Design-Build Remodeling · Fort Worth
Design-Build Remodeler in Fort Worth
One team. One roof. One conversation. No more juggling an architect, a contractor, and a designer who don't talk to each other.
Most Fort Worth homeowners who want to remodel or add on don't know there's another way. The usual path: hire an architect, wait three to six months, pay $8,000–$25,000 for plans. Then shop those plans to contractors. Then hire a designer. Now four parties are in the conversation, none of them in the same room. Mid-project, something has to change. Now you're paying to coordinate three vendors who each blame the other two.
We built 6th Ave Homes to be the opposite. In-house designers, in-house draftsmen drawing permit-ready plans, in-house construction PMs, all on payroll at a shop on Bryan Avenue. The same team that draws the plans is the team that builds them. That's what design-build means here.
What clients say
★★★★★ 4.7
Across 91 reviews on Google.
By the numbers
- 4 years
- Best Home Remodeler — FW Magazine
- In-house
- Designers, draftsmen & construction
- 10–15%
- Transparent builder fee (Cost Plus)
- Est. 2014
- Building Fort Worth since
Recognized for our work
Best Home Remodeler & Builder
Fort Worth Magazine · 2022–2025 (four years running)
Small Business of the Year
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce · 2024
Top Real Estate Agents
360West Magazine · 7 6AH Guides featured
Featured in Real Producers Magazine
Real Producers Fort Worth · 11 6AH Guides recognized
Our process
Step 1 · Meet Up
Free first conversation — listen first
We sit down with you. Walk the home if it's a remodel. Look at the lot if it's a new build. Listen to the vision. We come out of the Meet Up with a clear understanding of what you're trying to accomplish.
Step 2 · Team Up
Game Plan — Designer + PM + Draftsman in one room
We assign the right team — Designer, Construction PM, Draftsman, and (if applicable) Pool & Outdoor lead. You get a Game Plan: layout drafts, 3D color renderings, material direction, scoped price range based on your specific home, realistic timeline. You see everything before you commit a dollar to construction.
Step 3 · Design Detail
Selections, drawings, permit-ready plans
Once you approve the Game Plan, we move into detail design. Floor plans get refined. Selections happen — cabinetry, counters, tile, paint, fixtures, lighting. Drawings get permit-ready. Cost Plus pricing means every selection has a real number — you see it, approve it, and know what you're paying for.
Step 4 · Permitting
Zoning, inspections, long-lead orders
We submit permit applications. Coordinate with city zoning and inspections. Schedule subcontractors. Order long-lead materials. The plans were drawn by the people who will build them, so this step rarely surprises anyone.
Step 5 · Transformation
One PM, daily updates, line-itemed change orders
One Construction PM owns your project. They communicate daily updates. You see progress photos. Change orders are line-itemed, not hidden. The Designer and Draftsman stay involved through the build, so when something needs adjusting on-site, the same team handles it.
Step 6 · Glasses Up
A home that finally feels like you
We finish. We walk through the work with you. We raise a glass on the front porch of a home that finally feels like you. Then we stay in touch — most of our clients come back for their second and third projects.
Recent design-build remodeling
1910 Old Annetta — Parker County custom build
A custom home in Parker County designed and built start to finish. Brick, stone, gray siding. Floor plans drawn by our in-house team, then built by our construction team. Cost Plus contract from foundation to keys.
Lipscomb living room — design + build, same team
A living room in the Fairmount corridor designed by our in-house team. Same team that drew the plans was on site for the install — the integrated process in one project.
Mistletoe Heights — historic restoration, modern systems
Original brick wall and wooden ceiling beams preserved. Navy cabinets, brass pendant, new dining nook layered in. Designed to honor the original house, drafted for permit, built without scaffolding three vendors against each other.
2233 Fairmount — bungalow layout reworked
A 1920s Fairmount bungalow with a kitchen that fought its owners daily. Our designers and draftsmen reworked the floor plan in-house, then our construction team rebuilt it. No outside architect, no three-vendor coordination.
What it costs
15–30% less than the architect + contractor + designer route
In our experience, the integrated design-build path comes in 15–30% under the cost of the traditional route for the same scope of work. Three companies means three margins, three insurance overheads, three project managers, three communication gaps. One company means one of each — and a Cost Plus contract where you see every line item, plus a transparent 10–15% builder fee. We'll show you the actual numbers at the Game Plan stage.
We run Cost Plus — your actual costs from our trades, plus a transparent 10–15% builder fee. No padding, no surprises.
Design-build vs. the alternatives
| Topic | Cost Plus (us) | Architect + contractor + designer (three companies) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | One calendar, one project manager. Design and construction overlap when they should. | Three calendars, three PMs, sequential handoffs. Plans drawn for months before anyone builds. |
| Cost | One margin, one insurance overhead. 15–30% less for the same scope. | Three margins, three insurance overheads, three sets of fees. |
| Coordination | Plans drawn by the people who will build them. Problems caught in design, not on the job site. | Architect's plans sometimes don't match construction reality. You pay for the redesign. |
| Accountability | We own the whole thing — design, plans, build. One throat to choke. | When something goes wrong, three vendors each blame the other two. |
| Budget reality | We design to your budget from the first sketch. | Architects design what they like — you find out it costs 2x at bid stage. |
What is included
- ✓In-house Interior Design (Design in a Day or full engagement)
- ✓In-house drafting — permit-ready floor plans, elevations, structural details
- ✓Full construction (whole-home renovations, additions, custom new builds)
- ✓Cost Plus pricing with every line item visible
- ✓Material selections done with you, not for you
- ✓Pool & Outdoor design integrated with home + landscape
- ✓Real estate brokerage — same team can help you buy or sell
What is not included
- —Single-trade jobs under $15K (just paint, just floors)
- —Stamped commercial architectural drawings (rare residential need)
- —Property management or staging
- —Investment property flips — we stopped flipping in 2019
- —Lending — discontinued
Common mistakes Fort Worth homeowners make
1. Paying an architect $20K for plans before talking to a builder
If the plans aren't drawn against a budget, they'll likely overshoot it. We see this constantly — beautiful plans that nobody can afford to build. Start with the team that builds the plans, not the team that draws and walks away.
2. Bidding the same plans to three contractors and picking the lowest
Three identical bids on identical plans don't exist. Cheaper bids almost always have allowances that explode mid-project. Cost Plus eliminates the bid-and-pad game entirely.
3. Treating design as a finish step instead of the foundation
Most regret on remodels traces back to a layout that wasn't right. Design is the first decision, not the last. We design before we frame, not after.
4. Hiring a GC who promises to "handle the design"
When a general contractor says they include design, they usually mean a CAD operator or a stock plan service. There's no Designer in the room making it actually fit your family. Ask who is on payroll.
5. Assuming you have to hire an architect
For most residential projects in Fort Worth — including additions, attic conversions, garage apartments, and many custom new builds — our in-house draftsmen handle permit-ready drawings. We'll tell you straight if your specific project genuinely needs a stamped architect.
Why 6th Ave Homes for design-build remodeling in Fort Worth
Most Fort Worth design-build firms claim integrated process. Few have draftsmen on payroll producing permit-ready plans. We do — and that's the part that makes the whole thing actually work.
What clients have said
My husband and I worked with Kayla on designing our house. I can't say enough good things about 6th Ave and her. Kayla met every deadline and was always available for questions. We appreciated the constant communication. She listened to what my husband and I wanted and did an amazing job bringing all our ideas together while offering helpful suggestions. Highly recommend working with 6th Ave!
Wonderful team to work with! Really listened to how we wanted to use the space and then created a beautiful vision for our home. Plus, they made the process fun and easy.
The best in Fort Worth! Their designers nailed our vision and their construction team did a fantastic job. Great communication!
Frequently asked questions
What does design-build actually mean?
A design-build firm has both the Design team and the Construction team in-house, working together from the first sketch to the final walkthrough. The opposite is design-bid-build — where you hire an architect, get plans, then bid the plans to separate contractors. Design-build is faster, more affordable, and less prone to coordination failures.
Do I still need an architect?
For most residential projects in Fort Worth — including additions, attic conversions, garage apartments, and many custom new builds — our in-house Draftsmen handle the architectural drawings. For specific cases (commercial-scale projects, structurally complex builds, or projects requiring stamped architectural drawings), we'll tell you upfront if a licensed architect is necessary. Most of the time, our team handles it.
Are your floor plans actually permit-ready?
Yes. We've been drafting permit-ready plans in Fort Worth, Aledo, and Mansfield for years. We know the zoning rules, lot coverage limits, and historic overlay districts — and we draw to them from the first sketch.
How is design-build cheaper than hiring an architect, contractor, and designer separately?
Three companies = three margins, three insurance policies, three project managers, three communication overheads. One company = one of each. We typically come in 15–30% less than the architect + contractor + designer route for the same scope of work, at the same quality.
What if I already have architect plans?
Bring them. We'll review them honestly — the assessment is free. Sometimes architect plans work as-is and we just build them. Sometimes they need adjustment to be buildable to budget. Sometimes the plans don't make real-world sense and we recommend redrafting. We'll tell you which it is.
Do you do small remodels — just a bathroom?
Yes. Master bath and powder room renovations are part of what we do. We don't do single-trade jobs (just floors, just paint) under $15K, but a full bathroom remodel is squarely in our wheelhouse.
How long does the design phase take?
Depends on scope. A bathroom: 2–3 weeks. A kitchen: 4–6 weeks. A whole-home renovation: 8–12 weeks. A custom new build: 3–5 months. We give you a real timeline at the Meet Up.
Can I start with design only?
Yes — that's exactly what Design in a Day is for. Many of our long-term clients started with a single design consultation and added construction later.
Who runs design and construction?
Principal Designer Kayla East leads the design team — daughter of an architect, sees layouts the way most people see color. LB Bernhard Staats runs construction from kickoff to walkthrough. Both have been in the Fort Worth market for years.
Related reading
Ready to start your design-build remodeling in Fort Worth?
Bring us a Pinterest board, a napkin sketch, or just a vague feeling. We will figure the rest out together.
Schedule a Meet Up