Labra Design Build

Rufino worked with us to design a whole house renovation and additions on a midcentury modern gem that essentially hadn’t been updated since being built in 1952, besides a kitchen refresh in the 1980s. From the start, he was easy to communicate with and work with. He walked through our current house so we could talk through design/function that we liked or didn’t like about our current living situation, asked us for our design inspiration with likes/dislikes, and then designed a home that is even better than we had imagined. Importantly, he thought about function, not just appearance, and how we would really use spaces based on how we live our life as a family. The 3D renderings were very helpful in visualizing the spaces, and they also gave us things to be excited about during the process. He always responded quickly and professionally, and he really took our ideas into account. Living in our house now is like a dream. We feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful (and functional) space. Rufino is a true artist. We don’t plan on leaving this house anytime soon, but if we had the opportunity to design another home, we would 100% reach out to Rufino again.

We are so very grateful to Rufino and the crew at Labra Design Build for creating a sleek and streamlined kitchen for our mid-century home! Rufino’s experience with building, knowledge of engineering and design set him apart from other designers and contractors with whom we previously consulted. On his first visit, Rufino surveyed our space, listened to our ideas, and then went straight to the basement to examine the structural support below the kitchen. He identified some areas of concern and made sure to remedy those in our plan. The renderings Rufino developed helped us visualize possible changes and weigh various options considering our budget. Revisions were made along the way until an efficient, open space with increased light and optimal storage was designed. Rufino thought of creative solutions. In lieu of removing a wall which would have required a costly new overhead beam, he offered an idea of incorporating glass panels within the wall to open the space. Custom wood cabinets were created for an area in which standard cupboards wouldn’t fit. Rufino rearranged ceiling lights, added ambient lighting below cabinets, and rebuilt a soffit along the entry to the kitchen to increase light. Choosing the backsplash to complement our existing pewabic tile was a challenge that Rufino patiently guided us through. During the 3 month renovation, Abe, Zack, and Rufino worked meticulously with least disruption possible. They isolated their workspace to reduce debris in other areas of the house. Rufino made sure all components were properly installed. For example, after the flooring was laid, he insisted that the installer return to rearrange a few of the boards making a more seamless transition from kitchen to existing dining room flooring. The transformation of our space is remarkable and better than we could have imagined!! We enjoy walking into our kitchen every morning, having increased work space, storage, and the ability to entertain family and friends. The experience has been life changing. We highly recommend Labra Design Build for any home project!

I wish I could give an even higher rating to Rufino, Abe, and Zack. They are simply the very best. I have worked with a few contractors over the past 20 years and none have come even close to the creativeness and integrity of Labra Design Build. It is so very rare to come across a team of individuals that work as hard and care as much as Rufino and his crew. From the beginning of the project until the end (and even beyond), the communication was detailed, thoughtful and quick. Rufino anticipates issues not only in the design of a space, but in how you use the space. It is evident he wants you to be happy now, but also in the future. He helps you think through what you really want and tries to help you achieve it within the constraints of your budget. His process is thoughtful -- he wants you to select everything up front so there are no misunderstandings along the way. We even preordered some supplies months in advance of our start date to preclude supply chain delays and lock in lumber pricing. I could write paragraphs of how I appreciated their tidiness, craftsmanship and attention to detail--it is just so comforting to know my project was in their hands. They cared! I could trust them and would absolutely give them the highest recommendation possible. If you need to wait a bit to engage them on your project, there is a reason why--they are the best. If you need to pay a little more, there is a reason why and they are worth it. I feel like they are part of my family now and I really do care about each of them! The subs they use also rave about how organized and thoughtful Rufino runs a project. It is a skillful, thoughtful, creative, and responsive team composed of caring individuals. There is no one better! Get on his list...

Thanks to Rufino and Labra Design+Build we live in the most beautiful home! After accompanying us during a showing, Rufino offered honest and innovative insights that expanded the vision we had for a 1950s ranch in Bloomfield Hills. His suggestions simultaneously updated the house and enhanced its original mid century features. The home first came to life through incredible computer renderings. Rufino optimized the space, seamlessly marrying function with serene aesthetics. He graciously incorporated our ideas and material requests while remaining within budget. Our renovation included the kitchen, the mudroom with a half-bath, the entryway, flooring and doors throughout the house, two hallway storage closets, and a custom master closet. Along the way, Rufino identified and managed several additional, structural improvements. Rufino and his crew (Zach and Abe) all have incredible eyes for detail and are masters at their crafts. They really became like family and went above and beyond for us. For example, the house lost power before the generator was rewired and Rufino personally came over to save the just-stocked refrigerator. As a testament to this review, a second stage of renovation is already in the works. We highly recommend Labra Design+Build without reservation.

I could repeat every wonderful thing said in the multitudes of excellent reviews Rufino has, as I agree with all of them. After moving from the West Coast and into a 1960 mid-century that needs a lot of rescuing from the “improvements” made to it over the years, my husband and I were in search of someone who could help us transform the main living area into the house we were envisioning. After coming across Rufino’s portfolio and reading all of his wonderful reviews, we were hopeful we had found the right person. That hope turned into certainty after our first meeting. We had very particular and sometimes difficult requests and Rufino worked with us to turn them into a reality. I felt very comfortable coming to him with ideas and questions, which is so important during a major remodel. Rufino and the entire team are just an incredible group of people and it was a pleasure to have them in our home. We hope to work with them in the future as we transform the rest of the house.

We highly recommend Labra Design and Build. Rufino and his team are honest, hardworking, very professional and results in excellent craftsmanship. We moved from Colorado to Grosse Ile Michigan and purchased a 1950’s Ranch that needed to be completely remodeled. Rufino’s design was a perfect mix of my husband’s love for mid-century design and my more traditional style. His renderings made it so easy to visualize the space and the proposed look. We would not have thought of his great design ideas on our own. Our project was big, almost our entire home was renovated. We were nervous starting such a huge project after moving across the country with our 6 and 8-year-old boys, who were starting at a new school, all while living in the home during construction. Throughout the process we got to know Rufino and his team, it is oblivious that Rufino loves what he does!! It was also heartwarming to watch him teach his young son the trade. It was a pleasure having Eric, Abe, Chase, and Steven in our home every day and they became friends, we really missed having them around (even our dogs missed them). Our project was completed on time and within our budget. Without reservation, we can say that this was the best investment we have made, and we will use Labra Design to renovate our bathrooms and other future projects! Rich and Kathleen Shook

We had an amazing experience with Rufino Labra and his team at Labra Design + Build! Ours was a 2-month project that involved a complete remodel transformation of a very tiny laundry room into a large, spectacular "designer" laundry room of the highest quality and modern design! A second component of the remodel was the basement walk-out area; one double door was replaced with a new double door, and another double door was replaced with windows which required brick work on the outside wall of the house. Also, a built-in faux fireplace was removed and that space was reconstructed. Each component of the work was expertly done, including: tile work, carpentry (new cabinets, too), dry-wall, painting, contracted electrical, and setting up required inspections for all aspects of the project. Rufino and his entire team were such a delight to work with -- at the end of the project we knew we would miss seeing them every day. We highly recommend Labra Design + Build!

Rufino and his crew were fantastic, start to finish. We have worked with a lot of contractors/remodelers over the years and Labra Design Build is our hands down favorite. This was our 2nd full kitchen remodel we've done. Rufino worked through the design process very closely with us and listened intently about what we were envisioning. Ultra responsive before the design, during the design, during construction, etc. We all know what its like to have to wait on a contractor/remodeler. Rufino and team are very invested in ensuring communication is open and often. Zach and Eric treated our kitchen as if it was their own. They fixed minor mistakes and identified areas needing attention proactively and very very quickly. I've never been so hands off in a remodel. I'm 100% confident that if Rufino says he can execute on your particular project for you at your home that you can be sure your vision & dream will come true.

I had a wonderful experience with Labra design. Rufino did an amazing job designing my mud room and providing me with different options, colors and look to choose from. I am very happy and pleased with the outcome. Very professional and an expert in the design and cabinetry space. I highly recommend.

We highly recommend LBD. After 18 years, our quirky old lake house needed some TLC. Along with paint and flooring, we wanted to make some changes to update the flow and design. The owner, Rufino Labra, was easy to work with. He listened to what we thought we wanted and made suggestions. We ended up with a space that was updated, but maintained the character of the home we love. Rufino is professional, capable and accessible. Phone calls/e-mails were always answered in a speedy fashion. Rufino's workers are efficient and respectful. We lived upstairs while they worked downstairs which only worked because they were so accommodating. Our project began on time, ended on time and stayed within the agreed upon budget. The best thing? We love it!

We are happy with the work that Labra Design Build did in our master bathroom Rufino Labra personally helped with some value engineering we needed, to keep costs in line. The two craftsmen who did most of the work on the project were tidy, on time, very professional and a delight to work with. We would recommend Labra Design Build for projects like ours. Linda and Mike K. Bloomfield Hills

We highly recommend Labra Design Build. At every step of the process Rufino and his team were terrific! We hired Labra Design Build to expand and remodel our kitchen by converting a full size, underutilized first floor full bathroom into a powder room and reworking our existing mudroom. Rufino worked with us very closely until we had a design that would work well for our family and our budget. We are thrilled with the results! Rufino’s creative use of space and innovative ideas enabled us to get everything we wanted in our kitchen, powder room, and mudroom. The Labra Design Build team also did an excellent job carrying out the work. It is never easy to live without a working kitchen, but they set up a makeshift kitchen for us in the basement, worked quickly to complete the project, and made it so that we could continue to live in the house throughout the renovation. On top of that, the quality of the work Labra Design Build conducted is phenomenal! We have now been living in our remodeled kitchen for more than 6 months and we continue to marvel at how well laid out everything is, how beautiful it all looks, and how seamlessly the renovated space flows into our existing space.

We found Labra after a simple search of contractors in our area to perform an update to our mud room/laundry. We were hesitant initially, but Rufino and his crews were fantastic! They made the whole process so easy. They came out on an initial mtg to talk about our ideas and take measurements. After a few days we had a complete 3D design and within weeks we had a completely awesome space completed. They helped us thru the process, listened to our ideas, and went above and beyond! Highly recommended from me!

Great work, great communication, fair price, and timely work! Couldn't ask for more! Thank you! Labra Design + Build remodeled/reinforced our main living area, which has a vaulted ceiling. Worked with a structural engineer to meet and improve upon suggested design. A lot of work in a little time, and kept the place liveable!

Labra Design and Rafino are the best. What a great company to work with. The entire crew was so professional and knowledgeable. From the initial drawings to the conclusion of the project everything was top notch. I cannot say enough about them ! Highly recommended for any project needs you have.

I contacted Labra Design Build to consult on a DIY kitchen remodel. Rufino, who is very personable, knowledgeable and professional, was more than happy to help me. He came out to my house right when he said he would,we talked about what I liked and didn't like in my current kitchen and what I wanted in my new kitchen. He sat down with his laptop and came up with several options for new floor plans of my kitchen, some of which I never would have thought of. As one reviewer said, he thinks outside of the box. I would highly recommend Labra Design Build.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Labra Design and Build made a beautiful, custom kitchen island that is the best feature of our home. PERFECT. Exactly what we wanted, professional, completed the work in less time than expected, excellent quality, and reasonable cost. Very knowledgeable, helpful and great experience.

We hired Labra to design and install built-in shelving in our TV room, and we couldn't have imagined the results being as stunning as they are. The design process was fun and collaborative, and the installation was quick and painless. The crew was very respectful of our space, and obviously dedicated to perfecting every last detail.

We hired Labra Design Build to design our kitchen remodel. We couldn't be happier with it! Rufino was creative and gave us great layout options. Our project turned out excellent and we couldn't have done it without his expertise!

Rufino, Eric, Abe & all the Labra Design Build crew are nothing short of amazing. They are professional, timely, trustworthy & hardworking. We have used them for a total of 4 projects so far ranging from $8,000-$70,000 & they provide a world class experience from beginning to end. Highly recommended for any project you have in mind!

My family and I had the pleasure of working with Labra Design Build for almost a year as we remodeled and added on to our fourth generation home. Rufino, Abe, Eric, and the rest of the crew have far exceeded any expectations that we had for this project. They were responsive, kind, precise, and altogether exceptional in every way. This project happened to be our second major renovation in 10 years. The first occurred prior to moving in and was one of necessity rather than choice. For those of you who have had work done in their homes, you may well know that the process can leave you exhausted, worried, and disappointed. Admittedly, my husband and I made the mistake of hiring a different contractor to start our design process. The salesperson was savvy and made us feel comfortable, yet we soon realized that our lapse in judgement would cost us both time and money. After a couple of months discussing our plans and paying for a poorly designed sketch of the project, we decided to cut our losses and start again from scratch. When I contacted Rufino, he returned to discuss our ideas and options. Within a short time, he had a beautiful rendering of what our home could be. It was obvious that he listened to us, understood our needs, and had the vision to create something unique for our family. I cannot emphasize enough how relieved we were once we hired him. From that moment on, our entire project became one of excitement and joy. Our project consisted of adding a garage to the front of the house with an attached mudroom and ½ bath. The previous kitchen, garage, and mudroom were then transformed into an absolutely stunning custom kitchen, master bedroom with master bath and walk in closet; every detail was artfully done. Rufino also installed custom bookshelves to separate our new dining area with the kitchen. Additionally, he was conscientious of our boys and took it upon himself to ensure their safety by building a taller banister at the top of our basement stairs. The crew also tore down a large brick fireplace which was built in the middle of the house. All of the main living space floors were replaced and lighting was completely redone. During construction we continued to live in the house with our three little boys and two very large dogs. While this combination could have easily been a recipe for disaster, Rufino, Abe, and Eric made the days comfortable and fun. Never once did we hear any sort of negativity or disagreement between them. In fact, they quickly became some of our favorite people as they worked and interacted with our boys, teaching them about tools and satisfying their curiosity by and letting them “help” when they could. Honestly, we were sad to see them go. For anyone thinking about having work done, I highly suggest contacting Rufino immediately. His expertise, foresight, attention to detail, and overall commitment to perfection are truly unmatched. We are so grateful to have found him, and we couldn’t be happier with our new home.

Rufino complete two projects for my house: a) Office workspace and b) Built-in TV cabinet. Both jobs turned out really great and Rufino took great care to see the work was of the highest quality in terms of ensuring I was happy with the fit and installation. In addition, I know I can always call Rufino to make any adjustments or repairs if needed. I plan on completing additional projects with Rufino next year.

My wife were looking to do a big facelift of our home in downtown Plymouth (new bigger porch as well). We were aware of the well known builders in the area that are part of the new construction boom but we decided to take a chance and go with Rufino (of Rufino Labra Design + Build). We were impressed with his reviews online, the images of his work on the website and his capability to help us visualize the upgrades in the ‘3D’ software he uses. It was after meeting Rufino in person that we decided to go with him. He’s a soft-spoken guy that comes across as very sincere and is very focused on the customer. During the construction process (which was very straight forward), we were fortunate enough to get to know his father, Rufino Sr. (who is also in construction). He told us how he had Rufino Jr. helping him out at a young age. As a result of that, Rufino apparently has the skill set to do any of the jobs that his workers do. I suspect many builders can’t say they have the same broad, hands-on skill set. I was able to swing by the construction site many times during my lunch hour and I was impressed with seeing how much of the manual work Rufino Jr. (the owner) was a part of. One thing I really appreciated was their willingness to go the extra mile to do the right thing. There were occasions where they fixed items that our initial home builder didn’t do correctly. It wasn’t in our contract with Rufino but they fixed it anyway. All of his were workers were polite and professional. We received numerous compliments about their workmanship (even from random people walking/driving by). We highly recommend Rufino Labra Design + Build.

Our experience with Rufino and the rest of the crew at Labra Design Build was, and continues to be, nothing but excellent. I came to Rufino with ideas on paper and he, unlike numerous other local buildings, actually LISTENED to what I had to say and saw the same vision for our project that I had. I interviewed several other firms and it was clear that they were all still building the same old designs, using the same old tired techniques. Rufino is different. He actually understands modern building methods and was eager to know about any products, techniques, or details that would make our project more energy efficient or simply better overall. He's an overkill kind of guy which is exactly what I was looking for in a builder. His attention to detail is second to none. Our framing was laid out to within 1/64" over 30' and he would not settle for anything less. They applied the level of detail usually reserved for cabinets and finish carpentry to the rough framing, and the results spoke for themselves. He allowed me to take care of parts of the project that I wanted to handle myself (electrical, plumbing) and did not mind talking with me after work hours to tackle the inevitable quirks that came up along the way. We are planning a second and third phase to our project and will be using Labra Design again, no question about it. He will apply a fresh, clean sheet approach to your project that other builders just don't have the patience and ability to do.

We’ve been cooking and living in our new kitchen for a few weeks now and I feel like it’s finally time to sit down and write about our experience working with Labra Design + Build. If you’re not one to read long reviews, then I’ll quickly summarize here: we couldn’t be happier with the level of attentiveness, care, skill, and professionalism Rufino and his crew provided us while renovating our kitchen. I originally reached out to Rufino to get a recommendation from him to see if he knew of anyone who loved working on older homes (ours is 160 years old) in the Thumb area where we live. I just assumed, since it was further away in a home much older than the houses I figured he was used to working in, that he would prefer to refer it out. To my surprise, he showed a lot of interest in our kitchen project from the beginning. I was so excited to have him out to look at the project and move forward, because I had admired the work I had seen him do online for some time. From the beginning, Rufino was offering us solutions I would have never considered on my own. Living in an older home, our kitchen was full of awkward nooks and crannies, and Rufino suggested an alternate layout for our peninsula to take over some dead space, as well as a shift in where the refrigerator was positioned, that made the kitchen much more functional and brighter, since the fridge was no longer blocking the light from the larger window in the room. These solutions were offered to us before we had even officially hired Rufino, and the fact that he was willing to think critically and offer ideas before we had signed any paperwork helped me to know we were dealing with the right person. I’ve dealt with contractors in the past, and to be honest, I had always stereotyped them as slightly condescending in tone. There was none of that with Rufino. He has a humbleness about him that just makes you certain you can trust him, because it shows he wants to do whatever he can to make you happy. My father (an avid Mr. Fix-it), checked in frequently to ask about how the process was going, and I remember telling him early on “The thing I like about Rufino is, if you have a question, he won’t answer it fast. He’ll take a second to carefully consider it in his head, and you know when he starts to speak, that the solution he is offering you is the best possible one.” He doesn’t shoot from the hip. He’s a critical thinker, and our 160 year old home provided him with plenty of opportunities to use that skill. The other thing I appreciated about Rufino was his ability to go with the flow and handle changes. Our project took a little longer than anticipated, mostly due to my indecisiveness. The number of floor samples I ordered before settling on the One is, frankly, embarrassing. I resorted to a Facebook poll to select cabinet glass. The number of nights I stayed up late, weighing the merits of stone versus butcher block countertops was probably a little less than healthy. My hemming and hawing definitely led to some delays, but Rufino was never impatient, and once I had made the decisions, he was at the ready. His team also adapted to working on our older home quite well. If you’ve never been in a 160 year old home, you should know, it’s difficult to find a right angle anywhere. Years of settling take their toll. His crew managed to perfectly fit toe kicks to the sloping floor and carefully level cabinets. Marty, his electrician, never once complained about the dirt floor or the colony of spiders living in our basement when redoing our circuit box. Also, every last crew member who walked through our door appreciated the importance of greeting our dogs and managed to deal with their eagerness to help with the project (sadly, our two dogs aren’t very handy with a screwdriver or a tile saw). Our home isn’t an ordinary house. My father was raised in it and my grandparents lived here until they both had passed. My entire family: every Aunt, Uncle, brother, sister, and cousin, has fond memories of this house and my husband and I were married in the yard. Now that it’s ours, we want to make sure we treat it well and take care of it. I’m so happy to have found a team we could trust to help us in our endeavors to make it function for us in Labra Design + Build, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.

We had started to outgrow our house, had some vague ideas about some possible additions we could make to improve our house. Researching various builders, architects, and designers, we were impressed by Rufino’s past work, and contacted him for an initial consultation. From the very first time we met Rufino, we knew that we were in good hands for our home addition. Rufino took the time to truly understand our wishes and desires and quickly came up with beautiful and functional design concepts that integrated with our existing home. Together, we honed towards one concept, and construction started shortly thereafter, which was very smooth and stress free. The project included demo of an existing sunroom, deck and garage, excavation and finishing a new basement,, an approximate 500 sq. foot addition, creation of a new pantry, conversion from boiler heat to forced air (including air conditioning) and construction of a 2.5 car attached garage. Rufino and his small crew were at our house almost every day throughout the five-month project, and were amazing at building on to our house while we were living in it, with very minimal interruption to our existing schedules and life. The construction site was always in immaculate condition (which was quite an accomplishment!), and except when absolutely necessary, never crossed into our existing living space! Rufino and team took care of all the details and went above and beyond time and time again, from helping us prep various rooms in advance of construction, making improvements to the original addition plans, and accommodating last minute requests. Rufino was involved in every step of the construction and his insight and expertise (along with his team) showed during all phases. The addition was constructed on time, on budget, and with exceptional quality. In fact, the high level of, craftsmanship, attention to detail and quality of the addition was done so well, we are now beginning plans to see how we can improve the rest of our home to match the addition! Rufino and his firm, Labra Design+Build is the real deal – great to work with, and highly recommended! We look forward to working with them in the future on other home improvements!

Rufino and his crew did a complete overhaul of our kitchen, and really our main living space, this past summer. It was our second project with him, and we will certainly use him again in the future. Our positive experience began with his intricate and thoughtful suggestions for the design of our space, and ended with multiple follow-ups to make sure the space is functioning and working as expected. We could not recommend using Labra Design Built more. We also found the two guys that he works with and all of his subcontractors extremely respectful, which is important when you have people in your house for a few months. All details were thought about and executed as planned. The project went off without a problem (of course something always pops up but always quickly resolved) and was completed on time. We couldn't have asked for a better design and overall look for our space. In fact, Rufino's layout design idea differed from our initial vision and we ended up changing the design to his suggestion and we are so glad we did. He has a great eye for design.

When my husband and I decided to remodel our bathroom, I had a vision of what I wanted it to look like. From the moment I met Rufino I knew his expertise would provide the clean, innovative custom look we wanted to achieve. His introspective eye for detail designed the bathroom of our dreams and then some. He led us to ideas that created a bathroom we will continue to "show off!"

When we decided to have our master bathroom remodeled, we met with four uninspiring designers before happening onto the Labra Design+Build web site. We met with the owner, Rufino Labra, who really listened to our design wishes and personal taste, and within a few days came up with two impressive design options (in 3D!) We were excited about both options and after talking further with Rufino knew for sure that we wanted him and his company to handle our remodel. Throughout both the planning and remodeling, Rufino was patient, accommodating, and always accessible getting back to us the same or next day with answers to our questions, concerns and change requests. He kept us apprised of the progress letting us know when task were scheduled to start and be completed, plus he always made sure that we were completely happy with every decision. When Rufino and/ or his crew needed to work late, they were always respectful of our plans. Rufino and his crew took great care of our home protecting our floors and minimizing tracking. At the end of each day drop cloths were removed and everything was kept as clean and organized as possible. All debris was hauled away the same day (no dumpster on our property and no rubbish in our yard or garage!) We absolutely could not be more pleased with the results, from the more functional configuration, large curbless shower and custom cabinets, to all the materials installed and the soothing paint colors Rufino selected to blend with our monochromatic style. The workmanship is outstanding (first rate). Now, our master bathroom is beautiful with lots of storage, and we love, love, love everything about it! Thanks to Rufino and his amazing crew, especially Abe who worked on our project daily, the whole process was a pleasant experience and the remodel was started and completed within the timeline constraints

Working with Labra Design Build was a pleasure. Not only did I get the mudroom of my dreams, the process was pain free, from design through execution. Listens to Clients: At first I was considering a much larger project – knocking down a wall between the laundry room and den to make a huge multi-purpose room. Even though it would have brought a bigger paycheck, after listening to how we use our home, Rufino suggested we didn’t need such a dramatic change. Simply tearing out a closet in our existing footprint, adding a bench and storage would fit our needs. And he was right! Attention to detail: Rufino made sure we had a working laundry facility throughout the project. I was only without the washer and dryer for 3 days during the floor tiling. Otherwise, if was back in place and functional each evening. And I didn’t even ask for that! He anticipated my needs without me asking! Excellent communication: Rufino is responsive, answering calls, emails and texts quickly. He kept us informed of the days and times when he’d be working in our home, and always arrived as advertised. Professional Colleagues: Everyone on the team has Rufino’s same dedication to professionalism. The Electrician, tile layer and assistant who worked on the project were all hard working, courteous and respectful of our home and our family. They even greeted our barking dog with pets and affection to calm him down. Way above the call of duty! Designer’s Eye: Rufino helped me make a lot of decisions about the overall look of the room. From offering opinion on the tile and paint colors, to the lovely black walnut countertop, I couldn’t have done it without Rufino’s expertise! Bottom line: I can truly say the project went flawlessly. Not even one hiccup, and no budget changes! We are thrilled with our new mudroom and already dreaming about what’s next!

I never would have guessed redoing our kitchen would be so fun! Rufino Labra of Labra Design and Build is an excellent designer to work with. While we weren't planning on a major redesign, his innovative ideas and quality graphics left us no doubt that we would move forward with a reconfigured kitchen. The result is a kitchen with improved functionality, additional storage and a complete update from a 90's kitchen to a more contemporary masterpiece. The corner cupboard reconstruction and the pantry design are dynamite and so much more functional than the original. It was a pleasure to work with Rufino to choose colors, textures and style that ultimately led to the kitchen of our dreams. Using a palette that incorporated all the colors we adore Rufino respected our opinions and was so easy to work with. His team was also a pleasure and we came to know and trust them and appreciate their excellent craftsmanship. From the design to the execution, a quality job all around. The experience was not only painless, but also tons of fun and very, very satisfying. I love, love, love my new kitchen! Thank you Rufino, the final outcome is stupendous!

This is our second time working with Rufino. We were so pleased with the work he completed in our bedrooms/bathrooms last fall that we asked him to design and install custom work in our finished walk-out basement. Rufino worked with us on the design of a bar/kitchenette and custom built in cabinets - keeping in mind our choices. He offered many creative options we had not considered that really enhanced the finished project. We are thrilled with the work completed! He touched base with us constantly during the project and answered all of our questions. Most importantly, we were under a short deadline for a party we were hosting and all work was complete on time!! We look forward to working with him on another project soon.

We were so pleased with the project that Labra Design did for our Mid Century Modern house. I saw a project he did (found it through Houzz) and Rufino was very quick to respond to my request, and he was able to squeeze our smaller project in quickly. We had a huge hole in our main room, and we needed a stair rail, needed it quickly because we have a two year old and the house just wasn't safe as it was. He was quick to draw up sketches and seemed to understand our aesthetic and what we wanted without ever seeing the project in person. He was also very willing to research different price options to keep within our budget. I was impressed with his effort and commitment to making sure the stair rail was as safe as possible. The install went smoothly and was right on time. We can't wait to use Labra Design again when we redo our master bathroom and kitchen!

Rufino Labra of Labra Design and Build did a great job on our house. literally the only builder I spoke to that grasp the full concept. Then he made incredible design suggestions and improvements throughout the process. Great handmade quality work at beyond reasonable prices. Give him a call!

I found Mr. Labra online quite a few years ago while searching for someone to build a bookcase / wall unit. I reviewed his website and was extremely impressed with the creativity of his designs. Back then, I was just in the idea stage and Mr. Labra was very helpful (even though some of my ideas were out there) and not pushy at all. Due to my inability to decide on what I really wanted, I essentially ignored the project for quite some time. Cut to a few years down the road, I finally made up my mind. I emailed Mr. Labra once again. Right off the bat, he was a consummate professional. He quickly gave me an estimate for my "plans" which was on par with other contractors. What set him apart from the other guys was how he made me a part of the process. Other contractors I contacted listened to my plans and gave me a quote. He worked with me every step of the way (i.e. he listed the different types of wood that he could use, the pros and cons of each and why he felt one was the best fit for me) to give me the best outcome. He also voiced his own opinion when he felt it was warranted. When some of my ideas went against what he felt create a quality product, he let me know how he could tweak things to get it back on track. But, at the same time, he let me know that it was my decision and didn't force me to follow his path. It did take a while for it to get done. But, once the bookshelf was completed, it was impeccable. You can see the pride he takes in his craftsmanship (while installing the piece, he spent ten minutes fidgeting with a door to make sure it was not a millimeter out of place). There are so many little details I could go into that I've noticed on the unit that make it stand out. Needless to say, I am beyond impressed with Mr. Labra's skills (both in design and build) and character. I would recommend him wholeheartedly.

We had our main deck completely demolished and rebuilt; we had a second-story deck demolished, a door removed and replaced with drywall; we had a smaller lower level deck rebuilt; we had the slope of a curved bridge modified and refinished. I highly recommend working with Rufino Labra and Labra Design + Build. The most important aspect of our project was demolishing our aging cedar deck overlooking a ravine, adding 120 square feet to it, and adding deck lighting which we had never had. We also needed an unused (except by the raccoons) smaller deck area demolished, the door removed and replaced with drywall. Additionally, we had a curved bridge over a gully leading to our entrance on which we wanted the slope modified to make the tie-in to the landing gentler. Initially we were looking at Trex or Azec (both "faux" wood) for the deck but after some investigation discovered cumaru, a Brazilian hardwood similar to ipe. Rufino was the only contractor we contacted to investigate this possibility, and offered to do the deck in the cumaru for the price of Azec, and included the lighting package at no additional charge. We were also initially considering glass railing panels, but knowing that we live in a wooded area and feed the local birds, Rufino mentioned that the birds might fly into the glass and get hurt or killed, so he gave us the option of stainless steel cable, and we are so glad we opted for that! The finished deck is spectacular! The woodworking detail is amazing. Rufino also offered to install soffit lights at no charge because he knew we would love them. We do! Rufino and his crew showed up every day on time, they worked efficiently and with enormous attention to detail. He has a degree in architecture from Lawrence Tech, so in addition to being an incredibly skilled craftsman he is also artistic and talented. He was in constant communication on any changes or issues (they found carpenter ants had chewed up a lot of the old deck and advised us to call an exterminator -- we did!). They all really went above and beyond, they finished within the time Rufino had estimated despite some rainy days, and we are enormously pleased with the results. We will definitely work with Labra Design + Build in the future.

Rufino was professional, on time, and has outstanding quality of work! He cleaned everything up when he was competed and our new lockers in the mud room were ready to use!

I have worked with Rufino Labra for almost a year. We explored a simple kitchen remodel to a full scale blow out with major additions and open concept ideas before settling on a final plan. His thoughts and ideas were very good, helpful and his design program helped us visualize what we could have and helped us settle on a final design. I don't make decisions easily and Rufino was patient with me and encouraging. I have to explore everything to be sure I am doing the right thing. He didn't get exasperated with me , just kept offering ideas in whatever direction I was going at the time. His fees were reasonable and he was very accommodating time wise. I love his furniture design. He is low key personally but quite talented professionally. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending him.

I have known Rufino since college and have watched him transform into a true professional. I would highly recommend his services for ANY project you have (small or large) as he is fully capable of handling them! Rufino helped me add missing functionality to my home that I was not able to complete myself. -Rebecca

Projects 2, 3, 4 & 5: Family Room Built Ins, 3 Bathroom Vanities and Removal of a Wall (2015-2017) I'm adding on to my original December 2013 review for our Mudroom/Laundry Room Project as we've worked with Rufino and his team on 4 projects since! We keep coming back for more and have been just as pleased with our recent projects as we were with our original one. Rufino and his team truly defined the saying "is a pleasure to work with" and consistently deliver high quality, beautiful work. When I think of the ideal renovation process - from the start, with great attention to detail during the design phase, to a clean and careful demo, to a timely and minimally disruptive installation of of well-built products and finally, in the end, to reliable completion of any punch list items - I think of Labra Design as they deliver on all those expectations and then some. Rufino and his team do the whole process so well and are such nice people to work with. They clearly take pride in what they do and also seem to really enjoy working together which makes them nice to have around each day. In short, I can't say enough good things about Rufino and Labra Design Build and are already thinking about project #6! Project 1: Mudroom/Laundry Room (December 2013) Rufino was an absolute pleasure to work with on our mudroom/laundry room project. We’re thrilled with our new space and his creative design skills, attention to detail, excellent craftsmanship and genuine dependability and thoughtfulness are big reasons why. I highly recommend Rufino and look forward to working with him again. Background: We started our project with another excellent contractor and our laundry room and mudroom were separate rooms divided by a wall and archway. We had planned to buy semi-custom cabinets for the laundry room and for our contractor to build custom lockers within our existing mudroom closet. When we confirmed we could remove the wall and closet and make the space one room instead of two, we wanted the cabinetry and lockers to transition seamlessly and our current contractor said we really needed someone with a full shop to do it right as the scale of the work was beyond what he could do on site. I asked around and a friend suggested Rufino. I emailed Rufino on a Sunday and we set up a meeting for the next day. Process: Rufino listened to my wants, needs and ideas, translated them into a design during that very first meeting and within a couple hours had a good baseline design and 3-D drawing. He made a few suggestions and we tweaked the design together over the next few weeks until it was perfect. Then, since he is a designer AND a builder, he was able to move right into the build phase and didn’t lose anything in the translation which was wonderful and made it easy on me. While Rufino built the cabinets and lockers off site, our original contractor finished the tile floor and prepared the plumbing and electrical for the new layout. Outcome: In short, Rufino exceeded my high expectations. Being an engineer, I’m quite particular with design, build quality, fit and finish and the function of a space. Rufino communicated well and went above and beyond to help me make decisions. For example, one weekend and unsolicited, he built and dropped off a full scale prototype to help me better visualize the wainscoting. It was a huge help. The Bottom Line: Rufino is a gem. He is talented, dependable, courteous and an overall pleasure to work with. I like being in the room so much that I truly enjoy doing laundry!

I live in a small townhouse condo which had flooding in my garage from another unit.Rufino did a beautiful job making a drop ceiling in the garage(much warmer , too), allure flooring in the kitchen /half bath & a new toilet.Beautiful work, great price & service. We definitely will use him again!

Ruffino built a customized entertainment center, custom shelves and counter for our pantry and laundry room, and we were amazed by his craftsmanship and professional service he provided. The designs were first drawn up on the computer to give us an idea of what to expect, and he did an superb job of building the above exactly to our taste.

Rufino has an excellent eye for design. I had a layout in mind for our small re-modeling job, but he added a simple jog in the wall that completely changed the project and maximized the the space. It was a pleasure working with Rufino and I would highly recommend him.

Doesn't matter if your job is big or small, Rufino will give your project personal attention. He makes sure that everything is done perfectly. We have had him do 3 projects for us at our home, the most recent one was putting up crown molding and new baseboards for us. We are planning on remodeling our kitchen and we will be using Rufino for the project. I have recommended him to family and friends. Joan Ritthaler

Working with Rufino was a great experience. He thoroughly planned our project and he has a great eye for design. The quality of the work was excellent - at one point he even went back and re-did part of the project because he wasn't happy with the way it was looking. I can highly recommend Labra Design and I am hoping we have an opportunity to work with the company again.

Labra Design built custom closets in three of our bedrooms. Before even grabbing a hammer, Rufino (Owner) took the time to sit down with us and understand what our needs would be for current and future storage. He asked us a lot of questions and provided suggestions on what would work for us. He came up with a design plan and presented a "draft" to us for more of our input. The great thing about Rufino is that he is a designer and builder; so nothing is lost in translation. Once the work began, Rufino did a great job! He was always on time and communicated his schedule daily to us. We felt like we were Rufino's only clients. Once completed, the closets looked fantastic! I recommend Rufino to anyone looking for a quality contractor for projects big or small.

Rufino did a great job in creating us a design layout for our new master bedroom and bathroom. He came up with some great ideas that we didn't think of. He was very professional and always got back to us promptly and was open to our input and feedback. I would recommend him and would use him again if we had another project.

Rufino designed and built our new walk-in closet in our master bedroom. Can't say enough how much we thoroughly enjoyed working with him and the outcome of our closet. He came up with a great design that the other contractors did not even think of. He was also under their price by a good enough margin. He was thorough, even buying the laundry hampers for us (that he made spaces for). It was a pleasure and we will use him for our future custom book shelf project soon. Highly recommended!

We wanted our bathroom completely redone and Rufino of Labra Design Build handled the whole project from start to finish. I gave him my list of must haves and he designed a digital rendering of what it would look like. From demolition to the final result he was always clean, courteous and considerate of our lives as he worked around us. We love our new bathroom and wish we had done it sooner. We would not hesitate to hire Labra Design Build for any other project and we highly recommend him.