Stearns Design Build

10/22/2026

Some of the most important bathroom remodeling decisions are the ones you'll barely notice in the finished space.

A beautiful shower gets plenty of attention, but what about the materials selected for areas exposed to moisture? Or the ventilation system that helps manage humidity after every shower?

These details deserve just as much consideration as your favorite tile or vanity style.

Our free Bathroom Remodeling Guide explores the practical side of bathroom design, including material selection, ventilation, lighting, and other features that influence how your space performs over time.

Get the guide here:

Planning a bathroom remodel? Our free Bathroom Remodel Guide gives you expert tips, design inspiration, and budgeting insights to get started with confidence. Your bathroom is one of the most important spaces in your home. Whether you’re planning a small refresh

10/20/2026

A bathroom should continue to work for you as your needs change. 💚

For this Gibb Estates primary bathroom remodel in College Station, the homeowners wanted a space that would better support aging in place. Their existing shower was leaking, the flooring was slippery, and the jetted bathtub needed replacing.

We incorporated a curbless shower with grab bars and a built-in bench, installed matte-finish flooring for better traction, and upgraded the bathtub to support the homeowner's health needs.

The green tile and nature-inspired finishes brought their vision for a relaxing bathroom to life.

See the full project and the decisions behind the remodel:

A Gibb Estates Bathroom Remodel Designed for Aging in Place Aging-in-place bathroom remodeling requires careful consideration of how a space supports its homeowner's daily needs. For this primary bathroom remodel in Gibb Estates, College Station, the goal was to improve accessibility and comfort whi...

10/19/2026

✨Core Value Winner✨
This week, Jesus was chosen for the core value of Honesty for his willingness to communicate openly and share important information, even when it might have been easier to stay quiet. His honesty helps build the trust we value within our team.
Fun Facts about Jesus:
- He secretly loves the Shrek movies
- His favorite band is Scorpions
- He really enjoyed seeing Downtown San Antonio at night
Who do you think will win the next Core Value Award?

10/16/2026

Some homes have a personality all their own, and this bright yellow Bryan home is a perfect example! 💛

Inside, our team tackled updates to the kitchen and guest bathroom, along with changes to the home's water heater setup. The kitchen's cheerful yellow tile and classic cabinetry remain part of its charm, while the guest bathroom now features a glass-enclosed shower with crisp white tile and blue accents.

Take a closer look at the project, including the before-and-after photos, on our Happy Home Blog!

Preserving the Past: A 1950s Home Remodel in Bryan, Texas This 1950s home in Bryan, Texas, had been in the same family for generations. When the homeowners decided to remodel, they had a clear priority: keep the vintage features they loved while making the house more functional for everyday

10/15/2026

Have you ever considered how much the trees around your home influence its design? 🌳

At Stearns Design Build, we've designed homes with roof pitches that echo the angles of existing oak canopies. It's one example of how the natural features of a property can influence architectural decisions.

Mature trees can also help reduce heat reaching a home's exterior and provide valuable shade during our Texas summers.

Our latest blog explores the science behind these benefits and why we consider trees when approaching residential design.

Read Why Trees Matter in Residential Design:

Why Trees Matter in Residential Design Trees in residential design can influence the architecture of a home and how comfortable it feels throughout the year. A mature oak may determine where windows belong, how an addition takes shape, or where a family spends summer afternoons. Considering existing...

10/14/2026

More room for gathering, right in their own backyard! 🌿

These Edelweiss Estates homeowners loved entertaining friends and family, but their existing covered patio had limited space for everyone to gather.

We expanded their outdoor living area with 270 square feet of additional covered patio and another 232 square feet of uncovered concrete space. The addition was designed to match the existing home, with integrated lighting, oscillating fans, and gas connections for outdoor cooking and a potential future fire pit.

Now they have more room to enjoy the backyard they already love.

See the full transformation and the decisions behind it in this Happy Home Blog article!

Expanding Outdoor Living: An Edelweiss Estates Patio Addition For homeowners who enjoy hosting friends and family, having enough space to gather can make a significant difference. This Edelweiss Estates patio addition in College Station expanded an existing covered patio into a larger outdoor entert...

10/12/2026

✨Core Value Winner✨
This week, Katie was chosen for the core value of Quality for the effort she puts into providing the level of customer service we strive for, from the first conversation to years after your project is complete.
Fun Facts about Katie:
- She is a newfound morning person
- Her visit to Connecticut really surprised her with how much she liked it
- She didn't expect to enjoy fishing as a pastime, but now loves it
Who do you think will win the next Core Value Award?

10/09/2026

A kitchen designed for someone else doesn't always feel like home.

When these homeowners moved in, they inherited a farmhouse-style kitchen that didn't reflect their personal taste. They had a different vision for the space, including an Italian-inspired design and a layout that would make cooking with company nearby more comfortable.

See how we helped bring that vision to life in this week's Happy Home Blog!💚

Making It Their Own: A Kitchen Remodel Designed for Everyday Living Moving into a home means inheriting someone else's design choices, and sometimes those choices are far from what you would have selected yourself. That was the case for these homeowners, whose farmhouse-style kitchen felt disconnect...

10/07/2026

Storage works best when it is planned around the way you actually use your home.

A remodel gives you the chance to think beyond simply adding more cabinets. Where do the countertop appliances go? What needs to be within reach every morning? Could an overlooked wall or cabinet become useful storage?

Our latest blog looks at thoughtful storage design throughout the home, with ideas for kitchens, bathrooms, closets, and living spaces.

Read the full article to see how storage can become part of the design from the beginning.

Why Thoughtful Storage Design Matters in a Home Remodel Storage design for home remodels considers what needs to be stored, where those belongings are used, and how they fit within the available space. Thoughtful storage can make everyday routines easier while reducing wasted space. From kitchen cab...

10/06/2026

MYTH: Any contractor can create a long-lasting solution.
TRUTH: Long-term performance depends on the design as much as the build.

Durability starts before construction. The layout and materials chosen during design affect how the remodel performs when used every day.

Craftsmanship matters, but the construction team still needs a well-considered plan to build from. Thinking through those decisions early gives the project a stronger foundation before work begins.

A remodel built to last begins on the drawing board.