Every home has a story. It's where birthdays are celebrated, children take their first steps, holidays become traditions, and the moments we cherish become lifelong memories. As families grow and seasons of life change, homes often need to change with them. The best remodels don't rewrite that story; they create space for the next chapter.
That understanding has been the foundation of Custom Design & Construction for nearly four decades. Today, co-owner Beth Yuen is carrying that legacy forward with a philosophy that puts people before projects, relationships before renovations, and timeless design ahead of passing trends.
Beth didn't seek a career in remodeling. A chance encounter introduced her to the building industry, where she discovered a passion for design and helping homeowners bring their ideas to life. She was then recruited to Custom Design & Construction where she spent over 15 years learning every facet of the business before acquiring the nearly 40-year-old company alongside business partner Santos Mejia.
Although kitchens, bathrooms, and additions are what clients ultimately see, Beth believes the real work begins long before construction starts. "It's the relationships. We really focus on the relationship rather than the project," she said. "Anybody can build you a kitchen. You'll be happy with the end result. It's how do you feel working with that person? We're going to be together for, on the short end, three or four months, on the long end, sometimes two years, so the road to get there is more important."
For Beth, every remodeling project begins with understanding why a family is making the investment in the first place. "There's always some personal thing that's driving the remodel for us and for our clients."
Sometimes it's a young family deciding to stay in the neighborhood they love instead of moving. Other times, it's homeowners transforming an older house into their forever home.
One project that still stands out for Beth involved two sisters remodeling their childhood home their late parents had designed decades earlier. "They wanted to remodel the house so at some point, they would end up aging there together," Beth said. "I like to call it thriving in place."
Another memorable project began with a young Air Force family purchasing their first home. What started as a remodeling project grew into a lasting friendship. "We subsequently did four other projects for them," Beth said. "Now they're two of my best friends. They were at my wedding, and we travel together."
Those experiences illustrate what has become one of the company's defining characteristics. Relationships don't end when construction does. "I like being a part of people's life story," Beth explained.
That relationship-first philosophy also helps ease one of the biggest fears homeowners face before beginning a remodel. "A lot of emotions come into play," Beth said. "Most people have heard horror stories about contractors."
Custom Design & Construction's design-build process was built to eliminate much of that uncertainty. Rather than coordinating architects, interior designers, and contractors independently, clients work with one team from the first conversation through the final walk-through. Design, budgeting, selections, construction, and communication all happen under one roof.
"[Clients] don't have to do any coordinating," Beth explained. "We're everything, so we handle that internally."
Designer and General Manager Chelsea Cutler said that collaboration benefits clients from the very beginning. "As designers, we're in constant communication with the production side of the business, so our design decisions are informed from the beginning. We're not going to 'design ourselves into trouble.'"
Because the design and construction teams work together from day one, homeowners know early what their ideas will realistically cost, helping eliminate unpleasant surprises later in the process.
Just as important, Beth believes every client deserves a home that reflects who they are—not simply what’s trending online. While she explains that warm woods and organic textures are replacing the whites and grays that dominated recent years, she and Chelsea encourage homeowners to choose elements that feel authentic to their lifestyle. Chelsea loves creating richly saturated powder rooms through a technique called color drenching, where the baseboards, walls, and ceilings are painted the same shade, but both designers agree that a successful remodel isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about creating a home that feels uniquely yours.
"We don't have a style," Beth said. "We really design in partnership with our client." Chelsea agreed. "When we're doing remodels, it's really catered to the client's aesthetic and what the architecture of the home is." Beth often reminds clients that style should always be personal. "If it's your forever home, do what you want to do," she said. "It needs to feel like you're home ultimately."
After more than 25 years in the industry, Beth has heard one response more than any other from clients. “The only regret people have is that they didn't do it sooner." It's a sentiment that perfectly reflects the company's longtime promise to help homeowners fall in love with their home again.
When asked what she ultimately hopes clients feel after the dust settles, Beth's answer had nothing to do with countertops, cabinetry, or finishes. "I want it to feel like home. I want them to be glad they did it. I want them to feel like they could be there forever. I want them to feel like they never want to leave."
In the end, that's the true measure of great design. It’s about creating a place where life's next chapter unfolds, where new traditions begin, where lifelong memories continue to be made, and where you truly love where you live.
“The best remodels don't rewrite that story; they create space for the next chapter.”
—Beth Yuen
“When we're doing remodels, it's really catered to the client's aesthetic and what the architecture of the home is.”
—Chelsea Cutler