---
title: "Ember & Brune — Design-Build Firms | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/ember-and-brune-pfvwus-pf~1579182836
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1579182836.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "Ember & Brune"
category: ["Design-Build Firms"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/9cd302f607b5445b_6191-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "526 Crescent Blvd, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137, United States"
latitude: 41.8661
longitude: -88.0648
phone: "(630) 503-6306"
website: http://emberbrune.com
rating: 5
review_count: 16
best_of_houzz_awards: 5
followers: 45
last_updated: 2026-09-04
---

# Ember & Brune

Original Houzz profile: [Ember & Brune](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/ember-and-brune-pfvwus-pf~1579182836)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Design-Build Firms
- **Location:** Glen Ellyn, IL
- **Serves:** Naperville, Elgin, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Wheaton, Downers Grove, Buffalo Grove, Crystal Lake, Saint Charles, Highland Park, Glen Ellyn, Geneva, Lake Zurich, Hinsdale, Barrington, Clarendon Hills, Long Grove, West Dundee, Inverness, Lake Barrington, South Barrington, Barrington Hills, Kildeer, Deer Park
- **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (16 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2018–2026), for Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Recommended on Houzz
- 10,000 Ideabook Saves
- Award winning
- High-end
- Offers Custom Work

We are Ember & Brune, a Design/Build firm. We go beyond design, managing your project from start to finish. As your sole contact for architectural drawings, coordinating construction with our approved contractors, furnishing the finished space and everything in between, you’ll look to us every step of the way. It's a streamlined process that eliminates communication issues and emphasizes a cohesive team all working for you! 

Homes are not one size fits all and neither is Ember & Brune. We take the time to understand your lifestyle, daily routines and family’s needs before putting our own spin on the design. Simply put, Ember & Brune creates spaces you want to live in.

### Services Provided

- Home Remodeling
- Custom Homes
- New Home Construction
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Home Additions
- Bathroom Remodeling
- Kitchen Design
- Home Extensions
- Bathroom Design
- Building Design
- Guesthouse Design & Construction
- Basement Remodeling
- Outdoor Kitchen Construction
- Home Restoration
- Floor Plans
- Energy-Efficient Homes
- Basement Design
- Universal Design
- Outdoor Kitchen Design
- Custom Home Bars
- Laundry Room Design
- Green Building
- Sunroom Design & Construction
- Attic Conversion
- Space Planning
- Home Gym Design & Construction
- Historic Building Conservation
- Home Theater Design
- Custom Cabinets
- Interior Design
- Remodeling

### Areas Served

- Naperville
- Elgin
- Schaumburg
- Arlington Heights
- Palatine
- Wheaton
- Downers Grove
- Buffalo Grove
- Crystal Lake
- Saint Charles
- Highland Park
- Glen Ellyn
- Geneva
- Lake Zurich
- Hinsdale
- Barrington
- Clarendon Hills
- Long Grove
- West Dundee
- Inverness
- Lake Barrington
- South Barrington
- Barrington Hills
- Kildeer
- Deer Park

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | Ember & Brune |
| Address | 526 Crescent Blvd, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137, United States |
| Phone | (630) 503-6306 |
| Website | http://emberbrune.com |
| Followers on Houzz | 45 |

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [Ember & Brune](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/ember-and-brune-pfvwus-pf~1579182836)
- **Website:** http://emberbrune.com
- **Phone:** (630) 503-6306

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- CKD, Certified Kitchen Designer with NKBA  - 7 Design Visions awards from NKBA Chicago Chapter

- **Best of Houzz:** 5 awards (2018–2026), for Service.

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 16 reviews**

*Aspect averages:*
- Work Quality: 50.0
- Communication: 50.0
- Value: 50.0

### Reviews

**★★★★★ — Lisa & Dean, May 2025**

> Ember & Brune worked with us to redo two dated bathrooms, replace the original staircase and renovate the upstairs of our 19th century home. We were in the middle of interviewing prospective companies when we met Brandie and Jessica, and we knew they were the team we wanted to work with - we could intuit that they were genuinely kind people we could trust and they were intently focused on understanding our desires, which were neither particularly coherent nor trendy. It didn't hurt, of course, that they also had a stellar reputation. Throughout our project, they earned the trust we placed in them, guiding us in their easygoing way with creative ideas, options, and solutions to challenges; they were exceptionally well organized, transparent, very easy to communicate with and, critically, chose professional craftspeople who shared their commitment to quality and customer service, and adeptly dealt with the idiosyncrasies of an old home. Other than final design decisions, they truly do take care of everything which made the process far more efficient and less stressful than our prior renovation experiences. Most importantly, we love how they transformed our space for us while managing to retain its vintage aura. We highly recommend this talented team.

**★★★★★ — User, Dec. 2022**

> Brandie and the team at Ember & Brune just completed a remodel of our primary bathroom and we could not be more pleased with the result! We loved how their team took the time to tailor every detail to our tastes and how we want the room to function.  They’ve truly created a beautiful and functional oasis for us and we're exited for them to start on our kitchen next!

**★★★★★ — Binita Donohue, Oct. 2022**

> From the moment Brandie McCoy came to my house for an initial consultation I knew I could trust her. She exhibits professionalism, strong industry knowledge, exceptional standards and a focus on customer service.  She designed and managed a bathroom remodel for me.  I am 100% pleased. Brandie knows how to understand what her customer wants and translates that into high quality design.  I did not know exactly what kind of design I wanted but by asking a few questions, Brandie was able to translate my thoughts into a beautiful design.  She worked to fit within my budget without sacrificing quality.  She explained every part of the process along the way and is meticulous about client satisfaction. When I asked about shifting something in the design, she enthusiastically looked to problem solve until I was happy.   Her entire team is knowledgable, kind, communicative and goes the extra mile.  They noticed things that I did not see, even when they pointed them out to me.  Brandie I cannot wait to work with her again.

**★★★★★ — kah4, Feb. 2022**

> Ember & Brune was hired for our new build in Wisconsin, specifically working through design for kitchen, master bath, great room, sunroom, and powder room. This is my second time working with Brandie, and my first time with Ember and Brune. Brandie and her team are true professionals. That sounds cliche, however once you work with them, you will totally understand.
>
> As a team, they bring great options to the table for consideration. The meetings that I have had at their studio have NEVER been a waste of time, but always a fabulous review of design options, colors and styles that fit our needs. They listen to what you are comfortable with, and then they create design that works for you, and always with options so that they never disappoint!  We could not be happier with Ember & Brune, and seriously would not work with anyone else!!  Pictures available after completion of the project.

**★★★★★ — marion1982, Nov. 2020**

> I’ve been following Ember & Brune through Instagram for a few years. I love the way their finishes bring warmth to modern designs.  If you scroll back on their feed you’ll see the designs and colors are still relevant and gorgeous.  I initially hesitated to reach out because I’ve never used a service like this before and I wasn’t sure we’d have the budget for it.  I sent them a very rough sketch of my deck and set up a time to meet with Brandie.
>
> During our zoom meeting Brandie went over options at different price points.  I was amazed at how affordable it was!  I never dreamed a space like the ones I’d seen on Instagram were within my budget!  Brandie went over things I had never even considered, like options for entertaining and traffic flow.  Her professionalism and attention to detail are on another level.
>
> My space was probably a tiny project for Ember & Brune and yet they treated me as though I was a top priority.  Because of COVID we experienced some shipping delays.  Thanks to excellent communication, we knew where things were the entire time.  When our furniture did arrive it was far above our expectations.
>
> We have eaten every meal we can outside, weather permitting.  We have enjoyed our new space more than I could have ever imagined. Ember and Brune will make the most out of your space functionally and aesthetically!!

**Comment from Ember & Brune:**

> Marion, Thank you for the kind words! We enjoyed working with you and look forward to the next project!

**★★★★★ — J K, July 2020**

> Brandie is very easy to work with, and has excellent design and project management skills. Highly recommend Brandie and her team!

**★★★★★ — Properties Scape, July 2020**

> I'm glad we had the opportunity to work together and am looking forward to the next time. Your expertise in design and project management is impressive. Thank you Brandie.

**★★★★★ — Thomas Bucina, July 2020**

> Awesome team to work with! Appreciate their keen design sence and professional work ethic. We have fabricated concrete for them on several projects over the last few years. Great designers to know!

**★★★★★ — november Pandolfi, Dec. 2019**

> We love our space, it is a dream come true. We are working out a couple of finishing touches. Brandie is committed to getting it right.

**★★★★★ — Jennifer Larrison, July 2019**

> Wow!  We used Ember & Brune for our master bath remodel.  From our initial meeting to the finished product, the team at Ember & Brune was professional, courteous and creative!  It was very important that we work with people who would listen to our personal ideas, be considerate of our budget and use professionals that were timely and good.  We found all of that with Ember & Brune!

**★★★★★ — Lisa McIntyre, Feb. 2018**

> We hired Ember and Brune to design and build our dream kitchen and make over our family room fireplace and seating area.  We've gotten raves over the space, which now opens up to the dining room, fixture and finish selection (custom floor stain until we could get it right!), and quality of the workmanship.  They are extremely detail oriented and we couldn't be more pleased with the functionality and beauty of our new spaces!

**★★★★★ — Charlotte W, Jan. 2018**

> We worked with Brandie on our kitchen, mud room and basement remodel. We are absolutely thrilled with the end result! Brandie was able to give us exactly what we'd dreamed up while still staying on budget with minimal stress. The contractor they worked with was extremely professional and did a wonderful job. Brandie understood our vision from the beginning and helped us make it a reality along the way. We especially appreciated her responsiveness and understanding whenever an issue came up (which wasn't often!) and her problem solving skills.
>
> She was able to take a project with a thousand small decisions and break it down for us based on our style to achieve the perfect end result. Each room is really a dream come true for us.
>
> Brandie was our lead designer but we worked with Carrie, too, and she was great! Highly recommend Ember & Brune.

## Selected projects

- [\#TudorintheGlen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tudorintheglen-pj-vj~7210012)
  - Location: Glen Ellyn, IL
  - Photos: 26
- [\#CacheKitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cachekitchen-pj-vj~7123691)
  - Location: Glen Ellyn, IL
  - Photos: 9
- [\#IndigoAbode](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/indigoabode-pj-vj~7210004)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 16
- [\#ForestEstate](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/forestestate-pj-vj~7123564)
  - Location: Rolling Meadows, IL
  - Photos: 13
- [\#RelocationRenovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/relocationrenovation-pj-vj~7053401)
  - Location: Glen Ellyn, IL
  - Photos: 5
- [\#ModernCottage](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/moderncottage-pj-vj~6593899)
  - Location: Elmhurst, IL
  - Photos: 30
  - Description: What a charmer this house is. From the moment we first set eyes on it with our clients and their Realtor, we knew it could be transformed into a dream home for this family. After seeing our 3D renderings, our clients agreed and purchased the home. We added a 2-story addition with basement onto the back of the home and completely renovated the existing space. Throughout the process, integrating the original historical details into the new space was priority. Our goal is always to transition seaml…
- [\#TheRambler](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/therambler-pj-vj~5641340)
  - Location: Chicago, IL
  - Photos: 13
  - Description: What started solely as a master bath project soon spiraled into working with the homeowners to redefine and remodel most of this split level home. A quintessential mid-century ranch, opening things up in the kitchen not only helped with the flow of things, but you get a wonderful view of each room when you walk in the front door.
- [\#ArtdeVivre](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/artdevivre-pj-vj~6535890)
  - Location: Glen Ellyn, IL
  - Photos: 15
  - Description: This project is here to show us all how amazing a galley kitchen can be. Art de Vivre translates to "the art of living", the knowledge of how to enjoy life. If their choice of materials is any indication, these clients really do know how to enjoy life! This kitchen has a very "classic vintage" feel, from warm wood countertops and brass latches to the beautiful blooming wallpaper and blue cabinetry in the butler pantry. If you have a project and are interested in talking with us about it, please…
- [\#HomeBase](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/homebase-pj-vj~3963949)
  - Location: Wheaton, IL
  - Photos: 7
  - Description: Our challenge at \#HomeBase was to improve the layout and flow of the basement and embrace the homeowner's interests to create a stylish and functional space for all ages. We pulled accent colors from the artwork, but overall kept the furnishings neutral and let the texture do the talking. The fireplace was rebuilt with stacked stone and a beautiful wood mantle. A big part of the remodel was the reorganization. The stairway was opened up and the bathroom was relocated and rebuilt for easier acces…
- [\#CommandCenter](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/commandcenter-pj-vj~2485312)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 11
  - Description: Command Center has all the style and functionality you would want in an office and laundry room, working in perfect harmony within one space.
- [\#ClearView](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/clearview-pj-vj~3964043)
  - Location: Naperville, IL
  - Photos: 9
  - Description: The warm mix of materials is what makes \#ClearView so stunning. From warm wood cabinets to textured marble countertops, all pieces are working in harmony here. We love how this whole space immediately announces a sense of style, while still maintaining a relatability making anyone feel welcome.
- [\#BerylGlen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/berylglen-pj-vj~5641433)
  - Location: Glen Ellyn, IL
  - Photos: 8
  - Description: Their kitchen needed an update: walls had to come down, storage added, increased functionality, etc. When choosing cabinetry, they were happy to entertain the idea of a bright color. We ended up choosing Greenfield Cabinetry’s color matching cabinetry in Benjamin Moore’s Bavarian Forest. This kitchen is such a stunning focal point within the open floor plan, acting as a gateway between breakfast nook, dining room and living room.
- [\#BrickandGable](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/brickandgable-pj-vj~5502537)
  - Location: Arlington Heights, IL
  - Photos: 9
  - Description: \#BrickandGable has a truly well-balanced design. It has all the charm this historic house started with, but with some clever space planning, we were able to eliminate the challenges. It has modern moments, but when you add up all the classic details, settles into a more timeless narrative. The kitchen received the biggest makeover. Space was added with the elimination of a stairway and pantry. A new back entrance was incorporated with large sliding doors and an exterior stairway. The arched wall…
- [\#SmithBarrow](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/smithbarrow-pj-vj~2631414)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 10
  - Description: A complete gut renovation of a historic home.
- [\#PennyPark](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pennypark-pj-vj~6535359)
  - Location: Park Ridge, IL
  - Photos: 9
  - Description: \#PennyPark proves that you can pack a lot of style in a small space! We put a slightly modern twist on a 1930's classic with this master bath remodel. Period style hex and dot tile floor were traded for a large format hexagon. Traditional brass finishes were kept but in a sleeker plumbing style. And a juxtaposition of Carrara marble and warm afrormosia wood is a marriage made in heaven. If you have a project and are interested in talking with us about it, please give us a call or fill out our co…
- [\#HavenOnTheHarbor](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/havenontheharbor-pj-vj~2884483)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 6
- [\#TrestleWilliams](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/trestlewilliams-pj-vj~3962674)
  - Location: Glen Ellyn, IL
  - Photos: 8
  - Description: Brilliant in blue, \#TrestleWilliams is pure magic! It has that Parisian glamour meets classic refinement vibe. And one of those open layouts that make cooking, serving, socializing and just basic everyday life easier. The basic layout didn't change (click here to see how it started) but the addition of floating shelves, hidden storage and reconfiguring the new cabinets and appliances open up the space in a big way, not to mention add a healthy dose of style!

[See all 17 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/ember-and-brune-pfvwus-pf~1579182836)

## Ideabooks

- [Custom Details](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/79592231/list/custom-details) — 6 ideas
- [Door jamb color](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/77825866/list/door-jamb-color) — 6 ideas
- [Rose Gold](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75865103/list/rose-gold) — 8 ideas

[See all 3 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/info4917)

## Community Q&A

**Q: blue cabinet color** *(in Photo Questions)*

Hi! What color are the cabinets painted?

A: Thanks for your inquiry and glad you feel inspired! As a custom design-build firm, we provide tailored, proprietary solutions to our clients that can’t be made public. If you have a project and are interested in talking with us about it, please fill out our contact form at http://www.emberbrune.com/contact-us. Thank you!

**Q: love this space!** *(in Photo Questions)*

Can you share the source of the carpet? Thank you!

A: Thank you! Unfortunately I do not have the rug info in our files.

**Q: Can you please let me know where the number decal stickers came from?** *(in Photo Questions)*

Thank you!

A: They were custom painted, not decals.

**Q: Beautiful work!** *(in Photo Questions)*

Could you please advise the paint color?

A: We do not have that on file, sorry.

**Q: Size of the island** *(in Photo Questions)*

What are the dimensions of the island?

A: 135" x 43" not including the short cabinet at the end.

**Q: Locker System** *(in Photo Questions)*

What is the paint color used on the lockers?

A: Peridot Sparkle, Dutch Boy

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-04.*