Blue Horse Building & Design

The entire team at Blue Horse Building & Design is incredibly talented and the BEST in the business. From concept inception, to design, to execution, Fred and Jake have an incredible team of top-notch professionals that truly cater to their client's needs and desires. I've had the privilege of working with their team for my clients, on the development side, and now on my personal residence, and I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Highly, highly recommend!!!

I had my eye on Blue Horse a couple years before taking the leap to start my project. I was impressed with their portfolio of finely crafted homes and was blown away by the many outstanding reviews posted by happy clients. It’s clear past and present clients are thankful they partnered with Blue Horse to build or remodel their family home. This was paramount in my decision to select Blue Horse for my project. The Blue Horse team takes great pride in delivering an outstanding experience as well as an outstanding product. Jake has been phenomenal at guiding me through the various stages of design and site prep and remains graciously patient while helping me navigate value-engineer options that won’t sacrifice design. His attention to detail, willingness to workshop conceptual ideas, and solutions-based approach to project management have given me great confidence that I chose the right builder for my project. Jake, Fred, and team are an elite group of professionals who strive for excellence and are in it for the long haul. I highly recommend you give them a shout - you’ll be glad you did.

Incredible professionalism and quality. 100% recommend this builder for a new house or remodel. They have amazing design skills and will work diligently to deliver a beautiful and solid project.

Jake and his team at Blue Horse consistently provide my clients with professional expertise and the highest level of customer service. Building a custom home is a huge undertaking and even more challenging in a pandemic. Blue Horse's commitment to high quality and service has made this a most enjoyable adventure, which is how building your dream home should be.

We began our Blue Horse Journey about two and a half years ago, starting with the idea for a remodel, and over the course of a year or so, coming to the idea of a complete demolition (including the foundation) and new build. If it weren't enough that we are definitely not the easiest of clients to deal with (big ideas, tight budgets, obsessive difficulty making final decisions, constant questioning), life saw fit to offer a large list of other challenges. Let's demolish a 30 year old house, live in an RV 20 feet away with two dogs, design and build something completely new, lift the design from a country where building standards are entirely different than they are in the US, and do it through a divorce, a presidential election, a global pandemic with crazy supply chain frustrations, illnesses from all sides, impossibly backed up subs, and the great Austin snowmaggedon of 2020. What could go wrong? Seventeen months later, we are thrilled to say that we are living in a home we adore, and so very grateful to Jake, Mike, Nick and Karl for sticking with us to deliver a project which exceeds our expectations in so many ways. It's a relatively small house (2100 sf) but incorporates our primary mission (simultaneous indoor/outdoor living) beautifully, and was so very thoughtfully situated to maximize our views and the shade of our treaty oaks. Every single finish was painstakingly considered, and I very much doubt you could find a higher quality build anywhere in Texas, much less Austin. Everyone, and we mean EVERY one at Blue Horse takes an immense amount of pride in their work, and it shows. Details matter, and no stone is left unturned to make sure they translate your vision of the details into reality. We found we needed/wanted to source some materials from vendors outside the Blue Horse "community", and despite having NO clue what kind of quality they were going to see, Jake and Mike patiently and graciously handled that with us. We were all happy to find that the materials met or exceeded expectations, but part of what makes Blue Horse stand SO far out from the rest of the crowd is their willingness to work so very hard to make sure your home is exactly what you want and need. Since we were on site for the entire build, we can also assure you these guys show up when they say they will, usually with about 15 minutes lead time. Throughout the build we could set our clocks by their arrival, even in untoward weather. One of us had previously built a home and knew to be impressed, the other was merely spoiled. Mike and Nick have gone way above and beyond to communicate clearly, set realistic expectations and do exactly what they say they are going to do and then some. We could not be more impressed or grateful. And they all like dogs. Can it get any better? Please count on us to answer questions or sing your praises to any future clients you may have, and thank you for such an amazing home!

2 year ago, we did a total remodel of our house here in Austin, Texas, and we would do it all over again.....Without hesitation (with Blue Horse that is...) Jake, Mike and Dan at Blue horse Building and Design made the process incredibly easy and not unpleasant! , as you might expect with any construction/remodel job.. At all times, everyone was completely professional and responsive to our needs. From the anticipated budget, to timings, to end results, ....nothing was unexpected or a surprise. When we asked for something , they would respond with realistic answers/pricing/expectations, and we would make an informed decision based on their input, experience, and judgement. My wife invariably would make a last minute request, and they would find a way to make it happen if it was possible. And I thank them for that too. Happy wife... At this point, we have been back in our home now for a couple of years with no issues whatsoever. Everything is solid and well done. I have attached some before and after pics to show what was accomplished is just under 6 months with these guys. Crazy efficient...and really pretty cool. It's a beautiful space now, and well worth the investment. Thanks Jake, Dan, Mike , Terri, Lyndon, and Al (At Supreme Hardwood flooring). Looking forward to the next project! Note: You'll find this review also posted on other websites, so don't be surprised!

From our very first meeting with Jake, we knew that Blue Horse was our perfect partner in building our dream home. We were likely not the easiest clients— after saving for years, we were on an extremely tight budget on one hand— and on the other, and we had lots of requirements about materials and design, given that we ourselves have backgrounds in architecture and strong “vision” for what we wanted from a material safety and “taste” standpoint. Nonetheless, we were amazed about the tremendous amount of expertise, discernment, quality, and communication we had at every juncture with Blue Horse. They dove in to the process of to truly understanding and supporting what we wanted, and did their upmost to ensure that what was built reflected our vision. At many points in the process we may have doubted ourselves, but never Blue Horse. Jake and Mike (our site superintendent) helped us accomplish what many might have considered an impossible balancing act between budget and taste, and they were supportive and professional from start to finish—and beyond— we still call Mike and Jake for questions and support almost a year after moving in. Unlike many builders, Blue Horse is a team of idealists in the sense that they want the best for each and every detail and aspect of the project. It is clear that Jake and Mike and the rest of the Blue Horse team build houses because they love the craft of building— they approach each project as an opportunity to create something special and quality, and bring passion and optimism to each and every juncture. They never cut corners, and they have the experience and heartfelt commitment to ensure that each project ends up the best it can be. They are honest, trustworthy, extremely reliable, available, and amiable. Compared the the upscale scope of projects Blue Horse usually builds, our house may have been a relatively small project, but we always felt like we were their top priority. We were happy to emerge feeling like Blue Horse supported us in all ways through the complex process of building a home— and, thanks to them, it felt in many ways easy and attainable-- when for others who use less qualified or experienced and professional builders— it could obviously be a much more stressful process. We now have not only a beautiful and well built home, but lifelong friends in the people who we came to know so well through the process of building (Jake and Mike) and we hope that anyone reading this review leaps at the chance to have the same.

Blue Horse team was great to work with! They completed a shower remodel to fix what another company did all wrong. The communication, thorough explanation, attention to detail and overall customer service and quality was outstanding. Their passion for the building process is impressive. I would highly recommended for any project, large or small.

I would recommend Blue Horse Building & Design for your next project. Excellent customer service and design consultation. They walked us through each phase that matched there schedule and statement of construction. There team was skilled, courteous, responsible, and safe. Project Management was on point and there project manager on site was very informative and really cares about there project satisfaction. Give them a shout!! Best Tony Parent Dripping Springs Texas

Blue Horse was a true pleasure to work with and highly professional. Our bathrooms were a challenging remodel, but Blue Horse put their best team members on the job and they were amazing . We even had custom cabinetry done and their attention to detail was impressive. We couldn’t be more pleased.

This project was the renovation of the upstairs of an already-existing barn. It included the addition of beautiful, big picture windows, lots of closet space (and even a little playhouse up under the eaves), two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a nice living area, and a great kitchen/dining area. The workmanship is exquisite, and the people in charge were easy to access and responsive to questions. I highly recommend Blue Horse!

We've had the great folks at Blue Horse help us with two renovation projects and they were fantastic! We understood they usually do larger projects and new construction, but we were patient and willing to work around their schedule to get them to help us. They built an addition to our home to create a large office for two and completely rebuilt an old outbuilding from the studs up into a stunning guesthouse. We couldn't be happier with the quality of their work, it is really excellent and of high craftsmanship! We highly recommend them. It is clear they have great and well-developed relationships with their team and vendors because the operation was a very well-lubed machine and the results were exactly what we wanted. They were very neat in their cleanup (every day!) and their communication was simply excellent. Finally, they were our first foray into hiring a real contractor for a project, and they were very upfront on the costs and delivered the completed project on schedule and on budget. It is rare to find a team that delivers on all fronts, but this is what you get from Blue Horse. We are so happy to have trusted them with our odd projects and they really elevated our property. Thanks y'all!

Jake & Fred were a pleasure to have build our house! The whole process was very professional and on budget. This is the 3rd house I have built, I was very impressed to have a full time assigned foremen to our project. He was on site daily and always answered questions we had. I would defiantly hire Blue Horse to build my next house.

We bought a new build custom Blue Horse house and lived in it for 4 years. Every detail was impressive - the way they thoughtfully kept mature trees on the property, amazing finish standards, a living space that was an incredible pleasure to call home every day. The quality of the house itself and the architecture alone would be enough for us to recommend Blue Horse to anybody looking for their next home. When the time came to move back to Europe + sell (with heavy heart!), an over zealous property inspection did its best to find what faults it could, but the house was sturdily built and they could only find the most minor, cosmetic issues. We had a short closing and worried that it might be too short a timeframe to get Blue Horse's help for the one issue raised which was covered under warranty. We were blown away by the fast and professional response from their team who went out of their way to facilitate the resale of the house. We only wish they built houses in the UK!

I would highly recommend Blue Horse Building and Design. We started a build with Blue Horse in 2015. We have been in our home for over three and a half years and absolutely love it. Any question or need we have had since has been responded to and answered immediately. Recently we had a mishap; I noticed a water mark on our ceiling in our downstairs bath. Our daughters bath is directly above. We had quick response from BHB. Mike McNamara is wonderful. His decision was to start with checking the plumbing and drain beneath the tub. Unfortunately we were not able to determine the problem. When that possibility became a fail, it was determined that the leak was due to a tile issue. Within one week they had removed the existing tile and green rock; also required for the repair, the glass doors needed to be removed. Everything was replaced and reinstalled, again, within ONE week. All drywall repairs were made and any paint work needed was too completed (With zero cost to us, 3 ½ years after moving in). Blue Horse not only builds a quality home with attention paid to ALL details; they 100% back their homes. They have impeccable customer service. Our decision to use Blue Horse is one we are so grateful for and we would rebuild with them again with no question. I highly back and recommend them. Thank You Blue Horse!!

We hired Blue Horse in 2018 and had the home complete in 2019. Blue Horse was outstanding to work with every every step of the way. There attention to detail is amazing,- no detail is over looked. Mike, our project manager was on the job site every day and he was only a phone call away if we ever needed anything. We would highly recommend and use their services again!

I hired Blue Horse to build for me a guest ADU (accessory dwelling unit) on my property in Austin. The project was small in size (600sf) but a complex design in its modernity. The Blue Horse team did a tremendous job and their attention to detail, professionalism, and energy through all phases of the project was extremely impressive and reassuring. Special acknowledgment goes to Mike M., the onsite partner/GC, who is a seriously talented individual and was an absolute pleasure to work with. At one point mid-construction as things were cruising along, I semi-joked that we should embark on another project. Well I have no doubts that Mike, Jake and Blue Horse will continue to embark on numerous other creative, meticulous, elegant building projects. And for now, I get to enjoy the beautiful structure they skillfully built for me. A great company comprised of great individuals. 5+ stars.

These folks are wonderful to work with - flexible, professional, totally trust-worthy. I can recommend them wholeheartedly. They are in the process of completing my 2200 sq foot home and Jake and Mike in particular have each been a godsend.

We love Blue Horse! Our house isn't completed yet, but the process has been seamless and enjoyable. Jake and his team are highly responsive with great design skills.

Fred and Jake are two extraordinary professionals. They have an uncommon knowledge of all the Custom Building process and they are able to deliver outstanding results without surprises and misunderstandings. They are great in support the client trough all the process and helping to take the better decisions to make the process balanced. I have Top expectations and Bluehorse Building is going to be my partner for my real estate developments

We love Blue Horse - after we worked with them the first time they earned our loyalty and next project! These guys are are what you dream of when searching for a builder/designer. We ventured into our first Build/Design project ever with a small expansion of an office space. We spoke to 5-6 different firms and Blue Horse stood out for its beautiful, quality finishes and communication skills. Their bread and butter is likely new home constructions, yet were willing to take on our small project, which thrilled us. What we admired about the company - 1) their fantastic communication, 2) their team's experience and high quality of work, 3) they showed up when they said they would and met our schedule deadline, 4) they came in on budget, 5) they cleaned up at the end of every day, minimizing the eyesore and safety concerns around a construction site, 6) even our dogs loved them. No other vendor has come close to their attention to every detail. Somehow, Jake and Mike and the entire team just got us and our new office has surpassed our expectations. With this success we immediately got on the books for a larger project, the rebuild of an out-building to a lovely guest house. Again, they did a great job. They offered up so many creative suggestions that helped us stay on budget and build a new space that integrated beautifully with all the other structures on the property. Blue Horse B/D is just great people, efficient, smart, experienced, nimble, understanding and WOW we just love the beautiful spaces they created for us. We feel very fortunate and look forward to working with them again.

The amazing folks at Blue Horse listened our wants and needs for our dream home and made it a reality. From conception, to design, to build out, the team was easy to work with and left us with a stunning home that exceeded our expectations. It was especially helpful to have an experienced project manager onsite that held our hand through the process and made excellent finish and design suggestions. Our design included a rainwater collection system that has been invaluable during the drought last summer...and it looks really cool! I have and will continue to recommend Blue Horse to anyone in the Austin area who is looking for a builder.

We have been working with Jake and Mike over the last few months on the construction of our home. We have throughly enjoyed our experience with Blue Horse! They not only have been very knowledgeable, but they have been very timely at getting back to us with any questions we have had during our construction process. We not only would recommend them, but would hire them again in a heart beat!

We have been living in our beautiful Blue Horse custom home for one year, the experience we had during construction with Jake Bradley and Mike McNamara was top notch. Our home is located within Austin city limits and we experienced significant city related setbacks which Blue Horse handled with great professionalism. Mike McNamara was heavily involved in our build and we greatly appreciate his attention to detail and his assistance in doing things right. Our home was a unique design by an architect requiring onsite adaption which Jake and Mike handled with enthusiasm. When our architect first met Jake and Mike, he commented that we didn’t need to interview any other builders. Jake and Mike have an approachable demeanor and are genuinely interested in creating a real family home. They can handle any level of detail required. Many people would say after building a house, they would never want to endure that stress again, after our experience with Blue Horse we could absolutely say we would build again ONLY with them. If Blue Horse had a wait; we would wait for them until they were ready to add a new project.

As a architectural photography company, it is such a treat to be able to photograph above excellent work as is done by Blue Horse Building and Design. Crisp, clean and GORGEOUS subject matter! Thank you for being such a great client.

Blue Horse took our worn-out looking, 100-year-old home and turned it into a showpiece worthy of being on magazine covers (which it was, thanks to them!) The first thing we noticed was their consciousness. On the first project, the backyard/pool/garage/poolhouse build, the team spent time every single evening before they left, picking up each stray nail and any piece of garbage. They left NOTHING behind, even when they were coming back in 12 hours. The finished product was breathtaking. Then they worked with us to update the kitchen - I had been told kitchen remodels are a nightmare, but the Blue Horse team made it incredibly easy. They're honest about the *actual* time a project will take, so your expectations are set from the beginning. I love working with Blue Horse. The quality is uncompromising, exactly what you want in your home. You can't make a better choice than to hire Blue Horse - they'll make your home beautiful!

Love these guys, particularly Jake Bradley and Mike McNamara. Total commitment to superb craftsmanship, fine finishes, and a trove of great creative problem-solving as well. Couldn’t be happier - this project took close to two years and was by far the best construction experience I’ve ever had. And also one of the most satisfying creative collaborations of any kind that Ive been a part of.

Blue Horse just completed a stunning spec project (SF+ ADU) for me. They have been extremely easy and pleasant to work with. The end product exceeded everyone's expectation. In fact, one of the units sold with with the first 2 days on the market. Highly recommended!!

Hands down the reason why we decided to use BH was because we enjoyed their company. If you are going to invest 12+ months, good people make all the difference. There will be challenges and stressful times and having people that you enjoy and respect make all the difference. We are happy to call the BH team our friends for life. Regarding the construction quality, the home far exceeded our expectations due to the detailed craftsmanship (woodwork), the engineering thoughtfulness, and “sturdiness”. It might appear unrealistic to say it was a flawless build but to be honest…it was damn near close. If we were to build again, we would ONLY use Blue Horse, no questions asked.

Blue Horse does exceptional work and I would be happy to work with them on a future project. I have known Jake to be great to work with and would highly recommend them.

Blue Horse has always been great to work with over the years. They are prompt, professional, and take pride in their product. We have done several projects with them and are always happy to work with this group of professionals.

We chose Blue Horse for our custom home (design-build). Fred and Jake had great ideas, worked with our budget, and constructed a quality home. We'd work with them again.

Fred & Jake from Blue Horse were a pleasure to work with. Unlike many contractors, they were involved, vested in our interests and honest.

My experience using Blue Horse was very good. The craftsmanship was excellent, and the business practices, scheduling, attention to detail, etc. were handled very well. I would recommend this group.

Blue Horse Building is a thoughtful, detail-oriented, and well-managed construction company that we were happy to have worked with. So happy that we've already teamed up with them again for our next project. They truly embody a team effort and mentality that strengthens the architect-contractor relationship. This project was new construction restrained by a dramatic site as the house sat at the edge of a bluff overlooking the lake. Our team fought for every inch of the footprint to provide a fully programmed house, and throughout the process, Blue Horse Building offered tactful suggestions that met our design aesthetic. With our teams' collaboration, the result was a polished, budget-conscience house that fulfilled our clients' wishes. We look forward to the next project with Blue Horse.