Design Builders & Remodeling is a one stop shop operation. From the start, design solutions are strongly rooted in practical applications and experience. Project planning takes into account the realities of the construction process and mindful of your established budget. All the work is centralized in one firm reducing the chances of costly or time consuming surprises. A solid partnership with solid professionals to help you realize your dreams for a new or improved home.

Are you hot and uncomfortable in your outdoor spaces? If so, Keystone Fabrics Cordless Outdoor Sun Shades are the perfect solution. Our shades are made from weather-resistant HDPE fabric that breathes allowing cool air to circulate. With up to 89% UV block, these shades keep your space cool, while lowering your energy costs, reducing blinding glare and fading of furniture. Simply roll your shades down, using the pole and hand crank system, before heat starts building up on your window, porch or patio and start enjoying your outdoor space again. An installation template and removable pole are included.

Hand assembled in the USA from beautiful European castings, the Rockport™ Hybrid-Fyre® from Lopi is one of the cleanest burning and most efficient stoves in the world! Hybrid-Fyre® is an award winning technology designed by Lopi® to use less wood, burn hotter fires for longer, and reduce emissions. In the end, you save money while also minimizing your environmental impact. Features you’re going to love include: cleverly concealed bypass damper for smoke free startups and reloading; a single easy-to-use air operating control gives you full command over your burn; the large standard ash pan makes cleanup effortless; full cast iron convection chamber; and a 400 CFM fan that expedites heated air into your home. The Rockport™ is also compatible with GreenStart™ – a Lopi exclusive and a must for the modern wood burner. Simply load your wood and push a button! Be sure to ask your Lopi® dealer for a demo. Photo by Travis Industries.

Jon Jensen
Mid-sized arts and crafts beige two-story exterior home photo in Portland

Design Builders & Remodeling is a one stop shop operation. From the start, design solutions are strongly rooted in practical applications and experience. Project planning takes into account the realities of the construction process and mindful of your established budget. All the work is centralized in one firm reducing the chances of costly or time consuming surprises. A solid partnership with solid professionals to help you realize your dreams for a new or improved home. This classic Connecticut home was bought by a growing family. The house was in an ideal location but needed to be expanded. Design Builders & Remodeling almost doubled the square footage of the home. Creating a new sunny and spacious master bedroom, new guestroom, laundry room, garage, kids bathroom, expanded and renovated the kitchen, family room, and playroom. The upgrades and addition is seamlessly and thoughtfully integrated to the original footprint.

Timber frame homes offer unique challenges during a remodel. What often makes them beautiful and attractive to most homeowners, also makes them challenging for space requirements. Context: The lovely couple that owned this home were struggling with some interesting floor plan challenges that just didn't work for their family. The loved the beautiful timbers and woodwork of their home, but the dramatically sloping ceilings on the second floor, particularly in the bathroom, just didn't work for this 1 1/2 bath home. Needing to use the skylight to approach the toilet was a less then ideal scenario. Although the bathroom footprint was more then adequate, the sloped ceiling only made half of the space useable. Check out the Before/After post on our blog to see the photos of the house pre-renovation. As much as they loved all the wood features in their home, another challenge they had was light. The wood ceiling made everything inside the house darker, even with a fantastic array of south facing windows, there were spaces in the home that felt dark and small. When they contacted us they wanted to know how could they make their brighter and more inviting, were there solutions to the 2nd floor sloped ceiling issues, and if they were going to do all of this work, how could they make their home more comfortable and efficient. A nagging water leak in the upstairs bathroom spurred them into action and here is how we solved their dilemma. Conclusion: First, we added a little dormer to the rear of the house so we could get full headroom in nearly all of the upstairs bathroom! Then we decided to extend that dormer one more timber bay over to create a walk in closet with natural light and plenty of space. Since we were contemplating energy efficiency, we resolved a nagging issue that is present in a lot of timber frame construction, air tightness. Commonly found in timber frame construction, fiberglass insulation is installed in the rafter bays and board ceilings are installed over top. Unfortunately, board ceilings are anything but air tight, and fiberglass insulation needs to be in an airtight cavity for maximum effectiveness. So we were able to solve two issues at the same time for this homeowner. We removed the board ceiling and fiberglass insulation, we dense packed the rafter bays with cellulose insulation, and installed sheetrock in place of the boards. The boards were salvaged for re-use by the homeowner, and the space and light quality was dramatically improved. Some may think that losing the board ceiling took something away from the space, but what you'll see in the pictures is that it highly accentuates the heavy timbers and really makes them stand out in a beautiful way. Now with this added airtightness, better insulation, and brighter space, the homeowner hardly runs their wood stove, and it's so quiet in the space, an added bonus from changing the insulation. It became necessary to also add a sheetrock ceiling to the living room to hide the plumbing from the new bathroom layout above. Changing this ceiling gave the homeowner some real quality lighting that was lacking in the living room before. The brighter ceiling and new lighting layout completely transforms the living room into a space you want to hang out, even though the layout didn't change at all. When the homeowner saw the finished spaces she said "I can't believe this is my house, I want to live in this house" Energy Efficiency: I touched a little on the efficiency above, but like all projects done with Mottram Architecture, we always want to leave you with a little extra. Timber frame construction with board ceilings and fiberglass insulation are notoriously leaky! If you want to know what we think about fiberglass insulation, check our our blog post on Why Fiberglass Insulation Sucks. By installing cellulose insulation and covering it with sheetrock we were able to greatly reduce the heat flowing out of this home. It not only improves cashflow it improves the comfort level in the space. Who wants to sit in their living room and feel a draft? Let us remind you, we are not saying cellulose insulation is an air barrier, we use the sheetrock to help with that, but it does significantly reduce the air flow over fiberglass insulation. And when we reduce the airflow, we reduce the heat flow. And when we reduce the heat flow, we reduce the need to re-heat that drafty air from outside. When it comes to energy efficiency the first and best place to start is air infiltration. We greatly reduced the air infiltration with the new insulation, but we also added a hat and warm boots. What I mean by that is, we improved the insulation in the roof, and we installed insulation in the basement. Maybe it's a silly analogy, but when you think about keeping warm, we always start with the hat and boots! With sustainability in mind, the next project will be to add a deck to the front of this house with rain catchment barrels from the metal roof. They are planning to plant a garden in the spring and the rain catchment system will help to irrigate the new garden. Builder: East Shore Builders Photographer: Michael Eric Berube

Design Builders & Remodeling is a one stop shop operation. From the start, design solutions are strongly rooted in practical applications and experience. Project planning takes into account the realities of the construction process and mindful of your established budget. All the work is centralized in one firm reducing the chances of costly or time consuming surprises. A solid partnership with solid professionals to help you realize your dreams for a new or improved home.

Are you hot and uncomfortable in your outdoor spaces? If so, Keystone Fabrics Cordless Outdoor Sun Shades are the perfect solution. Our shades are made from weather-resistant HDPE fabric that breathes allowing cool air to circulate. With up to 89% UV block, these shades keep your space cool, while lowering your energy costs, reducing blinding glare and fading of furniture. Simply roll your shades down, using the pole and hand crank system, before heat starts building up on your window, porch or patio and start enjoying your outdoor space again. An installation template and removable pole are included.

Design Builders & Remodeling is a one stop shop operation. From the start, design solutions are strongly rooted in practical applications and experience. Project planning takes into account the realities of the construction process and mindful of your established budget. All the work is centralized in one firm reducing the chances of costly or time consuming surprises. A solid partnership with solid professionals to help you realize your dreams for a new or improved home.

This Lakeville, MA home is now maintenance free and ready for New England weather with vinyl siding & replacement windows! Our crew started by stripping off the old siding and replacing all rotted wood. The entire house was then wrapped with Typar and 19 Harvey Classic replacement windows were installed. Mastic Carvedwood 44 vinyl siding in Granite Gray was installed on the whole home along with 17 Harvey Classic replacement windows and 2 picture windows. Aluminum trim was installed on all windows, doors, soffit, and fascia as well as white corner posts, and all new gutters and downspouts. The homeowner eliminated the need to paint every 3-4 years with Mastic’s Carvedwood 44 vinyl siding. Manufactured to look like a natural, painted cedar clapboard, this vinyl siding is both durable, fade-resistant and maintenance free! The windows throughout the home were replaced with Harvey Classic vinyl replacement windows (We’re also a Harvey Elite Series Window Dealer!). The homeowner chose the 8 over 8 grid pattern. Each window is energy star rated and filled with low E argon gas to reduce cooling and heating costs. The Harvey Classic also features easy fingertip operation and tilt-in sashes for easy cleaning.

Inquire About Our Design Services What we did: I started with a floor plan. I knew the success of this design rested in how the space was mapped out. Lisa and Charles love modern furniture, but they couldn’t seem give each room the warmth they were looking for with modern furnishings, despite their best efforts. I was inspired by photos that they gave me and certain elements in the home that they LOVED. One thing they mentioned was the fireplace and its color. I decided that the fireplace had to be the starting point of the room design, and based the color palette off of that beautiful, earthy orange color. Here’s the highlights of the rest of the project: Charted out the furniture plan for each room. Created blueprints for shelving above Cabinet Storage area. Lisa is an avid reader and my home girl needs a library! Custom designed the sofas, chairs, and an ottoman for the living area. Selected all furnishings, accessories, and art. Created storage for the kids. They are now able to stash their toys when they’re not using them, reducing clutter and keeping the space nice and open. What I love: They gave me the green light to have fun with the fabrics and patterns in the family room. I had a ton of fun with the sofas! That AH-mazing coffee table. It is very unique, and I cannot lie… I secretly wanted it for myself. The art in their living room (very dramatic). With the scale of the room, I knew it was either go big or go home! Total time - 12.5 months

Matt Kocourek Photography
Transitional u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Kansas City with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Are you hot and uncomfortable in your outdoor spaces? If so, Keystone Fabrics Cordless Outdoor Sun Shades are the perfect solution. Our shades are made from weather-resistant HDPE fabric that breathes allowing cool air to circulate. With up to 89% UV block, these shades keep your space cool, while lowering your energy costs, reducing blinding glare and fading of furniture. Simply roll your shades down, using the pole and hand crank system, before heat starts building up on your window, porch or patio and start enjoying your outdoor space again. An installation template and removable pole are included.

For bathers with less dramatic ambitions the 8' x 18' tanning shelf is the perfect place to relax with toes dangling in the cooling waters. The shelf's shallow depth also makes the area perfect for supervised water play with toddlers. The bottom is surfaced in grey tile to match the pool's interior, this adds practicality for reduced water levels during winter.

Inquire About Our Design Services What we did: I started with a floor plan. I knew the success of this design rested in how the space was mapped out. Lisa and Charles love modern furniture, but they couldn’t seem give each room the warmth they were looking for with modern furnishings, despite their best efforts. I was inspired by photos that they gave me and certain elements in the home that they LOVED. One thing they mentioned was the fireplace and its color. I decided that the fireplace had to be the starting point of the room design, and based the color palette off of that beautiful, earthy orange color. Here’s the highlights of the rest of the project: Charted out the furniture plan for each room. Created blueprints for shelving above Cabinet Storage area. Lisa is an avid reader and my home girl needs a library! Custom designed the sofas, chairs, and an ottoman for the living area. Selected all furnishings, accessories, and art. Created storage for the kids. They are now able to stash their toys when they’re not using them, reducing clutter and keeping the space nice and open. What I love: They gave me the green light to have fun with the fabrics and patterns in the family room. I had a ton of fun with the sofas! That AH-mazing coffee table. It is very unique, and I cannot lie… I secretly wanted it for myself. The art in their living room (very dramatic). With the scale of the room, I knew it was either go big or go home! Total time - 12.5 months

Inquire About Our Design Services What we did: I started with a floor plan. I knew the success of this design rested in how the space was mapped out. Lisa and Charles love modern furniture, but they couldn’t seem give each room the warmth they were looking for with modern furnishings, despite their best efforts. I was inspired by photos that they gave me and certain elements in the home that they LOVED. One thing they mentioned was the fireplace and its color. I decided that the fireplace had to be the starting point of the room design, and based the color palette off of that beautiful, earthy orange color. Here’s the highlights of the rest of the project: Charted out the furniture plan for each room. Created blueprints for shelving above Cabinet Storage area. Lisa is an avid reader and my home girl needs a library! Custom designed the sofas, chairs, and an ottoman for the living area. Selected all furnishings, accessories, and art. Created storage for the kids. They are now able to stash their toys when they’re not using them, reducing clutter and keeping the space nice and open. What I love: They gave me the green light to have fun with the fabrics and patterns in the family room. I had a ton of fun with the sofas! That AH-mazing coffee table. It is very unique, and I cannot lie… I secretly wanted it for myself. The art in their living room (very dramatic). With the scale of the room, I knew it was either go big or go home! Total time - 12.5 months

Are you hot and uncomfortable in your outdoor spaces? If so, Keystone Fabrics cordless outdoor sun shades are the perfect solution. Our shades are made from a high quality, durable PVC fabric. With up to 92% UV block, these shades keep your space cool, while lowering your energy costs, reducing blinding glare and fading of furniture. Simply roll your shades down, using the pole and hand crank system, before heat starts building up on your window, porch or patio and start enjoying your outdoor space again. An installation template and removable pole are included. These shades are available in a variety of colors and sizes.

Are you hot and uncomfortable in your outdoor spaces? If so, Keystone Fabrics cordless outdoor sun shades are the perfect solution. Our shades are made from a high quality, durable PVC fabric. With up to 90% UV block, these shades keep your space cool, while lowering your energy costs, reducing blinding glare and fading of furniture. Simply roll your shades down, using the pole and hand crank system, before heat starts building up on your window, porch or patio and start enjoying your outdoor space again. An installation template and removable pole are included. These shades are available in a variety of colors and sizes.

Are you hot and uncomfortable in your outdoor spaces? If so, Keystone Fabrics cordless outdoor sun shades are the perfect solution. Our shades are made from a high quality, durable PVC fabric. With up to 92% UV block, these shades keep your space cool, while lowering your energy costs, reducing blinding glare and fading of furniture. Simply roll your shades down, using the pole and hand crank system, before heat starts building up on your window, porch or patio and start enjoying your outdoor space again. An installation template and removable pole are included. These shades are available in a variety of colors and sizes.