Since its inception eight years ago, Thiessen Design + Construction has grown from a design-focused company into a fully integrated design-build firm offering homeowners a smarter, more precise way to bring their dream homes to life. Today, the company provides architectural design, interior design, and construction all under one roof, along with Home at Last, its custom furniture and curated décor store.
As today’s homeowners draw online inspiration from increasingly detailed, design-forward homes, the process of building and remodeling has become far more complex. Achieving that level of design requires early coordination, clear leadership, and a fully integrated team—without which uncertainty and costly surprises are almost inevitable.
Topeka City Lifestyle spoke with Founder and Creative Director Tammy Thiessen about the company’s vision, its approach to protecting homeowners’ investments, and what’s trending in the world of design.
TCL:
In January, you posted on Facebook, “What guides us is a simple but meaningful purpose: supporting homeowners through the stress and overwhelm that can often come with building or remodeling.” Can you expand on that?
Thiessen:
I started this company because I love design—that’s always been in our DNA. But as we continued to serve people, I saw that the real value we offer homeowners is leadership—taking an overwhelming, high-investment process and replacing stress with clarity.
We do that by assuming responsibility for leading the project from start to finish. By bringing architectural design, interior design, and construction under one roof, we’re able to direct the project intentionally from the very beginning.
The level of homes people are seeing on Instagram today requires a completely different level of coordination. Those spaces aren’t just beautiful—they’re highly detailed, architecturally thoughtful, and technically complex. You simply can’t execute that level of design without the right structure behind it. Our integrated model exists because today’s homes demand more than a traditional, piecemeal approach.
When a client comes in and says, “These are my goals,” we translate those goals into a realistic plan—both creatively and financially. We design within real space and budget parameters from day one, always keeping the long-term vision for the entire home in mind.
That’s critical, because most homeowners only build or remodel once in their lifetime. They don’t know what they don’t know. We have a proven, systematic process that anticipates decisions and design desires before they become costly.
We ask how our clients live, design to support that lifestyle, and then execute that plan with precision. Our clients can be as involved—or as hands-off—as they choose, knowing the project is being thoughtfully managed.
TCL:
And now you’re also doing architectural design?
Thiessen:
Yes. We handled the architectural design and construction for Washburn University’s President’s home on campus—from the floor plan all the way to the furnishings. Through projects like that, we’ve found homeowners really need expert guidance when it comes to floor plans—designing spaces that truly support their family, lifestyle, and long-term needs.
Many of the homes people are inspired by online are designed holistically, with architecture, interiors, and construction working together from the very beginning. Bringing architectural design in-house allows us to align lifestyle goals and budget goals before a single line is drawn, which is essential for achieving that level of design in real life.
Today’s homes are no longer built from a simple two-dimensional floor plan. Achieving magazine-worthy results requires hundreds of detailed construction documents, elevations, and coordinated plans—which we create.
Having real cost clarity before breaking ground isn’t common, but it’s one of the most powerful protections a homeowner can have—especially in today’s market. We’re currently the only firm in our area structured to deliver that level of certainty.
TCL:
What do you see trending right now in the design and remodeling space?
Thiessen:
We’re seeing a return to more traditional applications—more molding and detailed woodwork. Wainscoting and picture molding are being reintroduced, and colors are warming up. There’s a lot more color coming back into homes.
Outdoor spaces continue to be huge. Here in Kansas, we’ve figured out how to incorporate heating elements so people can truly use these spaces for nearly three seasons.
Some fun things we’re building more and more of are wine rooms and golf simulator rooms. Wine rooms can often be created by repurposing underutilized square footage already in the home. One recent project tucked a wine room beneath a staircase, while another converted a lawnmower garage into a wine cellar. Golf simulator rooms are also trending, and we’re designing those as full entertainment spaces—with seating and bar areas—so they’re both functional and social.
TCL:
What else would you like readers to know about Thiessen Design + Construction?
Thiessen:
Our tagline is “From concept to completion,” because quality design involves every element—the layout, the design, the construction, and the furnishing of the space. For us, a project isn’t complete when construction ends. It’s complete when the home feels finished, intentional, and fully livable.
That means working with a partner who owns the entire outcome, so homeowners can feel confident in an investment of this size. I always work toward design longevity—because good design shouldn’t need to be redone. High-level design considers longevity from the start, protecting the homeowner’s investment for decades—not just trends.
To learn more about Thiessen Design + Construction, visit tdesigncompany.com.
We incorporate heating elements so people can truly use these spaces for nearly three seasons.
So homeowners can feel confident in an investment of this size, I always work toward design longevity—because good design shouldn’t need to be redone.