"I work in real estate finance and it is rare that I come across such a complementary partnership in the construction world. Nick and his team are technically excellent and the quality of workmanship is genuinely second to none. Even when compared to some of the prime central London schemes that I've funded, BBD would hold their own against some of the top London developers. The fact that they keep subcontractors to a minimum means they have full control over the key aspects of project delivery and getting your home finished on time is as important to them as it will be to you.
Karen has an exceptional eye for detail. She is very pragmatic and solution orientated while genuinely wanting the best result for the project and the home owner. She has been instrumental from start to finish in our project and is an excellent communicator so you feel fully in the loop at all times. You certainly feel that the its not just about her profit margin but also about creating an amazing house that has the opportunity to become an exceptional family home.
What BBD have given us is beyond our dreams for what a forever house can be and we are eternally grateful.
Nick and Karen are and amazing husband and wife team and their ethos of inspiring excellence through dedication, hard work and superior client experience has clearly become the back bone in everything that BBD and each one of their team members strive for. If you are considering a big house project, and you understand the old adage of 'you get what you pay for' I can't recommend BBD more highly.
George, London N8
"BBD have made our house beyond my wildest dreams! Every little detail is exquisite, and Karen and Nick listened to our ideas very carefully all along the way and then translated them expertly into materials and features, suggesting excellent design elements and products as we went.
I was blown away by the meticulous detail Karen kept of every aspect of the project. Karen was also incredibly considerate of our busy lives working and with small children and went out of her way to help us plan a workable schedule. I felt completely in safe and trusted hands the whole way along our extensive project.
The site team was equally considerate, especially given that we lived on site, in one way or another, the whole time. We were always grateful for foreman Slawek's cheerful presence and quick action if we needed some help. We felt secure with site manager Andrew's encyclopaedic knowledge of the project, and our baby's favourite person is electrician Adam!
Overall, our home is absolutely gorgeous - and the details are mind-blowing: brass edging, beautifully sourced and finished slate, insanely meticulous tiling, cutting edge insulation, plumbing, and electrics, and flawless finishes. I could go on, but let me just add two more very important points. First, the team always kept our site extremely clean and tidy - to the point that neighbours would go out of their way to comment on the site care favourably to me.
Second, I always felt that Karen and Nick went out of their ways to make the process smooth for us - whether calling the council about pavement repairs, helping to source a sofa, or making special surprise features for our children to make them feel welcome in their new home. Thank you for everything, BBD - it has been an absolute pleasure, and dare I say it - we will miss you when this is all over!"
Elizabeth, London N8
"At all stages of the work, and through a dedicated group of people, Builders by Design brings a positive energy as well as care for the clients brief and attention to detail.
Builders by Design understands the meaning of team work, and the importance of communication to achieve high quality.
That is priceless."
Bernard Tulkens, Tectonic Architects
We hired Builders by Design to be the main contractor for an extensive renovation we did in a mid-terrace house in West London. The project included digging a 700sqf basement, a complete remodelling of the ground floor to create one open space, and a complete remodelling of the first floor, to turn three small rooms into an ensuite master bedroom.
It was not an easy project technically, and it was complicated by the close proximity of the neighbours. Karen and Nick navigated the challenges beautifully. They were open, communicative, industrious and flexible with us, and courteous and empathetic with the neighbours. They take great pride in delivering a beautiful product, are truly passionate about the job and are immersed in all details. Their workmen have always been pleasant and professional.
The ambience around the project could not have been more positive; I cannot recall even one moment of tension or disagreement. The project was finished on time and on budget, and the house looks magnificent. There have been a few small post-delivery repairs to be done, and Karen and Nick took full responsibility and acted quickly and efficiently. Its been a great partnership!
Noam and Garry London W6
Studio-P has worked with Builders by Design on several small to large scale residential projects over the last 5+ years. This has been an extremely successful and enjoyable collaboration allowing us to complete a variety of different projects to a high standard.
BBD's attention to detail during the tender stage leads to a price that is a realistic reflection of the work involved. The skill-set of the team allows BBD to complete the works without the need to enlist a selection of sub-contractors. This ensures the quality of the build and gives confidence to the architect/ designer that the contractor is in control of all parts of the build.
The on-site management of the projects and the wealth of experience brought by the whole team has meant that a project we completed won a RIBA regional & national award in 2017. Their commitment to completing the project to the exacting standards that the client and designer wanted is impressive and is the reason why we have chosen to work with BBD on several of our projects.
Peter Barry Studio-P Architects
We asked Builders by Design to completely refurbish our Victorian Terrace throughout including the construction of a new rear extension housing both a new kitchen and bathroom. Having seen first-hand the quality and craftsmanship put into the work of other projects, our decision to proceed was without hesitation. From the initial planning meetings right through to the subsequent phases of demolition, construction through to final finishing, our engagement was always built on the spirit of a professional and positive relationship.
Karen, Nick and every single individual on the team performed work to an exceptional standard. Everyone on site was a craftsman in their own right, taking enormous pride in their work and not accepting anything less. On numerous occasions they would complete tasks to a level of quality we had not anticipated. The teams complete coordination with external suppliers for carpentry and sanitary-ware was also one that removed any cause for concern. Lukasz and Andrew, overseeing the day to day onsite work demonstrated such enthusiasm that we were able to feel confident that each successive trip to the site would be an eye opening experience.
The outcome is that we are thrilled with the finished product, from the finishing to the aspects that cannot be seen so much on the surface, such as the excellent work and attention to detail put in by Adam for the electrical and audio video connectivity. Still to this day, numerous visitors to our house comment on how beautiful the house is and how complimentary they are of the finish. We can say with some confidence that the success of our refurbishment is put down to Karen, Nick and the rest of the team.
Our gratitude goes to the team for making our thoughts and ideas come into a beautiful reality.
Rob and Yeray, London SW11
