Design-Build in Grosse Pointe, MI
Reschka Design Build serves Grosse Pointe homeowners with premium main-floor remodels and custom construction. From the lakefront estates of Grosse Pointe Shores to the brick colonials of Grosse Pointe Park, we bring design-build craftsmanship to Michigan's most storied residential communities — where architectural heritage must be honored while function is brought forward.
Why Grosse Pointe Homeowners Choose Design-Build
Grosse Pointe's residential character is rooted in early-to-mid twentieth century architecture — Georgian colonials, English Tudors, French Provincials, and brick ranches built when craftsmanship and material quality were the standard, not the exception. These homes have aged beautifully on the outside. Inside, the floor plans reflect the era's values: formal rooms with defined purposes, kitchens designed for household staff rather than family living, and dining rooms separated from the kitchen by a pass-through or pantry door.
Today's Grosse Pointe homeowners want to open those spaces up — to connect the kitchen to the dining area and living room, to improve natural light through better sightlines, and to create a main floor that works for the way families actually use a home in 2025. That work is fundamentally about layout, structure, and integration. It's not a cosmetic project.
What makes Grosse Pointe remodels distinct is the obligation to respect the architectural character of the home. Original plaster walls, hardwood floors, decorative moldings, period hardware, and exterior brick details must all be accounted for in how we sequence demolition, select materials, and detail transitions. Our design process starts by understanding what the house was — and what it needs to become.
Some Grosse Pointe properties sit within historic district boundaries, which means exterior changes require additional approval. Even for projects that don't cross that threshold, the community's expectation is that remodeled homes look like they belong in the neighborhood. We design to that standard from the first sketch.
What We Build in Grosse Pointe
Reschka Design Build brings the same single-contract design-build approach to Grosse Pointe that we use across Oakland County — one team, one schedule, one accountability structure from design through construction.
Main-Floor Remodels — Starting at $120K
Kitchen-centered main-floor transformations where layout, flow, and structural integration matter. We open walls, improve circulation between kitchen and living areas, and manage the full scope from design through construction under one contract.
Custom Home Building — Starting at $700K
We build custom homes in Grosse Pointe and throughout Oakland County — on vacant lots, teardown sites, and select infill properties. Every custom home project starts with design-build planning that aligns architecture, budget, and site constraints before permitting begins.
OUR WORK IN GROSSE POINTE
While this project is located in Oakland County rather than Grosse Pointe, it is representative of the character-home remodel work we do throughout the region — historic construction, structural complexity, and high finish expectations.
What Grosse Pointe Clients Say
Hear from homeowners we've served in and around Grosse Pointe.
"I love how my new kitchen turned out. It's both elegant and functional, and the island is perfect for family gatherings. The entire process was smooth, and the attention to detail made all the difference."
Remodeling Investment in Grosse Pointe
| Service | Starting Investment |
|---|---|
| Main-Floor Remodel | $120K+ |
| Custom Home | $700K+ |
| Large Addition | $175K+ |
Grosse Pointe's historic home construction — plaster walls, original hardwood floors, period millwork, and sometimes knob-and-tube or early aluminum wiring — can add complexity and cost to remodel scope. Historic district review, when applicable, may also extend pre-construction timelines. We account for all of this during our pre-construction services.
Building in Grosse Pointe: What You Should Know
Grosse Pointe is actually five separate municipalities — Grosse Pointe City, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Grosse Pointe Shores — each with its own building department and permit process. This matters for project planning: the building official, permit fee schedule, and review timeline differ by municipality. We confirm the applicable jurisdiction during pre-construction and submit applications accordingly.
Historic district designation applies in portions of several Grosse Pointe communities. Properties within those boundaries require approval from the Historic District Commission (HDC) for any exterior changes — including additions, window replacements, and changes to rooflines or cladding. HDC meetings occur monthly, which can add four to eight weeks to the pre-construction timeline for exterior-affecting projects. We build this into our schedule from the start.
Interior remodels that don't touch the exterior are generally not subject to HDC review. However, any structural work, electrical upgrades, or plumbing changes still require a building permit from the applicable municipality. Plan review typically runs two to four weeks. We coordinate the full permit and inspection process as part of our pre-construction services.
Frequently Asked Questions — Grosse Pointe
How much does a main-floor remodel cost in Grosse Pointe, MI?
Main-floor remodels in Grosse Pointe typically start at $140,000 and often reach $300,000 to $450,000+ for homes with significant architectural features, plaster walls, original hardwood that must be matched, and high-end finish specifications. Historic construction in these homes can surface scope that isn't visible until demolition begins, which is why our pre-construction process emphasizes early site investigation.
Do I need Historic District Commission approval in Grosse Pointe?
It depends on your specific property and municipality. Not all Grosse Pointe properties are within an HDC overlay. For interior-only remodels, HDC approval is generally not required even in historic districts. For projects that affect the exterior — additions, window changes, roofline modifications — properties in designated historic districts will need HDC approval before a building permit can be issued. We determine this during pre-construction.
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Grosse Pointe?
Most kitchen-centered main-floor remodels in Grosse Pointe run 14 to 22 weeks of active construction. Pre-construction — design, HDC coordination if needed, permitting, and trade scheduling — typically takes 10 to 16 weeks. For projects requiring HDC approval, add four to eight weeks to that estimate. Total duration is commonly 8 to 12 months from initial consultation.
Do you build custom homes in Grosse Pointe?
Yes. We work in Grosse Pointe on both teardown-rebuild projects and on the rare available lots in the community. Grosse Pointe custom home work requires careful attention to neighborhood character, HOA or community association expectations, and the applicable municipality's building and zoning requirements. Our pre-construction process is structured to navigate all of this.
Serving Grosse Pointe from Troy
Our Troy office is approximately 30 minutes from Grosse Pointe, making site visits, design consultations, and project management coordination convenient throughout your build. We maintain active projects across Oakland County simultaneously, so Grosse Pointe homeowners benefit from the same team and trade relationships as every other community we serve.
Planning a Project in Grosse Pointe?
Tell us about your home and what you're hoping to accomplish. We'll determine whether it's a fit and outline what working together would look like.