What is the difference between design-build and hiring a general contractor?

With a traditional GC, you hire a designer separately, then bring in the contractor. This creates a gap: the GC didn’t design it and may value-engineer your choices without your input. Design-build eliminates that gap — the team that designs the project also builds it, with full accountability throughout.

How does the design-build process work?

It begins with a consultation to understand your goals and budget. Our designers then develop concepts, material selections, and detailed plans. Once approved, the build phase begins with the same team — no handoff to a separate contractor.

Custom Design-Build in Middle Tennessee

Q: Is design-build more expensive than hiring separately?

Not typically. Design-build often reduces total cost by eliminating the gaps and miscommunications that drive change orders when designers and contractors work separately. You also save the time and stress of managing two separate contracts.

Design-build is a project delivery method in which a single firm handles both the architectural design and the construction under one contract. Brick & Beam Homes is a full-service design-build remodeler serving Thompson's Station, Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and across Middle Tennessee — managing every project from initial concept through final installation without handing work off to a separate contractor.

The traditional model — hire a designer, then separately hire a contractor — creates an inherent gap. The contractor didn't design the project and may quietly substitute materials or value-engineer your selections without your knowledge. The designer isn't on the job site and can't enforce what they drew. Design-build closes that gap entirely.

Our designers and builders are the same team. What's designed is what gets built. You have one point of contact, one accountable firm, and a process engineered to deliver exactly what was envisioned — on schedule and on budget.

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At a Glance

One contract, one team, one contact
In-house design + construction
Full material selection guidance
All permits handled by Brick & Beam
Serving Middle Tennessee

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What We Deliver

The Design-Build Process

From first conversation to final walkthrough — every step managed under one roof.

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Discovery & Consultation We meet at your home to understand your goals, vision, lifestyle, and budget — before any design work begins.

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Concept Design Space planning, layout options, and concept direction developed and presented for your feedback.

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Material & Finish Selection Guided selection of every material — cabinetry, tile, countertops, hardware, lighting, flooring — with professional design direction.

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Construction Documents Detailed drawings and specifications prepared for permitting and as the binding guide for construction.

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Permit Management All permits pulled and managed with your local municipality — you don't navigate the process.

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Construction The same team that designed the project builds it — with regular site updates and a dedicated project manager.

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Quality Control Throughout Our design team visits the job site regularly to ensure what's being built matches what was designed — down to the last detail.

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Final Walkthrough & Reveal A thorough punch-list review and final walkthrough to ensure every detail meets your expectations before we close the project.

Why Design-Build

The Advantages

01

No Gap Between Design and Construction

When designers and builders are the same team, what's designed is what gets built. There's no translation layer, no contractor substituting materials without your knowledge, no budget surprises from design decisions that didn't account for build costs.

02

Faster Decisions, Faster Projects

Design questions that would take days to route between separate firms get resolved in hours when design and build are under one roof. This keeps projects moving on schedule.

03

Single Point of Accountability

With a traditional model, if something isn't right, the designer blames the contractor and the contractor blames the designer. With design-build, there's one firm responsible for the outcome. Period.

04

Better Budget Control

Our designers make material and layout decisions with full knowledge of build costs. This eliminates the expensive surprises that occur when a designer specifies something the contractor then has to price out — after you've already fallen in love with it.

Common Questions

Design-Build FAQ

A design-build firm handles both the architectural design and construction under one roof. One contract, one team, one point of contact — from the first sketch through the final walkthrough. You're not managing a relationship between a separate designer and contractor; you're working with one firm accountable for both.

With a traditional GC, you hire a designer separately, then bring in the contractor after the design is done. This creates a gap: the GC didn't design it and may value-engineer your choices without your knowledge. Design-build eliminates that gap — the team that designs the project also builds it, with full accountability throughout.

We handle kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, whole home remodels, home additions, outdoor living spaces, and custom millwork — all under our design-build model. Every project, regardless of size, benefits from having design and construction under one roof.

It begins with a consultation at your home to understand your goals, vision, and budget. Our designers develop concept layouts, material selections, and detailed construction documents. Once you've approved the design, the build phase begins with the same team — no handoff to a separate contractor, no gap in knowledge or accountability.

Not typically. Design-build often reduces total project cost by eliminating the gaps and miscommunications that drive change orders when designers and contractors work separately. It also reduces the time and stress of managing two separate contracts, two separate schedules, and two separate firms pointing at each other when something goes wrong.

Serving All of Middle Tennessee

Brick & Beam Homes serves Thompson's Station, Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, Nolensville, Spring Hill, Murfreesboro, Columbia, and surrounding Williamson and Davidson County communities.

Custom Design & Build