When it’s not enough to simply update a kitchen, The David Brown Construction Company adds the art
By Patricia Nugent
As a skilled carpenter by trade, and the son of a master carpenter, David Brown has thrived in the highly competitive home remodeling business for more than 40 years by learning the value of surrounding himself with talent.
“I believe we’ve earned a reputation for being perfectionists,” says David, who founded The David Brown Construction Company in 1978. “That means a lot to me. My crew of carpenters and craftspeople is extremely conscientious. If any problem comes up during a project, they have the skills to handle it.”
What is also important, he adds, is that they bring that level of craftsmanship to every job, no matter how big or how small.
“I personally did not grow up in a family that had a lot of money,” he says. “For many jobs, I appreciate that the family may have saved for years to afford the renovation, and I’m thankful they put their trust in us. Those are the ones that tug at my heartstrings.”
Nothing succeeds like success, and David has built his business on word of mouth. The company renovates about 100 kitchens each year, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.
“God is in the Details”
The massive Richfield kitchen renovation featured in this story is a perfect example of what’s possible in terms of custom detail work.
“We transformed it from dark and dated to light and bright,” he says. “The previous palette and styles were a nod to the 1990s, when the home was built.”
He explains this was a job where the “good bones” were already there. They did not have to knock down walls or change its original footprint.
It’s said that God is in the details, and no one appreciates that more than David.
“There was a section of wall that needed a solution for marrying two dissimilar moldings, so a corbel was called for,” he says. “Having our own woodworking shop allowed us to custom design an ornate corbel that added a dash of elegance to the overall space. Carpenters are by nature detail-oriented guys, that’s where we shine.”
Storage space and functionality were both important to the homeowner, so they replaced short cabinets with tall ones that went up to the ceiling, and included some lighted, glass-fronted panels on top to draw attention to fancy serving pieces that meant something to the homeowner.
To open up the space and streamline flow, they moved the microwave from over the stovetop to beneath the countertop in the island.
“Over the years, the microwave has migrated from sitting on the countertop to over the range, to its new trending spot in a base cabinet,” says David. “We’re doing this in more and more renovations, as it frees up space and declutters the design.”
Reflective of Homeowner’s Tastes
David says over the years, he’s enjoyed staying ahead of trends. He’s worked with many interior designers and values those relationships.
“I remember eight to 10 years ago when my first client asked for gray walls and gray cabinets and people were surprised, then it went on to become all the rage, the only color everyone asked for in a renovation,” he says, laughing. “If there’s been a shift in renovation since I started, it’s in the staggering amount of selections people have now in colors, finishes and styles. Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, for cabinets, they could pretty much choose between light oak or dark oak and raised panel or flat panel. That was it. Today the manufacturers have risen to the demand for selection and people have hundreds of samples to choose from. It can be a little overwhelming, and it helps that I guide the homeowner to put together a look they love. I have hundreds of photos I show them of kitchens we’ve done so they can see more than just a tiny sample.”
When the job is over, David says he feels pride in creating a space that is a reflection of the homeowner’s taste, everything they love to surround themselves with.
Although kitchen renovation is the company’s sweet spot, people often reach out to them for things like flooring or replacement windows, anything on the interior of a home, and David says they don’t mind doing those jobs either.
He definitely falls in the “any job worth doing, is worth doing well” category of remodelers.
“Even after all these years, I bring the same passion to work every day,” he says. “To be able to take something that’s mediocre, or even bad, and make it special and personalized to the client is particularly satisfying.”
The David Brown Construction Company is located at 4702A E. 355th Street, in Willoughby. They handle jobs throughout Northeast Ohio. For more information or to receive a free estimate, call 440-571-4199. You may email David directly at David@TheDavidBrownCompany.com. Check out all the dramatic before and after photos on his Facebook page, Facebook.com/DavidBrownConstruction/.