Elevated Design Build

I was fortunate to meet David Kaplan with Elevated Design Build to complete my home addition project. Each step of the project was clearly communicated from our initial meeting to completion. Professionalism, courtesy, honesty, concern, guidance, decision-making and vision were valued throughout the project. Dave and his staff "heard" my vision and helped make that happen. We faced an extra review step due to the historic designation of my 100 year old home and problem solved to satisfy all involved. Setbacks are a part of any project and were met with professional guidance and discussion for successful mitigation of said problem as we progressed to a completed project. The addition has become an area of my home that is enjoyed daily. If only you could hear each time friends exclaim "that beam and those windows are beautiful" as your craftsmanship shines throughout. Thanks Dave (and all of the Elevated Design Build staff) - it's been an adventure, I've learned a lot and would do this again. It's been a pleasure to work with each of you!

I had the pleasure of working with Dave and the crew at Elevated Design Build on two separate projects starting in October of 2019. At every step, Dave and every member of the team were professional, courteous and remarkable, exceeding all of my expectations. The first project was a backyard, covered porch/patio. I have a small house and unremarkable yard, but wanted to add usable, functional, beautiful outdoor living space to make the most of the ample opportunities to hangout outside. Going into the project, I had some rough ideas, but mostly I was looking to work with an artist and a timber craftsman and see what they could brew up. Dave stood in the yard, sketched a bit, took out his tape and then made the magic happen. He considered every detail from sun shadow to season shade angles to the importance of a ceiling fan for keeping bugs down. Within a week I had a computer rendering, some shadow simulations and a plan. Then a proposal, and then a meeting to talk about how to get the ball rolling. Each step had honest conversations about budget, where to spend smart money, and how to add subtle details. In the end, I have a gorgeous, high-quality addition to my outdoor living space that I use every day and smile now just thinking about it. Every craftsman that worked on my project paid attention to every detail, nuance and step knowing it was work to them but it was a dream project to me. I could not be more satisfied with the final product. The positive experience with this large patio project prompted a smaller one working on a timberframe feature around my woodstove hearth. It was a fraction of the scale of the patio, but the same art and care ran through every stage of this project too. Ballpark ideas to start, then honing in, smooth planning and execution. Every detail of the process covered with extreme focus, care and professionalism in addition to artistic flare and outstanding craftsmanship. Excellent experience, highly recommended.

There are tons of design/build firms out there who can stick some boxes together and call it a ‘design’ – far fewer are they who have the gift of being able to thoughtfully and patiently listen to your ideas and hopes and dreams, to look at your drawings and the photos you have collected, to visit your site and carefully consider the arc of the sun, the lay of the land, the direction that the fierce winds come from in deep winter, and then to pull everything together into spaces and geometries that resonate with you, that cause you to know in your bones, “this is ME, this is US, this is IT”, and then to have the technical experience and logistical capability to turn that vision into physical reality. Elevated Design Build are true craftsmen as well as good human beings. Although their documentation is top-notch, I’d do business with them (again) on a handshake. I can recommend them without qualification.