The David Brown Construction Company transformed a closed-in and dated condominium to open and dramatic

By Mimi Vanderhaven

When Fairview Park’s Richard Dunson wanted to remodel the first floor of his luxury condo—particularly the kitchen—he called on the David Brown Construction Company to work hand in hand with his designer, Interiors by Andrew Blank. The result is a gorgeous open floor plan that blends traditional and modern styles. It features gun metal blue kitchen cabinets, a striking wood and marble fireplace, a new master bathroom featuring a marble walled walk-in shower, new bamboo floors throughout—and even a sauna.

“The previous space was dated and felt a bit closed in,” Richard says. “David Brown and his team took down walls and opened it all up. Plus, they had great ideas. The entire first floor now feels like a single cohesive space. When I’m ready to do the upstairs, I’ll use David again.”

Although David Brown Construction Company has its own design team, they often work with other area designers. “Whether it’s your designer or ours, we know how to work together to get the best results, yet still save you time, money and hassle,” David says. “In this case—because we were remodeling the entire first floor while the homeowner remained in the home—we needed to coordinate precisely when each stage of the project was happening, including flooring, tiling, electrical, and plumbing. For example, tilework requires water so the plumber cannot have the water turned off, and fine woodworking requires good lighting so we cannot have the electrical turned off. It’s like conducting a symphony orchestra.”

After remodeling the downstairs bathroom and creating a large closet, there was a small closet space left over that Richard felt he didn’t need. “David asked me what I wanted to do with it and I suggested a sauna. He said, ‘Brilliant. Let’s do it.’ I like that he’s flexible that way.”

David Brown specializes in interior remodeling, including kitchens, baths, millwork and carpentry, doors and windows, basements, fireplaces, moldings, flooring, and tile—and it’s his team that makes all that happen.

“A contractor is only as good as his craftspeople,” says David, a 40-year veteran home remodeler. He hires some of the most talented and experienced people in the trades who are multi-talented and capable of seeing the big picture. “It helps to have craftspeople who understand all of the different aspects of a job,” he says. “That way, everyone knows exactly how their work will affect the next trade in the process.”

For example, local countertop fabricators are clamoring to install granite and quartz on David’s cabinetry work because his team ensures that the cabinets are level. One granite installer told me: “We often have to spend time trying to level cabinets before we can install our countertops, but that’s not the case with David Brown. When it comes to cabinet installs, his guys kill it.”

David also maintains strong relationships with subcontractors and suppliers, including cabinet shops, tile and flooring stores, appliance companies and kitchen and bath supply houses. “Our suppliers and subcontractors are people with families. They count on us, and we make sure they get paid in full and on time,” says David, who is well known in the industry for his soft-spoken style—and big heart.

Every remodeling project comes with unforeseen challenges and that’s where David shines. He has the compassion and expertise to fix problems as they come up, yet still try to stay within budget. “Some contractors look at unforeseen challenges and see dollar signs,” David says, “That’s not us. We treat your money like it’s our money. If there is a way to save you money without sacrificing quality, we will absolutely let you know.”

The David Brown Construction Company practices all recommended safety precautions related to Covid-19, including insisting that members of his team—as well as each homeowner—wear masks and practice social distancing when meeting to discuss project details.

The David Brown Construction Company is located at 4702A E. 355th Street, in Willoughby, but they handle projects throughout Northeast Ohio. For more information or to receive a free estimate, call 440-571-4199. You may email David directly at David@TheDavidBrownCompany.com.