The Challenge
When Mike and Dana Henderson reached out to Dream Build and Elevate, they had been living with the same outdated kitchen and master bathroom for over fifteen years. The kitchen was dark, cramped, and poorly laid out — a galley-style setup that made it nearly impossible for more than one person to cook at a time. The master bathroom hadn’t been touched since the house was built in the early 2000s and showed every one of those years.
They’d gotten quotes from two other contractors before finding us. Both experiences left them frustrated — vague timelines, unclear pricing, and a general feeling that they were being handed off rather than taken care of. They almost put the project off entirely.
A neighbor who had worked with us on a flooring project gave them our number. That phone call turned into a consultation, and the consultation turned into one of our favorite projects to date.
The Approach
We started where we always start — listening. Mike and Dana didn’t just want a prettier kitchen. They wanted a space that actually worked for their family. They have three kids, they cook together on weekends, and they host dinner for extended family several times a year. The kitchen needed to function as the heart of the home, not just look good in photos.
For the bathroom, Dana had a clear vision: something that felt like a retreat. Clean lines, a walk-in shower, and a soaking tub. Simple but elevated.
We walked them through our full design and estimating process, presented a detailed scope of work, and locked in a final price before a single tool was picked up. No vague ranges. No surprises.
The Build
Kitchen We opened up the wall between the kitchen and dining area to create an open-concept layout, added a large center island with seating for four, installed custom cabinetry to the ceiling, and finished everything with quartz countertops and a full tile backsplash. New recessed lighting replaced the outdated overhead fixture, and we refinished the hardwood floors throughout the main level to tie it all together.
Master Bathroom Full gut remodel. We reconfigured the layout entirely to accommodate a freestanding soaking tub, a walk-in tile shower with a frameless glass door, and a double vanity with under-mount sinks. Heated tile floors were added at Dana’s request — and she’ll tell you it was the best decision of the entire project.
The full build took nine weeks from demo to final walkthrough.
The Result
The Hendersons got exactly what they came to us for — and then some. The kitchen is now the gathering place the family always wanted, and the bathroom has become Dana’s favorite room in the house. We completed the project on time and within the original budget.
More importantly, Mike and Dana felt taken care of from the first phone call to the final walkthrough. They’ve already referred two neighbors to us since the project wrapped.
“We almost didn’t do this project at all. We’re so glad we made the call. Dream Build and Elevate gave us our home back.” — Dana H., Lawrence, KS
Project Details
- Location: Lawrence, KS
- Scope: Full kitchen remodel + master bathroom remodel
- Timeline: 9 weeks
- Highlights: Open-concept kitchen, custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, freestanding soaking tub, walk-in tile shower, heated floors