Sustainable Design Services in Princeton, NJ

“When we bought our 1300 square foot bungalow in 2004, we knew that a renovation was in our future. The house needed major updating and in 2006, we hired Architect Stephen Rhoads to help us with that renovation. We had interviewed another architect, as well as a designer, however, it was clear that Stephen Rhoads was the right architect for us. Stephen is extremely knowledgeable, and creative as well as being friendly. He listened carefully to our wish list, and must haves, took notes, and even drew sketches with some ideas as we spoke. Eventually, Stephen turned our 1960 outdated bungalow, into a 2200 square foot dream home. Our family room with a stone fireplace and plenty of natural light is an addition to the back of the house. Our new kitchen opens to the family room complete with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and track lighting. Stephen designed a second floor with a Master bedroom with a spa like bathroom, and a studio with natural light. We also wanted a front porch and back deck, and better curb appeal which Stephen accomplished. He also designed a fieldstone patio, a front and back blue stone walkway, and helped us with some drainage issues in the back yard. Stephen Rhoads was able to come up with the perfect design so that we could have it all, and as the project manager, Stephen was on site every day making sure that the builder was doing their best work. We had several upgrades and change orders along the way, and Stephen negotiated with the contractor to get us the best deal possible. He also helped us get great deals on granite counter tops, faucets, lighting fixtures, and everything else that we needed to buy. Stephen is a wonderful problem solver with construction expertise, knowledge, and familiarity with the local building codes and laws. We are very happy with our renovated home, and highly recommend Architect Stephen Rhoads for any upgrading or renovation project.”

“I have known Stephen Samuels of DES Home Renovations for over a year now, and I can say he is one of the most detail-oriented people I've ever worked with. He truly cares that everything comes out perfect, and it shows in his work. From writing proposals to explaining things to homeowners to completing the project, Stephen and his team go through painstaking detail to make sure all of the details are exactly how he and the homeowner want them. If you're looking for a quality remodeling contractor who pays attention to detail (and doesn't just use that phrase as a selling point), I recommend DES.”

“Lasley Brahaney's crew did beautiful work on our new addition. They executed their tasks with skill and professionalism, handling all the details and keeping the stress level as low as possible. The workers were friendly, easy to talk to, and always willing to discuss any aspect of the project. Although our project was not a large one, the owner Marc took personal interest in making sure we were happy with all aspects of the work. We recommend Lasley Brahaney highly, and will definitely use them again if we have future construction projects.”

“Totally renovated our condo with remote control, double floor to ceiling blinds, & moved walls, put in beautiful wall coverings ie vinyls, quartz stone & gorgeous wallpapers! Great lighting choices, cool Murphy bed elegantly appointed bathrooms & kitchen Very professional & creative.”

“Cody build a custom mid century’esk chicken coop for us. May not seem like a big deal but we aren’t a normal couple. This was a huge double coop with 2 separate runs on a mountain. Cody was a professional through and through. Came up w a design and went to work. It’s been over a year now and I hear the foxes every night and haven’t lost a hen yet. Plus it looks amazing!”

“I thought that finding an honest contractor who follows through with what they promise would be impossible but decided to take the chance with Essential and finally do my first renovation. I was very nervous at first but the contractor Peter was extremely patient and was with me every step of the way. His team which included a talented designer put together a picture perfect kitchen, powder bathroom and master bedroom bathroom. I was blown away by the attention to detail and if you’re looking for a wonderful experience limiting your stress level for such a major project then Peter and his team are a great fit.”

“Lee was my architect of record for a gut renovation for a condo in Manhattan that is to commence this fall. He worked with my draftsman to get the initial drawings ready for approval by the building's management company's engineer and the building's board. He then worked diligently with my expeditor as she prepared the package of documents needed to submit for approval not only from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but also the DOB. Throughout the entire long drawn out process, Lee was attentive and responsive to any changes that were required. He quickly responded to any questions or concerns I had and worked collaboratively with all the other folks involved in moving this project along. If I ever need an architect for another project, I would not hesitate to call Leandro Dickson.”

“Van Buren Design Build recently completed a kitchen remodel for us. We are delighted with every aspect of the process. Zak, Frank and the entire team were professional while being very approachable. They all displayed expertise in each area of the remodel from the initial design to the finish and were very organized along the way. Our kitchen turned out just as we had dreamed. Our daughter, who also used them for a kitchen remodel, recommended VBDB to us . And, we will highly recommend them to our friends.”

“This was our second time working with the amazing team of contractors, project managers and designers at Prominent. They had previously done a spectacular job refinishing our basement (beams, bedroom, bathroom, storage, Martha Stewart mudroom, you name it). We were expecting twins and the need to expand our house was imminent. Our house is a hundred year old arts & crafts house so maintaining the integrity was essential. And being on schedule! We renovated our kitchen into a kitchen/great room area which therefore doubled our master bedroom and master bath located above. In addition, we created a bar room space where our former EIK was located and renovated our powder room. Lastly, we finished our third floor to be a guest suite with the most incredible bathroom ever. In addition, we added a new deck with under decking materials and had to rebuild stone walls-- I had no idea just how gorgeous this could be. A deck is not just a deck. The end result is nothing short of spectacular, extremely tasteful and maintained Arts & Crafts integrity although my husband and I were adamant that although we liked the linear style and functionality of A&C, we did not like the "darkness." Prominent stayed within our budget unless my husband and I personally strayed afar. They advised us when aesthetically we could all make a better choice. They were available 24/7, literally and if we had even the smallest emergencies, someone from Prominent was in our home immediately. I also love that Promiment Design factors into every project. Having Traci to literally help us with the tile work, cabinetry, paint colors, furniture layouts, the babies' nursery was such a wonderful finishing touch. Our home would not be the same otherwise. I am really not being overly sensationalistic here. We have truly had an amazing experience working with Prominent and having to live out the end of my pregnancy in my basement, and the first two months with twins, 2 big dogs, baby nurse and so forth down there, they did everything possible to expedite and keep us very comfortable.”

“Themis and ReBuild were fantastic to work with. We heard so many horror stories about projects that ended up double the timeline and double the price; Themis, Peter and their team kept those nightmares from being our reality. Thanks to their careful management, we ended up finishing the project right on budget and nearly on time - seemingly unheard of in New York City renovations. Even more vital, Themis was as concerned as we were about the small details along the way, and as a result, we ended up with high-quality construction. We couldn't have been more pleased with our experience and final product!”