Starting the renovation journey- 2 critical options to understand when assembling your remodeling team.
Welcome to the start of an exciting chapter! I’m so glad you’ve decided to follow along as we renovate what will be our forever home—a 1950s Cape Cod in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin near the shores of Lake Michigan, just outside Milwaukee.
My husband and I loved the home we raised our two young girls in down the road. It was beautiful, patiently remodeled and decorated over many years. It served us well. However, our family needs were evolving. As our girls quickly became young adults, we began to evaluate how and where we wanted to live the next chapter. Though we weren't planning to move soon, we knew our family home wasn’t ideal for the long haul. While many people might downsize at this stage, we envisioned different space—for family gatherings, room for guests, and the possibility of our children returning with their friends, or even their families someday.
The main draw to move now? First-floor living—a rare gem in the local Northshore Milwaukee housing market. We knew about a home just a mile away with all the potential we could want. This 1950s ranch, though modestly updated over the years, was formerly owned by my in-laws, who enjoyed the house for two decades and hosted most of our family holidays there. We had many cherished memories in this home and understood the untapped potential it offered. With mostly cosmetic updates over the years, the house was suitable for a meaningful renovation. It had ample space, a lovely floorpan and large foyer that somehow makes everyone feel welcome the moment they walk into the home. It was a blank canvas that would allow me to bring design ideas to life.Â
The house was ready for a full-scale kitchen remodel and bathroom renovations. An unusual amount of second floor attic space was ready-made for construction of dormers to unlock previously unused square footage—providing more bedrooms and boosting the home’s real estate value. As an interior designer working on other people's projects, this was my chance to create the home of my own dreams. It’s a different experience designing for yourself, and in many ways, more challenging than designing for others. But I was excited for the endeavor.
When it comes to large-scale renovations and home remodeling, many homeowners choose a full-service design-build firm. However, we wanted to apply my design expertise and assemble our own team, including an architect and builder we felt would be the perfect fit for our project. The planning process officially began a year ago.
As anyone who’s undergone a renovation knows, the planning phase always takes longer than expected—and that’s okay. We wanted to live in the home, be thoughtful, and avoid rushing decisions that could lead to costly mistakes. We wanted to get this right.
We decided to break the renovation into two phases. Initially, we hoped to tackle the entire first floor, leaving the upstairs for a later phase. However, the roof needed replacement. Knowing we would tear into the roof to create new dormers, we had to prioritize the second floor and roof immediately before addressing the primary suite on the first floor. While it wasn’t ideal, we knew it was the right decision. Â
Assembling our teamÂ
We engaged an architect, Meg from HB Designs http://www.hbdesignsarchitecture.com/about.html, who is widely respected in the local Whitefish Bay housing market. Meg from HB Designs is a trusted collaborator I have worked with before. Her insight into the architectural needs of the home was invaluable. Her ability to listen to my vision and bring it to life was exactly what we needed. Meg is not only incredibly skilled but also a pleasure to work with. Meg regularly collaborates with a select group of builders, and we knew immediately we wanted to take her advice to heart. After considering several options, we chose LaBonte Construction https://labonteconstructionllc.com/about-us/management/amp/. With years of experience in high-end residential remodeling, they frequently work with independent designers like myself—and, just as importantly, they felt like the perfect fit for our project. We hit it off right away, and their reputation for quality and professionalism made the decision easy.
Labonte offeres a pre-construction service which I now consider a best-practice. They attend every design meeting along the way, informing the client, designer and architect of construction considerations and general budget concerns as the planning takes place. Having their input at the early stages of planning streamlined the process and results in fewer costly change orders down the line. Not only was this service a significant time and money saver for the planning process, but the deposit is applied to the project.
To Recap: Key Renovation Decisions
Decision 1: Do You Want a Design-Build Firm or the Freedom to Assemble Your Own Team?
Pros of a Design-Build Firm:
Fewer decisions upfront
Streamlined communication between designer and builder
"One-stop shopping"
Pros of an Independent Team:
More ideas brought to the table from different perspectives
Fresher, more tailored design that reflects your specific aesthetic
A remodel that stands out from others
Greater control and the option to seek multiple bids
Access to higher-level planning expertise through an architect
Transparent pricing and ability to compare bids from various builders
There’s no right or wrong choice here—it’s all about how you want to approach the process. Whether you choose a design-build firm or assemble your own team, both options come with their own set of benefits.
I hope this gives you a clearer idea of how we’re approaching this renovation! Stay tuned as we continue to document the process and share insights on everything from design decisions to unexpected challenges. Thanks for joining me on this exciting journey!
What would you prefer ?
Full Service Design Build Firm
Hiring your own designer and Architect
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