--- title: "NYC Design / Build — Design-Build Firms | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/nyc-design-build-pfvwus-pf~816820579 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~816820579.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "NYC Design / Build" category: ["Design-Build Firms"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/f133b6ce0a921f73_4360-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "40 wall st 28th floor suite 2750, New York, New York 10005, United States" latitude: 40.7056 longitude: -74.0083 phone: "(973) 604-0096" website: https://nycdb.nyc rating: 5 review_count: 55 years_in_business: 10 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 107 last_updated: 2026-09-04 --- # NYC Design / Build > New York's First-Choice for Home Remodeling Professionals Original Houzz profile: [NYC Design / Build](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/nyc-design-build-pfvwus-pf~816820579) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Design-Build Firms - **Location:** New York, NY - **Serves:** New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Long Island City, Far Rockaway, Astoria, Borough of Bronx, Los Angeles, Orange County California - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (55 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2020–2025), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Pro Software User - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - References available - 10 years in business - Hired on Houzz ### Business highlights - Best of Houzz winner - 10 years in business - References available - 1 Hire on Houzz What comes with every NYC Design / Build project ? Experience. Our leadership team is comprised of individuals with anywhere from a decade and a half to multiple decades of NYC specific construction and design credentials. We have performed several hundred renovations individually , and well over a thousand collectively. This means that we’ve seen just about every rodeo in town , and have collaborated with an absurdly broad spectrum of architects , expeditors , designers , engineers , tradespeople and technicians of every stripe. This level of industry and geographically specific depth and breadth allows us to navigate the “challenging” nature of building in this great city. Knowledge. We simply could not carry out the volume of quality work that our team has completed through the years without maintaining a tenacious curiosity about the industry we work in. While we keep our boots dirty by necessity, we are also seen as leaders and mentors in our field. This is why internationally based architects looking to execute projects in NYC and television shows with celebrity designers based outside of NYC , have solicited our expertise to put projects together within the five boroughs. Transparency. At NYC Design / Build we believe that obscurantism is icky. So we don’t engage in it. Abiding by the baseline expectations of NY laws regarding renovation and construction practices simply does not ensure that clients and homeowners will be dealt with in an equitable and dignified way. To that end , we believe in detailed scopes of work , maintaining and sharing meaningful and accurate production notes , sharing of trade discounts and pass through pricing on finished materials. Commitment. Our leadership team is comprised of native New Yorkers and New Yorkers by choice. While some of us were born and raised here , others chose this great city to build their lives , raise their kids , and after many decades , simply cannot imagine calling any other place on earth : “home.” With that comes a level of investment in our craft which parallels our desire to carry on working in this great city. Cut corners , rack up violations , agitate building management companies , disrespect the DoB , fall out with local vendors , suppliers and fabricators , and see how long you last in this town! We’re here for the long haul , and we design and build accordingly. ### Services Provided - Home Remodeling - Custom Homes - New Home Construction - Kitchen Remodeling - Home Additions - Bathroom Remodeling - Kitchen Design - Home Extensions - Bathroom Design - Architectural Design - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Building Design - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Basement Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Multigenerational Homes - House Plans - Project Management - Home Restoration - Floor Plans - Energy-Efficient Homes - Basement Design - Universal Design - Laundry Room Design - Green Building - Sustainable Design - Attic Conversion - Space Planning - Historic Building Conservation - Handicap-Accessible Design - Drafting - Garage Design - Home Theater Design - Structural Engineering - Rooftop Deck Installation - Bedroom Design - Closet Design - Custom Bathroom Vanities - Custom Built-ins - Custom Cabinet Doors - Custom Cabinets - Custom Countertops - Custom Kitchen Cabinets - Custom Walk-in Closets - Dining Room Design - Entry Design - Feng Shui Design - Home Office Design - Interior Design - Pantry Design ### Areas Served - New York City - Brooklyn - Queens - Manhattan - Long Island City - Far Rockaway - Astoria - Borough of Bronx - Los Angeles - Orange County California ### Typical Job Cost $60,000 - 5 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | NYC Design / Build | | Address | 40 wall st 28th floor suite 2750, New York, New York 10005, United States | | Phone | (973) 604-0096 | | Website | https://nycdb.nyc | | License Number | 2119200 | | Years in business | 10 | | Followers on Houzz | 107 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/nycdb ## Offers Discounts Offered For Remodeling _Mention Houzz!_ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [NYC Design / Build](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/nyc-design-build-pfvwus-pf~816820579) - **Website:** https://nycdb.nyc - **Phone:** (973) 604-0096 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2020–2025), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 55 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Featured Review **★★★★★ — AMEER M, Feb. 2024** > I had my bathroom and kitchen renovation done .Zak and Mustafa NYC DESIGN BUILD excellent team work.Highly recommended.Thank you Houzz for providing such a great platform. ### All 55 reviews **★★★★★ — Anthony, June 2026** > We had a great experience with Mustafa and his team! They went above and beyond - even as requirements changed, they were very flexible and capable of managing everything. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a well priced condo renovation from an experienced team. **★★★★★ — Chris H, July 2021** > I had VBDB renovate my living room, dining room, kitchen, and a powder room in the past few months and they did a phenomenal job! > > The main project manager from VBDB, Michele, is a gem. She went above and beyond the stars to make the renovations seamless for me and my family! In fact, I barely had to think about the renovations in those few months because she was so professional and had everything under control despite how difficult the project was. > > There are 3 instances that truly showcased how amazing Michele was. > > Towards the end of the renovations, we had a main clog on a Friday afternoon. Michele wasn't on site, but she went out of her way to make her way over to help assess the clog and sewage flooding. We reached out to a plumber and they fixed the clog. There was sewage in our backyard and Michele was so kind enough to help clean it all up and bleach the yard. This was something she didn't have to do, but she did so out of the kindness of her heart! > > As I still had some renovations remaining upstairs, I needed to cover the new kitchen and furniture that we purchased. Michele kindly helped cover all of the furniture with drop cloths and she also laid put ram board to protect the floors. > > Lastly, we had issues with the new fridge. Michele took the extra step and coordinated with maintenance people to help us with the fridge. > > My family and I are extremely thankful and blessed to have met Michele and we are sure she will continue to do great and amazing renovations in the years to come!! **★★★★★ — Sofia, Feb. 2021** > Going to count myself among the happy customers on Houzz. We had a few hiccups restoring > an older building due to plumbing and electrical not being up to code, which ended up being a > hard expense. Still, VBDB was straight up with me and went at-cost with no markup on the > work, and even brought in some other tradespeople to give alternate bids. Can’t complain > about the transparency they used here, and I appreciate they kept it all above the table. > > We ran into another few hiccups with the problems we've all experienced in the world, and here again they were stellar and beyond comparison. Now a month out from finishing, I can sit back and marvel at the work that got done. You can’t go wrong with Zak and the gang! **★★★★★ — HU-725635374, Feb. 2021** > I definitely needed some hand holding with our project. This was my first time hiring a firm for anything like this to fix up a place I’d had for the better part of 10 years. Everything was a bit outdated, as it was when I bought it, and the time was finally ready to bring it back to life. For my experience, I can speak to the fact that I felt tremendously at ease not only with the work being done, the options I was being given, but also with the fairness and thoroughness of the pricing, the level of design, and definitely the safety protocols taken with the coronavirus > > experience. > > > Really caring, thoughtful and fun group of people who love what they do. Can't speak highly enough for their work! **★★★★★ — Victoria, Jan. 2021** > Ceiling to studs gut renovation in Queens. We had VBDB turn our 4 bedroom into a two bedroom with an office and larger living room area. Also put in a completely new bathroom and retiled and redid the existing one. Very remarkable to watch the transforming of such an old and outdated space into something so beautiful and new. > > Will be bringing them back in for a kitchen renovation in the future! **★★★★★ — Hannah Jacob, Jan. 2021** > Working with VBDB was an incredible experience and I want to especially thank Alex, my project manager, and Farah, my designer, for taking their time to make sure my first renovation project was a smashing success. Thanks as well to Seth, Tommy and Zak for setting me up for a great crew and telling me what could be expected before production began. Our brownstone has never looked better. **★★★★★ — Ted Kubach, Jan. 2021** > VBDB is a great collection of people and talents. Abby, our designer, guided us through an exciting but easy process of selecting materials for our kitchen and bath renovation. No stress! No worries! Great services at a great price! **★★★★★ — Miguel S, Oct. 2019** > Simply stunning! Couldn’t applaud the group at VBDB more for their communication and work. They took a condo I bought in estate condition and transformed it into a paradise on earth! No joke, just great people with dedication to their craft. Everything solid all around – the price, the payment schedule, the transparency, exactly the kind of crew you dream of when undertaking a > project of such a magnitude. What’re you waiting for, give them a call! **★★★★★ — Erica O, Oct. 2019** > Only brought in these guys for a kitchen and bath remodel. My budget was firm, as we’re looking to do future work on our two bedrooms and possibly our foyer, but wanted to switch out the current appliances and aim for a more tasteful vibe. What I really appreciated was the level of service I got and the quality of the material selections our designer Mohsen gave us. The new flooring in the kitchen was a beautiful improvement on our passe vinyl, and the new island in the kitchen gave us more space than we could’ve dreamed of. Tremendous people at VBDB and some of the best encounters I’ve yet had in service. More than happy to use again for our upcoming work and would recommend without hesitation. **★★★★★ — Vadim K, Oct. 2019** > Wonderful experience hiring VBDB for a 1 bedroom renovation I recently completed. Replaced all fixtures with their designers selections to update and give a more modern feeling. Totally new kitchen and a remodel of the existing bathroom, converting tub/shower to a nice all tiled, glass enclosed shower. Apartment had a very bedroom with larger living room that had more space than I need as only tenant. VBDB broke out the wall to expand my bedroom space and reshape living room, connecting this to the kitchen for a open layout. All and all, price and timing were best from my research into various firms for this project, and I went with them for completion. Very happy with results. **★★★★★ — Joelle S, Oct. 2019** > Needed a lot of work done on my brownstone and found VBDB through a few different searches. Mostly I was trying to base my decision on a few factors like design style and reviews from prior clients. It’s a lot to get into with inviting someone into your home and as a first time owner and first time renovator, I wanted to ensure that I wasn’t setting myself for getting screwed over or sandbagged with bad pricing. After a productive, warm conversation with Zak, I had asked for client references from some of their past jobs and was given a list of people I could contact to ask for reference. Without fail everyone I spoke to had glowing things to say and assured me that I was in good hands. I’m happy to add myself to the list of people who can be given as contact for satisfied clients, because VBDB is the real deal. No hassle, no hidden horrors, just good people who excel at what they do. Highly recommended! **★★★★★ — Conrad R, Oct. 2019** > I’ll add to the round of applause you can see for these guys here and I’ll do it with total enthusiasm. My wife and I hired VBDB to come in and gut renovate our newly purchased home in Red Hook. Essentially everything but the floors were being replaced here, so we were looking at updating the slightly out-of-date design with something a little more modern and sleek. Principally, we wanted totally new layouts for our upper 2 floors, including new baths, bigger bedrooms, an open concept kitchen and a basement that could double as a rec room area. With the last item, this was the most concern, as we’d been experiencing foundation leaks and were nervous about trying to make anything remotely habitable down there – our previous owner had used the space mostly for storage of brick stacks and concrete blocks, but we had a bigger vision. Our designer came up with a knockout layout for the new home and helped give us appliance selections that had the aesthetic we were looking for without breaking the bank **★★★★★ — Kelly W, Oct. 2019** > Everything you need in one place! VBDB has an in house staff of tradespeople, designers, architects and makes the renovation process as easy as pie. My experience was limited to a bathroom redesign in our co-op, but I was referred to them by a friend of mine who had undergone a full scale remodel of their Park Slope home. I would heartily second my friend’s endorsement and just say that the people at VBDB are great, dedicated professionals whom you can trust with your renovation process! **★★★★★ — Doris A, Sept. 2019** > Had a little bit of a different renovation here and wasn’t sure where to turn. Essentially, I wanted to expand the master bathroom, redo the flooring in my kitchen with tile and create custom millwork for PTAC covers as well as custom millwork for floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lining the living room, foyer and hallways. I’d had a friend draw up some plans to make these congruent with the walls so that everything was smooth, functional but discreet. I decided to go with VBDB after seeing some portfolio photos and being impressed with their millwork (which was here, to me, the top priority of the project). > > What did I appreciate the most during the process before signing? So many things. > > Clear Communication – Nearly every question or concern I had leading up to receiving a contract, and even as I received a contract to sign, was answered promptly, helpfully, and thoroughly! > > Clear Pricing – I had asked for a line-itemized, point-by-point price breakdown that included not only our base contract amount, but also all contingency items listed that might be unforeseen as a result of beginning construction…this was an idea of my lawyer, and I’m sure it was a tremendous pain for them to work to include everything, but they knocked this one out of the ballpark here. > > Great Personalities – It’s always great to work with talented people and to know you’re in good hands, but it’s even better when those talented professionals are funny, warm people. My renovation came out impeccably, beautifully. It was a treat and a pleasure to work with Zak and the great team he’s assembled over his years in the business, and I’d recommend them to anyone looking for amazing work at a reasonable price! **★★★★★ — Ahmad A, Sept. 2019** > Real good experience with the people of VBDB. I hired them to redo and fix up basement of a property I own in Ridgewood. I am traveling most days of the week for work so am not in the area of the work site while renovations are being done. Very thankful for the work of the project manager Brandon. Everyday I get email updates with daily work done and photos of progress. Price was very fair and results were very good. Have no complaints with my experience here and would encourage the use of their services. **★★★★★ — Samantha N, Sept. 2019** > Just wrapped up our 2 bedroom and kitchen project with VBDB and couldn’t be happier with the results. I found VBDB via Google and sent them some plans and drawings I’d made up for > remodeling a recently purchased home. I needed a firm that could put my vision into reality but could also help out with the practical aspects of not only building, but also in selecting appliances and finish materials to replace our exiting set up through. Great suggestions and selections from the design team and amazing work on the part of the crew. Highly recommend! **★★★★★ — Enrique Cortazar, July 2019** > Just hired VBDB to redo our kitchen and living room from the ground-up. Wasn’t too sure what > direction I wanted to go in so it was great getting to talk with Margo and the designers about > my options. Based on my budget area, they came up with a few directions we could go in with > different designs and appliances based on each of these. To conserve space and help with > organization, they even came up with some ideas for building a custom entertainment cabinet > for the television and AV set up, even hiding all the wires to make it look very tasteful. The > cabinets and storage they came up with for the kitchen area and new appliance selections were > a blessing as well. Really didn’t expect to get so much bang for my dollar, but VBDB went above > and beyond what I could have imagined. Really amazing work. Recommended without > hesitation. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey Enrique! > > Thanks for giving us nothing but the best experience during the work for your home. We pride ourselves on going far above and far beyond and can't thank you enough for sharing your experience with us here. I hope the Yankees games look as great in the new entertainment center as you hoped! > > Margo **★★★★★ — Chance Duffet, July 2019** > Really didn’t know what to expect when preparing to bring someone in for a reno of our condo. > Neither my wife or I have ever had a home renovation performed in the past. We looked > around with a couple different firms in the city but had a terrific meeting with Margo and Frank. > After getting a respectable quote and a lot of ideas we brought them in to redo our kitchen and > bathrooms. It was great having people know what we needed to do on a bureaucratic level – > the paperwork, filings, dealing with the building itself and all of its standards and precautions. > We’re out of town a lot of the time for work, and VBDB helped us immeasurably with getting > everything filed and ready on that end. I can say the construction process went by painlessly. > Everybody on the job was pleasant and easy to deal with, and our site was always left clean. > There were no complaints from our building or our neighbors either (a big, big plus). I don’t > think my wife or I could’ve imagined better results, better people, or a better home. The best > of the best! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Chance, > > Can't thank you enough for the kind, remarkable words for our work. We're always on board and ready to go with taking on the less than fun bureaucratic side of things, and lord knows it's not something most people want to deal with. But luckily, that's our bread and butter! More than happy to have come in and knocked it out of the park for you and Jamie. Thanks again for giving us such a stellar review! > > Brandon **★★★★★ — Liane Albright, July 2019** > If there’s a word I can use to describe VBDB and the work they did on my home, it would be, in short, “mesmerizing.” VBDB turned a so-so 2 bedroom condo in Ridgewood into a captivating, > stylish 1 bedroom palace that feels like a totally new world. I’m not sure I could have envisioned a better end result, but Zak and his gang are so talented and dedicated that you can count on them to exceed all expectations. I’ve had friends who did similar renovations on their own homes, and once they come over and see the job VBDB did, you can see the remorse on their faces that they hadn’t used them. > > Simply exceptional work. Brilliant designs. I give VBDB my highest recommendations! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Liane, > > So good to hear from you again! Immense gratitude and thanks on our end for not only allowing us in your home to swing a few hammers, but also showing us the best places to eat in Ridgewood. Pleased beyond words that you loved our work and hope to hear from you again soon. > > Brandon **★★★★★ — Bethany Selda, June 2019** > Great experience with VBDB. Brought them into my home for a kitchen renovation and > replacing all my appliances, putting in new tiles for flooring as well. I found their pricing fair > and better than the other prices I received from similar firms. I can say easily that they have > wonderful people who do fantastic work, and are a real treat to deal with. > > Would recommend to anyone looking to spruce up their home. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey Bethany > > Thank you so kindly for leaving us your remarks here. We always aim to please, and as the Axe Thrower's Union likes to say, "we hope you aim too, please." It was great getting the chance to work together, and we'd love to be kept in mind for any future projects you may have. > > Brandon **★★★★★ — Lindsay Hawkins, June 2019** > If you’re looking for your dream home, go no further than VBDB. We just concluded a 6 month > renovation with VBDB, where we changed the entire layout of our home, did major demo on > each floor and replaced everything we had. Kitchen, living room, bathrooms, bedrooms, it all > had to go for a fresh start, and boy are we ever glad it all did. > > Zak, Frank and Mustafa were incredible to deal with, and Margo has an eye that will match your > wallet. Clear communication, easy going process, just solid people all around. Can’t say > enough about their ability to tackle a project of this size on time and on budget, delivering a > vision of excellence, bringing in the best of the best, from their millworkers, designers, foreman > and on-down. Remarkable work and incredible people! > > You guys gave us such a beautiful new home, we won’t need to see you any time soon, but > we’re spreading the word to everyone we know! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Lindsay! Great to hear from you again. > > We spent so much time running the project and getting everything lined up it was like being together with friends, although none of us ever went so far as to crank out the potato salad. It's always great to have satisfied clients, but especially on long term projects like this, it's nothing short of a blessing. Thanks for hitting us up here and sharing your enthusiasm with the Houzz crowds - it is very much appreciated. > > Zak **★★★★★ — Theresa Wilkins, June 2019** > Above and beyond the call of the duty, VBDB took great lengths to ensure every aspect of our project together was made transparent and outlined with exceptional clarity. From the moment I spoke with Frank on the phone, to our walkthrough with Mustafa and Margo, I felt I was in great, capable hands with this firm. I had hired them to totally alter the layout of my loft, but to integrate the open space with the kitchen and living areas in a way that would really create a feeling of breathable space. My building had a lot of stipulations and my neighbors are very particular about noise levels, but despite the intense nature of our work we received no > complaints, our project was completed on time and on budget, and the loft is a true thing of > beauty. This firm is fabulous with communication, fair with pricing, and tremendous in the product they deliver. Will never seek another contractor for any work I or any people I know may need in the future. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Theresa - > > Best wishes out to you guys for letting us come in and knock it out of the park. It was a sincere pleasure working on this project, and we appreciate both your enthusiasm and satisfaction with our work. > > Frank **★★★★★ — David Stipe, June 2019** > I was lucky enough to have had my first renovating experience be with VBDB. Obviously, > there’s a lot of pressure and stress when you bring in contractors to your home, and you want > to know you’re opening your door to the right group of people. Zak and the Gang put the wow > on me from the outset, and were attentive to every question I had before we began. Anything > on the contract, the work scope, anything you could think to ask before we signed, before we > began construction, they were quick and on-top of. That’s the kind of service that instills > confidence and trust, so we felt good going forward without hesitation > > After a grueling work period, our 2-family brownstone has been converted into one big, > beautiful home for our family. We even have a basement area that was modified, renovated > and installed with an efficiency stove, fridge and bathroom with shower for guests or occasional > Air BnB’ers! > > Five Star Service and Five Star Work All Around! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey there David, > > Zak here. We know those Air BnB'ers will be loving your home once they stumble into it, and we wanted to send you props for putting out the good word about our work. Always happy to offer our service and give people the experience they need when dealing with something as stressful as home renovation, and double-thanks for making it all a breeze for us. > > Best! **★★★★★ — Rory Gibbons, June 2019** > Huge, huge undertaking, and VBDB was totally up for the challenge! > > We have a brownstone in Brooklyn and I have always envisioned putting in a spiral staircase > and rearranging the access points to the upper floors. In addition to this, I wanted to put down > all new hardwood flooring and get rid of the cherry flooring we have had, which has > accumulated a lot of sun damage and wear over the years. The other stipulation was us > needing to live on-site for the duration of the construction, as this is our only residence, and > paying for a secondary apartment or renting a hotel room was just NOT feasible (3 children, 2 > dogs, my husband and I – you can do the math there). > > Obviously, things were going to be a little hectic, and unexpected problems came up owing to > the structural condition of our building. VBDB handled these like top-shelf experts, and found > quick, non-invasive solutions to remedy this. Even though we had a full-house, with the > workers on site, the equipment, large portions of the house sectioned off with plastic > protection, we got comfortable with the crew we had every day, getting to know our foreman, > and having coffee and talking about the development of the renovation with our project > manager as it progressed. > > It may have taken a few months, but the spiral staircase they put in was gorgeous, and the > transition from where our regular staircase had been, matched with the new hardwood flooring, is seamless and achingly beautiful. > > Thanks so much VBDB! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey Rory! > > Wanted to take a moment to thank you dearly for the shout-out! Thank you guys so much for being an absolute dream to work with, and thanks for passing your friends on to us as a reference! > > --Margo **★★★★★ — Victoria Benson, May 2019** > VBDB had actually done a recent remodel of my friends’ loft in Chelsea, so they came with a > strong personal recommendation from someone I trusted, and having seen the work they’d > done for their home, I was ready to jump right in with them. > > My project was pretty straightforward, just giving a facelift to my two bathrooms (we had > renovated the bedrooms and living room separately, earlier), putting in new vanities, new > lights, new fixtures and plumbing – the works. > > The millwork craftsmanship is stellar, and something of the kind of quality you’d expect from a > magazine shoot! Their designers worked with me to focus on clean, tasteful choices while > being mindful of budget, and the selections were beyond amazing. > > Now that I know a firm I can rely on for a beautiful remodeling job without breaking my piggy > bank open, I will be hiring them back soon when I decide to attack the kitchen. My highest > recommendations! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Thanks so much for writing us a glowing review, Victoria! And thanks for letting us have a photo crew roll through to take pictures of your beautiful new place! **★★★★★ — Rona Alvarez, May 2019** > The fantastic group at VBDB remodeled the kitchen in our apartment. We have a small little > kitchen area and there was not a lot of room to work with. Their designer gave us drawings and > ideas as to maximize the space we were stuck with but giving it a much bigger feel, and gave us > recommendations on new appliances to match with the design that were in our price range. Our > project was completed in a timely manner, with a very clean work site and nice, responsible > people on site at all times. I really respect the attitudes of Zak and Brandon, and they were a > > pleasure to deal with, very clear, very direct, and their work is unbeatable. We recommend and > would not hesitate to use again! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey Rona, > > Many thanks for reaching out to us, and beyond happy to hear you're thrilled with the results of our work together. We thank you for recommending us to your co-workers as well! Be sure to give Rasim a hello on our behalf! > > Brandon **★★★★★ — Connor Elway, May 2019** > VBDB came in for a full remodel on a 3 bed, 2 bath condo we have as a kind of getaway in Union Square. We’d put off doing any major renovations since we split our time between here and abroad, but the day finally came around where we had just the right budget and the right timeframe to really take it on > > I was recommended to VBDB from a past client and acquaintance who had them cover a major renovation of their brownstone in Park Slope. Having seen the work firsthand for myself and knowing the price tag on it, I didn’t bother looking for anyone else. > > Essentially, we were going to be out of the country for 7 months and wanted to have our project ready by the time we got back. It was a massive undertaking, tackling nearly everything in the condo, including a demo of our kitchen wall, new custom cabinetry, strip lights, new appliances and a totally retiled floor. Our bathrooms had custom vanities, brand new fixtures and subway tiles, and niches put into to a new shower system. Our floor was pulled up and totally replaced with a great stain and treatment that has really trapped in the gloss, making it feel continually brand new. Every bedroom had remodeled walk-in closet space, built-in shelving and millwork to hide the old radiators. To top it all off, we painted in a few tones, threw up some wallpaper and installed new lighting all throughout. > > Though we planned on coming back in 7 months, my wife had stopped in at the mid-way mark and decided to check in on the progress. Even though we were given weekly updates with photos, remarks and status items, it was comforting to know they kept our place clean, treated it with respect, were courteous to the neighbors and worked closely with the building on all matters in construction. When I finally accompanied my wife back and saw the final project, I was simply stunned at the degree of their transformative powers. > > Zak, Margo, Mustafa – you guys hit it out of the park. > > Thanks so much, VBDB! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Connor, > > Zak here. We knew the second hammers began swinging what a great project this was going to be, and we can't thank you enough for entrusting us with your home while you were all abroad. EXTRA zen and points for the amazing attitudes and communication! We send you the best for sharing your experience here on Houzz. > > In Service, > Zak **★★★★★ — Alison Pollard, May 2019** > It was a trade-off when we purchased our new apartment. The location was killer but the interior was godawful. Very 1980s, passe, almost as if you expected pastel to creep out at any minute to claim you. There was carpeting throughout that was bunched up like cauliflower. The bathrooms looked like they belonged in an assisted living community, with awkward sliding glass doors that were fogged over and pimply. My partner and I have a very modern, up-to-date aesthetic. We like simple, functional space with an integrated design. Our biggest concern was finding a design-build firm who had a portfolio we respected. Our criteria was fairly simple: if their past work looked like something we would die to live in, we were set. Of course, costs, personalities, transparency are all big on the list as well, but we were zeroed in a firm that could deliver all we needed in one place, with a reputation of work we could trust. > > VBDB is a dedicated, consummate group of professionals. The options they can give you with custom millwork, hardwood flooring and vanities are truly something exceptional. Our home came out looking like the pages in a magazine, only THIS one, we can walk through. Nothing but the highest endorsement for Zak and the crew. Let these guys give you the home you’ve always dreamed of. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Thanks Alison! > > We were more than happy to help retire that "cauliflower" carpet and the unsavory details. It was a real treat getting to work with you and Stacey, and we're proud to have given you a "magazine-ready" home. Extra points and appreciation for letting us bring in our photo team after our project had wrapped up, but mostly, thank you for letting us know how well we did! > > -Frank **★★★★★ — Penny Newirth, April 2019** > I hired VBDB for a remodel and they did a great job. Friendly people with great service and communication skills, and a sharp eye for details. Punctual workers, clean work space, everything brought in on time. They even worked with me to save money on appliances by helping me select them, then having me ordering them. Everything was geared towards the customer, and you can’t go wrong with that! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey Penny, > > Great to hear from you again and even better to know you're so happy with our work! We appreciate you having us into your home and can't thank you enough for sharing your positive experience with us on Houzz. > > Best, > Margo **★★★★★ — Doug Ossip, April 2019** > VBDB was actually about the 10th firm I’d talked to, and most of those were rated as being among the best in the city. Even with those high praises and ratings, though, you could still see a chorus of dissatisfied voices, and the complaints were always the same – surprise costs, dirty work conditions, inflexibility, bad service. No thanks. I’m probably one of the more cautious people on the earth, especially when it comes to spending money, so even though those voices may have been in the minority, I certainly wasn’t lining up to be one of the dissatisfied minority! With my luck, who knows – so I go with the side of caution. > > The word of mouth on VBDB seemed to go back to the same touchstones that were comforting to hear: good prices, honest people. Clear communication, consummate work. Those were the words I was looking for, and nowhere was there mentioned bad attitudes, careless work spaces, evasive costs. > > I can proudly, happily join the ranks here and say without hesitation, these people care about what they do. They live and breathe the stuff. I was constantly asked what my satisfaction was with the project at different stages, what my opinion was on new options that came up along the > way. In short, these guys were THERE. Absolutely recommend, these guys are the real deal. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Doug, > > We're well aware of how disorienting it can be approaching a project of your magnitude, and let us all say very loudly and clearly we were extremely happy to ease you into the process and walk you through everything. It was a great experience working with you and Linda for your remodel, and everyone here is appreciative of the fact you're satisfied with your new home. Thanks again for reaching out to us here! > > -Zak **★★★★★ — Jessica Pippin, April 2019** > So far past the point of being thrilled, thrilled, thrilled with the experience I had using VBDB for > our full kitchen renovation earlier this year. Everybody I dealt with in the organization was > committed and personable, with impeccable attention to detail. They hammered through our > project with no major surprises or problems, and gave me the kitchen I always wanted at a price you couldn’t beg for. > > Extra special mention for going through materials selection with me and my husband, helping find the right materials for our priceline and our taste. Just the perfect match for your every need. I recommend highly! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey Jessica, > > We're thrilled at your being thrilled, thrilled, thrilled! We feel like everything aligned perfectly with your kitchen renovation. Also, we aim to please, and would never ask anyone to beg for a good price! > > Thanks for taking the time to come and rave about us on the Houzz sounding boards! > > -Brandon **★★★★★ — Gregori Yesenin, April 2019** > What I like most about signing with VBDB was how direct they were with the different aspects of a renovation project. I’m a first time renovator and am unfamiliar with how the game is played, and was very suspicious from hearing stories of costs that come out of nowhere and of people abusing trust. I mostly dealt with Frank and Brandon going over the particulars of a contract and work scope, and it was very good, very appreciated that they explained to me thoroughly the way an estimate breaks down with raw materials, labor, and how finished materials and appliances are a different thing altogether, making sure I knew where every cost came from. This honesty was most appreciated and the fact our time working together was pleasant, well informed and completed on time means I can recommend them very easily. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Good to hear from you Gregori, > > We always want total transparency with our clients before we have them sign anything, as this business often allows slipstreams and side alleys that can purposefully or inadvertently confuse people, blindsiding them with hidden costs and prices. We pride ourselves on being upfront with no bs, and believe in treating our clients with the respect they deserve. Happy to hear of your satisfaction with our work and our process, Gregori, and thank you for having us in your home to complete this project. > > -Brandon **★★★★★ — Pete Gibbins, April 2019** > The wife and I brought VBDB into our home to see about remodeling our master and guest bath. Since neither of us are much for baths and the space was a little scarce in both restrooms, we wanted to put in standing showers with glass doors. The existing toilets were both a little too massive for the space, so we wanted to downgrade the size of those, put in a new tile floor and add smaller sinks with cabinetry underneath for storage. Due to the age of our building, the plumbing had some minor hiccups, but all of this was handled promptly and with the utmost professionalism. Despite the minor kinks, we even ended up finishing within our time frame and the results speak for themselves. Awesome work and really reliable people. I give them my highest recommendation. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey Pete, good hearing from you again! > > It was our pleasure to come in and knock out this project for you, and we're thrilled you felt the need to share your great experience with us here. > > Let us know if there's anything else we can do for you and Melissa in the near future. > > -Frank **★★★★★ — Jonathan Straber, April 2019** > VBDB was the 7th in a line of design-build groups I had spoken with, and I had only encountered them due to a chance conversation with someone at a business meeting. They related their experience with them, and despite being in talks to sign with a different company, I decided to schedule them for a visit. Within a week I had been given design ideas from Margo, had a detailed, line-item work estimate from Zak, and signed a contract. Once we got building approval, we were up and running and my bedroom renovation came out looking like a dream. Will be looking forward to working with them again once we tackle the kitchen! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hi Jonathan, > > We always like to think that you can stand us up with the biggest firms this city has to offer and we can cut 'em down to size nice and easy. It was a blast getting to work with you on your new kitchen, and we appreciate letting our photographer come in to take photos of the finished product! > > Thanks so much for sharing your experience on Houzz and let us know if there's anything else we can ever do for you guys. > > -Frank **★★★★★ — Ezra Carrere, April 2019** > Hired these guys for a top to bottom reno on a bushwick property. Fairly big operation on a 2 > family home I’d just purchased to rent out and everything needed a lot of work. Going into a > project of that magnitude requires certainty and trust in the people you hire, so I went back > and forth with a few firms but ultimately spent about a month talking with Zak and VBDB. Since > no one would be tenanting the building during construction, the idea was to do a total fresh > start for the whole place. We had some significant issue with the foundation, the exterior brick > needed pointing, all plumbing removed, new stairs, new doors, new heating system, new floors, > new kitchens, bathrooms, you name it. They mobilized immediately once we had everything > filed with the DOB and our permits came through. Amazing the amount of dumpsters we had > to remove everything from inside during the gutting and demo, the thrill of seeing everything > being built-up in real time. I’d meet with the PM and foreman each afternoon to see progress > and discuss whatever hold ups we were having. They resolved any issue we had with the rough > shape of the place as fast as a blink, and in the event I couldn’t make it to our daily site visits, I’d > get emails and text messages with photos of the day’s progress. What was really great is that > Brandon kept photos of each stage of the process, from the gutting to plumbing to framing and > installing, and at my request he sent them to me in a massive, segmented file so you could > almost make a picture book of how the property was being built. I’ve shared these photos with > any prospective tenant we have and they look as blown away as I was by it. It was a long, long > > go, a lot of months of money and worry, but no hidden behind the scenes surprises or mishaps, > no double charging, no dirty dealing. It’s easy to feel satisfied and peaceful spending your hard > earned money when you see the result is something that people have worked hard for! I’d say > they turned our junker of a house into the best property on the block. Thumbs up for VBDB > from me, definitely the firm to turn to! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Ezra, > > We hope your new tenants are as happy with the renovation as you are. This was certainly a fun, challenging project for us, and we were on board for the ride. We appreciate that you referred us out to some more tentative clients as well! That's the kind of endorsement that's hard to beat, and thank you for sharing your experience with us here as well. > > All the Best from us here! > > --Zak **★★★★★ — Trace Hardy, March 2019** > Phenomenal experience with this group, and consummate service you can’t easily find nowadays. First off, I’m probably a nutjob to deal with. I had 700 questions to every 5 things that were either put down in contract, discussed over the phone or written in e-mail form. If someone says, “we’re going to frame for the wall,” I immediately go, “how do you make it,” “how do you frame it,” “what’s the thing made out of” and “how do I know it won’t break.” A few years ago I had some really lousy experience with contractors and was one-foot into the intensive care unit even considering hiring people to come into my home again. Let me say, I’ve got miles of respect for the care Brandon and Frank took answering all of my hysterical questions, and for sacrificing at least 2 weeks of their lives in answering them (like I said, total nutjob). Those 2 weeks, unfortunately guys, you won’t get back. But what I got from VBDB was a new guest bedroom, a remodeled guest bath, and some of my faith regained in contracting. Honest prices, great team, outstanding craftsmanship. Thanks guys! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey there Trace, > > It was a great pleasure working with you through our process, and we're always ready, willing and happily able to be as transparent as possible with our process. We knew you'd had such a rotten experience with your last contractors and wanted to ensure you were comfortable during our project. We really appreciate the fact you took time to share your satisfaction with our work here on Houzz, and hope we can come back and do some more work for you and Rachel soon! > > --Brandon **★★★★★ — Joane Bolens, March 2019** > Well it only took 6 years but I finally got fed up with looking at my kitchen. Cramped and small with a weird wall that comes out way too far and blocks out the view of the dining room? NO THANKS. My partner and I used to drink our coffee in the morning, sitting in our chairs and trading theories on why our kitchen wall came out like a linebacker. > > “Maybe it’s where they buried Jimmy Hoffa?” “The Egyptians built it for interstellar communication.” “This is where they hide the warm weather from Boston.” “It’s a monolith to an extinct tribal god, the God of Sheetrock Overkill?” There were many guesses, but who knew? All WE knew, was that we were awfully tired of looking at the thing. > > I became acquainted with VBDB’s work through their Houzz profile and saw all the photos, read the reviews. After trading a few phone calls and having them come by to look at the freakshow wall, my partner and I felt confident that they were the only firm we needed to talk to. They even provided a few theories of their own as to what was in the wall, ones which were both practical (“old plumbing”) and happily, not-so-practical (“a drop chute that leads to Birmingham”). > > The design team came up with a great solution to make the kitchen an open area that connected to the dining room of our loft. They took out the old, massive wall that cut-off the kitchen entrance, re-did the layout on the appliances, put in an island and put up a fogged glass, sliding barn door to separate the dining and kitchen areas from the living room. > > Stunning work, great employees, talented designers and a real joy to have had in our home. I can say absolutely I have no nostalgia for the old, weird kitchen wall (turned out to be nothing: how disappointing) and instead a tremendous amount of gratitude for VBDB’s work. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Joane, > > We all knew that mysterious kitchen wall was going to be as big of a disappointment as Geraldo opening Al Capone's vault, but we still had a great time having you invite us into your home to tackle your project. It's always a delight doing work for people when you can crack a few jokes along the way, and we can't thank you enough for expressing your satisfaction and happiness with our work here. > > \- Zak **★★★★★ — Matthew Runtherfeld, March 2019** > Had a very simple project in mind with two big stipulations. In trying to find a crew to handle my complete bathroom remodel, I wanted the project done within my budget, and I wanted the project completed in the amount of time I was out of town on business. At the time I was in the middle of several trips for work and wanted to feel secure enough to take a hands-off approach and trust someone to deliver the goods in my absence. While I was away, Frank kept me up to date on each stage of the remodel, sending photos, confirming material selections and working as an intermediary with my building management. This was definitely one of the easiest interactions I’ve had in any regard, and felt confident at every point that the project was in good hands. The new bathroom came out spot-on perfect well within both my budget and time frame allotted. VBDB treated me very well and the quality is top shelf. Would not hesitate to recommend. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hey Matthew, > > Great hearing from you again and it was a sincere pleasure getting to know you and Josephine during the project. We can't thank you enough for reaching out and detailing your experience with us on Houzz, and don't be shy to let us know if you guys need anything in the future! > > -Frank **★★★★★ — HU-373779033, March 2019** > Real good people to work with the VBDB team. Frank, Mustafa, Margo all so reliable. I have > two different ideas for projects for getting new living room and new bathrooms. Building is old > and no care over the years but wanted newer nicer options for inside. All the time I visit the > site we have a good crew of workers who show respect and answer questions. > > Budget, timeline for work all was very good for me. Job only took 4 weeks with no big issues. > Clean jobsite, clean project. Brand new shower, new toilets, new tiles, they make the living > room very big with so much space. Consummate design choices and very high end finishing > work. My foreman was at work site every day, giving me update and pictures of everything in > progress. > > Would use again! **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Vadim! Great to hear from you, happy you're enjoying the new makeover. Margo, Mustafa and I all had a wonderful time working together with you to bring the job to completion and are elated you're still reeling in the end result. Thank you so much for reaching out to share your experience with us! > > -Frank **★★★★★ — HU-242644184, March 2019** > Wow – what an easy, great experience. > > As a first-timer for home remodeling, “daunting” is a word that doesn’t even begin to cover it. > Let’s try, “panic-inducing.” Even more, how about just upright “mortifying.” No one wants to > spin the roulette wheel and have it land on Money Pit, so I went about finding a team to take > on my renovation with trepidation, focus and full-on anxiety. > > No need to worry, here – these guys are the real deal. I met with Brandon and Mustafa at my > brownstone in Brooklyn for a free site evaluation. No hidden costs, no fee for the visit, just a > nice, straightforward meeting where I laid out the big plan for my upper two floors. Talking > with them let me know the range of what I could do without going for broke, and I sincerely > appreciated them taking the time to itemize every part of my estimate, letting me know > immediately what “construction materials” were from “finish materials.” As I’ve spoken with > people who have had renovations done, this isn’t always the case! Some firms give you your > > estimate without letting you know about additional prices for things like appliances or new > flooring etc, and spring it on you like a terrible surprise AFTER you’ve already signed a contract! > I needed a lot of new appliances and lighting in addition to reframing and totally restructuring > the upper two floors, so knowing this immediately was a blessing. Margo knew what I could > spend for the “finish materials” and worked diligently on things right in my budget, but were > still sleek and modern, not Home Depot Tacky. > > We lived off-site while the renovation was going on but were invited over to site meetings to > see progress at our convenience, and when we couldn’t make it out to meetings for one reason > or another, each night I would receive email updates with an itemized list of all progress from > the day along with pictures. Considerate AND thorough, which is just a winning combo. > > While it was hard being away from home for the 2 month period, when we came back it was > like stepping into a miracle, even though we had been along for the whole process. Our home > was by no means a mess before, but the difference between the new and the old was the > difference between AD and BC. > > A quick thing is that looking over the reviews people have posted on here, you see a lot of > people mentioning the personalities and consideration of the workers, reps and foremen. I > can’t overstate how indispensable this is when taking on such a massive project like home > remodeling. Most of the time when we would have meetings on site or converse on the phone, > we would spend half the time talking about the project, while the other half of the time was > spent making jokes, having conversation and getting along like old friends. When you have > people working on your home, you’re inviting them into your home, into your life, and to feel > like you can trust those people, can get a sense of who they are, that you can give them the > keys and say come on in, that’s beyond exceptional service. > > I’d love to use VBDB again, but they did such an amazing job with my home I won’t need to! > > 5 star service and 5 star w **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Thank you so much for the exciting review! Our team appreciates the time you took to write about your project with us. Although we're sorry to hear you won't be needing us any time soon, we are thrilled that it's only because of the job we did. Thank you again! > > Zak **★★★★★ — Gwen Oldham, Feb. 2019** > It took nearly a year for us to find a good fit for our project. In between the time when we first started thinking of maybe sprucing up our condo and finally settling with a firm to do it, our vision ballooned and deflated back and forth like a lung.Simply put, we knew we wanted to do something, but we had no idea of just how drastically it would be done. Should we go all out and do a total remodel? Just pinpoint a few eyesores here and there? Keep it modest or just say to heck with it, go all out and see what was possible? > > We reached out to VBDB in a line of 3 or 4 other firms, and immediately it became clear who we should go with. Frank had come out to do a site visit with us and within the next day we were given a rough estimate and a timetable for work. Margo, our designer, was so helpful and amazing in helping us hone in on a vision that would turn our home into something new and exciting. > > In a little over a month, they had worked their magic and blessed us with a beautiful new home. Absolutely worth the time and investment! > > Gwen Oldham **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Gwen, > We had a great time drumming up ideas and working together on your home. Our team appreciates that you and David are so satisfied with the results. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, and we will pass your blessings along to Margo! **★★★★★ — Victoria Harrison, Feb. 2019** > I recently hired VBDB for a rehaul of my place in Midtown. Initially, with so many family > members coming to visit from Indiana, I wanted to account for space and save people money > on hotel rooms by adding another bedroom for guests. By NY standards, the square footage of > my bedroom is a palace, so I had the idea of splitting it up and creating a smaller room. Since > this would make storage and closet space sparse, they brought in a designer to come up with > some ingenious millwork that would be framed into the walls, both for the master and guest > bedroom. While doing this, we ripped up the existing carpet and put down gorgeous new > herringbone hardwood flooring throughout the entire apartment. > > I thought that was the end of the project, and I was beyond satisfied to leave it at that. But > after a few months I started getting ideas of even more things to do: cut back on bathroom > space by removing the tub and putting in a standing shower, downsizing on the fairly large > kitchen to make a bigger communal space in the living room and putting in cove lighting **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Victoria! > > We are so thankful for the accolades and kind words, and appreciate you sharing your experience with us here. We hope the new guest bedroom has been a reprieve from the "micro-tel" horrors you described to us ,and no, we wouldn't have wished that on our mothers either! We also are really pulling for the Colts to deliver that championship for you and the family next year. Hope we can work together again soon! > > Zak **★★★★★ — Joze Rodriguez, Jan. 2019** > I hired VBDB with a budget of $100,00-$150,000 to install my kitchen. I am so glad I hired VBDB to do the job. The job and craftsmanship was so exceptional and beautiful. VBDB not only completed the project ahead of time but the detail was beautiful. VBDB is the best company because they offer option for any project. The kitchen remodeling was left exactly how we planned. The project overview was detailed and the blueprint was clearly explained and set out. I am also very impressed with the customer service. I was able to express my concerns about my budget and I was able to access different plants and I was so comfortable during the whole process. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Joze, > Thanks so much for taking the time to post a review of your experience with us. We had a wonderful time drawing up options for you and Rosa, and thrived on the different ideas you both threw at us. We hope to see you both very soon and thank you for letting us bombard your new kitchen with our photo crew. Best! > > -Frank **★★★★★ — Richard E. Stacker, Oct. 2018** > We had Zak and his team install a bathroom and kitchen in the basement of our brownstone so we could rent it out. I’d had VBDB do a little remodeling in our living room earlier in the year,but was so pleased with their work I contacted them 2 months later to tackle the basement.They put in a beautiful walk-in shower with a frameless door and laid down some clean tiles, did the plumbing to install a sink, a toilet, and even put in a nice vanity with great storage space. The kitchen was even better. They worked out a spacious design for placing the appliances, threw in a tile backsplash and built an island that opened up the walking area of the kitchen. They put up a wall to create a living room and a ceiling track to segment off space for a bedroom. The coup de grace was replacing the old, metal door that leads to the backyard from the kitchen with a white oak door with glass panels. The place looks so good, my wife and I joked we should maybe move into it instead of renting it out! Thanks so much guys, we couldn’t have asked for a better job. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Richard, we can't thank you enough for bringing us back in for another project with you and Olivia. It's always rewarding gaining a long term working relationship with clients, and we couldn't have been happier that you invited us into your home again. Your renovation of the basement was a wonderful challenge that really inspired the team to think a little outside of the box, but we are thrilled and grateful that you are pleased with the results. Double-round of applause for also letting us bring in the photographer to get some great shots of the new addition! **★★★★★ — HU-292992687, Sept. 2018** > Zak and the crew came in for a remodel of our kitchen and really knocked it out of the ballpark. I had a few concerns going in, which is pretty normal, but all hesitations prior to the start-date were safely put to bed. Cost was a big concern, first off. Not that I was against spending, but you need to get what you pay for! I’d seen a few design-build firms and went through a couple consultations, and VBDB’s price was a terrific middle ground, especially since everything was laid out in detail, with a projection that ended up being spot-on. Construction times were another big thing. I wanted all the remodeling done while my wife and I were at work, and obviously we didn’t want to come back to a total calamity. Everything was arranged for our ease and in synchronization with our schedule, and each night we came home we could see our > kitchen developing in front of us, with the site kept nice and tidy when the workers left. The > time frame we had was 7 weeks, and these guys delivered in the exact time frame we had asked for. All in all, hard to complain about an amazing new kitchen with clear pricing, diverse design options and great attitudes. Will definitely keep VBDB at the top of our list when we decide to fix up our bedroom. Comes highly recommended. **★★★★★ — Shelby Alvarez, Aug. 2018** > I hired VBDB for a total renovation of both my kitchen and dining room. I’ll keep it brief but > important – everything came out to absolute perfection and I would use them again in a > heartbeat. They gave us a great new backsplash, put in new cabinets and even found a great new arrangement for all the appliances to create a more functional space. A great touch was > enlarging the kitchen by extending and merging it with the dining room. They’re clearly an > experienced firm of talented people, and the millwork is phenomenal. Could not be happier with the decision to use VBDB and have already passed their card along to several friends seeking renovations. **Comment from NYC Design / Build:** > Hi Shelby, > It was great running into you the other day, and the crew was happy to hear you are still beaming over the renovation. We'll take the endorsement of perfection! Thank you for sharing your experience with us here on Houzz and for being such a great client to work with. Thank you as well for spreading the gospel about us - we were just contracted by an acquaintance of yours. Great to hear from you again! > > -Zak **★★★★★ — Bridget Castle, Aug. 2018** > VBDB did an astounding job renovating my apartment kitchen, bedroom and guest bath. This > team focuses on tasteful, modern designs that maximize and open your space, with materials and craftsmanship that satisfy the eyes without breaking the bank. They were thorough in the > quoting of the project and in getting the approvals needed with my building. Zak and Frank took care of everything from beginning to end, keeping me informed and involved in every step, even down to the smallest details. Recommended for renovating every part of your home, without question. **★★★★★ — George Toulet, Aug. 2018** > Frank and Zak transformed what was almost a dream in my mind into a fabulous reality. I’m very happy with how the kitchen in my new co-op turned out. The kitchen was a very old, outdated kitchen separated by a wall, which limited the space available to me. What I wanted was to remove the wall, open the kitchen to the living room and have new cabinets built-in to eliminate any clutter. The removal of the wall is seamless, their customized cabinets incredible, and the space I have now has me living in the dream I carried in my head. I even lived in my home during the renovation, and have no complaints about the professionalism and care of the team – everyone was thoughtful, courteous and impeccable. Frank and Zak are great guys, but also perfectionists. They kept returning to make sure all the small details were up to their standard. They are definitely up to my standard! VBDB gets my seal of approval ! **★★★★★ — Stacy Berman, Aug. 2018** > My husband and I wanted to hire a team that would > manage our entire kitchen renovation from start to > finish, and would help us along through the process. > We had an idea of what we wanted, but desired the > right creative minds to help us find what was right for > us. After going through a few different companies, we > ended up with VBDB after seeing their portfolio work. > Meeting Zak and Frank was another no-brainer. Every > thought was given to make sure we were engaged and > in the loop every step of the way. They did not disappoint! > Any concerns or issues that came up were answered > immediately and with amazing service. Our renovations > came in on time and on budget, with no alarms and no > surprises on our end. The quality is stellar, and the team > went to great heights to achieve a sleek, open design that > gave us our dream kitchen. We are so happy with the > results and would hire VBDB again in a heartbeat! **★★★★★ — Agnes Pullman, Aug. 2018** > Never mind the complications, the horror stories and delays, the professionals you need are VBDB! > No hiccups, no snags, just perfection. > As of last week, my kitchen is finished and I could not be happier. What was once 60 square feet of cramped, claustrophobic kitchen is now powered by a design that nearly doubles my amount of space with three more outlets, a new pantry, trash pull-out, beneath the sink pull-out, an extended marble countertop and stock cabinets. Every step of the way the team created a design that was functional, gorgeous and within my price range, giving me a wide range of finishes, placement and color. The painting, carpentering and plastering team were courteous, efficient and most importantly, careful. This has been a painless renovation, and I’m very happy I chose VBDB for my kitchen! **★★★★★ — Jane Corrigan, Aug. 2018** > So happy we chose Zak and his team at VBDB to renovate our new co-op! They did a fabulous job and took care of the entire renovation process, all the way from planning through construction, and we were left with no worries, no stress – we simply sat back and watched it materialize before our very eyes. In our initial meeting with Frank, we laid out our vision and schedule. After listening, we were presented with a timeline, suggestions and beautiful design choices. Once the renovation began we were updated every single day on our progress, and the end result was finished spectacularly, on time AND on budget. At this point, it is difficult to envision using anyone else for our future renovations. A-Plus! **★★★★★ — Molly Barthel, July 2018** > Working with VBDB has been a thrill, and seeing the intricacy and care with which they > approach their projects has given me a great sense not only of relief, but also excitement to use them again. I initially needed some slight remodeling for my kitchen, but became so animated with the ideas Zak began giving me, I went all-out and had a total demo and remodel for the entire kitchen. They tracked down the exact sink basin, oven, custom air vent, refrigerator and Carrara tile backsplash I wanted, and installed gorgeous overhead lights from antique black cognac glass. The timeline I was given was right-on, prompt, and there were no surprises, no asterisks, no fine print upon completion. It has been a total pleasure and I can’t thank VBDB enough for their work, terrific demeanor and direction. Zak and Frank were exactly what I needed. Will be using them again. **★★★★★ — Shannon Dougherty, June 2018** > I came to VBDB with an open mind, a tight budget, and a profoundly long, overdue need for a remodeling job on my bathroom. VBDB came through for us in ways I could not have anticipated, honestly, and we are beyond happy with our experience! > > My husband and I had a general idea of what we were looking for, but wanted to stretch our imaginations a bit. Zak and his amazing crew helped us expand what we thought was even possible for our bathroom, and did so in ways that were not only conscious of our budget, but breathtaking in their design, catered to our individual taste. They were with us every step of the way, communicative and transparent about every part of the remodeling, so that we never felt like we were in the dark. I look forward to using VBDB again in the near future for our kitchen remodeling. > > Highly recommended! **★★★★★ — User, May 2018** > Van Buren Design Build recently completed a kitchen remodel for us. We are delighted with every aspect of the process. Zak, Frank and the entire team were professional while being very approachable. They all displayed expertise in each area of the remodel from the initial design to the finish and were very organized along the way. > > Our kitchen turned out just as we had dreamed. Our daughter, who also used them for a kitchen remodel, recommended VBDB to us . And, we will highly recommend them to our friends. ## Selected projects - [Red Hook, Brooklyn](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/red-hook-brooklyn-pj-vj~6629041) - Location: Brooklyn, NY - Photos: 14 - [Bay Ridge \| Contemporary \| Home Design](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/bay-ridge-contemporary-home-design-pj-vj~2956174) - Location: Brooklyn, NY - Photos: 13 - [Lefferts Gardens](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lefferts-gardens-pj-vj~2956193) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 10 - [Kips Bay](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kips-bay-pj-vj~2956189) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 15 - [Roosevelt Island Duplex](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/roosevelt-island-duplex-pj-vj~2956194) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 9 - [Yorkville](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/yorkville-pj-vj~2956202) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 11 - [Sunny Side](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sunny-side-pj-vj~2956198) - Location: Brooklyn, NY - Photos: 9 - [Split Level Loft](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/split-level-loft-pj-vj~2956195) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 14 - [Windsor Terrace](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/windsor-terrace-pj-vj~2956200) - Location: Brooklyn, NY - Photos: 8 - [Far Rockaway](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/far-rockaway-pj-vj~2956186) - Location: Queens, NY - Photos: 10 - [Eastern Parkway](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/eastern-parkway-pj-vj~2956183) - Location: Brooklyn, NY - Photos: 10 - [Columbus Circle](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/columbus-circle-pj-vj~2956182) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 9 - [Chelsea](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/chelsea-pj-vj~2956178) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 12 - [Fidi Millwork](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/fidi-millwork-pj-vj~2956187) - Location: New York, NY - Photos: 8 - [Boerum Hill](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/boerum-hill-pj-vj~2956176) - Location: Brooklyn, NY - Photos: 9 - [Brown stone house renovation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/brown-stone-house-renovation-pj-vj~7873348) - Location: Fort Greene, NY - Photos: 15 - [East Williamsburg Home Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/east-williamsburg-home-remodel-pj-vj~6871276) - Location: Brooklyn, NY - Photos: 31 [See all 17 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/nyc-design-build-pfvwus-pf~816820579) ## Video - [Company video](https://player.vimeo.com/external/912758451.m3u8?s=670e26dd4ae13a5963763302bee5494ccbd5318e&oauth2_token_id=1384357804) --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-04.*