LUXURY RENOVATIONS
PROCESS
How We Do It
Renovating your home should feel exciting—not overwhelming. Our five-step renovation process is built around insight, precision, and personalized service, giving you confidence from the first conversation to the final reveal.
Discovery
Development
Financials
Construction
Beyond
Renovation Process
PROJECT DISCOVERY
Where it all begins—with you.
Relationships are the foundation of everything we do, and we believe great design starts with truly getting to know you. We take the time to understand how you live, what matters most to you, and why you’re renovating — what works well in your current space, what doesn’t, and what’s driving you to make a change.
You’ll meet our team and begin a collaborative relationship built on openness and ongoing communication. A visit to your home allows us to see how you use your space, understand its layout and flow, and identify both its challenges and potential. From there, a tour of our showroom begins to reveal your aesthetic preferences — what you’re drawn to, what resonates, and what might inform the overall design direction.
We also welcome any inspiration you’ve collected, whether it’s images, ideas, or a well-curated Pinterest board. Every detail you share brings your vision into sharper focus.
From there, we’ll begin exploring the practical side of the renovation: What is the size or scope you have in mind? Do we need to consider an addition or extension? Should walls move, windows shift, or spaces be reconfigured to better serve how you live? Are there HVAC or electrical implications to account for?
This is where trust begins, ideas take shape, and the creative journey of your renovation truly begins.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Bringing ideas to life.
With an Architectural Design Agreement in place, the vision begins to take form.
We start by visiting your home to take detailed measurements and assess the existing conditions — ensuring we’re working from an accurate understanding of the space and its possibilities. From there, we begin mapping, planning, and imagining.
Floorplan options and elevations start to take shape as we explore ways to enhance flow, functionality, and beauty. Our architectural design and construction teams work in close collaboration from the very beginning, so each decision is informed not only by design intent, but by construction feasibility and your budget considerations as well.
This integrated approach ensures a renovation that’s as buildable as it is beautiful — and a design process that feels seamless, informed, and grounded in real-world expertise. Every detail is considered.
Every element is intentional. And each step moves you closer to a home that reflects how you live, and how you want to feel in your space.
SELECTIONS + FINANCIALS
Where every detail matters.
With the design framework in place, we begin refining the details that will bring your renovation to life.
We coordinate a dedicated trades day at your home, bringing in key trades to walk through the space. This allows us to gather precise input and accurate pricing early in the process — eliminating guesswork and helping ensure your budget reflects real-world conditions.
Our architectural design team will guide the selection of windows and exterior finishes (if included in the scope), ensuring that each element is not only visually cohesive, but also thoughtfully integrated and buildable. For interior finishes, you may choose to work with the award-winning designers at our sister company, Empire Kitchen & Bath, for a fully integrated, seamless experience. We also welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your interior designer — a process we’ve successfully managed on many past projects.
As a cost-plus builder, we offer complete transparency. You’ll always know exactly what’s included and what it costs. Through our construction management software, you’ll have real-time access to your selections, quotes, and timelines — all in one place.
While you focus on creating a beautiful space, we handle the logistics: coordinating specifications, managing budgets, overseeing permitting, and ensuring your renovation progresses smoothly and efficiently from concept to completion.
PRECISION CONSTRUCTION
Expertly managed. Built to last.
With plans and approvals in place, construction begins — and your vision starts to take shape.
Demolition is carried out with care, followed by any required structural or foundation work — often necessary for additions or significant reconfigurations. From there, framing, mechanical systems, and exterior elements are completed in a carefully managed sequence, leading into interior finishes, cabinetry installation, and final detailing.
From behind-the-walls systems to the finishing touches, we work with trusted trades and skilled craftsmen who share our exacting standards — delivering the level of quality and precision that defines every Empire renovation.
Our experienced Construction Managers are on site daily, overseeing every detail of the build. You’ll receive detailed weekly updates that provide transparency, clarity, and meaningful insight into progress — so whether you’re at home or away, you’re always informed and never left guessing.
We manage timelines, coordinate trades, and ensure all required inspections — including final inspections — are completed to meet both industry standards and your own expectations for excellence.
COMPLETION & BEYOND
More than a finished home.
Once the work is complete and final inspections are passed, you return to a home that has been thoughtfully transformed — one that not only meets your expectations, but elevates the way you live every day.
Every detail reflects the care, expertise, and collaboration that defined the process — from the craftsmanship in the finishes to the precision behind the walls. This is the moment when vision becomes reality, and your new space begins to feel unmistakably yours.
At Empire, we’re committed to superior craftsmanship, attentive service, and meaningful relationships — long after move-in day.