Gilbert Design Build

We were very pleased with the services provided by Gilbert Design Build. We wanted to renovate the kitchen and to place an accent wall with electric fireplace and TV in the living room. The project begins with meeting the president and the designer to discuss ideas and samples see if we're all a good fit. The designer and president then visit the house to see the exact spaces to be built or renovated. The project manager then completes measurements and designer orders materials. When all materials are on hand the site manager schedules the professionals in tile, plumbing, electrical, and framing to their dates Each was pleasant, worked with cleanliness, and delivered a great product. Only two glitches occurred in the process: 1. The distance between the TV and the fireplace heater was not sufficient. This took more tiling but was corrected. 2. The pots and pans rack was very noisy. This was corrected with drawers. Overall a very professional job by Gilbert Design and Build.

Good sales pitch. Poor results. 6-week project was never completed after a year. High maintenance company that needed constant redirection and reminders of tasks needing completion. They were very selective with their contract compliance. Quartz was requested but they tried to pass off marble as comparable, after quoting the job. High employee turnover helped fuel problems with promises and communication. This business lacks integrity and professionalism.

I am extremely pleased with the remodel of my master bathroom, by Gilbert Design Build. The entire process was smooth, professional and very high quality of workmanship. It was a pleasure to work with Fernando the designer & he was spot on with the redesign of the bathroom & made excellent suggestions on colors, countertops, cabinetry etc. Justin the project manager was on top of daily schedules & seamless coordinated workers & supplies in a timely manner. Justin also communicated with me on a regular basis & always returned calls/ messages. Jesse did excellent work with installation of cabinetry & other items related to the project. Jesse has a positive “can do” attitude when faced with an unforeseen variation & always consulted with me on any adjustments and always got the job done, Everyone associated with this project where true professionals, polite, respectful and always left everything cleaned up both inside & out.

the process from beginning to end was exceptional. Design work by Fernando was right on point and Justin Rector did an outstanding job managing the project. He was the person I depended on the most to keep the project going and keep me informed. I enjoyed working with him immensely. Jesse and Victor were exceptional in carpentry and build. Even the subcontractors used were outstanding and their work was high quality. Of particular note was the tile/floor installer, Marcello. He is a true craftsman. The project went smoothly and the disruption in the house was kept to a minimum. I would recommend the company if you are seeking a stress free beginning to end design/build company that provides a beautiful high quality end product.

Gilbert Design was excellent to work with. They have a great showroom on Clark Road. The design process was smooth, buildout and installation went as promised, and I’m very pleased with the results. I will definitely recommend.

Very professional company. Completed projects are stunning.

Very well! I was very unsure at the beginning of the process because I’ve never had a home remodeled before. At the end I felt calm, and assured that I got the best deal for the best quality. GDB really put in the effort to meet and exceed my needs. My kitchen looks amazing and professionally done. GDB will be the first place I call when I need to change something in my home!

it took 11 mo. to complete our bathroom project. we signed the contract in march 2019 the construction work started in august and the job was completed in feb. 2020.......we paid $4656.04 extra to get the cabinet color to match our bedroom set. this was an up grade to change from wellborn to woodharbor cabinets. the wood samples shone to us we believe were old and out of date. mr. gilbert refused to make their mistake right by ordering new cabinets or by compensating us for their error..... the cabinets we received were med. brown with a red hue our bedroom set is light brown with a gold hue. we suffered many sleepless nights and much aggravation due to the many mistakes and errors by the gilbert design company.......by the way our bathroom sinks are one white and the other cream............ we would not recommend this company!!!!!!!!!!!

We had an absolutely amazing experience with Gilbert Design and Build. The best part of the experience for me was we could totally trust them with each decision knowing they had our best interest at heart. They understood what we wanted better than we did. At one point in the project I wanted something else done that was outside the scope of the project. When I mentioned it to the project manager and asked how much it would cost he said he would take care of it and would not allow me to pay for it. If you are looking for a company you can totally trust and a company that is going to exceed your expectations this is they right company for you.

Terrible. over 1 year of lies and poor service. Ernest Gilbert is a con man. I am embarrassed to have contracted with him in the first place. After an intensely focused sales effort to win our confidence, Ernest himself became non-existent. Even when our "3-week" project went over 1 year, Ernest would not answer our calls but instead had his "executive secretary" call us. (His office is in a strip mall.) At every turn, something other than what was required was performed, or nothing at all, with no project guidance. Instead, the situation was left to inertia, to drift into the hands of the next person to not know the status of the job. After final completion of the job, they again simply ignored requests for waivers from subcontractors as required by Florida law. After finally complying 88 days later, Gilbert demanded payment within 2 days and placed a lien on my house when informed that my billing would process payment (and paid) in 2 weeks. Ernest is not just a con-man but a bully with a "zero sum" approach to his clients-- all that matters is that he wins.

We had a very disappointing experience with Gilbert Design Build. Our kitchen and bathroom needed remodeling so we researched design build firms online. The reviews of Gilbert Design Build were positive so we decided to pursue it further by attending a seminar put on by Ernest, the owner, and his employees. The information presented at the seminar was encouraging, and we decided to proceed onto the next step. Ernest came to our home and spoke with us about their company and how they would handle the process including the design and remodel. It seemed like a good fit so we signed a design/budget agreement, and gave Ernest a down payment to secure their services. Throughout our three design meetings, we felt rushed through the process. Our remodel involved a kitchen and bath with numerous finishes, hardware choices, plumbing, lighting, flooring and wall tiles. Initially the plan was to do the design in a 3 hour meeting. We eventually had three meetings totaling about 10 hours, but felt that they were not always productive. After our third meeting, we were surprised that the designer felt that we could complete the design at our next meeting and move to the contract phase even though there were many details we had yet to cover. We felt like we were just a box to check in order to move on to the next client. In terms of the design aspect, we felt as if there were a lack of options to consider. When we had our own design suggestion it was quickly dismissed as too expensive, and the designer did little to try to work with that suggestion. Also, the designer did not appear very enthusiastic that we wanted to make a change, offering reasons as to why it shouldn’t be done instead of saying let’s see how we can make this happen. Another example involved a countertop that was suggested for our kitchen. Upon taking the sample home, it was clear it didn’t match the style or colors of our home. When bringing this to the designer’s attention it was agreed that it was not right for our space. Perhaps the photos of our home should have been reviewed before making suggestions. We were also sent to a lighting, plumbing, and appliance store without any guidance as to what would work best in our design. The reason we contracted with a design firm was for expert guidance and knowledge in the project. We did not get the service we expected. When we arrived at meetings it seemed as if the designer wasn’t totally prepared. Only 1 or 2 choices of floor tile, wall tile, hardware, accents, and cabinet door styles were offered. When asked to see other choices, the designer opened drawers in the showroom that were completely disorganized. Items were difficult to find and had to be sorted through to locate. Having items on display boards with samples clearly arranged would have been much easier and a better use of our time. We felt that the majority of our meetings were not spent using our time efficiently. The designer used the meetings to make time-consuming changes on a computer software program instead of taking copious notes and making the changes on her own time. Much of one meeting was spent searching web sites to find cabinet hardware. Also, one meeting was interrupted a number of times by walk-in customers that our designer had to help. After deciding that we did not want to waste any additional time with the company, we called the designer to explain our decision and the rationale behind it. We also tried repeatedly to speak with Ernest to let him know of our decision and the reason why we were unhappy. Since December he has yet to return any of our calls. It is highly disappointing that the calls were not returned, but confirms that we made the right decision to leave their firm. We were serious about our intentions to remodel our kitchen and bathroom but were unable to make that happen with Gilbert Design Build. Luckily, we found another design build company with an attentive, organized designer who has helped us reach our remodeling goals. His store had well-organized samples of everything we needed on display boards that were easy to view. He accompanied us to plumbing and appliance stores with the blueprints for our design to help us pick out the items that would work for our project. He was patient with design changes and always willing to work with us. We are happy to report that our construction will start shortly with the new firm.

I am more than thrilled and overwhelmed with your overall renovation of my 2 bathrooms and all of my floors. From the very beginning with the design crew and through it all with carpenters, tile installers, etc and then the completion. I couldn’t be more pleased. You create, you listen and you complete with award winning design. My thanks to everyone at Gilbert for making me the happiest customer!

We decided to the entire downstairs of our home. We chose Gilbert Design Build to do the project. The entire project went well and we are very satisfied with the end result. Competent, pleasant workers, skilled at what they do, did a superb job of transforming our entire downstairs-kitchen, family room, living room, dining room, guest bathroom, master bedroom and master bathroom. The project was large and took longer than anticipated, but is so worth it in the end.

Very well. The design process, quality of materials, caliber of staff and work product were all excellent. We did have some delay on the second phase of a vanity area, but some of this was due to delays caused by Hurricane Irma. We would definitely recommend Gilbert.

I could not have been more pleased and would definitely recommend them again. Everyone was very professional and work completed was even better than I expected. As I have said to a number of people, "It cost more than I anticipated but turned out better than I expected." This is a first-class company.

It went very well. The designer (Jennifer) worked well with me on suggesting materials and needs that are appropriate for an updated kitchen. After extensive planning for all the work, I froze the design and they accommodated my delayed start date. Work started as planned with the construction group meeting my needs in controlling dust and damage on the construction site. Once started the work proceeded pretty much ahead of schedule (due to design freeze). Subcontractors showed up on time and did a professional job. In construction there are always problems and issues that occur. I enjoyed how the team worked through the issues on their own and at times asked for my guidance as to what I preferred when it came to appearance or functionality. Without a doubt Tony (chief carpenter) and his crews do quality work. The job was completed in the estimated time. In the end I am very pleased with the design outcome and quality of the work.

I recent contracted Gilbert Design-Build to remodel my bathroom. My old bathroom was a nightmare. I wanted something totally different, masculine, but with a sense of style. My Gilbert Design-Build designer, Jennifer Strohl visited my house, photographed my bathroom, and listened to what I wanted them to accomplish. She helped me figure a budget for the job and help me select products that fit in with what I wanted and the budget. The build team and lead carpenter Bill Evans were very professional and always cleaned up every evening before they left. They would even let my cat out of the room she stayed in while they worked. The end result was even better than I had hoped for. Jennifer absolutely nailed it. I wouldn't hesitate to hire Gilbert Design-Build again(which I will probably do when I remodel my kitchen) or recommend them to friends needing remodeling. Bob Priebe

We look for someone who will do the job right, stand by the work, and minimize the hassle for the customer. We found all that in Ernest -- and a sense of humor, too. He builds a relationship and maintains a reputation so that you will want to come right back to him the next time you have a project, and will want to tell all your neighbors. Gilbert will never be the cheapest estimate, but we were confident in the high quality of materials and workmanship. When we had the occasional glitch in the process, he handled it with integrity. We would tell you to request Adam as your lead carpenter, but we want to make sure he's available for our next project.

We worked with Jennifer to redesign our kitchen. Jennifer had great ideas & was patient with us during the design stage. We ended up taking a wall down & moving things around. The flooring in the great room was also replaced. The work was completed professionally & looks beautiful- the house looks so much bigger & brighter now. When I came home from work at night the house was as clean as if no one had ever worked on the house. The crews always left the house very clean. We had shopped around prior to choosing Gilbert design. There were others who were less expensive, but we were not impressed with response time or professionalism. We are extremely happy with our new living space.

Gilbert Design Build was my choice for their CAPPS certification and willingness to "think outside the box" when designing a project which focused on a disability. Although pricing was not the least expensive of local designers, Gilbert Design Build did not limit me to specific products and was open to all requests without judgment. I was impressed with their respect and appreciation for my ideas and took the time to discuss all of my needs and those of my husband. The onsite work was not to begin until all special order products were received which reduced the "down time" considerably. Each step of the process was outlined in a hard copy binder left in the home as well as a secure on line site which was kept updated almost daily. With the exception of the demolition process, my husband and I were living in the home during the entire renovation. The Project Manager Bob Meehan asked my input and needs to make us as comfortable as possible while construction took place. Any questions or issues were brought to the attention of the Lead Carpenter Jimmy Delmutalo who would keep us informed on a daily basis. Input was requested at all steps of the process so we felt very essential to the project with no bombshells. Jimmy updated us with a phone call every evening or morning to give details on which contractors would be expected that day. All aspects of the job were done with exceedingly superior cleanliness, quality, and communication. Gilbert Design Build went above and beyond the average to meet those objectives and more. All personnel were professional and courteous throughout the time they were at our home. One issue did arise when a portion of the shower wall product was found to have defects. The Lead Carpenter Jimmy was able to have the manufacturer expedite a replacement in half the original time with profuse apologies to us. Accolades to Gilbert Design Build for catching this problem before it became a catastrophe and being proactive in rectifying the situation. The office support team was friendly, helpful, and professional. Jessica Gilbert was very open and easy to work with on the financial aspects and never hesitate to answer my questions. Kayla Buckson was energetic and a delight in having as a pivotal communications role between the field and the office. Is Gilbert Build Design the CHEAPEST contractor? NO; HOWEVER, I received the quality and design I had hoped for, a level of professionalism that I seldom see nowadays, and had absolutely no reason to have them return for any "do-overs" or repairs more than two months after the project was completed. I love everything about our new bathroom. Would I use Gilbert Build Design AGAIN? YES, without hesitation. No high pressure sales and a commitment to staying within budget (or in my case under budget) was a refreshing characteristic of this company.

The design phase in particular was excellent - full marks for Jennifer for doing such an awesome job. She listened to our ideas and also had really good ideas and suggestions that we might not have considered. The whole process was actively enjoyable and we came away with a clear vision of how it would all look when completed. While we were away, Jennifer and Ernest selected a beautiful slab for our counter top. The installation process took place while we were away, so we were not here while it happened, but the finished result is extremely good - and very much what we had seen mocked up in the design process. Great care was taken to look after our property, including containing dust from the demolition and installation process in the rooms affected. DreamMaker liaised with HH Gregg to ensure that the delivery and installation of appliances went smoothly. The whole project was finished on time. Follow-up was also very good; a punch list was agreed and tackled more than fairly and Bob and Jimmy went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure everything was done. After everything was complete, the after-project care is also good. I definitely feel I could ask follow-up questions and request minor repairs in future. I would definitely go back to DreamMaker if I needed my kitchen or bathroom remodelled in the future.

DreamMaker of Manasota provides a unique concept in renovation/remodeling. They are truly a ?one-stop-shop? making the remodeling/renovation experience so much easier. With an incredible showroom and knowledgeable design staff, there is no running around to cabinet makers, plumbers, lighting stores, etc. All your selections can be made in one location. I attended one of their seminars which I found very informative on their company and their approach to remodeling/renovation. When the process begins, you establish a budget based on the scope of the work, consult with a designer who assists in your selections, and establish a start date. A computerized schematic is produced to provide you with a visual of the finished product. I gave Jennifer, my design consultant, the concept of what I wanted to establish in the ?feel? of the master suite design. When I attended our next appt, she had all her suggested materials displayed and she had assembled exactly the look that I had visualized. She is very talented and easy to work with. Their construction manager, Bob, is also a pleasure to work with. Very accommodating and flexible during the work process. The tile installer, Tim, was extremely meticulous and did an incredible job. Gregg, the painter, was neat and precise. Bill, one of their lead carpenters, was also most accommodating and fastidious in the finish work. The overall project did take somewhat longer than initially anticipated, however the end product was definitely worth the extra time. I am thrilled with the job that they did.

When we contacted Dreammakers, we also contacted other similar companies. We were looking for a company who can complete our project from A to Z and who would do all the coordinating. We first met their designer Jennifer and felt that she was attentive to what we wanted and would be able to redesign our space and make it more functional, and beautiful too! As soon as she presented her ideas, we were sold. Throughout the process of designing, ordering, building... everyone was very responsive and attended to issues/questions very quickly. They took care of minimizing the dust during the project and always picked up/cleaned up at end of each day. Every worker (Dreammakers employees and subcontractors) were polite and respectful, so we were never worried to have them alone in our home. There was some delays in the process, but usually out of their control. Overall the project was done within the time frame they initially gave us (except for minor touch up). We were impressed with their attention to details. We would use Dreammakers again in the future and would recommend them to anyone.

Master bath - on schedule, no problems. Turned out beautiful. Guest bath - one month behind schedule, of which approximately 2 weeks was due to the county and a permit mix-up. Remodel results were excellent.

Ernest aided in the redesign of the master bath and Beth guided us through the selection of tiles, fixtures, countertop, cabinets and paint. She was proficient in her ability to see our preferences and come up with the perfect combination of materials to make the bathrooms special. Both paid close attention to our wants and offered valuable suggestions. Once the design work was complete, a document was created describing the work needing to be done. It is the most comprehensive of any company, doing like work, we have ever seen. Those who did the actual work used the document as a guide for their daily tasks. Some of the work was contracted out. The tile people were splendid. The plumber was efficient and helpful. The employees of Dreammaker were a pleasure to work with. If you are lucky enough to get Jimmy and his supervisor, Bob, you can expect excellent work. Jimmy's attention to detail was especially apparent. All (including Adam) did great work and took extensive care to prevent any damage to our home. The process took longer than we anticipated, but the result was worth it. We did several things on our own that we should have addressed at the beginning of the project. The more detail you can put into the plan, the better. Dreammaker would have taken care of those issues if we had wanted them to. Also be aware of the cabinet makers' warranties with respect to environment.