have worked with other architects and designers in the past and sometimes you wondered if they were at the same meetings with you, that is not the case with B-Squared. > It didn't take a lot of time for our relationship with Brenda to develop a lot of trust and we welcomed her ideas and many times relied on her abilities as a professional to make some really big decisions for us in our absence. She introduced us to some unbelievable artisan craftsman to work on our home. > Even our General Contractor that we waited two years to build our home ( he's really good and worth the wait ) became a believer in their process and all of the subcontractors too. You couldn't walk into any room during construction and not see her drawings and schedules tacked to a wall or in a tool box. > Enough said. The journey was long and was sometimes stressful, but the end product speaks for itself. We would do it again with B Squared Design. > Rick and Brenda Toohey **★★★★★ — Anthony R, Oct. 2021** > For many years, we planned to build our dream home in mid-Michigan while still residing in NYC. We discovered B-Squared Design Studio at a home show in Michigan and talked about our project at length. We were very impressed with the B-Squared team's level of expertise and design acumen. Since I had not built a home in the past, I had many questions and Brenda and her team had viable answers to help me understand the scope of new construction. I was excited to learn that they use a software called SketchUp that can transport the viewer into the scope of project and provide simulated views. It was really helpful to see myself in the space to best figure out how we would be using it day-to-day. From in-person meetings to conference calls, we were able to develop an architectural plan that captured all of our ideas and inspirations. Working and brainstorming with the team was fun, educational, and low stress. I highly recommend B-Squared Design Studio for all of your projects from news builds to renovations. Both Brenda and Ali provided super helpful information about local vendors too when I was shopping for lighting, tile, flooring, etc. The most important aspect of our working relationship was a mutual respect and ability to listen while the process developed and ultimately turned into our forever home. **★★★★★ — Ashley Robinson, Oct. 2021** > Brenda and her ladies were great to work with throughout the process of designing our dream home! Would highly recommend! **★★★★★ — Jeffrey Thompson, Sept. 2020** > Like many couples one of us could readily see change mentally the other not so much. We made a decision that I count as one of the best we have made, in regards to homes anyway. We hired Brenda Skeel, to work with us in this most important and dear to our hearts renovation of Concordia Hills. We had no expectations as we had never worked with a designer before. Brenda, explained in great detail the costs, steps, the work, and the final delivered product, and she delivered more than we had hoped in all these areas. > The modeling that B-squared supplied made it very easy to “see” the final result. That made it very comforting, and reassuring to both of us for the decisions made. We did not realize it but when we signed on with Brenda we also gained more eyes and creativity as Brenda involved her students in our project. It was an absolute delight to see them bring their creative input into our project. Our library area would have been very different had it not been for one of her students. The arrangement of our upstairs bath which we love would never have occurred to us. > I would encourage anyone even considering hiring a designer to just do it. It made an otherwise stressful project into a real joy to execute and provided confidence in each decision. If you can possibly use B-Squared Design Studios, do so. They are expert, a joy to work with, and we feel we received much more than the very small added cost of our remodel. Enjoy the pictures of her work. **★★★★★ — Allyson Klak, April 2020** > We hired B-Squared when we downsized to a significantly smaller home. Brenda and her team listened to our wants and needs in our kitchen renovation...and even made suggestions of things that we hadn't considered but now love! The Playbook they created made everything very clear to both us and to our various subcontractors. We're very happy with the plans they created and look forward to making decisions regarding the second phase of making this "our" home...the master suite! **★★★★★ — Michelle Hill, Sept. 2019** > B-Squared has made a difference in our remodel plan already and we haven't even started the renovations yet! The primary job was to renovate two bedrooms to make a master suite with an accessible bathroom for aging-in-place and an upstairs laundry. We had her design plans for our basement rec room too. Brenda did a great job listening to us to provide the best plan to meet our needs. She was very patient with our numerous questions and tweaks that we requested for each draft of the plan. She improved upon our intentions for the space(s) with suggestions that hadn't even occurred to us. Now our laundry room will double as a Cabana for our pool parties with easy access to a bathroom (previously wet swimmers would drip through our dining room). Somehow we've ended up with more space AND more storage upstairs and down. We're so glad we got her involved instead of trying to make a plan ourselves. I can't wait to see the finished product. **★★★★★ — Erica Murdock, Jan. 2019** > We were fortunate to have met Brenda at a Home and Garden Show at MSU when we were in the early stages of our renovation planning. We spoke with her for just about 15 minutes and knew that she was someone we would enjoy working with. Not only was she thoughtful and patient with our many questions, but she was very open about her process and respected our desires to maintain the integrity of our very mid century house. We ended up hiring Brenda to assist with renovation/restoration of our kitchen, home office, entryway, and living and dining rooms. From that initial conversation to our discovery meeting to completing the plans for our project, Brenda and her team were very professional and so much fun to work with! Her fresh ideas and understanding of architecture saved us from ourselves on numerous occasions, without losing sight of our personal aesthetic and desires. When we are ready to tackle future reno projects, we will absolutely reach out to Brenda for her expertise and assistance! **★★★★★ — Justine, Jan. 2019** > B-Squared Design Studio is excellent to work with! Brenda listened to what we wanted and helped us come up with a plan for remodeling our soon to be new home. I reached out to Brenda because I needed help coming up with a plan to create a more open floor plan for an older farmhouse that belonged to my grandmother. She definitely helped achieve this! We are in the process of remodeling and adding an addition now. I can't wait to see the finished product when it is all done! I would highly recommend using this company! Thanks again to Brenda and her team! **★★★★★ — Ryan Holley-Mallo, Jan. 2019** > Brenda is an absolutely amazing and gifted designer! She is easy to work with, kind, and fair to work with. She made our project in renovation so much easier and I would tell you that we could not have done this without her. We liked her enough that we decided to bring her back for a second addition on to our home. Thank you so much Brenda!! **★★★★★ — Abu Amin, March 2017** > Brenda helped us tremendously in our design process, it is an excellent professional to work with. We are enjoying our new home more because we took her suggestion. She will go extra mile to make sure the client is happy with the outcome. I recommend her without any reservation. All the best Brenda. ## Selected projects - [Hudson Bay Inspired Lake House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hudson-bay-inspired-lake-house-pj-vj~6971676) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 19 - [Craftsman Kitchen Update](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/craftsman-kitchen-update-pj-vj~6844249) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 22 - Description: Kitchen and Bath update in a Historic Craftsman Home. - [New York Style - Michigan Lake House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-york-style-michigan-lake-house-pj-vj~6774890) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 23 - [Michigan Summer House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/michigan-summer-house-pj-vj~6644641) - Location: Lake, MI - Photos: 20 - Description: Modern Farmhouse on the Lake - [New House on the Lake](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-house-on-the-lake-pj-vj~6446929) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 23 - [Modern Farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-farmhouse-pj-vj~6136861) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - [Mid-Century Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mid-century-kitchen-pj-vj~5855586) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 16 - Description: This 1958 House of the Year gets an updated kitchen while conserving the original St. Charles cabinets. - [Rustic Modern Lake Retreat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rustic-modern-lake-retreat-pj-vj~5774830) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 16 - [Rustic Retreat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rustic-retreat-pj-vj~5470613) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - [Lakehouse Transformation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lakehouse-transformation-pj-vj~5999287) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 13 - Description: Great room addition to small lake house. - [Kitchen Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-addition-pj-vj~5470735) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - [Modern Open Plan Ranch House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-open-plan-ranch-house-pj-vj~4431523) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: Ranch style home renovated to create a modern open floor plan. Updated modern elements mixed with antique pieces. - [Historic Family Farm House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/historic-family-farm-house-pj-vj~2950004) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 20 - Description: Update to a historic family farm house in Michigan. - [Lake House Remodel Inspired by Carleton Varney](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lake-house-remodel-inspired-by-carleton-varney-pj-vj~2860838) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 34 - Description: Complete remodel - interior and exterior on a Michigan lake. Inspired by The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Carleton Varney and Dorothy Draper. Unique mix of new and vintage fixtures and finishes, with tons of color! - [Beautiful Barn on the Pond - 2 Story Addition & Basement Finish](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/beautiful-barn-on-the-pond-2-story-addition-and-basement-finish-pj-vj~1792008) - Location: Mount Pleasant, MI - Photos: 12 - Description: Project to finish an existing unfinished basement and add a 2 story addition to an existing log barn style home to provide enhanced views to the exterior and stairway access from the back deck. - [Coop d'Villa Play Houzz Competition Entry](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/coop-d-villa-play-houzz-competition-entry-pj-vj~1660646) - Location: Shepherd, MI - Photos: 5 - [Classic Kitchen & Sunroom Remodel - Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/classic-kitchen-and-sunroom-remodel-addition-pj-vj~1220096) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 9 - Description: Beautiful classic but modern update to enlarge an existing kitchen and add a sun room. Custom Cabinetry by Konwinski Construction - Mt. Pleasant, MI - [New Country Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/new-country-kitchen-pj-vj~610734) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: The homeowner NEEDED a fresh new kitchen and wanted something clean and modern but also wanted to keep her existing antique table and fit her traditional style. She wanted a country feel without clutter and kitsch and achieved the look by incorporating a checkerboard accent backsplash and some red barn light pendants. Her new kitchen is a bright & colorful centerpiece to her home! - [Unique and Modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/unique-and-modern-pj-vj~492950) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - [Locker Room Inspired Family Bath](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/locker-room-inspired-family-bath-pj-vj~278587) - Location: Mt. Pleasant, MI - Photos: 13 - Description: A creative bathroom / laundry room for a busy family. The design is based on the concept of a retro locker room to allow multiple users to be in the room at the same time. [See all 21 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/b-squared-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~125955440) ## Ideabooks - [Charming Cottage in the Woods](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/180443228/list/charming-cottage-in-the-woods) — 60 ideas - [Tech Professional Apartments](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/178852548/list/tech-professional-apartments) — 4 ideas - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/177315472/list/wish-list) — 4 ideas - [\#PlayHouzz](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/64381086/list/playhouzz) — 6 ideas [See all 4 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/bsquaredstudio) ## Community Q&A **Q: what is the tile?** *(in Photo Questions)* Love the tile, what’s the name? A: Thanks for the question - here are some links: https://www.msisurfaces.com/crystallized-glass-8mm/akoya-interlocking/ https://www.glazziotiles.com/products/VERSAILLES%20SERIES/VERSAILLES%20GLOSSY%20SERIES.aspx .(the color is foggy meadow) **Q: Size!** *(in Photo Questions)* What are the dimensions of the cork board? The pencils appear to fit perfectly width wise. Thanks! A: One other thing, we laid them out so that the pencil caps (or eraser end) and point end alternated. So for example - every other row we alternated starting with the caps or the points. Once we started, we realized there would be other ways to lay them out too, so it might be fun to play with the layout. Good luck!! **Q: How would this look as a main entry door to a tiny 1/2 bath?** *(in Photo Questions)* The problem is that the door when you open it, hits the toilet. However, it is the guest bathroom as well. Thank you in advance for any answers. A: Looks great! Thanks for following up! **Q: I love this idea! What type of material/adhesive would you reccomend using to keep the pencils in place?** *(in Photo Questions)* I also would like to know what type of materiaal would you reccomend using to create a soft enough backing to possibly pin small items on this board? A: This was kind of a quick project I did with my daughter so we just used a regular bulletin board from the craft store and simply used a hot glue gun to fasten the pencils - it has been two years and is still perfectly in tact. There is space near the pencil points to use a longer pin to fasten things to it, you can also stick pins into or between the soft pencils. I thought we would use it as a bulletin board, but I love the texture and look of the pencils as is, so we use it as a piece of art and are collecting more pencils to make another! We used pencils in all conditions, from new to stubby and chewed up, sharp to broken and faced any print on the pencils out so you could read them (from "good job" to insurance companies, fire safety and politicians) - it really tells a fun story! Thanks for your question and let me know if you have any others - good luck! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-09.*