Forward Design Build Remodel

We had the great opportunity to work with Forward Design Build (FDB)to remodel the first floor of our Ann Arbor home in 2025. From the beginning of the process all the way through the end, we had a stellar experience. The entire FDB team was supportive, patient, and world-class. We began the project with an introduction and showcase our current space while explaining what we wanted. Moving in to the design phase, we loved working with the team to select every detail. And finishing in the construction phase, we saw the excellent communication and craftmanship come to love. The result was an on-budget, on-time project that we're in love with. I'd strongly recommend Forward Design Build Remodel to anyone looking to enhance their space and that may value detailed, high quality work and excellent customer service. Kudos to Catherine, Brandon, Brent, and the entire FDB Remodel team!

Our family recently completed an entire kitchen and partial living room remodel with Forward Design and Build. The experience exceeded our expectations! The entire team was kind, professional, and truly a pleasure to work with. We were dreading the disruption during the construction process, but Forward gave us clear expectations and communication at every stage, and made it quite livable for us. Their designers are so talented, and the finished product turned out so beautiful. We gave them the challenge of maintaining the character of our 1920 home, while giving us unique and modern finishes. They executed this perfectly and we love our new kitchen and living room!

We decided to do our remodel with Forward Design Build based on the recommendations of some friends who were very satisfied with them. It was a very positive experience working with them throughout the entire process, starting with the design phase and then the actual remodel. All the people who came to the house to work were extremely nice and very competent in what they were doing. Any time a problem arose they immediately addressed the issues and provided the best solution they could come up with. We are very happy with the end result. Our remodeled space turned out beautifully and it is very functional. I love my new kitchen with the nice cabinets and the new appliances. The master bath is great looking and everything works very well. All in all we were very happy with Forward and highly recommend them.

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Forward on our ADU, and the experience exceeded every expectation we had. From the very beginning, their design team took our ideas and elevated them into something far beyond what we could have imagined - thoughtful, creative, and full of smart, beautiful details that made the space feel intentional and elevated. Carly, our designer, was absolutely incredible - she brought so much creativity and vision to the project, helping us reimagine what was possible while still honoring our original goals. Tim, our project manager, was amazing - on top of every detail, incredibly responsive, and made the whole process feel smooth and stress-free. And Catherine, our project coordinator, kept everything organized and moving with grace and efficiency. We felt so supported by the whole team from start to finish. The level of customer service was truly luxury-level. Every person we worked with was professional, kind, and incredibly responsive. They were flexible with our busy schedules, communicative throughout the process, and always a step ahead when it came to problem-solving. The craftsmanship is impeccable - every finish is done with care, and their attention to detail is unmatched. You can tell they take enormous pride in their work, and it shows in every corner of the space. Most of all, they were simply a joy to work with. We couldn’t be happier with the end result, and we’re so grateful to have chosen Forward for this project. Highly, highly recommend!

We worked with Forward Design Build Remodel to design and renovate the kitchen and laundry room in our 1971 home. As picky designers ourselves, we had a lot of opinions about our design and the seamless integration of it into our home's MCM aesthetic, and Forward delivered on all of it! When any issues came up along the way, Forward didn't hesitate to make it right. They really care about the quality of their craftsmanship, and, ultimately, their client's satisfaction. We highly recommend them!

We had a wonderful experience with a kitchen remodel through Forward Design Build Remodel. We were pleased with everything from the layout design to the finished product. The workers were pleasant and professional and communication was easy throughout the project. They build us a temporary kitchen space that exceeded our expectations, and the many decisions that needed to be made were easier with the help of their expertise. We recommend them highly!

Very disappointing experience with this firm. We are surprised by all of the positive reviews here. We didn't even get past the design stage. They provided very immature designs in terms of detail and designs initially that didn't really match the requested project. They ended up quoting us a project cost that calculated to over $600 per square foot and newly built houses with infrastructure (new main electrical, well/septic or city hookup, HVAV) etc are selling less than $300 per square foot (even with pandemic material costs) in our area. Their answer to this was "we don't estimate in square feet" and it's obvious why. We had friends that were also quoted similar prices for their project at nearly the same time. They declined to work with Forward also. They did bill us over $3,900 for documenting the current house, having two design meetings of less than an hour each, and whatever they do internally to come up with two basic designs and the 'cost estimate.' They even charged $95/hour for the phone call that ended our project. Not sure who pays for this approach but consider it carefully before you put down a deposit. To be certain, this wasn't about affordability or not, it was about the value that was provided versus the cost. Update: Jef Forward, the owner of the business reached out to us about this review. First of all I should be clear that he did not ask us to change our review in any way or to take it down. He was genuinely concerned about the experience we had, and our point of view was a bit new to him because he was not in the design meetings personally. We feel that he really took the right approach in how he contacted us - he was not arguing against our point of view and didn’t spend time being defensive. He was respectful and wanted to make things right, which he did, and immediately - less than two hours later he drove to our house and dropped off a check for a full refund of our design fees. I want to emphasize that he wanted to make it right without making it conditional or without any insincerity to influence changing the original review. At this point I would say that yes, we did have a disconnect on our project, and maybe that could have been a better discussion between us, but in the end Forward design really stood behind wanting to get it right for not only us but our friend’s project that we mentioned in the original review (and he took care of them voluntarily too). Sometimes things can go in an undesirable way in a business contract - but I would actually highly recommend and admire a business that can work past that and make things right for the customer. We actually weren't expecting nor did we ask for a refund but I think this speaks volumes about the commitment to standing behind your company. I thought about this when changing the review to 5 stars - from a recommendation standpoint I think it's great to know if you have a hiccup with a company that they stand behind their ideals; that's the best company

It was a pleasure to work with Forward for our basement renovation. The switch to working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic was challenging for our family as we tried to shift spaces to accommodate two home offices plus a new nursery. Forward helped make this process seamless for our family during a complicated time, from presenting design concepts that were exactly on point with our style to excellent communication and strict adherence to Covid-19 policies. They even finished the project ahead of schedule! We immediately felt at home in the renovated space, because the design and decor decisions facilitated by Forward so accurately reflected our tastes and fulfilled our needs. We highly recommend Forward Design Build Remodel!

My husband and I were just crazy enough to go through a complete kitchen/first floor renovation with two children under the age of 5. Up until February 2020 the Forward process could not have been smoother. Chad called me and asked all the right questions and just made me feel at ease. I knew my shopping was done at that point. Later, we met Carly who deserves a medal in Client Reassurance for all the times I said "Are you sure about this?" and she would say "Just trust me, that’s what I’m here for". Every time, Caryl was right! The design process was so collaborative and I always felt like I was being presented with well thought out design concepts based on the needs of our family. In Feb 2020, construction started and for a solid month we were plugging along full speed ahead, in fact, we were tracking three weeks ahead of schedule! I came home one day to find Brian leveling our ceiling so our crown molding would be straight and as he explained the whole process to me I just couldn't help but marvel at his keen sense of detail and exceptional skill! March 2020 rolled around and COVID happened. Yes, even a firm as exceptional as Forward couldn't work around the fallout of a pandemic but they still put their best foot "forward" and made us feel like we had not been forgotten. Our Project Managers Brian and Tim checked in with us at least once a week to see how we were doing and if there was anything they could do to help us keep our sanity. They kept me informed of plans to resume as soon as they possibly could and reassured me that this delay in time would not at all alter the price or the product. There were many times I thought to myself "would any run of the mill contractor be able to handle this kind of problem as flawlessly as Forward did?" I believe the answer to be, no. There were no delays in Forward getting back to work once they were able to. My family of four lived through the construction from May to August and while you hear horror stories, our experience could not have been better. All of the Forward carpenters and sub-contractors were beyond respectful of our home. There were many nights I walked through the construction area with no shoes because it was that clean and safe! I happened to be off of work one week and Jon was there working and he was just the nicest person you could hope to have in your home. He would ask me questions on how I would like something installed, give me some tips on how to use something, troubleshoot/problem solve with me on the spot, and he was available if I had any other random questions. Forward Design Build gets a 10/10 from me. I am a particular person and this project was no exception. As a female, I often feel like I'm made out to be a "Diva" or annoying if I ask for things to be a particular way and I NEVER felt that way from any of the Forward team. They would always say "Absolutely, we can figure something out" or "you're right that isn't quite right" or "You're paying a lot for this, we want it to be perfect, too!" Hire Forward! They are a polished company that knows what they are doing and they do it well! Many friends gave us tips and suggestions and every time I asked Tim or Jon about them they both would say "oh yea, we already did that" or "its in the plan, we have it covered!" They obviously love what they do and they care about their homeowners. They stayed within budget, they stayed within the timeframe they committed to (outside of COVID), and they were able to gracefully navigate through a pandemic that drastically affected their business. I would never hire another contractor after what I know now.

We recently worked with Forward Design Build Remodel for a kitchen and basement remodeling project in our home. We couldn’t be happier. Forward’s Design team worked closely with us to pick out all of the details for our project and come up with creative design solutions that worked well in our space. They accompanied us to show rooms to pick out tile, countertops, hardware, fixtures and appliances. The Forward lead contractors were responsible, respectful, and trustworthy in our home and around our children. Their work was top notch and they coordinated with all of the subcontractors for ideal timing. Forward’s owner, Jef Forward, worked with us on a project budget and make sure to check in with us if any budgetary changes were necessary. Forward also worked with us to create a schedule so that we could do one part of the house at a time, helping us set up a makeshift kitchen in our basement when our main kitchen was being remodeled. Forward came back to our home one year following the project completion to do touch ups due to settling etc. We would highly recommend Forward Design Build for anyone planning a remodeling project.

The work carried out by this firm is of excellent quality. Very professional and reliable with no cut corners. The materials used are solid and top notch. The finished look is exactly what I wanted. I would use them again without hesitation.

In 2011, we chose Jef Forward to remodel our mid-century kitchen, and are we glad we did! Based on our answers to a very detailed questionnaire and a meeting with Jef at our house, Jef developed four possible plans for our kitchen. Wow! They were fabulous. We settled on one with some features from the other three. Then the fun began. (Really. It was fun.) Our kitchen was transformed from a dark, outdated place to a light-filled space integrated with our living/dining area. Jef's team was terrific -- responsive, careful, and talented. And here's what I found extraordinary - our beautiful kitchen was completed on scheduled and on budget. Since 2011, we have recommended Forward Design Build Remodel to many people. Our next door neighbor chose Jef based on our kitchen. I can't take credit for all the Forward signs I see in our neighborhood, but let's just say I am one of many vocal and satisfied customers.

In retrospect, we could not imagine working with any other design/build team. I felt like it was a true partnership every step of the way. The firm has VERY high standards of quality which showed through not only in project design and execution, but also in their communication and on-time performance. They were great about hearing and acting on feedback Jef's got a super talented crew and we felt fortunate to be able to work with Ann Marie Clark (design) and Tim Frincke (lead carpenter). The carpenters were super friendly and professional and after four months were even a little sad to see them go! As we look around the house today, we're still awed at the fit and finish; there are simply no mistakes to be found in the craftsmanship. Going into the project, we were told that Forward Design Build is on the high end price-wise, but it's a case of getting what you pay for. If you have high standards of quality and discerning taste with expectations that promises made are promises kept, you have to go with Forward Design Build.

We hired Jef and his team because we have had the fortune of being able to follow Jef's work in Ann Arbor for quite some time and we love his sense of flow and architectural detail. When it came time for us to buy a house in the Ann Arbor area we found that there were very few homes for sale and the thought of building popped up in our minds. When a good friend found the perfect lot for us by chance, we decided to go for it. Of course Jef was first on our list and we really did not look anywhere else as we had already admired his work from a far. Developing the plans for the house was a lot more dynamic and fun than at least I had first imagined. My husband was very excited about EVERY aspect of designing and building a house while I was a bit more tentative at first. I am now a convert and would absolutely build a house again. When we met with Jef for our very first design meeting we talked about our wishes and desires for the house etc and while we were talking he listened and free-handed a bubble diagram of the house to show the flow and the initial layout, as he saw it from our description, it was nothing short of fantastic! It was incredibly helpful for us to utilize this diagram as we kept thinking about how we wanted the house to function. Jef also did a great job of explaining the team's process and timeline for each stage, as well as what to expect from the entire experience from an emotional as well as strategic standpoint. He was 100% correct with his assessment of the emotions at the different stages of the process and he walked us through each step as it happened like a champion. Jef's team of carpenters made the vision come to life with architectural details like 20 ft ceilings and design details like walnut railing for the staircases and a giant walnut barn door that is just amazingly beautiful, just to mention a few of the items that took this house above and beyond our expectation. The crew is a great bunch of friendly and professional people and they keep a VERY clean jobsite and truly respect the property in its entirety. We also want to note that the post-construction follow up was fantastic. Any questions or thoughts we had were handled swiftly and with 100% satisfactory outcome and we want to give Monica Hough an A+ for her communication and follow through. We would, in a heartbeat, recommend Forward Design Build to anyone who is looking for a remodel or a design and build situation like ours. We absolutely LOVE our home. The only downside is that we never want to leave it; we make our friends come to us :-)!

We were pleased with every aspect of our experience with Forward Design. From the start, we were impressed with their process; it's obvious that they have done extensive remodeling jobs many times before. We met with designers in a structured set of meetings to determine the scope of the project, the features we needed, the materials we wanted to use, the final design and the project cost. We were very impressed with the design team that worked with us; they were able to guide our choices in a natural way that left us completely satisfied with the final product. They did a great job in each room; the final design of the entryway, kitchen, dining area, living room, bathroom, utility room, bedrooms and study all reflect their great taste and design skills. We were very impressed with the workmen who came to our home. The lead carpenter talked with us on most days, and made sure that we knew the plan for that week and who would be coming to our house. Everyone who did work in our house was obviously highly qualified; I'd hire or recommend any of those guys for future work. One of the key benefits of working with Forward Design is that they have not only tested every one of the specialist workers, FD has more influence with them because they rely on Forward Design for future work contracts. This was a long job lasting six months, and the lead carpenter, coordinator and production manager did a great job of holding subcontractors to the promised schedule. The Forward Design production team responded immediately to any concerns that we had, and their motto of "Details, details, details" is not an empty promise. We've lived in this house for 25 years and investing in a beautiful interior design not only improved the value of our home, but renewed our enjoyment of the place in which we live. Not a day goes by but that one of us remarks on how much we love our new house.

The team at Forward Design not only met, but exceeded our expectations throughout the entire design/build process. It really could not have gone any better! The communication, attention to detail and professionalism were superb. The design process was fun! The team was quick to learn and understand our desired style and provided selections that were on point. It never felt stressful and they saved us a lot of time by providing samples and photos of everything we needed to make decisions on. I loved that all the decisions were made before we entered the construction phase. Once construction began we always knew what to expect each and every day thanks to the "job board" that hung on the wall for the duration or our project. As two working professionals with three young children we appreciated how ORGANIZED and FRIENDLY the carpenters were. The job site was always impeccably organized and no dust or debris was ever left behind. We truly became friends with the crew who showed up to our house each day. We even celebrated the completion of the project by inviting the Forward Design team into our beautiful new kitchen to toast to a job well done. A+ to the entire team! Oh, and I can't forget - our kitchen was finished ahead of schedule and UNDER budget!

You can't go wrong with these folks. From the outset you can tell they are a quality company with thoughtful, compassionate, and most of all knowledgable employees. They assign a master carpenter to the job along with a designer, and a full complement of people to make sure things are done right and on time (yes, they were exactly on time!). But it doesn't stop there, since their follow up goes for a full year after the job is done - and they do follow up! We can't say enough good things about their work and you can just look at other contractor's jobs to see how they are more than a step above the rest (one of the reasons we chose them in the first place). They came up with a design that really worked and was completely different from anyone else's (yes we checked out designers builders as well for over 2 years) and exactly fitted our lifestyle. We have been in the "new" house for 3 months at this point and it is performing way above expectations for having guests overnight, a cooking demonstration, and Christmas and family parties. The kitchen has worked fabulously and the house looks wonderful. They kept it in budget and kept us informed all the way through. It is like buying a new house that was designed especially for us, but, we could still keep our family house heritage. Forward you ROCK!

I have worked with Forward Design Build on two different projects, completing the landscape and exterior construction as a complement to their built structures. One project was a renovation of a 60's ranch in the Midcentury Modern style, while another was a more classic ground-up build. Jef and his team are one of the few companies in the area that seem to understand the value of doing something that is appropriate, thorough, and congruent in both the style and quality of construction throughout the project. If you are looking for something that is truly special, timeless, and one of a kind, I would highly suggest getting in touch with them.

I wold like to recommend Forward Design Build for construction work in the Ann Arbor area. The owner, Jef Forward, is knowledgeable, professional, and thorough. We had roof leaks and chimney cracks. He not only hired high quality people to replace the roof, but also suggested building a slope into the flat part of the roof which was leaking, suggested putting a 3/4 inch spacer in the roof underlying to provide air flow and keep things warmer in winter and cooler in summer. For the chimney, which was constantly cracking stucco, he suggested brick for the whole chimney, and redoing our front entrance also with brick. He was able to add a little roof for the small front porch and redesigned a bit of our inside entryway. The dry-waller he hired did exceptional work, especially fixing some plaster cracks and repainting to match exactly! So we have now hired Forward Design Build for our kitchen redo. We are taking it down to the studs, and moving the major appliances to make the limited space feel bigger and provide slightly more counter space. Most wiring will be redone as we still have some knob and tube, and part of a wall will be removed and replaced with large double sliding pocket doors. This includes moving a heat vent to the second floor and we a confident that they will find a good solution to this! The demolition just started two weeks ago, but the plans seem complete, we have gotten guidance where needed on the decision making, and this work crew is dependable, hard-working (so far) and good with communication. On the fun side, my husband plays hockey (for fun) with many in the construction business. Jef is one of them, so we know he will stand behind his work. He wants things to be done right, and he wants people to be happy with the results. An honest and very likable person, though all business on the job.

The design process exceeded our expectations. We were presented with 3 alternative floor plans. The workmanship, finish, detail and overall quality of the work are top notch.

Forward Design Build has completed three projects at our home over the last five years. Our first remodel experience was with our kitchen. Jef Forward listened to our list of wants and frustrations with our hallway kitchen and came up with a design that solved all or our problems and improved our living situation immeasurably. When it came time for a basement and bathroom remodel, Jef again came up with imaginative solutions to design issues. We turned to him again with a remodel of our master bedroom and bath and once again he came up with a design that we never would have imagined. In all of our experiences, his work team has been great. Their craftsmanship is of the highest quality and they are always considerate and respectful. The group worked very hard to communicate with us and always left the work site tidy. The subcontractors that the group works with are the same. We are very pleased with our new spaces and would highly recommend Forward Design and Build.

Forward is a pleasure to work with. We have used them for two large home renovations in the past few years. A completely redone basement and a new master suite. Both projects were a success and we are very pleased with our improvements. Jef and his team are enjoyable to work with and always professional on the job. They work hard to accommodate the home owner's schedules, deadlines and specific needs. (We brought a new baby home during our bedroom remodel!) I was especially happy with the amount of interaction the design team allowed us to have in the process. I always felt like we were able to add us much of our own personal contributions to the design decisions as desired and the Forward team would happily take it from there. We did some very cool new stuff together, like custom LED lighting effects, lots of electronic media built ins and even custom furniture. I found Forward eager to meet all of our goals whether the project called for things they have done a million times before or for the first time. Jef and his team at Forward also earn high marks for one of the most difficult skills, listening and improvement. In any large project there is bound to be opportunity for improvement. They care deeply about what they could have done better as much as what went well. I have personally seen them excel, listen, learn and improve across the time we have worked together.

Our experience with Jef Forward and Forward Design Build was very positive. Jef designed and built a lake home for us. We especially appreciated his willingness to listen to our ideas and desires and then produce a home that incorporated those in a very liveable and beautiful way. Our home is "us" and we have the designer touches that make it special. The workmanship and timeliness of the project were great. We are happy to recommend Jef and Forward Design Build.

We used Forward Design Build for both a minor kitchen remodel, and a major bathroom remodel in a 1930's house. Jef and his team did a fantastic job and the results are wonderful. What I like best about working with Jef is his attention to detail. I am very picky and the quality of the work is excellent. If there is anything I don't like, they take care of it until I am satisfied. We had our bathroom and two closets completely torn out, all the plaster, tile and flooring, then rebuilt into a larger master bath. The jobsite was left clean each day, and they sealed the rooms to keep dust out of the rest of the house. We are extremely pleased with the results, and will use Forward again on our next project.

Kitchen and dining area remodel. We removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room and moved the location of all the appliances (Including the sink). They took it down to bare walls and essentially rebuilt it. It's beautiful. The workmanship is beautiful...they were not only skilled workers but they were extremely neat, and pleasant to have around. As often happens we encountered structural problems when we got into the job, but Jef and his crew had the resources and knowledge to take care of everything.

I would highly recommend Forward Designers & Builders. Jef is a pleasure to work with, and offers innovative practical designs that are still extremely creative and artistic.