Design-Build Renovations in Henry County and Middle Georgia
We design and build interior renovations across Henry County, Middle Georgia and Metro Atlanta. We don’t give a price until the design is done, and that’s why our proposals can carry a No Builder Change Order Guarantee.
By Thomas Williams, All American Renovations · Last reviewed November 3, 2026 · What changed: first full review, with our standards, real price ranges and linked sources added
Design First, Then a Price That Holds
Most change orders come from pricing a job before anyone has decided what’s in it. Design-build fixes that by finishing the design before the price.
A Scan, Not a Tape Measure
We scan your existing space with a LiDAR camera to create an accurate plan of what's there before anyone draws what's next.
Selections Before Pricing
You choose cabinets, tile, counters and fixtures at our design center in Forsyth, so the price includes what you actually picked.
Reviewed Before You See It
Every proposal goes through several versions and is reviewed by our project directors and project managers and checked against subcontractor bids.
No Builder Change Order Guarantee
Short of rot or code problems we can't see until demolition, the price you sign is the price you pay.
Interior Renovations, Start to Finish
Kitchens, baths, basements and multi-room renovations, all run through the same design process.
Closets and Built-Ins
Walk-in closets, built-ins and storage from the same cabinet lines we use in kitchens.
Whole-Home Renovations
Several rooms renovated under one design, one price and one schedule.
Kitchens
Three cabinet lines, from ready-to-assemble US Cabinet Depot to full-custom Plain & Fancy.
Bathrooms
Every shower waterproofed with a Schluter or Guru system.
Basement Finishing
Interior waterproofing first, whenever water comes through the foundation.
Interior and Exterior Together
Pair an interior renovation with siding, windows or roofing on one contract, managed by one team.
How Design-Build Works With Us
There are two ways in, depending on whether anything in the layout moves.
01
Discovery
We learn what you want to change, how you use the space and the budget you’re comfortable with.
02
Design Consultation
If a fixture moves, cabinet sizes change or a tub becomes a shower, we scan the space, draw the existing and proposed layouts, and meet with a designer. This work runs on a retainer of about 3 to 5% of the projected budget. If you build with us, what’s left is credited to your deposit. If you don’t, you keep the drawings.
03
Selections and Proposal
You finalize selections at our design center in Forsyth, and we build a line-item proposal that our project managers review against subcontractor bids.
04
Construction
Once you sign, the price holds, short of rot or code problems we can’t see until demolition.
Recent Design-Build Projects
Interior projects our crews have built. Every photo is from our own jobs, not stock photography.
Whole-Home Renovation and Addition in Forsyth
Forsyth, GA. A 1950s childhood home almost fully gutted for the next generation: an opened-up kitchen, a primary suite addition, new hardwood, new windows and a staged reveal.
Primary Bath and Closet Addition on Lake Oconee
Greensboro, GA. A 13×10 addition for a new closet, the old bath and closet turned into one primary bath, Fabuwood cabinets, 24×24 tile and all new fixtures.
Custom Closets in Forsyth
Forsyth, GA. A few of the custom closets we have built, each one built to fit its room instead of an off-the-shelf closet system.
What Affects the Cost of a Design-Build Project?
The design retainer runs about 3 to 5% of the projected budget, taken from the high side of the range: closer to 5% on a $50,000 project, closer to 3% on larger ones. Projects where nothing in the layout moves skip the retainer entirely. Why we don’t price before the drawings are done.
Factors That Impact Cost
Project Scope and Size
The size and complexity of your project play a significant role in determining overall costs, timelines, and planning requirements.
Moving Fixtures or Cabinets
Moving a toilet, changing cabinet sizes or switching a tub to a shower is what puts a project in the design retainer tier. Price alone doesn’t.
Products and Materials
Your cabinet line is the biggest swing. Plain & Fancy runs about 20 to 25% above Fabuwood.
Custom Features and Built-Ins
Custom storage solutions, built-in cabinetry, specialty millwork, and unique design elements can increase both functionality and project scope.
Permits
Electrical and plumbing changes often need permits, and they’re pulled where the work requires them, under our sister company American Craftsman Homes‘ Georgia license (RBCO005995), qualified by Pete Williams.
Planning a Major Renovation?
Explore resources designed to help you understand project costs, prepare for the design process, and make informed decisions about your renovation.
✓ Remodeling Planning Guide
✓ Budgeting Resources
✓ Design Inspiration
✓ Design Build FAQs
✓ Planning tips to help avoid costly surprises
At a glance
What does the design work cost?
The design retainer runs about 3 to 5% of the projected budget. If you build with us, what’s left is credited to your deposit.
| Project around $50,000 | Closer to 5% |
|---|---|
| Projects from $100,000 to $750,000 | Closer to 3% |
| Nothing in the layout moves | No retainer |
| You build with us | Remaining retainer credited to your deposit |
| You don’t build with us | You keep the drawings |
Not the right fit if you want a firm price before the design is drawn.
Design-Build FAQs
Answers to the questions we hear most about design-build.
What is design build?
Design and construction handled by one company. With us, it means the design is finished and priced before you sign, so the price holds.
How is design build different from traditional remodeling?
With traditional remodeling, you often hire a designer, then take the plans to contractors for bids, and the gaps between the two turn into change orders. With design-build, the team that draws the plan also prices and builds it.
What types of projects are best suited for design build?
Any project where something in the layout moves: a toilet relocates, cabinet sizes change, or a tub becomes a shower. That covers most kitchens, baths, basements and multi-room renovations.
Do I need plans before contacting you?
No. Bring photos and ideas. If drawings are needed, we make them during the design consultation, and they’re yours to keep.
Can you help with design selections?
Yes. You make them at our design center in Forsyth, with Thomas or Stephanie.
How are project budgets established?
During the design consultation we guide you toward a budget range you’re comfortable with, then price the finished design line by line.
Can I live in my home during construction?
This depends on the scope of the project. Smaller renovations may allow homeowners to remain in the home, while larger renovations or whole-home projects may require temporary accommodations during portions of construction.
How long does the design build process take?
Timelines vary depending on project size, complexity, permitting requirements, and material selections. During the planning phase, we’ll provide a more detailed timeline based on your specific project
What are the benefits of choosing a design build approach?
A price you can rely on. Because the design and selections are done before we price it, our proposals carry a No Builder Change Order Guarantee.
What's the first step?
A conversation about what you want to change. From there we’ll tell you whether your project needs a design retainer or can go straight to selections and pricing.
Read Before You Get Renovation Quotes
Two guides on how renovation pricing works.
Why Do Renovations Need Drawings Before Pricing?
Understand why contractors need detailed plans before providing accurate renovation pricing and how the design process helps establish a realistic project budget.
How to Avoid Unexpected Renovation Costs
Learn why renovation quotes can change once work begins and how clearly defined materials, selections, and project scope can help prevent costly surprises.
Design Inspiration Gallery
Browse completed projects, design ideas, and inspiring spaces to help visualize the possibilities for your own home.
Start With a Conversation
Tell us what you want to change, and we’ll tell you which path it takes and what the design work costs.