Wentworth

Managing Principal Cassaundra Brownell As a homeowner in the middle of an ongoing whole-home remodel, finding the right design partner is everything. Cassaundra Brownell at Wentworth Studio has set a standard for client service that I honestly didn’t expect to find anywhere. Five years ago, we completed a kitchen renovation and fell in love with a specific paint color. When we went back to source it for future projects, even our original contractor couldn’t track it down. It had become something of a running frustration for years. Within our early conversations with Cassaundra, I mentioned it almost offhandedly. She didn’t just note it and move on — she took it on as her own problem to solve. She researched and sourced the exact paint, then went a step further: she put the proper supplier contracts in place to bring that vendor into the Wentworth portfolio so she could reliably fulfill the need. That’s not just good service. That’s the kind of operational follow-through that tells you everything about how a firm runs. We have several projects ahead of us, and choosing the right long-term design partner has been a careful decision. This interaction removed any remaining doubt. Wentworth Studio has our business — not just because the design work is excellent, but because Cassaundra demonstrates genuine investment in her clients’ outcomes. Five Stars - Highly recommend.

Working with Wentworth was one of the best decisions we made for our home. From start to finish, they delivered a complete overhaul and renovation that truly transformed our space, not just aesthetically, but in the way that our family actually lives in it. Every room feels more functional, more beautiful, and more "ours." The value that has been added to our home speaks for itself, but what is more difficult to put a price on is the quality that has been added to our everyday life as a family. We would absolutely work with the Wentworth team again without hesitation. When you're spending your hard earned money to invest in your home, you need people who understand that and actually show up for it. I highly recommend Wentworth to anyone who is looking for a team who takes pride in their work!

We hired Wentworth to do two major renovations: one in 2014 and one in 2017. The first was kitchen/family room/dining room/powder room (all on 1st floor) and the 2nd was master bath + basement. Both were outstanding. Bruce does a great job focusing on the design and planning phase so everything is ironed out and there are no surprises. The quality of the construction work is amazing, particularly the carpentry. It's expensive, but completely worth it. We have been extremely happy and would recommend Wentworth to anyone with high standards.

We used Wentworth to renovate our kitchen and master suite last year. The 6-month project went about as smoothly as can be expected for a project of that size. We were very impressed with both the design team and the construction team. Both paid careful attention to our needs and ideas and worked hard to implement them. I have recommended them, with no reservations, to several other people since then. One friend, who is getting ready to do a major kitchen/house renovation, recently asked me if there was anything that I would change; my answer was no - we have been so happy with the work that was done.

They provided Excellent design and quality work. Great group to work with and completed our project on time and under budget.

Our small kitchen makeover with a bump out by Wentworth won "Best of Class" in 2011 in Home and Design magazine. We still love the light and airy room! They were attentive and stayed on budget. The design team was not only creative but practical. The head carpenter , as well as the rest of the staff, was competent, careful and courteous.

From the very beginning of this project -- a master suite renovation -- Wentworth helped us not only come up with the most creative possible use of space but maximized our budget, by telling us frankly about where the large cost drivers were and working around (always quirky) existing conditions. They proposed a few different concepts for this master suite and any of them would have created a true transformation of the space. What differentiated Wentworth from other firms we've worked with was their dedication to making every last detail sing. This became clear during construction, when (as inevitably happens) surprises popped up and they were able to nimbly adjust the design. But it also came through in the way they called attention to issues we hadn't brought forward ourselves. An example: In the bathroom, we installed two new (textured) windows to let in light. These windows are located at the back of the house, and a "Juliet" balcony stands outside, in a small alcove. Originally the design simply called for replacing the existing clapboard siding with new clapboard, and painting to match the original. Once the windows were in, Wentworth noticed that the runs of siding would be very short and therefore the clapboard might look busy. So they proposed an exterior trim feature instead. The resulting exterior cost no more than the original plan but now provides a little bit of visual spark from the rear of the home -- a bit of beauty just for us and our guests. This is a small example, though I could point to many more. When you hire Wentworth, it's as if you're hiring your immediate family for the job. They are that diligent and that caring about the quality of the work they do.

I had several ideas on how to overhaul my galley kitchen and family room but Wentworth gave me three fantastic designs that had never occurred to me. I ended up choosing a combination of two of the designs. When they began work, they were at the house working every single weekday, with no exceptions. Their attention to detail went way beyond what I would have noticed. They cared a great deal about the quality of their work, and took pride in it. They finished ahead of schedule, and we could not be more pleased with the results.

We hired Wentworth to build a modern dining room addition to our cookie cutter 1940s house. We also asked them to gut our entire second floor master suite. I had what I thought were unrealistic expectations. I wanted something modern but it had to fit with the existing house and the rest of the neighborhood. Our house is surrounded by massive trees which we love and wanted to incorporate into the design. We also have a difficult neighbor so that would have to be managed too. They went above and beyond my expectations. They came back to us with 3 design proposals that were so good we had a lot of trouble picking between them. This was a major project which would take a longtime and to make things worse for them we planned on living in the house throughout the entire project. Everyone warned us about the nightmare of attempting this and maybe it was because we were expecting the worst or Wentworth's crew is really that good but we had ZERO issues living through the renovation. They were extremely courteous and they cleaned up so well that our home seemed cleaner everyday after work than it would on a normal day. The quality of work is incredible. Everything looks exactly like they said it would and fits right too. Our second floor remodel includes tons of built in drawers and cabinets. Our house is anything but level so I was really wondering how they would get everything to fit right and opening and closing correctly. Its getting to be about a year since the project was completed and we havent had to contact them about anything needing a tweak. I think it only took them about a week or two to complete all the items on the punch list that was provided when they turned the house back over to us. Ive heard stories about these lists taking months to complete so I was shocked when it was over so fast. Another thing to note is that they handled everything from design, permit, and build. It was 100% stress free for us. We didnt have to manage any contractors or deal with any issues that might arise between a designer and installer. I just wish i was a better photographer so i could provide some photos that would do the project justice.

Bruce Wentworth is an ardent devotee of All Things Beautiful: art, architecture, fashion, food, furniture, and landscape. Like me, he is a "visual person" who lives to make everything around him better, prettier, neater, and more functional. As Founder & Principal Architect of Wentworth, he lends a keen eye for fine craftsmanship, highly functional design, and cool Neo-Traditional sensibilities to every project. Wentworth is also a firm that genuinely cares about client satisfaction, as well as good design, thus Bruce understands budgetary constraints -- which can ultimately trigger design innovations. Homeowners would be very lucky to work with Bruce. He leaves a trail of happy houses & owners wherever he goes. Hire him!

We are thrilled with the bright, open space Wentworth, Inc. created in what was a dark, dingy basement. Their design expertise transformed our basement into a stylish space we use everyday. Construction went just as planned, on schedule and within budget. We highly recommend Wentworth, Inc.

Bruce Wentworth and his exceptionally professional team designed and constructed -- on time and within budget -- a beautiful kitchen, breakfast bay, outdoor terrace and master bath for our 1960's Bethesda home. Innovative design, attention to detail, fine work/craftsmanship, pleasant and efficient approach characterized their work. The inevitable hitches were handled promptly and positively. It was a pleasure to work with them and the results are excellent. We are signing a design contract now for another project!

When I hired Wentworth Inc., a full service "design/build" firm, I knew what I wanted as an outcome. Bruce Wentworth, head architect, met with me several times, listened very carefully to my vision, and wrote everything down that I told him. His team took my ideas and developed a plan that reflected exactly what I wanted. They also gave creative and brilliant solutions for some unresolved issues. They were aware that I would be residing in my residence while the work was going on . When the actual construction began all members of the construction team were considerate that I was in the house. My contact at this point was with the head contractor and lead architect, and they secured and supervised all sub-contractors and tradesmen. The design and craftsmanship of the work completed are superb, and my new home is a true joy to live in. Besides getting a new and beautiful home, there were no renovation nightmares. I would hire them again, in a minute.

Our kitchen and family room renovation was not our first construction project, having done 3 other major projects and built a house long-distance. We started this project with another design-build firm that has an excellent reputation in Washington, DC area, but we quickly severed that relationship--and walked away from our deposit--because neither the design nor the communication was what we wanted. The decision to change firms and start over ended up being a great decision. So we began interviewing--again. This time we hit the jackpot with Bruce Wentworth of Wentworth Inc. His three design proposals were inspired and gave us all of our wish list: walk-in pantry, no upper cabinets over the work areas (but lots of storage), large island, butler's pantry, clutter-free paper storage system, more open kitchen/family room, and overall a kitchen and family room that are a better fit for our 1926 house. We also had lots of little things that we wanted such as no outlets on the backsplash--no easy feat in those areas where we had no upper cabinets--and custom-designed pantry shelves, but they solved each item on my wish list, brilliantly. Before the construction began, we had a meeting so that we knew what to expect. Did any surprises arise? Of course they did--this is a house built in 1926! However, all those surprises were solved seamlessly by the design-build team. Any time I had a question or needed design advice, I was totally comfortable calling the architects and or talking with the lead carpenter, depending on what the question was. In addition, one of the architects went with me on all shopping trips to pick out, for instance, the countertops, the sink, the tile for the backsplash, the faucet, etc. Never was I sent to a showroom on my own. Sometimes, the architects had assembled the samples for me at their office and I made my decisions there. What an easy process that was, especially since the architects had already narrowed down the choices for me. All of the team members were professional, friendly, and as detail-oriented as I am. Oh, did I mention that the project was on budget AND on time? And the final result? Beyond our wildest dreams--everyone who walks in says it looks exactly like us, fits the house, and is gorgeous. Would I hire Wentworth again? Absolutely.