The design and build process were very collaborative and we were given opportunities to be as involved or as uninvolved in every aspect of the process. The craftsmanship of the build staff and sub contractors was absolutely amazing. Since the build has ended we continue to be in awe and fully enjoy our remodel. Walking into and using the spaces brings a smile to our face every day.

We were very pleased from the initial design to the finished product.

We enthusiastically recommend Forward Design. The remodel of our master bedroom and bath was a professional and satisfying experience in all facets of the project. The concept and design phase gave us a chance to explore many possibilities. The construction phase was on schedule and minimally disruptive. The tradesmen were always respectful and of the highest quality with their work. And ultimately the project was completed on time and we are thrilled with the new space.

Our bathoom and entry way look great! We are very pleased with the work completed by the Forward team.

We had a great experience working with Forward Design Build for our extensive remodel. Our project was broad in scope and because of two prior additions and redos posed challenges. We never doubted that Foward had our project under control.

We used Forward for a full remodel of our kitchen from the subfloor on up. We are very happy with the job they did in both the design and build phases. We appreciate how organized and detail-oriented every step was. We love our new kitchen!

My husband and I are absolutely delighted by the work that Forward Design and has done for us! We have lived in our 1924 bungalow for more than 40 years now, and last year decided to address the laundry list of problems that annoyed us during that time. We had a leaky basement with crumbling floor, a garage rotted beyond repair, a gravel driveway that would be much nicer if paved, icy back porch stairs in the winter, knob and tube wiring, and no first-floor bathroom! We contacted Forward to help us address these issues with an integrated design, and to manage the legions of sub-contractors.

The finished product is fantastic. With a small addition we now have a fine first-floor bath, new kitchen, mudroom with breezeway to the new garage. Our basement is dry with a smooth floor. These changes are nicely integrated and retain the character of the house. The Forward team really opened our eyes to design possibilities that we had not considered. They were spot-on with advice and recommendations. The design process was interesting, and the team very accommodating and easy to work with, particularly when making hardware selections.

Our building phase was not without a few bumps in the road – one large one being the Covid-19 shutdown of several months. Still we were very confident that Forward would provide us a quality build and address any issues. Our site manager, Rob W., did an outstanding job of moving progress ahead, working magic with scheduling sub-contractors, and keeping us informed. The sub-contractors all did superior work. (The excavator was particularly impressive). The Forward carpenters saw to all the rest. I was pleased that all the workers on site, were pleasant to be around as well as respectful of our home.

To summarize: Forward Design and Build company did an outstanding job for us, meeting all our requirements. Their work meets high standards, is attentive to details, and Forward is very responsive when issues arise. The actual cost was quite close to the contracted amount. Our house is so much more livable now! I would highly recommend Forward for their quality design and workmanship, reliability, and management of sub-contractors. I felt very comfortable working with them - they made it easy for us to undertake this project.

My husband and I were just crazy enough to go through a complete kitchen/first floor renovation with two children under the age of 5. Up until February 2020 the Forward process could not have been smoother. Chad called me and asked all the right questions and just made me feel at ease. I knew my shopping was done at that point. Later, we met Carly who deserves a medal in Client Reassurance for all the times I said "Are you sure about this?" and she would say "Just trust me, that’s what I’m here for". Every time, Caryl was right! The design process was so collaborative and I always felt like I was being presented with well thought out design concepts based on the needs of our family. In Feb 2020, construction started and for a solid month we were plugging along full speed ahead, in fact, we were tracking three weeks ahead of schedule! I came home one day to find Brian leveling our ceiling so our crown molding would be straight and as he explained the whole process to me I just couldn't help but marvel at his keen sense of detail and exceptional skill! March 2020 rolled around and COVID happened. Yes, even a firm as exceptional as Forward couldn't work around the fallout of a pandemic but they still put their best foot "forward" and made us feel like we had not been forgotten. Our Project Managers Brian and Tim checked in with us at least once a week to see how we were doing and if there was anything they could do to help us keep our sanity. They kept me informed of plans to resume as soon as they possibly could and reassured me that this delay in time would not at all alter the price or the product. There were many times I thought to myself "would any run of the mill contractor be able to handle this kind of problem as flawlessly as Forward did?" I believe the answer to be, no. There were no delays in Forward getting back to work once they were able to.

My family of four lived through the construction from May to August and while you hear horror stories, our experience could not have been better. All of the Forward carpenters and sub-contractors were beyond respectful of our home. There were many nights I walked through the construction area with no shoes because it was that clean and safe! I happened to be off of work one week and Jon was there working and he was just the nicest person you could hope to have in your home. He would ask me questions on how I would like something installed, give me some tips on how to use something, troubleshoot/problem solve with me on the spot, and he was available if I had any other random questions.

Forward Design Build gets a 10/10 from me. I am a particular person and this project was no exception. As a female, I often feel like I'm made out to be a "Diva" or annoying if I ask for things to be a particular way and I NEVER felt that way from any of the Forward team. They would always say "Absolutely, we can figure something out" or "you're right that isn't quite right" or "You're paying a lot for this, we want it to be perfect, too!" Hire Forward! They are a polished company that knows what they are doing and they do it well! Many friends gave us tips and suggestions and every time I asked Tim or Jon about them they both would say "oh yea, we already did that" or "its in the plan, we have it covered!" They obviously love what they do and they care about their homeowners. They stayed within budget, they stayed within the timeframe they committed to (outside of COVID), and they were able to gracefully navigate through a pandemic that drastically affected their business. I would never hire another contractor after what I know now.

When we invited Jef Forward to discuss gutting and then designing and remodeling our kitchen there was a mutual trust that started at our first meeting. The Forward Design Build Remodel team lays out exactly what to expect. Even though large projects are disruptive, we were prepared for each step. We were involved from beginning to end and even did some of the work ourselves, when gutting the kitchen.
They listened to what we wanted from our new kitchen. We talked about how our whole family loves to cook. We have a galley kitchen and in our old design we could fit only two people comfortably for cooking, Now with the same footprint but a tweak in the design, we can fit five people in this space and preparing meals together is really enjoyable.
We waited to write this recommendation for one year because we wanted to make sure our kitchen stood up to the craftsmanship over time. It absolutely does. We would hire Forward Design Build Remodel for future projects, so it is a given that we would recommend them to friends and family.

Understood Needs

Understood Needs - From financial needs to lifestyle needs, our finished products reflects exactly what we wanted.

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - Rob went above and beyond in many ways. He was exceedingly patient and accommodating!! In addition, Rob was a excellent problem solver, addressing any design, construction, or process issues creatively and efficiently. His work ethic and sense of responsibility to us, the client, while professionally representing Forward was admirable and reassuring.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - I was most satisfied with the craftsmanship and the professionalism.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - I was most satisfied with the design process because Ann Marie always offered multiple options to address our objectives and sought to clearly understand those objectives and found ways to meet them in ways we would not have imagined on our own.

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - I would like to recognize all of the employees that I talked to because they provided good customer service and were responsive.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - They were really good at making minor adjustments, including when I changed my mind about a couple of items like the design of the front door. They were great about replacing both of my garage doors without a hassle or charge after a worker damaged one of them. They also used great drywallers and tile people. A couple of neighbors made a point of saying that they appreciated being notified ahead of the start of work.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - I am pleased with the different options to choose from and the final results. I am also satisfied with the quality of work.

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - Everybody was fabulous and great.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - I was satisfied with overall working with them. They had so many pieces under one roof like a one-stop shop. That is really nice as a business.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - Craftsmanship, attention to detail, responsiveness, organization, and cleanliness

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - Tim Frinke went above and beyond to make sure our project ran smoothly. Our project wasn't huge, but Tim always made us feel like it was still a priority and made sure to keep us up to date on the timeline. He seamlessly helped us add to the scope of work when we wanted to. Tim was also very honest and straightforward with communication about various milestones, which was much appreciated!

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - Problem solving, communication, and speed of project completion.

We had a positive experience working with Forward. Everyone was easy to work with, and we're very happy with the results.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - We are very pleased with the fit and finish.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - Our ideas were incorporated and our concerns addressed. Forward staff members are polite, professional, and skilled.

Forward Design Build Remodel did excellent work and we are very happy with the result. The style and quality are exactly what we hoped for. We would definitely use them again.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - The quality of the design and work is exceptional and we would definitely use them again without hesitation.

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - All of the employees and contractors provided exceptional service.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - The design and quality of the construction work were excellent.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - We were the most pleased in their adherence to restore the home accurately to its original state. They have worked really hard to deliver details with matching style, colors, and details.

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - I would like to recognize Jeff Forward and Rob Walker. The subcontractors that they selected were fantastic.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - The craftsmanship in putting the restoration together by the contractors and forward design has been amazing. They fixed anything that was not perfect. It was AMAZING how well they budgeted and came out on budget.

We had an exceptional remodeling experience with Forward Design Build. They gave us frequent updates on the progress of the project and they were 100% on time with all phases. In our case, some aspects within the project came in under budget. We mention this not to give perspective clients the expectation that projects will come in under budget but to highlight the ethics and integrity of the Forward Design Team. This was a great experience from start to finish. They worked beautifully within our budget and did an outstanding job. We are very appreciative of their efforts and would highly recommend them. Thank you Forward Design Build Remodel! We have received hundreds of compliments on your work.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - At a high level I would have to say the overall design of the project as well as the day to day execution on site.

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - I don't want to single any one person out. Everyone we worked with was very professional and a pleasure to work with.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - Cliche but it's all about the people. You have an excellent team and stuck to the schedule which was greatly appreciated.

Additional Comments

Additional Comments - We appreciated that FDB was direct and to the point during the entire project. You put up with our inexperience and trepidation during the design and remodel and handled it very professionally.

From beginning to end, working with Forward Design Build Remodel was an absolutely dream. The design team was so diligent, professional, thorough, and creative as they helped turn our vision into specific details. The construction team was equally diligent, professional, thorough, and flexible throughout the remodel process. The design team and construction team worked together in a smooth, integrated, flawless way, communicating clearly with each other and with us; this made everything go so smoothly. We are absolutely thrilled with our gorgeous, functional new addition (kitchen, dining, and family room) - it is absolutely perfect and it has changed the feel of the whole house for the better. And on top of that, the Forward team came in under budget and ahead of schedule! We could not have been happier with the process or the finished product.

Project Designer Performance

Project Designer Performance - Ann-Marie was absolutely fantastic to work with! She listened to what we wanted, understood what we needed, and always brought creative, beautiful ideas to the table. I absolutely love everything about how she helped turn our dreams into reality.

PM Professionalism

PM Professionalism - Tim was so fantastic to work with! Not only knowledgeable and professional, but so kind, thoughtful, and communicative throughout. Our whole family was always happy to see him - and we were sad to see him go when the project was finished!

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - Design: the detailed work of choosing finishes is the kind of thing that would typically overwhelm me. Ann-Marie made it easy and fun by helping narrow my choices and giving me great feedback throughout about what worked well together. I loved her aesthetic, which worked so well with my own hopes for our new space. Also, I really loved that almost every single finish/fixture decision, even seemingly small ones, had been made before the actual construction had begun - it made the build part so much less stressful than it might have been.Build: Tim's 100% commitment to beautiful, top-quality, solid work not only infused everything he did but also set the bar for all the subcontractors. We never once worried about shoddy or incomplete work, or about damage being done to existing structures. Tim and the subcontractors all took so much care to do their work well, and they were also always so considerate and polite to our family - which made living in tight quarters throughout the renovation so much easier.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - Communication, creativity, commitment to excellence, timeliness, flexibility.

Additional Comments

Additional Comments - Before we began our design process, we were told by others around town that Forward tended to be a bit pricier than other design/build firms around town. It was worth every penny. We have not for one moment second-guessed our decision to move forward with Forward! They made an overwhelming process so much easier and so much more enjoyable than we expected it to be, with a house that now looks, feels, and functions even better than we imagined. We are beyond thrilled.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - The scheduling, look, fit and finish of the project met our expectations. We are very satisfied with the final result of our kitchen remodel.

Beautiful work! Everyone we met at Forward Design Build Remodel was courteous, professional, and a pleasure to work with, too.

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - Rob Walker was great to work with throughout and we especially appreciate that the project completed on time!

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - We are very happy with the quality of materials used and workmanship.

Additional Comments

Additional Comments - Overall, we are very pleased with the outcome and the experience...Thank you, Forward Design Build Remodel!

I loved the design and it was well executed; the project was well managed and finished on time.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - I had very specific design objectives and Forward was able to achieve these; they were able to listen and then come up with great design options. The building permitting process was also more complicated and they did a great job of navigating the city bureaucracy.

I have recommended the firm to anyone and everyone who asks (and some that don't ask as well). As first time remodelers, we had no idea what to expect, but Forward Design met and exceeded our expectations in all areas. Everyone we encountered was professional, kind, and replied to our questions or concerns in a timely manner. After the renovation, our space went from being a house to a home. The beautiful design and fixtures of our kitchen have elevated the value of our home, and improved the quality of our daily life. We look forward to working with Forward Design again on future renovations to our home.

Likely To Recommend

Likely To Recommend - I have recommended the firm to anyone and everyone who asks (and some that don't ask as well). As first time remodelers, we had no idea what to expect, but Forward Design met and exceeded our expectations in all areas. Everyone we encountered was professional, kind, and replied to our questions or concerns in a timely manner. After the renovation, our space went from being a house to a home. The beautiful design and fixtures of our kitchen have elevated the value of our home, and improved the quality of our daily life. We look forward to working with Forward Design again on future renovations to our home.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - The design meetings at the beginning of the process were so helpful and thorough. Plus, we would never have been able to curate the selections or ideas in a timely manner or in our budget. That was immensely helpful!

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - Both Ann-Marie and Tim F were so wonderful to work with. Ann-Marie seemed to instinctively know my style and helped me to select finishes and fixtures within our budget that were perfect. She is also extremely personable, and I really appreciate her attention to detail. Tim was great about communicating with us about when things would be happening. Beyond being very talented, he kept the job site clean and was also very kind to our kids -- which made the entire experience so much better.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - - Communication with the firm was always prompt and polite, which was much appreciated.- Ways to save money were considered throughout the design process (e.g. - reusing some appliances), without sacrificing the "look" of the kitchen or the quality of the work.- It was such a relief that it was not our job to coordinate all of the permits, subcontractors, etc. If we had to do it ourselves, the work would've taken so much longer, and most likely we would not have been as happy with the end result.

Areas For Improvement

Areas For Improvement - None. If anything, we still continue to be impressed. A month or so after the work was completed, Jef stopped by to see the kitchen and noticed that some of the caulking had started to separate between the cabinets and the ceiling. He wasn't happy with how it looked, and had Tim come by to fix it within the week.

Forward Design met our expectations and completed our project under budget and ahead of schedule. We are very happy with our new room. Everyone is easy to get along with. They communicate effectively and are trustworthy.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - We were most satisfied with the way the design integrates with our house and their innovative approach. We also liked that they were finished early and under budget. They also communicated well with us.

Recognized Excellence

Recognized Excellence - Jef was exceptionally good at helping us meet our budget and come up with an innovative design that works well with the flow of our house.

Additional Comments

Additional Comments - We are very happy with our new addition and wish we had done it sooner. Forward Design is very professional and handled all the details. We would highly recommend Forward Design to anyone who wants to remodel or add to their house.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - The sheer talent of the designer (Ann Marie Clark) and lead carpenter (Tim Frinke) - we got the exact design we wanted with perfect workmanship.

Additional Comments

Additional Comments - We'll be forever grateful to Forward design build!

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - My husband and I were most pleased with the Forward Design employees that worked on the various renovations that took place in our home. They were professional and cared about our home as if it was there own.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - They were so organized and prepared at every stage that we were very productive each time we met or spoke. There was never any down time or time that felt wasted. Our time is scare and valuable and we appreciated how much they respected that.

Most Satisfied

Most Satisfied - I am a repeat customer, this is my 4th design. I always go back of them, because of their creative ideas, planning, and execution.

Additional Comments

Additional Comments - To me the price is worth, the completed project.

Forward Design Build was great to work with. We look forward to working with them again in the future.

Extremely professional and always courteous. Administrative and Lead Staff's work was top rate and problems were dealt with in a timely fashion. High quality of workmanship. Overall a pleasure to work with.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - Professional, friendly, patient and courteous. Scheduled meetings and assistance with design were helpful. Quality of workmanship was top rate.

Wonderful company to work with. We are very happy with the results.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - They make creative designs while similarly balancing attention to architectural integrity, use of space, light, etc. The project manager (Tim) and office staff are very professional. They are punctual and follow through with time scheduled to work. The subcontractors are punctual and come when scheduled. With the exception of the one problem with the plumber, the subcontractors were excellent. The overall project outcome is wonderful and I am beyond pleased with how our kitchen remodel turned out!

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - Quality of work and subcontractors. Good resolution of issues.

2.5 I loved the design and building but they lacked in communication.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - I was most satisfied with Forward Design and Build in the quality of design and workmanship.

We were initially excited about our choice of contractor, but it quickly went downhill after the contract was signed. The overall process was made much more difficult by a lack of communication and follow up on commitments. We do enjoy the space, but unfortunately wouldn't recommend this contractor.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - The design, the quality of the workmanship and the great people at FDB. The house is beyond anything we could ever have hoped for and we still pinch ourselves to make sure its not a dream.

Additional Comments

Additional Comments - I would recommend FDB to anyone who wants to build or remodel, amazing crew!

We are extremely pleased with our remodel(s) and addition that Forward designed and built for us. The design solved our space problems in creative ways and the workmanship was top notch.

Areas For Improvement

Areas For Improvement - None - they were quick to address any concerns that we had.

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - The design and construction is beautiful. We love our new spaces. The crew was extremely responsive to any issues and very considerate of our privacy.

Lead Source

Lead Source - Friends had used Forward for a kitchen remodel.

Areas For Improvement

Areas For Improvement - None

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - Workmanship, handling unexpected issues effectively, quality

Additional Comments

Additional Comments - Highly recommend

Areas Of Satisfaction

Areas Of Satisfaction - Professionalism of employees and subcontractors, and overall quality of the finished product.

Outstanding overall quality in design and carpentry - super impressed! Jeff is very customer service oriented, he listens, recommends, brainstorms, and is willing to go the extra mile to meet customer needs. We have completed several remodels with a couple different contracting companies, and the quality, customer service, and integrity at Forward Design Build is the best we've encountered.

Construction Quality

Construction Quality - Outstanding overall quality in design and carpentry - super impressed!

Problem Resolution

Problem Resolution - Jeff is very customer service oriented, he listens, recommends, brainstorms, and is willing to go the extra mile to meet customer needs.

Forward Design Build gave us a great design for our renovation and then did a great job in completing the project.Highly recommend.

A quality company that pays attention to details that in the end make you love the final project for years to come.

Lead Source

Lead Source - I am a repeat customer. This is my third project with FDB.