Video Library: Design Build Construction Project Highlights

Take behind-the-scenes tours of our favorite new home construction, luxury lakefront home architecture, total renovations and large addition projects. From deconstruction to final finishes – we hope you enjoy watching the design build construction process evolve bit by bit as much as we did while designing and building these wonderful homes.

Design Process

The Scott Simpson Design + Build architects and design team will guide you through every decision needed to transform tracing paper sketches into a home that will bring you a sense of joy and well-being every day. Design brainstorm, design inspirations, 3D models, selections, appliances and finishes are part of the exhilaration of designing and building a home.

design build construction

Lakefront Home Architecture

Take an inside look at the architecture of a beautiful lakefront home in Highland Park. From rebuilding the bluff to framing the view to defining spaces, the architecture team made very conscious choices on color palette, symmetry, compression, hardscaping, materials and sightlines to deliver on the vision of the homeowners.

Wilmette Modern pool house with recycled ash siding, pergola-covered pool deck, sliding doors and dark tiled pool

Pool House Design

Right before the drywall stage on an eco-friendly, modern pool house – using radiant heating, foam insulation and reclaimed wood – our fifth project with this Wilmette family. A 2-story recreation court and life-size movie-screen will round-out the entertainment options, in addition to a stunning pool and trellis.

modern townhouse design with home architecture styles

Modern Design Portfolio

Modern home design and build projects on Chicago’s North Shore featuring clean lines, minimalism, natural materials, unadorned windows that bring in natural light and uncluttered spaces.

counter installation

Kitchen and Bath Countertops

Know what it takes to install all the kitchen counters, a dining room buffet and a 680 pound slab of Brazilian quartzite down a flight of stairs? Lots of planning, a Tennessee strongarm and an amazing partner like Tithof Tile and Marble.

Pool House Insulation

Know what it takes to install all the kitchen counters, a dining room buffet and a 680 pound slab of Brazilian quartzite down a flight of stairs? Lots of planning, a Tennessee strongarm and an amazing partner like Tithof Tile and Marble.

New Construction Move-in Day

Last day on the job to do all the final checks before handing the keys over to the homeowners of this design and build custom home in Glenview, Illinois.

design build construction

Evanston Gravel Pour

Making things concrete at a new home design and build in Evanston! Adding gravel beneath the basement floor before we pour the concrete and encapsulating the drain tile with gravel so water flows into it.

Drone view of basement foundation cement pouring process.

Evanston Basement Pour

The soothing smoothing of concrete. Laying the foundations of an amazing new home we are designing and building in Evanston.

Geothermal Home Energy Video Scott Simpson Design + Build

Residential Geo Thermal Heating and Cooling

We educate homeowners on the healthiest building choices. We’ll help you understand geothermal energy, solar panels, green roofs, local sourcing and reclaimed materials.

Building a Rain Garden Video Scott Simpson Design + Build

Residential Rain Garden Installation

Opportunities to raise your eco-consciousness can be as close as your own backyard. Scott Simpson Design + Build created the first village-approved rain garden in Northbrook, IL, which uses vegetation, soils and other elements to restore some of the natural processes required to manage water and create a healthier environment.

Drone shot of builder on top of house during deconstruction phase in Winnetka, rubble and exposed bricks and beams

Winnetka Home Deconstruction

Uncover the unexpected with us in a 2-part video series detailing deconstruction of a 1920s Winnetka home – a kinder-to-the-environment choice with a donation write-off to boot!

design build construction

Kenilworth Home Deconstruction

Deconstruction of this 1923 home in Kenilworth allows the owners to donate high-quality and hard-to-find building materials – such as 14-foot wood flooring, slate roof tiles, solid joists, double-hung windows, unique bricks and mahogany doors – to charity, so they can be repurposed. Deconstructing a home piece-by-piece (instead of just bulldozing it) is a labor of love, but very green and renewable behavior.

Foundation Recycle Design Build

Kenilworth Foundation Recycling

Deconstruction of this 1923 home in Kenilworth finishes with a machine demolition of the foundation. Masonry, concrete block and steel are carefully sorted and sent to different recycling plants. Through this green and renewable effort the owners have been able to donate and recycle 98% of the old home.

Series Trailer

Our firm has the unique opportunity to renovate a 128-year-old Evanston mansion, celebrating its original beauty while transforming it into a functional space for its new owners. We invite you to follow along with us as we document the unique and beautiful process ahead.

Episode 1 - Exterior and Foyer

In this episode we’ll look at the exterior limestone and windows as well as the grand entry foyer, complete with fireplace and original trim as well as the 

Episode 2 - Library and Family Room

In this episode we’ll look at the exquisite floor detailing and original pocket door of the library and how the room relates to the enormous family room with stained coffered ceiling and original fireplace mantel and stone. 

Episode 3 - Dining Room and Porch

Have a look at the beautifully paneled dining room – where we’ll strip out unfortunate design choices to enhance the original curved bay windows, and the gorgeous outdoor porch.

Episode 4 - Kitchen and Pantry

The pre-demolition tour continues into the kitchen, breakfast area and butler’s pantry that was clearly last remodeled in the 1990s. Decisions to be made about a structural column and kitchen layout.

Episode 5 - Stairwell and Landing

We arrive at the second floor on the stunning main stairwell featuring built-ins and stained glass and we solve the mystery of the “marble” columns added by a recent homeowner and the “elevator” marked on the 1896 architectural plans.

Episode 6 - Primary Bedroom and Bathroom

The primary bedroom of this Evanston mansion includes retrofit soffit challenges as well as some pretty wild design choices from the 1990s in a primary bath of wall-to-wall marble, mirrors and fancy sconces.

Episode 7 - Porch and Third Floor

Plans to unseal a two-story columned porch and make the third floor livable during construction.

Episode 8 - Lower Level

See the stunning masonry foundation on which this home was built – as well as a 1990s spa room complete with sauna, steam room and hot tub.

Episode 9 - Laundry and Guest Bath

See the stunning masonry foundation on which this home was built – as well as a 1990s spa room complete with sauna, steam room and hot tub.

Episode 10 - Kitchen After Demo

Architect Amy Berka tours us through the surprises of the kitchen and how it will be redesigned to become three separate spaces – kitchen, breakfast area and butler’s pantry.

Episode 11 - Primary Bath/Closet After Demo


Demolition of the primary bathroom and primary closet will allow us to rearrange the floor plan, align the architecture and bring this 128-year-old mansion in Evanston up to more modern use.

Episode 12 - Laundry and Guest Bath Demo

We’ll be keeping the original and beautiful built-in cabinetry and its hardware but will have to address a surprise in the load-bearing wall we are moving.

Episode 13 - Third Floor After Demo

We have made some quick paint and lighting fixture changes on the third level so the homeowner can use it as a homebase while living in the home during construction. 

Episode 14 - Temporary Primary Bedroom

Come see how we selectively painted to reduce the amount of red woodwork without changing the amazing character of this beautiful old mansion in Evanston, Illinois.

Pouring the Concrete Foundation

An overview of the Scott Simpson Design + Build process of creating a concrete foundation for a new construction home – cement conveyor, remote control conveyor belt, concrete forms, agitation, form recycling and more!

Basement concrete floor installation

An overview of the Scott Simpson Design + Build process of creating a basement concrete floor for a new construction custom home – the make-up of concrete, how a screed machine and hand finishing while on kneeboards make it smooth as it sets.

First Floor Framing

A behind-the-build look at how new construction framing is created for a custom home – air compressor nail guns, raising a framed wall, managing a lumber shortage, interior light management through high ceilings that allow for large windows and doors.

Framing process and early client walk-through

A behind-the-build look at the client experience during custom home construction – touring the framed first floor, working with lenders, anticipating the effect of finishes, seeing architectural plans come to life.

Barn beam installation

Enjoy a look at how we cut and manually install 400-pound reclaimed barn beams into a custom design-build home. Even one of our architects gets a taste of the “build” side of design and build!

Modern Farmhouse Living Room Timelapse

Timelapse of a custom home build in Northbrook shows how a contemporary wood beam family and kitchen area come together over time. Architecture-led design and build brings beautiful spaces to life!

Deconstruction

Take a tour of the deconstruction of an incredible Lake Shore Drive condominium. Architect Amy Berka shares the step-by-step thinking behind a total redesign of a 1920s Chicago co-op and some of the challenges of remodeling in a city high-rise on Lake Michigan.

Rough trades renovation, new living room bump out wall studs and construction equipment

Rough Trades 1

In this update we look at running plumbing and conduit in an older building; widening openings to join living spaces, let in the light and lake views, plan for mirroring existing trim; accommodating recessed lights in a ceiling filled with concrete beams; plan for a demolished stone fireplace; and adding a brand new powder room.

Rough Trades 2

We look at making a primary bath and bedroom more proportionate; the beauty of copper piping; peeling back layers of flooring; finding a way to put in new windows; creating a hidden door in an elevator vestibule; creating symmetry through arches and the joy of using architecture to continue existing design details through to a seamless renovation.

Scott Simpson (builder) and Amy Scruggs (architect) on site of a kitchen renovation

Rough Finishes 1

We think through adding in beams to define a large living room, the uncovering of a hidden window and tile and cabinetry installation over electric heat mats.

Gray grout in a white herringbone bathroom tile with architect Amy Scruggs

Rough Finishes 2

Looking at timeless and classic (but not too traditional) white marble bath tile and the importance of grout color choice – details that might seem inconsequential – but to us, provides an opportunity to elevate our craft.

Four floor stain options on wood floor during a renovation.

Rough Finishes 3

We look at custom-milled woodwork, patching together existing and new wood flooring and floor stain options that start to tie everything together. We hope you enjoy watching the architectural design take shape bit by bit as much as we do.

White kitchen during renovation rough finishes, installed cabinetry.

Rough Finishes 4

Rough finishes stage for the amazing new kitchen with cabinets fabricated to fit the space, making it through the maze of the high rise, working around a chase and bringing optimal function and design to the center of the home – featuring custom mirrored glass inserts and tool drawers.

Black, grey and white chevron tile pattern for a primary bathroom floor.

Rough Finishes 5

In this update we look at the statement-making primary bath tile and anticipate the final finishes phase of this renovation.

Brightly decorated family room in renovated lake shore drive co-op.

Final Finishes

A reveal of the full transformation of the kitchen and living spaces to maximize views of Lake Michigan and add family and entertaining space. Unique design punches and finishes bring new life to a 1920s Chicago home – from deconstruction to final finishes.

Kenilworth Builder Roofing Installation Timelapse

Raising the roof as we raise the roof on our custom home build in Kenilworth. You can really appreciate all the architecture work and building detail that goes into rough framing and roofing a custom home with this construction timelapse.

New-Construction-timelapse.jpg

Traditional French Country Home Build Timelapse

The Scott Simpson Design + Build process combines our expert architects, homebuilders, long-standing subcontractors, suppliers, craftspeople and a project management team with extraordinary clients to deliver on the vision for a custom built home. From plans on paper to a fire in the fireplace, we love watching a before and after construction timelapse when it all comes together as beautifully as it did for this home on the North Shore in Glenview.

Kenilworth Architect Framing Installation Timelapse

Well underway on our custom home build in Kenilworth. You can really appreciate all the architecture work and building detail that goes into rough framing a custom home with this construction timelapse.

Modern Pool House Living Room Timelapse

From architect rendering to finished room, a look at the beauty of design and build in a modern pool house in Wilmette, Illinois.

Modern Farmhouse Living Room Timelapse

Timelapse of a custom home build in Northbrook shows how a contemporary wood beam family and kitchen area come together over time. Architecture-led design and build brings beautiful spaces to life!

Testimonial Compilation

A great way to get to know us is through our design-build clients! After 30+ years of designing and building custom homes on Chicago’s North Shore for so many families, we are truly grateful for their kind words and lasting friendships.

modern contemporary homes

Contemporary Shingle Style House Tour

Take a tour of a Wilmette design-build new construction custom home in a contemporary shingle style featuring a long front porch, outdoor entertaining areas, a sunroom, sports-centric lower level and beautiful transom windows throughout.

Custom home designers near me

Winnetka Spanish Colonial Lakefront Home Tour

Architectural reconfiguration of an outdated North Shore Spanish Colonial home in Winnetka to take full advantage of a beautiful and expansive view of Lake Michigan and infuse nature into the home organically.

Scott Simpson 25 year business anniversary party group

SSDB 25th Anniversary Love Letter

A fun look at our first amazing 25 years – when the addition of a team of in-house architectes compelled us to change our name change from Scott Simpson Builders to Scott Simpson Design Build.

design & build

Love of Design Build

We love this work we get to do. We love getting up early to meet the trucks. We love working late to beat the snow. We love pulling together the drawings and thinking the whole thing through. We love cutting the beams, smoothing the concrete and lifting the stone. We love recycling the old to make room for the new. We love the craft itself. We love sharing our passion with the next generation. We love thinking about the future of the families that will live in spaces we create. We love watching our clients light up on move-in day. And we really don’t say it enough. We love this work we get to do – and the people we do it for. We especially love the people we do it with. We honestly, truly love our jobs.

We are hopeful you are as lucky in love as we are.

Next Generation Trade Workforce Training

We were able to share on-site tricks-of-the-trade with a group of alumni from Revolution Workshop – a non-profit social enterprise (co-founded by SSDB) that provides free pre-apprenticeship programs in construction and woodworking. Trainees had the opportunity to ask questions and watch on-the-job trim carpentry, including the mechanics of hanging a door, cabinet installation and how it all comes together with the other trades in a custom remodel in Evanston. Adding field visits to learning at the workshop makes for talented and inspired graduates.

Happy Clients