Greymark Design + Build

09/10/2026

After 30 years, this family almost traded their 1920s Woodland Heights bungalow for a few hundred acres in the country.

But once they really thought it through, they realized they loved their neighborhood too much to leave. So instead of starting over somewhere new, they called us.

While we were opening up this living room, we found the original 1920s shiplap hiding under the ceiling. We weren't about to cover that back up!

Full story's on the blog now, including how the kitchen finally opened up into the rest of the house, and where else we put all that lovely shiplap. Link in comments.

09/02/2026

What do you actually use your garage for? We asked our design and build team what garages actually become when clients want more space, and the answer might surprise you.

Almost nobody converts the garage itself. Most of our clients keep it exactly as a garage and build a floor of living space on top instead.

We talk real numbers for one and two story conversions, plus the deed restriction questions worth checking first, in this week's blog. Link in comments.

08/28/2026

It's crunch time: the family moves back home in one day!

Chelsea's setting the dining table like it's just an ordinary day, no big deal. A few feet away, Javi's still finishing out the kitchen, and Jorge had already swung by earlier that day to make sure everything else was locked in.

08/26/2026

We could talk about design and build like they're two separate steps, but that's not really how it works here. Chelsea, Jorge, and Javi work from the same plan from day one to the last cabinet hinge, which matters most exactly when a beautiful plan runs into a real wall.

This week's blog walks through one Houston home where that showed up in a big way, plus how the family decided what to tackle first. Link in comment for the full story.

08/21/2026

POV: you finally have somewhere like this to sit and do absolutely nothing.

08/19/2026

Last week we gave you a peek at this Upper Kirby backyard building. Here's the deep dive into what's actually behind those gorgeous custom doors.

A "secret" recording studio, an office with steel windows and doors, and connecting both floors, a staircase that floats, with a glass rail letting light run straight through.

It all started because a garage office finally ran out of room. So this build had to pull triple duty: office, pool house, and studio, all planned from day one.

Kelly, our owner, has a rule she comes back to on every project: you don't need to spend everywhere, but when you find a real showstopper, that's where you can put budget. This build found three.

Full story's on the blog. Link in comments.

08/14/2026

Most people figure out when they want their remodel done before they figure out when they need to start.

Whether the deadline is a baby, the holidays, or a move-in date, the timeline math is longer than most people expect. A kitchen takes seven to eight months minimum from first conversation to finished. An addition runs twelve to fifteen or more. And all of it starts before construction begins.

New on the blog: the full breakdown by scenario, what actually creates delays, and the part nobody plans for early enough. Link in comments.

08/13/2026

Come vote for our award-winning and amazing Building Designer Jorge Arreola! Deadline: Sunday, August 16, 2026 (so go now, hint hint)

2𝓷𝓭 𝓟𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓮

Remodel/Addition Design Contest Entry

Design by Jorge Arreola of Greymark Construction Co. using Premier X15.

Please select "like" to vote for this submission.

“The goal was more than just adding square footage—it was about creating a home that felt fresh, functional, and connected to the way the family lives today. The renovation brought in modern amenities, updated finishes, better natural light, and a more comfortable flow throughout the house.

By expanding upward and improving the existing home, the project allowed the family to stay in the community they love while creating a space that feels new, personal, and built around their future. The final design respects the character of the original home while giving the family the flexibility and functionality they need for the years ahead.”

Connect with Jorge:
Greymark Construction Company
www.greymarkconstruction.com
713-722-7226

08/12/2026

The path to a dream addition.

Their why: When this Upper Kirby family decided it was time to replace a small backyard structure with something designed around what their business and family life actually needed, they came in clear on the vision: a proper office on the second floor and a pool house and recording studio on the first.

Our what: Getting every detail of that right, including a custom staircase that became the signature detail of the finished project, took the kind of upfront investment in design and planning that the best additions always require, and these clients were fully in on that process from day one.

The when: In general, additions at Greymark take at least eight months of construction, and that's before the design phase, which means the families whose projects turn out like this are almost always the ones who started the conversation a year or more ahead of time.

The result: Now the owner has a proper workspace without leaving the property, and the family has a space that handles a recording session as comfortably as it handles a Saturday afternoon by the pool.

See the full Party Palace at the link in comments.