Design-Build in Birmingham, MI
Reschka Design Build serves Birmingham, Michigan homeowners with premium main-floor remodels and custom home construction. From the historic neighborhoods near Quarton Lake to the tree-lined streets of the Poppleton Park area, we bring integrated design-build craftsmanship to one of Oakland County's most distinguished communities.
Why Birmingham Homeowners Choose Design-Build
Birmingham's residential fabric is defined by older colonials, Tudors, and ranches built through the mid-twentieth century — homes with undeniable character but floor plans that no longer match how families live. The formal dining rooms, galley kitchens, and closed-off living areas that made sense in 1955 feel isolating today. Most of our Birmingham clients come to us wanting to open the kitchen to the dining and living areas, improve sightlines to the backyard, and create a main floor that functions as a single connected space.
That work involves more than cabinets and countertops. Walls between the kitchen and living room often carry structural load in homes this age. Opening them requires engineering coordination, beam work, and careful integration of new structural elements. Our design-build approach handles all of that under one contract — architecture, engineering coordination, permitting, and construction.
Birmingham's lot sizes also shape what's possible. Many properties sit on lots under 7,500 square feet, which means additions require careful attention to setbacks, lot coverage limits, and city zoning rules. When a client's program can't be achieved within the existing footprint, we work through those constraints during pre-construction before a single wall comes down. The result is a remodel that fits the site, respects the neighborhood character, and delivers the open, connected main floor our clients are after.
What We Build in Birmingham
Reschka Design Build brings the same single-contract design-build approach to Birmingham 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 Birmingham 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 BIRMINGHAM
The projects below represent main-floor remodel work in and around Birmingham's residential communities — typical of the scope, scale, and architectural context we work in throughout Oakland County.
What Birmingham Clients Say
Hear from homeowners we've served in and around Birmingham.
"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 Birmingham
| Service | Starting Investment |
|---|---|
| Main-Floor Remodel | $120K+ |
| Custom Home | $700K+ |
| Large Addition | $175K+ |
Birmingham's historic neighborhood character and older home construction — including plaster walls, knob-and-tube updates, and load-bearing walls through mid-century colonials — can increase labor scope relative to newer construction. Budget accordingly during pre-construction.
Building in Birmingham: What You Should Know
Birmingham operates its own Building Department at City Hall on Park Street, separate from Oakland County. Permit applications are reviewed by city staff, and plan review timelines for main-floor remodels typically run two to four weeks from submission, depending on the season and scope. Structural work, including beam installations for wall openings, requires engineered drawings submitted with the permit package.
Birmingham does not have a historic district overlay across all of its residential neighborhoods, but properties in some areas near the downtown core may be subject to additional review if the work affects the exterior. Most interior main-floor remodels are straightforward from a regulatory standpoint. Additions require zoning review for lot coverage and setbacks, and neighbors are typically notified for variance requests.
We handle the permit process as part of our pre-construction services. Homeowners don't manage applications — we coordinate drawings, submissions, and inspections so construction can proceed on the approved plan.
Frequently Asked Questions — Birmingham
How much does a main-floor remodel cost in Birmingham, MI?
Main-floor remodels in Birmingham typically start at $120,000 and rise to $300,000+ depending on scope, structural changes required, and finish level. Homes in Birmingham often have load-bearing walls between kitchen and living spaces that require engineering and beam work, which adds to both timeline and budget. We establish a realistic range during pre-construction before committing to a construction contract.
Do you need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Birmingham?
Yes. Any work involving structural changes, electrical upgrades, plumbing modifications, or HVAC rerouting requires a permit from the City of Birmingham Building Department. Cabinet-only or cosmetic work generally does not. Since our main-floor remodels typically involve layout changes and wall openings, we pull permits as a matter of course.
How long does a main-floor remodel take in Birmingham?
Most kitchen-centered main-floor remodels in Birmingham run 12 to 20 weeks of active construction, following a pre-construction phase of 8 to 14 weeks for design, selections, permitting, and trade coordination. Total project duration from initial consultation to move-in is typically 6 to 9 months for a mid-size scope.
Does Reschka Design Build build custom homes in Birmingham?
Yes. We build custom homes in Birmingham and surrounding Oakland County communities. Birmingham's lot constraints mean most custom home projects involve either teardown-rebuild on an existing lot or working within tight setbacks. We address all of this during the design and pre-construction phase.
Serving Birmingham from Troy
Our Troy office is approximately 15 minutes from Birmingham, making site visits, design consultations, and project management coordination convenient throughout your build. We maintain active projects across Oakland County simultaneously, so Birmingham homeowners benefit from the same team and trade relationships as every other community we serve.
Planning a Project in Birmingham?
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.