Defined by Design

We feel so lucky to have been referred to Justin and his team by our neighbors. We had bad experiences meeting with other contractors, but Justin was professional, knowledgeable, and innovative. Defined by Design helped us completely remodel our kitchen and three bathrooms. We will be hiring them again in the future for more work. Justin was able to come up with innovative solutions for problems we faced with storage and spacing. He built on our ideas and made them even better! Justin built us our dream, and then some. The customization available was beyond what we could have imagined. We would recommend Justin and his team without hesitation

Justin was instrumental in the success of our basement finish. He took our ideas and drawings and brought them to life. He was on board with our plan to reuse original wood and windows from previous projects. He used the wood as a fireplace surround and the windows as part of cubbies and a divider between rooms. He created the most talked about space in our house, a "speakeasy" of sorts. His attention to detail was paramount to the finished product being as spectacular as is it. In addition to his skill his integrity is bar none. Highly recommend.

We recently finished a large remodel with Defined by Design, gutting our entire main floor. They helped us through the design process, giving us direction as we needed and working with us when we changed our minds. The timeline we were given was very accurate, which was really important to us, including how long it would take and when they could start. We stayed in budget for our project and didn’t hit any major roadblocks. If we did have issues during the construction phase, they were corrected. We lived in the house through the renovation and felt that our space was respected and felt space with the workers in our home. We are very pleased with the work and our house looks amazing.

Defined by Design built a significant addition onto our 1926 bungalow in the Park Hill neighborhood in Denver. We had a superb experience with Defined by Design and its owner Justin Phelps, and would unreservedly recommend them to anyone looking for a custom home builder. The project was completed within a reasonable timeframe and very close to our original budget. I offer the following comments on our experience: Plan Design and Engineering Justin’s plan design work is first class. Our architect assumed our foundation was solid. However, the excavation crew discovered a section with only an 18” deep foundation. Justin worked with the structural engineer to redesign the project, including a new roof line, new load-bearing elements and reconfigured interior wall. Justin successfully took this new design back through the permitting process without a hitch. The new design gave us an open, inviting space that the whole family loves. Project Planning and Budget Justin offered a detailed initial bid that formed the basis for our budget. Justin closely tracked expenses and ensured no surprises. We came in roughly $30K over budget due to additional concrete costs to address the foundation, plus COVID-related increases in copper and lumber prices. After our cabinet company backed out, Justin also built custom cabinets within the amount budgeted in the allowances. The project did take several months longer than we expected, but Justin was up-front about timing, and communicated with us throughout the build. In the end, the project timeline was on par with other folks we know who undertook similar projects. Design Sensibility Justin brings a fantastic design sensibility to his work. Thanks to him, our kitchen now includes amazing walnut and stone countertops, a coffee bar, exposed beams, and a salvaged brick veneer wall. Justin also designed and built a wonderful custom oak bathroom vanity. In short, Justin has a remarkable eye for detail, a keen design sensibility, an excellent imagination, and the ability to bring his ideas to fruition. The end result is both excellent and unique. Work Quality The Defined by Design has a core crew of highly skilled craftsmen who are meticulous and take pride in their work, which is superb. Our cabinets, countertops, and trim work is outstanding. Additionally, Justin has fantastically skilled mason and stucco guys. Overall, the quality of the work on our house is unparalleled. We were somewhat disappointed in the work originally completed by his plaster and paint contractors, who were somewhat careless and paid little attention to detail. However, Justin's core crew ended up coming back and fixing most of the plaster issues, and my wife and I have done some touch-up painting, so the end result is great, albeit with extra work. Summary We highly recommend Defined by Design and are certain you will end up with an amazing final project.

Defined by Design remodeled my kitchen. I am very pleased with the re-do. We struggled briefly with Covid. Through it all everyone was professional and maintained their high level of excellence. Justin designed the unique back splash. It was created with tiles from 3 different colors. All who have seen it are impressed. My son made me a cutting board that I wanted to include in the kitchen. This was accomplished by constructing a custom roll out cabinet with the cutting board set into the top. To finish the kitchen the countertop is a waterfall pattern made of quartz. My prize. Justin did the design and his folks carried them out. I definitely recommend Defined by Design and Justin Phelps quite highly.

I recommend Defined By Design very highly. We worked with Justin and his team in the late fall of 2020 through the start of 2021. Our request was smaller than many of his projects and not clear cut but Justin swooped in and saved the day. He went the extra mile of researching and creating a less expensive and faster solution for the bathroom ADA problems we were facing. His team was easy to work with, especially Lance the manager of the project. Our hope is to do more extensive work on the apartment and we would want to contract with Justin and Defined by Design for sure.

Diamond in the Rough There are just too many good things to say about Justin and his crew, but I will attempt to do some degree of justice with this review. We were looking to move and interested in houses that needed a little bit of work. Prior to purchasing a home I contacted 8-10 different contractors and Justin was the only one to return my call which already speaks volumes. I showed him the listings for a few of the houses we were interested in and he walked me through what could potentially be done along with a ballpark estimate. I’m not sure any other contractor would have taken the time to do this with a potential client. We were a bit hesitant to hire Justin as at the time he only had a few reviews online, but we were able to contact some of his references which gave glowing reviews. One reviewer was the son of a contractor and said his father was impressed with the work that Justin completed. The work Justin and his team performed was incredible. He worked with us on the design and provided input when appropriate. His years of experience helped us to avoid several pitfalls. The most amazing thing about him was his ability to see downstream effects. There were several times when we asked him to do something, and while he never denied the request, he did make us aware of how our request would negatively affect something we never even thought about. This guidance is a rare trait amongst contractors and we were grateful to have his insight. I would highly recommend Justin and plan on using him for future projects.

It was a pleasure working with Justin! We chose Defined By Design based on the work he did for our neighbor. He is professional, creative, and personable. While we had a vision for our interior remodel, we appreciated the guidance and input when it came to choosing items such as flooring, doors, carpet, countertops, etc. Justin's workers were also a pleasure to have in our home. They were friendly, and hard-working, and always cleaned up the work areas at the end of the day. The craftsmanship on the new stair railings and fireplace mantel is excellent. The completed remodel is gorgeous and has exceeded our expectations!

We are very happy with the work completed by Defined by Design. Justin (owner) is very professional and listens to your requests and will also provide suggestions. He has an eye for design and his team is top notch. The bathroom and kitchen remodel has transformed our place. We expected a few hiccups. There a was bit of a delay on some items arriving on time (not an issues from Defined by Design). Justin was great about following up and making sure we were updated through out the process.

After getting bids from 15 companies, I chose Justin for my project. He was, by far, the most professional, and detailed in his explanation of the task at hand and the cost associated with each part of the job. He explained each step from the permitting costs and timelines to completion. In addition to great communication, his bid was very competitive. Watching the work, we were impressed with the technical expertise each worker showed. They were all very careful in their respective jobs. I highly recommend working with Defined by Design and Justin. I look forward to collaborating with them again on my next project. Many thanks!

We just finished our first home renovation - the kitchen & living room - with Defined by Design and couldn't be happier. When selecting a contractor, Justin stood out as being the most prepared and trustworthy, and we felt the most comfortable with him. I gave Justin the designs I put together and he filled in the details - he even showed up with samples and an estimate for exactly what I was looking for. He talked us out of some things that weren't necessary and had really creative ideas that we would have never thought of. They got started very quickly and we loved the crew that was working on our house (shoutout to Joe & Lance!). Justin was a huge support when making selections for the projects - he had vendors for everything and even came with us to pick things out. They were so detailed in every project - especially the tile work in the kitchen. We found a few unexpected hiccups, as you plan to in every project, but overall Justin's estimate was extremely accurate and we didn't have any unexpected expenses come up that he hadn't brought up in the beginning. They stuck closely to the timeline given, there was just one custom project that took some extra time to figure out how to complete - our custom mantel with a shelf that drops down when we want the sound bar on for the TV. I would highly recommend, and have already referred, Defined by Design to anybody looking to renovate their home!

Justin took on the job of completely gutting and remodeling our condo’s bathroom. He and his team were great to work with, experienced/professional and delivered fabulous results. He suggested a number of ideas that truly enhanced the overall design and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Beautiful work! We have already asked Justin to help us with a big project on our new home. We trust him to be a great ally and produce the results we hope for! Wayne & Erica.

Defined by Design recently completed our whole house remodel. Justin had so many great design concepts that have made our home function more efficiently. He is an expert at seeing what a space is, and turning it into something that we, as laymen, couldn’t begin to envision. Justin works with only the best in all areas of the construction industry. Our remodel required carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, and tile specialists. All are essentially perfectionists! One of the maxims in getting work done is to not let your rough carpenters do the finish work (trim, etc.). Not with this crew! Their rough work is so precise that the finish work has no issues to address. The crew cleaned up the work site every day before leaving. A major part of the upstairs remodel was removing the existing beam across the open space and its support posts, and replacing it with a beam that wouldn’t require the posts. Justin's team accomplished this without having to redo any foundation work in the basement, minimizing impact to work they had already completed. Our final walk-through was one day after the estimated completion date. Everything looked perfect to us, but Justin and Joe noticed and corrected a few very minor imperfections. Justin was very responsive to our many emails and is very honest. He works hard to give reasonable, fair estimates in the beginning. He doesn’t “bid low” then gouge you with every little change. We highly recommend Justin and his crew for any job!

We couldn't be happier with our experience with Defined by Design. Justin and his team have an amazing work ethic and attention to detail. They were SUPER considerate as we were living in our home during construction and did their best to clean up everyday before leaving and making sure it was a safe environment for our family. We would recommend them to anyone. One thing that is particularly different and a bonus with Justin is his design skill. Most general contractors aren't really able to come up with designs that will add to the aesthetic of the home. Justin went above and beyond our expectations in this department.

We hired Justin at Defined by Design based on the work he did for (and a recommendation from) a neighbor of ours. He and his team are honest and hardworking, and absolutely take pride in the project they are working on. The additional subcontractors all did high quality work. Although we did use an architect (and to a lesser extent a designer), Justin also has an excellent eye for design and provided a number of suggestions and CAD design options that added a great deal to the aesthetic of the finished product.

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Justin on our home remodel and addition. The project had some unique challenges due to the soil the addition was built on, and Justin was able to quickly and efficiently find a solution and crew to properly perform the work without blowing the budget. Throughout the project we appreciated the helpful and professional suggestions he made regarding the design and finishes that improved the final product. In the end, we ended up with our dream home!

We did a complete home renovation with Justin and his team. He did an incredible job. We have a small house and his allotment of space and design was unique and sensible. We met with several contractors before the renovation and his ideas were simply the best. The one downfall was we decided to live in our house during the renovation. Justin tried to warn us but we didn’t listen and it was awful. In retrospect we definitely would have rented a house during the renovation. Overall, great turn out. We will definitely use Justin again.

Define by Design Justin and his crew did a fantastic job from start to finish. Before we even signed an agreement we had numerous meetings and went over several designs. Our project was not without hurdles and inconveniences...we choose to stay in the home during remodel. This may not be the path for all, but it worked for us. Justin's attention to detail resulted in a great finished product. We did an addition that became a master bedroom suite, added a walk-in closet, new master bath, remodeled the original bathroom, turned a bedroom into a library and upgraded the HVAC. All the major inspections passed on first round, with one exception, on only one window. We had hopped the project would only take 4.5-5 months...ended up being six months.

Defined by Design took our rough kitchen remodel ideas and came up with a unique custom design, which included a handmade kitchen table, bench seat, and island. Everything was done with high quality materials, and the finishes all the way down to the smallest points were done with the greatest attention to detail. All of our guests that have visited since have been truly impressed.

DbD are the best! Justin, Parko, and there team of subcontractors work seamlessly together to produce a quality finished product that exceeds expectations. DbD are not only first rate craftsmen but are also innovative designers able to spatially maximize any living, storage, or leisure area. Nothing “cookie cutter” about their work. Every project design is unique. Work is on time and within budget.

Defined by Design completed a complete kitchen remodel from the initial design to the final detail. Justin showed incredible care in the placement of every drawer and finish to provide exactly what I hoped for. The work was done by trusted professionals that I felt 100% comfortable having in my home while I was away. Every time someone visits my home they compliment the design and craftsmanship of the kitchen.

Defined by Design did an great job with our small 3/4 bathroom remodel. They came up with creative solutions to our the small square footage we had to work with. The custom glass, barn style, shower door really opened up the small space and made the bathroom functional. They also added a pocket door into the bathroom to save floor space and increase the functionality of the bathroom. We are satisfied with the workmanship and love using the bathroom.

We hired Justin to put an addition on the back of our home, replace a covered patio, put in a shed, replace the fence, install a retaining wall, and level and grade our yard. The craftsmanship is very good throughout and Justin was right on budget; this is even with the large scope of the project. We never felt taken advantage of or like costs were materializing out of nowhere. Justin is a genuinely nice and honest person and we would not hesitate to hire him again in the future. Highly recommend!

I hired Justin to remodel my kitchen, and expand the eating area by removing a bedroom. His ideas were extremely helpful throughout the project. He kept me apprised of when work would be done and if there would be any delays. His workers were diligent and personable and did excellent work. The project came in right around $50,000. Justin's standards for work and ethics is beyond reproach.

Justin is an amazing craftsman. He transformed our attic space into a beautiful apartment that might be the nicest space I'll ever own. His design skills and execution of those designs are of the highest level. He cares about his work, and that shows in everything he touches. I cannot recommend Defined by Design more highly. That being said, every job, every project runs into unforseen setbacks and snares. But with ours, Justin was always upfront about the issues when they sprung up, always gave us a number of options, and always came up with creative ways to fix problems without breaking the budget. If you want someone who can do solid work while making your space look beautiful AND while being honest and diligent along the way (unheard of in my experience before working with Justin) then Defined by Design is for you!

I finally have my dream kitchen thanks to Justin and his crew! We hired Justin in late December of 2016 and started the project the first week of January 2017. He guided us in the right direction and helped us make crucial decisions to keep this project on track and within our budget! I always wanted white subway tiles and was ready to choose the smaller size tiles. Justin suggested that going with the larger tiles it will make the room look larger. He was so right! We also choose wide plank flooring for the same reason! Our small 15 feet by 10 foot kitchen feels so open and much bigger!! His knowledge, professionalism and quality of work were amazing! Our kitchen is small and we didn't have options for a table and chairs. Justin made a small custom bench and a table with the left over piece of the counter top. It's just perfect! By the way, I bought white kitchen chairs from Houzz! We did some of our own demo and Justin gave us some really good advice as to not mess something up on our end. I have my own dog biscuit bakery business, so I spend the majority of my day in my kitchen. I love to cook and bake in my kitchen everyday!

I hired Justin with Defined By Design to remodel our downstairs bathroom. In our initial meeting he convinced me that he was an honest contractor and I put my trust in him. While his initial estimate for completion of the job was 3 to 4 weeks, it did end up being closer to 5 weeks which was still a lot faster than any of the other contractors I spoke with had promised. Justin was a pleasure to work with. He knows his stuff and his sub contractors were punctual, friendly and highly skilled. Everyone who came into our house treated us with respect and that's not always a given. Throughout the construction Justin and I conferred regularly and discussed any and all changes that came up due to unforeseen construction challenges. The result is that we got a beautiful remodeled bathroom with custom touches and personalized style. We could have spent less and we could have spent more but for us, choosing Justin and his team was absolutely the right decision.