DESIGN-BUILD REMODELING
A connected path from the first scope conversation through construction.
Built by Design coordinates design direction and construction leadership for remodels and additions across Johnson County and the Kansas City area. Scope, homeowner priorities, selections, estimate conversations, and build planning develop as connected decisions, with Mike and Kristen leading their respective parts of the work.
The process helps homeowners understand what they need to decide, who is responsible, and how choices affect the work before construction begins.
A connected remodeling process
A remodel needs to work on paper and in your home. Design-build brings scope, design, selections, estimates, and construction planning into the same conversation.
Scope + design
Selections + estimates
You make the choices that shape daily life and personal style. BBD helps put those decisions in order and connects them to the work.
Before the first swing
A finished room brings many decisions together. Planning connects the layout, selections, scope, and order of work before construction begins.
Shelf lighting, wiring, and the finished wall need to be considered together before installation.
The sink, faucet, plumbing, and countertop openings all depend on coordinated placement.
Storage, appliance openings, and circulation shape how the finished space works day to day.
Planning doesn't remove concealed conditions, lead times, or local review. It gives your team a shared scope to work from when those realities need a response.
Your project, step by step
Start with the home and the change you want to make. Then connect the design, decisions, and build in a clear sequence.
Discover
Describe the space, address, what isn't working, and what you want to change. Photos or a wish list can help; you don't need a finished plan.
BBD reviews the project type, location, and planning needs. If it's a fit, the team discusses the next consultation or planning step.
Develop
You define daily needs and preferences. Kristen leads creative vision and design direction, connecting layout and finish choices to the work.
Cabinetry, surfaces, fixtures, and lighting refine the scope. Clearer decisions make estimate conversations more useful.
Deliver
Mike leads construction, project management, finance, and execution. Plan trades, sequencing, site conditions, and access around the approved scope.
Mike and Kristen stay close through the final walkthrough. Confirm updates and how field conditions and scope changes are recorded and approved.
Agree on the details
before work begins.
Every project has its own scope. Confirm the specific deliverables, communication rhythm, and how questions, decisions, and changes will be recorded and approved during planning.
PROJECT PROOF
These Kansas City area case studies use real project photography and show how several connected decisions came together within one scope.
OVERLAND PARK, KS
This addition connected roughly 1,000 square feet of new living space to an opened kitchen, a large living room, a mudroom-laundry, and a refreshed fireplace. The case study shows how layout, structure, storage, appliances, and finish continuity met in one scope.
LENEXA, KS
Opening the kitchen to nearby living areas affected the island, pantry and bar storage, appliances, lighting, and circulation. The finished project shows how practical planning and material choices support the same goal.
OLATHE, KS
One project coordinated an open kitchen, family-friendly island, new appliances, lighting, a primary bathroom, and a second bathroom. Its case study demonstrates the extra decisions that come with a connected multi-room scope.
PARKVILLE, MO
This Parkville basement brought a theater lounge, gaming area, wet bar, and dining nook into one connected lower level. The case study shows how layout, cabinetry, wood ceiling details, flooring, and lighting worked together across the finished space.
Understand responsibilities before choosing a team.
Connect occupied-home needs with trade sequencing.
Bring scope and investment questions into design discussions.
Plan debris removal and access around the property.
Include staging, protection, and pickup logistics in the site plan.
FAQAnswers, by design
Practical planning context for your project. Your project team confirms what applies after a walkthrough and written scope review.
For Built by Design, it means design direction, scope development, selections, estimate conversations, and construction leadership stay connected within one team. Exact deliverables and project documents still depend on the approved scope, so homeowners should review those details before work begins.
Built by Design reviews the project type, location, and planning needs. If the project appears to be a fit, the team talks through the next step, which may be a deeper consultation, planning work, or a clearer scope conversation before useful numbers are possible.
Homeowners set priorities, explain how the rooms need to function, react to layout direction, make applicable product and finish selections, and decide among tradeoffs that affect scope. The team guides the order and construction context for those decisions.
Kristen Schwartz is the interior designer and leads design direction. Mike Schwartz leads construction and operations. Both stay close to the client experience through the final walkthrough.
Scope, selections, site conditions, and budget expectations are discussed before construction. The purpose is to connect estimate conversations to a clearer project definition, not to promise a price before the work is understood.
Mike and Kristen stay close to the work and client experience. For your project, ask how updates will be shared and how questions, site conditions, cost impacts, and scope changes will be recorded and approved. Design-build keeps responsibility connected, but it doesn't replace written scope and change procedures.
With separate providers, the homeowner may hire a designer and builder at different stages and help manage the handoff between them. That approach can work well with complete documents and steady communication. Design-build keeps planning and construction leadership in one team, which can simplify coordination for homeowners who prefer one connected process.
Choose your project
Design-build is how we run every project. Each space has its own planning questions, with scope, selections, and construction considered together.
Johnson County + Kansas City metro
Based in Overland Park, we plan and build remodels across Johnson County and the Kansas City metro, on both sides of the state line.
We come to you.
Home visits are arranged with you. Our Overland Park office isn't open for client visits.
Send the project type, location, and a short description. Photos can be discussed after your request. Built by Design will review the scope and explain the appropriate next conversation.
