D Michael Designs

I initially graded this company a C until I read his reply. I can't say it enough but I don not appreciate dishonesty. I never once picked out materials to be used for the home nor was anyone else working with this company. It is sad that a man needs to lie about his faults to paint him the good guy. Prior to starting anything I told him my plans and he was clear on my intentions. I'm a very much understanding person but when one quote says one thing and then an influx in price magically appears it's bound for questions. I decided to buy the materials on my own because it was cheaper. There's nothing wrong with saving money when the cost of the contractors products are inflated. I never once saw or discussed the type of products, the sink he talks about. With his reply I would have to say RUN! I dishonest man will cut corners and blame others for their faults. I fired this contractor, he was not willing to follow city regulations and the potential cost/lost from his negligence was something I was not willing to take on. I wish I could've had the individual that was rated 'A's' on this post. I have no reason to lie about the encounter nor do I want to destroy anyone reputation. I will not let you lie and paint me to be the bad guy. I wish you and your company the best. I found someone else that was not willing to cut corners :) You started project 3/13 you were FIRED 5/8 just to refresh your memory.

We spent approximate $185,000 to remodel the entire 1,450 square foot second floor of our home. All in all, D Michael Design did an exceptional job. Winston Churchill reputedly declared: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” Accordingly, I now declare D Michael Design the worst general contractor, except for all the others. Reality dictates that no large scale project can ever be flawlessly executed. Accordingly, the real measure of success is how the inevitable problems are addressed. In THAT regard, Dave Peters was indeed flawless. Dave was always committed to getting it right, never sidetracked with excuses. Time and again, Dave tackled the inevitable problems and made things right. Starting in mid-September 2017, we met at least once per week to develop our design, select materials, and document a very detailed work order that listed tasks and costs. The project commenced in early November 2017 and culminated in early April 2018. For over five months, Dave was at our home virtually every weekday morning to let us know exactly what would be happening that day and to inspect the quality of the previous day’s work. Always good-humored, he was never defensive when we’d point out inevitable shortcomings; he simply made sure the sub-contractors did it again—and sometimes, yet again—until they got it RIGHT. And sometimes HE identified shortcomings we had missed, and made sure they got corrected. The project was tackled in two phases that enabled us to continue to live in our home throughout construction. The first phase tackled the master bedroom, bath, and closet. Walls were moved, ceilings raised, and more. A lot of design had to be done “on the fly” as hidden infrastructure had to be accommodated. In some instances pipes and HVAC infrastructure were relocated to accommodate our preferred design. In other instances we worked together to devise innovative work arounds. In the end, it all came together with spectacular results. Dave’s pleasant demeanor and constructive attitude made it an enjoyable, teamwork process that might otherwise have been a disastrously contentious and stressful debacle. The second phase involved a bedroom, hallway bathroom, craft room, and office. This phase was not as complex design-wise, but received no less conscientious effort from Dave. In the past, I have dealt with owner-contractors who at the outset gave me their “personal number” so I could reach them anytime. However, once the project commenced, they didn’t answer calls or respond in a timely manner. Not so with Dave. He always responded immediately, cheerfully, and helpfully. I have no doubt that I could have easily found another contractor at a significantly lesser cost. But I also have no doubt that I could never have found as good a VALUE in terms of commitment to excellence, responsiveness, and a stress-free experience.

Great! He offered his suggestions based on our house and we love the new colors.

I reviewed this company in August 2016 (approximately one month into my remodel). At that time, I gave them five stars because everything was going good. HOWEVER, I need to post the following update: DO NOT use D. Michael Designs unless you want to throw money away! They were impressive for the first couple of months of my project. However, after that, everything was downhill. That’s why my current review of this business is completely opposite of the one I did in August 2016. In May 2017, they still had not completed the project that was supposed to be finished as by December 1, 2016 according to my executed contract. Also, much of the work that had been done was of poor quality. The subcontractors did not perform the work satisfactorily. So, they had to redo things over and over again. However, the end result was still not acceptable. As they continued to get further and further behind schedule, they continued to “promise me” that it would be finished in the next couple of weeks. In May 2017, they told me they would not complete the job, even though the executed contract stated that I had to be 100% satisfied with their work. At this point, I had paid all but $6,000 of my total contract price (which was over $150,000). After they walked off the job, I brought in another contractor to finish the work that they had not. As the new contractor did the tasks that D. Michael Designs did not complete, numerous other problems were identified with the work that they had done. The work they had done was of such poor quality that much of it must be redone. Some items were actually safety hazards. For example, D. Michael Designs installed a new gas line for a new range in a new island (no previous gas line existed – everything was new). Over a period of multiple months, I continuously complained that I smelled gas. They would have someone come out and “fix it”. However, I still smelled gas when the new contractor took over. So I asked them to check it out. They inspected the gas line and noted that the gas line (which was a brand new line) had been wrapped with duct tape and plumbers tape. After their work, I have not smelled gas again. Also, I had a new ceiling fan installed outside. The electrical work had to be redone because it was not done correctly. D. Michael Designs also had installed the wrong type of ceiling fan and it had rusted out in a matter of a few months. After I purchased the replacement ceiling fan (having the correct rating for using in an external area), the new contractor was installing the electrical connections for the new fan. As they were doing this, they incurred electrical arcing in the outlet. After these safety issues were identified, I requested the new contractor to inspect the rest of the electrical work done by D. Michael Designs. We found illegal wiring, hazardous material in the outlets, burned sections in the outlets and a very poorly wired electrical panel (which was newly installed during my remodel). In addition to these items, there are many, many other items that the new contractor has done or will redo, thus costing me double the amount to get everything working properly. I have had the new contractor working on my house for approximately three months now just redoing work that was not satisfactorily completed by D. Michael Designs.

The work went very smoothly. Dave kept in touch with us daily throughout the project to let us know what to expect. The teams were on time. We were very happy with the transformation of the shower from top to bottom. The final cost was the same as his initial estimate and it was completed on time.

Everything was great. Dave was very responsive and available. His workers were polite, punctual, and did great work. The kitchen looks beautiful and we're very happy with the result. We're planning some additional projects at the house and will definitely use D. Michael Designs again.

Due to personal circumstances we opted not to move forward with the remodel in 2017, but would definitely use D Michaels in the future.

Work went very well. Problem was my master bedroom is right off the living room. Anyone in the living room could see all of the master if my door was open. Bad design/layout. I originally requested a quote to enclose the patio to allow a hallway to be created and close off that door. Would be an expensive fix. Dave actually asked what the problem was I was trying to solve when he visited me, and offered up 3 less expensive options other than the enclosure. The less expensive options were to my benefit. Other contractors I talked to did not offer up any alternate solutions. The work was completed ahead of schedule (2 days instead of 3) and I am very pleased with it. I appreciated that Dave took time to listen to my problem, offered up more than one solution and got the work done on time. Also work area was very clean. The alcove/hallway is a good buffer between my bedroom and living area and offers privacy soundproofing for what I thought was a reasonable price. Just what I wanted.

Awful experience! We interviewed 4 contractors, and we ended up choosing lone star on their promises and website even though they charged more. We figured we didn't want to skimp on this project. Big mistake! It should have taken 4-6 weeks as promised. IT TOOK OVER A YEAR TO GET IT MOSTLY DONE. Two years later and it's still not done properly. We have tried contacting them several times with no response. Our deck ceiling is still damaged. We just had the siding snap off our home too. Our fan is rusted from improper installation. It took them 4 times to lay a basic deck somewhat correctly with about 5 different crews who each said they had to fix mistakes from the last crew. It took two crews to paint a door properly. They failed to put in a French drain, so our patio flooded. I could go on and on and on. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR YOUR MONEY. If you wNt more info just ask. I've got pictures and texts to prove the awful experience.

We did not end up working with this contractor but very much appreciated the time and proposal put together by Jason Peters.

They sent someone out to take photos, never heard anything so I called. Turns out the person no longer worked with them. They sent someone new out and we then got a bid. We just choose to go with a different company. Ended up doing less work at a lower price.

I am displeased with the majority of the work completed. First, the remodel took over a month and a half. When speaking with other contractors they stated it should have taken no more than 2-3 weeks. Once completed, the tile floor cracked within a couple of months. The glass shower door leaks and the plastic surrounding the door broke almost immediately. Also, the installed the exhaust fan in the wrong bathroom and then blamed me for telling them the wrong information. They were only remodeling one bathroom so I am unsure how they could even make that mistake. I was blamed for many of the issues that occurred saying "sometimes houses just shift and that's why the tile cracks". Also the plumber they hired installed the hot and cold water backwards so I had to take off work an extra day so they could return and fix the mistake. The crew did not clean up the mess they made completely and they left a dent if my bedroom wall. I am very dissatisfied with this company and would not recommend that anyone use them.

D. Michael Designs is extremely knowledgeable, professional and polite. I am having my entire house remodeled, including knocking out walls, adding a kitchen island, adding a unique water feature to my entrance and many other changes. I contacted them to get a bid for the design all the way to construction completion. I did not want to deal with the all of the various trades needed to do this project. They told me they could do it all. AND THEY ARE! I met with Travis first to provide my basic remodeling list. Then Dave came out and he, Travis and I walked through my entire house. I told them what I wanted and then Dave and Travis offered additional suggestions. I liked 99% of what they suggested. Within a very short time, I was very comfortable with them and felt like they were part of the family. Travis did an excellent job developing the design specs. (One of the things that impressed me was that he remembered all of the specific things I mentioned during our walkthrough.) Once I agreed on the design, he went with me and offered suggestions for the various materials. There were some special requests that I made. Travis researched all of them to get me an answer and an approximate cost. As Travis and I were working on the design, Dave lined up all the contractors needed to complete the construction. Another thing I really appreciated is that Travis learned what I like and then gave me two choices for the fixtures, etc. so that I did not have to do all the research and look at the thousands of choices for each item. Once the design was finalized, construction began. I’d say they are about 1/3 finished with the actual construction. Daren, Dave’s brother, is leading the construction. He keeps me informed regularly (several times a week, sometimes multiple times a day) on what work was completed and what is next on their list. I thoroughly trust them to get the job done. I will go to the house periodically just to see the progress. Also, they clean up the construction site before they leave every day. They pulled all the necessary permits and are getting the various inspections before moving forward. I have never worked with any other contractor that is as professional as they are. I am very happy with the work they have done and will use them for any future work I need done!

We picked Lone Star to do a kitchen/bath remodel after talking to several general contractors; they had the best reviews and pricing. After deciding to split the job up into two portions, they became harder to reach. Frank was contacted about materials on 16 July, and we didn't hear back until we tried again 2 weeks later. The day after, we were told that the job didn't meet Lone Star's price threshold of $10,000 (even though the total for the work we needed done was more than $29,000), and due to workload, they couldn't work with us anymore. That was the first we'd heard of the threshold, and Frank apologized for not mentioning it sooner. This was also after several emails were exchanged clarifying the materials and the work scope. I honestly think it was because we were asking too many questions. But instead of clarifying any miscommunication issues, Frank dropped us with a shoddy excuse, just as we'd begun to purchase materials. It's fine, of course; we'll still get our kitchen, and Lone Star's competition will get our money. All's well, etc...

I have been very impressed by Jamie, the interior designer who helped me pick out tile, furniture pieces, hardware, etc. for my guest bathroom remodel. She has been very responsive to all my questions and came to the house with a young man (sorry I don't know his name) who did computer designed pictures of before and after the remodel. Jamie brought all samples and pictures of furniture pieces to me. I never had to go to their office - they always came at my convenience. After determining what all was going to happen. she coordinated with the project manager to get all materials on site before work was started. We are still in process of the physical remodel, but I have been very pleased with D Michael Designs and would used them again and recommend them to anyone.

Pleased with the results, they handled all concerns timely.

The overall experience with Lone Star was fine. There were a couple of times when I had to call to get them to resume work, but they responded quickly. Some of their subcontractors were especially good - H&J Electric and Tulio and his crew who did most of the work. The supervisor Augustin and project manager Fred Johnson were easy to work with.

Lone Star did a great job from concept/ bid to final product. I love my new kitchen!

This is a 2 part review. Quality of Work: The work was completed correctly and quality was above our expectations. Scheduling: 1 1/2 month job took almost 3 to complete. Would have been much happier if original time-line was adhered to. Bottom Line: despite the scheduling we are very pleased with the work done and look forward to many years enjoying our updated home.

These people and the company as a whole are fabulous, and I can't praise them enough. Lone Star had to do redo and correct terrible and inferior work in building my deck done earlier by a company I had chosen from a radio ad, which I will never do again. Lone Star was professional, quick, knowledgeable, experienced, polite, personable, etc., etc. Lone Star restored my deck and my sanity. I would recommend them to one and all.

There is a remodeling company in San Antonio that you can trust to come into your home and treat your job as if they were working for a family member. I know because that company just finished their 10th project for us. That one of a kind company is LSSC. Our relationship with LSSC started over 4 years ago. Why did we select them and what keeps us going back to them?...commitment to customer satisfaction and very high quality work. This dedication to excellence starts from the top. Dave Peters, President and LSSC partner did the estimate on our kitchen project. He is ethical, honest, thorough, knowledgeable, and always there to answer questions. Dave is simply the best! He makes sure that LSSC really isn't finished with any job until the client is completely happy with the results. So many talented people worked on this job. The Superintendent is responsible for overseeing the project and we worked with both Don Peters, co-owner as well as Fred Johnson. They were both excellent. They kept on top of all the many details and ensured the sub-contractors were there when expected and that their work was up to the standards of LSSC. We used D Michael Designs for design assistance. Dave Peters, President of D Michael Designs has that rare ability to listen to your ideas and transform those ideas into something special. Jamie Benavides provided wonderful advice on lighting, tile, flooring as well as kitchen design. She was always there to listen and was so patient. Electrical work was done by Jessie and his team at KJ Electric and they were outstanding! As an example, they worked over two hours on the placement of recessed lighting in the adjoining family room and made certain the work was done carefully and with hardly any damage to the ceiling. The cabinetry was supplied and installed by UB Kitchens. Marcello at UB Kitchens is such a joy to work with! The cabinets are beautiful and we will enjoy them for many years to come. Tile work was outstanding. Fred and his team painstakingly completed a herringbone pattern on the kitchen backsplash. The tile is hand-made and was not easy to work with but they did a beautiful job! They also cut strips of polished stone to do a fireplace surround in the family room that transitioned perfectly with the wood floors. As other reviewers have mentioned, there are always unexpected challenges when working on a major remodeling project and ours was no exception. The difference between a good contractor and a great one is how they handle these issues. LSSC never failed to promptly resolve even minor issues and their communication with us was excellent. Honestly, hiring contractors to work on your home can be intimidating. However, when LSSC turned out the lights and left our house for the last time I felt like we were saying goodbye not only to great contractors but good friends.

I prepared an extensive written outline of the project which we went over in detail, placing emphasis on the very most critical aspects of the job. Contractor responded with a written estimate within 48 hours. Upon examination of the estimate, my written outline was largely disregarded. Some items were totally missing, others were just plain incorrect and in many cases the pricing of tasks had obviously been inflated. The estimate was sloppy and very incomplete. This contractor has a $10K project minimum which I understood going in. Rather than giving an honest quote they chose to inflate costs so as to reach their arbitrary $10 minimum. Contractor admitted this in a subsequent e-mail. If I had received an honest quote that amounted to less than $10K, I could have easily expanded the scope of the total package. This is clearly a deceptive practice and Angie's List patrons need to be aware that this is going on with these folks. They may have many glowing reviews but I don't have stupid stamped on my forehead. In my experience a contractor's estimate is a pretty good predictor of how the total job will turn out. This estimate was hastily prepared and had little attention to details and the customers specified needs. In the future I advise them to get it right the first time for as in this case, there will be no second chance. Hire these people and you are asking for trouble.

WShe was so nice and helpfulonderful.

We're very happy with them. It turned out nice. It was expensive, but they did a very nice job and we were satisfied with the job they did.

Went great. Good communication, scheduling and nice work. Thanks!